More than 1000 games were released on the Switch this year. Using reviews by critics and gamers,
we narrowed it down to the 10 Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2020,
arranged by playscore.To see the complete list, visit our page of the Best Switch Games of 2020.
10. Trials Of Mana Classic JRPGs have slowly resurfaced into the
modern world, in a completely new form from their original versions. Square Enix’s beloved Mana
series was among the many JRPGs that paved the way to the future of the genre back in the 90s.
Trials of Mana serves as a Reimagining of the famed Seiken Densetsu 3,
which was never released on the Western market. Now transformed into a vibrant 3D structure
similar to Square’s Dragon Quest, revisit the magical land blessed by the Goddess Mana.
It was universally praised for every upgrade they made, including its beautiful soundtrack
and its stunning visuals. IGN gave this a solid 8, stating that, “Trials of Mana
is absolutely charming and does an excellent job keeping what works from the original
while upgrading its aesthetics to the modern era.”
9. Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[cl-r] A game that could rival NieR or Kingdom Hearts
when it comes to its ridiculous titles. It may not be as latest as one would think it is, instead,
it’s a massive revision of an already established fighting game that started from SEGA Arcades,
then Playstation, and finally, made its way to the Switch.
Similar to most Arc System projects, Late Claire pits players in a colorful 1 versus
1 battle where lightning reflexes are key. Easy to learn, yes, but difficult to
master. Any fan of the fighting game genre will find its simple mechanics appealing.
Nintendo Life gave this one a score of 9. Saying, “... it’s a fast-paced fighter that manages to
successfully straddle the line between being instantly accessible and welcoming for newcomers
and in-depth enough to satisfy hardcore fight fans.” Its success generated an influx of avid
fighting game veterans and it’s even present at almost all FG Tournaments. A playscore of 8.37.
8. Sakuna: Of Rice And Ruin
Japan somehow mixed Farming and Fighting in one genre, and surprisingly, it worked.
Welcome to the Rice Fields in this adorable 2D side-scroller published by XSEED Games and
Marvelous. Learn the ancient ways of Agriculture and use this knowledge to thwart invading demons
from bringing ruin to the land. One reviewer from Hardcore Gamer, lauded the game’s seambless blend
of 2D and 3D and gave it a 4 out of 5. Between its slick beat’em up combat, Sakuna’s charm
comes from its mix of life-sim gameplay. Manage a thriving rice field in the mountains and use
the magical properties of the Harvest Goddess to power up and ready for the next battle.
7. Two Point Hospital SEGA’s hospital building
game has been around since 2018, but the Switch version came in late.
The game’s main objective is to construct the most efficient medical facility and cure those
who fall ill from unusual diseases. The best thing is, it doesn’t take itself seriously.
The game is not as normal as you think it’d be. Although it deals with illnesses,
the patients aren’t exactly part of the status quo. There are aliens to probe,
mummies to heal and even robots to fix. Nintendo Insider’s Alex
Seedhouse applauded the game’s design, giving it an 8. Saying that, “... it’s a
deep and challenging management sim coated in goofy and charming layers of humour.”
6. Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Calamity
The only Zelda title that came out this year and it isn’t what everyone expected.
Age Of Calamity is a spin-off that dates back years before the events of the legendary Breath
of the Wild. While it serves in the same universe, it is a completely different game.
Brandishing that musou gameplay, Age of Calamity is made by the team behind the
iconic Dynasty Warriors series. It expects the player to rush in head
on and face a legion of enemies in blistering hack and slash combat.
Taking control of the iconic characters before Hyrule’s fall is something special for Zelda fans.
It may share some minor story inconsistencies with Breath of the Wild, but it’s easy to get
past it due to its in-depth combat experience. Gamespew gave the game a 9 out of 10. Calling it
the best Warriors game to date, saying, “...It’s like meeting up with old friends, only this
time you get to take control of them and their gigantic toys”. It receives a playscore of 8.67.
5. Rune Factory 4: Special
Straight from the ashes of the Nintendo 3DS, Rune Factory 4 Special is the definitive RF4 experience
packed with all new in-game cutscenes, colorful CG illustrations, and an updated opening sequence.
Live a new life as an amnesiac protagonist and meet the eccentric cast of characters
in this peaceful place. As a Story of Seasons spinoff, it has a variety of in-depth farming,
crafting and combat. What makes this Rune Factory very special is the addition of new scenarios
for those entering married life and a more difficult mode that challenges veteran players.
It’s not that different compared to the original, but this Switch version is a
necessary port to introduce new players into its fascinating world. A playscore of 8.74.
4. Streets Of Rage 4 One of gaming’s renowned beat ‘em ups.
Streets of Rage 4 is a follow-up to the classic Streets of Rage series
and it ONLY took them almost 3 decades for that.
It was universally praised on all platforms, including the Switch.
Critics praised its return to form from their classic side-scrolling adventures.
The return of its interesting cast of characters also makes for a good nostalgic experience.
Players choose to play as Axel Stone, Blaze Fielding, Flloyd or
Cherry Hunter in a stylish 2D pixel art world reminiscent of the golden age of gaming.
As a cult classic, it tries to blend in with gaming’s modern mechanics,
but for most of its combat, it remains true to its predecessors. Another great reason to play
this is the return of co-op! There’s nothing more fun than beating up thugs with up to 4
players in local co-op fun, OR go online with up to 2 players. It receives a playscore of 8.75.
3. Super Mario 3D All-Stars An all in one package of Nintendo’s
critically acclaimed Super Mario titles.
It feels like a trip back memory lane with these three amazing 3D platformers.
Enjoy Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Galaxy in one massive collection.
However, don’t expect too much. As great as these titles are, this Collection is pretty barebones.
While it does let players play through these amazing classics on Nintendo’s best console,
it feels like a simple port that brought little to no improvement to its gameplay and visuals.
But then again, if ain’t broke, right? Destructoid gave the game an 8.5, saying, “... it is a great
way to experience (or re-experience) these games all over again.”. It feels like the
perfect Switch game, showcasing Nintendo’s best in one package. It receives a playscore of 8.86.
2. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
The definitive version of the 2010 JRPG masterpiece that once rocked the WiiU
and the 3DS is now on the Nintendo Switch. Join the fight between man and machine and
witness the origin of the hero Shulk with new and improved visuals and a few bonus features.
In this Edition, return to its living and breathing world teeming with secrets to uncover
and places to explore. Spend over 70 hours of pure unadulterated JRPG goodness and enjoy its blazing
fast real-time combat in a massive futuristic world. TechRaptor gave this a 9 out of 10. Stating
its technical prowess, saying that it’s “Taking one of the most thrilling JRPGs of the final years
of the Wii and giving it just the right amount of spit and polish for a new generation to enjoy.”
Compared to modern releases, Xenoblade Chronicles might be showing its age. But it
laid the groundwork on future JRPG titles in the years to come. It receives a playscore of 9.01.
1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons If it weren’t for this masterpiece of
a life-sim, 2020 would definitely suck entirely. The release of this most-anticipated entry from
Nintendo gave the world a teeny bit of distraction that would help them to survive this shitty year.
In New Horizons, everything is all about community. It takes players into a whole
new world free from modern life woes. With more freedom at their disposal,
New Horizons is a paradise of peace and serenity. Embrace that rural life and get
to meet a cast of anthropomorphic critters that gives more depth to its living world.
Nintendo Insider gave the game a perfect 10. Saying, “... New Horizons is an
unbeatable feel-good experience and an essential purchase for anyone that owns a Nintendo Switch."
It’s obviously the Switch system seller for the year 2020 and it introduced new players
to the beauty and simplicity of Animal Crossing. It has a playscore of 9.36.