These are the Best Nintendo Switch Games in 2023

The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular consoles of all time, and there's very good reason for it. Thanks to its hybrid design, you can play on your TV, in handheld mode, or set the console down on a desk to play games in any way you want. It's frankly my favorite console ever, and I make full use of the hybrid nature all the time. But what really makes the Nintendo Switch so good is the selection of amazing games available on it.

Nintendo typically relies on exclusive games more than its competitors. If you look at the best games on Xbox, for example, you'll find a ton of cross-platform games, and many of them aren't available on the Switch. The flip side of that is that Nintendo makes some of the best games out there that are exclusive to its consoles, and that certainly holds true with the Switch.

There are potentially hundreds of games on the Switch that you're likely to enjoy, but for this list, we're focusing on 25, which should already keep you busy for a long time.

Bayonetta 1 & 2

Bayonetta wasn't originally a Nintendo-exclusive franchise, but after the first game got forgotten by Sega, its original publisher, Nintendo stepped in and helped fund the development of Bayonetta 2. That was originally released on the Wii U, but both the first and second games made their way to the Nintendo Switch as a bundle. The Bayonetta games feature incredibly intense hack-and-slash combat and fantastic visuals, particularly the second entry, and they're an absolute joy to experience if you enjoy action games. It's definitely not a game for the whole family, but if you're a more mature player, these are two phenomenal games that deserve all the attention they get. Plus, Bayonetta 3 is coming later this year, too.

Unfortunately, the physical release is a bit hard to find brand-new now, but you can buy the digital bundle below. If you want a physical version, it's available on Amazon from third-party sellers.

Super Mario Odyssey

Any Nintendo console needs to have at least one (usually several) Mario games, and they all tend to be pretty good. But Super Mario Odyssey goes further than that. It's one of the most open Mario games ever, it has tons of little missions to do, and so much variety to its gameplay and power-ups. With the help of Cappy, Mario can take control of all kinds of characters and objects, and that allows for new kinds of traversal and actions. This is one of the best Mario games ever, and it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It may be turning five years old soon, but this is still a masterpiece everyone should play.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Is it too early for another Mario game? We don't think so. Mario Kart 8 originally debuted on the Wii U in 2014, but the Deluxe version for the Nintendo Switch includes all the DLC from that title, plus a completely revamped battle mode that's more in line with previous games. It's a fantastic-looking game featuring 42 characters from across the Mario franchise and a whopping 48 tracks to race on - the biggest Mario Kart game ever.

And if you're thinking "48 tracks? That's not enough", don't fret. Nintendo recently announced the Booster Course Pass DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and that's going to bring 48 more tracks to the game for a total of 96. You'll have to spend $25 more for the DLC, but it's essentially doubling the amount of content, and it'll be the first time we see tracks from the mobile game Mario Kart Tour on a console. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is already the best-selling Switch game out there, but if you've been holding back, this is the best time to jump in.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild might just be one of the best videogames of all time. It took a long time to be released, but Nintendo's first foray into open-world games was a massive success. I've personally put over 700 hours into my copy of the game since it launched in 2017, and I still find it absolutely incredible. It has a gorgeous art style and an open nature that lets you do anything you want whenever you want. Want to head for the final boss right from the start? The game won't stop you. Want to explore every inch of the map first? Go ahead. There's so much to see and do in this game, and it's an unforgettable experience.

If you crave a little more content, Nintendo has also released DLC for the game with an expansion pass, adding new challenges and dungeons. It also adds a more challenging hero mode that lets you re-experience the game with regenerating enemies and other changes. And the sequel to this game is planned for later in 2022, so now's the time to get caught up with the story if you haven't played it yet.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing has always been a tranquil game about going about daily life in beautiful settings, and New Horizons takes the series to a tropical island. Dress up your avatar, fly out to your island, borrow money from Tom Nook, and get started setting up the island of your dreams. New Horizons is one of the more absorbing games on the Switch, and before you know it, you’ll have sunk dozens of hours getting your new home to look good, recruiting the villagers of your choice, and throwing bells at the bottomless chasm that is Tom Nook’s personal coffers.

The game received a big update in November 2021 that added lots of changes and new features like gyroids, improved design options, and more. Alongside that, Nintendo also released the Happy Home Paradise paid DLC for the game, which lets you design houses for all kinds of customers with new parts and design styles, which you can then use on your own island. There's a ton of content in this game to keep you hooked, and it is the second-best-selling game on the Switch should tell you that.

Hades

Hades is not a Switch exclusive, but it fits the Switch so well it’s impossible to leave it off this list. In Hades, you play the son of the titular character, Zagreus. The young god is determined to leave the Underworld, and is prepared to beat as many of his father’s obstacles as he needs to in order to do that. No matter how many times he dies, Zagreus is ready to tackle the gauntlet again with fresh resolve. This rogue-lite is so good, it might spoil other games in the genre for you.

Metroid Dread

In 2021, it had been 19 years since Nintendo made a new original 2D Metroid game. We got a couple of remakes in that period, but Metroid Dread was the first new game in the series, and it delivered on so many levels. Developed by Mercury Steam - the same studio that remade Metroid II for the Nintendo 3DS as Metroid: Samus Returns - Dread features fast-paced and incredibly smooth gameplay where everyone's favorite bounty hunter has to investigate Planet ZDR to find and eradicate the Parasite X. The game runs and looks amazing and it features a rewarding gameplay loop that will keep you coming back. You can even replay it multiple times to finish it as fast as possible if you're into that kind of challenge.

Nintendo recently released an update for this game that adds a "Dread" mode where you lose a life after a single hit, if you want to go for the perfect run. And if you're a newbie to Metroid games, a new Rookie mode was also added that lets you recover health more quickly. It's a great time to learn about the Metroid series if you haven't yet, and in April, the team is even adding a boss rush mode so you can play only the boss fights in the game. This is an easy recommendation for Switch owners.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Living up to its name, Super Smash Bros Ultimate was the biggest Smash Bros. game when it launched back in December 2018. Featuring every character that had previously been in the series, hundreds of songs from different franchises, and refined gameplay with the most battle stages of any game in the series, it's the best iteration of Nintendo's crossover fighting game.

In the three years since its launch, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate also kept receiving DLC, and the last expansion was finally announced in October 2021, adding Sora from the Kingdom Hearts franchise. In total, 11 new characters were added via DLC, along with new stages, spirits, Mii costumes, and more. You're very unlikely to run out of content in this game anytime soon. You can buy the main game below, and the first Fighters Pass as well as the Fighters Pass Vol. 2 are also available.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

As much as I've been a fan of the Pokémon franchise for years (and we may or may not have one of those games later on this list), it's been stuck with the same formula for a long time, particularly when it comes to battling and catching the creatures we adore. But Pokémon Legends: Arceus shakes things up in a completely fresh and interesting way that makes this one of the most addictive Pokémon games ever.

In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, you see Pokémon roaming around in open environments, and if you don't want to battle them, you can throw a Poké Ball at them right then and there. No battle cutscenes and tedious turns - just take aim and throw the ball. There's a stealth element to catching Pokémon, too, and if you want to engage in battle, the battles now take place right where you are in the world instead of transitioning to a generic background, and you can keep moving around. The battle system has changed, too, with Pokémon being able to use moves in agile and strong styles to change the course of battle.

It's quite possibly the best Pokémon game ever, and it's bound to appeal to long-standing fans of the series and new players alike.

Super Mario Maker 2

Anyone can enjoy a 2D Mario game, but what if instead of just playing the games, you could also make them? That's the idea behind Super Mario Maker 2, which lets players take the objects, enemies, and power-ups from across the Mario series and make the wildest creations with them. Super Mario Maker 2 lets you create games in different graphical styles, and each style plays differently, too. And not only can you create levels, but you can also create worlds of levels (after a free update), so it's almost like making your own full game.

And if you're not into creating levels, don't worry - you can just play them. Super Mario Maker 2 includes a single-player adventure mode, but after that, you can also play a virtually infinite amount of levels and worlds from players around the world. The fun never has to end with this game, and for many people, it still hasn't. If you want a game that can potentially last you for years to come, this is a great option.