This week, I intend to post some of the most common Frequently-Asked-Questions we have seen submitted to r/NintendoSwitch or elsewhere, with the intention that we can collect common or quality answers into a dedicated post which can be easily referenced or linked when relevant.
Our most frequently asked (and removed) "Game Rec" topic is general and straight-forward, covering the entire library and applying to anyone without any further details:
Which games should every Switch owner consider picking up?
Often, this question is asked by people who have just bought or received their first Switch, or who have just finished their first or second Switch game. They may have not played Nintendo games in years, or have only ever played on PC or other consoles, or even be brand-new to gaming.
While not every game will be fit for every player, there are some games that have very broad appeal, or other games that merit consideration based on exceptional quality. Some of these games have become the most-frequently recommended titles – what do you have to say about them?
Perhaps another way to think of this question, which games would you consider to be strongly associated with the "Nintendo Switch" experience? What about those games should someone know?
For reference, here is a table that includes some games listed in the top 25 best-selling list on Wikipedia, or in the top 25 based on ratings (MetaCritic, OpenCritic).
| Title | M/O Critic Rating | Best-Seller |
|---|---|---|
| Super Mario Odyssey | 97 | 28.50 million |
| The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | 97 / 96 | 32.29 million |
| The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | 96 / 96 | 21.04 million |
| Metroid Prime Remastered | 94 | |
| Persona 5 Royal | 94 | |
| Hades | 93 / 94 | |
| The House in Fata Morgana | 96 / 93 | |
| Portal: Companion Collection | 95 / 93 | |
| Divinity: Original Sin II | 93 | |
| Undertale | 93 | |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | 92 | 64.27 million |
| Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | 93 / 92 | 35.14 million |
| Celeste | 92 | |
| Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age | 91 / 92 | |
| Super Mario Bros. Wonder | 92 / 91 | 13.44 million |
| Bayonetta 2 | 92 / 91 | |
| INSIDE | 91 | |
| Balatro | 90 / 91 | |
| Animal Crossing: New Horizons | 90 | 46.45 million |
| Ori and the Will of the Wisps | 93 / 90 | |
| Castlevania Dominus Collection | 92 / 90 | |
| Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury | 89 | 13.47 million |
| Tetris Effect: Connected | 94 / 89 | |
| Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove | 91 / 89 | |
| Super Mario Maker 2 | 88 | 8.42 million |
| Monster Hunter Rise | 88 | 8.02 million |
Here are some similar "Game Rec" posts from over the years:
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2019.06.30 – What are 5 games you would consider must-have for every switch owner?, +11.5k, 2.9k comments
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2021.11.21 – What's the best game you have played on Switch or the best time you have had playing a game on Switch?, +2.6k, 1.8k comments
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2022.10.20 – What are your must play switch games?, +160, 208 comments
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2023.01.28 – The Switch is underpowered, but it's great for playing definitive editions of older games. What are the best ones/your favorites?, +2.6k, 910 comments
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2023.10.28 – Best Switch games no one mentions?, +1.2k, 1.1k comments
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2023.11.10 – What was your favorite Switch purchase(s) and why?, +400, 673 comments
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2023.12.20 – What is the best and exclusive game to you on Nintendo Switch?, +270, 305 comments
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2024.01.17 – If you could only play 3 games on switch for the rest of your life, what would you play?, +340, 753 comments
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2024.06.01 – What are your top games on Switch that had you completely addicted and even tempted a replay?, +400, 594 comments
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2024.06.16 – What are your top 5 must play Switch Games?, +600, 609 comments
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2024.09.28 – What's Everybody's Favourite Switch Games at the Moment?, +340, 608 comments
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2024.11.26 – What are the 5 essential Switch games you suggest everyone buy?, +350, 583 comments
You may also find our community Game-of-the-Year winners worth checking out: https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/wiki/bestof
Find more comments on the cross-post here too: https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitchHelp/comments/1hhv7gm/faq_3_which_games_should_every_switch_owner/
by Sephardson
20 Comments
Just a friendly reminder that if you are looking for game recommendations, you can also ask in the [Daily Question Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/about/sticky). Our most Helpful Users answer these questions every day in the DQT! If the link here doesn’t work, then you can find the most current DQT stickied to the top of the subreddit when sorted by “hot”. You may also try submitting a post to either r/NintendoSwitchHelp or r/NintendoHelp.
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I miss the days of pack in games. I mean if PS5 comes with Astro’s playroom then surely Nintendo should bundle a Mii adventure or something like that.
A free game where your mii goes on an adventure I mean why not?
But in regards to this post I think Mario Kart 8 is an instant no brainer even tho Black Friday constantly pushes this game year after year. It’s the best game to show off the graphics. Sounds, and controller.
5 of each
Nintendo games:
– Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom
– Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
– Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
– Metroid Prime Remastered
Ports/Others:
– Persona 5 Royal
– The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
– Hades
– Stardew Valley
– Final Fantasy X/X-2 Remastered
The xenoblade series.
I’d say depends on what kinds of games you want to play. I’ll limit myself to games that aren’t on PS/Xbox/PC. Opening up to Third Parties opens up a whole can of worms because the Switch’s Third Party library is fantastic as well.
For platforming fans:
– Super Mario Odyssey
– Super Mario Bros. Wonder
– Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury
– Kirby and the Forgotten Land
– Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe
– Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
For action/adventure fans:
– The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
– The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
– The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
– The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
– Luigi’s Mansion 3
– Metroid Dread
– Metroid Prime Remastered
For RPG fans:
– Super Mario RPG
– Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
– Mario & Luigi: Brothership
– Mario + Rabbids Series
– Xenoblade Chronicles Series
– Fire Emblem: Three Houses
– Fire Emblem: Engage
– Pokémon Legends Arceus
For multiplayer fun:
– Splatoon 2 or 3
– Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
– Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
– Mario Party Superstars
– Super Mario Party Jamboree
– WarioWare Move It!!
Others:
– Animal Crossing: New Horizons
– Pikmin Series
– New Pokémon Snap
– Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp
– Bayonetta Series (Including Cereza and the Lost Demon)
– Astral Chain
xenoblade 2
Mario kart, odyssey, botw, smash
Fire Emblem Three Houses is the game that made me fall in love with TRPG’s.
Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Odissey are must have too. Mario Wonder if you prefer 2D.
Other first party titles to consider are the Metroid and Xenoblade games.
For multiplatform games I would say Hollow Knight, Dead Cells, Triangle Strategy, Octopath Traveler I & II, Unicorn Overlord, the Ori games and Prince of Persia The Lost Crown. But it really depends on which genre you want to focus on. Tactics Ogre is great, and so are the Persona games, Dragon Quest XI, etc…
Okami!
Possibly good to list which ones are also multiplatform. Some of these games are excellent but available on many platforms, notably PC and even mobile (e.g Balatro or Stardew) and sometimes even for cheaper. So that could affect someone’s decision making for their switch
There is no question when you think of the switch it is mainly defined by a few games:
* Super Smash Bros Ultimate
* Fire Emblem 3 Houses
* Animal Crossing New Horizons
* Splatoon 2 (though now they have Splatoon 3)
* Breath of the Wild
* Mario Odyssey
There’s a few major games that have an important place in the Switches legacy, like Xenoblade, Metroid Dread, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land among many others, but are not as core to me.
I recently bought Skyrim, such a great port
Portal 1 & 2 collection.
dead cells should be on every switch!
Mario Odyssey is the single best game for the Switch – the integration of the joy-cons and motion controls is perfect
Tux & Fanny
Every person who bought a Switch, likely has a little bit of a child’s heart. Therefore, every Switch owner should own **A Short Hike**, a beautiful game that encapsulates the idyllic summer vacation.
Super Mario Party Jamboree, as too many games in life are focused on being masterpieces and not “fun”.
When my family wants to have fun, we play various Mario Party titles. Someone comes over? Mario Party. Someone wants to know what I play for fun? Mario Party.
Serious games? I got about five of them. Not serious? MARIO PARTY. I just have an engrained mental image of a child seeing a Switch and all the games are serious ones like say Xenoblade or Zelda where there’s a lot of cut scenes and learning curves to it.
MP games? If you can read a screen you know what’s happening. If you can pay attention you know how to play the game. Common sense and a bit of luck and boom – you can win.
Monster Hunter Stories 2. Cool monster collector game that’s not pokemon
Dead Cells, Broforce, and Breath of the Wild.