The 21 Best Nintendo Switch Games You Need to Play in 2024-2025

Eight Years of Switch: The 21 Best Nintendo Switch Games of Year Eight

Eight years. It's a number that would have seemed almost unthinkable back on March 3rd, 2017, when Nintendo launched a little hybrid console that would go on to become one of the best-selling gaming platforms in history. And yet, here we are ?" the Nintendo Switch is entering its ninth year, and its eighth was arguably one of its finest. From sweeping strategy epics to bite-sized British comedy, from lovingly crafted remakes to boundary-pushing indie darlings, the period between March 3rd, 2024 and March 2nd, 2025 delivered an extraordinary lineup of games. Felix from Nintendo Life sat down to rank the very best of them ?" all 21 ?" and the results make for a compelling case that the Switch still has plenty of life left in it.

What follows is a guided tour through those 21 standout titles, presented in no particular order of preference. Whether you're a longtime Switch owner looking for your next obsession or a newcomer trying to build out your library, consider this your essential reading.



Indie Masterworks: Small Teams, Enormous Impact

Animal Well

If there's one game on this list that embodies everything exciting about the independent development scene, it's Animal Well. Created almost entirely by solo developer Billy Basso, this atmospheric Metroidvania casts players as a small blob navigating a world teeming with mysterious, often threatening animal life. The game wears its secrets like a second skin ?" you're dropped into its world with minimal guidance and expected to discover, to explore, to wonder.

"Ever since I saw this game for the first time, I was immediately intrigued ?" it had that 'one of the great Indies' vibe all over it," said Felix, "and it turns out I was correct, because my God did this game get a lot of 10 out of 10s."

The praise is well-deserved. Animal Well is the kind of game that lingers in the mind long after the screen goes dark, its atmosphere doing more storytelling than any line of dialogue ever could. Basso has quietly crafted something remarkable, and if you haven't yet made time for it, that's something worth correcting immediately.

Thank Goodness You're Here

On the complete opposite end of the tonal spectrum sits Thank Goodness You're Here, a delightfully absurd slice of British comedy that plays out something like a point-and-click adventure filtered through the sensibility of a very specific northern English dialect. You play as an unnamed yellow man ?" that's all the introduction you get or need ?" and your job is simply to help people. What that looks like in practice is frequently, wonderfully ridiculous.

The game even opens with a regional dialect option, offering players the chance to experience all menus and UI in an authentically local vernacular. It's a small touch that speaks to the game's enormous personality. At two and a half to four hours long, it's brief, but those hours are among the most purely enjoyable on the platform. Just make sure the particular flavour of humour resonates with you before diving in ?" this one is very much an acquired taste, and all the better for it.

Pizza Tower

A game that many players had been waiting years to see on Switch, Pizza Tower finally made its way to Nintendo's platform during year eight ?" and it was worth every moment of the wait. The game is an assault on the senses in the best possible way: fast, frantic, and dripping with the kind of hand-crafted personality that recalls the golden age of Wario Land. Players blast through chaotic levels collecting toppings, knocking down pillars, and racing against the clock to escape before the timer hits zero.

The adrenaline, apparently, is very real. Having briefly tried the game ahead of its Switch release, Felix described the experience of escaping before the timer expired as genuinely pulse-pounding. For a game built around pizza, it's surprisingly intense ?" and surprisingly brilliant.

Pepper Grinder

Another indie gem worth celebrating, Pepper Grinder puts players in the boots of Pepper, a resourceful adventurer whose treasure has been stolen and who sets about reclaiming it with the help of her trusty power drill. There's a Sonic-like quality to the pacing ?" levels Blitz by, chaos unfolds, and split-second decisions define your progress. The game draws clear inspiration from Game Freak's obscure Drill Dozer, released some 20 years prior, but carves out its own identity with a brilliant art style and a soundtrack that Felix describes, with evident affection, as "an eardrum-breaking delight." A free demo is available on the eShop for the unconvinced.

The Metroidvania Moment: A Genre at Its Peak

If 2024 proved anything, it's that the Metroidvania genre is in extraordinarily good health. Year eight of the Switch delivered no fewer than four titles that could legitimately stake a claim as among the best the genre has to offer ?" each one finding a fresh angle on a beloved formula.

Nine Souls

While the world waits ?" increasingly impatiently ?" for Hollow Knight: Silksong, Nine Souls has arrived as perhaps the most satisfying alternative available. Inspired by the punishing, precision-oriented combat of FromSoftware's Sekiro, the game tasks players with hunting down nine powerful souls across a world of breathtaking visual artistry. The combat is the centrepiece: demanding, deeply satisfying, and masterfully designed.

"It takes a lot to stand out from the dozens of Metroidvanias that get released," Felix noted, "but Nine Souls has done just that."

High praise, and entirely justified. For fans of the genre who have exhausted their backlogs, Nine Souls is essential.

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist

Where Nine Souls demands mastery through combat, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist wins hearts through elegance. A sequel to Ender Lilies ?" though fully approachable as a standalone experience ?" the game follows a young girl who commands powerful machine-like beings called Homunculi to fight on her behalf. The distinction matters: your protagonist herself never strikes a blow. Instead, the summoning and management of these creatures forms the core of a combat system that is, in a word, exceptional.

Particular praise goes to the game's map system, which colours in areas where all items and secrets have been found, making backtracking intuitive rather than exhausting. It's a small quality-of-life feature that speaks to the game's overall thoughtfulness ?" and one that, frankly, more developers should adopt.

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

Not quite a traditional Metroidvania, but undeniably occupying adjacent creative territory, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is a puzzle-forward mystery game from the team behind the beloved Sayonara Wild Hearts. Where that game was vibrant and kinetic, Lorelei is cold, precise, and visually arresting ?" styled after old European cinema and set within a sprawling mansion filled with interconnected enigmas.

The less said about the story the better, in the interest of preservation. What can be said is that its puzzles feel fair in the most satisfying way ?" when a solution clicks, it's not because the game handed it to you, but because you genuinely earned it. For fans of Professor Layton or classic point-and-click adventures, this is a gift.

Bike Rider: Like Her Aged Through Blood

The most unconventional entry in the genre's strong showing this year, Like Her Aged Through Blood abandons the traditional on-foot exploration of most Metroidvanias in favour of motorbike-mounted chaos through a post-apocalyptic desert. Part Mad Max, part side-scrolling shooter, the game casts players as the Coyote Kid ?" a lone rider blazing through a hostile wasteland in around 15 hours of genuinely challenging gameplay. It's a bold reinvention of genre conventions, and exactly the kind of creative risk-taking that keeps the medium vital.

The Big Names: Nintendo's First-Party Finest

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

The headline might be the most significant in Zelda history: after decades of playing the damsel, Princess Zelda finally gets to be the hero of her own adventure. Echoes of Wisdom returns to the top-down 2D perspective ?" rendered in the charming art style of the Link's Awakening remake ?" but builds its gameplay around an entirely new mechanic: the ability to capture and summon "Echoes" of objects and enemies encountered throughout the world.

The system creates an almost overwhelming wealth of options. Pots, stones, defeated enemies ?" all can be replicated and deployed, giving players extraordinary freedom in how they approach each challenge. Not every element lands perfectly; the UI for managing Echoes drew some criticism for its clumsiness, and the game's biomes echo (pun intended) the familiar landscapes of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. But the ambition is evident throughout, the return of classic elements like Deku Scrubs and Zora is warmly welcomed, and the simple fact of a Zelda game where Zelda does the saving feels genuinely momentous.

Super Mario Party Jamboree

When the final Nintendo Direct of 2024 unveiled a brand new Mario Party title, the relief among fans was palpable. Super Mario Party Jamboree isn't the DLC expansion that many had hoped would extend Superstars, but it makes up for that in sheer volume and quality of content: seven excellently designed boards, a vast collection of minigames, a single-player campaign, and a host of side modes that offer hours upon hours of entertainment.

The game's standout new mechanic is the Ally system, which allows players to recruit companions that double the effects of items and stars ?" though those same allies can also amplify the pain of a Bowser space. It's a clever wrinkle that adds strategic depth to a formula that could have coasted on nostalgia alone.

"Genuinely, this might be the best Mario Party game ever," said Felix ?" and based on the content on offer, it's hard to argue.

Princess Peach: Showtime!

The year's other major princess-led outing takes a markedly different approach. In Princess Peach: Showtime!, Peach visits a theatre only to find it under threat ?" and takes matters into her own hands by assuming a dazzling array of theatrical roles: detective, chef, ninja, and many more besides. Each transformation brings its own gameplay style, keeping the experience varied and fresh throughout.

It's lighter fare than most of Nintendo's major releases ?" and deliberately so. Designed with younger players and families in mind, the game's accessibility and warmth are features rather than shortcomings. And as a statement of intent regarding Peach's capacity to lead, it's a very welcome one.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership

Few announcements in recent memory have been more unexpected than a brand new Mario & Luigi game ?" especially one developed by the team behind Octopath Traveler, nine years after the series' last original entry and following the closure of longtime developer AlphaDream. Brothership sends the brothers sailing between islands, engaging in the series' beloved turn-based combat while introducing new mechanics: plug-based fighting style modifications, Luigi's unique logical insights, and a world populated with memorable NPCs.

Reception has been genuinely polarising ?" opinions on whether the new developers have honoured the series' spirit are sharply divided. The Nintendo Life verdict, however, lands in the game's favour: a solid, enjoyable experience that fans of the series should absolutely investigate.

Remakes, Revisitations and Collections Worth Your Time

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

If there is a single game from year eight that demands your attention above all others, it may well be this one. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door was long regarded as one of the greatest RPGs ever made, marooned on the GameCube and inaccessible to an entire generation of players. Its Switch remake has changed that, and the results are extraordinary.

"It turned out to be not only just my favourite game of the eighth year of the Switch, but one of my favourite games ever," said Felix, who was experiencing the game for the first time. "The dialogue is witty, funny ?" really, really well-written stuff. The combat is some of the very best I've ever tried."

The praise extends beyond the source material. The remake's revamped soundtrack is a genuine revelation ?" taking the game's iconic themes and elevating them in ways that recall the area-specific musical variations of Paper Mario: The Origami King. Each chapter feels distinct, each destination fresh, each character memorable. If you've never played it, this is your moment. If you have, it's worth revisiting. This is simply one of the best games on the Switch, full stop.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake

The decision to remake the third Dragon Quest game before the first or second might seem puzzling at first glance ?" until you learn that Dragon Quest III is actually a prequel to both, providing the chronological foundation for the entire series. The HD-2D presentation, pioneered by Octopath Traveler and refined across several subsequent titles, suits the material beautifully: classic turn-based gameplay and random encounters rendered in striking pixel-art depth.

The addition of full voice acting and a live orchestral score lifts the experience considerably, honouring the legacy of a game that helped define an entire genre. For fans of old-school RPG design, this is about as good as it gets.

Sonic X Shadow Generations

Two games for the price of one ?" and both of them excellent. The remastered Sonic Generations remains a highlight of the franchise, its blend of classic 2D and modern 3D Sonic stages as joyful now as it was at launch. But the real headline is the entirely new Shadow Generations campaign, which puts the brooding anti-hero front and centre for around five hours of some of the finest 3D Sonic platforming the series has produced. Shadow's dark power mechanics feel genuinely distinct from Sonic's speed-centric gameplay, making this much more than a simple repackaging exercise.

Castlevania Dominus Collection

Three DS-era Castlevania games ?" Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia ?" collected in a single, beautifully presented package. The inclusion of touch controls (a logical inclusion given the games' original DS heritage) potentially makes this the definitive way to experience all three, alongside multiple screen layout options, a comprehensive music player, concept art gallery, and two additional bonus games. It's the kind of thoughtful, generous treatment that classic game collections deserve far more often than they receive.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics

Seven arcade fighting games, including the much-celebrated Marvel vs. Capcom 2, collected and presented with genuine care for the source material. CRT filters, a music player, an art gallery ?" all the hallmarks of a quality collection are present and accounted for. For players whose childhood memories are intertwined with the glow of an arcade cabinet, this is something close to a miracle. For younger players discovering these games for the first time, it's an extraordinary history lesson in competitive fighting game design.

RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic

The first two RollerCoaster Tycoon games, bundled together and finally available on Nintendo Switch ?" with meaningful improvements made in response to community feedback. Touch controls (conspicuously absent at launch), tutorials, and adjustable cursor speeds all arrived following player suggestions, demonstrating a developer willing to listen. The games themselves need little introduction: they are all-time classics of the simulation genre, and their presence on Switch, where they can be enjoyed anywhere, feels quietly perfect.

Strategy, Depth and Long-Form Excellence

Unicorn Overlord

Unicorn Overlord ?" not Unicorn Overload, a distinction Felix admits having to consciously maintain ?" is the work of Vanillaware, the studio responsible for the acclaimed 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. Set in the kingdom of Cornia, the game follows the knight Alain's quest to restore order to a realm thrown into chaos, playing out through deeply strategic real-time battles that the player sets up in the overworld and then watches unfold. The balance between preparation and execution is masterful, the visuals are extraordinary, and the music is exceptional.

It was the highest-rated game among Nintendo Life readers across all of 2024 ?" a meaningful measure of just how widely and deeply it resonated. A demo is available on the Switch eShop for those yet to be convinced of tactical RPGs' appeal. The game speaks for itself.

Hidden Gems and Honourable Mentions

Never (from Devolver / Nomada Studio)

From Nomada Studio ?" the team behind the visually stunning Gris ?" comes Never, a game of comparable beauty that addresses one of its predecessor's few criticisms by incorporating meaningful combat. You play alongside a majestic wolf companion, journeying through a world of such visual richness that the Nintendo Life team admits to lingering on its footage simply to let it breathe. If you loved Gris and wanted more, this is your answer.

Shinchan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation ?" The Endless Seven-Day Journey

Occupying the spot that might otherwise have gone to Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance ?" a game of unimpeachable quality, but one already covered in a previous year's roundup ?" Shinchan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation is a relaxed, gentle adventure that alternates between vibrant countryside exploration and a more Professor Layton-esque urban mystery. It's perhaps a touch overlong for its own good, but as a calming, charming experience, it more than earns its place on this list.

A Final Word: Eight Years Well Spent

Looking at this list in its entirety, what's most striking is the breadth of it. Tactical RPGs and party games. Solo development masterpieces and major studio blockbusters. Gothic Metroidvanias and sun-drenched nostalgia trips. Arcade fighting game collections and countryside relaxation adventures. The Nintendo Switch, in its eighth year, remained a platform capable of housing all of it ?" and housing it well.

Whether the Switch 2 arrives to a fanfare or a quiet transition, the console it's succeeding has more than earned its legacy. Eight years of extraordinary games. Twenty-one of the very best. And somewhere out there, your next favourite is probably already waiting on the eShop.