Best Games On Nintendo Switch in 2021 – Sony and Microsoft are kicking off the next generation of video game consoles in November with the launch of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. They’ll both cost a bundle and could be nearly impossible to obtain this holiday season. Thankfully Nintendo already has a horse in the race with the Switch. Unlike any PlayStation or Xbox, the Switch can be played on your TV screen or on the go. (There’s also the Nintendo Switch Lite, which costs $100 less, which plays nearly all of the same games, but can’t be connected to a TV.)
Let’s run through a few of our favorites, which we’ll update periodically. Note that the red buttons are links to third-party retailers, most of which are the cartridge version of the game in question, though some (where indicated) are digital codes for download. Direct links to the Nintendo eShop downloads are also included, if you’d prefer to buy directly from Nintendo.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a legitimate masterpiece that strips back the open-world genre to its core elements and rewrites its DNA for pure adventure.
It’s a world alive with surprise and dense with detail. An incredible, milestone achievement. See GameSpot’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild review.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Folks, in these dark and troubled days, it’s time to disappear into a new world, get a virtual mortgage and work your ass off to pay that sucker off quick smart.
It’s Animal Crossing time, my friends. See GameSpot’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons review.
Return of the Obra Dinn
Return of the Obra Dinn is the most recent game from Lucas Pope, the man behind Papers, Please.
It’s a genuine, proper masterpiece. An investigation story, essentially, you arrive onto the Obra Dinn a ship where almost all the crewmates have died. Via flashbacks you try to piece together the story of what happened. It’s strange, innovative and completely unforgettable. See Gamespot’s Return of the Obra Dinn review.
Untitled Goose Game
And not just any goose, a horrible goose. An asshole goose who makes life extremely difficult for everyone around him. Untitled Goose Game absolutely took the world by storm. Even Chrissie Teigen is obsessed with it.
But is it good? Yes. Very good. This one should absolutely be on any and all Nintendo Switch consoles. See GameSpot’s Untitled Goose Game review.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars
Well, it’s not perfect — the games have aged and there are a few control issues — but it’s hard to argue with the value of Super Mario 3D All-Stars. Especially for those who have fond memories of Mario throughout the years.
They should have added Super Mario Galaxy 2 though. Come on Nintendo! See Gamespot’s Super Mario 3D All-Stars review.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is very, very good. Featuring the biggest line-up of characters yet (hence the “Ultimate”) it also has almost certainly the best single-player campaign mode of any Smash Bros. game to date. Also — it’s Smash Bros.
How are you going to own a Nintendo Switch and not pick up this game? See GameSpot’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate review.
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
I also can’t believe how good it is. It doesn’t even make sense. Everyone had a good ol’ chuckle when Mario + Rabbids was announced. Then it was released and it turned out to be one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch.
It’s Mario meets XCOM, which is to say it’s a turn-based tactical role-playing game. Except you battle killer rabbits with laser guns.
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
It’s not the best Mario game on the Switch, but it’s still worth buying. Particularly if you’re looking for a solid multiplayer experience.
Just be slightly wary of some slightly weird jumping mechanics. See GameSpot’s New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe review.
