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Animal Crossing games usually hit it out of the park, but it’s saying something that this game is now encroaching on being two years old and is still one of the best Switch games on the market.

It’s the title that got many of us through the first lockdown; with updates coming in frequently and content created by the players, there is always something to be doing on your island, whether that’s catching new fish, growing more plants or trying to pay back your never-ending loan from Tom Nook. 

This is a title that anyone can enjoy; charming graphics and rewarding but simple systems mean that you can put as much time as you want into your island, with the gameplay never feeling like a slog. With pacing so remarkable that we’re still talking about it years later, this is undoubtedly one of the best Switch games you can buy.

Reviewer: Jade King
Full Review: Animal Crossing New Horizons Review

With the immediate bonus of portability, Mario Kart 8Deluxe is the perfect title for anyone looking for some multiplayer shenanigans. Play it on the TV to experience the stunning visuals with friends, or whip out your Switch on your daily commute to get a few laps in before work. 

With the likes of Zelda, the Squid Kids and Isabelle from Animal Crossing, a lot of Nintendo’s beloved characters are accounted for. Race them through beautiful tracks insanely quickly at 200c, or take a trip to an alternate dimension in Mirror Mode, which flips all the maps backwards for an extra challenge. 

Marked as one of the best multiplayer games out there, never mind just for the Switch, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an integral part of anyone’s game roster and the perfect game to bring everyone together. And it’s a great time to buy, with Nintendo releasing even more tracks in the next two years for those who purchase the expansion.

Reviewer: Brett Phipps
Full Review: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

While we don’t throw around the world ‘masterpiece’ all too often, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild more than earns that title. With beautiful landscapes that shine on the OLED and when the console is docked, you can get lost for hours roaming the lands of Hyrule. 

This version of Hyrule is drenched in darkness, frozen in time by the terrifying Calamity Ganon. Monsters roam free and citizens live in fear, making it your job to return the world to what it once was. A plethora of zany and quirky characters help uncover more about this world, with tons of side quests and missions meaning that you’ll never really run out of things to do. 

Coming out as one of the first titles for the Switch, Breath of the Wild is still incredibly popular. And with Breath of the Wild 2 now in development, it’s the perfect time to get reacquainted with Link in one of his best adventures yet.

Reviewer: Brett Phipps
Full Review: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Review

We couldn’t do a top 10 Nintendo list and not include everyone’s favourite plumber. Super Mario Odyssey culminates in a brilliant mix of old and new, with motion controls making a comeback alongside a new character: the well-loved and well-worn, Cappy. 

Cappy takes control over pretty much anything you throw him at, from frogs to dinosaurs to massive totems – there is almost nothing he can’t do. While the story isn’t ground-breaking, the gameplay definitely is, with the best level design that the franchise has ever seen.

Offering a massive amount of variety and humour, with New Donk City coming in as a personal favourite, you can’t go wrong with a Mario game. Plus, all the hidden collectables and secrets mean you’ll be playing this game for months.

Reviewer: Brett Phipps
Full Review: Super Mario Odyssey Review

Take a step back from your workday and follow in the footsteps of Stardew Valley, one of the most wholesome entries on this list. Coming in as a similar game to Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley puts you in the shoes of a young person who can’t take the corporate grind any longer, and leaves to run their late grandfather’s farm. 

Plant crops, explore caves and find your next best friend in your brand new town. With no Tom Nook-equse character in sight, the world is your oyster, allowing you to play this game at your own pace. 

With endless options and a delightful soundtrack, this game offers up a new world for each player and is one of the easiest games to lose yourself in. And let’s be honest, any game where you can adopt your own dog is a winner in our books.

Reviewer: Jade King
Full Review: Stardew Valley Review

Life is Strange: True Colors offers up Hollywood-esque visuals alongside drama that could work on the big screen. The story-centric focus allows you to shape the narrative through your decisions, which gives it a great replayability.

The gameplay here is driven by conversations between the player and NPCs, with multiple options available depending on what choices you make. We won’t lie, this is an emotional story that packs a lot of punch, making it more akin to starting a great drama series than a new video game. 

Deck nine and Square Enix definitely took a gamble here, but as one of the most refined entries to date, we highly recommend this game to anyone out there with a Switch.

Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full Review: Life is Strange: True Colors Review

Another franchise that we couldn’t possibly leave off the Best Switch games list; Pokémon Sword and Shield is the fully-fledged console interation of Game Freak’s Pokémon series, and it’s been a long time coming. 

Bringing the depth you would expect from core Pokémon entries, you’ll be placed into the region of Galar, which may look familiar to anyone living in the United Kingdom. There is a whole new cast of characters for you to meet alongside a bounty of new Pokémon to catch and befriend.

Pretty much everyone that owns a Switch console needs at least one Pokémon game in their roster, and we can’t think of a better start than this duo game, packed with quirky graphics and the same silent protagonist we’ve come to love. You’ll just have to make sure that you can catch ‘em all.

Reviewer: Jade King
Full Review: Pokémon Sword and Shield Review

Even after almost two decades, the WarioWare series knows how to keep things fresh and weird, as this entry brings in more chaotic microgames that are addictive as they were when we were kids. 

WarioWare: Get it Together is definitely a different experience from most other games on this list, as it won’t offer up the rich storylines of Breath of the Wild, but it’s still a remarkably unique and interesting experience that has tons of replayability. It’s a particularly great game to play with a group of friends!

Nintendo also went to great lengths to add another layer to this game, called Wario Cup. This feature offers up a brand new challenge every week so you can show off your WarioWare skills on a global stage. If you’re looking for a party game other than Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, this is well worth a try.

Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Full Review: WarioWare: Get it Together! Review

New Pokémon Snap is one of the most easy-going titles on this list, letting you sit back and snap lots and lots of Pokémon and serving a healthy dose of nostalgia for anyone who’s played the action-packed RPG series.

You will be touring through 11 different Pokémon habitats, including forests, deserts, seafloors and volcanos, with Bandi Namco doing a great job in creating fresh and interesting environments that merit repeated visits.

The fantastic 3D models help bring these quirky monsters to life, with different creatures even interacting with each other throughout your journey. While not packing a revolutionary storyline, New Pokémon Snap is the perfect game for anyone wanting to wind down and experience Pokémon in a brand new way.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full Review: New Pokémon Snap Review