The best Nintendo Switch games are bound to offer you unforgettable adventures on the hybrid handheld console. There's something incredibly special about being able to experience a great game in both the palm of your hand and on a larger screen, and the Nintendo Switch's extensive library offers only the best ways to make the most of this.
Even with the Nintendo Switch 2 out now, there's still plenty of reasons to pick up a Switch. Not only are they cheaper to buy now, but the massive install base means that developers are still making games for the console. Most recently, Rhythm Heaven Groove has taken Switch and Switch 2 owners by storm, offering a thrilling and charming collection of rhythm-based minigames that are great fun for all ages.
No matter what you're after, be it a thrilling action adventure or a fun-packed multiplayer party romp, the Switch has it. We've extensively played and reviewed every game in this list.
Not only are we staunch Nintendo heads, we've applied years of review expertise in order to bring you a list of the very best of the best. So we're confident in saying there are no duds here, no matter what kind of experience you're looking for.
Nintendo has confirmed that it will cease production and sale of the Nintendo Switch console from February 2027. If you're considering purchasing one brand new, we'd strongly suggest thinking about doing so before the aforementioned date in order to avoid the possibility of eye-watering scalper markups.
Read more: Nintendo announces that it will 'no longer sell' original Switch consoles in Europe
Our top 3 Nintendo Switch games in 2026
"Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is a delight, with superb character customization and plenty of charming humor. Its hands-off nature won’t be for everyone, and the lack of a dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 version is a missed opportunity, but there’s still no other game that offers its special brand of unapologetic weirdness." - Dash Wood, Gaming Editor at TechRadar Gaming
"Despite its simplistic control scheme, there’s an awful lot of fun to be had with Rhythm Heaven Groove's brilliantly unorthodox set of levels, characters, and tunes — all packed with tons of personality and vibrancy." - Harry Padoan, Senior Writer, Reviews at TechRadar
Pokémon Legends Z-A sort of disproves the idea that you can't teach an old Arcanine new tricks. A spin-off that's all about exploring the massive Lumiose City - from Gen 6's France-inspired Kalos region - it's definitely one of the most enjoyable entries the franchise has seen in quite some time.
The best Nintendo Switch games in 2026
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"Metroid Prime 4: Beyond can't possibly live up to years and years of anticipation, but that's not to say it's a disappointment. Drop-dead gorgeous visuals pair with stunning environments and a uniquely alien atmosphere. Its massive open desert is a slog to get through, however - even on Samus's new bike - but Beyond is nonetheless an adventure that's tough to put down, flaws and all." - Rhys Wood, Hardware Editor at TechRadar Gaming.
Generally, Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 are collectively considered some of the best Mario games ever made, and Super Mario Galaxy 2 is particularly good, and somewhat under appreciated. Thankfully, this is now the best way for modern players to experience these games, and you can now play on Joy-Con or Pro Controller for slightly different control schemes.
"Shinobi: Art of Vengeance triumphs at what it sets out to achieve. A side-scrolling action game, it brings intense, fast-flowing combat and some very light metroidvania elements for brief bouts of exploration. If you’ve played developer Lizardcube’s previous game, Streets of Rage 4, expect a similarly stunning hand-drawn art style here, as well as an excellent soundtrack that keeps the action feeling suitably engaging." - Rhys Wood, TechRadar Gaming reviewer
"Super Mario 3D World gets a deserved second opportunity to shine in this Nintendo Switch port, offering up the best-realized Mario multiplayer experience Nintendo has created yet. The addition of Bower’s Fury, a short but sweet Mario game in its own right, seals the deal on an essential purchase." - Gerald Lynch, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
"Even with no prior experience of the Rune Factory series, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a relaxing blend of genres that works in part due to the wholesome nature of its cast and setting. It’s chicken soup on a rainy day - uncomplicated, but unmistakably enjoyable." - Lloyd Coombes, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
"Monster Hunter Rise is a properly impressive title, and shows Capcom won’t simply rest on its laurels now that it’s found mainstream success with World. Coming back to a Nintendo console, Rise has had to make some concessions in terms of fight complexity and difficulty, but at its core Monster Hunter Rise is every ounce the satisfying, addictive experience its bigger, shinier brother is on Xbox and PlayStation consoles." - Dom Peppiatt, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
"It Takes Two is a moreish co-op platformer full of engaging toybox puzzles and inventive boss battles. Emerging into a new area is a joy, environments carefully dressed with adorable bric-a-brac that is in equal parts precious and perilous. Yet despite strong writing in the story, its finale is too formulaic to leave a lasting impression even if the heartfelt vocal performances help get it over the line" - Sarah Thwaites, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
"Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector tells a radical science fiction tale through an impeccably designed system and a moving narrative rife with themes that are acutely attuned to our times. This is bolstered by a crew of companions who are not only well-fleshed out but offer genuine support during crises - a predicament you’ll find yourself in frequently. The soothing atmospheric soundtrack doesn’t hurt, either." - Khee Hoon Chan, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
"Super Mario Party Jamboree doesn’t break new ground but takes the best of the series’ past and present to make a big celebratory package, best experienced at get-togethers where the real magic (and carnage) happens." - Alan Wen, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
"While Mario & Luigi: Brothership doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it’s a solid RPG with fun mechanics and lovable characters. New additions like Luigi Logic and Plugs make for satisfying combat, while overworld exploration benefits from the new Bros Moves and ample puzzles with a decent amount of variety" - Josephine Watson, TechRadar Managing Editor - Lifestyle.
"The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a charming follow-up to Link's Awakening that builds on that game’s beautiful aesthetic while introducing just enough new mechanics to feel truly distinct. The dubious performance and repetitive combat can drag, but this is largely an excellent adventure throughout." - Dashiell Wood, TechRadar Gaming Hardware Writer.
"Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door’s Nintendo Switch remake demonstrates that the 20-year-old Gamecube role-playing game has aged like a fine wine, barely touching its gameplay elements while offering a stunning glow-up in the visual department." - Rhys Wood, TechRadar Gaming Hardware Editor.
"Super Mario Odyssey refines the plumber's 3D platforming chops expertly. With dozens of worlds to explore, Cappy transformations to discover and heapings of content, this is an essential platformer on Switch." - Jake Green, TechRadar Gaming.
"Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a triumphant evolution of 2D Mario, with a non-stop flow of creative ideas wrapped up in a visually delightful package, bursting with character." - Catherine Lewis, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
"Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the first new entry in the mainline Animal Crossing series for almost eight years and the first to be playable on the Nintendo Switch. As such, it’s familiar and fresh, deftly combining the old enjoyable parts of the series with some much-needed improvements and far greater depth than we’ve seen before." - Emma Boyle, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
"Endlessly satisfying combat, tons of weapons and combos, bags of collectibles and a firm-but-fair ranking system make Bayonetta 3 highly replayable. Sadly, the Nintendo Switch struggles to keep up, often taking the shine out of the game’s more ambitious moments." - Rhys Wood, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
"Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an ambitious jump to the third dimension that spotlights the pink puffball's perfect platforming. While its Mouthful Mode segments are disappointingly linear, you'll be coming back for several chomps of this tasty treat." - Callum Baines, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
Metroid Dread is a well-refined version of the game that has inspired a generation of players and developers, helping to spawn a whole new genre of game: the Metroidvania. The structure is simple – bounty hunter Samus arrives on an unfamiliar planet and has to make her way around to find a means to escape.
"After a glorified expansion in the form of Splatoon 2, this is the sequel the series desperately needed. Splatoon 3 is the finest entry to date, offering an excellent multiplayer suite, a vastly improved campaign and some much-needed quality-of-life upgrades." - Rhys Wood, TechRadar Gaming Hardware Editor.
The series' definitive entry, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a true celebration of gaming, encompassing countless franchises and plenty of exciting guest characters. If there's never another game in the series after this, then it's at least ended on one heck of a bang.
"The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom leaps forward on what was offered in 2017’s Breath of the Wild, filling out the world’s sandbox with innovative new tools and abilities, letting you approach challenges in inventive new ways." - Julian Benson, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
How we made our best Nintendo Switch games list
The Nintendo Switch is unmatched in its versatility and so, too, is its library of games. This meant that, when tackling this list, we wanted to take a similarly broad approach, offering as wide a variety of genres as possible while placing an emphasis on games that embody the polish we've come to associate with the Nintendo brand. The titles on this list may be eclectic, but they're slick, well-built affairs, liable to put a smile on the faces of all but the most curmudgeonly gamers.
The team at TechRadar Gaming has poured thousands of hours into the best games on the hybrid handheld console, and whether that's an indie gem or a first-party release, we've undoubtedly got an opinion on whether or not it's worth picking up. Because of this, we've got opinions you can rely on.
