Summary
- The Nintendo Switch era revitalized Nintendo after the Wii U's failure, leading to better games and a larger fanbase.
- Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Splatoon 3, and the Xenoblade Chronicles series were all successful additions to the Switch library.
The Nintendo Switch era has been monumental for Nintendo. After a lackluster reception to the Wii U that caused many to lose interest in the company’s offerings, the Switch brought everyone back, and now Nintendo is bigger and better than ever before.
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Posts 1While this is partly due to the Switch’s innovative design, combining a home console and handheld in one, the Switch’s huge catalogue of games has also played a role. Some of Nintendo’s best games launched on the Switch, and some changed the landscape of the gaming industry forever. These games defined the Switch era and will be remembered forever.
10 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
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Like Follow FollowedMario Kart 8 Deluxe
Racing Systems 10.0/10 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 92/100 Critics Rec: 99% Released April 28, 2017 ESRB E Developer(s) Nintendo EAD, Nintendo EPD Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine Unreal Engine 4WHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALMario Kart 8 Deluxe is pretty much the definitive Mario Kart experience. Though many fans were initially disappointed that it launched as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, following on the Wii U Mario Kart 8 game, booster packs rolled out following its launch, adding fan-favourite tracks and racers from all the games in the series.
This quickly rocketed Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s favour in the eyes of fans. It’s the ultimate party game to play with friends on Switch and what everyone thinks of when discussing multiplayer Switch games.
9 Pikmin 4
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Like Follow FollowedPikmin 4
Puzzle Adventure Systems 3.5/5 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 88/100 Critics Rec: 97% Released July 21, 2023 ESRB e Developer(s) Nintendo Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine Unreal Engine 4WHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALPikmin fans thought they were being left in the dust when ten years passed since the launch of Pikmin 3 in 2013. Finally, in 2023, their wishes were granted, and Pikmin 4 launched on the Nintendo Switch, alongside ports of the first three games in the series.
Pikmin 4 takes a lot of what made the first games so great and polishes them up to an even more impressive level. Though some fans think 4 was made a little too easy with the addition of Oatchi the dog on your team, the core essence of strategy and puzzle-solving is still the star of the show.
8 Kirby And The Forgotten Land
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Like Follow FollowedKirby and the Forgotten Land
Platformer Systems 4.0/5 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 85/100 Critics Rec: 94% Released March 25, 2022 ESRB E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence Developer(s) HAL Laboratory Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine unityWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALKirby and the Forgotten Land took a bold step in a new direction, as it was the first game in the mainline series to be completely 3D. Kirby is sucked into a vortex and arrives on a completely abandoned world, and must find all the kidnapped Waddle Dees.
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PostsAlongside bringing back fan-favourite Copy Abilities, Kirby and the Forgotten Land introduced new Copy Abilities for Kirby too, which will hopefully be a mainstay for him in the future. It’s the perfect adventure for Kirby on Switch, as Kirby took a chance, and so did Nintendo.
7 Pokemon Legends: Arceus
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Like Follow FollowedPokemon Legends: Arceus
RPG Action 3.5/5 8.8/10 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 83/100 Critics Rec: 86% Released January 28, 2022 ESRB E for Everyone: Mild Fantasy Violence Developer(s) Game Freak Publisher(s) Nintendo, The Pokemon Company Engine Proprietary EngineWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALPokemon was starting to get a little stale with its formula, but Pokemon Legends: Arceus was the breath of fresh air the series needed on Switch. Rather than the traditional format of collecting eight gym badges, Legends: Arceus focused on collecting Pokemon in various open zones.
The best part of the game, though, is the hands-on catching mechanic. You can catch Pokemon without fully engaging with them in battle, which makes it much more fun to explore the areas and sneak-attack Pokemon with your Poke Balls. The game also introduced excellent regional Pokemon like Sneasler and Hisuian Zorua, so it was a hit all-around.
Though you might think it’s a spin-off, The Pokemon Company refers to Pokemon Legends as mainline games.
6 Splatoon 3
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Like Follow FollowedSplatoon 3
Third-Person Shooter Systems 4.0/5 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 83/100 Critics Rec: 93% Released September 9, 2022 ESRB E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence Developer(s) Nintendo Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine phiveWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALWhen Splatoon first launched on the Wii U, not many people expected it to become one of Nintendo’s flagship series. Surprisingly, it did just that, with Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3 being successful launches on the Nintendo Switch.
Splatoon 3 implements a number of quality-of-life features that improve upon the first two games, which makes it the more definitive experience on Switch. Its DLC, Side Order, added an excellent single-player campaign to the game, which just further cemented its popularity.
5 The Xenoblade Chronicles Series
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LikeXenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
RPG Systems 4.5/5 Released May 29, 2020 ESRB T For Teen Due To Blood, Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence Developer(s) Monolith Soft Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine XC2/Torna Franchise Xenoblade ChroniclesWHERE TO PLAY
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Like Follow FollowedXenoblade Chronicles 2
RPG Systems Released December 1, 2017 ESRB T For Teen due to Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence Developer(s) Monolith Soft Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine Proprietary Engine Franchise Xenoblade ChroniclesWHERE TO PLAY
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Like Follow FollowedXenoblade Chronicles 3
RPG Systems 5.0/5 Released July 29, 2022 ESRB T For Teen due to Language, Mild Blood, Suggestive Themes, Violence Developer(s) Monolith Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine XC2/Torna Franchise Xenoblade ChroniclesWHERE TO PLAY
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Like Follow FollowedXenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
RPG Action Systems Released March 20, 2025 ESRB Teen // Animated Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence Developer(s) Monolith Soft Publisher(s) Nintendo Multiplayer Online Co-Op Franchise Xenoblade Chronicles Number of Players 1 (Single-Player), 1-32 (Multiplayer) Nintendo Switch Release Date March 20, 2025WHERE TO PLAY
DIGITAL
Developed by Monolith Soft, the Xenoblade Chronicles series began on the Wii, but the Definitive Edition of the first game launched on Switch in 2020, with 2, 3, and X: Definitive Edition following in its footsteps. The series has now become one of Nintendo’s flagship JRPGs.
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PostsThe Xenoblade Chronicles games excel in their rich narratives and expansive worlds, with huge zones for you to explore and plenty of side quests to do. They’re also infamous for placing extremely high-level monsters in the early areas - looking at you, Territorial Rotbart. With the entire Xenoblade Chronicles series now available on Switch, it’s impossible not to conflate the two.
4 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
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Like Follow FollowedSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate
Fighting 3.5/5 10.0/10 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 92/100 Critics Rec: 97% Released December 7, 2018 ESRB E for Everyone: Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief, Suggestive Themes Developer(s) Bandai Namco Entertainment Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine Proprietary EngineWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate really lives up to the ‘ultimate’ part of its name. It brings numerous favourite characters from Nintendo and beyond into one fighting game that you can play in local co-op or online.
The excitement for each new challenger announcement would always be bigger than the last, with iconic characters like Joker from Persona 5 and Sora from Kingdom Hearts making their debut. It’s a game that brought everyone together, and not just the characters in the game. It fostered a community unlike any other game on the Switch.
3 Super Mario Odyssey
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Like Follow FollowedSuper Mario Odyssey
Platformer OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 97/100 Critics Rec: 98% Released October 27, 2017 ESRB E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief Developer(s) Nintendo Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine Unreal Engine 4 Multiplayer Local Multiplayer, Online MultiplayerWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALSuper Mario Odyssey was the first mainline Mario game to launch on the Nintendo Switch, and it set a precedent for all the Mario games that followed. Odyssey drew from fan-favourite titles like Super Mario 64 with its 3D gameplay, and introduced a new ability for Mario - wearing the hat Cappy allowed him to possess different creatures and objects.
Super Mario Odyssey immediately became one of the most popular Switch games and is highly rated by Mario fans, with many hoping the game will receive a direct sequel.
2 Animal Crossing: New Horizons
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Like Follow FollowedAnimal Crossing: New Horizons
Simulation Systems 5.0/5 9.0/10 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 90/100 Critics Rec: 99% Released March 20, 2020 ESRB E for Everyone: Comic Mischief Developer(s) Nintendo EPD Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine HavokWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALAnimal Crossing: New Horizons was more than a Switch game - it was a global phenomenon. It launched in March 2020, right at the beginning of the global pandemic, and it offered millions of Switch players the escapism they sorely needed at the time.
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Posts 1Unlike the previous iterations where you moved into a town, New Horizons sees you arrive on a deserted island with the goal of developing a community and building a town from scratch. You have the freedom to terraform the landscape to really make the place your own. New Horizons quickly became the king of cosy games thanks to its open-ended gameplay and lovable villagers.
1 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
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Like Follow FollowedThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Action Adventure 10.0/10 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 96/100 Critics Rec: 96% Released March 3, 2017 ESRB E for Everyone: Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Mild Suggestive Themes Developer(s) Nintendo EPD Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine HavokWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALThough it also launched on the Wii U, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is undoubtedly the face of the Switch. It was a launch title and immediately made an impact, both on players and the gaming industry.
The game took the Zelda series open world for the first time, with a huge version of Hyrule to explore. The opening cinematic where Link walks out to see Hyrule for the first time is iconic on its own, nevermind the rest of the game. It was at the forefront of the open-world game trend, with many games after it trying to capture its success, though not many could come close.
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