Developed by the Japanese video game company Nintendo Co Ltd, the Nintendo Switch is a portable gaming console that you can play at home or on the go. It can be played in handheld mode or you can dock it and connect to a TV.
It has a library filled with excellent games that you can play, and it is sometimes hard to choose a single game to play. The Nintendo Switch ranks among the most popular gaming consoles available today.
Must-Play Nintendo Switch Games: Top Picks For 2024 Fun!
Whether you are a new Switch owner or someone looking to add new games to your collection, this list has the top must-play games in 2024. From action games to RPGs, there’s a different variety for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a solo experience or something to enjoy with friends, you’ll find a selection of games that you will like in this list:
1. The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Released in 2023, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is an action RPG video game, a follow-up to the popular game Breath of the Wild. Expectations were already high, but this game builds on its predecessor’s success with an expanded storyline and new gameplay elements.
Players control the hero Link who is on a quest to find Princess Zelda and protect Hyrule. Players get to explore the open world filled with dungeons, combat, and quests.
2. Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario is a game with timeless appeal. This is an action platformer with a new character addition namely – Cappy, a hat with magical abilities. This hat helps Mario to copy the abilities of almost any other character in the game. Players control Mario on this adventure as they visit new kingdoms and collect Power Moons. The sandbox-style levels offer players a lot of creative freedom.
3. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, players are invited to build and customize their own island paradise. The game revolves around gathering resources, crafting items, and interacting with villagers.
Its relaxing pace allows players to decorate their homes, landscape the island, and enjoy seasonal events. It is one of the top life-simulation games available on the Switch and a popular choice for gamers looking to unwind.
4. Splatoon 3
Splatoon 3 is a third-person shooter video game released in 2022. It is the third release in the series. This is not your typical shooting game. Players fight it out in teams to cover as much of the map as possible with their ink while crushing opponents. It has a multiplayer mode and is the most fun game to play with your friends.
5. Hades
Released in 2020, Hades is an action-filled video game that has fast-paced gameplay and an engaging story narrative. Players take on the role of Zagreus, who faces tough enemies and gods of Greek mythology while trying to escape the underworld.
Players collect various upgrades and weapons to aid in their escape. The game is very replayable because it has random elements and an evolving storyline. Hades has such good game design, that it is a joy to play.
6. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Released in 2014, this kart-racing game gives thrilling racing fun, with an impressive lineup of characters, tracks, and vehicles. This game is literally fundamental for any Switch owner. The game can be played on your own or online multiplayer.
The game was already available on Wii U, but the Nintendo version offers many new additions to the game in terms of characters and tracks. Whether playing on your own or with friends, this game is guaranteed to give you a fun time.
7. Metroid Dread
Metroid Dread is a side-scrolling 2D platformer video game released in 2021. The game is challenging, with tight controls and difficult enemies which makes you depend on stealth to survive.
In the game, players take on the role of Samus Aran, a bounty hunter who reaches an unfamiliar planet and investigates some mysterious transmission, and defeats powerful enemies. The tension will keep you hooked on to the game.
8. Xenoblade Chronicles 3
A sequel in the series, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 continues the RPG legacy of its predecessors, with a deep story and a vast open world. The game has real-time combat and character development, which gives players a fulfilling experience.
The game is filled with quests, collectibles, and myths for players to uncover. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a must-play for RPG fans who enjoy long adventures with a great narrative.
9. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Released in 2019, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a tactical role-playing game that revolves around turn-based combat along with rich storytelling and character development.
Players lead a group of soldiers on grid-based battlefields, planning moves carefully to gain the upper hand. The relationship between the characters affects the story’s progression and battle outcomes.
The game starts with the player choosing any one of three powerful houses. Players take the role of a professor in an academy, guiding students in any one of the houses. The game has two phases: academy life and tactical battles.
10. Bayonetta 3
Bayonetta is an action-adventure game released in 2022 which has fast-paced action and combo-heavy gameplay. Players control Bayonetta, a witch with incredible powers who uses a combination of melee attacks and magic to fight angels.
The game is known for its action sequences and challenging combat. The game continues to have stylish and action-rich gameplay like its previous games.
11. Kirby and The Forgotten Land
Released in 2022, Kirby and the Forgotten Land takes the classic Kirby game and revamps it in a 3D environment for the first time. Players control Kirby, a pink puffball, as he explores different worlds.
He can jump, slide, and contort to different shapes by inhaling enemies which also helps him to copy their powers. The game is a mix of exploration, combat, and platforming, which gives players a wholesome experience.
12. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Released in 2018, Super Smash Bros. is the ultimate fighting game on the Nintendo Switch. It is a crossover having a cluster of characters from different Nintendo franchises.
The game has multiple modes, which means you can play online multiplayer battles with your friends. The game has fast-paced and chaotic gameplay and is suitable for both casual players for a fun game and competitive players for mastering advanced skills.
13. Luigi’s Mansion 3
Released in 2019, Luigi’s Mansion 3 is an action-adventure game that can be played in single-player and multiplayer modes. In the game, players control Luigi who ends up in a haunted hotel and has to fight ghosts.
It reminds us of Ghostbusters and Resident Evil and is a visually stunning game. Luigi captures ghosts and solves environmental puzzles to progress. The game offers a mix of humor and challenge, which makes it fun for players of all ages.
14. Tetris 99
Released in 2019, Tetris 99 is a sequel to the classic puzzle game Tetris. It combines the traditional Tetris mechanics with a battle royale format. In this game, 99 players compete in real-time, with the goal of outliving all others by clearing lines of blocks.
As you complete lines, you send garbage blocks to other players and knock them off. The game can be played in multiplayer mode as well. It has a fast-paced gameplay where each decision counts.
15. Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Released in 2022, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is an action role-playing game that takes the Pokémon series in a new direction by introducing an open-world experience with real-time elements. Instead of the typical gym battles and linear story progression, this game focuses more on exploration, research, and interacting with wild Pokémon.
Bottom Line
The Nintendo Switch continues to be a popular console in 2024, with a library filled with a wide range of games that satisfy varied preferences. The 15 games listed here are a few of the best the platform has to offer, but the list is in no case exhaustive. These titles are all must-plays for any Nintendo Switch owner.
Even with the PS5 and Xbox series, the Nintendo Switch is becoming the most compelling gaming console for players. Whether you’re a new player or a long-time fan, 2024 promises a lot of gaming enjoyment on the Nintendo Switch.
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