Best Nintendo Switch Games in 2026

The Nintendo Switch has been around long enough to build one of the strongest game libraries on any platform. Whether you picked one up recently or have had it since launch, there are more good games than hours to play them.

This list covers the best Nintendo Switch games across genres. No filler, no padding, just games worth your time.

Best Overall: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Still the benchmark. Open world, physics-driven combat, and a level of freedom most games still haven’t matched. If you own a Switch and haven’t played this, start here.

Also play: Tears of the Kingdom if you want more of the same but bigger and more complex.

Best Platformer: Super Mario Odyssey

The most fun Mario has been in decades. Each world is packed with things to find, and the cap mechanic keeps movement interesting throughout. Easy to pick up, hard to put down.

Best Co-op: It Takes Two

Two players required, no exceptions. One of the best co-op experiences ever made. Every chapter introduces a new mechanic and throws it away before it gets old. Play this with someone you actually like.

Best RPG: Xenoblade Chronicles 3

If you want a long RPG with a real story and deep combat, this is the one. Easily 80-100 hours if you go properly. The writing is better than most JRPGs, and the world is genuinely interesting to explore.

Budget pick: Octopath Traveler 2. Cheaper, shorter, still excellent.

Best Fighting Game: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

The biggest roster in Smash history. Works as a casual party game and a competitive fighter depending on how seriously you take it. One of the best multiplayer games on the platform.

Best Indie: Hollow Knight

One of the best games ever made at any price. A massive metroidvania with tight combat, a mysterious world, and more content than most full-price releases. Costs almost nothing.

Also consider: Celeste if you want a precision platformer with a genuinely good story.

Best Party Game: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The default answer for a reason. Every track is well designed, the item balance is fair enough for casual play, and it works at any skill gap between players. Essential if you play with other people.

Best Strategy: Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Turn-based tactics with a school management layer between battles. The story branches significantly depending on which house you choose. One playthrough is good; two reveals what the first was hiding.

Best Action: Metroid Dread

Short, tight, and relentlessly well-paced. The best 2D Metroid in years. If you like precise movement and boss fights that actually test you, this delivers.

Best Shooter: Splatoon 3

Nintendo’s take on competitive shooters. Painting turf instead of getting kills changes how the whole game feels. The single-player campaign is better than it has any right to be.

Best for Kids: Kirby and the Forgotten Land

The most accessible game on this list. Kirby games are always gentle but this one has enough depth to keep adults engaged too. Great first game for younger players.

Games Worth Mentioning

• Animal Crossing: New Horizons – if you like slow, relaxing games with no pressure
• Stardew Valley – farming sim that swallows weeks without warning
• Pokemon Legends: Arceus – the most interesting Pokemon game in years
• Hades – one of the best roguelikes ever made, endlessly replayable
• Dead Cells – another great roguelike if Hades grabs you

What Were the Best Nintendo Switch Games in 2025?

The standout releases in 2025 included Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, the long-awaited sequel that lived up to years of anticipation, and Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, a remaster of the Wii U cult classic with significant improvements. Mario & Luigi: Brothership also released to strong reviews as a return to form for the RPG series.

If you bought a Switch in 2025 or are looking back at what you missed, those three are the ones to prioritize from that year.

Which Nintendo Switch Game Should You Buy First?

Depends on who you are:

• Solo player who likes exploration: Breath of the Wild
• Play with others often: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
• Want a long RPG: Xenoblade Chronicles 3
• On a budget: Hollow Knight
• Have kids: Kirby and the Forgotten Land

The Switch library is deep enough that there is no wrong answer. These are just the best starting points.