50 Best Nintendo Switch Games To Play Right Now (2024)

I assumed it was going to be BOTW in first place but I was still curious to see if MKart or Smash got up there instead. It’s a good list and looking forward to seeing what might be able to top it this year.. or next! I wouldn’t say no to a Wave Race...or Dirt Rally.. we need a great racing game (non-kart).

Good Lord! It really jumps up on you how good the Switch library is.

20 of which are ports from previous gens. But still 30 are great new exclusive & multiplatform titles, I'm good with these numbers.

It's great to see a few of my backlog titles on this list. It stops me looking ahead to my next purchase and helps me to realise that my unplayed games are to be savoured rather than "got through".

Okay Axiom Verge, it's time.

Neither of the Valkyria Chronicles games are on here?

Half-Genie Hero instead of Pirate's Curse?

Ys VIII is absent?

Grumble, grumble. Complain, complain

I’m surprised Dark Souls Remastered isn’t on this list. I definitely don’t regret the 50+ hrs I spent in it last year. I definitely think this list is pretty great. The top 5 are definitely all correct.

That's a really strong list of games after only 2 years. So many games missing from it too. Inside should be on there, it's an incredible game.

#7....yikes. haven't played it so maybe i shouldn't speak out of turn but above bayo 2 and splatoon 2 sounds like a stretch even having never played it

Armello is also great.

Zelda easy win probably My personal favourite is Xenoblade Chronicles 2.

Glad BoTW listed first as that was the showcase for the Release of Switch to show it's power and beginning. At least placing it 1st tells the story of Zelda and how popular it still is this long in it's history. Bayonetta is just one of those unique games that just drives to be played. I got Bayonetta Climax 2 carts and it's fun game and does alot in one go.

@NintendoByNature I’d agree. Axiom Verge is good but not great. I was surprised to see it so high. I prefer Fire Emblem Warriors to it.

@NintendoByNature Axiom Verge really took me by surprise, and it truly is a fantastic game. It's so much more than the Metroid clone I thought it was originally. Especially if the NES was your first gaming system, otherwise your milage may vary.

That being said, I absolutely would have placed it lower than Splatoon 2 and Shovel Knight, if it were up to me. It's not a terribly long game, but it's also pretty cheap and goes on sale every so often.

Edit: @roboshort beat me to it, but isn't wrong

I own 47 out of the 50.... not a bad old list that

@roboshort @Desrever yea I hear it's a great game. But even above shovel knight?? Not too sure. I'll play it eventually but the messenger wasn't even on the list either 🤔.

I Own 23 on the list.
Not bad.

God I love my Switch!

I’ll be buying Celeste then!

Arms is way too low!

My Top 10 Switch games i have so far :
1. Portal Knights
2. ARMS
3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
4. Go Vacation
5. Lego City Undercover
6. 1-2-Switch
7. Puyo Puyo Tetris
8. Yonder the Cloud Catcher Chronicles
9. Sushi Strikers
10. Super Mario Odyssey

Splatoon 2 number 10? The Nintendo Gods are angry.....

I really need to play Celeste at some point. Still hate the pixel art, but surely all this praise for it isn't entirely undue, right?

@NintendoByNature I don't understand this site's profound love of Axiom Verge. It's a decent Metroid clone with some interesting mechanics, and that's it. I don't regret playing it, but it also doesn't really stick in the memory.

I mean, yeah, opinions and all, but I genuinely don't understand it even being included, let alone being considered a top ten game. Especially when something genuinely fantastic like Mario + Rabbids is lower, and a number of other amazing games are omitted altogether.

Great list, no surprises but a fun diversion and reminder to add several titles to my wishlist.

Question: for Axiom Verge fans, it’s a game I’ve wanted to buy for some time now, but I’ve been reading about how the publisher has really screwed the developer and I’m worried that my purchase will fatten their pockets and not his. Do we know how that works? Do we have updates?

@Ralizah I had the exact same hesitation on Celeste, but let there be no doubt this is a truly magnificent game. You will immediately forget your misgivings about the visuals when the narrative kicks in and you take control of Madeline. The controls alone are sheer perfection. Take those and add a funny, poignant story, pitch-perfect pacing, truly awesome sound and music, and the very best 2D platforming I’ve ever enjoyed, and you have a real work of art that begs to be experienced. I do think it bears closest relation to a work of art by a master. There is no element of Celeste untouched by genius and expertise and generosity. I realize I’m saying nothing new and just adding my voice to the chorus. An added bonus to me was this game getting me over my lo-fi pixel aversion to appreciate retro style games that are clearly labors of love and designed with the gamer’s experience a topmost priority. I hope you purchase and enjoy!

@Ralizah I need to hop on Celeste too. I mean I've heard really good things about axiom verge but I've also heard there's no guidance or direction whatsoever and you tend to wander aimlessly for a while. I understand that's the genre but it can't be THAT much better than all the other games below it. I'll pick it up some day and give it a shot though

So pleased to see Celeste so high on the list. It's possibly the greatest platformer I've ever played. It's the most perfect marriage of gameplay and story that I've had the pleasure of experiencing.

Miss a few games (already mentioned above) but damn I own way too many of this list 😁 (24... #ihatemywallet)

Technically this is a list of 49 games. New Super Mario Bros U is listed twice. Number 30 and 31. Nvm it was just changed to Pokemon Let's Go.

@Ralizah just noticed Celeste is on sale for $13 on the us eshop. Tomorrow is pay day for me..i think i know what im getting! 😃

Good job Xenoblade, top 10 is the place you belong.

@nofriendo I believe BadLands only published the physical retail version of the game, so unless you're gunning for a new copy of the Multiverse Edition, I wouldn't worry about it.

Also, wow, that's... really high praise for Celeste. I'll definitely have to get around to it sooner than later.

@NintendoByNature Oh, cool. Be sure to post your impressions! I'm more curious about it now.

Wow, a list I almost completely agree with! Very happy to see hollow knight and Celeste so high up there, if anyone hasn't played them I would strongly recommend them, they are some of the best gaming experiences I have ever had

@NintendoByNature Axiom Verge is a good game, and for the most part the wandering around 'getting lost' thing that you do in metroidvanias isn't a problem because you have a specific goal, as you do in the best designed metroidvanias. However, in the last 1/3 of the game, you suddenly hit a roadblock, and just have to run around the entire map finding the most secret upgrades until you have the required upgrades to pass to the final area. It's not good or enjoyable game design though, and it's unfortunately what sticks the most in your memory when you beat it. Apart from that it's a very good game, and deserves a place on this list, but I don't think it's even better than Dead Cells, so I'd probably place it around number 28 here

I don’t agree with this list at all

How is Horizon Chase Turbo not on the list?!!!

Because only 12 people including me have have rated it. C'mon people give it the love it deserves! It's for sure a top 20 game.

Man I just completely forgot to rate the games with my own user rating. Damn.

Wouldn’t disagree with most of the top of the list (other than I personally didn’t enjoy the Bayonetta games - had to return my copy as I got easily bored of button mashing and skipping cutscenes).

A few games are missing which must be surely better than a couple of those listed outside the top 20 here - Into The Breach in particular but also Inside

Weird ommisions such as the world ends with you, tales of vesperia and world of final fantasy.

Although i do have about 17 games from this list.

Just shows how great the switch library is.
Both south park games, dark souls, wolfenstein and tons of games that flew under the radar such as legrand legacy, cosmic star heroine and worms

So many different types of good games to enjoy for alot of different people

“Every single fighter from the series is present (even Pichu)”

............a curse on you. Pichu is what puts the ultimate in ULTIMATE. #triggered

Where's my Darkest Dungeon?!

And maybe more outrageous, Into the Breach should be on here.

@nofriendo wow I may just have to buy Celeste based on what you said about it

Well this kind of topic will and always will be controversial heheh.

I've got 14 of the 50. Not a bad list. Shame Skyrim isn't on there.

Good list. My personal list atm would be:

5. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
4. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
3. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
2. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
1. Super Mario Odyssey

I'm sure my list will change a lot after this year is over. Animal Crossing and Pokemon Sword/Shield will more likely than not be in that top 5, plus Luigi's Mansion 3 and Mario Maker 2 have a good chance as well. Can't wait for the second half of the year to begin!

@Lowhangers I didn't hate the game but I do agree that I prefer older Zelda titles over Breath of the Wild. Open-world was fun for a bit but the it just didn't seem like there was enough diversity in the over-world to warrant such a huge world. I felt like I was just walking around a ton finding nothing, which is weird because no one complains about that yet apparently 3 minutes of sailing in Wind Waker between islands is too much.

I also wish there were more traditional style dungeons and more story to the game. I felt like more "open" games like A Link Between Worlds and Wind Waker did a fantastic job of letting you explore freely while giving you a fairly linear, captivating story to play through. I'm hoping the next Zelda game is a good balance between Breath of the Wild and older titles. More dungeons and story elements please. Those are the two reasons I fell in love with the series!

Dark Souls? Where is Dark Souls?

"Bore of the Wild, #1? Ugh. I took it back and got a credit for it, I thought it was a terrible excuse for a Zelda game."

It's ok, to each his own. Some people hate Christmas too.

@BranJ0 thanks my friend. Yea the roadblock in the game kinda turns me off in all honesty. But I'll give it a shot

Shantae HGH still described as "could be a bit longer" after having gotten more than eight times its initial content? Guessing they're using some old quotes then.

Though I think some games should be replaced with others and some placings should be rearranged, this list really shows what a great library Switch has after only two years.

@Lowhangers Oh I see where you're coming from regarding BOTW, but that game's got five real dungeons in it: The four beasts and Hyrule Castle. Making its dungeon count on par with (the admittedly also content light) Wind Waker.

@BranJ0 @NintendoByNature @Ralizah

Admittedly I haven't finished it yet (maybe I'm at the roadblock you've referred to) but I feel like Axiom Verge kind of cons you into thinking it's better than it is.

The music that plays when you begin the game is fantastic, but then it changes and, so far at least, hasn't been equalled. And you unlock abilities quite quickly, which is nice, but once you've done that, and the music had lost its hook, the game seems fairly average and could be any old retro pixel game.

Feels a shame, cos I love the music at the start.

What a load of tosh!
A ton of top titles missing and a load or Wii u ports which technically arn't switch games.

@EvilLucario I genuinely forgot the user ratings were a thing.

@Lowhangers
Unless you are trolling, in which case Lowhangers indeed, I gotta give you courage points for voicing that opinion here. As for me, my opinion may shock you, but BotW is my favorite video game of all time.

Top 10 based on hours and pure enjoyment.

1. BOTW
2. Dark Souls Remastered
3. Xenoblade Chronicles 2
4. Super Mario Odyssey
5. Hollow Knight
6. Into the Breach
7. Splatoon 2
8. Doom
9. Steamworld Dig 2
10. Minecraft

@Lionyone Tell me about it. Horizon Chase Turbo is the dog's danglies...

@BenjShallcross right!? They had Dark Souls as #1 in their RPG list but leave it out here? Get some consistency guys.

@nofriendo BOTW is a critically acclaimed masterpiece winning numerous awards, sitting at no1 on Metacritic, has been camping at the top of the eShop charts... a terrible excuse of a Zelda game? Has there been a better acclaimed Zelda game?

@gcunit yea that is a shame. Nothing worse than starting off on a great note in a game and being completely stuck where you can't finish it. And With games like metroidvanias it's sometimes difficult to consult a walkthrough since there's no one way to beat a game like that. My most recent experience with a game like that is hollow knight

Chicken Bomb should be top – the game is flippin' amazing!

... Also Poi needs some love. Second best 3D platformer on Switch - despite it's simple art style.

@spirit_flame You got the wrong dude in your crosshairs, my friend.

@Lowhangers
While my opinion isn't anywhere near as extreme as yours (I still think BOTW is a great game and gave it 9/10), I was a little bit miffed by all the ridiculously over-the-top "Best game of all time!" hype when I played it. When I think of all the things that make a great Zelda game: dungeons, bosses, items, story, music, characters, etc. I think BOTW falls short in many respects, so I find it odd how so many Zelda fans think it's now the undisputed best one (other than because it's the most recent one). As much as I hate to say it, I generally thought it was quite a bland, empty, soulless experience a lot of the time. When I look back on playing it, all that really comes to mind is just walking from one large empty field into another large empty field. I guess it gets across the idea of being alone in a vast (probably too vast) wilderness, but I'm not sure how fun or exciting that actually is. For me, it just didn't quite have the same magic as other Zelda games, though I do applaud them for trying something different.

ARMS and Pokken are on there but Dragonball FighterZ doesn’t make the cut? Sad day for fighting game fans.

Um excuse me Nintendo Life Staff someone made a error in this .FIFA is a "Soccer Game" not a Football Game It's not a big deal but wanted to make sure your aware.

No night in the woods? Yup this list is already bunk

Hhm, good list. Have to say that I just don't like BotW. Zelda used to be my favourite Nintendo franchise but BotW will likely dictate the future of the franchise so I am out. Considering it's beloved by so many I can totally see it taking the number 1 spot though.
Still haven't played Celeste. The artstyle is really putting me off, but I also want to see what all the hype is about.
Also, Dark Souls should have definitely been on the list

@LoveEmpath In Europe we call "soccer" football and "football" we call American football.

No Into the Breach. No Wargroove. No Horizon Chase Turbo. Three of the best games I've played full stop, let alone on Switch. Still, just a bit of fun, and otherwise a good list!

@nofriendo Apologies friend, my device get overwhelmed on this site. Looking at what you wrote, I am in agreement about BOTW.

@LoveEmpath There are plenty of American Nintendo sites you can view if the word "football" is annoying you.

Should I really be surprised that Nintendo IPs took the top 3?

Not a bad list at all but I'd personally put in Warframe, Monster Hunter GU, Wargroove, World of Final Fantasy and Diablo III on that list. I'm glad to see Oxenfree, Golf Story, Octopath Traveler and Disgaea 5 on there tho.
And yeah, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is still my number 1.

@RainbowGazelle it's not about it being annoying I'm just correcting mistakes.So that other people can learn from them.

@Ralizah If I had a few more brain cells I’d’ve known that about BadLands. Thanks for clearing my conscience!

@mr_me450 Consider that this is "as voted by you lovely people." So it's a popularity contest and of course Nintendo's own IP will have a HUGE advantage. So a game like Pokken Tournament is make it just on name recognition alone despite the fact that (and I'm basing this on the Wii U version, I'm not going to get tricked again) it's the worst fighting game I've played in years. I wouldn't argue too many other games on the list, but you can definitely see how it's an uphill battle for even amazing 3rd Parties to get on the list.

I think I'm the only one who disliked celeste. I would have put DB fighterz in the top ten. That game is superb and the switch conversion perfect. I also liked mario+ rabbids a lot, top five for me

Cuphead!!! Will be on here in time. Gears of War on Switch???

@GameOtaku No. Nintendo makes some truly excellent games.

Poor old Mark of the Ninja gets no love. So underrated!

@n_malo I agree, but Celeste is fine.

@datamonkey For sure it was a great game.

@LoveEmpath Most of the world calls it "football," and it's a UK-based site, so no mistakes were made.

While it's a bit slow to start, I think Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is an under-rated gem.

I had a lot more fun with it than Breath of the Wild...and actually played through to the end...more or less forcing myself to stop doing side content so I could wrap it up and start attacking my backlog that I had so neglected.

Even now, I am forcing myself not to jump into Torna because I know all the other games I'm working on now may slip into backlog purgatory forever if I take that up.

Seriously...all three Xenoblade games are amazing in their own right. 3/3 I am a true Monolithsoft fanboy now.

i'm surprised Steamworld Dig 2 and Mario + Rabbids aren't higher up the list, they are both fantastic, i enjoyed Steamworld more than Axiom Verge.

I'm really surprised Wolfenstien isn't on the list, I think it's better than Doom.

I would also have included Thumper and Little Nightmares.

Y'all's adoration for Axiom Verge is strange, but fun list.

@NintendoByNature You should try out Celeste, but it may help to adjust you expectations. I got it on PC after the initial hype for it became too much for me to pass up. It is actually a very niche game as it falls into the “twitch platformer” genre, which is not really my cup of tea. For me the level design was good but very predictable (presentation of new skill- practice- mastery- repeat- repeat- repeat again). Good for 13-14 bucks but no masterpiece in my opinion.

@LoveEmpath You are aware that FIFA stands for Federation Internationale de Football right? No mistakes to correct here

Personally would have out Let's Go a little higher, but other than that not a bad list

@NotTelevision interesting. I often find myself not liking games that are universally praised but ill give this one a look. I feel like you need to go in games with no expectation to see what you actually think as opposed to hearing what the gaming sites are saying. This way you can develope your own opinion ya know?

Great list, though I'm disappointed more people didn't rate/play Ys VIII.

I'm glad there are some Wii U ports and indies on this list. Nice to know that all the folks always spewing negativity over Wii U ports and even good Indies are just in the minority.

Is it too soon to add Yoshi’s Crafted World to the list? It’s quite good. Maybe not top 25, but definitely a good one.

You guys should do Wii U next.

@gcunit Axiom Verve's best moments are definitely almost all in its first third - the intro music, the atmosphere, the first few bosses and then the glitching gun are all amazing. The game just sort of stagnates though for a bit, not impressing but not insulting, before you hit the roadblock of bad game design. I'm definitely a bit too harsh on it, it's a very good game, but it's not helped by the fact that soon after I played Hollow Knight, which is basically a perfection of the metroidvania genre in my opinion, and does everything axiom verge does, just better, and then so much more

@Ralizah Ys VIII deserves a spot

Diablo 3 is clearly better than at least #50.

@LoveEmpath Wow. That is some inventive reasoning for being intolerant.

For shame all of you who got NSMBU put on this list. FOR SHAME!😛

Geez, I mean the list is fine but there are so many great games missing.
Testament to the library I guess.

27/50. Less than I thought!

Dragon Quest Builders is better than Minecraft.

This is a decent list and a good reminder as to how solid the Switch library really is. Some of these games I’ve disliked, some I’ve thoroughly enjoyed - but they all add something to the table. I’m most excited to see that this list includes a very good mix of Nintendo IP and other developers.

Where the heck is Xenon Racer, WWE2k18 and Vroom in the Sky?!

These are my favourites from the top 50, plus some not included at all.

17 Puyo Puyo Tetris
16 Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack
15 Bayonetta 1 & 2
14 Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection
13 Shovel Knight Treasure Trove
12 Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze
11 Mario Tennis Aces
10 Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon
09 Fast RMX
08 Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
07 Blaster Master Zero
06 Super Mario Odyssey
05 Starlink: Battle For Atlas
04 Horizon Chase Turbo
03 New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe
02 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
01 Super Smash Bros Ultimate

@Lionyone My #4 game!

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 should've been higher.

I think the site should also do the 50 worst Switch games as well, to help stop people getting their fingers burnt by picking up some hot garbage.

Rather than discussing the exact order of the games, I'd just like to say once more that I am in awe at just how many quality titles are out on Switch after just two years.

I don't think anyone would have predicted this. Even if you aren't a fan of the Wii U ports, they're undeniably great games, that Switch owners are better off getting a chance to play, than had the opposite been the case.

Here's to another two spectacular years!

Xenoblade 2 is in the top 10. All is right in the world.

But I REALLY wish there was a way to see the list without having 5 pages to go through.

Breath of the wild is a no brained

I so wish I could get into this version of Zelda, but I have never seen a game that seems so hellbent on making me not want to play and enjoy it. Having too much fun climbing? Sure we will annoy you with lack of stamnia. Enjoying a new weapon? Np, we will break it after a few fights. Enjoy crafting? Here, let's make that cumbersome. Enjoy dungeons? Don't worry exploring have been replaced by kind of mini-puzzles. Different enemies? Nah. Annoying bosses? Check.

And at the same time I really want to explore the open world, it's just not fun for me. At least I have Skyrim then.

But many great games on the list. It's really impressive.
N+, Warframe and BattleChasers are personal favourites, but I guess not for most.

Lots of good games there, but you might have to make it the best 100 next time, then you can add Dark Souls, Diablo 3, Monsterboy, DragonQuest Builders, Monster Hunter, Dragonball Fighterz, Ys 8, Megaman 11, etc etc...

@Zuljaras On the side of the screen as we scroll down. Simple.

@nofriendo me too

@Swiftstorm I couldn't agree more. Weapons breaking, having to cook food, losing health in cold climates, drowning after a few strokes, climbing limits, gliding limits. It's enough to make me give up - which I did within a few hours. I've tried to pick it up several times, but have no idea where to go - so end up wandering aimlessly until I drown/freeze/starve or whatever. Yawn!

@LoveEmpath You are aware that Europe is the reason the US exists right?

@Zuljaras coughadcoughblockercough Yeah I suppose.

arms is way too low

@daebiya these are user ratings, you know that, right?

Seriously the little machine has only just turned 2 and look at all these awesome games plus the others gems not even in this top 50. I echo the cries of “where art thou Wolfenstein?” for sure. Love that game. I’d have rocket league a little higher mainly for the hundreds and hundreds of hours I’ve put into the game! Finally getting up to diamond!

Nobody seemed to agree or disagree with golf story, it's just the game that got ignored for some reason. It's one of my favorite unexpected surprises and just so delightful.

I wish nintendo would make a proper new mario golf and get the developer to do a retro style companion game. Mario tennis aces isn't terrible, I don't regret the purchase despite the online community being nearly dead, but they seem to have lost the magic touch on their sports games.

Hahaha there's really somebody down here in the comments trying to argue that we should all use the US vocabulary
I guess in Europe we should also abandon the International System of Units and start measuring miles instead of kilometers, after all, the US is the reason the whole universe exists, isn't it @LoveEmpath ?

That's a decent list, but Starlink is taking both 41 and 40th places, please correct that !

Where's Monster World? One of the best game I've been playing for a long time.

@LoveEmpath??? Well, this has been interesting.

Did I just read over it or does Okami HD miss on this list? Arguably one of the best games ever and it plays smoothly on Switch with probably the most and best control options yet.

I've bought about 50 games on Switch (25 are on NL's list). My top 10:

1. Breath of the Wild - obv
2. Hollow Knight - might be better than Super Metroid
3. Thumper - insanely intense rhythm violence
4. DKC Tropical Freeze - might be the best 2D platformer ever
5. Super Mario Odyssey - almost as good as Galaxy 2
6. Hyper Light Drifter - so badass
7. Furi - just my kind of game
8. Night in the Woods - best written game I've ever played, and hilarious
9. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - obv
10. Overcooked 2 - such a good time playing this with the gf

Honourable mentions to Rayman Legends, Mario Kart 8, Captain Toad, Guacamelee 2 en Celeste. I could go on and on: the Switch is such a fantastic platform. I recently even found out that the wishlist caps at 200; now I can't add any more games.

EDIT: I just noticed the list is incorrect. Night In The Woods has an 8.2; way higher than the 7.6 userscore of Pokken.

EDIT2: Oh you only count games that are rated 50+ times. That's lame, kinda makes it a "most popular games" list rather than best-rated list.

Anyone complaining that game X is missing - go rate it! They are only including games with more than 50 user scores. A few of my favourites have less than that.

@LoveEmpath I've never heard one of these people from the EU/UK "correct" me about not using the "correct term" for soccer. You might extend them the same courtesy.

Insisting on other peoples adopting the trappings and language of your culture is a poor way to make friends.

Unless you're just trolling, of course, which is always possible.

@citizenerased I think they want to avoid a situation where two people rate a game a 10 and bump a game up to first place (for example). They want a minimum amount of data so that the results are at least somewhat representative of the community's feelings.

This was a good list, though it's a little disappointing that some of my favorites didn't make this list, including:

Subsurface Circular
Aegis Defenders
Lovers in a Dangers Spacetime
West of Loathing
Stikbold! A Dodgeball Adventure DELUXE
Yoku's Island Express
Thumper
Crypt of the NecroDancer

...still, there are SO MANY fantastic games on Switch that no list will ever include everyone's favorites (not to mention the CRAZY fact of how different people like different kinds of games). Now I mostly just wish I had more time to try them all. Or most of them, at least.

My top 10 switch games i have played
10. Kirby
9. pokken tournament
8. Super Mario party
7. fire Emblem warriors
6. Dk freeze country
5. hyrule warriors
4. BOTW
3. Splatton 2
2. Pokemon Lets Go pikachu
1. Mario Odyssey

"If BotW is #1 I will die"

Sees BotW as #1

dies

I would probably say:
10/9. BotW or Let's Go Eevee
8. Mario Tennis Aces
7. Tropical Freeze
6. ARMS
5. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
4. Kirby Star Allies
3. Mario Odyssey
2/1. Splatoon 2 or SSBU (can't decide)

Haven't played Yoshi's Crafted World yet but expecting it and Mario Maker 2 to knock Eevee and Zelda out of my top 10.

Ys VIII is on the list now. Axiom Verge has dropped a number of positions. Now if we could just get people to rank the Valkyrias...

@Yoshi_Kong A lot of people REALLY love BotW, myself included. Expect it to stay in first until a similarly ambitious Zelda game releases.

@Ralizah E.A is an American Company

@LoveEmpath And "football" as an organized sport originated in Britain.

Oh goodness can we not start in on the US just because we have one person from Eagleland in the comments? The rest of us know this is a UK site.

Anyway interesting list. I do own a large number of these games and I am curious again about the ones I don’t. Glad BOTW got top spot. Such a great game.

Buy. Hollow. Knight.
You. Will. Not. Regret.

Hmm, and then on place 4 is that racing game...
Definitely didn't expect it there. I haven't played it myself though.

Not surprised thst BOTW was I firsr its the best legend of Zelda games I have ever played I'm pretty sure i speak for everyone when I say amazing job nintendo. Well done on the beautiful creation you have made.

@Lionyone Hey, Horizon Chase is on the list now... and one position above Mario Kart!!

@Mr_Horizon Awesome thanks! Frankly HCT deserves the accolade. It's an original high quality IP and it's cheap to purchase and it's frighteningly addictive although it balances that with life savingly short races of 3 minutes or so. It's a perfect game.

This really needs a compressed list. Going through 5 pages like this is annoying on PC. Forget even trying to read it on mobile.

@Lowhangers for me BotW felt like a real 3d successor to Link to the Past. Almost all Zelda games have been great, but for me LinkttPast blew my mind as a kid and really made me feel like exploring that open world. For me Zelda games were always about exploration and dungeons were just for items/boss fights. BotW succeeds in that regard.

The love for Axiom Verge and Shovel Knight continues to baffle me (I'm not calling them bad games, i just think they're nowhere near as good as so many people claim. Which I guess makes me wrong).

Can finally agree with all the love for BotW now though seeing as I finished it yesterday o/

@Lionyone
I played through Horizon Chase a couple years ago on iPad... I wonder if it is worth double dipping on Switch?

The Let's Go Pokemon games are an abomination! I'd rather grab any other system or emulator and play any other Pokemon game (except Pokemon Go which was the biggest let down ever). I'd much much rather play fire red, leaf green, or yellow.

I’m not sure what they changed since the last time this was posted. Was HCT that high on the list last time?

I’ve since beat Red Dead and HZD on PS4. BOTW is still the best open world game I’ve ever played, especially on first playthrough. It makes you want to keep exploring and uncovering it’s secrets. It also has a sense of atmosphere and a feeling of control that makes many 3D games feel cumbersome.

Why is Celeste ranked lower than Hollow Night and Horizon Chase Turbo?
Also, why is MK8DX ranked lower than Horizon Chase Turbo?
Moreover, why is pokemon let's go ranked far lower than many other indie games? I mean, they are most certainly good, but better than pokemon? I doubt that. Also, I think Disgaea 5 is ranked too low: it's awesome. Mario Kart 8 is better than odyssey in my opinion.

@KayFiOS They have updated it since more NL users have been rating games.

@Der In other words, both are correct answers. Seems a bit pointless to update the list after a couple months. Might make more sense to update it every March 3rd, on the Switch's birthday.

Wait, a phone game was voted #4?

It's official: Monster Hunter has now entered the race in 15th place!

Now we just need Yoshi, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Wolfenstein, Overcooked 2 and Okami up here to make this a more comprehensive list.

These games are more than good enough but just need a few more ratings to get here so come on people, get voting! Let's get these games on the list.

@roboshort Eh #7 is Hollow Knight from what I'm reading

@konbinilife if you like the updates and extensions I'd say go for it Switch controls are also likely far superior to iPad

@NintendoByNature Thanks for the heads up! I regretted not buying Celeste last time it was on sale so now I definitely will!

While I can’t stand for some of these games to be on the list over others I am very happy to see that it is a very eclectic mix.

Just noticed that the Monster Hunter mess of a game on the Switch got voted above Skyrim... not really sure how but whatever.

Yes, it's not portable, but I prefer BotW on the Wii U. I love what the pad brings to the party.

@StooBush It's such a shame that they removed gamepad support.

The fact Katamari Damacy isn't in the list voids it for me lol.

I'm very happy with this list. My baby Xenoblade 2 made it in the top 10! Ys 8, and Disgaea 5 also made it in the list. Shout out to the Jrpg love on this list. It's good to see Monster Hunter and Arms made it in too.

Good choices! I can not say that I like all of those games (some of them just do not appeal to me at all) but there are many on the list that I do like. I never had the Wii U, so many of these games were firsts for me.
My favourite games (that I own) so far would be:

• Captain Toad - Treasure Trackers
• Crash Bandicoot - N-Sane Trilogy [I had all of these on the Playstation when they were first released back in the day]
• Dragon Quest Builders
• Go Vacation [I had a lot of fun trying to find and capture photos of all those creatures - especially the thing in the sky at night (at the skate park) / the thing in the lake - (don’t want to give too much away)]
• Lego City Undercover
• Letter Quest Remastered
• Mario Kart 8
• My Time At Portia [if it were not for the bugs / glitches]
• Piczle Lines
• Phoenix Wright - Ace Attorney Trilogy [even though I have played them all previously on the DS]
• Super Mario Odyssey
• Wheel Of Fortune [I have always been a big fan of this [I grew up on the Australian version in the 1980s/ 1990s], although I had to purchase it from the USA, as it is not sold in Australia]
• Yooka Laylee [“Banjo-Kazooie” is one of my favourite games of all time, this is not on that level but I still liked it]
• Yoshi’s Crafted World
• Zelda: BotW

Octopath is coming to PC too!

YOU HAVE BEEN CURSED TO WANDER HELL FOR ALL ETERNITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHY IS SPLATOON NOT ON HERE? ITS A CONSPIRACY!!!!!!

@Yoshi_Kong
Me too buddy, me too.

lol Pokemon at 43 Pokemon fans will be furious

Go ahead and put Fire Emblem at 5 already

@NintendoByNature drop everything you got going on and go play it hollow knight is definitely one of the best games on switch. You’ll thank me I promise

@Mikess1 i have hollow knight. Not my favorite honestly. The game could've used more check points before boss battles. Still on my "go back and finish" list though.

I thought you said #7 which is hollow knight. But I totally agree with more checkpoints before bosses.

@Ralizah but I'm talking about a videogame you're talking about your own opinion

@LoveEmpath I gotta say, this is the first time I've seen someone continue a four-month-old conversation like this!

Nothing I said was my 'opinion.' Soccer is called "football" almost everywhere in the world. This site is based in one of those many countries. Stop trying to imperialistically foist your culture onto other peoples.

I was so pleased with the 3ds I never thought it would be supplanted by another console, but I felt that was about my DSiXL too. Now the Switch is doing just that, making it's name as my fav. console to date. Their motto should be: 'So many games, so little time'.

I'm not rich I don't understand where that's from

One of the best games on Switch is missing from this list: Monster Boy and the cursed kingdom! How is this possibile??

@Stocksy I own or have at one point owned 40 out of 50... What's wrong with us lol.

@deusX Because it only has 25 user reviews and this list only includes games with 50+ user reviews. Based on it's current user rating it would sit at number 14, but it needs 25 more user ratings to achieve that.

I find rating games very difficult. I know when I like a game and when I don't. Not a whole lot in between. Most I own would probably end up being 9s with a couple of 10s in there. Those I've not liked are only really personal preference most of the time, as opposed to my thinking they are just bad games. Just saying.

Edit: realised after I'd wrote this that I'd actually rated most of my games already. Maaan. Past me was smart. Ever think that?! Haha

@oji yeah best usually means most popular.

Thanks for the guides really helpful for a new switch owner.

@NintendoByNature Not a stretch. In my personal opinion Hollow Knight should be #1. Probably my favorite ever game.

Not to be THAT guy, but this list should be more worrisome than anything. I'm buying a Switch for the first time next week so that my wife and I can finally play a new Animal Crossing. With the exception of a few titles (Link's Awakening, Mario's Odyssey, and Luigi's Mansion specifically) I already own most of these games on Wii U or PC. And most of the PC games were purchased significantly cheaper and are higher quality products. I've been a Nintendo fan since my fist NES, but it says something that it took until the 3 year anniversary for there to be a release that I "need" to buy a Switch for.

some cool games I haven't heard of here I may have to check out!!

Out of this entire list, I only like a single game (Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate)

@MajinSoul i agree i heard that celeste is some peoples favourite game of all time so i am probably gonna get it soon

Looks like Super Mario 3D All-Stars has reached the list.

Been tempted to get a Switch for a while as I love handhelds but when the consoles Top 2 games are Wii U remasters it really makes me question if I should take the plunge its only Fire Emblem and one or two other games that take my interest. Change my mind peeps.

Can't wait for Outer Wilds to come out and get put on this list

When 3 Wii U games take the top 10, you know Nintendo can make games last very long, even if they were originally on failed consoles.

Look I know dread is a good game. But is it really the second best game on switch? It isn’t even the best metroidvania on the console. That honor goes to will of the wisps.

@blindsquarel Yeah, I feel like Dread has been a bit overhyped by this site. This site's staff can have their opinions, though, and that's fine. It's a fantastic game, but I agree with you, it's not even the best Metroidvania on the system. I believe that Hollow Knight is much better.

@StarPoint
Forgot about hollow knight. I never finished it because I quit after I couldn’t beat the boss in the city of tears. I need to play that game again. It was still an amazing game though.

@blindsquarel You mean the Soul Master? Yeah, that guy was insane in my first playthrough of the game. It's super rewarding when you beat him, though.

That’s way too much for Metroid Dread. It’s a great game, but better than Odyssey, Smash, Mario Kart 8, 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, Hollow Knight, Ori, really?

Where is Dead Cells?!

The best IMO:
Alien Isolation
Astalon Tears of the Earth
Breath of the Wild
Bowser's Fury
Cuphead
Dark Souls
Hollow Knight
Mario Odyssey
Metroid Dread
Ori 1&2
Pikmin 3
Smash Bros Ultimate

Come on community, Xenoblade Chronicles DE and Metroid Dread, although very good, are not better than Mario Odyssey or Smash! Correct thy mistake!

I always wondered how the user ratings got decimals when there is no option to do so.

@Friendly As someone who owns smash I very much think they are!
Though its all subjective in the end. I personally prefer single player games even if I'm going to be putting more hours into multiplayer ones.

I figured it was BOTW at #1 as all similar games has compared themselves to it.

My personal best switch games in no order are:

Xenoblade 1,2 and Torna
Shin Megami Tensei V
Monster Hunter Rise
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
Dragon Quest 11
Splatoon 2

I would recommend Smash ultimate if the online wasn't so atrocious.

very good but, for my personal tastes, i'd delete hades from the face of earth

@GrailUK Had that exact same thought. I saw Link's Awakening at 44 and thought (oof thats a little low for a LoZ game) and yet as I kept going I was just shocked at home many bonkers amazing games there are.

@Zeropulse I've been gaming since Space Invaders and the Switch has so many of my fave games ever made. And with stuff like Portal and Advance Wars, it's still going!

I am missing one game from this list.

heads to the eShop

I am not missing a game on this list!

(It was Disco Elysium, btw...)

Why are there comments on this post from like three years ago? I'm so lost.

That being said, I have to say that I truly feel that Breath of the Wild is soooooooo over rated. I played an hour of that game when it came out, and that was it. Everybody always says BoTW BOTW BOTW IS THE BEST, and I am like .... meh.

I liked Donkey Kong Trpical Freeze, Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition, and Stardew Valley WAY more than I did BotW.

@PharoneTheGnome I felt that way originally, it felt bland, empty, and boring, until I gave it another chance. I don't know why, it just clicked and its my most played game on the switch after pokemon. I don't think an hour of gameplay is enough to see why BOTW is so great, so I definitely think you should give it another go if the open world is your jig, if not then I can see why.

@Mauzuri Stardew Valley is about playing a game while relaxing. The music and atmosphere of the game just has a way of magically melting the stresses a bad day away when playing it.

Really its all about doing what you want to do in the game. There is no "right" way to play it in my opinion. I tend to try to make the most efficient farm possible, and I work on completing all of the town hall collections.

@Lagster_YT I can see that, and I probably should give BoTW a second chance. As for open world gameplay, I just felt like Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition was way more fun, engaging, and had a MUCH more beautiful world. Time and time again while playing through Xenoblade Chronicles, I was blown away by the visuals with each time I progressed to a new area.

To me, Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition is a better open world RPG than Breath of the Wild, and Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze a more fun platformer than Super Mario Odyssey. I know that makes me the odd man out, but that's my opinion.

@PharoneTheGnome I agree with you completely. I've finished BOTW twice, DLC included, once in WiiU, then again in Switch, thinking I was missing something, but its story is bland, the missions are generic, the shrines cannot compare to actual dungeons, the bosses are a joke, etc. Can't be compared to the missions in, say, Witcher 3, or the engaging story of Xenoblade Chronicles.
As for Mario Odyssey, I collected all moons but most of them are just a chore. Mario Galaxy 1 & 2 are some of the best games I've ever played, and Odyssey disappointed me.
Overall, I'd put BOTW and Mario Odyssey in 20-15 place, but nowhere near the top.
DKC Tropical Freeze is one of my all time favorites 2D platformers. The difficulty is just right, the controls are excellent, the levels have so much attention to detail, etc.

Three games I'll never get the hype for:

3D World- just 3D Land with worse level design and camera angles that don't work as well without depth perception

Dragon Quest XI- Basically an RPG-themed walking simulator until the first credit roll. Pretty sure you can get through 95% of it on full auto

Breath of the Wild- Generic open world with some extra physics and a bucket of Zelda-colored paint dumped on top. It's about as much a Zelda game as Hyrule Warriors is

Im glad to see dragon quest xi so high, love the game so much.

I disagree with xenoblade 1 being higher than 2. I think the sequel es far superior than 1 in gameplay and story

My Nintendo Switch TOP - 10 FUNNIEST GAMES

Observation:

• I don't have fun with 3D platform games.
• I don't have fun with story-rich roleplaying games.
• I don't have fun with exploration games.
• 99% of my game time is playing MULTIPLAYER GAMES (i don´t like to play alone)

So......don't judge me (LOL)

1º - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
2º - Shadowverse
3º - Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
4º - Blazblue Central Fiction
5º - Just Dance (any Just Dance... this game is out best party and competitive game. Whoever loses takes off a piece of clothing. And you can do erotic challenges too, which we love LOL)
6º Warioware Get it Together
7º Binding of Isaac Repentance
8º Crash Team Racing Nitro Kart
9º Wargroove
10º SNK vs CAPCOM: Card Fighters Clash

I love the top 5, im totally for dread being number 2

@troj27 quoted from the text above the list -

"...we asked Nintendo Life readers to rate their favourite Switch games since launch and the list below is the result according to the User Ratings..."

So nothing to do with the Reviews

@troj27: It would help you to read what the list is based on, mate.

How in the hell is Xenoblade Chronicles 3rd? I've played it and traded back in after a few hours. Garbage game that's an insult to the RPG genre.

Gotta say, I was actually surprised to see a few third party games make the top ten.

@PharoneTheGnome now your making me want to give Xenoblade a try xD

The Switch really does have so many amazing games! Here are my top 5:
5. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
4. Metroid Dread
3. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
2. Super Mario Odyssey
1. The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild

I suppose it's easier to pick out the games that for me, probably don't deserve their place. Bayonetta - I get why people like these games, just not for me. Hades - I'm a big fan of rougelites, but once I escaped the first time, I felt no motivation to continue, dead cells is far superior. Celeste - I just don't get what people see, I have went back 4 times, convinced I must be missing something, but every time I complete a few areas and just feel bored and give up, clearly not for me.

@Joriss
CAUTION - Troll detected.

For me its Mario Odyssey. I dont care if this is pathetic to say but i dont care I think Mario Odyssey was one of the best moments of my life. It left that much of an impact on me.

❗️My Top 5️⃣ Switch Games:

1️⃣The Outer Worlds
2️⃣Valkyria Chronicles 4
3️⃣PokéMon: Sword
4️⃣Miitopia
5️⃣Power Rangers: Battle For The Grid

@Rykdrew great list and I don't judge you, there are so many kind of games, to each their own I came up with this list that might interest you since it's all local multiplayer : https://www.reddit.com/r/localmultiplayergames/comments/th1tzj/best_local_coop_multiplayer_games_with_kids/

"The Witcher 3 set the bar for modern RPGs back in 2015, and this port is a startling reminder that it has yet to be bettered."

scrolls one game down to see Xenoblade Chronicles 2 in a higher position

@GavinLane why the text on Xenoblade Chronicles don't show up on this top?

Pleasantly surprised to see Xenoblade 3 just under BotW. Definitely agree.

Obviously the list focuses on more ‘gamer’ games. But I think a broader ‘best Switch game’ list really needs to have Ring Fit Adventure and Tetris 99 appearing highly

I'm disappointed that Steamworld Dig 2 will drop out of the top 50 at some point soon...such a great game!

It's great that the top 10 switch games sees some major additions and subtractions as the years go by. Sign of a relevant console/game releases.
My current top 10 (because I ain't doing 50!) (Also not counting games I played elsewhere)
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Breath of the Wild
Super Smash Bros Ultimate
Neon White
Fire Emblem Three Houses
Legends Arceus
Neon White
Luigi's Mansion 3
Metroid Dread
Splatoon 2
HM - Astral Chain, Skyward Sword HD, Rayman Legends, Ringfit Adventure, Age of Calamity, Splatoon 3, Tropical Freeze, Pikmin 3, Super Meat Boy

Animal Crossing New Horizons

ARMS

1-2-Switch

Pocoyo Party

We have TWO Metroid titles in the Top 3 PLUS there's Metroid Prime 4 on the way?! Great time for Metroid fans!

But then we have Donkey Kong completely missing in action, except for a Wii U Port, with absolutely nothing else announced on the way!

Makes no sense... Nintendo are just odd arent they?! I do love Metroid thankfully!

The switch has so many games that a top 50 is not enough anymore. you need a top 100 because at this point everybody knows about this "tiny" list.

Celeste should be #1 (ok, #2 behind BOTW)

No Dead Cells?Steamworld heist is one of my fav ever. And streets of rage 4 is fantastic..the best beat’em up in years for sure

2 metroid games in the top three games of a system.

Has that ever happened?

Also: what year is it…?

@Lionyone yes I could replace a few games on this list with it. It’s a very good racer, with plenty of great content.

Yes, I've finally done it. A list where I own every game! Admittedly I only have the Persona games on PS hardware currently, but I still have them.

Yes! Up yours me from 20 years ago that didn't own cool games!

Wow is Metroid Primer remaster that good? Maybe I really should check it out

Why Skyrim and the Witcher are in this list?😑

I'm more a JRPG guy so my favorite games are SMT5, Xenoblade 3, Project Triangle, YS VIII, Valkyria Chronicles 4, Astral Chain, BOTW, Metroid Dread, Mario Odyssey, Smash Bros Ultimate and Samurai Shodown. The Switch has a great library.

@BananaMetallurgica Because they're both insanely fun large-scale rpgs that are universally recognized as some of the best of that genre.
People have different gaming tastes, if you don't like them that's okay, but you have to recognize that they belong here.
Oop didn't see Fishy already said something haha

i declare the list invalid(kiddin obviously) as splatoon 3 should be in top 20 easily. splatoon 2 is in the right area if only cause they are done updating it and running any events on it... but splat 3 is near perfection and the most fun shooter in a long while... will admit first wave from expansion pack is kinda lame yea i like inkopolis but most everything else is the same. - AGENT 82 is my splat 3 name if you see me good luck beating me....

Can’t say I completely agree but fair enough. How is FE Engage not in here? It’s just as good as Three Houses.

I’m sure there will be lots of snubs to a top 5-0 but I think Clubhouse 51 Games should be on here

Astral Chain deserves to be 30 spots higher.

@CMS_Glalie "that’s a game I will never play even if someone gives me a free copy because it looks so boring" Wow so much negativity about a game you didn't even play. I was curious on seeing what great games you own instead and found only Pokemon and old Simpsons games in the profile. Obviously we own more games than those we have put in our profiles, but It seems that Krusty's Fun house is so much better than BOTW.
Maybe you should follow your own advice that you made recently about the Mario movie to another user:
" wow what’s your problem if you don’t have anything nice to say just don’t say anything because I know a lot of people who are very excited to see it"

The games I've put the most time into on Switch are definitely Hollow Knight and Dark Souls, and those are the games I've had the most fun with as well. HUNDREDS of hours. I've played through each of them several times

I’ll forever be in the camp that puts Xenoblade 3 below even a top 10 on switch because of how much of a letdown it was and how I just don’t see why everyone calls it a masterpiece. I have finished the entire game, just to be clear, and the other two entries just stuck with me way more, plus just as a narrative by itself it doesn’t carry out its potential. But do I think it belongs in the top 50? Hard to say no to that, it is still quality. I have pretty much everything on this list so I’m good, having just bought metroid prime. Looking forward to that.

Love to see two Metroid games in the top 3

Um, why is Splatoon 3 below Splatoon 2? It literally improves on the latter in every area.

@Hero-of-WiiU Maybe because Engage's story is somewhere between awful and nonexistent? I really enjoy the gameplay, but the worthless dialog that is little more than waifus and fanboys gushing about how much they love you is a huge detractor.

I'd love it if you guys actually put together a list, instead of relying on user ratings.

While I'm glad it got so much love, and as someone who respects the hell out of both the developers and the franchise, I'll admit to being surprised Metroid Dread is as high as it is. It's good, but it's not that good.

No Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle?

metroid prime should not be number 2 because it is a remastered port from the gamecube no matter how good it looks and plays.

@johnedwin Why not? Would it deserve the spot if it was the same game but released now on Switch?

A good list overall, but some of the games are lacking (Okami) and some of the descriptions make it seem like newer = better which is absolutely not the case in video game industry

I'm surprised to see Divinity 2 is not on the list, and I'd also have Chained Echoes in the top 50. It's insane how many quality games are on the Switch.

@Il_Nintenditore Probably, but let's face it, Okami should qualify in top 3, and that's the problem with such lists. So little changes in top x games over the years, and given that gaming industry struggles to release a hit that would be even on mediocre level comparing to the golden age of gaming, this situation is not prone to change

Of the really big games, Dragon Quest XI is still my favourite. It's an absolute textbook example of how to properly evolve something for new hardware without changing the formula too much. I also liked Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Super Mario Odyssey.

But a lot of my time with Switch has actually been with the smaller releases. I loved Shredder's Revenge, Streets of Rage 4, Fight'N Rage, Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle and so many others.

I've played half of these, and would give most of them at least an 8/10, so I guess I Iine up pretty well with the average. Though only 18 of my own 50-ish game long favorites list made the cut.

Tears of the Kingdom about to bump Skyrim off this list.

I own 18 of those out of the 54 Switch games I have. There's another about 8-12 on the list that I plan on getting eventually. I plan on trying out the Xenoblade series at some point so if I get into those I'll eventually have 9 of the top 10 (only Persona I have no plans to get).

Surprised to see no Dead Cells. That's probably my fourth favorite Switch game behind only BotW, Smash, and Odyssey. With Dread being my number 5.

Between amazing new first party games, Wii U ports, ports of older Nintendo games and from Playstation/Xbox systems, indies, and even a few new AAA third party games, the Switch lineup is truly incredible. Especially with all the systems on NSO, its definitely the ultimate Nintendo system / portable system ever.

I wonder if Zelda TotK will end up taking the top spot on this list when they update it.

64 is one of my all-time favorite games. The closest thing to a Mario 64 sequel were the challenge levels in Sunshine. Odyssey is not a sequel to 64 at all.

BREATH OF THE WILD
Greatest game EVER... FOREVER and EVER!!!

Ahh c'mon - Night in the Woods is missing. That should definitely be top 50 if not top 5 for me. Gregg rules!!

I currently own 27 of them. Definitely a few more I have considered getting such as Fire Emblem Three Houses (although I wonder if I’d like Engage better with more combat focus) and one of the Xenoblade games. Never played either series, not sure if they would be for me.

I feel like I love games too much to rank them. I have to rank the by “want/have” and “don’t want.”😅 I have 32 of these, but I’ve only played like, 27 of those.

Nice to see Xenoblade 3 in top 5.
My list would look something like this:
1. Xenoblade 3
2. Zelda: Breath of the Wild
3. Metroid Prime Remastered
4. Metroid Dread
5. Monster Hunter Rise

1. Pokemon Legends Arceus. 2. Mario kart 8 deluxe. 3. Kirby forgotten land. 4. Bayonetta 2. 5. Mario party super stars. Something like this I do not remember all games now. My list.

I've poured vast hours of my gaming soul into the vast majority of that top 50. Especially the top 10. I personally wouldn't have metroid dread as high as no.2 but certainly comfortably in the top 10 but that is a minor quibble

Aside for the persona, witcher, and xenoblade games, i think I have all the others in this list and that, to me, its a testament of how good of a console the Switch is. For franchises as old as 30 years, to been having their best games at this stage, that alone speaks volumes.

Going by this list, FF7 is supposedly below Steamworld Dig 2 not to mention all the other games above it? I don't care how old it is, it will always be one of the best games of all time, and most games on the list cannot compete even remotely.

My top 10 would be something like this:

1. TLoZ: Breath of the Wild
2. Metroid Prime Remastered
3. Metroid Dread
4. Xenoblade Chronicles 3
5. Hollow Knight
6. Super Mario Odyssey
7. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
8. Dead Cells
9. Octopath Traveler (2?)
10. Monster Hunter Rise
(11. Astral Chain)

Dragon Quest XI S in the top ten makes me happy. What a fun game that reminded of why I enjoying gaming so much to begin with. An adventure I think I may eventually do another playthrough of. Enjoyed the gameplay, combat, story, graphics, and exploration. Beautiful game deserving it's recognition.

Gonna give a shout out to Fire Emblem Engage for getting me back into my favorite series. 3H wasn't my cup of tea cos the monastery segments were such a bore. I like more focus on combat, strategy, and gameplay and Engage just wow'd me big time in all those departments. I feel completely sucked into the role of a tactician in the game and thoroughly enjoy the strategic combat and the more interesting characters like Yunaka (obviously) or Veyle. Think this game deserves more love. When the rest of the DLC is released, I'm planning on a 3rd playthrough. I rarely beat games twice these days, let alone 3 if that tells you anything.

1) Out Run
2) Baldur’s Gate I&II
3) Wave Race 64
4) Golden Sun
5) Green Beret

@gcunit Nice!! I hope to be able to say this in the near future!!

@TYRANACLES Totally agree!!

So many amazing games to play! Love this console

Shocked how high Metroid Dread is. Don’t get me wrong, I love the game. However, I think Ori (both games) and Hollow Knight do Metroid’s genre better than Metroid lol.

Not a fan of BotW but I understand it’s universal acclaim. Just can’t get into big open world games as I don’t have much free time.

Not sure what my top-10 would be but Metroid Prime Remastered may just be number 1 with Tropical Freeze a close number 2.

Damn, that's a lame line-up really. Both Zelda games are boring, and there's a ton of games on there from previous generations. Persona 5 Royal & Persona 4 are the only games which are top tier. And if Hollow Knight and the worst version of the extremely bloated Witcher 3 is in your top 30 you're doing something very wrong.

What an incredible library of games. I have loved the option of playing them on the hybrid console. Metroid Dread is great, but considering the standard of games here, i'd possibly have it outside of the top 15 or so games. Pixel Remaster similarly but outside the top 30 or so I think. I also feel animal crossing is too low in the ranking. That's how the vote went, I know, just my opinion. I loved both open world Zeldas equally

What an amazing list!! Those are indeed all must have games.

I would add to the must-have list these other fantastic games:
Octopath Traveler 2, Chained Echoes, Astral Chain, Monster Boy, OG Blasphemous & Ori, Rayman Legends, The Messenger, Return to Monkey Island, Paper Mario OK, Tactics Ogre Reborn, Death's Door, the Bioshocks, Final Fantasy VII, IX & X, Ys VIII & IX, Fire Emblem Engage, Resident Evil 1 & 4, Trails from Zero & to Azure, and Portal collection.

Man, the Switch is definitely the best console ever.

PS: I love to see that top 5! It makes me happy. Zelda and Metroid are both my favorite series.
Well, actually the whole top 20 is top notch.

Incredible console with incredible games new and old with the ability to take them all on the go. Best console ever made.

Splatoon 3 is way too low omg. And I agree that astral chain should be on this list still. Love the switch

@Falksi You need to have a comically short attention span to find BotW and TotK boring.

@Jiggies No you don't. It's boring because there's a complete lack of challenge and it's got an empty, vapid world. Attention span has nothing to do with it, that's just a sad fanboy cope.

Great list! Be it new games, remasters and remakes, 3rd party games, a great game is a great game. Here's my top recommended Switch games, in NO PARTICULAR ORDER

• Portal Companion Collection
• Ori Blind Forest
• Ori Will of the Wisps
• Metroid Prime Remastered
• Metroid Dread
• Pikmin 4
• Super Mario Wonder
• Super Mario RPG
• Zelda Breath of the Wild
• Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
• Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak
• Batman Arkham Asylum
• Batman Arkham City
• Red Dead Redemption
• Sniper Elite 4
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
• Super Mario Odyssey
• Super Mario 3D World
• Fire Emblem Three Houses
• Fire Emblem Engage
• Xenoblade Chronicles
• Xenoblade Chronicles 2
• Xenoblade Chronicles 3
• Triangle Strategy
• Octopath Traveler 2
• Divinity Original Sin 2
• Persona 4 Golden
• Persona 5 Royal
• Splatoon 3
• Cruis'n Blast
• 13 Sentinels
• Astral Chain
• Bayonetta 2
• Bayonetta 3
• Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core
• Final Fantasy X/X-2
• Final Fantasy XII
• Star Ocean Second Story R
• Diablo 3
• DKC Tropical Freeze
• Trails of Cold Steel III
• Trails of Cold Steel IV
• Trails Into Reverie
• Trails From Zero
• Trails To Azure
• Dragon Quest XI S
• Mario Rabbids Kingdom Battle
• Mario Rabbids Sparks of Hope
• Luigi's Mansion 3
• Neon White
• Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1/2
• Nier Automata
• Pillars of Eternity
• Rayman Legends
• Resident Evil Revelations
• Resident Evil Revelations 2
• Resident Evil 5
• Shantae Seven Sirens
• Shin Megami Tensei V
• Shovel Knight
• Steamworld Dig 2
• Ultra Street Fighter II
• Super Smash Bros Ultimate
• Tales of Vesperia
• Tales of Symphonia
• Skyrim
• Valkyria Chronicles
• Valkyria Chronicles 4
• Y's VIII
• Zombie Army 4

HONORABLE MENTION NEXT 50

• Tunic
• Hollow Knight
• Sniper Elite 3
• Zelda Skyward Sword
• Zelda Link's Awakening
• Pikmin 1
• Pikmin 2
• Pikmin 3
• WarioWare Move It
• Wonderful 101
• Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
• Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania
• Super Mario Maker 2
• New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe
• Captain Toad Treasure Tracker
• Sonic Superstars
• Rocket League
• Risk of Rain 2
• Rogue Legacy 2
• Rune Factory 4
• Pokemon Legends Arceus
• Persona 5 Strikers
• Persona 5 Tactica
• Okami HD
• Nintendo Switch Sports
• Ni No Kuni
• New Pokemon Snap
• Metro 2033
• Metro Last Light
• Raincode
• Danganronpa Trilogy
• Mega Man Collection 1/2
• Mega Man X Collection 1/2
• Mega Man ZX Collection
• Mega Man 11
• Kirby Forgotten Land
• Kirby Return to Dreamland
• Hades
• Ghost Trick
• Disco Elysium
• Dragon Quest Monsters Lost Prince
• Dragon Quest Builders 2
• Monster Hunter Stories 2
• Dark Souls Remastered
• Assassin's Creed Ezio Collection
• Assassin's Creed Rebel Collection
• Crysis Trilogy
• Borderlands Legendary Collection
• AI Somnium Files
• AI Somnium Files Nirvana Initiative

@Ralizah
I'd have gone with Shantae Seven Sirens myself. But agree, Pirates Curse over Half Genie Hero for sure.

@JaxonH In my defense, Seven Sirens didn't even exist when I wrote that post.

Seven Sirens was a bit disappointing when it first came out because of the balancing issues it had, but WF addressed the food drop rate and improved the bosses a bit, and I'd say it's also a real looker on the SWOLED, so I could get behind someone choosing it over Pirate's Curse now.

Even the initial release of Seven Sirens blew away HGH, though. What a disappointment that game was.

Why is Splatoon 2 rated higher than 3!?! Also it is in the main image of the article...

@Falksi Well, that's one great game you're not capable of enjoying. Your loss.

@Jiggies No loss to me.

It is so nice to see how much of a renaissance Metroid has had in recent years.

Strange to me that Chained Echoes doesn't have enough votes to qualify (at the point I am writing this, I should add). Sea of Stars has a very similar user score (as well as wider review scores) but has around 4 times the number of votes

Why is Splatoon 2 in the header image instead of 3 lol?

Lets Goooooo Zelda!

Did I miss Astral Chain or is it not on there?

It's a top 5 Switch game. Not top 50, top 5.

Breath of the Wild
Tears of the Kingdom
Super Mario Odyssey
Hollow Knight
Astral Chain

If this isn't your top 5, you're wrongggg. Subjective? Don't care. Still wrong.

So glad to see Zelda and Metroid in the first places! Fantastic games all 4, and my favorites series of all time.
Overall a pretty good list.

@Ashunera84 Now you mention it, I still have to try Astral Chain. It seems I'm really missing out!

My current top 10 would be:

Arcade Spirits
The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Hollow Knight
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Nier: Automata
Snipperclips Plus
Steamworld Dig 2
Xenoblade Chronicles

So many choices! At this moment in time, my top ten looks something like this:

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Dragon Quest Builders 2
Dragon Quest 11
Harvestella
The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles
New Pokémon Snap
Disgaea 4
Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX

But there are so many others I could stick here. What an incredible library the Switch has 😁

When Portal Collection is only at no 50, you know its gonna be a good list.

My number 1 has to be Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Absolute masterpiece

Can't help but believe Link's Awakening should be a little higher placed here, certainly in the top 40. It has bags of charm and some nicely refined gameplay mechanics, with a fun story to boot.

Seems like the community devalue it due to it being a remake and having a few technical issues but it would be in my personal top twenty, for sure.

Surprised Splatoon 3 isn’t on the list, considering Splatoon 2 is.

Metroid Dread is waaaay too highly ranked in my opinion. It’s good, I guess. But there are much better, i didn’t even bother finishing it.

So afger all rhese yeads. Still a wiiu game at nr1. (Currently playong it on the wiiu btw)

@Ryan_Again Metroid Dread is a master piece! Any Metroid fun loves it, it's exactly what we have been expecting to see for a loooong time. A dream come true.

Seeing that all these games are ranking higher than 8.5 (basically MUST HAVE all of them), I'd suggest doing a list of the 100 best games of the console.
That way a lot of other FANTASTIC games such as Astral Chain, Tactics Ogre, Mario RPG, Paper Mario OK, Death's Door, Tunic, Ys VIII, Skyrim, Fire Emblem Engage, Inside, Pentiment, Bayonetta 3, The Outer Wilds, Prince of Persia, Chained Echoes, Monster Boy, Rayman Legends, Octopath Traveler 2, The Messenger, Disco Elysium, 13 Sentinels or any other FF, can also make the list. Just to mention some that came up to my mind!

Switch is definitely a really amazing console. Probably my favorite.

@the_beaver
Agree, given that it's been 7 years I think this list should be expanded to top 100 Switch Games.
Even then, some great ones will be missed, but at least it will be more inclusive.

@Anachronism 3D World worse than 3D Land? That's the biggest cap I've ever seen in my life. 3D World not only has better levels, but better controls, better powerups, better bosses, better music, AND a better post game. I even consider 3D World to be better than 64 and Sunshine, and the Bowsers Fury package might genuinely be the 2nd best mainline Mario game after Galaxy.

Couple things:
1. 2024 and BOTW is still #1? Get off your high horses, guys.
2. 3D World + Bowsers Fury should be higher.
3. No SSHD? Why?
4. Return to Dreamland Deluxe should be on this list.

This really needs to be a top 100.

@batmanbud2 I'll be honest with you. It's been a decade since I've played either of them, and even that comment is a couple years old at this point, so I'm a bit fuzzy on the details. What I can tell you is I did everything there was to do in 3D Land and still went back to it after that to improve my run time on every level multiple times, whereas I had to force myself just to get to the credits in 3D World. As for power ups, the cherry was a cool idea, but I wasn't fond of the cat suit, and that's what the whole game was really built around. I also feel like multiplayer Mario platformers tend to compromise the single-player experience to make having multiple players on screen feasible. There's just a lot of extra empty space because of it. I had the same problem with NSMB Wii after really enjoying the first one on DS. And 3D World didn't control as well as 3D Land precisely because it had those same fixed, pulled back camera angles without the 3DS's stereoscopic 3D. Maybe even more pulled back, actually. I was constantly landing right behind or in front of enemies I tried to jump on because of that. I haven't gotten to play Bowser's Fury because I only had the original Wii U version. I think I'd enjoy it more than the main game because it does remind me more of Sunshine, which is far and away my favorite Mario game. Really, I'm surprised I even like 3D Land enough to put it in second place, because I found 3D World and the Galaxy games pretty boring. Also, I'm pushing 30. I don't know what cap means and I don't want to. Please be considerate of us senior citizens when talking to strangers on the internet.

I’ve got 14 games on that list and my ranking of them are (with Nintendo Life’s ranking in brackets);

14) Animal Crossing: New Horizons (22)
13) Hades (14)
12) Breath of the Wild (1)
11) Tears of the Kingdom (2)
10) Celeste (31)
9) Super Mario 3D World + Bowsers Fury (18)
8) Ori and the Will of the Wisps (23)
7) Metroid Dread (4)
6) Hollow Knight (21)
5) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (10)
4) Smash Bros Ultimate (5)
3) Super Mario Odyssey (6)
2) DKC: Tropical Freeze (27)
1) Metroid Prime Remastered (3)

I have 48 played games on that list. Good list. My personal fav is Zelda Tears but I totally respect BOTW being number 1.

I think Animal Crossing ought to be in the top 20 ahead of FF Pixel Remaster. I also am not sure Triangle Strategy should be in the top 50 considering the extreme high quality of the library. It IS a good, good video game, however.

This is one of those consoles where I will have a backlog for life. There is so much on it and so little time. Many of the ports and remakes are also great. I love a console where I can play Banjo Kazooie, Skyrim, Pokemon and Rune Factory all in one sitting. I have a pile of games in my backlog, including ported games I missed on first release.

Really want to try Mario Wonder and Arceus. The upcoming Peach game looks fantastic too. At this point I'm waiting for some pretty heavy duty sales. Maybe we are getting close to that time again for Nintendo Selects to make an appearance? There's some games which I am just unlikely to pick up with the $80-90 price tag.

Hey @dartmonkey or anyone else from the site - have you seen the top of this list since the Library of Ruina review? Don't know if there's anything you can do about it but it's very weird to go through all these games and then see that there at #1.

I was very confused and it was only when I clicked on the game and read the comments that I understood what's gone on.

Some of these are ones that I'm purely uninterested in, but I guess that's what keeps me coming back. It got me to try Xenoblade 2 and FF7, and those are now two of my favorites.

I now have 34 of these, though!! Like I said; some, such as Bayonetta, are unlikely for me to ever have much interest in, but it's nice to have them suggested.

I agree with BOTW over TOTK.

BOTW worked well by using the hardware limitations to its advantage. Having a largely empty post apocalyptic world with tough enemies that are better to avoid than take on worked. I got the sense of danger around every corner.

TOTK which was during the rebuild phase just felt empty. Lush green fields of nothing. Plus everything was just a re-skin of the previous game. Even the dungeons fans were calling out for were still a challenge of 5 like the divine beasts. The only real variety were the bosses (instead of 50 shades of Ganon).

I also found the powers like Revali's Gale and Mipha's Grace abilities more useful than a few sidekicks just to throw into your battle and not contribute much.

I'll play BOTW again. TOTK probably not. TOTK had bigger content, but BOTW knew how to use it.

I think I’m the only person who finds Wonder and Odyssey disappointing. They both have their moments, but overall I feel like they fail to live up to the best 2D and 3D entries in the series.

"Of course, as with many early PS1 games, Final Fantasy VII is a relic of its time,"

considering FFVII was utterly mind blowing in its day, imagine how bad switch's stuttering, sputtering and middling performance will be perceived in the future. 🤔

PS - it may be a relic but it looks 10x better on the hardware it came out on 👍

@Joekun

"I think I’m the only person who finds Wonder and Odyssey disappointing."

hi, nice to meet you ✌️

@Joekun Odyssey, yes (albeit still good). Wonder, no. If anything, I'm disappointed by SMB3, as I felt it was too tedious and mediocre by modern platforming standards. Wonder, on the other hand, was on the same level as Tropical Freeze and Planet Robobot in terms of it's whimsical, fun nature.

@-wc- the Switch version is still better than the remake.

@batmanbud2

yes i will play any version of the original FFVII over the "remake." 👍

@littlegreenbob

you didnt get enough likes for your BOTW vs TOTK analysis! very well said and i agree totally.

BOTW feels SO GOOD to play, so it was surprising to me when i got ~30 hrs into TOTK and realized "hey I'm not enjoying this." 😮‍💨

@Anachronism if Sunshine (my least favorite 3D Mario) is your favorite, then we are absolutely not the same. Thus far, Banjo Kazooie and Bowsers Fury are the only collectathons to hold my complete attention (though I have yet to play Banjo Tooie, so that may change). Also, Sunshine has way too many bugs, glitches, and bad level design for me to even consider finishing it. On the other hand, Galaxy is my #1 favorite game of all time, and 3D World being similar definitely helped. In addition, I personally believe the Super Bell to be the best Powerup in the series, period. It is way, WAY too much fun in both 3D World and Bowsers Fury.

I do agree with you on NSMBW, though. That game was definitely compromised by its multiplayer. U and Wonder were not.

@batmanbud2 Never understood why people say Sunshine is buggy. I've run through it I think three times without much issue. The only level I'd call poorly designed is the pachinko one. Other than that, it has my favorite level design in the series by far. I like to compare its main areas to giant jungle gyms, whereas the levels in the linear 3D games feel more like obstacle courses, and 64/Odyssey's are split between those and ones that just feel like a bunch of smaller challenges lumped together. To me, the scale of those designs always felt a bit too limited for Nintendo's flagship 3D platformer. I find the combination of freedom and challenge in navigating Sunshine's areas a lot more fun, and I like its more unified theme over the random mishmash of environments you get in the rest of the series. As for the super bell, it always just felt a bit too much like cheating; something added more to make things easier for beginners than to offer new challenges for veterans. Being able to climb flag poles with it was really the nail in the coffin on that.