20+ Best Nintendo Switch Games to Play in 2024: Don’t Miss Out

To no one’s surprise, the best Nintendo Switch games have consistently been developed by Nintendo. Instead of relying on third-party games, the Japanese company has found great success in investing in its major franchises. Its expansive library has exclusives that rival the very best games in the industry.

It can be hard to pick from a large catalog that covers every genre for players of all ages. We’ve sorted through it all to offer our strongest recommendations for the best Switch games that will keep you busy for countless hours.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Best Nintendo Switch Games To Play in 2024
3. More of the Best Nintendo Switch Games to Play in 2024
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs
6. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. Best Nintendo Switch Games To Play in 2024
3. More of the Best Nintendo Switch Games to Play in 2024
Show Full Guide
4. The Bottom Line
5. FAQs
6. References

Best Nintendo Switch Games To Play in 2024

20. Princess Peach: Showtime

It’s been the better part of two decades since Princess Peach had a game of her own. As she swaps outfits in the game, Peach gains unique abilities to clear stages. And yes, by stages, I mean that the game is set in a theatre. Peach plays her roles with gusto as you clear simple puzzles and take down foes.

It might not be complex, but Princess Peach: Showtime isn’t trying to be. It’s a great pick if you want a relaxing game or a genre mashup for younger players. It’s among the best Switch games for kids who want to step into the world of gaming.

19. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

While Atlus’ Persona series is more well-known, the Shin Megami Tensei franchise also has several solid turn-based RPGs. While Shin Megami Tensei V’s plot left some unsatisfied, Vengeance adds a brand-new campaign with 80 hours of extra content in addition to quality-of-life improvements and upgrades.

The standard path also had interesting characters but Vengeance improves things by a significant margin. And you don’t need to play older titles to understand what’s going on. While it’s no longer exclusive to the Switch, it’s still one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch.

18. Super Mario Bros. Wonder

If you can’t get enough of the good ol’ Mario platforming, you’ll love Super Mario Bros. Wonder. This 2D side-scroller brings Wonder Flowers to the game, transforming the world in delightful ways to add an extra layer of challenge.

Being able to turn into elephants and watching Piranha plants sing are just some of the many surprises the game has in store. And like some recent Super Mario titles, you can bring up to three more friends to scale its levels, making it one of the best co-op Switch games in town.

17. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

While players were initially unsure of the remake due to the paper aesthetic that looked great on the GameCube, the new Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door does away with many legacy pain points while adding even more detail. The low-poly look of the original is gone, replaced with a vivid art style that oozes personality. It’s beautiful and easily one of the best Nintendo Switch RPGs to play.

It’s clear a lot of effort went into reimagining the game without stepping on what made it so special. A quick menu to swap characters and an easier way to retry battles make it more approachable than its predecessor. Regardless of whether you played the old version, the new one is worth your time.

16. Pokemon Legends: Arceus

If I had to pick between the best Pokemon games for Switch, I’d choose Arceus despite its performance issues and middling visuals.

The open world of Hisui (Sinnoh) is a stark departure from previous titles and their spin-offs.

Instead of constant battles, you can simply throw balls to catch monsters roaming around the area. It’s a new way to experience the franchise, regardless of how acquainted you are with its many systems. Just don’t expect it to stun you in the visuals department.

15. Pikmin 4

Unlike most sequels, you can start with Pikmin 4 without worrying about the previous games. Its unique formula of solving puzzles by managing little creatures to do your bidding remains a novel experience. It’s one of the best puzzle games on Nintendo Switch, whether you’re jumping in for the first time or you’re a Pikmin fanatic.

Guiding them through human-themed obstacles and stages will have you scratching your head until you get it right. Its puzzles are satisfying to beat and often offer multiple ways of clearing them. It’s a nice palate cleanser after the traditional shooter and RPG fare that consoles and PCs tend to offer.

14. Luigi’s Mansion 3

While Luigi’s Mansion 3 doesn’t exactly sit among the best horror games on the Switch, it’s a good entry point into adventure games with a hint of action. Luigi is invited to a fancy hotel and naturally, things go wrong.

He’s soon tasked with chasing ghosts through the building, leading to plenty of hilarious moments and well-animated goofs. And don’t let the hotel setting trick you. It’s got plenty of sets within, from a desert to a pirate ship and a movie studio. You can bring a friend along as you uncover hidden treasures and fight your way through bosses with a vacuum backpack.

13. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Without any doubt, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe stands tall over the best Switch racing games of all time. There’s a good chance you already own this game, considering how well it sold. The Deluxe edition adds a dizzying number of tracks in addition to racers like Link and the Inklings.

This lets you race through all kinds of environments as you tackle friends with powerups and boosts. It’s a solid racing game for the Switch that runs without any hiccups, even when the device isn’t docked.

12. Splatoon 3

Taking the top spot among the best online multiplayer Switch games is Splatoon 3, an inky third-person shooter that boasts several modes alongside a campaign. The previous games were smash hits, and the latest iteration is no exception.

With new quality-of-life upgrades, weapon choices, and Tri-Colour Splatfests, you’ll have plenty to do between landing Splattershots. Salmon Run and Tableturf Battle are two more modes that promise hours of fun. Minor network issues aside, it’s easily one of the best shooters on the platform.

11. Monster Hunter Rise

Monster Hunter Rise and its expansion Sunbreak make for a package that offers a mind-boggling amount of content. With clever refinements to the franchise to make monster hunting more immersive, there’s a lot that the game does right. While this version may not match current-generation consoles in terms of fidelity, it’s still one of the best-looking Nintendo Switch games you can play.

The variety of monster designs, behavior patterns, and ways to beat them gives you a sandbox that rewards those who go in prepared. Its attention to detail is excellent, too, from cinematic intros to the memorable soundtrack. Give Monster Hunter Rise a go if you’re looking to hunt some fantastic beasts.

10. Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Players looking for a platformer that’s easier than Mario should seriously consider Kirby’s latest outing. Kirby and the Forgotten Land is focused on getting the pink mascot to consume as much as possible to enhance his abilities.

As he swallows items and transforms into them, he gains abilities to help traverse the world and explore its secrets. And yes, that includes becoming a whole car, engine and all. While the game does take place in a post-apocalyptic world, it isn’t Nier levels of bleak and offers a light-hearted adventure.

9. Stardew Valley

With 100+ hours of serene farming awaiting you, few games charm you with such a simple setting. As you build out your grandfather’s farm and help rebuild the village, you’ll run into villagers and all sorts of interesting activities. Stardew Valley is a cozy game that goes at a pace you’re comfortable with. Building relationships, getting neat gear, and finding new things are activities you can explore in any order. It’s one of the best cheap Nintendo Switch games that becomes a must-buy during sales.

8. Bayonetta 3

Middling conclusion aside, Bayonetta 3 works wonders in its combat systems eight years after its predecessor. Thanks to smart refinements in its hack-and-slash formula and retaining most of its sensual charm, it’s a worthy addition to the franchise.

While the multiverse angle might have been done to death, few things in life are as satisfying as witnessing Bayonetta variants from different timelines lend their strength to a common cause. A wacky plot and large-scale boss fights with Demon summons make Bayonetta 3 one of the Nintendo Switch’s best games.

7. Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Thanks to strategic combat options, a sprawling story that takes place over a huge map, and clever details hidden behind multiple playthroughs, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is among the best exclusives that Nintendo has in store for Switch players. With three different paths to take, complete with separate characters and skills to master, there’s a lot to do in this game.

It’s a great option for strategy fans looking for something meatier than the usual RPG. Fire Emblem is a franchise known for great characters and incredible dialogue, two areas where Three Houses excels. It might not be one of the best-selling Switch games due to how dense it can get, but strategy fans will get a lot of mileage out of this experience.

6. Super Mario Odyssey

An open-world platformer packed with hat-tossing to gain control of enemies, Odyssey tweaks the well-tread Mario formula to great effect. It’s one of the best Mario games for the Switch, with massive levels packed with hidden challenges.

Befriending the NPC Cappy lets Mario take control of enemies and objects, turning it into a versatile toolkit to traverse the game’s many worlds. Securing hundreds of Power Moons to fuel his hat-shaped ship and rescue Princess Peach puts a new spin on a familiar tale and will keep you engrossed for hours.

5. Metroid Dread

After years of silence, Metroid Fusion finally got a sequel on the Switch. While there’s a fair bit of lore to catch up on, Dread wraps up the main story and brings the series’ solid weapon design to an incredibly detailed 2.5D world.

This sci-fi franchise is known for interesting fights, and Dread is no exception. Clearing the side-scrolling map and doubling back to find new content is a satisfying loop, making the Metroidvania-like shooter one of the best games on the Switch.

4. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Blessed with countless crossovers with mascots from games across generations, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate handily towers over the best fighting games on Switch. Built with competitive play in mind, few things are as satisfying as fighting a friend via local co-op.

With cameos from characters like Cloud, Sephiroth, Banjo-Kazooie, and Joker, the game is packed with fan service. They all have unique moves and combos too, setting the stage for some adrenaline-fueled beatdowns. The stages are also inspired by the worlds of its roster, from traditional Nintendo fare to more exotic locales. It has pretty much everything a fighting fan could ask for.

3. Xenoblade Chronicles 3

You don’t need to play the previous two titles to enjoy one of the best open world games on Switch from 2022, complete with a unique setting that pairs warriors that only live for 10 years and flame clocks that power the lives of every faction.

Tuned with an engaging combat system and solid quest design, there’s a lot that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 does well. And with a 60-hour campaign packed with nuanced characters and a high-stakes story, the game should be on any JRPG enthusiast’s wishlist. If you can put up with lengthy cutscenes and some anime trope retreads, Xenoblade Chronicles 3’s conclusion is well worth the long journey.

2. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Even after its rise to fame during the pandemic, Animal Crossing remains a cultural force to contend with. Among the best cozy games on the Switch, it drops you into a deserted island, free to customize to your every whim. The variety on offer is incredible, letting you deck out the paradise of your dreams.

As you use DIY recipes and crafting resources to build your home, you’ll run into neighbours and other interesting NPCs. It’s a great way to detox from stressful work or intense gaming sessions. And if you’re hungry for more things to do, the Happy Home Paradise DLC adds interior design challenges and even more customization.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

It isn’t easy to follow up one hit with another. But Nintendo proved that lightning could indeed strike the same place twice with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. By expanding on Link’s powers of creation, physics-defying modes of transport make it immensely satisfying to travel through the game’s clever dungeons.

You can fuse objects to create new items, letting you bring powerful weapons to fight terrifying threats. While the task of finding the princess might not sound like the beginning of a solid plot, interesting character arcs are sprinkled through the game’s massive world. It’s a miracle that it runs on the Switch and is easily among the best Switch RPG games in existence.

More of the Best Nintendo Switch Games to Play in 2024

The Bottom Line

Use our recommendations of the best new Switch games to find your new obsession. Nintendo’s first-party titles offer great starting points into pretty much every genre, from platformers to grand RPGs. True, the Switch might not have the most visually stunning games available on the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Despite its shortcomings in the power department, stellar art direction makes its exclusives look incredible, particularly on the OLED Switch. While store discounts aren’t frequent, these games are well worth spending your hard-earned money on. Lose yourself in Nintendo’s worlds with our curated picks.

FAQs