It's been over two years, and the hype surrounding the Nintendo Switch has yet to die down. This probably has to do with the fact that the best Nintendo Switch games are continuing to come out—the quality is showing no signs of slowing down. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Stardew Valley are keeping Switch gamers entertained all the time. Whether you're a Nintendo Switch loyalist, or you play it in addition to your Xbox One and Wii U, there's no denying that the Switch has offered a versatility, in gameplay and games in general, that remains unmatched even in 2019. From free-to-play to single-player to multi-player, there's loads to choose from with the Nintendo Switch. These are the best Nintendo Switch games right now.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
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The turn-based Fire Emblem franchise is notorious for its difficulty. Traditionally, when Fire Emblem characters die on the battlefield, they stay dead. That archer you spent hours selectively playing to increase her experience? Dead. You can never use her again.
Three Houses amplifies the consequences of your choices by forcing you to make several important ones, right off the bat. As a teacher at the Garreg Mach Monastery, you'll have to choose your allegiance to one of three houses: Black Eagles (elitists who favor magic), Blue Lions (aristocrats with disciplined calvary and knights), or Golden Deer (well-rounded commoners who favor archery). Which house you choose, and how you decide to interact with your students, will affect the narrative's course.
Super Mario Maker 2
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A distant descendant of the SNES's Mario Paint and a direct descendant of the Wii U's Super Mario Maker, Super Mario Maker 2 offers even more options, like On/Off switches and slopes, for the aspiring level creator. Novices will satisfy themselves by creating traditional Mario levels, modeled after the ones they grew up on. But more advanced builders will find a rich meta-game, where they subvert the franchise's conventions to create new, exciting experiences, and playtest their levels to ensure that other players cannot break them. Whether you're uploading your own levels or playing other people's designs, Super Mario Maker 2 provides hours of guaranteed fun, with an unusually supportive online community.
Yoshi's Crafted World
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It’s not a difficult game, but that is hardly the point. Yoshi's Crafted World is like a kindergartener's DIY art project; the levels are made of paper cups, bits of cardboard, Scotch tape, and display borders. Yoshi must navigate this world in both the foreground and background. Yoshi's Crafted World is an experience more than a game, and you'll find yourself marveling and shaking your head at the ingenuity and prettiness of it all.
Tetris 99
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What if you took the battle royale trope made popular by games like Fortnite and Player Unknown's, and grafted it onto classic Tetris? It's a mismatch that shouldn't work, but absolutely does. In Tetris 99, you and 98 other players compete to be the last Tetrismaster standing, by making lines out of Tetrads and sending rows of garbage blocks to your opponents. Best of all, if you're subscribed to the Nintendo Switch's online service, Tetris 99 is free.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
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Every new Mario Kart adds a tweak or alteration to a proven, beloved formula. Mario Kart 8’s new gimmick is anti-gravity. With 48 tracks and a bigger, more diverse Battle Mode than its Wii U iteration, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the definitive version of a modern classic.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
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There's an irony to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It's a game which has utter chaos as its default state, and yet is polished to an unnatural sheen. Not a single thing is out of place; it is an instructive lesson in precise game design that caters to both the casual fan and the hardcore competitor. Every playable character from the entire Super Smash franchise is in this one.
Octopath Traveler
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Eight travelers. Eight journeys. Eight personalities. Eight different skill sets. Octopath Traveler is a turn-based RPG with freedom of choice and a fantastic combat system. The game is both a throwback to the classic 16-bit RPGs, and an expansion upon those games' tropes.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
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This is the most stunning game in the Legend of Zelda series yet. You—and Link—have never had this much freedom to explore the wilderness before. This is an open world game for completionists; you don't have to collect 900 Korok Seeds to beat the game, but you just might feel the urge to.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
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The world is ending, and it’s up to you to save it by leading Rex and Pyra in this deeply realized, story-driven action RPG. The direct sequel to the original Xenoblade Chronicles for the Wii, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 gives us more of the same quality gameplay.
Super Mario Odyssey
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In Super Mario Odyssey, our heroic mustachioed plumber goes open world. The storyline is the same old; Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach, and Mario must rescue her. But once that storyline ends, the real game begins. There are 999 moons to collect and earn, and you'll find yourself completing multiple races, puzzles, and jumping challenges to win them all.
Bayonetta 2
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Here's another Wii U port that you might have missed. Bayonetta 2 is one of the most stunning action games on the market. If you ever wanted to play as a gun-toting anime witch with the hack-and-slash brutality of Kratos, then this is the game for you. Plus, you also get the original Bayonetta game as a bonus, which makes this purchase a near-must.
Gris
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Gris is utterly, distractingly beautiful, and it's an excellent counterpoint to the notion that video games are not art. The game stars a diminutive woman running across a brilliantly rendered watercolor dreamscape. Evocative, touching, and focused, Gris is the sort of bold risk-taking that comes from a single person's vision, not a corporation's focus group.
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu/Eevee!
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If you haven't had enough of a Pokémon fix from Pokémon Go, give this game a try. Like the popular mobile game, you capture, train, and battle with your pocket monsters. You can pet them via the touch screen, feed them berries, and even style their hair; it's pretty much a cuteness overload, with all the action of the classic game.
Celeste
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This single-player adventure game will make you nostalgic for the classic titles from your childhood. Your mission is to help Madeline make her way to the top of Celeste Mountain in this puzzle-meets-platformer. This is for players who want a challenge.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
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Gaming world crossovers are hot right now, and Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is one of the most successful ones. The wild Rabbids have invaded the Mushroom Kingdom, and the Mario crew must work with the them to get everything back to normal. This is a turn-based RPG that doesn't work on paper, but absolutely does in practice.
Sonic Mania
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After years of putting out weird (read: bad) iterations of Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega finally buckled down and gave fans what they wanted: more side-scrolling levels and gameplay in the vein of the original Genesis games. Sonic Mania is a celebration of roots. If it ain’t broke, don't fix it.
ARMS
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We're still waiting for a new Punch-Out!! game, but until then, ARMS will keep us busy. This is a boxing game like you’ve never seen before. Choose one of 15 fighters, and battle other fighters with your extremely extendable arms. Play this if you want a fighting game with a particularly zany Nintendo twist.
Snipperclips
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Warning: This silly, multiplayer puzzle game will give you the giggles. Online multiplayer is prevalent, but Snipperclips doesn't support that. Instead, the game supports 2-4 player couch co-op, which makes this cut-and-fit puzzle game perfect for game night.
Splatoon 2
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Splatoon 2 is a trippy game of paintball without the actual mess. Leave it to Nintendo to create a multiplayer competitive shooter, and give it an accessible, friendly vibe. In a world of grim, bloody death matches, Splatoon 2 is a breath of fresh air.
Stardew Valley
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Stardew Valley is a fun game that challenges you to start with just a few coins and build your way up to greatness. Not every game needs to be a twitchy, action-oriented experience. Sometimes, you just want to chop wood and grow corn in peace. Ah, the simple life.
