The Top 10 Nintendo Switch 2 Games

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet is the only game on this list that does not have a native Switch 2 version. We are admittedly giving it special treatment by offering it a spot here, but it is arguably the Switch game that most benefits from the updates offered by Nintendo’s new hardware. When it was released in 2022, we could see there was a good, novel Pokémon game hidden behind its myriad technical issues, and playing it Switch 2 finally elevates it to where it should have always been. | Our Review

Tears of the Kingdom is a masterpiece, as is the game that came before it, Breath of the Wild. Its open world is vast and interesting, making it embarrassingly easy to get lost in its adventure. If you happened to skip the previous Nintendo generation and want to play the best Nintendo has to offer, you can’t go wrong with either the Switch 2 upgraded versions of Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, but we’re giving the most recent of the two the edge thanks to the creativity afforded by Ultrahand. | Our Review

It may be illegal to own a Nintendo console without a copy of its accompanying Mario Kart. Thankfully, the latest entry, which was available day one for the Switch 2, is a worthy entry into Mario’s racing canon. New abilities make it a blast to play alone or with others, and the open world offers fun distractions when you’d rather drive around alone. Throw in arguably the best Rainbow Road in the series, and you have a game that will undoubtedly endure for years to come. | Our Review

Donkey Kong is no stranger to starring in his own games, but Bananza is the biggest and most bombastic adventure the ape has ever experienced. Diving deeper and deeper into the world is rewarding, and the ability to destroy just about everything never gets old. Bananza simply has that secret, undefinable sauce that Nintendo is so good at creating, where playing the game is just a joyful experience. We highly encourage players to see the game to the end, as the conclusion is the ecstatic highlight of the whole experience. | Our Review

The wait for Hollow Knight’s sequel was long, but worthwhile. Silksong is the result of a talented developer deciding that its planned DLC is worthy of being a much larger, full game, and it took the time to bring it to fruition. When we finally got the game in September, we found an incredibly challenging but undeniably rewarding adventure brimming with secrets. The Switch 2 version is particularly nice with high frame rates and, of course, the Switch 2’s portability. | Our Review

We awarded Hades II the rare 10/10 Game Informer review score, a distinction we don’t take lightly, for good reason. The Hades follow-up from developer Supergiant takes what was so successful about the original game, and iterates on all of its elements for a new adventure with a new protagonist who has all-new abilities and motivations. Playing as Melinoë is a blast, the game looks beautiful, and it sounds even better. | Our Review

Final Fantasy Tactics has always been a fantastic game and is often cited as the best spin-off of the franchise. The remake (or maybe it’s a remaster – the definition is muddy) proves that the original’s ingenious design holds up after all these years, and the new additions, though sparingly included, are worthwhile. It may not be the first time Final Fantasy Tactics has been portable (its PSP port and the Game Boy Advance follow-ups are also very good), but we’re grateful to have an updated version of this classic on Nintendo’s platform. | Our Review

Perhaps it’s surprising to feature multiple Pokémon games on a contained list of our favorite Nintendo games, but there is a reason it is literally the most successful intellectual property of all time. While Scarlet & Violet offer something closer to a traditional Pokémon experience, Legends: Z-A successfully infuses more action and freedom into the historically turn-based series. | Our Review

A common refrain among Ball x Pit players is frustration. The game isn’t annoying or unfair – it’s just very difficult to stop playing. It is a member of the burgeoning genre of games taking clear inspiration from Vampire Survivors. In it, you play a modern take on the classic arcade game, Breakout, where bouncing balls eliminate enemies as you progress upward. It’s an incredibly replayable and engaging system that is buoyed further by the loop of building out a town between runs. | Our Review

In 2003, Super Smash Bros. and Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai released a racing game for GameCube that became a bit of a cult classic. Its one-button racing mechanics were odd, but compelling, but we never imagined it would receive a sequel. Now, in 2025, on Nintendo’s latest console, Kirby Air Riders is here, and it is full of the Sakurai action, chaos, and charm that have come to define his engaging style. We may not have a native Switch 2 Smash Bros. yet, but Kirby Air Riders has the style and tone of the fighting game, but in a different genre. | Our Review