10 Best Nintendo Switch Games of All Time

Almost four years have passed since the Nintendo Switch graced our presence with its charming qualities and family-friendly perks. And, with its extensive library of over three-thousand games, ranging from indie platformers to open-world RPG's, the Nintendo Switch has no doubt produced ten titles that are worthy of hitting this list. But, amongst the thousands of choices — which ones are hitting the spots in all the right places? Which unique ten check all the boxes and keep our pockets from ever replenishing?

As of September 2020, the Nintendo Switch has sold 456.49 million copies of video games; 178 million of those being the ten that we are about to feature on this list. That's almost half the revenue from an entire library of games available for one platform. So, you could say that these following gems have reached stardom in as little as three and a half years. That's pretty impressive, wouldn't you say?

Here are the ten greatest Nintendo Switch games of all time.

10. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Of course, every great list featuring Nintendo has to start with Super Mario.

There aren't exactly any major surprises with the tenth place on this list, are there? If anything, we're sort of confused as to why this 2019 super hit hasn't ranked higher. With over eight million units sold around the world, Nintendo was able to strike hard with a familiar face that would always sell whether we like it or not. With twenty-one unique releases in the original Super Mario Bros. timeline, this deluxe 2.5D adventure managed to score high as one of the Nintendo Switch U's most-anticipated launch game.

9. Splatoon 2

Splatoon 2 managed to surpass Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe by three million sales.

The neon candyfloss third-person shooter (which also goes by Splatoon 2), managed to surpass expectations and rank as the ninth highest-grossing game to date. With over eleven million sales on the Nintendo Switch, this hyper shoot-em-up has drawn in thousands, if not millions of hours from the online community. But, despite the number of hours one can lose in multiplayer modes, Splatoon 2 also offers a story-driven campaign that stems from the first game. So, there's definitely plenty to do and lose yourself to in the wondrous world of Splatoon.

Oh, Nintendo — just take our money already.

8. Super Mario Party

Another Super Mario game — so soon?

Nintendo squeezes their cash cow franchise for a second time on this list with yet another Super Mario title. Again, with an impressive twelve million sales, the party favourite soars high amongst the most cherished ranks on the Nintendo Switch. With local couch co-op and offline modes, Super Mario Party offers endless replayability with a great deal of joy from Nintendo's most loved characters.

Super Mario Party dates back to 1998 with its original instalment to the party game timeline. Since then, we've seen eleven major chapters, as well as five handheld versions for the Nintendo DS and Game Boy Advance. And yes — Nintendo full-well intend on creating more.

7. Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! / Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!

Who doesn't love a remaster of Pokémon, right?

Rooting from the Pokémon Yellow icon that released on Game Boy Colour in 1998, Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee recreate the spark that once captured our younger years. Adding a more updated look with an Animal Crossing sort of glimmer, these remakes prove to be just as beautiful as the originals. With the 151 first-generation Pokémon to collect and battle with, fans can not only experience a new stylish chapter in the timeline — but also reminisce over the glory days of the much-loved franchise.

6. Super Mario Odyssey

Third time in five entries? It must be Super Mario.

Yes — it's another Super Mario entry coming at you. The face of Nintendo comes in hard with another branch of games that stem from the Super Mario timeline. As one of the many trees that grow from the same garden, Odyssey stands as a clone in terms of gameplay to previous instalments such as Super Mario 64. With a familiar questline of chasing Princess Peach and defeating arch-nemesis Bowser, Mario and Cappy (the hat) decline into the kingdoms on a breathtaking journey like no other.

Super Mario Odyssey has sold over nineteen million units since its 2017 launch. So yes — Nintendo has done it again.

5. Pokémon Sword / Pokémon Shield

The second Pokémon title to break into the top-selling Nintendo Switch games of all time.

This second batch of games in the eighth generation of Pokémon follows on from Let's Go Pikachu, and Let's Go Eevee that released in 2018. With strong influences stripped from Great Britain, Sword and Shield follows another ambitious trainer on the hunt to take down eight more gym leaders dotted over the lands. With well over four-hundred species of Pokémon to discover and capture, players can depart on a journey that offers both oceans of exploration and challenges to conquer.

4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Nintendo Switch just had to bring Link back for another epic quest to save Hyrule.

Similar to the original Zelda published in 1986, Breath of the Wild doesn't really hold your hand as you awaken to the nature of Hyrule. Instead, players are left with a vast open-world and very little context, with only one major objective in sight: to defeat nemesis Ganon and rescue Hyrule from ruin. But, there's a whole lot that one would need to do before delving into the depths of Ganon's domain. With plenty of collectables, sidequests and puzzles to tackle, Breath of the Wild allows the player to craft their own adventure with zero navigation involved.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has sold an outstanding twenty million copies worldwide, making it one of Nintendo Switch's best-selling games of all time.

3. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

The impressive roster of Nintendo favourites brings joy to every fan of the brand.

Boasting almost one-hundred playable fighters in its mighty Nintendo roster comes Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. With a great selection of characters crossing from The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Animal Crossing and Donkey Kong, this 2018 Super Smash chapter dishes out just as much fun-filled multiplayer madness. Offering game modes for up to eight players, Ultimate sits as one of the perfect ways to spend a weekend without ever having to leave the couch.

2. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing easily snatched the silver medal as everybody's favourite life simulation game.

The Nintendo life simulator has enjoyed a sweet nineteen years of life on the market since its Nintendo 64 original in 2001. That's nineteen years with five individual games that pan across several different consoles and portable devices. But, just when we thought the 2012 instalment, Animal Crossing: New Leaf was the final in the franchise, Nintendo stepped up and gave us New Horizons; a whole new world with twice the love and content.

Similar to previous instalments, Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers a nonlinear gameplay style that can be approached in any way the player sees fit. Whether a day is preferred to be spent fishing, or just decorating the garden furniture on the front lawn; New Horizons is open to explore and adapt to with no time restraints whatsoever.

1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The highest-grossing franchise in the world effortlessly takes the crown.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe swerves in and snags the crown for the best Nintendo Switch game of all time. Similar to the previous Super Mario entries in this list, this instalment managed to smash out millions of sales worldwide (twenty-nine million, to be exact), making it the highest-grossing title on the platform. But, we sort of expected the long-lasting karting series to reach the pinnacle of the Switch world. Even with Rainbow Road causing many, many arguments in millions of households, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe still draws the hearts of everyone in the room, therefore making it the most favoured we've ever seen.