If 2023 proves to be the last year the Nintendo Switch dominates the market before its successor arrives, then it is going out with a bang. The hybrid portable console has surpassed the PlayStation 4 and Game Boy to become the third best-selling console of all time with over 125.62 million units sold, Nintendo Switch Online has added Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games, and Nintendo struck a 10-year deal with Microsoft to port Call of Duty to future Nintendo consoles if Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard gets approved. While Call of Duty fans wait for the first wave of ports, here are the 25 best Switch games you can play to hold you over.
This list was assembled by the entire IGN content team — including our resident Nintendo experts, the NVC podcast crew — and represents what we think are the best games to enjoy on the Switch right now, whether you're picking one up for the first time or have been a platform enthusiast since day one. So without further ado, these are our picks for the 25 best Nintendo Switch games. You can also check out our list of the top free Switch games for additional picks.
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25. Advanced Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp
Intelligent Systems’ classic tactical action series came to Switch in 2023 as Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp, a package remake of GBA games Advance Wars and Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising. While retaining the depth of the originals’ turn-based combat, the Switch version enhances the audio and visual experience with modern re-recordings of each game’s soundtrack and the incorporation of updated 3D graphics. Re-Boot Camp also adds voice acting, animated shorts, and online play, making this the definitive Advance Wars experience and an easy recommendation for tactics-loving Switch owners.
24. Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope breaks free from the restraints of its predecessor by doing away with grid-based combat in favor of a more freeform, customizable system that doesn’t sacrifice the tactical depth of Kingdom Battle. Outside of combat, Sparks of Hope’s vibrant open worlds are jam-packed with puzzles and painted with a sense of humor fitting of Nintendo and Ubisoft’s wacky crossover.
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope’s The Last Spark Hunter DLC is available now.
23. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury offers two fantastic Mario experiences that compliment each other brilliantly. 3D World landed on the Wii U and gave fans a unique blend of 2D and 3D platforming, all of which could (optionally) be played with up to four players in a setup that worked better than the New Super Mario series accomplished. Inventive and just plain fun, it was too good of a game to keep stranded on the Wii U forever, and its port to Switch came with bonus online co-op capabilities, a photo mode feature, and more.
But the biggest draw for fans who had already played 3D World was Bowser’s Fury, a brand-new, open-world experience that lasts roughly 3 to 6 hours. Though only a small taste by series standards, this free-form experiment stands as a proof of concept that an open-world Mario game can be just as creative, exhilarating, and enjoyable as what we’ve seen in the franchise thus far. If this is the direction the next mainline Mario goes, it’s an exciting future indeed.
22. Luigi's Mansion 3
Luigi's Mansion 3 is essentially a FrankenLuigistein’s monster of the first two games, a mashup of both that creates the perfect Luigi's Mansion experience. Charming, clever, and absolutely gorgeous to look at, Luigi's Mansion is 17 levels of pure ghost-hunting joy. Working your way through each of the haunted hotels may never extremely challenging, but the creative boss fights and deviously hidden collectibles will keep you busy for a dozen hours or more. The excitement of getting to a new level just to see its theme (TV Studio! Sewer Maze! Egypt!) is well worth the price of admission, plus the game opens with Toad driving a bus. Priceless.
21. Splatoon 3
The fine-tuning of Splatoon 3’s team-based multiplayer makes for the series’ best online modes to date, while the introduction of a more fleshed-out single-player campaign elevates it to one of the best overall games available on Switch. The multiplayer is an improvement on Splatoon’s established formula thanks to new weapons, enemies, customization options, and an improved lobby system. The Return of the Mammalians campaign, meanwhile, presents 70 cleverly designed missions, five memorable boss fights, and a soundtrack oozing with style.
20. Fire Emblem Engage
Fire Emblem Engage prioritizes and polishes the series’ iconic tactical combat with UI improvements, the return of the tactical weapon triangle, and the introduction of the titular Engage mechanic, which allows your units to temporarily fuse with heroes from Fire Emblem’s past. From Marth and Roy to Ike and Byleth, these legendary heroes grant your units access to flashy, powerful skills, weapons, and attacks, and play into Engage’s classic tale of good versus evil. It’s an excellent entry in the 30-year-old franchise that incorporates Fire Emblem’s rich history without being prohibitive to series newcomers.