Picking a gift for someone is hard! Whether you are looking for a loved one, or just in need of inspiration for yourself, we've got you covered! Here's our list of the very best games for everyone’s favourite handheld/home console hybrid - the Nintendo Switch!
10. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
As the meme suggests, you can play Skyrim on everything, and the Switch is no exception. Porting the 2011 classic in all its glory, this Special Edition also includes motion controls, meaning if you’re playing with Joy-Cons, you can actually swing your character’s sword. It adds a new dimension to gameplay, meaning fans new and old will find something to enjoy.
9. Mortal Kombat 11
MK 11 is predictably incredible. You can expect the usual affair of tight, fluid mechanics and brutal fatalities that are just as wince-inducing on the tablet screen as they are in docked mode. But it’s the story with which Mortal Kombat stands out from its predecessors. No spoilers, but after the time-shattering events of Mortal Kombat 10, you’ll have to fight different versions of yourself from previous games. Mortal Kombat is one of those franchises that seem to knock it out of the park more often than not, and MK11 is no exception.
8. Super Mario Party
A collection of virtual board games inter-spliced with mini-games, this entry into the series serves as one of the last bastions of dedicated local co-op, and boy does it do it well. Playable for 1 to 4 players, grab a Joy-Con each for hours of fun in maps from around the Mushroom Kingdom. Couple this with current-gen graphics, and you’ve got the best Mario Party game in at least a generation if not two.
7. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
The 15th entry in this long-running tactical RPG series returns to home consoles for the first time in over a decade as a Switch exclusive. Like most JRPGs, the lore is pretty deep, so we’ll sum it up by saying you spend the first half of the game in a school system, building relationships and currying favour with your chosen house. After that, there’s a significant time jump which leads to more battles and higher stakes.
6. Super Mario Maker 2
Super Mario Maker 2 doesn’t change the winning formula of its predecessor too much, after all, there’s a certain satisfaction achieved from building your dream level that can’t be replicated by any other type of game. Yet, tucked away amongst all the creation modes is Story Mode, effectively a brand new Mario adventure in its own right, built from the styles of Mario games throughout the decades. This alone makes it worth picking up, but even if you don’t consider yourself particularly creative, there’s plenty of hours to be lost to the creation modes too.
5. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Nintendo has been perfecting their Smash Bros series for the past 2 decades, an effort that culminates with the near-obnoxiously good Super Smash Bros Ultimate. The fighting/party game boasts one of the best rosters of characters found in any game ever, ranging from Pikachu to Solid Snake to Sonic and even the Wii Fit Trainer (because why not?), and each character feels unique, with a deep move set and individual play style.
4. Doom
Consider the rampant disembowelling found in the Switch port of Doom to satiate your sadistic streak. The frenetic, non-stop action feels right at home on the Switch, as you mow down wave after wave of hellspawn. If you’re looking for a deep storyline, look elsewhere, if you’re looking for some of the tightest gameplay around, rev up your chainsaw and get chopping.
3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
The king of the kart racers, nothing comes close to Mario Kart on the Switch. With the near-perfect balance between pick-up-and-playability and challenge, MK8D truly does cater for everyone. Whether entertaining your grandparents or duking it out with the best online, you’ll find a satisfying experience no matter what you’re looking for.
2. Mario Odyssey
Mario Odyssey is a belter! Rather than resting on its laurels, Nintendo takes their moustachioed mascot and freshens him up in a new direction; new worlds, new mechanics and new challenges make playing it an absolute delight and a testament to the company’s expertise in game design.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - there aren’t enough superlatives to describe how good this game is. Never have we played an open-world game that’s so immersive, so deep and just so gosh darn fun to play. Every aspect of the game is flawless, and the fact it works on a tablet is nothing short of witchcraft. Trust us, it’s worth buying a Switch for this game alone.