10 best video games for the Nintendo Switch
Niphon Subsri // Shutterstock
10 best video games for the Nintendo Switch
A person’s hands holding a Nintendo Switch.
The Nintendo Switch has become one of the world’s most popular gaming devices, selling over 111.1 million units worldwide since its release in 2017. In just five years, the handheld Switch has become the third-bestselling console in Nintendo history—ranking only behind the Nintendo DS (154 million units sold) and the Game Boy (119 million units sold).
Switches are clearly popular, with thousands of games available for gamers to choose from on any given day. But with so many options, how can users figure out which Nintendo Switch games are the best of the best?
To find out, Stacker compiled this list of the top 10 best video games on the Nintendo Switch. We analyzed data from Metacritic and ranked games according to their Metascore (out of 100), which is aggregated from critics reviews. Any ties were broken using Metacritic’s user score (out of 10).
One thing is clear: Switch gamers err on the adventurous side. The action and adventure genres dominate this list, with six out of the top 10 games fitting into either or both genres. Whether you’re a seasoned Nintendo Switch player or a gaming newbie, read on to find out which Switch games are well worth your game time.
You may also like: Iconic buildings from every state
tobyfox
#10. Undertale
A still from the game Undertale showing the character Sans.
– Metascore: 93
– Metacritic user score: 8.2
– Release date: Sept. 18, 2018
– Developers: tobyfox, 8-4
– Genres: Role-playing, Japanese-style
Originally released for OS X and Windows in 2015, “Undertale” takes place in a world where monsters lost a war with humans. After they were defeated, the monsters were forced to retreat to the Underground, which is separated from Earth by a magical barrier. Switch users play as a human child who has fallen there. From there, players have free reign to do everything from cooking with an anthropomorphic fish to dating a skeleton.
Larian Studios
#9. Divinity: Original Sin II
A still of the characters in Divinity: Original Sin II.
– Metascore: 93
– Metacritic user score: 8.4
– Release date: Sept. 4, 2019
– Developers: Larian Studios Games, BlitWorks, The Dragon Commanders
– Genres: Role-playing, Western-style
“Divinity: Original Sin II” is a sequel to the hit 2014 game “Divinity: Original Sin.” It takes place in the fantasy world of Rivellon, thousands of years after the events of the original game. In this world, sorcerers manipulate collective “Source” power, which has the unfortunate side effect of summoning interdimensional monsters from the dark Void.
These sorcerers are deemed a threat to society and are carted off to a prison called Fort Joy, an event that catalyzes their journey to find their true destiny as magic-wielders. Players can create their own custom characters and train to wield magical powers and enhance their combat abilities. “Divinity: Original Sin II” frequently appears on must-play lists published by the likes of IGN and Gamespot.
Bandai Namco Entertainment
#8. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The character selection screen for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
– Metascore: 93
– Metacritic user score: 8.6
– Release date: Dec. 7, 2018
– Developers: Nintendo, HAL Labs, Bandai Namco Games, Sora Ltd.
– Genres: Action, fighting, 2D
The fifth installment in the “Super Smash Bros.” series, “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” features more character options than ever with 89 playable fighters. Like other installments in the series, this multiplayer fighting game makes for a lot of lighthearted fun as players fight to be the last one standing in a combat arena. The game introduced new modes, such as Smashdown (where each character can only be played once in a series), a tournament mode, and Squad Strike (where players battle in teams of three or five).
Outside of Nintendo’s usual character lineup, “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” also includes characters from games like “Animal Crossing,” “Minecraft,” “Kingdom Hearts,” and more. As of December 2022, “Ultimate” is the most popular fighting game of all time, having sold more than 29 million copies.
Moon Studios
#7. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
The cover of the video game Ori and the Will of the Wisps.
– Metascore: 93
– Metacritic user score: 8.7
– Release date: Sept. 17, 2020
– Developer: Moon Studios
– Genres: Action, platformer, 2D, Metroidvania
“Ori and the Will of the Wisps” is a sequel to the hit 2015 game “Ori and the Blind Forest.” Like the previous game, users play as the white guardian spirit Ori. However, in “Will of the Wisps,” Ori explores the new environment of Niwen as he tries to reunite with his friend Ku. As the character masters new skills, users must solve puzzles, acquire spirit weapons and spells, and ward off enemy attacks. “Will of the Wisps” also features a new mode called Spirit Trials. In this mode, players race against each other to see who can get to a goal the fastest.
Supergiant Games
#6. Hades
A still from Hades.
– Metascore: 93
– Metacritic user score: 9.0
– Release date: Sept. 17, 2020
– Developer: Supergiant Games
– Genres: Action adventure, general, linear
In “Hades,” gamers play as god of the dead Hades’ son Zagreus, who’s on a quest to escape the Underworld. To do so, he must complete a series of challenges, making it through rooms filled with monsters as well as rewards. To help players along the way, Zagreus sometimes receives special gifts from the Olympians to aid in his battles. “Hades” received numerous awards at the 2020 New York Game Awards, from Game of the Year to Best Writing. Outlets like Polygon, The Washington Post, and Entertainment Weekly also named it one of the top games of 2020.
You may also like: 50 terms with origins in rural America
Nintendo
#5. Tetris Effect: Connected
A still from Tetris Effect: Connected.
– Metascore: 94
– Metacritic user score: 8.1
– Release date: Oct. 8, 2021
– Developer: Monstars Inc.
– Genres: Puzzle, stacking
The classic game Tetris gets a whole new look thanks to “Tetris Effect: Connected.” The gameplay is the same: players place tetrominoes into a field to form complete lines. But this time, the game takes place across more than 30 different stages whose themes and music inspire the gameplay. “Tetris Effect: Connected” also features a new “Zone” element, which allows players to slow down and, with a little advanced planning, effectively clear 20 or more lines.
Valve
#4. Portal Companion Collection
A still from Portal 2.
– Metascore: 96
– Metacritic user score: 8.4
– Release date: June 28, 2022
– Developer: Valve Software
– Genres: Miscellaneous, compilation
“Portal Companion Collection” includes the two main games in the “Portal” series: “Portal” and “Portal 2.” Both games take place in Aperture Laboratories, where players must face off against the malevolent A.I. GLaDOS and move through portals using the “Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device” (or portal gun, for short). The “Portal” franchise also features a memorable voice cast, including Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons. The series has become known for its use in educational settings and schools.
HuneX
#3. The House in Fata Morgana: Dreams of the Revenants Edition
A still from The House in Fata Morgana.
– Metascore: 96
– Metacritic user score: 8.6
– Release date: April 9, 2021
– Developer: HuneX
– Genres: Adventure, visual novel
A Switch game set in a haunted mansion filled with Gothic tales, “The House in Fata Morgana” follows an amnesiac spirit in a cursed mansion as she relives different time periods. As her memories return, players discover what happened to the mansion’s residents over the centuries. It’s split into three games: “The House in Fata Morgana” (the main story), “A Requiem for Innocence” (a prequel), and “Reincarnation” (a sequel). Sekai Publishing released a manga adaptation of the game from 2015 to 2018.
Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development (EPD)
#2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
A still from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
– Metascore: 97
– Metacritic user score: 8.7
– Release date: March 3, 2017
– Developer: Nintendo
– Genres: Action adventure, open-world
In this acclaimed update of the classic “Legend of Zelda” franchise, users once again play as iconic hero Link, who begins the game by waking from a hundred-year sleep. From there, he fights to regain his memories and prevent the evil Calamity Ganon from destroying his home kingdom of Hyrule. A sequel game called “Tears of the Kingdom” is scheduled to be released in 2023. IGN critic Jose Otero praised “Breath of the Wild,” calling it “a masterclass in open-world design.”
Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development (EPD)
#1. Super Mario Odyssey
The cover of Super Mario Odyssey.
– Metascore: 97
– Metacritic user score: 8.9
– Release date: Oct. 27, 2017
– Developer: Nintendo
– Genres: Action, platformer, 3D
In “Super Mario Odyssey,” gamers play as iconic character Mario, who has gained a powerful new ally in a sentient hat called Cappy (which allows him to control objects and characters). Throughout the game, Mario and Cappy traverse various kingdoms far from Mario’s home Mushroom Kingdom in hopes of saving Princess Peach from forced marriage to Bowser. As of 2022, Odyssey is the best Nintendo Switch exclusive game, according to Metacritic. It’s also one of the most popular Nintendo Switch games of all time, having sold 24.4 million copies as of November 2022.
You may also like: Artists who found fame after death
