The best Switch games offered on Nintendo’s hot handheld

And now is simply a great time to be fleshing out a Nintendo Switch collection. In a bid to drum up business, prices are plummeting on Switch games left, right and centre, with rival online retailers attempting to stay competitive price-wise and beat Amazon’s own deals.

We simply love the fastest selling console of all time here at T3 and, as such, play all the very best Switch games available, from the Switch’s strong opening year lineup, which included The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey , both scoring perfect 10s across the board, right up to today’s latest offerings like the superb Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and rebooted retro classic Onimusha: Warlords.

Right now Super Mario Maker 2 is the new hotness on Switch, with the awesome level builder taken to a great new level with raft of additional content and improvements. Creating insanely tough or just plain crazy levels for the mustachioed plumber to navigate has never been more fun. A must-play for fans of the series, so be sure to check out its trailer below.

Elsewhere, the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit takes Labo’s cardboard-based capers to new levels of immersion. A mixture of over 60 virtual reality mini-games, along with some VR experiences in major titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, make this a very fun new addition to the Switch arsenal of accessories.

The Nintendo Switch console itself, as well as Nintendo Switch console and games bundles, are also seeing decent price drops right now, too, so be sure to check out the best Nintendo Switch deals going if you’re currently in the market for a new console, controller or accessory pack.

In fact, it’s not just the Nintendo Switch console and Switch games that are currently being discounted, but many legacy systems and titles, too. As such, if you’re a general fan of the Big N then it may be worth your while taking a look at the best Nintendo 3DS deals and best Nintendo 2DS XL deals available right now while the market is in the grip of the new year sales season.

With all that said, these are the best Switch games to play today.

THE BEST NINTENDO SWITCH GAMES 2019: GET THE BEST SWITCH GAMES FOR YOUR COLLECTION NOW

Best Nintendo Switch games 2019

Add different members to your team and combine their powers to create unique and powerful super-moves.

MARVEL ULTIMATE ALLIANCE 3: THE BLACK ORDER

A predictable yet fun co-op brawler

REASONS TO BUY
+Huge roster of Marvel heroes & villains+Support for four-player co-op locally and online+Nintendo Switch exclusive

If the over-abundance of Marvel properties on-screen for Avengers: Endgame wasn’t enough to sate your desire for superhero team ups, then the arcade brawling action of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is sure to satisfy your comic book gluttony. Despite more than a decade passing since the previous entry in the series – and development duties passing to Japanese studio Team Ninja – MUA3 follows the pick up and play nature of the series with very little deviation.

 

Best Nintendo Switch games 2019

If you want to build cities and complete quests as a group, you can team up locally or online with up to three other players.

DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS 2

The Dragon Quest spin-off finally steps out of Minecraft’s shadow

REASONS TO BUY
+Support for both local and online co-op+Plenty of questing and resource management+Great for both DQ fans and younger Minecraft players

The original Dragon Quest Builders had quite the task on its hands, namely having to balance the RPG questing of the mainline DQ series with the resource management and creativity of a building game. The end result was pretty great, but the sequel improves on it in almost every single way. The main improvement being the inclusion of co-operative multiplayer with up three other players either locally or online.

This new iteration isn’t just all about the higher player count, but a greater diversity of regions and areas to explore. Along with unique quests, these locales will also possess special crafting items, so exploring far and wide now feels more rewarding. You can also swim this time around, and fly, should you wish to travel a little faster.

Harvesting also has more of a focus this time around, with the need to look after crops and use the resulting yields to support the hamlets, towns and cities you’ll build along the way. Whether you’re a DQ nut or simply looking for a good alternative to Minecraft, Dragon Quest Builders 2 offers a fine balance of the two.

Best Nintendo Switch games 2019

Your trusty sledgehammer will be your best friend, be it for demolishing a building or smashing an enemy across the Martian landscape.

RED FACTION: GUERRILLA RE-MARS-TERED

Destroy everything in this open-world martian shooter

REASONS TO BUY
+Destroy buildings in real-time+Includes support for multiplayer modes+DLC included as standard

This version doesn’t struggle, either. You can choose to run the game in Performance or Quality modes, placing emphasis on a more stable framerate or enhanced detail, with the former enabling for some truly awe-inspiring moments of destruction as you collapse entire structure’s with nothing more than a sledgehammer and a bag of remote explosives. It’s your usual third-person shooter in an open-world, but all those demolition opportunities really help more mundane mission designs.

 

Best Nintendo Switch games 2019

You can co-create levels with a friend, by adding and adjusting elements on the same screen.

SUPER MARIO MAKER 2

Mario-branded level designing finally comes to Switch

REASONS TO BUY
+More tools, level designs and templates than ever+Two players can edit a level on the same screen+Share your creations online

Much like the first game, you can design your own 2D and 2.5D levels using themes, characters, obstacles and more from the entire Super Mario back catalogue. There’s a 100 level-long campaign to get you started, as well as the option to create levels in co-op. You can also share your creations online, and test yourself on those made by other users.

 

Best Nintendo Switch games 2019

Crash Team Racing – Nitro Fueled takes all the things you loved about the original and tweaks it in all the right places.

 

CRASH TEAM RACING – NITRO FUELED

Crash Bandicoot is back on track

REASONS TO BUY
+All your favourite tracks and characters, remade+Support for local and online multiplayer+Full seasons of free content to followTODAY’S BEST DEALS

You wait years for a kart racer to come along and challenge Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the crown, then two drop within a month of each other. First it was Sumo Digital’s Team Sonic Racing, now it’s the turn of Crash Team Racing – Nitro Fueled. Activision is on a ‘let’s remake lots of PS1 classics drive’ at the moment, and this latest offering brings one of the console’s best racers hurtling into a new generation.

With all your favourite tracks, characters and karts remade for modern consoles (including many from the oft-forgotten PS2-era sequel, Crash Nitro Kart) this is the biggest Crash Bandicoot racer yet. And with plans to support the game over the next few months with themed ‘seasons’ (including one based around fellow colourful mascot, Spyro the Dragon), Switch players will have plenty to keep them power-sliding in 2019 and beyond.

 

Best Nintendo Switch games 2019

Expect romance, mystery and a little horror as you contend with life in a brand new high school.

 

WORLD END SYNDROME

A visual novel with real heart

REASONS TO BUY
+Developers credits include BlazBlue and Deadly Premonition+Mixture of murder mystery and horror+One of the better recent VNs out there

If you’re a seasoned handheld gamer, you’ll likely have come across the Japanese visual novel. And while there’s been plenty of forgettable ones, we’ve also been treated to some of the best slow-burning stories to come from the East. World End Syndrome certainly ticks plenty of typical boxes (a high school student moving to a new school, strange goings on and romantic interests trying their luck along the way), but it balances those tropes by crafting a story that mixes folklore fantasy and murder mystery.

More importantly, it manages to do all this while exploring the affects of grief and how we process tragedy. The English translation can sometimes be a little clunky in places, but for the most for this lengthy narrative has a lot to offer in terms of navigating the pitfalls of modern teenage life and a fantastical mystery unfolding around you.

 

Best Nintendo Switch games 2019

Realm Royale takes the simple mechanics you probably associate most with Fortnite and adds in a handful of new ideas that really help it stand out.

 

REALM ROYALE

Fortnite finally has some competition on Switch

REASONS TO BUY
+From the makers of Paladins+Class-based characters+Forge new weapons and power-ups in-game

Fortnite continues to hold sway over the battle royale genre – yes, it’s a genre now – including on the good ship Nintendo Switch. However, it’s getting some stiff competition from Realm Royale, a BR game from the studio that brought you Paladins and SMITE. You’ll still air drop into a large and colourful map and shoot other players in third-person until only one remains, but RR brings a few new features that really help set it apart.

Rather than hunting for new weapons in chests, you can recycle anything you find and don’t want and use those resources to build anything from weapons to armour and potions at forges scattered around the map. You’ll need to defend it while you’re items are being made, making every attempt a mini battle in itself. And, should you get ‘knocked’, you’ll turn into a fat little chicken, enabling you to escape. If you do, you’ll turn back into gun-toting self in 10 seconds!

 

Best Nintendo Switch games 2019

Most formats of cricket are included alongside the traditional full tests of the Ashes.

 

CRICKET 19

A new, fully licensed tie-in to The Ashes

REASONS TO BUY
+Lots of domestic Australian squads to choose from+Impressively accurate stadia+Scenario mode has endless potential
 
Cricket games have endured as much undulating levels of quality as those based on rugby, so it’s fallen to smaller studios like Australia’s Big Ant to step in and refine a homegrown formula. It’s taken a few years, but the Cricket 19 is the result and it’s easily the best cricket sim we’ve played since the glory days of the Brian Lara series.

The AI is much improved on the previous Ashes game, with bowlers reacting to your behaviour at the crease and fielders making far more realistic catches. The batting physics can sometimes be a little hard to predict, but overall striking the ball is satisfying, especially when you add a well-earned boundary to your total. The Career mode enables you to gradually improve your player with a perk system, while the Scenarios mode offers potentially endless challenges from across the community.

 

Best Nintendo Switch games 2019

While it’s not quite as nuanced as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Sonic Team Racing is a fine kart racer that ports well to Switch.

 

TEAM SONIC RACING

A fun and safe alternative to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

REASONS TO BUY
+Floaty and fun racing model+Team-based mechanics yield special powers+Full support for splitscreen local and online multiplayer

The transforming vehicle shtick has been dropped in favour of a tighter racing model and an emphasis on team play. Racers now compete in squads, and forming up with your allies will provide extra benefits such as extra boost and weapons to take down your competitors. You can play solo (and team up with the AI) or elect to go online and enjoy a full suite of competitive modes. There’s also support for four-player splitscreen multiplayer.

 

Best Nintendo Switch games 2019

You can use the motion controls of the Joy-Cons to aim down your sights and pull off an even more accurate sniper shot.

 

SNIPER ELITE V2 REMASTERED

Take down the Reich, one headshot at a time

REASONS TO BUY
+Improved textures and lighting+Support for co-op and multiplayer+Switch-exclusive motion controls

This time, it’s the turn of Sniper Elite V2 Remastered, which has been given an overall aesthetic touch-up to bring it in line with the visual demands of modern hardware.

Some of those improvements have been lost on Switch – there is some instances of dynamic lighting, but a lot of it has been scaled back in favour of a solid framerate – but the inclusion of motion controls, which use the Joy-Cons to help you line up a trick headshot, are a really great addition. 

You can fight through the campaign to take down the Nazi V2 rocket program, work together with a friend (online or local) in co-op or work your way through a raft of multiplayer modes. All DLC is also included so it’s a chunky little package.

There are so many entries in the FF series to keep track of, but FFXII is considered to be one of the finest installments.

 

FINAL FANTASY XII: THE ZODIAC AGE

A true JRPG classic finally shines on Switch

REASONS TO BUY
+The full FFXII experience on Switch+Improved performance+Additional tracks on the soundtrack

At this stage, the Final Fantasy has produced so many incredible entries it’s almost comical. Alongside the likes of FFVII, FFVIII and FFIX comes the brilliant Final Fantasy XII. Originally released on PS2 back in 2006, The Zodiac Age is a remastered version that includes all manner of extra improvements including enhanced performance and brand new tracks on an already stellar soundtrack.

Every texture and skin has been retouched for high definition, so you’re getting the very best looking version of this PS2 classic. Mechanically, the tempo of battle has been tweaked to make it a little faster, there’s a new high speed mode for those who want quick and timely battles and a very hand auto-save function. It’s another vast and engrossing RPG experience, right there on your Switch.

 

MORTAL KOMBAT 11

Unleash fatalities, anytime, anywhere

REASONS TO BUY
+Full version of MK11 on Switch+Runs at 60fps, but with some visual downgrades+Plenty of modes and customisation

With performance held together so well, there are some sacrifices to the visuals so you’ll really notice the blurring and jagged edges applied to make the game run so well in handheld mode and docked mode. Still, this version boasts all the same modes and features, including the slick online netcode and support for character customisation.

There are lots of games already included, along with the ability to make your own and support for VR in other Switch games.

 

NINTENDO LABO TY-CON 04: VR KIT

Labo’s most creative cardboard caper is here

REASONS TO BUY
+Turn some of your favourite games into VR experiences+Sturdy build+More creative potential in the Toy-Con Garage

While Nintendo Labo has struggled to catch the public’s imagination like the Switch itself, it’s nevertheless one of the most creative projects to ever come out of the Big N If you need any more proof, then you need to try the Toy-Con 04: VR Kit. With your Joy-Cons and the screen of your console, you can experience of 60 mini-games in the Toy-Con Garage, or take the time to build your very own immersive virtual reality experiences.

A number of existing Nintendo Switch games will now support the use of VR on Switch, including none other than The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. You’ll still control Link with the Joy-Cons, but now you look around Hyrule with an interactive field of view that makes spotting sneaky enemies and potential missable treasures far easier.

 

The brilliantly haunting Viking epic finally arrives on Nintendo Switch

REASONS TO BUY
+Stylistically fantastic+Deep, emotional story+Tight game mechanics

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is brilliant pairing of tight, focused gameplay mechanics with a philosophically deep story and fantastically realised haunting tone.

You play as Celtic warrior Senua, who must dive into the depths of Helheim (Viking hell) in order to fight for the soul of her dead lover. However, while there definitely is combat in the game, it is not a repetitive slasher, with bursts of action punctuating exploration and story.

The game has a real edge thanks to its psychological elements, with the player increasingly drawn into the workings of Senua’s mind as she fights against her grief and mental barriers, and it hits hard in evoking psychosis.

A genuinely unique game, that now can be enjoyed on the go thanks to a rock solid port onto Nintendo Switch.

As you’d expect with a Dragon Ball game, World Mission is as over-the-top as its vibrant source material.

 

SUPER DRAGON BALL HEROES WORLD MISSION

A card-battling fighting game with a Dragon Ball twist

REASONS TO BUY
+Over 1,000 cards to choose from+Over 350 characters from DBZ+Battle through story mode and online
 

Think of World Mission like a more nuanced fighting game where you’ll need to draw cards in order to play certain characters and pull of key signature moves. Like most CCGs, this game is all about building multiple decks of cards to take into battle and learning how best to use them.

Darksiders is almost nine years old, but thanks to the updated visuals of the Warmastered Edition it’s aged pretty well.

 

DARKSIDERS: WARMASTERED EDITION

War brings the post-apocalyptic fight to Nintendo Switch

REASONS TO BUY
+Full Darksiders experience on Switch+HD Rumble works really well in combat

With Darksiders 3 having made a splash on other consoles, Nintendo Switch owners are finally getting in on the cartoonish post-apocalyptic action with a port of Darksiders: Warmastered Edition. You’re getting the full version of the original game, complete with all the visual and performance updates made to the remaster that dropped a couple of years ago.

This version is a significant upgrade on the port that graced Wii U, which suffered from considerable issues. Add in the support for HD Rumble, and that ever attractive ability to play it on the move, and you’ve got an action-platformer with bags of combat and a silly story that’s impossible to dislike.

With a mixture of levels in both the foreground and the background, each handmade-style setting is full of secrets to uncover.

 

YOSHI’S CRAFTED WORLD

Handmade hilarity with the green dino

REASONS TO BUY
+Yoshi’s debut adventure on Switch+Diorama-like levels filled with platforming puzzles+Single-player or two-player co-op supported

While Mario has been taking 3D platforming to new heights with Super Mario Odyssey, his trusty dino pal Yoshi has quietly been keeping the 2.5D dream alive with a string of brilliant little adventures. Yoshi’s Crafted World is the latest, and the first to appear on Nintendo Switch, with its diorama-like levels that open out and close to reveal new paths, secrets and more. It’s like exploring a whole world made of Nintendo Labo!

You can move between platforms in both the background and the foreground, and fire eggs (and enemies) at obstructions to reveal secret pathways. It’s very much in keeping with the homemade aesthetic of 2017’s Yoshi’s Woolly World and with support for both solo play and two-player co-op, you’re left with a quaint little platformer that’s bursting with charm.

You can play Unravel Two with a friend by sharing the Joy-Cons, or you can play solo and control by Yarnies yourself.

 

UNRAVEL TWO

A beguiling co-op puzzle platformer

REASONS TO BUY
+Full Unravel 2 experience on the go+Local co-op support+Nice balance of puzzles, stealth and platforming

Yarny, the colourfu mascot from Coldwood Interactive who captured our hearts in the original Unravel in 2016, is back and he’s brought some friends so now you can enjoy its mixture of platforming, puzzles and stealth by yourself or with a friend. You’ll still use your own yarn to swing across gaps and pull switches, as well as being utilised for more team-based solutions.

With more and more Microsoft-backed games coming to Nintendo Switch, Unravel Two marks a significant change in the new content heading to Nintendo’s hardware. Fully optimised for a handheld console, Unravel Two still looks and plays like a charm even when you’re playing away from home in handheld or tabletop mode.

The Daily Challenges enable you to earn RP, which you build up and spend on unique weapon skins.

 

RICO

Kick doors, kill men

REASONS TO BUY
+Co-operative shooter on Switch+Endless number of randomised rooms+Guns, gear and skins to unlock

Nintendo Switch’s success over the last two years has seen a huge uptake in the number of shooters on the platform, and now it’s got another in the form of the brilliant RICO. You can play solo, in local splitscreen co-op or online as you enter an endless series of procedurally generated rooms. Your job is simple: kick down doors, initiate some bullet time and shoot everyone inside the room.

You can breach rooms together in co-op, or simply unleash bullet-driven justice on your own. As you level up you’ll unlock new weapons, skill traits and even gain access to new weapon skins by completing daily challenges. Each run only lasts a certain amount of time, and if you die, that part of the operation is lost, so you’ll need to be as tactical as you are gung-ho.

Almost anything in the game can be scanned and rebuilt elsewhere, so there’s so much building potential.

 

THE LEGO MOVIE 2 – THE VIDEOGAME

LEGO Worlds lives again (kind of)

REASONS TO BUY
+Open-ended levels offer more freedom+Scan objects and rebuild them elsewhere+Huge roster of characters/build styles

As you’re a Master Builder, you can now scan almost anything you see and save it as a blueprint, you’ll then smash items like normal, only now you’re not trying to fill a stud metre but collect coloured blocks to use as crafting resources. You can then travel to new worlds and build entire cities using all your eclectic designs. It’s still the same combat model and silly LEGO aesthetic, but it’s a step in the right direction for the series.

If you’re looking for something in a similar gameplay vein to Skylanders (minus the toys), Dragons is a great fit.

 

DRAGONS: DAWN OF NEW RIDERS

Diablo for kids… on Switch!

REASONS TO BUY
+Fun and rewarding dungeon crawling for young players+Lots of items to collect and buy+Ride your dragon to different islands

With Diablo III: Eternal Collection now out on Nintendo Switch, players have access to one of the best dungeon crawlers ever made. However, some Switch owners might be a tad young for this ‘mature’ game so something like Dragons: Dawn of New Riders is a perfect alternative. This top-down RPG is set in the How to Train Your Dragon universe and sees you heading out on an adventure with your very own flying companion.

Your new dragon can spit fire, ice and electricity, enabling you to combine them together for combos when in combat, and for solving myriad puzzles along the way. You can unlock and upgrade new weapons as you go, as well as looting chests in a series of open-ended dungeons. You can even fly your dragon between each island! If your kids were fans of Skylanders, then they’ll love this little hidden gem

Trials Rising might not look quite as nice as other platforms on Switch, but it’s still the full platforming package.

 

TRIALS RISING

The two-wheeled platforming gem returns

REASONS TO BUY
+Trials on Switch!+Tons of personalised and customisation+Co-op Tandem mode

It’s been almost five years since Trials Fusion brought the world of motorbike planning kicking and screaming into a colourful – and extra challenging – futuristic setting, and now the latest entry in the series is ready to hark back to its roots. Trials Rising (which brings the series to Nintendo Switch for the very first time) maintains the same 2.5D platforming setup, where you’ll need to be mindful of the physics of your bike as you attempt to clear courses without sending your rider flying.

There are hundreds of new courses to choose from in this latest iteration, and a brand new Tandem mode. This is a local co-op mode that requires one player to look after the balance and positioning of the bike, while the other deals with the power. Knowing when to hit the throttle and when to move from two wheels to one is tough enough on your own – now you’ve got to do it together!

Battle Royale meets Tetris? It’s a weird idea, but in practice it makes for an intense and competitive experience.

 

TETRIS 99

Tetris meets… Battle Royale?

REASONS TO BUY
+Free for all Nintendo Switch Online members+Classic Tetris gameplay with a competitive twist

Ever wondered what it’s like for 99 people to compete in the same game of Tetris simultaneously? Well, wonder no more because developer ARIKA has teamed up with Nintendo to create a Switch-exclusive puzzle game that takes that timeless game and infuses it with the risk/reward of a Battle Royale title.

In order to become the last player standing, you’ll need to complete your own game of Tetris while dealing with hard-to-slot Garbage Blocks sent by your opponents. You can also send the same back at them, and the more people you know out, the more badges you’ll collect and the higher your score. If you survive, that is… 

 

CITY OF BRASS

Arabian nightmares on Nintendo Switch

REASONS TO BUY
+First-person roguelike+From the makers of BioShock 1 & 2

Nintendo Switch has a lot of roguelike games to its name, but how many can say they were made by some of the talented people behind the first two BioShock games? Only City of Brass can make that claim, and you can practically smell the pedigree on every corner of its procedurally-generated streets.

You play a thief entering the titular city in search of treasure. You’ll find plenty, but you’ll also encounter traps and monsters aplenty. You’ll need to use your whip, your sword and make the most of the various genii scattered throughout who will imbue you with special powers. For a price at least. However, should you die, you’ll lose all your cash to tread carefully…

Travis Strikes Again might be one of the weirdest games on Nintendo Switch, but it’s also one of the most entertaining.

 

TRAVIS STRIKES AGAIN: NO MORE HEROES

Tarantino-style action on Nintendo Switch

REASONS TO BUY
+Over-the-top action+Support for co-op play

There’s really nothing on Nintendo Switch quite like Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes. But then again, when you consider it comes from the mind of legendary Japanese developer Suda51, that’s hardly surprise. Featuring the return of foul-mouthed anti-hero Travis Touchdown, Travis Strikes Again is a hack ‘n’ slash action-adventure crammed to the rafters with peppy dialogue and over-the-top violence.

There’s lots of genres that have been woven into the game, in true unusual Suda51 style, and you can even pass a Joy-Con to a friend and unleash hell together with some intense co-op brawling.

Warframe looks and plays impossibly well on Nintendo Switch, even when running in handheld/tabletop mode.

 

WARFRAME

Destiny-style action on Nintendo Switch

REASONS TO BUY
+Solo or co-op missions+Tons of customisation options+Free-to-play

It’s impossible to create a list of the best games on Nintendo Switch and not include one of its most impressive ports. Originally designed for PC and other consoles, Warframe is a free-to-play online shooter that mixes third-person gunfights and melee to create something that plays like a cross between Destiny and Gears of War.

There is a PvP area if you want to fight other players one-on-one, but the real meat here is the focus on co-operative PvE missions. From stealing data from a base controlled by androids to fighting off waves of ravenous foes, Warframe keeps the action coming. There’s a Destiny-esque social space, sandbox areas to explore, lots of customisation options and so much more. And it runs like a dream on Switch. Impossibly so, even. A must play addition on the eShop.

Despite having a new (and slightly inferior) soundtrack, this HD update of a PS2 classic is well worth a second visit.

 

ONIMUSHA: WARLORDS

A PS2 classic gets a new lease of life

REASONS TO BUY
+Updated HD graphics and adaptive widescreen display+New soundtrack+Same addictive mix of melee combat and horror elements

It’s been over a quarter of a century since the Onimusha series slashed its way onto PS2. Part Resident Evil, part Bushido Blade, it mixed melee sword combat and survival horror to create something entirely new and exciting that helped define Sony’s second console while never reaching the same superstardom as Resi.

Thankfully, Capcom has given this classic a lick of HD paint by updating its visuals, adding in a new soundtrack and more. It might feel a little antequated to some thanks to those fixed camera angles, but beneath those retro stylings beats the heart of a game that still plays as fresh as it did all those years ago.
 

Combining two games in one package, Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe gives Switch owners another classic dose of Mario fun.

 

NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. U DELUXE

An underrated Wii U gem gets a much-needed Switch update

REASONS TO BUY
+Two games in one package+Additional characters for both

The latest Wii U game to be rescued from platform obscurity and given a new lease of life is New Super Mario Bros. U, combining the original game with the Year of Luigi-themed New Super Luigi U campaign and some extra content for good measure. This 2.5D scrolling platformer takes the classic setup of the original Mario games and adds in the creativity and ingenuity of modern Nintendo design. 

With a handful of extra character to play with, support for four-play multiplayer and 164 courses to traverse it’s a meaty little package if you love a bit of platforming fun on Switch. 

Switch’s portability factor means you can have a quick fist-throwing workout sessions anywhere, anytime.

 

FITNESS BOXING

Nintendo is back on the workout wagon

REASONS TO BUY
+Workout anytime, anywhere+Fun way to burn calories

ntendo hedged its bets on the future of fitness-based gaming in the form of Wii Fitness – the Wii Trainer even got a place in Super Smash Bros. – but while that future failed to materialise, that hasn’t stopped the Big N from going at it again with Fitness Boxing.

Using the gyro controls in the Joy-Cons, Fitness Boxing takes the movement based scoring of Just Dance and turns it into a punch-based workout system. You can do boxing focused routines, or throw jabs to some toe-tapping tunes. You can play solo or co-cooperatively with another user via local multiplayer.

 

SUPER SMASH BROS. ULTIMATE

Nintendo Switch’s next must-have game

REASONS TO BUY
+The biggest roster of fighters to every feature in a Smash game+Super for single-player and local multiplayer+Runs super smooth in docked and handheld modes

Nintendo Switch has cemented itself as a unique yet robust platform, an it’s just added another system-selling, must-have title to its gargantuan library: the fighting mayhem of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

With over 70 characters to choose from, new and classic stages from across Nintendo’s many games and franchises and another tweaked systems to keep even the most dedicated of pros happy, this is a fighting game worthy of the acclaim it’s already received.

You can even use your old GameCube controllers (with an adaptor, of course), which just shows how Nintendo has listened to the series’ fans and made a brawler that’s just as fun for beginners as it is for seasoned eSports masters.

If it’s competitive multiplayer you’re after, look no further. This insane fighting game pits kaleidoscope-coloured, springy-armed combatants against each other in up to 4-player battles.

There are 15 fighters with dozens of interchangeable arms. Mix and match to suit your play-style and take three pairs into battle. Use standard controls, or for an immersive fighting experience, grip one Joy-Con in each hand with your thumbs on the triggers. Tilt together to move, tilt in to block, and get punching.

 

LEGO MARVEL SUPERHEROES 2

A glorious frenzy of button mashing LEGO destruction

REASONS TO BUY
+18 Marvel locations+Open world+Unlock Groot, Spider-Man, and Iron Man and more

No console gaming experience is complete without a button-mashing romp through a destructible LEGO world, and LEGO Marvel Superheroes 2 is the best on the market at the moment.

And don’t let the fact that it’s a sequel put you off. This game stands a full head and shoulders higher than its predecessor (which is also awesome). The story is new. The level design is clever. And it’s got buckets of that classic tongue-in-cheek LEGO humour. Bash your way through hours of gameplay solo or with a friend.

 

DOOM

Heavy metal-filled daemon slaying of the finest calibre

REASONS TO BUY
+Hyper violent+Lightning fast combat+Awesome soundtrack

Resolution and texture fidelity is slightly down in comparison, however, it makes literally no difference to the gameplay and superb art style, which combine to produce an exhilarating, monster-filled adrenaline rush like nothing else on the system.

Plus, the fact that you can go portable with the Switch, slaying daemons while on the go, makes this edition of DOOM unique.

 

XENOBLADE CHRONICLES 2

The famous JRPG franchise returns with a massive open world

REASONS TO BUY
+Lush art style+Refined ‘Arts’-based combat+Huge world to explore

After the underrated Xenoblade Chronicles X on Wii U, the series returns once more on Switch with a similar yet refined take on the long-running JRPG universe. This time out the player is put in the shoes of protagonist Rex, who along with his compatriots Tora and Mia, proceed on a mission to discover Elysium, a paradise for humanity.

Numerous obstacles and enemies lie in their way though, with players needing to master a auto-attack, special attack ‘Arts’ combat system that leans on well-timed attacks and combos to prosper. The series’ excellent voice acting and story telling  make Xenoblade Chronicles 2 an epic adventure.

Despite lots of microtransactions, NBA 2K19 is the pinnacle of sports sims on Nintendo Switch.

 

NBA 2K19

The best basketball game just got better

REASONS TO BUY
+Full fat edition+Runs at 30fps+Best Career Mode story in years

When NBA 2K18 arrived on Switch it proved (after some much-needed most-release TLC) that sports sims CAN work on Switch if optimised in the right way. One year on, Visual Concepts has brought the world of pro ballers back to Nintendo’s hybrid hardware and it riffs and improves on its predecessor in almost all the right ways.

NBA2K19’s MyCareer is the best narrative-driven experience it’s been in years, the Neighborhood is even bigger and VC now flows at a slightly fairer rate. Of course, microtransactions still loom large, but this is still a fine port of a great modern sports sim.

Experience Rayman at his absolute best with this 2D platformer that’s practically bursting with content.

 

RAYMAN LEGENDS: DEFINITIVE EDITION

One of the best modern platformers

REASONS TO BUY
+Gorgeous level design+Music levels+Portable platforming with a friend

Enter platform paradise. Rayman Legends offers some of the best platform gaming available today. True, the Switch edition doesn’t really offer anything new compared to the versions on other consoles, but it’s still a must-buy.

It gorgeous to look at. The controls are precise and responsive. And, at the end of each stage, there’s a rhythm level that kicks the experience up a notch with music that syncs up with your jumps. Platform on the go and slide your Joy-Cons out to share the experience with a friend in local multiplayer.

Splatoon 2 is one of Nintendo Switch’s crown jewels, with its over-the-top multiplayer matches and unique single-player DLC.

 

SPLATOON 2

Ink-splattering chaos for the whole family

REASONS TO BUY
+4 vs 4 competitive multiplayer+New weapons, modes and kit+Kid-safe shooter

This is a family friendly shooter is still, refreshingly, completely blood-free. And this time, it’s got jetpacks. If you’re looking for a party game and you’re all Mario Kart-ed out, this is it.

Experience The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on Nintendo Switch with motion-controls, all of its DLC and much more, right here on a handheld platform.

 

THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM

Become the legendary Dragonborn on your commute to work

REASONS TO BUY
+All DLC included+Motion control via Joy-Cons+Classic RPG action and story

“There’s a moment in Super Mario Odyssey where the game distils everything it is, and everything it stands for, into a blow-out celebration. All at once the past, present and future of this grand old video game series smashes together in a freewheeling, spectacular and experimental set piece that shows that Nintendo, after years of having the handbrake on, is now absolutely flying creatively.  

The fact that Super Mario Odyssey manages to be so experimental while also drawing in the best parts of every Mario game to date, becoming a incredibly playable and joyous love letter to gaming’s most celebrated series in the process, is without doubt like a legendary Homeric odyssey – truly epic.”

Enough said.

Jump into some 2D Street Fighter action and test your skills locally or online. Will you be the final challenger on Nintendo Switch?

 

ULTRA STREET FIGHTER II: THE FINAL CHALLENGERS

The definitive edition of this truly legendary versus fighter

REASONS TO BUY
+Updated graphics and sound+Same simple, addictive gameplay+Diverse game modes

ts) to its excellent selection of game modes including a slick multiplayer suite, and onto its plethora of fun. 

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is an incredible feat in game design, and it’s exclusive to Nintendo Switch.

 

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: BREATH OF THE WILD

Objectively reviewed, the best Zelda game ever made

REASONS TO BUY
+A simply awesome open world+Tight combat mechanics+Gorgeous art style

“From the most objective perspective we could muster here at T3 Towers – and trust us, when you’ve played titles such as The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past during your formative years, that is an incredibly hard thing to do – we feel it is quite evident that The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is, by quite a distance, the best The Legend of Zelda game ever made. And, what’s more, for those people for who Breath of the Wild will be their first foray into the wonderful world of Hyrule, Zelda and Link, it is going to absolutely blow their minds.”

Simply put, a must buy.

With some much-needed tweaks to its interrogation system, this updated version of LA Noire is a must-have port on Nintendo Switch.

 

L.A. NOIRE

A thrilling detect-’em-up that smartly uses the Nintendo Switch

REASONS TO BUY
+All DLC included+Good use of touchscreen+Dynamic story telling

If you’re a fan of detective stories then L.A. Noire is definitely worth your time, as the game tasks you with solving a number of crimes in the Homicide, Vice and Arson divisions of the LAPD.

How you tackle each case though is completely up to you, with various options and outcomes possible. Interrogating witnesses or potential suspects plays a major part in the game, and determining who is telling the truth and who is lying critical to getting the job done properly.

Naturally, for a Rockstar game, there is also plenty of firefights. This enhanced Switch version of the game is not only full fat and truly portable, but comes stacked with all of the game’s previously released DLC.

Make the most of the motion-controls of Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Con controllers with Just Dance 2018.

 

JUST DANCE 2018

The world’s biggest dance game moonwalks onto Nintendo Switch

REASONS TO BUY
+Great selection of hot tracks+Multiple game modes+Child friendly choreographies

Need to warm up your dancing feet for an impending party or wedding? Well look no further than Just Dance 2018, which moonwalks onto Switch with official licenses (Disney anyone?), as well as all the hottest tracks and artists, including such notables as Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj.

The game isn’t just for seasoned dancers either, with a top Kids Mode delivering children-friendly choreographies and a dance playground.

Want a racing experience that leaves every other one for dust? You need Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch.

 

MARIO KART 8 DELUXE

The most polished and playable Mario Kart ever

REASONS TO BUY
+Massive rank of racers+Loads of tracks and game modes+Local multiplayer on Switch is ace

Mario and his chums handle just as well as ever, while the presentation and polish applied to the mixture of classic and new racing circuits is first rate. With a massive selection of racing tiers too, from 50cc up to 200cc, with mirror modes thrown in as well to boot, the game is super approachable no matter your age or skill.

“Battle some of the most iconic Pokemon of all time in this special fighting game mashup on Nintendo Switch” MarkMeets

 

POKKÉN TOURNAMENT DX

Portable Pokemon battles

REASONS TO BUY
+One-on-one combat+New Pokemon, game modes and abilities+Online and local multiplayer

Don’t underestimate this Wii U classic. It’s had an upgrade for the Switch. Decidueye brings the total playable Pokemon to 21 and Litten and Popplio have been drafted in as support. The new ‘team battle’ mode lets you assemble a three-Pokemon team and the ‘group match’ feature helps you find opponents of a similar skill.

Master the single player Ferrum League, get stuck in to ranked online battles, or grab a sofa and share your Joy-Cons for a local match with your mates.

A tactical RPG with Mario and those crazy Rabbids. It shouldn’t work, but it absolutely does and makes for one of Nintendo Switch’s best games.

 

MARIO AND RABBIDS KINGDOM BATTLE

Chaotic turn-based strategy

REASONS TO BUY
+Single and multiplayer modes+Upgradeable weapons and characters+XCOM-style gameplay

This game takes familiar faces, mixes in some Rabbid-flavoured chaos and wraps it all up in XCOM-style gameplay that’ll have even hardened gamers hooked.

Balance weapons, tactics, special abilities and status effects. Earn coins and skill orbs to upgrade your kit and build an unbeatable team. 

BAYONETTA 2

The ultimate action-adventure

REASONS TO BUY
+Improved touchscreen controls+Best version of the game so far+One of the best Wii U games goes portable

The new version runs smoother than the Wii U original, rarely drops a frame in TV or handheld modes, and comes with all the Nintendo-themed costumes for ass-kicking witch heroine Bayonetta you could possibly hope for.

 

NINTENDO LABO: TOY-CON 01 – VARIETY KIT

A curious cardboard creation

REASONS TO BUY
+Family friendly+Five different builds+Help kids learn programming

There really is nothing out there quite like Nintendo Labo. And as unusual as it might be, that’s exactly what makes it so special. It’s Nintendo to a tee, right down to the way it can bring the whole family together.

The Variety Kit includes five different creations which come with a set of flat pack-style cardboard sheets. By following the on-screen instructions on your Switch, you can build everything from a set of motorbike handlebars to a working piano.

The games themselves are fun for a while, but the real fun comes with the Toy Con Garage, a built in design suite that enables you to build your own creations with an easy-to-understand take on programming.

 

STARDEW VALLEY

Chill out on the farm

REASONS TO BUY
+Addictive farming gaeplay+Rewarding mechanics+Incoming multiplayer mode

In this charming little indie, you play a character who has left the hustle and bustle of city life behind to take on the running of the titular family farm.

You can grow all manner of produce, sell it in the local village and get to know its inhabitants (including the ability to date said fellow villagers). One of the most sedate yet engaging titles you can play, whether on your TV or in handheld mode.

There’s also a new multiplayer mode that’s come to all versions of the game – including Nintendo Switch – adding in the ability to link up with friends and tend some farmland together.

 

CELESTE

A twitch-platforming masterpiece

REASONS TO BUY
+Engaging story+Incredible platforming design+Fantastic soundtrack

As you ascend the titular mountain, you’ll take heroine Madeline on a transformative pixel art journey that’s not to missed.

 

PALADINS: CHAMPIONS OF THE REALM

Who needs Overwatch?

REASONS TO BUY
+Competitive team-shooter experience on Switch+Silky-smooth performance

A good 18 months into its life cycle and Nintendo Switch has another genre ticked off – the hero shooter. Overwatch continues to be one of the biggest shooters on the planet, and Paladins: Champions of the Realm has proven itself a worthy rival.

Pick a a Champion, customise their loadout and compete in a team to defend objectives in a full team shooter experience. You can play for free, invest in the Starter Pack or buy the Season Pass to earn exclusive rewards and skins while you play. A must-play FPS on Switch.

 

 

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Mark Meets
Mark Meets
MarkMeets Media is British-based online news magazine covering showbiz, music, tv and movies

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