Whatoplay presents the 25 of the Best Nintendo Switch Games this Early 2021. All arranged by
playscore. To check out our full list, visit our page on all Best Nintendo Switch Games.
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25. Hollow Knight A stark contrast to its cutesy art style, Hollow
Knight is brutal and unforgiving. Similar to the SoulsBorne genre, it tests your mettle against
unfair odds. Dying again and again may frustrate you, but the unlikely kind of personalities you
meet within this infested subterranean city is the game’s strongest suit. A playscore of 8.79.
24. Dead Cells
Just like Hollow Knight, this game is all about the cycle of life and death.
It’s a stylish roguelike that rewards your fast-fingers and persistence.
The randomly generated dungeons and loot offer room for replayability and experimentation.
All that’s needed is your commitment to its endless grind. A playscore of 8.80.
23. Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch This lighthearted JRPG was crafted with
the help of Studio Ghibli animators. Which also explains why almost every scene in this
title is overflowing with vibrant colors. Wrath of the White Witch is Switch’s first
taste of the Ni No Kuni universe and its cast of amazing characters. A playscore of 8.81.
22. Ring Fit Adventure Nintendo knows that the
Switch is also capable of making players sweat. Transforming both joy-cons into an exercising
wheel is something Nintendo clearly intended. Ring Fit Adventure’s mix of Role-Playing
Elements with “Exercise” is an experience that somehow ‘fits’. A playscore of 8.81.
21. Pokemon Shield While it did come out with Sword,
Shield took this spot by just 1 point. It’s the latest Pokemon game for the Switch and
it introduced a ton of new pocket monsters for us to capture and evolve. The new Galar
region is also a great place to explore and unlock secrets. A playscore of 8.82.
20. Dragon Quest Builders 2 A sequel that improved the
sandbox feel of the original, this spin-off of the acclaimed Dragon Quest series is all
about making do with what you have in this post-apocalyptic world. There’s more stuff
to do and more mysteries to discover and it receives a playscore of 8.82.
19. Hades Fresh out of the oven,
Supergiant’s award-winning roguelike scooped most of the “Game of the Year” awards last year.
Playing as the ever rebellious Demigod Zagreus is as fun as escaping from the clutches of the
Underworld. It’s easy to learn, difficult to master combat combined with stunning art
and voice acting makes every little death count. A playscore of 8.83.
18. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age An upgrade to the 2006 PlayStation 2 classic.
The Zodiac Age hit all the right spots and transformed the once-controversial
FF into the definitive way to play the game. Everyone can finally play and customize their
favorite character from Vaan’s ragtag team of heroes. A playscore of 8.84.
17. Rune Factory 4 Special One of the 3DS’ gaming gems. Now
that Rune Factory 5 is nearing release, we can take a look back at this Special
Edition that’s designed for Switch. Its anime-y
aesthetic is as charming as ever. Players who want to enjoy their journey for the first time,
or maybe those who want to play it again will find something new here. A playscore of 8.84.
16. Sonic Mania Plus The coin-collecting Blue
Hedgehog is getting the attention he deserves, especially with his own movie’s success. Plus is
a new and improved Sonic Mania experience and it comes with hefty upgrades. Playing on the
Switch works like a charm, with its portability and all. A playscore of 8.85.
15. Super Mario 3D All Stars The Switch can finally enjoy all three
of the major Super Mario titles in one package. Players can finally revisit or experience these
timeless Super Mario games. There are no major changes happening in this Remastered version,
but it’s a nice welcome addition to the Switch collection. A playscore of 8.86.
14. Astral Chain This is Platinum Games’ first exclusive title for
the Switch. Becoming part of an anti-alien task force is Astral Chain’s premise, but it's not the
game’s strongest aspect- it’s in its fast-paced combat. Teaming up with your Legion turns you into
a one-man army capable of fending off these otherworldly threats. A playscore of 8.87.
13. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
A welcome treat for players who want to get it on Donkey Kong’s branch. New and old fans will
find something new here, especially now that it's a lot more accessible for casual gamers.
Enjoy more banana collecting and barrel-breaking with this all-time classic. A playscore of 8.90.
12. Diablo III: Eternal Collection Who would’ve thought that a Diablo
game could work on the Switch? Well, now that we have Overwatch, Diablo III is also a great pick.
Eternal Collection takes every major expansion of this action-RPG into one cartridge. Experience
everything this game has to offer before we get that elusive Diablo IV. A playscore of 9.00.
11. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
Shulk mains who didn’t get a chance to play this Wii classic can now witness his origin story.
This Definitive Edition pushes the lengths of this critically acclaimed 2010 title with its
improved visuals and bonus content. It receives a playscore of 9.04.
10. Luigi’s Mansion 3
Nintendo continues their love for the second Mario brother with his next bold adventure.
Still bringing that spooks and goofy humor, Luigi’s newfound courage comes with some
fancy new gear to stop these paranormal problems. It has a playscore of 9.05.
9. The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
is a journey wrapped in nostalgia and returns with a brand new look.
No longer limited to the pixel days of its Gameboy original, this refined experience brought new life
to Link’s challenging dungeon-crawling escapades. It has a playscore of 9.07.
8. Fire Emblem: Three Houses When it opened its doors to the Switch,
there was so much to expect in a game that coated its previous titles with gold.
It didn’t disappoint. Three Houses’ massive content brings in hours and hours of RPG goodness.
It does so well, balancing its visual novel elements and turn-based combat,
and creating a complex adventure from start to finish. It has PlayScore of 9.11.
7. Super Mario Maker 2 This sequel brought a ton of variety to every
builder out there. Whether it’s 2D or 3D, Super Mario Maker 2 has a breadth of tools available to
tinker with for your little torture chambers. It encourages creativity and fun for Switch players,
given that every passing day, new levels are uploaded in its Community. A playscore of 9.11.
6. DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition
A game that’s as lengthy as its title, this eleventh installment sits high
among Nintendo's greatest and has already proved itself worthy of its predecessors.
It gave new and old fans something fresh on the table: a switchable graphics mode
that lets you see them through 2D and 3D lenses. It’s still as magical as
any Dragon Quest title and it comes with modern twists. It has a playscore of 9.27.
5. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate A congregation of all things popular
in gaming will eventually find themselves in this one. It’s continued support from its developers
brings in new surprise characters, including the latest addition, the One-winged Angel himself,
Sephiroth. It’s fun and perfect for parties and family moments. A playscore of 9.29.
4. Mario Kart 8 Speaking of family games, this
latest Mario Kart title wasted no time ruining friendships and ripping apart familial bonds.
Kidding aside, 8’s strengths are in its complex level designs and
great soundtrack. Taking shortcuts, outsmarting your enemy, or simply playing for fun holds
no reason for you not to start a race all over again. A playscore of 9.33.
3. Animal Crossing: New Horizons The latest Nintendo exclusive quickly made
its way to the top of our list. New Horizons is a paradise perfect for this shitty pandemic. It’s a
safe haven where we can all hang around alone, or with friends. The adorable cast of anthropomorphic
characters is also a great replacement for the friendless… :( A playscore of 9.36.
2. Super Mario Odyssey Odyssey levels up the charm and
the challenge of all the previous titles, bringing Mario to worlds he's never seen before, along with
his sentient cap, which is honestly kind of cute. With the return of their sandbox-style gameplay,
Odyssey makes it easy for you to get lost in Mario's biggest adventure yet.
Perhaps the best Mario game to date, it gets a PlayScore of 9.51.
1. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Nintendo’s proudest achievement in recent
memory and a strong system seller for the Nintendo Switch.
With a playscore of 9.53, Breath of the Wild is a gorgeous open-world adventure.
Its scale is ambitious and its future looks even better now that a sequel is in the works.
Who knows? Maybe we might hear more about Breath of the Wild 2 this year.