Best Nintendo Switch Games: Top Picks For 2024
The Nintendo Switch has revolutionized the gaming world with its unique hybrid design, allowing gamers to seamlessly transition between playing on a big screen at home and enjoying their favorite titles on the go. Since its launch, the Switch has amassed an impressive library of games, catering to a wide range of tastes and preferences. From epic adventures and captivating RPGs to family-friendly titles and intense multiplayer experiences, the Switch truly has something for everyone.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll dive into the top games for the Nintendo Switch, exploring a diverse selection of titles that have captivated players and critics alike. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or new to the Switch, this guide will help you discover the must-play games that showcase the console's versatility and charm. We’ll cover various genres, highlight the unique features of each game, and explain why they deserve a spot in your Switch library. So, grab your Joy-Cons and get ready to explore the best the Nintendo Switch has to offer!
When discussing the top games for the Nintendo Switch, it’s impossible not to start with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This masterpiece redefined the open-world genre, offering players an unparalleled sense of freedom and exploration. Stepping into the vast and beautiful world of Hyrule is an experience unlike any other. From the moment you awaken as Link, you're free to roam the sprawling landscapes, discover hidden secrets, and embark on a quest to defeat the formidable Calamity Ganon.
Breath of the Wild is celebrated for its innovative gameplay mechanics, including a physics engine that allows for emergent gameplay moments. You can use the environment to your advantage, whether it’s starting a fire to create an updraft for gliding or using metal weapons to attract lightning during a storm. The game encourages experimentation and rewards curiosity, making every playthrough a unique and memorable adventure. The sense of discovery is constant; you might stumble upon a hidden shrine, a challenging enemy camp, or a breathtaking vista simply by exploring off the beaten path. The world feels alive and dynamic, with weather patterns affecting gameplay and enemies reacting realistically to your actions. This level of detail creates an immersive experience that keeps players engaged for hundreds of hours.
The game’s narrative is both epic and personal. While the main quest revolves around saving Hyrule, the journey is filled with intimate moments and character-driven stories. Link’s memories, scattered throughout the world, provide glimpses into the past and deepen the emotional connection to the characters. The Champions, the fallen heroes who once fought alongside Link, add layers of complexity and tragedy to the narrative. The voice acting, a first for the mainline Zelda series, brings these characters to life in a way that text-based dialogue never could. The music, composed by Manaka Kataoka, is equally captivating, blending orchestral scores with ambient sounds to create an atmosphere that is both serene and epic. The themes are iconic and memorable, perfectly complementing the game’s visuals and narrative.
Breath of the Wild's dungeons, known as Divine Beasts, offer a unique twist on traditional Zelda dungeons. Each Divine Beast is a mechanical creature that you must explore and manipulate to solve puzzles and defeat bosses. These dungeons are intricately designed and offer a satisfying challenge, requiring players to think creatively and utilize Link’s abilities in innovative ways. The shrines, smaller puzzle rooms scattered throughout Hyrule, provide additional challenges and rewards. There are over 100 shrines to discover, each offering a unique test of skill and ingenuity. Completing shrines earns you Spirit Orbs, which can be exchanged for health or stamina upgrades, incentivizing exploration and puzzle-solving.
Super Mario Odyssey is another essential title for any Nintendo Switch owner. This vibrant and imaginative platformer takes Mario on a globe-trotting adventure to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of Bowser, who plans to marry her against her will. Odyssey stands out for its innovative gameplay mechanics, charming characters, and stunningly beautiful worlds. It’s a joyous celebration of the Mario franchise and a testament to Nintendo’s creativity and dedication to fun.
At the heart of Super Mario Odyssey is Cappy, a sentient hat that becomes Mario’s new companion and main gameplay mechanic. Cappy allows Mario to “capture” enemies and objects, essentially taking control of them and using their unique abilities. This mechanic opens up a world of possibilities, allowing Mario to transform into a Goomba, a T-Rex, a Bullet Bill, and many other creatures. Each transformation offers new ways to traverse the environment, solve puzzles, and defeat enemies. The sheer variety of capture targets keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting, encouraging players to experiment and discover new abilities.
The game’s worlds, known as Kingdoms, are incredibly diverse and richly detailed. From the bustling Metro Kingdom, inspired by New York City, to the sun-soaked Sand Kingdom, each location is filled with secrets, challenges, and memorable moments. The Kingdoms are designed to encourage exploration, with hidden Power Moons tucked away in every nook and cranny. Power Moons are the game’s main collectible, and you’ll need to gather them to power Mario’s airship, the Odyssey, and travel to new destinations. The hunt for Power Moons is incredibly addictive, as you’ll constantly be rewarded for your curiosity and adventurous spirit.
Super Mario Odyssey also shines in its movement and control scheme. Mario’s moveset is incredibly versatile, allowing for fluid and precise platforming. He can jump, flip, dive, and wall-jump with ease, giving you a sense of complete control over his actions. The addition of Cappy adds even more depth to Mario’s movement options, allowing for creative combinations and stylish maneuvers. The game’s controls are intuitive and responsive, making it a joy to play, whether you’re a seasoned Mario player or new to the series.
The game’s narrative, while simple, is charming and engaging. Bowser’s over-the-top villainy and Peach’s determination to escape her forced marriage create a fun and lighthearted story. The characters are endearing, and the cutscenes are filled with humor and heart. The ending of the game is particularly memorable, offering a satisfying conclusion to Mario’s journey while also setting the stage for post-game content and challenges. The music in Super Mario Odyssey is equally delightful, with catchy tunes that perfectly capture the spirit of each Kingdom. The game’s main theme, “Jump Up, Super Star!”, is an instant classic, and the soundtrack as a whole is one of the best in Mario history.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the perfect game for anyone looking for a relaxing and engaging escape. This charming life simulation game allows you to create your own island paradise, filled with adorable animal villagers, beautiful scenery, and endless possibilities. New Horizons took the world by storm, becoming a cultural phenomenon and a must-have title for the Nintendo Switch.
The core gameplay of Animal Crossing: New Horizons revolves around building and customizing your island. You start with a deserted island and gradually transform it into a thriving community. You can gather resources, craft furniture and tools, build homes for yourself and your villagers, and decorate your island to your heart’s content. The game offers an incredible level of customization, allowing you to create an island that truly reflects your personal style and creativity.
One of the most appealing aspects of New Horizons is its real-time gameplay. The game’s calendar and clock sync with the real world, meaning that events and seasons change in real-time. This creates a sense of immersion and encourages you to check in on your island regularly. You’ll experience different events and activities depending on the time of day and the season, keeping the gameplay fresh and exciting. The real-time aspect also fosters a sense of community, as players can share their experiences and discoveries with each other.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is populated by a cast of lovable animal villagers, each with their own unique personality and quirks. You’ll form friendships with these villagers, chat with them, and help them with their requests. Building relationships with your villagers is a key part of the Animal Crossing experience, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see your community grow and thrive. The villagers are charming and endearing, and their interactions with you will bring a smile to your face.
The game also features a robust crafting system, allowing you to create a wide variety of items, from furniture and tools to clothing and decorations. Crafting requires gathering resources from your island, such as wood, stone, and iron. This encourages exploration and makes you feel like you’re truly building your island from the ground up. The crafting recipes are constantly expanding, with new items added through updates and events, ensuring that there’s always something new to create.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a game that you can play at your own pace. There’s no pressure to rush through the game or achieve specific goals. Instead, you’re free to focus on the activities that you enjoy the most, whether it’s fishing, bug-catching, decorating, or socializing with your villagers. The game is incredibly relaxing and therapeutic, providing a much-needed escape from the stresses of everyday life. Its charming graphics, calming music, and endless customization options make it a game that you can easily lose yourself in for hours on end.
For those who crave competitive action, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is an absolute must-have for the Nintendo Switch. This crossover fighting game brings together characters from a vast array of franchises, including Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, and many more. With its massive roster, deep gameplay mechanics, and endless replayability, Ultimate is the definitive Smash Bros. experience.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate boasts the largest roster in the series’ history, featuring every fighter from previous Smash Bros. games, as well as several new additions. With over 80 characters to choose from, there’s a fighter for every playstyle and preference. Each character has their own unique moveset and abilities, requiring you to learn different strategies and techniques to master them. The sheer variety of characters ensures that the game never gets stale, as you can constantly experiment with new fighters and discover new matchups.
The gameplay in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is both accessible and deep. The basic controls are easy to pick up, allowing newcomers to jump into the action quickly. However, the game also offers a wealth of advanced techniques and strategies that reward skilled players. Mastering the intricacies of character movement, spacing, and combos takes time and dedication, but it’s incredibly satisfying to see your skills improve. The game’s mechanics are finely tuned and balanced, creating a competitive environment that is both fair and exciting.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate offers a variety of game modes to suit different playstyles. The classic Smash mode allows you to battle against friends or the CPU in a variety of stages and rule sets. The game also features a robust online mode, allowing you to compete against players from around the world. The online mode includes both ranked and unranked matches, as well as tournaments and special events. The single-player modes are equally engaging, offering a variety of challenges and rewards. The World of Light mode is a massive single-player campaign that pits you against a vast array of characters and challenges. This mode is a love letter to video game history, featuring characters and references from countless classic games.
The stages in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate are just as diverse and iconic as the characters. The game features over 100 stages, each drawn from different video game franchises. The stages range from simple platforms to complex arenas with hazards and moving parts. The variety of stages keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting, as you’ll need to adapt your strategies to the unique layout and challenges of each stage. The music in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is equally impressive, featuring a massive soundtrack of remixes and original compositions. The game’s music library is a celebration of video game history, with tracks from countless classic games. The music perfectly complements the action on screen, creating an immersive and exciting experience.
Pokémon Sword and Shield are the flagship titles in the eighth generation of Pokémon games, and they bring the beloved franchise to the Nintendo Switch with stunning visuals and exciting new features. These games offer a captivating adventure in the Galar region, inspired by the United Kingdom, and are a must-play for any Pokémon fan.
Pokémon Sword and Shield introduce players to the Galar region, a vast and diverse land filled with rolling hills, bustling cities, and snowy mountains. The region is beautifully realized, with detailed environments and vibrant colors. Exploring the Galar region is a joy, as you’ll discover new Pokémon, meet interesting characters, and uncover the secrets of the land. The game’s visuals are a significant upgrade from previous Pokémon games, with detailed character models and stunning environments. The Galar region feels alive and immersive, drawing you into the world and making you feel like a true Pokémon Trainer.
The core gameplay of Pokémon Sword and Shield remains faithful to the series’ roots, with players catching, training, and battling Pokémon. You’ll journey through the Galar region, challenging Gym Leaders, battling rivals, and uncovering a mysterious threat to the region. The game’s battle system is turn-based, with each Pokémon having its own unique moves and abilities. Mastering the type matchups and strategic elements of the battle system is crucial to success, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see your team of Pokémon grow stronger and more capable.
Pokémon Sword and Shield introduce several new features to the series, including the Wild Area, a vast open-world area where you can encounter Pokémon roaming freely in the environment. The Wild Area is a major departure from the traditional Pokémon game structure, offering a sense of freedom and exploration that was previously absent from the series. You can explore the Wild Area at your own pace, encountering different Pokémon depending on the weather and time of day. The Wild Area also features Max Raid Battles, cooperative battles against powerful Dynamax Pokémon.
Dynamaxing is another new feature in Pokémon Sword and Shield, allowing Pokémon to grow to enormous sizes during battles. Dynamaxing adds a new layer of strategy to the battles, as you’ll need to time your Dynamax transformations carefully to maximize their impact. Dynamax Pokémon are incredibly powerful, and defeating them requires careful planning and coordination. The Gym battles in Pokémon Sword and Shield are particularly epic, with the Gym Leaders using Dynamax Pokémon to challenge you. These battles are visually impressive and offer a thrilling test of your skills as a Trainer.
The Nintendo Switch boasts an incredible library of games, and the titles discussed in this guide represent just a fraction of what the console has to offer. From the open-world masterpiece of Breath of the Wild to the charming life simulation of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, there’s a game for everyone on the Switch. Whether you’re looking for epic adventures, competitive battles, or relaxing escapes, the Nintendo Switch has you covered. So, grab your console, pick up a few of these top games, and get ready for countless hours of fun and excitement. The Nintendo Switch is more than just a console; it’s a gateway to a world of gaming possibilities, and these games are the perfect place to start your journey.
