The 16 best Nintendo Switch 2 games
The Nintendo Switch 2 is here and breaking sales records. As exciting as new hardware is, ultimately it’s all about the games. The best games for the Nintendo Switch 2 include many well-known names, including some games from the Switch 1 that have either received paid upgrades or simply run better thanks to the increased performance.
Mario Kart World gave the Nintendo Switch 2 a well-deserved boost as the main launch game, and Donkey Kong Bananza is an excellent single-player adventure inspired by Super Mario Odyssey and even the recent Zelda games.
This list will evolve over time, both as we spend more time with the Nintendo Switch 2 and as more games arrive on the platform in the coming months. We expect more games to land here, but we want to test them all to ensure the Nintendo Switch 2 versions are playable. We’ve already established that Hitman unfortunately doesn’t run as well on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Here are what we consider to be the best Nintendo Switch 2 games you can play right now, in alphabetical order. Since most Switch games also support backward compatibility (even if they don’t receive Nintendo Switch 2 editions or free updates), it’s also worth checking out our pick of the best games for 2025.
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster
Flying Fairy HD Remaster is a remake of a great 2013 RPG, and based on our experience so far, it looks promising. This version saves the original from being exclusive to the 3DS, giving it a great new look while retaining the excellent combat system. There are some modern conveniences and new mini-games that utilize the Nintendo Switch 2’s mouse controls, but all of that takes a backseat, as the HD Remaster simply offers a nicer and easier way to spend time with a quality RPG.
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
Cyberpunk 2077 has overcome its initially rocky launch thanks to numerous updates and improvements, becoming a great game—one that got even better with the release of the Phantom Liberty expansion. Both this DLC and the original game are included in Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition for Nintendo Switch 2, which also offers motion and mouse controls for those seeking a different gaming experience (you can apparently even use a keyboard). Based on our experience with Cyberpunk on Nintendo Switch 2, it runs very well, and the ability to play in handheld mode makes it a great way to experience a role-playing game that shouldn’t be missed.
Deltarune: Chapters 1-4
There’s nothing quite like Deltarune, a game that gives you all the tools you need to fight back against anything that stands in your way and then encourages you to find better ways to solve problems. The spiritual prequel to Undertale is surprisingly serious about the themes and emotions it tackles, while also managing to continually surprise with its approach to those themes. It’s one of those games you want to go into as unprepared as possible to enjoy the brilliant surprises of this elegant role-playing game.
Donkey Kong Bananza
Nintendo’s first major single-player adventure on Nintendo Switch 2 isn’t a Mario game, but a reboot for the classic mascot Donkey Kong. While Donkey Kong Bananza shares much in common with Super Mario Odyssey, it sets itself apart with an innovative terrain-warping mechanic. The mighty Donkey Kong battles his way through solid rock to find hidden secrets and delicious bananas, accompanied by the aspiring young singer Pauline. With the help of the Animal Elders, DK unlocks “Bananza” forms that grant him new powers to enhance your exploration and puzzle-solving skills. The central attraction of forging your way through the layers of the planet’s core never gets old thanks to a host of delightful surprises – this is a game you shouldn’t miss.
Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut
While there’s still room for improvement, Yakuza 0 on the Nintendo Switch 2 exudes undeniable charm. It’s still the best game in the entire Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, skillfully blending gangster drama with hard-hitting action and absurd diversions off the beaten track. It’s this heartfelt approach to being both silly and emotionally captivating that sets it apart from the competition. With new features like English voice acting and extended cutscenes, it’s also the perfect entry point for newcomers.
Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Stole Time
The Switch has always been the perfect platform for casual gaming, and with Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Stole Time, that trend continues on the Nintendo Switch 2 with a captivating combination of action, exploration, and crafting. Fantasy Life I plays like a mix of the classic The Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing and is a relaxing RPG where you can set your own pace in its magical world.
Fast Fusion
At $15, Fast Fusion is a clear recommendation for Nintendo Switch 2 owners who enjoy a good racing game. Yes, players already have Mario Kart World, but Fast Fusion offers a no-frills, pure racing experience, similar to the legendary Wipeout series.
Fast Fusion offers a clever feature, however: players can merge different vehicles into one design, mixing and matching their stats. It’s also one of the few Nintendo Switch 2 games with different graphics options. And don’t worry: Although the game currently looks heavily over-engineered with Nintendo’s DLSS upscaling, developer Shin’en has promised that the minor graphical glitches will be fixed soon.
Aside from this one weakness, Fast Fusion’s design feels like a natural evolution of the Wipeout style.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
Kunitsu-Gami, an underrated gem from 2024, is a clever blend of action and strategy. The varied gameplay ensures constant variety. The boss battles, in particular, are a real highlight. The day/night cycle divides the game into two halves: During the day, you plan your strategy, explore an area, make decisions in preparation for the upcoming battle, and assign tasks to rescued villagers. At night, you switch to hack-and-slash action mode and fight against enemy hordes.
What sets the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Kunitsu-Gami apart is its mouse control: Tilting the Joy-Con to the side allows for significantly better gameplay control than with a conventional gamepad. This makes it the best way to play the game on a console, which could well become a recurring trend for future Nintendo Switch 2 ports.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition
Breath of the Wild presents a similar argument to Tears of the Kingdom. All of the improvements from the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Tears of the Kingdom 2 are present here (with the exception of autobuild unlock, as this building feature is exclusive to the sequel), giving even die-hard players a reason to explore Hyrule again with the new commentary. The framerate improvements should also be a worthwhile improvement here—imagine finally being able to visit the Korok Forest without the framerate dropping.
Although Tears of the Kingdom significantly refined the foundations of BotW, the older of the two games is still a worthwhile experience. It offers a challenging combat system that constantly forces you to choose your weapon, rewarding exploration, and creative tools for solving puzzles.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Echoes of Wisdom takes the visual style of Link’s Awakening for a new adventure, with the added bonus of letting you play as Zelda herself. Yes, Zelda finally becomes the heroine of her own story, attempting to clear her name after being wrongfully imprisoned for causing deadly rifts throughout the kingdom.
As this is Zelda’s first game, she isn’t simply a duplicate of Link with his sword-wielding h’yahs. Instead, Zelda uses a magic wand to summon copies of hundreds of things she encounters along her journey—traps, rocks, enemies, and more. This summoning power serves both as a flexible way to solve the game’s many puzzles and as a combat tool to summon creatures to your defense. As summoning power increases, the puzzle and combat challenges also become more demanding.
Like the Link’s Awakening remake on the original Switch, Echoes of Wisdom on the original Switch occasionally struggled. Upgrading to the Nintendo Switch 2 therefore provides a better gaming experience, smoothing out bumps and improving the overall frame rate. A free Nintendo Switch 2 update also adds HDR support and optimizes it for high-resolution displays.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
The beloved Game Boy classic Link’s Awakening has been modernized for the Switch, but at times it overwhelmed the hardware. This isn’t a problem on the Nintendo Switch 2, which offers the necessary performance and ensures a smooth gaming experience. This allows you to enjoy the beautiful graphic style that makes Link and the inhabitants of Koholint Island look like little dolls, without compromising on the frame rate. A free update also optimizes the game for the Nintendo Switch 2 with improved graphics and HDR support.
Link’s Awakening was a pioneer on the Game Boy, bringing a Zelda-style adventure to the compact, portable cartridge. The standalone story follows Link to a mysterious island terrorized by Nightmare Beasts as he gathers the sacred instruments to awaken the Wind Fish. The gameplay is largely based on the Super NES game Link to the Past, but adds new elements such as an item that enables jumping, and served as a template for later portable Zelda games. It’s considered a classic for good reason, and the Switch remake largely failed to hamper its success. This version also includes the Color Dungeon, which was added for the Game Boy Color version.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition
Arguably the best game on the Nintendo Switch will be even better on the Switch 2. Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom not only looks better on the Nintendo Switch 2 (including HDR support), but it also runs better – the smoother frame rate is immediately noticeable from the moment you launch the game. Loading times are also shorter, keeping you in the center of the action.
Both Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild Switch 2 Edition support the Zelda Notes section of the Nintendo Switch Mobile App (formerly known as the Switch Online App). It offers numerous new features: progress tracking and voice guidance when searching for shrines and Koroks; the ability to share autobuild blueprints or items with other players; commentary from characters (including Zelda) when visiting certain locations; and more.
Aside from the new features, Tears of the Kingdom is simply a spectacular experience that you can invest plenty of time in as you explore the expansive open world, which takes the Hyrule from Breath of the Wild and adds new underground and celestial areas for you to explore.
Mario Kart World
We’d already spent some time with Mario Kart World before its launch and were impressed that it was such a bold sequel, especially given that the Nintendo Switch 2 itself feels like a conservative, iterative follow-up to its predecessor. It was also simply fun during our time with it, and if there’s a safer bet when playing than “a new Mario Kart game will be fun,” we’d love to see it.
The inclusion of Cow as one of Mario Kart World’s characters might be reason enough to put it on this list, but the new open-world format breathes new life into the series without compromising the core experience. The racing itself feels largely unchanged from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but offers some new twists like the ability to race over water, a day/night cycle, an increased number of participants, and a free-roam mode to explore. There also seem to be plenty of tracks and new items.
Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
The original release of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet was criticized for its disappointing graphics and even worse performance. While the duo hasn’t received any new gameplay features or changes on the Nintendo Switch 2, they benefit from one of the aforementioned free updates, making them not only look better but—more importantly—run significantly smoother, with a more consistent and significantly higher frame rate than on Switch. While it’s far from the most visually appealing game, the improved performance is stunning and makes it feel like a brand-new game. This means that those of us who waited to play because of this issue can now enjoy what we believe is the best new main Pokémon game in years.
Thanks to the new Terastalizing mechanic, Pokémon battles are more intense than ever, and hardcore players who enjoy hunting Shinys and hatching Eggs will be thrilled with the improvements. The open-world format and non-linear progression also breathe new life into the series and offer the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in Scarlet and Violet.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance
Streets of Rage 4 developer Lizardcube is quickly becoming the studio of choice for reviving Sega classics, having just delivered another killer title with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. With its flair for gripping, combo-rich 2D action and beautifully illustrated art direction, Lizardcube brings Joe Musashi into the modern age with a thrilling adventure. The game is at its best when you hit the flow state, as a killer combination of acrobatics, attacks, and ninja arts makes for a joyful homage to the classic Shinobi games.
Street Fighter 6
The Nintendo Switch 2 port of Street Fighter 6 has two major advantages. First, it includes all the additional DLC characters from the game’s first two years on other consoles, so characters like Akuma, Rashid, Bison, and guest characters Terry Bogard and Mai Shiranui are available from the start. Second, it’s a damn good port of an already damn good fighting game, with impressive graphics, smooth gameplay, and a decent online experience.
Furthermore, the portable Nintendo Switch 2 allows you to take SF6 anywhere. While this was technically possible on portable PCs, Nintendo’s console makes it easier for non-PC gamers to have fun, too. Street fighting on the go has never been easier, as SF6 is a perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch 2.
