Best Nintendo Switch games 2020: the most essential Switch games right now

Best Nintendo Switch games 2020: the most essential Switch games right now

Don't settle for less than the best Nintendo Switch games of 2020

Looking for the best Nintendo Switch games available right now? Then you've landed on the right page. There are many fantastic Switch games to choose from, whether you're into fighting games, adventure games, racing games, puzzle games, or anything else you can think of. 

The ability of the Switch to handle both AAA blockbuster titles and charming indie gems makes it a truly flexible console that can be tailored to each player. So whether you have the original Nintendo Switch or the handheld Switch Lite, you'll still need an exceptional collection of top Switch games to make the most of Nintendo's hit console. 

But with so many wonderful titles to choose from, it can be hard to work out which are worth picking up. That's why I've put together this list of the best Nintendo Switch games you can buy right now. This article is filled with only the best and greatest titles to hit Nintendo's bestselling console. 

So, sit back and read on for the best Nintendo Switch games currently available on the bestselling console.

 

Animal Crossing: New Horizons              CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

The pinnacle of peaceful pursuits

·         Crafting is an excellent addition

·         Best-looking Animal Crossing to date

·         More player control

·         One island per Switch

·         More clarity around data recovery needed

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the first new entry in the mainline Animal Crossing series for almost eight years and the first entry to be playable on the Nintendo Switch - and it was definitely worth the wait. 

New Horizons whisks you off to a deserted island through an exclusive Nook Inc package. Your job is to get the island to be a top resort, attracting new islanders by sprucing things up and making your island is tropical paradise. 

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is packed with charm and the perfect game for those who want to kick back and just take things at their own pace. 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.

Dablo 3: Eternal Collection               CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

Battling hell's demons, while on the toilet

·         Balance between simplicity and depth

·         Fantastic co-op multiplayer

·         Addictive loot system 

·         Drain on the Switch’s battery

·         Can be repetitive

It’s been quite a journey for Diablo 3. After a rocky start on PC way back in May of 2012 that saw online server crashes and criticism of the series’ famed addictive loot cycle, the game was overhauled in time for a last-gen console version in 2013 and a current-gen release on Xbox One and PS4 in 2014. Two excellent expansion packs and a host of game-improving tweaks later, Diablo 3 is not only a contender for the title of the greatest dungeon crawler of all time, but, somehow, it’s now portable, too.

The Switch has done it again, with developer Blizzard cramming every improvement and piece of added content into this handheld version of the game. It not only works, but looks and plays amazingly too. Diablo 3 has evolved into one of the greatest games of its genre, and the added portable factor here arguably makes this the best version to pick up, so long as you’re not a mouse-and-keyboard PC purist.

 

Sunless Sea: Zubmariner              CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

Something a bit Lovecraftian

·         Great writing

·         Includes DLC

·         Unique world

·         Can be punishing

·         Doesn't make all its systems clear

"LOSE YOUR MIND. EAT YOUR CREW. DIE." That's the hardcore tagline to Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition, the perfectly-pitched Nintendo Switch port of the indie-darling PC game. If that tagline doesn't set your mind racing, I’m really not sure what will.

There's nothing really quite like Sunless Sea. Part rougelike, part text adventure (with a smattering of Sid Meier's Pirates! thrown in), Sunless Sea has you take to the helm of a steampunk ship in the "Unterzee", the flooded remains of a collapsed London. 

There's a Victorian Gothic vibe to the whole thing, with more than a touch of Lovecraftian lore to dive into. But what's great about this often-challenging game is its evocative writing. As a top-down 2D experience, much is left to the imagination visually (though it's all incredible atmospheric), and its at-sea ship-to-ship combat is rather simple. But the writing plays out like an advanced 'choose your own adventure' novel, where arguments with your crew or conversations with mysterious characters at port are always intriguing. Maintaining supplies and crew morale, as well as battling sea monsters, are just part of the challenge, and the randomized nature of the game means it's always tempting you to take another voyage of discovery.

Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition also includes the excellent Zubmariner DLC pack, which lets you continue your adventures underneath the waves.

Currently a download-only title, you can check it out on the Nintendo Store here.

 

Pokémon Sword and Shield          CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

Close to being the very best

·         Fantastic Pokémon designs

·         Immersive new region

·         Effective gameplay improvements

·         Dynamaxing doesn't quite hit the mark

·         Not very graphically accomplished

Pokémon Sword and Shield are the first core Pokémon games to make their way to the Switch. Full of charm and fun, Sword and Shield bring some much-needed gameplay optimizations to the franchise alongside some fantastic new features such as the Wild Area. 

Set in the UK-inspired Galar region, Sword and Shield introduce a whole new world to investigate and new Pokémon to capture. And, while I can't help but feel they don't quite live up to some of the better predecessors, it's definitely worth picking up on Switch.

 

Luigi's Mansion 3                           CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

Spooky spectacular

·         Family-friendly fun

·         New abilities and Gooigi feature

·         Lots of puzzles to solve

·         Can be a bit repetitive 

It’s been six long years since Nintendo last released a game in the Luigi’s Mansion series and, with fans beginning to give up hope of another, the announcement that a sequel was coming to Nintendo Switch was very welcome news indeed.

Luigi's Mansion 3 sees Luigi and pals taking a much needed vacation in a high-rise hotel. But, as luck would have it, it seems the hotel is haunted and the ghostly residents have captured Luigi's friends. You know what that means. It's time to get the Poltergust out again and vacuum up some ghosts in a bigger, more action-packed adventure than ever before.

A fun-filled game for the whole family, Luigi's Mansion 3 is a must-have for the Switch.

 

Untitled Goose Game                    CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

Honk! Honk!

·         Hilarious slapstick fun

·         Incredibly charming

·         Simple to pick up

·         Quite short

Who knew an untitled game about a goose could be so fun? A bit of surprise hit, Untitled Goose Game quickly went viral after its brand of avian nuisance-making was unveiled to the world.

Set in a dopey village in the English countryside, you play as a goose tasked with terrorizing your human neighbours: stealing their crops, locking them in closets, and honking all the way through. Inspired by the stealth action series Hitman, but with its own charm, Untitled Goose Game is a must-play game in 2020. You'll zip through the game in a handful of hours, but it's very much work the journey.

 

Overland                       CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

Post-apocalyptic strategy

·         Procedural levels

·         Eerie atmosphere

·         Smart mechanics

·         Unforgiving difficulty

·         Unclear uses for items

Set across the landscape of post-apocalyptic America, Overland charts you with travelling from East to West coast in whatever beaten-up car and hastily-found companions you can muster. 

Overland plays as a turn-based strategy game, pitting you against scarce supplies and ominous insect creatures that seem bent on tearing you to pieces, across procedurally generated levels that feel the right mix of eerie and familiar the more you move through them.

Even the characters are procedural, meaning whenever a character dies, you'll keep playing with their companion for as long as you'll last – or start over with a brand new face whenever your whole party has been wiped out. Smart, tricky, and a bit cruel, Overland is a great addition to any Switch games library.

Currently a download-only title, you can check it out on the Nintendo Store here.

 

Baldur's Gate 1 and 2: Enhanced Editions / Planescape Torment and Icewind Dale Enhanced Editions       CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

Classic RPG adventure

·         Excellent optimization 

·         Include all DLC packs

·         Hundreds of hours of content

·         Still better played on PC

·         Outdated mechanics

Cramming in hundreds upon hundreds of hours of RPG adventure, these double packs should not be missed. Pairing Planescape Torment with Icewind Dale, or the two Baldur's Gate games (plus all games' associated add-on packs) these enhanced editions for the Nintendo Switch make four classics PC role playing games playable on console for the first time.

Cleverly converting mouse and keyboard control to on-the-go gamepad play, you're now able to take four of the most epic D&D-inspired role playing games with you wherever you go, and then dock them for big-screen play at home.

The controls may take some getting used to, and the gameplay and visuals are of a certain slower vintage. But if you want an unmissable history lesson in role playing games, and want to settle into some unforgettable stories and choice-driven play, these excellent-value bundles are a must play.

Super Mario Maker 2            GET IT NOW ON AMAZON

Makes us appreciate how hard level design is

·         Incredible customization tools

·         New 3D world option

·         Vertical levels

·         Menus crammed into one screen

·         Capacitive touchscreen

At heart, Super Mario Maker 2 has a simple premise: let players design their own Mario levels. But even that single aim provides near-endless amounts of fun and creation with Nintendo’s joyful and chaotic level editor.

A follow-up from the original Super Mario Maker game on Wii U, and its eventual 3DS port, this sequel / reboot on the Nintendo Switch manages to avoid several pitfalls from the previous entry, making for a more widely accessible title that still retains the joy of giving you the keys to Mario’s inner workings. Whether those keys are literally keys, or rather Chain-Chomps and flying Goombas, is completely up to you.

The addition of a Luigi Assist mode, and a willingness to give you all the tools you need from the outset, make this a vastly more accessible entry, and one that has something for any budding designer out there – or simply someone wanting to understand the workings of their favorite Mario games a little better.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate     CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

The ultimate brawler

·         Exciting and inclusive roster

·         A mode for every occasion

·         Great fun to play solo or with others

·         Online play can stumble

Super Smash Bros. is back and the party game that sees friends turn into enemies has definitely found its home on the Nintendo Switch.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate packs in more fighters, more stages, more gameplay modes, and more tactical elements of any game in the franchise. This is, for all intents and purposes, the definitive Super Smash Bros., with everything that entails – and plenty of juicy Smash Bros DLC (Joker! Piranha Plant! Banjo-Kazooie!) to keep you occupied after you've unlocked the main roster of fighters.

If you're looking for a Nintendo Switch game that is fun for the whole family, then you definitely can't go wrong with Smash.

 

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe           CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

Racing royalty

·         Revised battle mode

·         Fantastic multiplayer fun

·         Includes old and new tracks

·         Pretty much like every other Mario Kart game

Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U was already one of the best entries in the franchise, and the Nintendo Switch version is no different.

At its core the game offers the same excellent racing as the Wii U original, but there are also a number of new additions for this version of the arcade racer. 

You've got the return of battle mode, new characters, all the previously released DLC tracks, and the ability to hold two special items at a time to add an extra layer of strategy to your racing.

The new game is also a great way of playing the game in multiplayer. You can play online, in split-screen with up to four players, or link up to eight consoles together to play multiplayer wirelessly (where you can also play with up to two players per console). 

It's a versatile release, and well worth picking up for anyone who missed out on Mario Kart 8 the first time around.

Octopath Traveler           CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

Vast and beautiful RPG

·         Wonderful character design and story

·         Looks beautiful

·         Clever turn-based combat system

·         Party members don't interract

Fan of old-school 16-bit RPGs? Wish they could get a HD facelift without losing the pixel-perfect magic of the 90s era? Octopath Traveller may be the Nintendo Switch game you'd dreamed for a time machine for as a kid.

Channeling the magic of the early Final Fantasy games (and published by Square Enix, naturally), it melds pixel art with polygonal environments, like a love letter to the role playing games of old.

Picking up the story of one of eight uniquely-talented adventurers, there's an epic world saving story to follow, a clever turn-based combat system to master and a great voice-acted script to enjoy too. Fantastic fun.

Hollow Knight           CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

Masterful Metroidvania

·         Dark and beautiful

·         Challenging but fun

·         Memorable characters

·         Lots of replay value

·         Quite difficult

While we're all waiting for a new Metroid Prime game to land on the Nintendo Switch, you can still get your side-scrolling Metroidvania fix with the superb Hollow Knight.

You know the score – you're placed in the center of a sprawling map that slowly reveals its scale as you unlock new abilities to traverse increasingly difficult traps, and take on ever-more monstrous foes. Secrets sit around every corner, and the sense of satisfaction you get when you backtrack to a previously-inaccessible location once armed with the right skills is unsurpassed in all of gaming.

Hollow Knight separates itself from other Metroidvania titles with its distinct art style (mysterious underground bug city? Count us in), and its nods to the Dark Souls series, with tough boss fights and the strangely aloof citizens of its subterranean setting. Easily one of the best Nintendo Switch games around.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition      GET IT NOW ON AMAZON

Modern RPG classic

·         Flexible and freeing systems

·         Classic RPG foundation

·         Multiple ways to progress

·         Optimization for Switch is lacking

From Doom to Skyrim, the Nintendo Switch is becoming known for the seemingly-impossible handheld port, and with the release of Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition, it's bagged itself not only a fantastic technical achievement, but one of the finest RPGs ever made, too.

Building on the foundations set by old-school RPG classics like Baldur's Gate, Divinity: Original Sin 2 has you on a literal quest for godhood, in a world where those with magical powers are marginalized.

So far, so standard for an RPG title. But Divinity: Original Sin 2 comes into its own with just how flexible and freeing its systems are. With turn-based combat that takes as much inspiration from XCOM as it does from tabletop RPG spellcasting, you'll always be given multiple ways to progress, letting you combine items and environmental modifiers to take on foes in increasingly creative ways.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 has more ideas in its first ten minutes than some games have in their entire duration: want to be an undead adventurer who can talk to skulls? Go for it. An animal-whisperer like Dr Doolittle? 100% go for it. Throw four-player online co-op into the mix, where anyone can do whatever they want, whenever they want, and you've a recipe for chaotic perfection.

It's one of the few games where, if you can dream it up, you can probably do it in the game. A massive PC title, the fact its been squeezed onto the Switch at all is impressive alone. That it works so well as an on-the-go handheld title is testament to just how engrossing a game it was in the first place. A must play.

 

Bayonetta 2           GET IT NOW ON AMAZON

Hack and slash staple

·         Great story

·         Dumb fun

·         Stylish and fast-paced

·         Short story mode

Not everyone would have had the chance to enjoy Bayonetta 2 when it was first released back in 2014, thanks to its Wii U exclusivity. Fortunately, it's now a Nintendo Switch game too, finally giving it the reach it deserves. 

Bayonetta 2 is an excellent game, with fast-paced and satisfying combat, jaw-dropping animations and frankly outstanding fashion choices. Even better, when you purchase a physical copy of Bayonetta 2, you'll also receive a free download code for the original game.

More than anything, this is a great way to prepare for Bayonetta 3, which has been confirmed as being in development for the Switch. 

 

Super Mario Odyssey         CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

One of Mario's finest adventures

·         Doesn't discard the core mechanics

·         Game world full of intriguing surprises

·         Instantly familiar

·         Can be a bit tedious

Super Mario Odyssey is Mario's first real outing on the Nintendo Switch and he makes his debut in style. Odyssey is a 3D sandbox adventure that sees Mario travel between a wide range of worlds to save Princess Peach from the nefarious and maritally-minded Bowser. 

Giving the old formula a bit of a refresh, this game sees the traditional Power Ups replaced with a new companion for Mario called Cappy. This sentient hat is Mario's weapon and friend and he can be used to possess enemies and objects to solve puzzles and defeat foes. I recommend that you play it now – it's instantly one of the best Nintendo Switch games out there.

 

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild    CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

A compelling adventure

·         Hours of gameplay

·         Plenty to explore and secrets to find

·         Engaging narrative

·         Can be overwhelming in size

Even for a series like The Legend of Zelda which rarely puts a foot wrong, Breath of the Wild is an absolutely phenomenal game on the Nintendo Switch (with an upcoming sequel, Breath of the Wild 2, currently in the works).

While past Zelda games have stuck pretty closely to the formula established by Ocarina of Time (the series' 3D debut), Breath of the Wild throws much of the established wisdom away. 

Rather than having a pre-defined order you must use to approach each major mission, Breath of the Wild opens the entire map up to you almost immediately, allowing you to approach the game in whatever order you see fit. You can spend hours just climbing trees and brewing elixirs, or you can even head straight to the game’s final boss if you're feeling a little more confident. 

Away from Breath of the Wild's unique structure, it's the puzzles themselves that make the game feel the most satisfying. While previous games rigidly allow for a single solution to each puzzle, BotW's physics-based problem solving means that there are often multiple solutions to each challenge depending on how you combine your various skills. 

The result is a game that feels incredibly broad in scope, with so many little touches to discover that it’s hard not to fall in love with this long-running series all over again.

Splatoon 2               CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

Ink-splatting action

·         Fast-paced and fun

·         Great to play solo or with others

·         A unique shooter

·         Matchmaking can be a pain

Splatoon was the closest Nintendo has ever allowed itself to get to an online shooter, and it did so by fundamentally turning the genre on its head. 

That means no guns, no bullets, and ultimately no death. Instead, you play as characters with paint guns tasked with covering the map in your team's colors. 

You can kill (well, 'splat') your enemies, but you do so only in service of buying yourself time to paint more of the map without your opponents (and their painting) getting in the way. 

While Splatoon 2 is technically a sequel, in truth it's more of the same. 

That's not necessarily a bad thing. The original game was tightly designed and well-balanced, and while the sequel makes some minor tweaks to the gameplay, the same Nintendo charm is still present in spades. 

If you never played the original then Splatoon 2 is an easy game to recommend, but even if you did then it might be worth jumping in again to revisit it on Nintendo's portable system. For my money it's certainly one of the best Nintendo Switch games you can pick up.

Cadence of Hyrule

Rhythm-based adventure

Groovy musical feel

Slick animations

Rhythm-based combat can make gameplay feel slow and restricting

Few games are as universally acclaimed as this brilliant indie hit. It's essentially a spin-off of Crypt of the Necrodancer, a rhythm-based rogue-like that sees you time your moves and attacks to the beat of the music. However, this Legend of Zelda Zelda-themed follow-up places the action in Hyrule itself – also allowing you to play as either Link or Zelda (Nintendo, take note).

Blending the best of classic top-down Legend of Zelda games with a groovy, musical feel, and slick animations to match, it is the rhythm-based Zelda game we never knew we needed.

Dark Souls: Remastered       CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

A well-aged fantasy RPG

·         Immersive and haunting world

·         Challenging but rewarding

·         Notoriously difficult

·         Slight downgrade in some visuals

What's left to be said about Dark Souls that hasn't already been spat out in blood, frustration and pure, unfiltered joy? The daddy of tough-as-nails adventure games, it's spawned a thousand imitators and a zillion curse words as adventurers stalk the deadly land of Lodran.

Taking a methodical and precise approach to combat, it's as unforgiving as it is rewarding, making each hard-won victory against its monstrous foes a real achievement. Always fair, it's also a master of environmental storytelling, revealing its secrets slowly as you gain command of its systems and best its enemies.

Dark Souls: Remastered isn't quite as pretty on the Switch as it is on PS4 or Xbox One, but it does have the added benefit of on the go play (just don't go swearing on the bus). And there's a whole new wave of players to engage with when you activate its online mode – a key component of the series, with a new community eking out their first bold steps into its cruel world.

 

Super Mario Party

Back to the board

·         Most tactical Mario Party game yet

·         80 new mini-games

·         Fantastic fun for the whole family

·         Only four boards

When it comes to casual co-op gaming there's not much better out there, and it shows the Switch game catalog continuing to grow and get stronger over time.

This is the latest in a long line of Super Mario Party games of course, but the 3D board game mechanics remain tight and engaging, and the game hides plenty of secrets and surprises along the way for you to discover. Most importantly, it's enjoyable to play, and keeps you coming back. I think Super Mario Party is the most tactical Mario Party game yet.

 

Fortnite Battle Royale   CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

All aboard the battle bus

·         Vibrant world

·         Fun combat

·         Unique building mechanic

·         Excellent monetization

·         Can be hard to keep up

It's not often you get to put a free game on the Nintendo Switch list but Fortnite Battle Royale is giving us this chance. I'd be amazed if you hadn't heard of it, but Fortnite: Battle Royale is the free-to-play hit from Epic Games which throws you into an online Battle Royale where you must fight and build to be the last person standing. 

The game was announced and launched on the Nintendo eShop during E3 2018. If you've not had the chance to play the Battle Royale phenomenon, the Nintendo Switch offers one of the most convenient ways to do it – especially if you find a smartphone screen just a little bit too small to truly play at your best. And if you already have an account you can move seamlessly between your Nintendo Switch, smartphone, PC and Xbox console. 

 

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle      CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

Tactical fun for the whole family

·         Mechanics are easy to learn

·         Family friendly

·         Fantastic visuals and music

·         Gets quite difficult

This crossover has surprised a lot of people, myself included. Though Nintendo's Mario and Ubisoft's Rabbid rabbits doesn't seem like a combination that should work it really does.

This is a turn-based tactical game and it's incredibly fun to play thanks to gameplay that's satisfyingly complex and deep without being overly difficult – though the difficulty increases, it's in a gradual way that doesn't result in feelings of being overwhelmed. 

Mario Rabbids is also just a lovely game to look at – the level design is consistently fantastic and the world and its characters are adorable and colorful. Joining up with Mario lends Ubisoft's Rabbids a charm they've lacked until now, while Mario and co benefit from the partnership by gaining a bit more of a silly sense of humor which really benefits the Nintendo image. 

With this partnership, Nintendo has managed to secure another appealing exclusive for the Switch, and one of the top games for the console.

 

Stardew Valley           CHECK IT OUT ON AMAZON

Charming pixelated sim

·         Relatable, well-written characters

·         Lots to explore

·         Farm sim and dungeon crawler hybrid

·         Relaxing and laid back

·         No actual ending

Stardew Valley is one of those games that always felt like it was supposed to be on a Nintendo console, and we couldn't have been happier when it was released recently for the Switch.

If you've ever played a Harvest Moon game, you’re already familiar with the premise of Stardew Valley: it's an addictive farming simulator which sees you interact with townees to the point where you can literally marry them.

Stardew Valley isn't just one thing though, it's a whole bunch of things at once. You can engage in crafting, fishing, cooking and even exploring procedurally-generated caves to mine for items and even take on monstrous enemies. 

However, do keep in mind your health and energy, as you'll need to make sure your character is in tip-top shape in order to avoid suffering from exhaustion – lose health and you lose a considerable amount of money and items you’ve worked hard to attain. Stardew Valley will have you hooked for hours on end, for better or worse. (Better, definitely better.)

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim

One of the best

·         Huge open world to explore

·         Lots of side missions

·         Interesting characters

·         Hundreds of hours of content

·         Still a bit buggy

Skyrim might be a game that's nine years old, but the portability of the Nintendo Switch makes it feel fresh again. What was once an exclusively home console and PC experience can now be played on your commute and there's no denying that holding the wild world of Skyrim in the palm of your hand is exhilarating. 

For a touch of novelty, the game also supports the console's Joy-Con motion controls so you can swing your sword and draw your bow in real life. It's a whole new way to play.

This is the full open world Skyrim experience for the Nintendo Switch, including all DLC, so I’m very confident in declaring it one of the best Switch games right now.

 

Best Nintendo Switch games at a glance

• Animal Crossing: New Horizons
• Diablo 3: Eternal Collection
• Sunless Sea: Zubmariner Edition
• Pokémon Sword and Shield
• Luigi's Mansion 3
• Untitled Goose Game
• Overland
• Baldur's Gate 1 and 2: Enhanced Editions
• Super Mario Maker 2
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
• Octopath Traveler
• Hollow Knight
• Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition
• Bayonetta 2
• Super Mario Odyssey
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• Splatoon 2 
• Cadence of Hyrule
• Dark Souls: Remastered
• Super Mario Party
• Fortnite
• Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
• Stardew Valley
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim