The Cubed3 team has compiled their favourite and most worthy Nintendo Switch games to celebrate its 3rd anniversary. The Nintendo Switch has proved to be a smashing hit for the house of Mario, by selling well over 52 million systems, and 310 million units of software. A huge turnaround from the Switch's predecessor the Wii U, which only managed to sell over 13 million, and 103 million respectively. There is an incredible number of quality software titles for the Nintendo Switch available, so much so that the Cubed3 team had to make some tough decisions about what could and couldn't make the cut. By all means, there's truly an awareness of how many great games didn't make it to the list, but if there is a title that you think should have made the Top 25 then be sure to let us know in the comments below.
25. Bayonetta 1 & 2
Bayonetta 1 & 2 were defining action games of their respective generations, and each time it's ported it feels slicker and more refined. This Switch collection repackages them with amazing portable port work allowing for 360-degree shoe shooting, hair demon summoning action on the bus, train and at work! Well... maybe work isn't the best place given the explicit nature of both games, but damn these are amazing stories, with absolutely engrossing immersive action. Heartily recommended! -Sandy
Stardew Valley has, pretty much, sat somewhere near the top of the eShop charts since it's official release in 2017. Seldom has it moved from that position. Quite notable for a non-Nintendo game on a Nintendo system, whereby Nintendo games usually dominate. Delve into its busy simulated world, and it's easy to see why. Started as a passion project made by one man, Eric Barone (AKA ConcernedApe), this has, over the years, evolved into a nuanced and varied farming-come-life-sim. Filling a space much sought by gamers after the confusing fracture of the Story of Seasons and Harvest Moon titles. Stardew Valley manages to take many of their mechanics and improve on them in many neat little ways. Whether the desire is to get a full working sprinkler system at the farm, win a fishing tournament, fix up the community centre, or chat-up the local townsfolk and gift them used tyres, any of these choices will result in a sticky gameplay loop that's difficult to put down - and on switch the only thing stopping you will be when the battery needs a charge, real life responsibilities notwithstanding. There is one thing that's really bad about this game however: it's too addictive. -Mike
One of the welcome side effects of the Switch's runaway success is an abundance of strategies on the platform. Tentpole features such as being able to continue to play on the go, as well as, in some cases, touch screen input, are a marriage made in heaven, and totally fitting of the genre. What other marriages, could it be said, are to be made in heaven? Surprisingly, that of the titular Ubisoft bunnies, and the Mario-verse, in this strategy-lite (with guns!) future classic. It's a cross-over that seemed inconceivable when it was initially rumoured, and subsequently announced. It even sounds rather confounding still, writing it today in 2020! All that aside, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is without a doubt a must play on the platform. It manages to separate itself from other entries to the strategy genre by being a much more accessible experience, and really kind of fast too. Levels are fluid despite being turn-based, with just the right amount of tactical challenge. It's perfect for picking it up and playing, as well as good for longer sessions, trying to best each challenge. The watch word here is 'surprising,' and what's most surprising of all is how charming the whole thing is. You'd be hard pressed to not think it was made by Nintendo themselves. -Mike
Skyrim is an undying game that Bethesda is happy to keep rolling back out year after year, platform after platform, and yet despite the tiresome nature of its rehashing, it's nigh impossible to stop buying it. Something about the carefully built world with its magnificent snowy peaks and the nature of Skyrim's choose your own adventure keeps pulling everyone back. A truly generation-spanning adventure that is still fun to this day. -Sandy
To date, and according to the internet, Mario has starred in over 200 games, with a few dozen of those being mainline platformer entries. One might ask: do we really need yet another Mario game? Super Mario Maker 2 answers that question with a resounding 'yes.' Not only is it more 2D Mario, it is also limitless Mario... in theory. With its inventive creation suite, and user-made levels the possibilities are seemingly infinite. For anyone who doesn't want to make their own levels a robust single-player mode exists but that'd only be scratching the surface of what's possible. The main draw here being how the basic, tried and tested Mario Bros formula can be stretched and remixed into something completely fresh. Already some Keanu-breathtaking masterpieces have been shared and enjoyed. Maybe this is just nostalgia speaking, but 2D Mario has never felt more relevant for both old-timers and new-comers alike. The smart community features as well as some already significant updates will no doubt keep fans coming back for more. -Mike
Pokémon has always been a fantastic time waster playing on the obsessive nature of humanity. What Nintendo failed to take into account however that with age comes laziness. Trawling through fields of random encounters hunting for a glimpse of a furry to fill the Dex. The genius in Pokémon Let's Go Eevee/Pikachu is the ease of play style mixed in with some new features that have not only made life easier, but have become staples since. Let that beer gut be filled by sitting lazily on the sofa, flicking the smallest of wrists to "catch em all," waggle that thumb to move around the world, and actually see which Pokémon are in the surrounding area, cutting out hours of grinding. By ranking up the feel good factor by only including the original 151, and leaving out some of the later, at best, questionable design choices, this is the perfect pick-up-and-play option for those who were there from the start but are too restricted by life interfering to invest in a full, new iteration. -Luke
Not the obvious choice for rupee collecting, chicken throwing goodness on the Switch, but possibly the best fit for a portable console. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was made to be picked up for a quick half hour in comparison to the sprawling landscapes and world exploration of its big brother. In full nostalgia, muscle memory mode, a dungeon can be completed in less time than it takes to scale a mountain or two. The claymation style visuals give a childlike wonder to proceedings, and invite you into playing make believe, and in a world that's cutesy yet dangerous. On a final, decisive point that makes it a must play, and possibly a reason to pick up one of those new fancy Lite consoles, is that the music is fantastically hummable. -Luke
With over 400 hours of game play it is no wonder that this simple (in principle and practice) piece of software is one of the top Nintendo Switch titles. Bashing blocks with a hammer to collect ore for crafting nicer blocks is great stress therapy, building rooms for residents and helping fulfil quests in an attempt to keep their demanding-selves happy can be a challenge in itself. The real experience begins after the main story, when it is easy to let the imagination create all kinds of fantabulous buildings! -Nayu
Astral Chain is full of Platinum Games' signature intrigue and style, with a unique cyberpunk setting that feels like the gamification of Ghost in the Shell and PsychoPass. The unique combat that lets players control two characters in sync, accentuates an epic story about other worlds and solving the mystery of the Astral Plain. Any one would have an absolutely ripping time with this fantastically styled adventure. -Sandy
The Fire Emblem series has gone from stride to stride since the release of Fire Emblem: Awakening. The revival of the series has been a huge turn around, so much so that Nintendo themselves strongly hold it in high regard. Fire Emblem: Three Houses continues that success greatly with three differing paths, each containing a unique twist on a stereotypical story. Three Houses changes the formula greatly by introducing a free roaming section by exploring the base site, known as the Garreg Mach Monastery, where the story revolves around. This additional divergence is what sets Three Houses apart from previous Fire Emblem titles by adding in tasks such as fishing, gardening, cooking and fetch quests to help bolster relationships with characters. Though these tasks aren't brand new to the series the execution of them in Three Houses brings a new fresh approach that fans have adored. -Neil
It's Tetris, but not as you know it. Combined with one of the major current trends in gaming of late, battle royale, Tetris makes the masterpiece puzzle game even more addictive by taking on 98 other players from around the world to be the last one standing, as, in true Tetris fashion, game speed gets progressively faster to the point where only the best will survive. Like the original game, Tetris 99 is simple in concept, yet so hard to put down. -Az
Hidden in the depths of the Nintendo store is this gem of a title. Taxi Drivers never seem to have the most interesting of lives from a passenger point of view (pick up fare, answer the two main questions 'busy night?' and 'What time do you finish?'). But somehow, this has become one of the best titles on the Nintendo Switch. Simple in its delivery as well as gameplay, after a short play-through, the narrative sucks a player in so much they become fully invested in the life of Lina, the emotionally stunted night worker looking for her best friend, as well as a new life. Every night becomes a joy, through the Cyberpunk dystopia hoping to meet a familiar face and recap on whatever trials and tribulations they've gone through since the last trip. As the old saying goes, it's not the destination, it's the journey. -Luke
Every now and then, a day or two is spent completely reorganising the farm, and it is played mostly during the regular events for the cute prizes including clothes and house items (the favourite being a path). The continuously updated goals provide constant variety to farming - they can be ignored but are fun to work towards, be it harvesting hundreds of cabbages or waiting hours for specific type of horses to harvest. -Nayu
12. Sonic Mania Plus
Sonic The Hedgehog is back in the vernacular in 2020, thanks to the success of the feature film with the same name, and this popularity will hopefully see a fantastic sequel to 2017's Sonic Mania. Sonic Mania itself is a treasured love letter to the blue blur of the past, subtly remixing stages from five Sonic games (Sonic "1" through to S&K), while also adding its own flair and creativity. Watch the original trio of Sonic, Tails and Knuckles rip through Green Hill Zone once again, or play as one of the two returning characters, Mighty and Ray. For anyone looking for a good '90s nostalgia trip then Sonic Mania will ensure a wild ride. -Neil
Intuitive controls is a phrase thrown around far too often, and with Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove defining it, should never be used again. Controls should not be a sole reason for a purchase, but even without the fantastic level design, replayability, and boss battles, it would be. The knight in question bounces effortlessly from platform to platform without a hint of input delay, and elevates (like a platform) a NES style tribute into an unmissable platformer. With fantastic boss battles and character design also thrown in, this is a Knight to remember. -Luke
Introduced to this game by a fellow gamer, this critic fell in love with the blue haired Dana whose bittersweet struggles captured her heart. It takes over half the game to have her as a playable team member, but the mystery and danger that follows Adol and the other shipwreck survivors on an island with dinosaur like monsters, plus an unknown murder, make the first half of this title fly by. Dana features early on in the form of dreams and memories which Adol experiences, they influence his decisions, and Dana's strange powers help the group on their adventure. -Nayu
Although Luigi's Mansion 3 may not be at the top of everyone's list, it certainly is at the top of yours truly. Sure, the Switch has no shortage of awesome titles, with great gameplay, great story, great art, great audio, and so on - but this one packs everything so tightly, and is also perfectly paced. Yes, it is not super long, but someone who is quite busy can actually appreciate that, as it can get your full attention right from the start, and manage to keep it to the maximum level all the way through before it gets any chance of feeling stale. The production values of this game are through the roof, as it looks like a full-blown animated film, and it has the charm to back up the look too! You typically don't get great games on Switch looking this good and still running flawlessly, but Luigi's Mansion 3 pulls it off with no immediately noticeable sacrifices. It's no exaggeration to say that this is arguably the best-looking Switch exclusive title. Alien Isolation is a strong contender for best looking game full stop, but the art style of this one can win many a gamer over. -Rudy
Metroidvania. If you are a fan of the sub-genre, get this, now! It got so much praise, including from the team here at Cubed3, for being so good that you just got to try it. It's enormous success also led to a physical release (which would first be cancelled, before being brought back later), for those who prefer those over digital. It doesn't matter what you choose, though, because this is awesome. It had its frustrating moments, filled with repeated deaths on the same seemingly impossible bosses, but the tough challenge offered here is mostly a fair one, and the great story-telling, atmosphere, visual design, audio direction, and so on all contributed to making many gamers stick with it until the very end. Hollow Knight is a masterpiece of 2D gaming, and it's safe to say that Silksong will be no different when it eventually get released in 2020 - on Switch of course! -Rudy
A top example of how to make a cracking 2D platformer with great controls, cute graphics, and a relatable little story to break up gameplay. Celeste might be known for its difficult platforming segments, but a lot of that comes from having the reflexes to deal with what's ahead. When everything comes together, with main character Madeline jumping and dashing from platform to platform, this is some of the most satisfyingly flowing side-scrolling out there. And if things do get too tough, there are assist tools available for players at any time to help them through, allowing anyone to bypass a section causing them trouble, or even climb safely through the rest of the game to appreciate the full story. Having this kind of choice is wonderful, and it takes nothing away from what a fine platformer Celeste is. -Az
6. Starlink Battle for Atlus
Incredibly, Starlink Battle for Atlus has landed in 6th place, and it is well deserved. The Nintendo Switch version is by and large the best version of Starlink - maybe not from a performance standpoint, but due to the inclusion of Nintendo's very own Star Fox crew making a full appearance throughout the story. This is no cameo either, Fox and his pals are there for the whole thing, even better yet the DLC offers a new Star Wolf side quest. Starlink let itself down by having a toys-to-life model leading it to being prohibitively expensive, however as time has gone on the deluxe-all-digital edition is often on sale on the eShop, which throws in all the necessary tools that players need to get the full experience of exploring the Atlus system. Starlink Battle for Atlus focusses on exploring planets for their fauna and flora, while trying to liberate the local planets from being reigned by the evil Legion. To help fight against the Legion are a number of protagonists, each with their own unique ships, weapons and mods that can be fully tailored, opening up a plethora of customisable options. If Starlink Battle for Atlus seemed too pricey when it initially launched, then now might be a great time to keep an eye out for a Ubisoft sale, as the complete package offers hours and hours of great content. -Neil
It is perhaps no surprise that this Dragon Quest game is a firm favourite: the charm and character brings about a smile, including breaking pots for items and trampling over barrels and baskets. Every monster looks cute and has a fun name. Every NPC has a story to tell, with towns being rich in culture. Despite its emotional story, it oozes charm with the familiar from Dragon Quest Builders slimes and hammerhoods, the changeable costumes and overall fun JRPG goodness. -Nayu
A port of the Wii U game with relatively few extras this may be, but few can deny it as being one of the core selling points of Nintendo Switch. Local multiplayer is made all the more accessible for people with multiple systems, and the vast range of tracks mean every game night is complete, whether that's online or offline. It's impossible not to come back to a bit of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe when a friend or two is over. -Az
It is timeless, the Mario Kart series is probably the most appealing and accessible video game known on this planet. It is colourful, charming and most importantly fun. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, specifically, wins the crown, as it ticks all of these attributes and more. No Nintendo Switch collection is complete unless they own a copy of this gem of a racer, and it fully deserves the eclectic praise it has received over the years. -Neil
Placing a roster of iconic Nintendo characters behind the wheels of kart-racers, ensures a very frenzied and delightful racing experience. With a plethora of silly power-ups designed to hinder the other racers on the tracks, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most refined title in the series. The animations are a joy to watch, the kart-handling is top notch, and there's nothing better than seeing the heartbreak of 1st-placed getting nailed with that dreaded blue shell just as they neared the finish line. -Josh
One of the biggest love letters to gaming, it's hard to imagine any future Smash instalment reaching these heights ever again. This hectic party fighting game is more than Nintendo at this point, and it is proof that even the seemingly impossible is possible if developers and fans want it badly enough. The fact every past character, third party or not, returned is praise in itself, but who could have ever predicted Banjo and Kazooie squeezing in there? There are tens, if not hundreds, of hours of entertainment here, especially if players embrace the competitive side and take fights online once done with the extensive adventure mode and its great twists on how battles are fought. Plenty to unlock, and plenty for game fans of all backgrounds and playing history to appreciate and enjoy. -Az
Masahiro Sakurai needs a break. He infamously went to work on Super Smash Bros Ultimate whilst hooked up to an IV drip, all to… ahem, "ultimately" delivering players the most content packed and feature rich crossover fighting game ever made. 74 playable characters (not counting additional DLC Fighter Pass characters), 103 stages, including battlefield and omega forms, many of these also evolving and effecting play, thousands upon thousands of Spirit trophies, untold numbers of in-game items, several single-player, multiplayer and online modes, all of this on top of a veritable sluice of options and unlocks. It is completely unprecedented. 70+ hours into this, and you can still be surprised by seeing new things. All of this would mean nothing however if it wasn't fun, and luckily that's not even close to being the case here. Super Smash Bros Ultimate returns to a faster Melee-like style that's the very definition of being easy to pick up and play, but tough to master. If you can keep up with the pace you'll be grinning from ear to ear as Captain Olimar destroys Ken from Street Fighter with a massive hammer, or Shovel Knight showing up out of the blue to cause havoc. It really is a love letter to video games in general, albeit one written in Kirby creators blood, sweat and tears. The result, though, is very fine indeed. -Mike
Finding the perfect party game on Nintendo Switch largely depends on whether one enjoys the style of beat 'em ups. Super Smash Bros Ultimate offers a large cast of iconic video game characters, with a whole host of stages that are inspired by various Nintendo titles. Up to eight players can partake in a local battle filled with pure mayhem, chaos and over-the-top silliness, while the adventure mode is worth the fun of unlocking new characters. -Josh
For this critic, Super Mario Odyssey is the 3D Super Mario game he has been waiting for ever since first completing Super Mario SunshineIf you love free-roaming 3D Mario games of the collect-athon style, get this. It took so long to finally happen, but when it did it became obvious that this is the de facto, and obvious choice for best 3D platformer on the system. There may be strong contenders in something like Spyro Reignited, but the latter is a collection of remakes which themselves had to be scaled back to fit on Switch hardware, although for what the Switch can do, that turned out great in its own right. Odyssey, however, is designed for the Switch, and exclusive to it, and is just filled to the brim with great designs, great gameplay, awesome visuals and excellent audio. It's another masterpiece, and despite being released in the system's first year, it still hasn't been topped. -Rudy
Super Mario Odyssey is the personification of the term labour of love. Not a single second of this game doesn't exude the feeling of discovery and exploration. Harking back to the full fat Mario 3D experience, it offers players a simple plot that pushes the player forward without feeling contrived or like too much of a retread of Mario's other adventures. It's a joyous title to play and everyone who owns a Switch should give it a go. -Sandy
As far as "pick-up-and-play" titles are concerned, Super Mario Odyssey is one of the pinnacles of this feature. With easy mechanics and gameplay that allow for anyone to jump in at any time and begin adventuring, Odyssey lends itself well to both long play-throughs and shorter bursts. The idea of collecting Power Moons is the journey in itself, with achieving these moons getting progressively harder as new mechanics or abilities become unlocked. Mario isn't alone in his latest caper, with Cappy adding some much-needed aid in both combat and platforming. A nice surprise due to nostalgic value was the inclusion of the 2D-style Mario levels, that are hidden throughout Odyssey. -Josh
At the point of the Nintendo Switch's release every gamer in the world was talking about Breath of the Wild, and for good reason. This masterpiece took the tried and tested formula of the Zelda franchise, and completely shook it up by taking inspiration from the open-world "genre." This is like no other Zelda experience before it. The linear approach to tackling dungeons and weapons upgrades is now gone - instead a free-range Link is available to traverse the humongous world littered with tasks, shrines and secrets. Combat has been completely re-worked encouraging players to attempt creative ways to defeat enemies, and there is a whole new hunter-gatherer side to Link, which involves finding new weapons, and collecting ingredients to cook food. The mechanics within Breath of the Wild, and small intricacies that Nintendo were working on for years, absolutely paid off, as this is not only the best game on the Nintendo Switch, but probably the best game Nintendo has ever developed. -Neil
A huge shift in the structure of a Legend of Zelda game resulted in one of the best games of recent years. A devastated Hyrule, having suffered destruction at the hands of Ganon, is your playground in this free-roaming adventure. The vast majority of the land is able to be explored at any time, with every few metres having some point of interest, whether it is the remains of a once standing building, a Korok waiting to be found, an enemy hideout to be pillaged, or an ancient shrine to be discovered, with its puzzle inside needing to be overcome for its reward. The sense of discovery is immense, with various terrains and weather conditions encompassing each corner of Hyrule, and costumes and recipes requiring experimenting with in order to survive. The attention to detail in not just the visual identity, but also in the physics, and, therefore, the possibilities in regards to combat and land traversal are something else. To this day, new discoveries are being made in what this game is capable of, which speaks volumes about the sort of marvel Nintendo has crafted here. Even if you only play through this once, it will be a memorable and entertaining experience like few others. -Az
Ah, the launch title that literally sold the system all by itself. That may be a bit of a stretch, but it's safe to say that the attach rate for that title among Switch owners in the first few months must have been insanely high. If you bought a Switch, you had to own The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Of course, you could always get it on Wii U, but really, it ran better on Switch, even in handheld mode, so the best experience was really on the new hardware - and what an experience that was. The only gripe of this critic with it remains that it wasn't exactly what he wanted the first truly open world 3D Zelda to be. What was delivered though, was nothing short of excellent. -Rudy
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild stands as one of the greatest video games to have ever been made. The sheer size of the world and the many secrets to discover, makes traversing this world an absolute treat. As far as sandbox titles by Nintendo are concerned, Breath of the Wild is probably the best title there is. Plus, Nintendo was able to keep the magic and soul of The Legend of Zelda, while still being able to provide a world filled with content that just needs to be explored. -Josh
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