Three years later and the Nintendo Switch continues to hold its own against the Xbox One and PS4 . If the little hybrid handheld has proven anything, it’s that a console is truly defined by what you can play on it. From Nintendo exclusives like Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey to Nindies like Slay the Spire and Golf Story, choosing only 25 of the best Nintendo Switch games has proven to be difficult.

Top 25 Nintendo Switch Games 26 IMAGES

25. Ring Fit Adventure

Twice a year, the NVC cram into a room and debate each other on what games should be added, taken off of, or moved on our list so that you, the reader, can enjoy the most exceptional games the Nintendo Switch has to offer. These are our recommendations based on what we’ve played, how much we enjoyed it, and whether or not it’s a better experience elsewhere.Sure, exercising is good for you, but it’s got two pretty big drawbacks: one, it costs a lot of money to join a gym and, two, it’s kind of boring. Ring Fit Adventure fixes both of those problems by gamifying exercise and letting you work out from home while somehow making the entire experience feel like a fun, casual RPG. By strapping the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con to your leg and with the strange, brilliant new Ring-Con peripheral , Ring Fit encourages you to use your whole body to battle monsters, collect coins, level up, and push past your personal bests — all while giving you a serious workout within the confines of your living room. It proves that exercising can be fun — especially when it’s thousands of dollars cheaper than hiring a personal trainer, too.

Read our Ring Fit Adventure review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

24. Captain Toad’s Treasure Tracker

Some folks say that there are too many Wii U ports coming to Switch. Those people have never played Captain Toad's Treasure Tracker. This phenomenal spin-off is charming, challenging, and downright cute on any platform, any time. I mean, look at his little vest!

Read our Captain Toad's Treasure Tracker review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)



23. Link's Awakening

With its charming, toyetic visual style and bizarrely dark undertones, the vast island of Koholint in The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening has never looked better than it does on Nintendo Switch. Link’s shipwrecked adventure on a mysterious island rife with eccentric characters and sprawling dungeons has always been one of the stranger Zelda stories, and this remake allows new audiences and aging fans alike to appreciate it on a modern system. It modernizes the classic beloved Zelda game with a shiny new coat of paint, some excellent quality of life improvements, and loads more hidden collectibles but, ultimately, its greatest accomplishment is retaining the weird, haunting, beautiful feeling of the original Game Boy game.

Read our Link's Awakening Review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

22. Astral Chain

Astral Chain is PlatinumGames at its best. It’s got it all: a unique story; deep character customization with a variety of play styles, and - of course - power-armored robot pets. On top of all that, it’s got some of the most satisfying, challenging, and fast-paced combat you'll see on the Nintendo Switch. If you’re a fan of other PlatinumGames like Bayonetta, Vanquish, or Nier: Automata, Astral Chain won’t disappoint.

Read our Astral Chain Review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

21. Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight can be incredibly demanding, but you get way more back than what you put into it. The expertly crafted Metroidvania map that is the kingdom of Hallownest has an absurd amount of paths to explore, bosses to fight, and secrets to uncover. That's all drawn in a somber but expressive art style that gives the adorable bug people who live their lives, and stories, of their own.

Read our Hollow Knight review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

20. Wargroove

Wargroove is a top-notch tactics game with lovely pixel art, delivering what Advance Wars fans have been craving for the last decade in a medieval package, But it still manages to set itself apart with tons of gameplay tweaks and stylistic choices. Positioning is important in Wargroove, and its clever campaign will certainly test your ability to set up Crits and move carefully thanks to some fairly competent AI. But more than what’s already there, Wargroove shines so brightly thanks to what’s still to come. It has an extensive level and campaign editor that’s extremely easy to use and can make pretty much any map, story (with custom cutscenes), or scenario you can dream up.

Read our Wargroove review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

19. Monster Hunter Ultimate Generations

The Nintendo Switch makes it possible to get the best of both *worlds* with Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate . You can play using a comfortable pro-controller, but you can also slay its more than 100 monsters in person with friends. On top of the ridiculous amount of content packed in, you can also play as an adorable cat and pet alpacas.

Read our Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)



18. Splatoon 2

Splatoon 2 is one of those rare games you can play for more than a year and still not be tired of it. Many players hoped for a fast port to Switch to hit the ground running, but what we got was an impressive sequel with an all-new single-player campaign and plenty of incredible, and free, post-release content.

Read our Splatoon 2 review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

17. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

Retro’s second entry in their Donkey Kong Country series is every bit as charming and challenging as Rare’s SNES trilogy. The Switch port of the Wii U original features an easy mode with Funky Kong but retains all the white knuckle platforming that made Tropical Freeze a hit back in 2014. Boasting some of the best boss fights and most original challenges in a platformer in the last decade, and a charming Saturday morning cartoon art style, it’s a must own on Nintendo Switch.

Read our Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

16. Pokemon Sword & Shield

Pokemon Sword & Shield finally brought mainline Pokemon games to home consoles - even if it's only by default, since the Switch is both a handheld and home console. Beyond seeing hundreds of monsters in HD on your nice big TV, Sword & Shield brought with it a slew of welcome changes, including several quality of life improvements, the removal of random encounters, and Gigantamaxing, which basically gave your favorite Pokemon the Stay Puft treatment. It’s also the first game in the franchise to include post-launch expansion packs, which includes both new and classic pokemon to add to your collection.

Read our Pokemon Sword & Shield review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

15. Xenoblade Chronicles 2

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Monolith Soft’s Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is widely considered one of the best JRPGs ever made. You’ll never want to leave Alrest, even after spending 100+ hours exploring it’s huge open world. You play as Rex, a salvager turned hero and “Driver” to the legendary Blade Pyra. Characters are extremely well written, there are dozens of Blades to unlock, all with their own unique look and personality, and the combat system is satisfying and complex.

Read our Xenoblade Chronicles 2 review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

14. Stardew Valley

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Stardew Valley is a wonderfully open-ended farming sim. You’ll forge your own country path with fishing, fighting, farming, and falling in love. Additionally, being able to take advantage of the Switch’s sleep mode helps take some of the pressure off of not being able to save in the middle of a day, even if a few other bugs in the port are still waiting to be squashed here.

Read our Stardew Valley review ● See it on Nintendo ● See it on Amazon (UK)

13. Diablo III Eternal Collection

Blizzard's massive top-down action RPG franchise Diablo may have originally been built for the PC, but with tailor-made console controls and a UI that never feels too crowded, Diablo 3 Eternal Collection actually feels right at home on Nintendo Switch. It's perfect for local co-op sessions on the couch or a quick dungeon run in handheld mode. And with tons of different character classes to choose from and thousands of waves of nightmarish enemies to destroy in its murky caverns and crumbling cathedrals, there is no shortage of content here to explore at home or on the go. Switch players can even experience new exclusive content, like costumes inspired by The Legend of Zelda's Ganondorf. If Diablo hooks you - and it likely will - you'll be exploring and unlocking weapons and items for years to come.

Read our Diablo 3 Eternal Collection review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

12. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle faced no shortage of skepticism before its launch. But Ubisoft Milan’s robust strategy game proved itself with some truly challenging levels and accessible but complex turn-based gameplay, while also finding a way of marrying the Rabbids and Mushroom Kingdom’s senses of humor into one, charming experience.

Read our Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

11. Super Mario Maker 2

Super Mario Maker 2 helped us achieve our childhood dreams of building our own Super Mario levels. OK, technically the first game did that, too, but the sequel took everything great about the original and somehow made it even more charming and wonderful. Not only are its 100+ story mode levels absolutely brilliant, but its accessibility as a viable game design tool is second to none — game designers of the future will almost certainly cite Super Mario Maker 2 as one of the catalysts for their careers. SMM2 is truly one of the Switch's best experiences: a challenging platformer that satisfies your creative urges, and offers a near-infinite stream of delights.

Read our Super Mario Maker 2 review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

10. Celeste

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Celeste is a surprise masterpiece. Its 2D platforming is some of the best and toughest since Super Meat Boy, with levels that are as challenging to figure out as they are satisfying to complete. But the greatest triumph of Celeste is that its best-in-class jumping and dashing is blended beautifully with an important and sincere story and an incredible soundtrack that make it a genuinely emotional game, even when your feet are planted firmly on the ground.

Read our Celeste review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)



9. Dead Cells

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Dead Cells fuses breakneck motion with an emphasis on risk-and-reward for an incredibly engaging action-platformer. Each easily digestible run through its beautifully detailed and shifting levels goads you to push the limits of your ability, and crushes you when you get too comfortable. It’s easily one of the very best action platformers on the Switch.

Read our Dead Cells review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

8. SteamWorld Dig 2

SteamWorld Dig 2 is a textbook example of everything a sequel should be: bigger, smarter, and just straight up more fun. Guiding Dorothy through SWD 2’s labyrinthine caverns searching for loot and upgrades is a challenging and charming twist on the classic “Metroidvania” style and has a gameplay loop that will undoubtedly keep you up into the wee hours of the morning for “just one more run”.

Read our SteamWorld 2 review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)



7. Slay the Spire

There’s something about Slay the Spire’s balance of strategy and randomness that makes it an endlessly replayable puzzle. Assembling that perfect combo of synergistic cards can feel incredible, but there’s also a joy in scraping your way to victory despite the odds never quite falling in your favor. With that potent package on the Switch’s mobile platform — with some fairly decent touch control options, we might add — it’s a miracle we’ve ever stopped playing it.

Read our Slay the Spire review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

6. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

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Mario Kart 8 ’s encore on Nintendo Switch didn’t just keep the online community alive and added returning favorites like Balloon Battle and Bob-omb Blast, we also got a brand-new “cops and robbers” team mode with Renegade Roundup, all of the great DLC stages, and even some guests from the Splatoon universe. It’s not a new game, but one so good, it deserved to reach a bigger audience on Switch right away.

Read our Mario Kart 8 Deluxe review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

5. Luigi's Mansion 3

Luigi's Mansion 3 is essentially a FrankenLuigistein’s monster of the first two games, a mashup of both that creates the perfect Luigi's Mansion experience. Charming, clever, and absolutely gorgeous to look at, Luigi's Mansion is 17 levels of pure ghost-hunting joy. Working your way through each of the haunted hotels may never extremely challenging, but the creative boss fights and deviously hidden collectibles will keep you busy for a dozen hours or more. The excitement of getting to a new level just to see its theme (TV Studio! Sewer Maze! Egypt!) is well worth the price of admission, plus the game opens with Toad driving a bus. Priceless.

Read our Luigi's Mansion 3 review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

4. Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Fire Emblem: Three Houses takes the series to new heights, deftly blending grueling battles with an expansive social hub that allows for near limitless customization as you recruit, train, and bond with the memorable characters on your team. Its unique take on a three-pronged story ensures that no matter which house you choose, the engrossing plot that unfolds always leaves enough mystery to make multiple playthroughs incredibly hard to resist.

Read our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

3. Super Mario Odyssey

A masterclass in 3D platforming, Super Mario Odyssey seamlessly blends the best elements from nearly every Mario game with an entire portfolio of new gameplay mechanics to create something both nostalgic and courageous. New players will adore stomping through the vivid and vast new worlds, while seasoned veterans will stick around after the credits to unlock the hundreds of challenges that await their skill and dexterity. To put it succinctly, Super Mario Odyssey is pure, sublime joy and one of the best Super Mario games ever made.

Read our Super Mario Odyssey review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is exactly what its name implies: it’s the ultimate incarnation of Nintendo’s now 20-year-old brawler series. It’s a celebration of Smash Bros. as a whole, filled with more fighters and levels than ever before, and packed to the gills with over 1000 more characters from all across gaming. “Everyone is here!” may have started out as just another tagline, but it’s one that Nintendo has impressively backed up, and it’s made Ultimate the definitive Smash Bros. game for a long time to come. Add a 20+ hour single-player mode with full-on boss fights and huge world maps and it’s easy to get lost in Ultimate. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate had a lot to live up to with that name, but it has undoubtedly done just that.

Read our Super Smash Bros. Ultimate review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

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Let’s face it, the Zelda series was long overdue for a major change, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild offers an unparalleled sense of freedom and scale in the palm of your hand. Now widely considered one of the best games of all time, Breath of the Wild tells an epic story, as you glide, cook, and battle your way across a beautifully ruined version of Hyrule. It helped reinvigorate The Legend of Zelda in a way that fans had only dreamt of, easily propelling it to the number one spot on our list and in our hearts.

Read our Breath of the Wild review ● See it on Amazon ● See it on Amazon (UK)

What's New and What Left the Best Nintendo Switch Games List

Removed from the best Nintendo Switch games list:

Guacamelee 2

Puyo Puyo Tetris

New Super Mario Brothers U

Pokemon Let’s Go!

Yoshi’s Crafted World

Fornite

Warframe

Latest additions to the best Nintendo Switch Games list:

Ring Fit Adventure

Link’s Awakening

Astral Chain

Pokemon Sword/Shield

Super Mario Maker 2

Slay The Spire

Luigi’s Mansion 3

Fire Emblem Three Houses

Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s changed:Note: removing games isn't a decision we make lightly -- and it certainly doesn't mean that we don't like those games. As a matter of fact, you should play all the games we removed as well. But as new games come out that we think are worth of your attention and the team that assembles this list changes over time, you'll see games drop off or even re-enter the list (eg: Tropical Freeze) based on the tastes of the panel and whether we think they should be in your current list of 25 games you should have in your collection.Did we miss anything? Is your favorite game too low? Let us know in the comments and be sure to check back when we reconfigure this list again! And look back at our top picks for past Nintendo systems in our best 3DS games , the best Wii games and the best GameCube games This list was assembled by IGN's Nintendo Voice Chat podcast crew. You can listen/watch our weekly Nintendo show right here on IGN.com or over on YouTube . Or, why not join the conversation over on Facebook and join the Nintendo Voice Chat Podcast Forums and let us know what you think of our lastest list! And, very rarely, we add games to our best games of all time page: The Top 100 Games List , so check that out, too. Thanks for reading/watching, and don't forget to get the thing!