35 Nintendo Switch Games for Every Kind of Player
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A Rich Open WorldThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the KingdomRead more
To Heal Your Inner ChildDisney Dreamlight ValleyRead more
An Odyssey for EveryoneSuper Mario OdysseyRead more
For Taking it EasyCozy GroveRead more
The Switch is one of Nintendo's most successful and influential systems ever. There’s something unique about carrying a home console-quality gaming device everywhere you go. Figuring out what to play, though—that's getting harder every year, as the roster of first-party and indie games grows deeper and deeper.
Thankfully, WIRED has plenty of opinionated Nintendo fans on staff, and we've put our heads together to compile a list of the best Switch games. We've listed the digital version for most of them here, so make sure you get a spacious microSD card to store all your game files. (We recommend this one.) Be sure to also read up on our Switch Tips and Secrets, Favorite Switch Accessories, and Switch Bundle Deals. And if you were lucky enough to upgrade to an OLED Switch, here's how to transfer all of your data.
Updated May 2023: We've added Tears of the Kingdom, It Takes Two, Cozy Grove, and Disney Dreamlight Valley.
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- Photograph: Nintendo
A Rich Open World
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the KingdomTo say this game was highly anticipated would be an understatement. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to the Nintendo Switch launch title and one of the best games of all time, Breath of the Wild. This game sees our hero Link endowed with new powers and the sprawling world of Hyrule expanded and revamped.
According to WIRED reviewer Will Bedingfield, Tears of the Kingdom is all about evolving the things that made Breath of the Wild such a wonderful experience. Gameplay systems feel tighter and more refined, even the brand-new Ultrahand abilities that let you combine items from your environment to build machines, weapons, and just about anything else you can imagine.
1 player can save Hyrule, again
- Photograph: Nintendo
To Heal Your Inner Child
Disney Dreamlight ValleyDisney Dreamlight Valley filled the Animal Crossing-shaped void in my life. It’s still in early access, though eventually it will be released as a free-to-play game. Our review goes into full detail, but suffice it to say that this game is immersive, glorious, and as cozy as it gets. While characters like Remy and Elsa may seem familiar, the dialogue is surprisingly poignant. It’s a game made by Disney, but I never felt too old to play. If you’re missing life simulations but you just can’t bring yourself to restart Stardew Valley, give this one a shot.
1 player can rebuild the valley
- Courtesy of Nintendo
An Odyssey for Everyone
Super Mario OdysseyIf it weren't for Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey might have taken home even more game-of-the-year awards when it came out. The game plays like a 3D Mario game, à la Mario 64, but instead of collecting stars, you're hunting for nearly 1,000 moons that propel your airship. The worlds are quirky and densely packed with new gameplay, like Mario's new living hat that lets him inhabit classic Super Mario creatures like Goombas and Chomp Chains. We called it “a surrealist triumph” in our review.
1 - 2 players can play together
- Photograph: Nintendo
For Taking it Easy
Cozy GroveThere’s irony in the fact that a really good life simulation game can result in burnout. Hyperfocusing for hours on little side quests, tasks, and to-do lists is a surefire way to get sick of something. Cozy Grove is designed with exactly this in mind. There are no consequences for failing to get a ton done in one single day—in fact, that’s kind of the premise. It’s a super fun and cute game that doesn’t encourage players to binge it for 40 hours at a time. Bathe your island in light and color, help ghost bears with their purgatory-like existence, and collect oodles of badges for your efforts. For what it's worth, I found the gaming experience better on PC than it is on Nintendo Switch.
1 player can get cozy
- COURTESY OF SAMOBEE GAMES
A Queer-Centered Visual Novel
Princess FarmerI'm a sucker for a visual novel. If you're unfamiliar, they're like point-and-click adventures that you explore through dialog options; think Dream Daddy and Hatoful Boyfriend. Princess Farmer packs familiar visual novel storytelling and relationship-building into a satisfying and puzzling match-3 game. The world and characters are memorable, adorable, and queer as hell. I mean that in the best way.
Playing a game that centers queer relationships and stories without wallowing in pain and despair is so refreshing. Princess Farmer is a celebration of queerness and queer joy that is so rarely seen in games and is even more rarely the center of the story. That's not to mention how addictive the match-3 gameplay is. It's a brilliant debut from Samobee Games.
1 - 2 local players can date bunnies together
- Courtesy of Nintendo
For Dancing Farmers
OobletsOoblets has been a long time favorite on PC and Xbox, where the early access version has been available for a couple years now. This new release for Nintendo Switch is the full version. Polished, completed, and right on the console I wanted, Ooblets is an absolute delight to play. The art and character designs draw you right into the world, while the witty writing and clever game design keep you there. In Ooblets, you farm like you might in games like Stardew Valley, but your crops are tiny little critters called Ooblets that you train in the ancient art of the dance battle. It's a whole thing, and it's easily one of our favorites to come out in 2022.
1 player can farm creatures
- COURTESY OF DEVOLVER DIGITAL GAMES
Adorably Twisted Supernatural Action
Death's DoorIf you've ever wanted to be a sword-wielding crow who is also a Grim Reaper, Death's Door is the game for you. Even if you've never had this incredibly specific dream, Death's Door is a brilliant action RPG in a beautifully realized world filled with memorable characters. You take on the role of a Crow (capital C) tasked with collecting souls, but when the one you're after gets stolen right from under you, things get a little weird.
The illustrative art style draws you into a world that is every bit as dark as it is comedic. I spent hours upon hours in this one, exploring every nook and cranny, trying to unravel the mysteries at the heart of this adorably somber world. If you're a fan of third-person action, Zelda-esque roguelikes, you should definitely check this one out.
1 Crow can explore the endless afterlife
- Courtesy of Nintendo
Ancient Pokémon History
Pokémon ArceusThis isn't your usual Pokémon game. Pokémon Arceus takes you way back in time to an era when humans were first starting to encounter Pokémon, and the changes don't end there. This is the first open-world game in the entire series—a huge departure, but a welcome one. Arceus doesn't get everything right on the first try. The world isn't quite as seamless or engaging as the one you'll find in Breath of the Wild, but running around in the open air catching Pokémon in real time is a fun twist on classic gameplay. Definitely give it a look if you're a fan of the Pokémon series.
1 player with online co-op
- Courtesy of Hazelight
For Couples
It Takes TwoMay and Cody are in a bit of a rough patch—they're about to file for divorce and go their separate ways, which is understandably devastating for their young daughter, Rose. That's when Rose unknowingly uses the power of a magic book to wish they'd stay together, which causes the parents to shrink into tiny toys that must find their way back to their daughter. There's a lot of relationship repairing along the way.
2 tiny players can take a traverse at home or online
- Courtesy of ZA/UM
For Your Inner Detective
Disco ElysiumAssuming your inner detective is a washed-up drunk, that is. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is an award-winning, critically acclaimed roleplaying game that puts you in the shoes of a detective who is, well … he's certainly an experience. It's not your average roleplaying game, either. The emphasis is on solving a mystery while navigating complex conversations and interactions using just your wits and charm, not on pumping up your strength to better defeat your enemies. The game's tagline is “Become a hero or an absolute disaster of a human being,” and it's honestly the best way to describe Disco Elysium. I mean that as a compliment. It's funny, wild, delightfully unhinged, and filled with memorable characters and situations that will inevitably end in your demise.
1 player can have a real weird time
- Courtesy of Nintendo
An Island Vacation
Nintendo Animal Crossing: New HorizonsThe Latest Animal Crossing installment plops you on a deserted island. Through the help of DIY recipes, crafting materials, your neighbors, and your favorite capitalist raccoon, you can transform the island into a bustling paradise. Robust social features let you live your island dreams alongside your real-life friends (though local co-op is a little lacking). AC:NH will be familiar to Animal Crossing fans, but there are enough new aspects to keep you intrigued if you've played other games in the series. This title is especially great if you could use a mental break.
The Happy Home Paradise DLC adds a new resort area, interior design challenges for villagers, and a ton of new design options throughout the game.
1 - 8 players can interact together
- Courtesy of Nintendo
A Modern Classic
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildBreath of the Wild is a stunning reimagining of The Legend of Zelda series. The linear story of previous Zelda games is gone entirely, replaced by a wide-open world with dungeons and hidden secrets you can tackle as you wish. Breath of the Wild is sometimes more difficult and holds your hand less, but it's amazingly fun to explore Hyrule, and you'll enjoy making mistakes. Did we mention Link can climb any mountain you see in this picture? Read our full review.
The Expansion Pass DLC also adds challenge modes to test your combat skills; Hero's Path Mode, which can track the path you've traveled over up to 200 hours of gameplay; and a ton of new items from the Zelda franchise history that you can discover and wear. It's worth playing this before hopping into Tears of the Kingdom.
1 player can explore Hyrule
- Courtesy of Thunderlotus Games
Sailing Through the Afterlife
SpiritfarerIt’s funny how many games put a gun in your hand. What was the last game you played without combat? Spiritfarer is a game about death, but even so, you spend your time building, crafting, and caring for the spirits of the recently dead. The only thing you’ll fight is the urge to cry. You guide the spirits as they come to terms with their deaths, their lives, and their traumas. When you’ve done your job, you take them to the other side—the afterlife.
This game feels like stepping into a Miyazaki film—from the breathtaking art, score, and engaging gameplay to the thoughtfully written characters who make you well up. Each and every character will leave its mark on you—even characters you loathe. Yes, we're talking about Giovanni. Don’t worry, you’ll see. Go fare some spirits.
1 player can guide spirits to the afterlife
- Courtesy of Epic Games
Shooting and Looting
FortniteFortnite on the Switch is a marriage of a great platform with a stellar game. The stirring, driven competition of 100 players set against one another scales down to the portable framework of the Switch shockingly well, making for snappy, thrilling play sessions. And Fortnite is a much better game than its critics make it out to be, with a winning aesthetic, sharp gunplay, and dense but satisfying building mechanics. Best yet, it's always changing, cycling through more ideas in a play season than some games do in their lifetime. Read our full review.
1 - 4 players can team up online in 100-person battles
- Photograph: Nintendo
For Your Inner Inventor
Nintendo Labo Cardboard KitsThere's no game like Labo on any platform. It comes in a kit with more than 20 sheets of cardboard. You'll spend hours folding and building the five Labo widgets in the Variety Kit, following fun onscreen instructions. There's an RC car, fishing pole, piano, house, and motorcycle handlebars. Once you're done, you snap the Switch screen and Joy-Con controllers into their spots in each Labo Toy-Con and play games with them. The Vehicle Kit is our favorite. Read our full review.
1 - 2 players can Labo together
- Courtesy of Motion Twin
For Dungeon Crawlers
Dead CellsIn Dead Cells, you are a little ball of goo who inhabits a new dead body every time you die. And you’ll die a lot. (That’s part of the fun. No, really!) Dead Cells is a roguelike game along the lines of a Castlevania, but it is more than the sum of its predecessors. With rich progression and a clever blend of randomized and static world elements, Dead Cells offers a uniquely approachable (and addictive) spin on a classic genre.
1 player can try to survive
