Top 10 Must-Play Games on Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch has solidified its place as a truly innovative console, seamlessly bridging the gap between home and portable gaming. Its unique hybrid nature has not only given rise to new ways to play but has also become the definitive home for a diverse library of incredible games. From sprawling open-world adventures that you can take on your commute to addictive indie gems perfect for a quick session, the Switch offers something for everyone. This curated list dives into the absolute best Nintendo Switch games, the essential titles that define the platform. These are not just fantastic games in their own right; they are experiences that are fundamentally enhanced by the Switch's specific design and capabilities. Whether you are a new owner looking for a place to start or a seasoned veteran ensuring your collection is complete, these are the ten must-play games that represent the pinnacle of what Nintendo's hybrid console has to offer.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The sequel to the revolutionary Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom expands upon its predecessor's open world with a staggering level of verticality and player freedom. It's a technical marvel on the Switch, pushing the hardware to its limits to deliver a seamless and awe-inspiring adventure.

### A World Transformed

Tears of the Kingdom takes players back to Hyrule, but it's a land irrevocably changed. A cataclysmic event has revealed a vast network of floating islands in the sky and a sprawling, mysterious "Depths" underground, effectively tripling the size of the playable area. The story sees Link and Zelda investigating a toxic substance known as "gloom" seeping from beneath Hyrule Castle, leading to the discovery of an ancient evil and Zelda's mysterious disappearance. The narrative is a compelling journey to reforge the Master Sword and uncover the secrets of the Zonai, an ancient civilization whose technology is key to Link's new abilities.

### Unprecedented Creative Freedom

The game's standout feature is its suite of new abilities, which completely redefine traversal and problem-solving.

#### Ultrahand and Fuse

"Ultrahand" allows players to manipulate and attach objects in the world, enabling the construction of everything from simple rafts to complex flying machines and combat mechs. This is complemented by "Fuse," which lets you combine materials with your weapons and shields, creating unique tools of destruction and utility. These mechanics offer an unparalleled level of creativity, allowing for emergent gameplay solutions to nearly every challenge.

#### Ascend and Recall

"Ascend" provides the ability to travel vertically through ceilings, making navigation a breeze and encouraging exploration in three dimensions. "Recall" can reverse the motion of an object, leading to clever environmental puzzles and even allowing you to ride fallen debris back up to the sky islands.

### The Definitive Switch Adventure

Tears of the Kingdom is a game that feels perfectly at home on the Switch. The ability to tackle a complex Zonai construction project on your TV and then seamlessly switch to handheld mode to explore a cave or solve a shrine on the go is a testament to the console's design. The game was built exclusively for the Switch, and it shows in the clever ways it maximizes the hardware's potential to create a truly unforgettable open-world experience.

2. Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey is a triumphant return to the sandbox-style 3D platforming of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Sunshine. It is a game bursting with creativity, charm, and an infectious sense of joy that makes it one of the absolute best Nintendo Switch games and a masterpiece of the genre.

### A Globetrotting Adventure

The story begins with Bowser once again kidnapping Princess Peach, this time with the intention of a forced marriage. In the ensuing struggle, Mario's iconic cap is shredded, but he quickly finds a new ally in Cappy, a sentient hat-like spirit whose sister, Tiara, has also been captured. Together, they embark on a journey across a variety of inventive and sprawling "Kingdoms" aboard the Odyssey, an airship powered by Power Moons. Each Kingdom is a visual delight, from the bustling streets of New Donk City to the colorful culinary world of the Luncheon Kingdom.

### The Cappy Mechanic

The core gameplay innovation in Super Mario Odyssey is Cappy, who fundamentally changes how players interact with the world.

#### Capture and Control

Mario can throw Cappy at a vast array of enemies and objects to "capture" them, taking control of their unique abilities. This allows Mario to become everything from a T-Rex and a Chain Chomp to a Goomba, a Bullet Bill, or even a bolt of electricity. This mechanic is central to both puzzle-solving and traversal, constantly offering new and inventive ways to play.

#### Enhanced Mobility

Cappy also dramatically expands Mario's movement capabilities. He can be used as a temporary platform for an extra jump, thrown in multiple directions, and combined with dives and rolls for incredible feats of acrobatics. Mastering these moves is a joy in itself and allows for a level of expressive movement rarely seen in gaming.

### Perfectly Tailored for the Switch

Super Mario Odyssey and the Nintendo Switch are a perfect match. The game's structure, with hundreds of Power Moons scattered throughout each kingdom, is ideal for both long play sessions and short bursts of handheld gaming. The optional motion controls for Cappy's throws feel intuitive and add an extra layer of precision. Furthermore, the game features a co-op mode where a second player can control Cappy independently, making it a great experience to share on the go with a single pair of Joy-Cons.

3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the definitive version of the beloved kart racer, packed with an astounding amount of content that makes it an essential purchase for any Switch owner. It’s the best-selling game on the console for a reason: it’s polished, endlessly fun, and perfectly suited for the Switch’s multiplayer capabilities.

### The Ultimate Racing Package

Originally a Wii U title, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch includes all the original content plus all previously released DLC, which was substantial. This means a massive roster of 42 characters right from the start, including new additions like the Inklings from Splatoon, King Boo, Dry Bones, and Bowser Jr. The track selection is equally impressive, with 48 courses that are a mix of new designs and returning fan favorites. With the addition of the "Booster Course Pass" DLC, the track count has doubled to a staggering 96.

### Key Deluxe Enhancements

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is more than just a simple port; it introduces several key improvements.

#### Revamped Battle Mode

One of the biggest criticisms of the original release was its lackluster Battle Mode. The Deluxe version completely overhauls it with dedicated arenas and several fun game types like Balloon Battle, Renegade Roundup, Bob-omb Blast, and Shine Thief.

#### Gameplay Tweaks

Players can now hold two items at once, adding a new layer of strategy to races. The game also introduces a "Smart Steering" feature, an optional accessibility setting that helps newer players stay on the track, making it easier for everyone to join in on the fun.

### The Switch's Multiplayer Masterpiece

The Nintendo Switch’s hardware is what elevates Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to must-play status. The ability to slide off the Joy-Cons and instantly start a two-player race anywhere is a game-changer. It’s the ultimate party game, whether you're playing on a big screen in TV mode with up to four players, connecting up to eight consoles for a local wireless LAN party, or competing online.

4. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Released at a time when the world needed a comforting escape, Animal Crossing: New Horizons became a global phenomenon. This charming life simulator offers a serene and creative outlet, allowing players to build their own island paradise at their own pace. Its gameplay loop is perfectly suited to the Switch's portable nature.

### Your Own Deserted Island

The game begins with the player signing up for the "Deserted Island Getaway Package" from the ever-enterprising Tom Nook. You arrive on a largely untouched island, and from there, you are free to shape it into the community of your dreams. The gameplay revolves around a real-time clock, with seasons changing, different fish and bugs appearing, and special events happening throughout the year. The core loop involves gathering resources, crafting items, customizing your home and island, and building relationships with the quirky animal villagers who come to live there.

### Unprecedented Customization

New Horizons introduced a level of creative control never before seen in the series.

#### Terraforming and Crafting

For the first time, players can terraform their island, building cliffs, carving out rivers, and creating paths. The introduction of a robust crafting system, where players can gather materials to build furniture and tools, provides endless possibilities for decoration and personalization.

#### Happy Home Paradise DLC

The paid DLC, Happy Home Paradise, adds a massive amount of content, allowing you to work as a vacation home designer for various characters. This introduces new design techniques and furniture that you can then use on your own island, further expanding the creative toolkit.

### The Perfect Portable Escape

The design of Animal Crossing: New Horizons makes it an ideal companion for the Nintendo Switch. The game encourages daily check-ins to see what’s new, discover fossils, and interact with villagers, which is perfect for the pick-up-and-play nature of handheld mode. Whether you're spending a few minutes tending to your flowers on your morning commute or having a long design session on the TV, the game seamlessly adapts to your playstyle. Visiting friends' islands online is also a core part of the experience, and the Switch makes it easy to share your creations with the world.

5. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a colossal celebration of gaming history, an impossibly ambitious crossover fighting game that is both an accessible party game and a deep, competitive fighter. With a roster that includes every single fighter from the series' history and then some, it truly lives up to its "Ultimate" title.

### Everyone is Here!

The game's tagline, "Everyone is here!," is no exaggeration. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate features a base roster of 74 fighters, which has since expanded to 89 with DLC, including every character from previous installments. The lineup is a dream come true for gaming fans, featuring not just Nintendo icons but also third-party legends like Sonic, Cloud Strife, Solid Snake, and Steve from Minecraft. The stage list is equally massive, with over 100 stages, each with a Battlefield and Omega form.

### Modes for Every Player

Ultimate is packed with a wide variety of game modes to suit any preference.

#### World of Light

The single-player adventure mode, "World of Light," is a substantial campaign where players traverse a large map, battling puppet fighters to rescue the souls of captured game characters, known as "Spirits." These Spirits can then be equipped to grant fighters unique buffs and abilities, adding a light RPG layer to the gameplay.

#### Classic and Multiplayer Mayhem

Classic Mode returns with a unique, tailored series of fights for each character. And of course, the heart of the game is its multiplayer. From chaotic 8-player smashes to competitive online tournaments and various squad-based modes, there's a seemingly endless amount of fun to be had with friends.

### The Ideal Platform for a Showdown

The Nintendo Switch is the perfect home for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The console's versatility means you can easily take the fight on the road. Setting up a multiplayer match is as simple as detaching the Joy-Cons and propping up the kickstand. It’s the definitive way to experience this monumental fighting game, offering the flexibility to brawl anytime, anywhere.

6. Metroid Dread

Metroid Dread marks the stunning conclusion to the original 2D Metroid saga, a journey that began 35 years prior. Developed by MercurySteam, this title is a masterclass in atmospheric design, tight gameplay, and thrilling tension. It’s a game that feels both classic and modern, and it shines on the Switch, especially the OLED model.

### A Hunted Hunter

The story follows bounty hunter Samus Aran to the remote planet ZDR to investigate a mysterious transmission suggesting the X Parasite, a deadly organism she previously eradicated, has survived. Upon arrival, she finds herself trapped deep underground and hunted by relentless, nigh-indestructible robots called E.M.M.I. (Extraplanetary Multiform Mobile Identifiers). Stripped of many of her abilities, Samus must explore the sprawling, interconnected world of ZDR, regain her powers, and find a way to escape.

### Refined 2.5D Gameplay

Metroid Dread refines the series' signature gameplay to near perfection.

#### Fluid Movement and Combat

Samus is more agile than ever, with a new slide maneuver and the ability to free-aim while moving. The combat is fast-paced and satisfying, with the melee counter from Samus Returns now seamlessly integrated into the flow of battle, allowing for spectacular cinematic takedowns.

#### The E.M.M.I. Zones

The game's most significant innovation is the E.M.M.I. zones. In these designated areas, the gameplay shifts from exploration-action to tense stealth-horror. The E.M.M.I. are relentless and can kill Samus in a single hit, forcing players to use stealth and a temporary cloaking ability to evade them. These sequences are heart-pounding and provide some of the game's most memorable moments.

### A Showcase for the Switch OLED

While Metroid Dread plays wonderfully on any Switch model, it is a true showcase for the Switch OLED. The planet ZDR is a world of stark contrasts, with deep, inky blacks and vibrant, glowing alien flora and fauna. The OLED screen's perfect blacks and vivid colors make the game's oppressive atmosphere and beautiful art direction truly pop, creating a more immersive and visually stunning experience.

7. Hades

Hades is a god-tier roguelike from the creators of Bastion and Transistor that masterfully blends fast-paced, challenging combat with a compelling story and unforgettable characters. Its run-based structure makes it an absolutely perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch’s portable format.

### Escape from the Underworld

Players control Zagreus, the rebellious son of Hades, as he attempts to fight his way out of the Greek Underworld to reach Mount Olympus. Each escape attempt takes him through the ever-changing chambers of Tartarus, Asphodel, and Elysium. Along the way, he is aided by the Olympian gods, who grant him "Boons"—powerful abilities that alter his attacks and skills for that specific run. Death is not an endpoint but a key part of the gameplay loop. Each time Zagreus is defeated, he returns to the House of Hades, where he can interact with a cast of fully-voiced characters, upgrade his abilities permanently, and unlock new weapons.

### Narrative and Gameplay in Harmony

What sets Hades apart is how it weaves its narrative into the roguelike structure.

#### An Evolving Story

Every death and subsequent return to the House of Hades pushes the story forward. Characters will comment on your previous run, relationships will evolve, and new subplots will emerge over dozens of hours. This makes failure feel rewarding, as it always leads to new story developments.

#### Deep and Synergistic Combat

The combat is incredibly fluid and satisfying. With six distinct weapons, each with multiple unlockable aspects, and hundreds of boons from the Olympians, the number of potential combat builds is staggering. Discovering powerful synergies between different boons is a core part of the fun and keeps every escape attempt feeling fresh.

### The Perfect "One More Run" Machine for Switch

The gameplay loop of Hades is incredibly addictive, perfectly capturing the "just one more run" feeling. This makes it an ideal game for the Nintendo Switch. The short, intense nature of an escape attempt is perfect for a commute or a quick break in handheld mode. The ability to suspend the game mid-run and pick it up later without missing a beat complements its structure perfectly. The crisp visuals and smooth performance on the Switch make it the definitive portable way to experience this masterpiece.

8. Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is a charming and heartwarming farming simulation RPG that offers a staggering amount of content and freedom. It's a game about leaving the corporate grind behind to embrace a simpler life, and its relaxing, day-by-day gameplay loop is a perfect match for the Nintendo Switch.

### A New Life in Pelican Town

Players inherit their grandfather's old, rundown farm in Stardew Valley. From there, the game is wonderfully open-ended. You can clear the land, plant crops, raise livestock, go fishing, explore the local mines for resources and monsters, and become a part of the vibrant community of Pelican Town. The game is structured around a four-season year, with different crops, fish, and events unique to each season.

### More Than Just a Farming Sim

While farming is at its core, Stardew Valley offers a wealth of other activities.

#### Building Relationships

The residents of Pelican Town all have their own personalities, schedules, and stories. By talking to them and giving them gifts, you can build friendships, which can lead to marriage and starting a family.

#### Exploration and Combat

The local mines offer a dungeon-crawling experience with monsters to fight and valuable ores and gems to discover. There are also secret woods to find, a mysterious desert to unlock, and a whole host of secrets to uncover.

### Cozy Gaming on the Go

Stardew Valley's structure, with its in-game days lasting about 15 real-world minutes, makes it incredibly well-suited for the Nintendo Switch. It's the perfect game to play in short bursts, allowing you to get a full day of farming, fishing, or mining done during a break. The ability to take your farm with you and tend to your crops anywhere adds to the cozy, personal feel of the game. It is the ultimate comfort game, and the Switch provides the perfect platform for its relaxing and rewarding gameplay.

9. Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a masterful tactical role-playing game that blends deep, strategic combat with compelling social simulation and time management elements. Its branching narrative offers immense replayability, making it one of the deepest and most engaging experiences on the Switch.

### Professor at the Officers Academy

The game is set on the continent of Fódlan, which is divided between three rival nations. At the heart of the continent is the Garreg Mach Monastery, home to the Church of Seiros and an elite Officers Academy. Players take on the role of Byleth, a former mercenary who becomes a professor at the academy. Early in the game, you must choose to lead one of the three student houses: the Black Eagles, the Blue Lions, or the Golden Deer. This choice determines your starting roster of students and dramatically impacts the direction of the story.

### Two Halves of a Whole

The gameplay is split into two distinct but interconnected phases.

#### Life at the Monastery

Between battles, you'll spend time at the monastery, managing your schedule. You can teach your students to improve their skills, dine with them to raise morale, complete side quests, and build relationships with students and faculty. This social simulation aspect is incredibly deep, as strengthening your bonds with characters makes them more effective in battle and unlocks support conversations that flesh out their backstories.

#### Tactical Turn-Based Combat

The core of the series, the grid-based tactical combat, is better than ever. Three Houses introduces Battalions, which are squads of troops that can be assigned to units to provide stat boosts and access to powerful "Gambits." These Gambits can have wide-ranging effects, from stunning large groups of enemies to creating defensive barriers.

### A Story with Lasting Consequences

The choice of which house to lead is a monumental one, as the game features a significant time skip halfway through that plunges the continent into war. Your former students and colleagues will become leaders and soldiers on opposing sides of the conflict, leading to dramatic and often heartbreaking reunions on the battlefield. The four distinct story paths provide wildly different perspectives on the war and its characters, making Three Houses a game you'll want to play through multiple times. The ability to grind out a few battles or manage your students in handheld mode makes this epic-length RPG feel perfectly manageable on the Switch.

10. Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight is a stunning and atmospheric 2D Metroidvania that has rightfully earned its place among the best indie games ever made. With its beautiful hand-drawn art style, tight and challenging combat, and a vast, interconnected world to explore, it offers an unforgettable journey into a fallen insect kingdom.

### Descent into Hallownest

The game follows the Knight, a silent protagonist who ventures into the depths of Hallownest, a once-great kingdom now in ruins and plagued by a mysterious infection that has driven its inhabitants to madness. The world is hauntingly beautiful, and its lore is told subtly through environmental details, cryptic dialogue, and item descriptions. Discovering the secrets of Hallownest and the cause of its downfall is a central part of the experience.

### Masterful Metroidvania Design

Hollow Knight excels in every aspect of its design.

#### Rewarding Exploration

The world of Hallownest is a sprawling labyrinth of interconnected caverns, each with its own unique visual theme, enemies, and secrets. The game encourages exploration and rewards curiosity, with new abilities unlocking previously inaccessible paths, creating that satisfying loop of discovery that defines the genre.

#### Challenging Combat

The combat is simple to learn but difficult to master. The Knight wields a "nail" for melee attacks and can learn various spells and abilities. The enemies and, in particular, the numerous boss battles are challenging but fair, demanding precise timing and pattern recognition to overcome. The feeling of finally conquering a tough boss is incredibly rewarding.

### An Indie Gem Perfect for Switch

Playing Hollow Knight on the Nintendo Switch feels like the definitive way to experience it. The game's gorgeous 2D art looks fantastic on both the TV and the handheld screen. The bite-sized nature of exploring a new section of the map or attempting a boss fight a few times over is perfectly suited to portable play. The Switch has become a haven for incredible indie titles, and Hollow Knight stands tall as one of the absolute must-play games on the platform.

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Conclusion

The Nintendo Switch's library is vast and impressive, but these ten games represent the very best the console has to offer. They are not only critically acclaimed masterpieces but also titles that perfectly embody the spirit of the Switch itself—versatile, innovative, and endlessly entertaining. Whether it's the creative freedom of Tears of the Kingdom, the portable party fun of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, or the addictive loop of Hades, each game on this list is a must-play that showcases the unique strengths of Nintendo's groundbreaking platform.

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