There are a lot of Nintendo Switch games. Almost definitely too many for one single person to ever play. In fact, there are so many Switch games available to buy right now that the internet can't decide how many there actually are. While a number just north of 4,500 (told you it was a lot) seems to be one many agree on, others think there are actually more than 5,000 games on the console. Considering how difficult it can be to navigate the Nintendo eShop, I'm not surprised there's not one definitive answer when it comes to the total.
Navigating the eShop can also make it difficult to find something you actually might like to play. A real shame as you don't need me to tell you there are some fantastic games waiting to be played on Switch. Some of the best ever. The console isn't the third best-selling system of all time for no reason. While I can't help you play 5,000 Switch games, I have picked out some of the best ones available right now. There are options below for everyone, and keep checking back as this guide will be updated regularly as great new Switch games are released and older ones come back into vogue.
- Pros
- Another definitive way to play a Nintendo classic on Switch
- Given the worst game in the Luigi's Mansion trilogy a new lease on life
Cons
- $60 is a little steep for a remaster of this ilk
$60 on the Nintendo eShop$60 at Amazon$60 at GameStop$60 at Best Buy$60 at Walmart
Even though Nintendo has proved the Switch's final year will be about more than just remasters and remakes like the first half of 2024 appeared to imply, that doesn't mean you should skate right past Luigi's Mansion 2 HD. Sure, the games in the series that came before and after are objectively better, but the polished version of the 3DS title known to some as Dark Moon is far r to those other games than the original was. Even if you played the original version, I'd recommend giving the HD remaster a go to see just how much it has changed.
Pros
- A fantastic game that felt like it was made for Switch
- Clear parallels to be drawn between it and Breath of the Wild
- $30 for a game of this quality is an unmissable deal
$30 at the Nintendo eShop$40 at Amazon (Oleti Edition)$40 at GameStop (Oleti Edition)$40 at Best Buy (Oleti Edition)$44 at Walmart
Tchia was one of my favorite games of 2023, and now the New Caledonia-inspired adventure game has found its way into Nintendo Switch. The visual style and story of Tchia really make it feel like it was made for the Switch, so I'm very happy to see it finally arrive on the platform. I also don't think it was given nearly enough attention when it launched last year so I'm doing my part here to get as many of you playing as I can. Give it a try, for $30 it's an absolute steal.
Pros
- A breath of fresh air for the Monkey Ball series
- Lots of great multiplayer options
Cons
- Even for the lower price of $50, it's a little steep
$50 at the Nintendo eShop$49 at Amazon$50 at GameStop$50 at Best Buy$49 at Walmart
I thought my Monkey Ball days were numbered when I played and was disappointed by 2021's Banana Mania. However, the multiplayer options flaunted ahead of Banana Rumble turned my head, and now I've tried them for myself, I'm glad they did. While its story mode leaves a lot to be desired, everything you can do with others while playing Banana Rumble makes this particular Switch title well worth your time. Whether its playing through its adventure mode with a friend or battling other ball-housed monkeys online, there's hours of fun to be had with this one.
Pros
- Best thing to play while waiting for Metroid Prime 4
- Oh my god, we actually know when Metroif Prime 4 will be here
- Did I mention I'm excited about Metroid Prime 4?
$40 at the Nintendo eShop$38 at GameStop$40 at Best Buy$40 at Walmart
Calm down everyone, it's happening. Seven years on from Nintendo revealing it was working on Metroid Prime 4, it has reassured those of us waiting for it that the fourth installment in the series is still coming and that it will be here in 2025. Time to replay the original, or to make it more convenient, time to replay the remaster of the original on Nintendo Switch. More a remake than a remaster, and released before Nintendo revealed it can get away with charging $60 for remasters which means you can pick it up for $40.
Pros
- The best version of the best Paper Mario game
- Longer than most Mario games but doesn't get boring
Cons
- Very different from your average Mario game
Paper Mario is a spinoff series that doesn't get enough love, and The Thousand-Year Door releasing at a time when it doesn't have many other Switch releases to compete with — not to mention at a time when there are more than 140 million Switch consoles out there — will hopefully change that. Whether you have played the original or not, this remake is absolutely worth your time. It's a fantastic adventure unlike anything you've encountered in a normal Mario game, and even though most Mario games are fantastic, that's not a bad thing. A great mix of iconic characters and others you've never met before in what is an adventure that should be appointment playing for every single Mario fan.
Pros
- Non-combative approach to the Metroidvania genre works perfectly
- Balances simplicity and complexity extremely well
Cons
- There will be moments when you have no idea what to do next
See at Nintendo eShop
When news broke that Dunkey planned on publishing his own video games, many likely laughed or rolled their eyes. Fair play to them as the YouTuber has treated us to an unmitigated hit right out of the gate. Animal Well, which was developed by a single person, Billy Basso, is a fantastic Metroidvania that charms and challenges you at every turn. Despite there being almost no guidance, exploring the well in which the game takes place as a little blob is gripping and will eat away hours of your time without you even noticing. Even better, the moments something clicks and you figure out what to do next are unparalleled. Not to mention it's the perfect game to play in short bursts whenever you have your Switch handy.
Pros
- The Switch is the best platform to play Hades on
- Get into, or back into, it to prepare for Hades 2
Cons
- Reminder that Hades 2 still isn't here yet
See at Nintendo eShop
Hades is getting a sequel, but despite that sequel's first technical test having already taken place, we still don't know when the next Hades game will be here. That's fine though as the first game is now available on just about everything, and the best place to play it is on Switch. If there's a better game to pick up and play in short bursts whenever you have five or ten minutes to spare, then I'm yet to find it. The most Switch-appropriate game not made by Nintendo on the market.
Pros
- Still holds up despite being a few years old
- Another game that feels like it was made for Switch
Cons
- More evidence that Silksong might just be a collective hallucination
$33 at Walmart$35 at Best BuySee at AmazonSee at Nintendo eShop$45 at GameStop
Nintendo Direct, Indie World, seeing Phil Spencer down the shop. You name it, if there's a situation where you might hear something about a new video game, people are expecting Hollow Knight: Silksong to be announced. If you roll your eyes every time the gaming world is up in arms whenever that doesn't happen, I can only assume it's because you haven't played Hollow Knight. It might not feel like it, but eventually Silksong will be released, and at that point those of you who haven't played the first game will suffer some serious FOMO. Just play it now and see what all the fuss is about, because boy, is that fuss worth it.
FAQ
What Games On Nintendo Switch Are Free?
There are a lot of free games on Nintendo Switch. Fortnite, Rocket League, and F-Zero 99 are among them. There are also NES, SNES, and Game Boy libraries available to NSO subscribers, as well as GBA, N64, and Sega Genesis games to play if you have the Expansion Pack.
Why Are Switch Games So Expensive?
You may have noticed that some of the games above are pretty pricey. The Switch's big sellers tend to keep selling over the course of years. Unlike games on most other platforms, top Nintendo title sales never slow to a crawl. That means games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Tears of the Kingdom will remain at full price for years.
