25. Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! / Let’s Go, Pikachu
One of the
first pokemon games on the consoles, this was Nintendo's first steps to turning your
pokemon dreams into reality. Connecting to the Switch to our own mobile phones, it was
an upgrade on the Pokemon Go experience as well as the original Gameboy title. It might
not be the best for veteran gamers, but it's a friendly casual game that can be enjoyed
by Pokemon fans young and old.
Let’s Go, Eevee has a playscore of 8.69 while Let’s Go Pikachu has an 8.63
24. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
It's the Mario Brothers, not just the popular red sibling. With this Deluxe Edition, we
get the best of both the Mario Brother's world which we first saw from the Wii U. Including
the New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U, we get a game that's packed with
over 164 of their popular 2.5D courses.
It's not an impressive new game, but it's well-loved all the same with a score of 8.7
23. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
It doesn't seem like we're getting the ultra-heavy Final Fantasy XV soon so this is the closest
we've ever gotten. Square Enix breathed new life to the PS2 icon, giving a dramatic overhaul,
not just in looks, but also in its combat system, most especially, the international
zodiac system which offered a new approach to progression.
With a playscore of 8.76, it remains the most impressive FF entry on the Switch.
22. Hollow Knight
Nintendo did well with its grand welcome of indie games because it paved the way for Team
Cherry to bring their platform masterpiece to a new stage. One of the Metroidvania games
to beat, it pretty much set the standard for style, with its buzzing stages and its mysterious
skull-headed adventurer. Hard as nails but totally worth it, it remains a staple for
gluttons for platform punishment.
It receives a playscore of 8.77 21. Dragon Quest Builders 2
One of the biggest JRPGs met the voxel-building formula and the rest, as they say, is history.
With the sequel, all they had to do was refine the already golden experience. By cutting
out some of the frustration, expanding the range of activities, and delivering another
gripping storyline in the land of Alefguard, the series cements itself as a massive success.
A playscore of 8.78 20. Bayonetta 2 + Bayonetta
Platinum Games treated fans on the Switch with a back to back presentation of their
iconic witch. Before the arrival of their exclusive third installment, they brought
the classic titles to the hybrid console, letting us relive or rediscover all her angel-killing
misadventures from her days in the long-gone generation.
It's been a while, sure, but Bayonetta shows us that she still got it, looking as fresh
as ever before with a score of 8.8 19. Pokémon Sword / Shield
The Pokemon Game we were waiting for has finally arrived. Getting to the shelves was a bumpy
ride, but ultimately they added compelling new entries to the series, that's packed with
new features that provide what might be the best Pokemon experience yet. Presenting the
first of the eight generations in the region of Galar, we get Open World exploration, cooperative
raids, Pokejobs, and new Gym leaders, all packed into one gigantic package. That's a
lot to compensate for the slashed Pokedex, and we'll take it.
Pokemon Sword gets a playscore of 8.81, while Shield trails with an 8.72
18. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
When all you need is a quiet time, Animal Crossing has always been at the top of it.
This year, the New Horizons has come just when we needed it the most. It may be a little
different from what we're used to. Instead of a town, we get a brand new island that
you build up from scratch through the new crafting system. It's a lot less slow-paced,
bringing us an experience that may be more focused than we're used to. There are more
goals to achieve and activities to complete, but it also means making your home away from
home is a lot more personalized and customizable.
Exceeding our expectations in every way, it gets a playscore of 8.81
17. Ring Fit Adventure
Probably more relevant now than ever. It was one of Nintendo's most unexpected surprises,
seemingly harking back to their Wii Fit days. Except, instead of just plain old exercise,
it fits exercise into RPG-like scenarios, letting you navigate a magical world filled
with monsters using every calorie in your body.
A much-needed break from all the inaction, it receives a playscore of 8.82
16. Dead Cells
Motion Twin's roguelike Metroidvania platformer hack and slash became a breakout sensation,
fusing of many genres and inspirations all into one cohesive package. It was a time of
Metroidvania releases, but it still managed to stand out, thanks to the visceral thrill
of its hack and slash action paired with the excitement of getting new weapons to do it
all over again.
It gets a playscore of 8.83 15. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Level 5 Games' collaboration with the Japanese Animation Giant, Studio Ghibli, was already
a remarkable success on the PS3. But, as it completes the series experience on the Switch,
Ni No Kuni's original game basically found its new home in the modern generation. Even
though it's not a remastered experience, the world of Ni No Kuni is as magical as ever
before, with its charming visuals and equally breathtaking Hisaishi soundtrack.
It has a playscore of 8.84 14. Astral Chain
The team that gave us a Bayonetta has gifted us with a new hack and slash adventure, this
time with the pulsating lights of a new, technologically advanced society. While its first impressions
have all been positive, Astral Chain actually exceeded expectations, presenting not just
a rich world with real characters, but also a whole of variety in terms of gameplay and
combat.
An exclusive for the Switch, it gets playscore of 8.85
13. Dragon Ball FighterZ
The recent title, Kakarot, hasn't made it to the Switch yet, so for now, this Dragon
Ball themed fighting reigns supreme on the Nintendo console. Combining Arc System Work's
signature cinematic and flashy designs, with the fast-paced combat of the Dragon Ball series,
Fighter Z delivers one of today's most satisfying fighting experiences. From its original roster
of 21 playable characters, Fighter Z's arenas are made more colorful thanks to all the new
icons added in their first and second wave of DLCs, with a third to come out soon.
It has a playscore of 8.86 12. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
From the Wii U to the Switch, it looks like our love for this Donkey Kong adventure will
never change. Adding a merciful twist to the sometimes punishing platforming of the series,
Tropical Freeze on the hybrid console is a blessing for new and old platformer fans.
It's a lot more friendly for casual gamers, which means it's a whole lot easier to share
with friends and family.
Letting you connect with loved ones through banana collecting and barrel-breaking, it's
an all-time classic with a playscore of 8.88 11. Diablo III: Eternal Collection
Containing the base game, the reaper of souls expansion, AND the rise of the necromancer,
the eternal collection offers the best way to experience Blizzard's third installment.
The title was already a tremendous success before, but its smooth transition to the Switch's
portable format has made Diablo's addictive formula even worthier of the investment.
A new way to play a beloved ARPG gem, it gets playscore of 8.93
10. Sonic Mania Plus
Even before their record-breaking blockbuster, the Sonic franchise has been on the rise for
a while now, and this enhanced version of the 2017 platformer definitely played its
part. Unlike Sonic Forces, it stayed true to the classic formula, with its pixel visuals
and refreshed 2D stages.
Currently sitting as the highest-rated Sonic game in 25 years, Sonic Mania Plus deserves
all the praise with a playscore of 8.93 9. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
While some stuck with their old formula, this game chose to make a switch. One of Nintendo's
slew of revamped favorites, this Legend of Zelda title from developer Grezzo returns
with a brand new look, abandoning the pixels of its Gameboy Original for some charming,
mini diorama presentation. Despite having pretty much the same story, players new and
old have flocked to this new title, experiencing the old adventure with all the added cuteness.
It has a playscore of 9.03 8. Super Mario Maker 2
We asked and they delivered. Super Mario Maker has been a staple since the breakthrough Wii
U days, and with its sequel reaching the Switch, it pretty much completed the line of Mario
games on the hybrid console. But, it's no ordinary port, 2 basically widens the possibilities,
letting your imagination shine some more with 2D AND 3D worlds, online versus modes, as
well as an array of customizable features.
An intersection of features for builders, platform, and Mario fans, plus their friends,
it receives a playscore of 9.05 7. Luigi's Mansion 3
Luigi also gets his name in lights once again in this much-awaited third installment to
his ghostbusting adventures. After such a long wait since the 2013's Dark Moon, its
announcement was met with screams of delight. In it, the ghosts of the old mansions haunt
the green Mario brother, revealing his vacation to be a King Boo ploy all along. Lucky for
us, that means tons of creative puzzles, all presented with the spooks, charm, and humor
of the Luigi Mansion series.
It has a playscore of 9.05 6. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
A triple threat of the standard serving of their strategy RPG goodness. Intelligent Systems'
Fire Emblem packed it all in for their entrance to the Switch, bringing three times the content
with their three heads of houses. Sharpen your mind with their academic seminars, or
hone your skills in training, which are made even better with their improved battle system.
Aside from content and combat improvements, its story is also one to witness, presented
in gorgeous detail and with the most colorful cast.
It has playscore of 9.08 5. DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive
Age - Definitive Edition
Just recently dubbed as the best JRPG on the Switch, this eleventh installment sits high
among Nintendo's greatest and has already proved itself worthy of its predecessors.
Set in the new world of Erdrea, begins the quest of a young man burdened with following
the footsteps of the hero who saved the world. It's a traditional JRPG storyline, but Echoes
brings us the luxury of the old and new with a switchable graphics mode that lets you see
the through 2D AND 3D lenses.
As magical as any Dragon Quest title, with modern twists, it has a playscore of 9.27
4. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Masahiro Sakurai is a generous god. Despite getting overworked in previous titles, he
forged on, paving the way for this ultimate edition of the Super Smash game we've always
loved. Ultimate is right on the money. Compared to last gen's 51, this edition has 76 characters,
featuring old classics, as well as surprising new additions from Pokemon, Animal Crossing,
Castlevania, and Metroid. And, that's not including all the cool new characters exclusively
available in the DLC fighter packs.
A game that just keeps on getting better, it gets a playscore of 9.31
3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Unlike most of their offerings, this was not the new title we were all expecting. But,
it looks like it does its job well enough, bringing to the Switch, the brand of cute
but high stakes competitiveness that only Mario Kart can give. The monopoly of the new
age, deluxe ramps up the friendly fire by letting players carry up to two items for
maximum damage. That's all while it a better casual experience with the smart-steering
feature.
An amazing title to get distracted before the rumored Mario Kart 9 arrives, it has a
playscore of 9.32 2. Super Mario Odyssey
Mario has always been Nintendo's most beloved icon, and his platform adventures just got
even better with this open-world title. Odyssey levels up the charm and the challenge of all
the previous titles, bringing Mario to worlds he's never seen before, along with a brand
new sidekick in his sentient cap. 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
I mean, do we even have to say it? It's the game we've feverishly waited for, and probably
the reason most of us got the Switch in the first place. The latest chapter in Link's
saga is one of the most beautiful jaunts we've ever seen. It's the first even open-world
Legend of Zelda title, and despite not holding our hands, it still manages to deliver the
compelling narratives that the series is known for.
Still the reigning champion on the Switch, it receives a playscore of 9.52