Nintendo has been one of the biggest names in gaming for decades, but for the last eight years, the Switch has held an especially strong grip on players young and old. The standard console, Switch Lite and Switch OLED have blended incredible games you won’t find anywhere else with a delightfully portable console format. Altogether this generation of Nintendo systems sold upwards of 143 million units globally, according to company financial data.
After what was considered a failed launch of the Wii U in 2012, the Switch’s success is a result of Nintendo’s willingness to experiment with and create new experiences from a number of its pedigreed gaming series, including Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda and Pokemon. Its innovative design allows standard console play to coexist with the motion controls baked into its compact Joy-Con design.
With the reveal of the Switch 2 console, the slate of Switch games has become more important than ever before. Backwards compatibility will mean you’re able to bring your favorite Nintendo games with you onto a new, stronger iteration of the fan-favorite hybrid console. Some of the best Switch games will even be getting free Switch 2 updates or paid Switch 2 edition upgrades.
If you’re looking for the right game for you ahead of a new console release, CNET curated this list of the best Nintendo Switch games you can buy right now.
Nintendo Switch game FAQs
Recent updates to the list
- April 2025: Added Metroid Dread, Pikmin 4 and Super Mario Maker 2. We also began including a list of Switch 2 features on relevant entries so you can prepare for Nintendo’s next generation console.
- November 2024: Added The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Super Mario Party Jamboree
How we determined CNET’s best Nintendo Switch games
When creating this list of best Nintendo Switch games, we factored in how unique and enjoyable these games are for most players — we evaluated criteria including graphical quality, innovative gameplay mechanics and compelling narratives. The picks we made cover a variety of genres from fantasy to retro platformers to shooters to racing games, and while we favored console-exclusive games you won’t find on Xbox, PlayStation or PC we also included some can’t-miss games that appear on multiple platforms. If you’re looking for help choosing your next game, CNET’s top Switch list is a good place to start narrowing your choices.
