The best games for Nintendo Switch

For eight years, we played Pokemon, became the hero Link, and saved Zelda for the hundredth time on Nintendo's console. For many, it was their only gaming companion, while for others, it was a console that was very different from all other gaming media.

Every story has an ending, and the Nintendo Switch console began writing its own on June 5, 2025, with the release of its successor, the Nintendo Switch 2, which promises a fresh start for Nintendo fans.

But what does this mean for the beloved original Switch? Is it time to retire? Far from it. The console has been an incredible success, selling more than 152 million units worldwide as of March 2025. That puts it just behind the PlayStation 2 in the race for the title of best-selling console of all time, and Nintendo even expects to sell another 4 million Switch units.

Nintendo plans to continue support for games between both generations, as well as the availability of e-commerce and online functionality for the base Switch until 2026 or even 2027. So while we welcome the new, we certainly won't be forgetting the old for long.

But this is a good time to look back through 8 years of history and choose the best games.

Xenoblade Chronicles (especially 3)

If you're a fan of epic, expansive adventures that make you feel like you're truly living another life, the Xenoblade Chronicles series is an absolute must-play. Developed by Monolith Soft and published by Nintendo, these action role-playing games are known for their breathtaking world design, captivating music, and deep, emotionally resonant stories. The real-time combat system, where you manually control one character while your teammates automatically attack and strategically unleash powerful "Arts," is incredibly dynamic and satisfying.

For me, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 was the pinnacle of the series. I felt like it was a wonderfully balanced fusion of everything that made the first two games great, all wrapped up in one phenomenal package. I loved the story. I lived it through the eyes of my favorite group of characters, and it became clear to me right from the start that this was not going to be an easy journey. This is a game that is designed to play on your emotions in the best possible way. Watching the protagonist Noah develop throughout his journey and watching each character develop was deeply engaging.

Fire Emblem Three Houses

Another special game that will quickly draw you in. I was drawn to the political intrigue and difficult decisions of Fódlan, feeling the weight of every decision as I led my chosen house through a land on the brink of war.

What makes this game so special and why do so many people, including me, love it? It's an incredibly ambitious tactical role-playing game developed by Intelligent Systems and Koei Tecmo, and it tells a captivating story of a country at war, led by truly compelling characters.

The genius of the game Three Houses lies in its multiple story paths, four in total. Each offers new contexts, surprises, and character development, making each playthrough feel fresh and totally worth the time invested. Seriously, this is a game that literally begs to be played multiple times, to experience the story from multiple perspectives.

Astral Chain

Astral Chain is an action-adventure, hack-and-slash masterpiece. The moment I started playing it, I was hooked by its clean style and innovative combat system. It's a brilliant combat system that somehow makes controlling two characters at once feel incredibly intuitive and incredibly rewarding. There's really nothing else like it. You gradually unlock five different Legions, each with their own unique playstyle and action moves.

Beyond the flashy combat, the game also excels in its non-combat sequences. Exploring the strange dystopian world of Ark, investigating cases, and interacting with characters bring the environment to life in a charming way. There are hidden side quests and optional combat scenarios that truly feel like meaningful additions, not just filler.

Metroid Dread

An intense, thrilling game that gave me goosebumps on several occasions. The game has mastered dictating the pace. The gameplay is very fast-paced, but also challenging. It will test your controller skills. Death is part of the learning process (don't worry, you'll die a lot in the beginning) and is not an obstacle that will make you lose your temper. If you're a fan who craves a game that will challenge you and reward your perseverance, then you've found it.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions

Developed by Atlus, it is a unique role-playing game that combines elements from Atlus' series Shin Megami Tensei and Nintendo series Fire Emblem into something truly special.

The aesthetics are simply incredible. Rainbow-hued, with a Japanese pop (J-pop) vibe and neon-lit extravaganza that perfectly captures the vibrant energy of modern Tokyo. The music? Crazy. From catchy idol songs to great background themes for areas and battles, the sound effects set a high standard and maintain it throughout the game. This is a game that oozes personality and style.

Aside from the brilliant presentation, the combat is surprisingly addictive and dynamic. It's a turn-based system where exploiting enemy weaknesses leads to exciting "Session" follow-up attacks with multiple characters chaining together combos. The Switch version even adds speed-up options, making it even more fluid. While some might call the story a bit light-hearted, its light-hearted nature was exactly what I needed at times. It's not trying to be a deep, philosophical game or a dark epic, it's just charmingly entertaining.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

This game is an absolute marvel. As a sequel to one of the greatest games ever made (Breath of the Wild), somehow manages to improve on it in almost every way. This action-adventure masterpiece truly amazed me with its scale and creative freedom.

The new building mechanics force you to rethink what's possible in the game. I spent countless hours just experimenting, building crazy contraptions, and seeing what wild ideas the game would allow me to have. The world of Hyrule feels vastly expanded, not just horizontally, but vertically as well, with vast sky islands and mysterious depths below.

This made me wonder if it was Breath of the Wild compared to this at all. The story is also truly exciting, with the final fight being perhaps my favorite in any Zelda game.

If you play it on the new Switch 2 console, you'll explore the depths in HDR quality and you'll also notice a much higher frame rate (fps) everywhere else, which was a problem with the original Switch, especially when you started building really enormous machines.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Before Tears of the Kingdom was The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. For many, this game was a game changer, completely reshaping the 30-year-old franchise. From the moment you step foot in the Shrine of Resurrection, you have complete freedom to explore Hyrule at your own pace, going anywhere, climbing anything, and tackling challenges in any order you want. The game gives you a set of tools and then lets you experiment, encouraging “silly ideas” like chopping down a tree to roll through an enemy camp, or throwing a metal sword at an enemy during a storm to summon lightning.

These spontaneous moments made the game fresh, and each moment unique.

It's hard to cram into a single article all the games I've dedicated dozens (or hundreds) of hours of my life to. Then there's Persona 5 Royal, a story of injustice, rebellion, and redemption. The characters are incredibly fleshed out. Their fight truly becomes your fight.

Or Super Mario Odyssey, which is an explosion of fun and joy. Let's not forget that Mario also masters racing, as you can see in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which is perhaps the best game for spending time with family and friends.

So while we look forward to the future with the new Nintendo Switch 2 console, we will never forget the incredible journey we had with the original Switch.