TOP 10 Nintendo Switch Exclusives

10. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury

Super Mario 3D World was a standout title for the Wii U, offering all the classic 3D action from the Mushroom Kingdom we’ve come to expect from the series. And while it’s great now that it's available on the Switch, the real selling point of this package is the brand new Bower’s Fury mode. This sees you play as our moustachioed hero as he teams up with Bowser Jr. to defeat daddy Bowser, who’s been transformed into Fury Bowser by a mysterious inky substance. With a big open world to explore, new power-ups and abilities to try out, and the option for co-op action, this is a title you won’t want to miss.

9. Pikmin 3 Deluxe

The third entry in the delightfully quirky series, Pikmin 3 Deluxe is an RTS, in which you control three interplanetary explorers looking for food to sustain their starving world. They, in turn, control plant-like beings called Pikmin, who help you as you search for items and avoid being eaten by native beasties. The deluxe edition adds some equally fantastic content and small quality of life updates to ensure there’s enough to please new and old fans alike. If you’re looking for the perfect balance between action, strategy, pressure and fun, look no further.

8. Pokémon Sword / Shield

Arguably the most popular handheld RPG series ever, Pokemon Sword and Shield prove the franchise is as strong as it’s ever been. Taking the adventure to a pseudo-London setting, it’s one of, if not the prettiest Pokemon experiences ever. Couple this with a great soundtrack, as well as all the classic battles and exploration fun, and you’ve got one of the definitive Pokemon generations. 

7. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

The most complete, immersive and downright best Animal Crossing game to date, playing New Horizons is a joyous experience. There’s so much to see, do and explore as you help build your new home town, and it’s easy to lose several blissful hours doing jobs that would seem mundane in the real world. But such is the magic of Animal Crossing, even the every day is made to feel pleasant.

6. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

A remake of one of the most beloved and bizarre Zelda titles, this has to be one of the best remasters of all time. Taking the original formula, it rebuilds the game into a 3D masterpiece without sacrificing any of the original spirit. Throw in modern conveniences to make it more palatable to the modern gamer, as well as a dungeon builder and you’ve got one of the best Switch games to date.

5. Super Mario 3D All-Stars

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of everyone’s favourite moustachioed plumber, Nintendo have released Super Mario 3D All-Stars, a collection of some of the crème de la crème of the series, featuring Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy. Playing it is like seeing the games the way they were always intended to be seen. The timeless art style finally has the technical support to show them off in all their glory. Whether you’ve played them a million times or just picking them up for the first time, there’s never been a better time to delve into the best of the past.

4. 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. Best ever battle mode?

3. 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.

2. Mario Odyssey

Super 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

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.

TOP 10 Nintendo Switch Open World Games

10. Ark: Survival Evolved

Dumping you on a beach with little more than a dirty loincloth, you’ll soon be tested against dinosaurs, dragons and most annoyingly of all, other players. After hours of crafting and grafting, you’ll progress from your prehistoric beginnings to a futuristic master of your domain. Although Ark plays better as a multiplayer experience, there is a surprisingly deep and satisfying single-player campaign to tackle as well.

9. 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.

8. Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is truly a standout open world that maintains its story, combat, and exploration interesting throughout the 70+ hours of adventure in a beautifully immersive, varied and rich world. Its impressive visual variety, problem-solving, positive message and heart-pounding boss battle moments make this game an excellent choice for any RPG fan.

7. LA Noire

One of the more story-driven open-world games on this list, there’s a reason LA Noire remains relevant nearly 10 years after it first released. You play as Cole Phelps, a detective working on increasingly big cases in 1940s Los Angeles. When you’re not on a mission, you’re welcome to explore this rich period setting, either by foot or car. It’s a much more refined, mature experience than similar games in the genre, but give it the time it deserves and you won’t regret it.

6. Pokémon Sword / Shield

Arguably the most popular handheld RPG series ever, Pokemon Sword and Shield prove the franchise is as strong as it’s ever been. Taking the adventure to a pseudo-London open world, it’s one of, if not the prettiest Pokemon experiences ever. Couple this with a great soundtrack, as well as all the classic battles and exploration fun, and you’ve got one of the definitive Pokemon generations. 

5. Saints Row The Third: Full Package

It’s been 9 years since Saints Row: The Third ripped up the rulebook of what a crime sandbox could and should be. Offering a much more over the top experience, it’s the digital manifestation of the phrase ‘balls to the wall’. Featuring all available DLC content, updated graphics and textures and the same delightfully silly gameplay, this is the best and most complete version of the game to date.

4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

How they managed to fit a game the size of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt  - arguably one of the biggest and best games of this console generation - into a portable console is a minor miracle. Sure the textures might not pop like that do on a PC, but the entire game functions perfectly on the Switch, and the controls translate just as well to handheld mode. Long live the Switcher!

3. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

The most complete, immersive and downright best Animal Crossing game to date, playing New Horizons is a joyous experience. There’s so much to see, do and explore as you help build your new home town, and it’s easy to lose several blissful hours doing jobs that would seem mundane in the real world. But such is the magic of Animal Crossing, even the every day is made to feel pleasant. 

2. The Outer Worlds

Essentially Fallout in space, The Outer Worlds is one of most celebrated RPGs of recent years. With a dark, satirical humour, a deep but accessible roleplaying system and a charming universe to explore, it’s easy to lose hours, if not days immersing yourself in the experience. It performs pretty well on the Switch too, outputting at a solid 30fps, which for a game of this size is very impressive.

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.

TOP 10 Nintendo Switch Action-Adventure Games

10. Saints Row The Third: Full Package

It’s been 9 years since Saints Row: The Third ripped up the rulebook of what a crime sandbox could and should be. Offering a much more over the top experience, it’s the digital manifestation of the phrase ‘balls to the wall’. Featuring all available DLC content, updated graphics and textures and the same delightfully silly gameplay, this is the best and most complete version of the game to date.

9. No More Heroes III

The third entry in the fiendishly satirical series, No More Heroes III raises the stakes higher than ever, as loveable assassin Travis Touchdown has to thwart a familiar alien menace. Combining high octane, super violent combat with mundane tasks such as mowing the lawn and unblocking toilets might seem a little odd, but it just works for the tone of the game. This is a title that’ll tickle your funny bone just as much as it whitens your knuckles, and in 60fps it looks damn fine doing both too!

8. Darksiders: Warmastered Edition

From anyone who didn’t play the original 2010 release, Darksiders sees you assume the role of Death, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse on a hack and slash adventure during the final battle between Heaven and Hell. Gameplaywise, it’s a healthy mix of Legend of Zelda with just a dash of God of War and Devil May Cry, which is definitely a compliment if we’ve ever heard one.

7. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Arguably the defining action-adventure game of a generation, Skyrim is legendary (and meme-able) for a reason. Porting the 2011 classic in all its glory, the Switch 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.

6. Samurai Warriors 5

Taking place in feudal Japan, Samurai Warriors 5 sees you take the role of Nobunaga Oda, a brash young leader determined to unify the nation. Featuring slick ‘Musou’ gameplay (which basically means you’ll face waves of weaker enemies as a powerful warrior), there aren’t many titles that’ll give you a power trip quite like this! Couple this with a striking art style heavily inspired by traditional ink drawings, and a huge variety of objectives, and you’ve got a game that’ll delight players new and old. 

5. Bayonetta 2

Bayonetta 2 is arguably one of the best action games on the Switch. Teaming with truly epic, beautiful and action-packed cut scenes, this game will not let you catch your breath before the next boss battle. Nothing says over the top fight sequences better than taking to the skies in a battle against a demonic creature while ascending to the top of a skyscraper. The game’s combat is so expertly constructed, and its presentation so wonderfully unhinged, that will make you think twice before putting the controller down. 

4. Monster Hunter Rise

It’s Monster Hunter, but not as we know it. Much like recent games in the franchise, Rise streamlines the combat mechanics to be much more welcoming to new players. You still overcome mighty beasts in over the top action, only now you don’t have to sift through 20 menus to do so. The other big addition is the Wirebug, a tool that lets you zip around the world map like a feudal Spider-Man, making traversal much faster. This helps to make the world feel much more connected, and despite technically being a smaller game than previous entries, the series feels grander than ever.

3. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

Zelda games are good, aren’t they? A remake of one of the most beloved and bizarre Zelda titles, this has to be one of the best remasters of all time. Taking the original formula, it rebuilds the game into a 3D masterpiece without sacrificing any of the original spirit. Throw in modern conveniences to make it more palatable to the modern gamer, as well as a dungeon builder and you’ve got one of the best Switch games to date. 

2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

How they managed to fit a game the size of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt  - arguably one of the biggest and best games of this console generation - into a portable console is a minor miracle. Sure the textures might not pop like that do on a PC, but the entire game functions perfectly on the Switch, and the controls translate just as well to handheld mode. Long live the Switcher!

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.