If there’s one thing the Nintendo Switch has, it’s games. Quite possibly too many of them to rank! With the announcement of Nintendo’s new hardware presumably on the horizon, it’s a good time to look at all of the great games that have released on the platform over the past seven years. Whether the Switch is your favorite Nintendo console or just one of your favorites, it absolutely has one of the best libraries any console has had to offer. So today, we’re looking at 10 of the best Switch exclusives in no particular order. For the sake of this list, we’ll be excluding remakes, remasters, and ports – only brand new games are eligible here.
Honorable mentions
In spite of what we just said, it’s impossible to talk about the Nintendo Switch without talking about The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Most Nintendo Switch game rankings will put Breath of the Wild in the top spot, and that’s absolutely a valid take. In addition to its simplicity and portability, a big reason why the Switch succeeded in its early days was because Breath of the Wild was on it. It was also partially thanks to the system’s ability to share screenshots and videos – many players became interested in Breath of the Wild just by seeing a cool or funny clip on social media, for instance. Then we received Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in April, which went on to become not just the best-selling Switch title, but Nintendo’s second-best selling game ever (only losing to Wii Sports, which was a pack-in title). The point is, Nintendo Switch wouldn’t be what it was without ports and remakes, and even though we’re not including them in the ranking, there are some fantastic options available. Metroid Prime Remastered, Link’s Awakening, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, and Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition are just a few of the highlights here.
You could also argue for a few Nintendo Switch exclusives that didn’t quite make our list. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a notable exclusion here; it’s a solid game in the series, but we decided it’s more like a top 11 exclusive since it was incredibly barebones at launch without updates and is still missing quite a few features from New Leaf in the final build. A few other solid candidates are Emio – The Smiling Man, Splatoon 3, Splatoon 2 (thanks to its excellent DLC), Luigi’s Mansion 3, New Pokemon Snap, Pokemon Legends: Arceus, Ring Fit Adventure, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, and Xenoblade Chronicles 2. We went for variety on this list first and foremost, but it’s also important to note that this matter is entirely subjective. It’s impossible to pin down a definitive top 10, and we’d love to hear what your top 10 rankings are in the comments below. But for now, here’s what we came up with:
Astral Chain
This is an original Nintendo Switch exclusive from PlatinumGames, and one of the more overlooked titles on the system. Much like the Bayonetta series that the studio is known for, Astral Chain is a hack-and-slash action title. It’s focused on capturing supernatural creatures and then using them in battle to create combos. The game was praised for its great graphics, solid bosses, and excellent gameplay. Although you don’t hear quite as much about Astral Chain in the modern day, it’s still a fantastic exclusive and one absolutely worth picking up and playing.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
To be clear, Kirby and the Forgotten Land probably doesn’t make top five from an objective point of view, but we do think it makes top 10. When Kirby Star Allies released for Nintendo Switch in 2018, fans were just the slightest bit disappointed at what the game wasn’t. They wanted a big leap forward for the Kirby series that pushed it past the boundaries defined by Kirby’s Return to Dream Land in 2010, but Kirby Star Allies wound up being more of the same. Not just that, but many players actually consider Kirby Star Allies to be the worst (or perhaps “least good” is a better term) of the modern 2D Kirby games. In 2022, however, things changed – Kirby and the Forgotten Land was announced, and it was the step forward for the Kirby series fans have always wanted. Other than the small-scale Kirby’s Blowout Blast on Nintendo 3DS, Forgotten Land was the very first 3D platformer the series had ever seen. And for the franchise’s first real shot at full 3D, Kirby and the Forgotten Land turned out beautifully. The art style, graphics, and soundtrack are on point as always, and it’s incredibly satisfying to run through the well-designed levels as Kirby and explore every nook and cranny for secrets. This is among the most visually appealing games on Nintendo Switch, with levels that feel like they’re actually part of the environment rather than just a bunch of floating platforms.
There’s a lot on offer here for Kirby fans, including a bunch of little mini games and a decent postgame to boot. Not to mention, Kirby and the Forgotten Land had an effect on the rest of the series too – it subtly ties into the plot of Kirby’s Return to Dream Land DX, which released afterward. And perhaps more importantly, it shifted players’ views on Kirby Star Allies. Now that we have that evolution of the franchise we wanted, it’s easier to view Star Allies for what it is rather than what it isn’t. Kirby and the Forgotten Land was a fantastic first step into 3D for the series, and we’re excited to see where it goes next on Nintendo Switch 2.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Released for Nintendo Switch in 2019, Fire Emblem: Three Houses marked another resurgence for the franchise. Its first resurgence was Fire Emblem Awakening for Nintendo 3DS, which saved the series and paved the way for an even better entry on Switch. Indeed, Three Houses is the best-selling entry in the franchise, and it’s also one of the most beloved. The grid-based gameplay is as sharp as ever, and the game focuses on plot, story interactions between characters, and choices you can make that affects the gameplay.
Hence the name of the game, there are three different routes to pick from. If you go for all three routes during different playthroughs to see all of the game’s content, then you’ll be playing it for many, many hours. There’s tons of content on offer here, and it’s easy to see why this is one of the most loved Fire Emblem games.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
This is one of the simpler games on our list, but Super Mario Bros. Wonder proves that there’s nothing like good, simple fun. This is an evolution of the New Super Mario Bros. series that has composed the past 10 years of 2D Mario games, and it’s an incredible step forward. It’s got a unique, expressive art style that compliments the gameplay, which itself feels particularly great in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. The characters control smoothly, and it’s very satisfying just to jump and run around. The level design is on point as always, with Wonder Seeds that create wacky and wild scenarios that make for unique platforming experience. Sometimes the Wonder Seeds even change Mario’s form, allowing you to switch up the gameplay a bit.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder isn’t particularly long. It’s short and sweet, and easy to replay. We think the biggest weakness is the lack of impressive boss battles, but the standard level design is good enough to hold the game up over time. We’re almost certain that this game marks the end of the New Super Mario Bros. series, and we hope to see even more creativity in the next 2D Mario game somewhere down the line.
Metroid Dread
After an absence of several long years, Metroid Dread marked the return of 2D entries in the series and something of a comeback for the franchise in general. It’s responsible for introducing many new players to Samus, and it’s easy to see why – in terms of raw gameplay and controls, Metroid Dread feels sublime to play. You really get the sense that this game defines half of the “Metroidvania” genre, with a big underground world to explore with a metric ton of secrets and hidden collectibles. As with just about all Metroid games, you can clear Metroid Dread in just a few hours if you know what you’re doing. But part of the fun is starting off the game completely lost, forcing you to memorize the layouts of the world, where to go, and what to do all optimized for time. With a satisfying weapon and item upgrade system that really makes you feel like you’re making progress, Metroid Dread should have no problem holding your attention once you get into it. If you’ve never played a Metroid game before, you should know it’s much more open-ended and relatively difficult compared to Nintendo’s other 2D outings, but that’s what makes it so special.
Pair all that with excellent bosses, a boss rush mode, several difficulty options, a great final sequence, and mostly-solid 60 frames per second performance, and Metroid Dread is absolutely a must-play at the very least for fans of the Metroidvania genre. MercurySteam hit a home run with this one – it’s not absolutely perfect, as there are some complaints that the soundtrack is a little forgettable and that the E.M.M.I. chase sequences blend together, but it’s about as good as you can get. We’re excited to see where 2D Metroid goes next, too.
Pikmin 4
This is one of the more recent Switch games to make the list. Pikmin 3 released in 2013, and it took about ten years for its sequel, Pikmin 4. The game was absolutely worth the wait, though – the first thing you’ll notice about it is that it’s absolutely gorgeous. Playing as a tiny little guy with his tiny little plant people in a big environment creates lots of opportunities for graphical spectacles and creativity, and all of that really comes together here for an immensely satisfying experience. Once you get into the groove of things, Pikmin 4 is highly addictive – just one more day! The game talks about Dandori, which is essentially the art of doing things as efficiently as possible. That’s an important mechanic here; each day gives you a limited time to amass your Pikmin army to fight enemies, dig up items, find treasure, and then bring everything back to your home base. There’s real skill involved with Dandori, and you’ll slowly but surely face greater challenges and enemies along the way.
If you’ve never played a Pikmin game, Pikmin 4 is actually a soft reboot of the series that requires no knowledge of previous games. That said, it’s an excellent gateway into Pikmin 1, 2, and 3 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch. Pikmin 4 is one of Nintendo’s most polished titles on the console, and we’re just sort of hoping we don’t have to wait another ten years for the inevitable Pikmin 5.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
You could argue that all of the Xenoblade Chronicles games deserve a spot here, and we’d agree with you! But Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is undoubtedly the culmination of Monolith Soft’s work so far, and it’s a technical marvel on Nintendo Switch. The graphics and environments are more detailed and expansive than ever with several characters on-screen at once during battles with no noticeable slowdown. The combat is also more refined than other entries in the series, and it strikes a balance between being easy to understand but also having enough depth that you can really pull off some absolutely ridiculous setups if you know what you’re doing. There’s also a ton of content on offer with well over 100 hours of side quests and challenges to complete. We haven’t even mentioned the story yet, which hits hard for players who have experienced both Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition and Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Xenoblade 3 also has a separate DLC campaign that truly wraps up the numbered series, and in classic Monolith Soft fashion that campaign is roughly 40 hours on its own.
If you like RPGs, the Xenoblade series is a must-play. Unlike other games on this list, however, we would recommend playing the games in a specific order. Playing through all of them will take you a really long time, but it’s absolutely worth it in the end. Here’s the recommended order: Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition, Future Connected, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Torna The Golden Country, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and then Future Redeemed. Playing through the entire series at once may be a lot to digest all at once, given that each non-DLC game can extend to at least 60 hours, but these are games you can really get into and take your time with.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The absolute culmination of the Super Smash Bros. series, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has perhaps the most longevity of any game on Nintendo Switch. In a sense, it’s technically an evolved version of Super Smash Bros. for Wii U – but leaving it at that wouldn’t do it justice. It’s the first fully portable, completely uncompromised HD Super Smash Bros. game, which in and of itself is a wonder. Every single character that has ever appeared in the series is playable all together for the first (and presumably last) time, and when this fact was revealed in June 2018, it became one of the most hyped moments in Nintendo history. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in general is likely the single most hyped entry in the entire series with a wide range of newcomers and DLC characters. You’ve got fan favorites like King K. Rool and Ridley, surprising third-party fighters like Joker, Steve, and Sora, and characters that appeal to a broader audience like Isabelle. Every character brings something new to the table, and Smash Ultimate is great fun no matter which way you play it. Whether it’s with items off and on flat stages only or with every item on for absolute chaos, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is great. And it runs at 60 frames per second no matter how much you have on-screen – even eight pairs of Ice Climbers won’t slow this game down!
We think it’s virtually impossible that Nintendo Switch 2 will get a Smash game that tops this one. Bringing back all the characters alone seems like an impossible task. Furthermore, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate itself will be playable on the next Nintendo console because it is confirmed to be backwards compatible. We think this increases the likelihood that the next Smash is a reboot rather than an enhanced port of Ultimate, but anything’s possible. In the meantime, this is a fantastic Smash game and one you should absolutely try out if you somehow haven’t yet.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Whereas The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild technically doesn’t count as a Switch exclusive, Tears of the Kingdom definitely does. And if you’ve never played a game in the Zelda series before, Tears of the Kingdom is a great place to start. Of all the games available on Nintendo Switch, this one is probably the most “intimidating”, in a sense. There is a gargantuan amount of content on offer – so many side quests, side adventures, and mini-dungeon Shrines with their own puzzle layouts. There’s just so much stuff that it can get a bit overwhelming to know where to start. But if you slow down, focus on small things first, and take your time exploring the world, you’ll find an experience like no other. Tears of the Kingdom’s Hyrule is packed full of secrets and hidden areas, and can give you hundreds of hours of exploration and combat. The dungeons and bosses are mostly a step up from Breath of the Wild’s, and although there’s not much depth to the Depths and the sky islands, they’re still welcome additions that provide a much different atmosphere than standard overworld travel. None of this is even including Tears of the Kingdom’s signature rune abilities; Ultrahand in particular lets you stick together just about any objects you want. You can make all sorts of contraptions with Ultrahand, plus you can Fuse together weapons, use Recall to turn back time on objects, and Ascend to swim upward through walls and ceilings.
The creativity here is nearly unmatched, and Tears of the Kingdom is a gateway into the greater Zelda series available on Nintendo Switch. Most of them are remakes – Skyward Sword HD, Link’s Awakening, and then the brand-new Echoes of Wisdom – but they’re all worth playing in some capacity. Though the game’s performance is mostly fine, we’re still hoping to see a version of Tears of the Kingdom on Switch 2 that boasts full 60 frames per second performance to really elevate the feel of the game. Whether this actually happens remains to be seen, but it’s worth playing as-is.
Super Mario Odyssey
This was the first original Mario title to hit the Nintendo Switch, and it still holds up as one of the best in the series to this day. It’s somehow already seven years old! Super Mario Odyssey’s main gimmick is Cappy, a living hat who can cap-ture and possess enemies and characters for Mario to control. This adds a ton of variance to the already-addictive 3D Mario gameplay formula, with over 50 different objects or enemies to capture. It’s not like the game is solely based around captures, either – there’s more than enough challenging platforming on offer here, with tons of exploration to boot. There are hundreds of collectible Power Moons scattered throughout the world, which consists of many different kingdoms you can travel to on a world map. The Wooded Kingdom and Metro Kingdom were some of our favorites; the Metro Kingdom in particular was a highlight for the series and one of the most memorable areas in recent Mario history. With all those Power Moons, Super Mario Odyssey will definitely hold your attention for a long while. It’s a little bit difficult to pick up and replay since there’s just so much hidden throughout the worlds, but on a first playthrough it’s absolutely excellent.
Super Mario Odyssey did see some minor updates here and there, but it never received the DLC that players long guessed that it would. That leaves a lot open for the next 3D Mario game on Switch 2, which we expect we may be seeing sooner rather than later given how long it’s been. Even then, Super Mario Odyssey remains a strong entry in the series and a must-play for fans of Mario.
Picking out 10 exclusive Switch games is an incredibly difficult task, so we want to hear your thoughts, too. What are your top 10 Switch exclusives? Do you agree with our list? Is there a notable omission you think should have been included? Let us know in the comments down below.
