Holiday Gift Guide 2021: Best Nintendo Switch Games

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

The title that truly exploded the popularity of the Animal Crossing series, Animal Crossing: New Horizons quickly became a go-to for many in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, the game has tons of merit on its own, with a culmination of the best content from previous Animal Crossing titles as well as brand-new features that more than make Animal Crossing: New Horizons worth your giftee’s time.

Putting players in management of an entire island, players have to see to their island’s growth; the most responsibility Nintendo has ever given players in an Animal Crossing title. Still beholden to the money-grubbing Tom Nook, players are still charged with engaging in collect-a-thons. Between fossils, fish, bugs, and more, players can collect to their heart’s content and ultimately make their island more attractive in the process.

Most importantly, compared to many of the other titles you’ll find on this list, and frankly, those found on another consoles, Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers a highly cathartic gaming experience very unique to the series. For that alone, it might be worth gifting the title to someone you love as a de-stressor of sorts.

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• Developed by Nintendo
• Released in March 2020
• Lauded at The Game Awards

• Platform(s): Action
• Publisher(s): Action
• Genre(s): Action, Action
• Mode: Single and multiplayer
• Rating: E

2. The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild

One of Nintendo’s crowning achievements, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a major step forward for the Zelda franchise. While it mostly adheres to tried-and-true puzzle and action-adventure mechanics, Breath of the Wild, pardon the pun, blew a breath of fresh air into the Zelda series with all-new mechanics and a far different tone from the rest of the series; a decision that made the title unique and one of the best entries in the franchise.

Admittedly, Breath of the Wild will be on the more difficult side for newcomers. Enemies don’t play nice and will inflict heavier damage than they did in previous Zelda games. Some have drawn comparisons to the Dark Souls franchise for this very reason. However, its uniqueness alone as a Zelda title deserves plenty of recognition, and whether you’re looking for someone who wants to continue the franchise or submerge themselves in the Zelda series, you cannot go wrong with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, one of the first and best titles for the Nintendo Switch altogether.

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• Developed by Nintendo
• Released in March 2017
• 19th installment in Legend of Zelda series

• Franchise: The Legend of Zelda
• Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
• Released: 2017-03-03
• Developer(s): Nintendo EPD
• Publisher(s): Nintendo
• Genre(s): Action-Adventure, Open-World, RPG
• ESRB: E10+
• Summary: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is an open-world, action-adventure RPG from Nintendo and acts as the most recent game in the long-running Zelda timeline. Recently waking from a hundred-year slumber in a mysterious chamber, Link awakens with no memory of how he got there. Through a disembodied voice, he is told he must stop Calamity Ganon from destroying Hyrule – and to do so, he must regain his memories and gain the power to do so. Link will travel throughout Hyrule to re-awaken the four slumbering Divine Beasts to help approach the darkness-covered castle and retrieve the Master Sword. With the help of four guardian friends and tribes across the land, Link will battle the forces of darkness and save his friend, princess Zelda. Players will tackle the world any way they want – even Hyrule Castle isn’t out of reach despite the difficulty. Weapons can be found everywhere, with all different feature strengths and durability levels. Players can utilize the mysterious Sheikah slate, Link’s new artifact that allows him to affect the physics of the world to solve puzzles and slay foes. The long-awaited follow-up, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, arrives in May 2022.
• Expansion Packs : The Master Trials, The Champions’ Ballad
• Sequel: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
• Prequel: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

3. Monster Hunter Rise

One of the latest entries in the Monster Hunter franchise, Monster Hunter Rise is the most recent iteration and released on the Nintendo Switch in March of 2021. It was released to massive acclaim and, provided its existence in a series of consistently great titles, it well deserves a place on any gamer’s shelf, digital or otherwise.

Like its predecessors, Monster Hunter Rise entails action-RPG gameplay where players take on giant monsters using a variety of tactics. There’s a great sense of reward and achievement when toppling these giant creatures, akin to the Dark Souls franchise, and it’s even more fun to do so with others online.

It isn’t the most accessible game on this list, but Monster Hunter Rise is one of the best deep cuts here. It provides a nice introduction to the famous series and is a solid action-oriented experience. If you have a giftee in mind who truly wants to delve into gaming’s more in-depth titles, you’d be pressed to do better than Monster Hunter Rise.

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• Published by Capcom
• Released March 2021
• Sixth core installment in the Monster Hunter franchise

• Franchise: Monster Hunter
• Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
• Released: 2021-03-26
• Developer(s): Capcom
• Publisher(s): Capcom
• Genre(s): Action RPG
• Multiplayer: Online Co-Op
• Engine: RE Engine
• ESRB: T
• Summary: Monster Hunter Rise is the sixth main entry in Capcom’s Monster Hunting series that began on the PlayStation 2. Set in the land surrounding Kamura Village, players will create their hunter as they embark on quests to hunt monsters and craft gear from their unique components. Hunters will battle to defend their home from a new threat known as “The Rampage” as they attempt to understand why monsters keep attempting to ambush and destroy their village.
• Expansions: Online Co-Op
• How Long To Beat: 22-105 hours
• Expansion Packs : Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
• Prequel: Monster Hunter World

4. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

Mario’s clearly doing something right. With yet another core entry on this list, the Super Mario franchise reached another height with the original Super Mario 3D World on Wii U in 2013. However, with 2021’s Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo polished the game to a tee, added extra content, and made it more accessible than ever thanks to the hybrid nature of the console.

First and foremost, the package includes a retouch of the aforementioned Super Mario 3D World. In addition to a greater level of polish and more graphical details thanks to the stronger capabilities of the Nintendo Switch compared to the Wii U, Super Mario 3D World also simply runs at a faster pace. This was a complaint among some with the original 2013 release, that characters moved ever-so-slightly slow, but with the re-release, Nintendo solved the issue in a big way.

Perhaps more importantly, the package also includes Bowser’s Fury; content not seen in the original Super Mario 3D World and is generally completely different from Super Mario 3D World. Trading the short but sweet level design for design more on the level of Super Mario Odyssey (that is, to say, open-world), Bowser’s Fury puts a focus on single-player content, rather than the multiplayer level design that was a big selling point for Super Mario 3D World. Also emphasizing the Cat Suit, Bowser’s Fury alone is enough of a justification for a repurchase of the beloved Wii U title.

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• Developed by Nintendo
• Released in February 2021
• Remake of the 2013 original

5. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo Switch)

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the most recent title in the popular Mario Kart series, may in fact be the series at its best. A remaster of the 2014 Wii U release, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe doesn’t so much up the ante as it solidifies the game as a must-have for any Switch owner.

Each course in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe features new and different obstacles, and the crisp graphics help to liven up things as players move at breakneck speeds along the courses. And this holds true across modes, including the traditional racing mode to multiplayer battle modes. 

While Nintendo has never excelled at the feature, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also includes a great online component that allows Switch owners to connect and duke it out wirelessly.

Finally, the game is perfect for the setup of the Switch. Whether you intend on spending a couch-potato session playing Mario Kart with or without pals, or you’re taking it on your next flight, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is certainly a worthy addition to any Switch owner’s library and stands as a phenomenal gift idea for those with Switch-owning family.

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• Developed by Nintendo
• Released in April 2017
• Re-release of 2014’s Mario Kart 8 on Wii U

6. Metroid Dread

The follow-up to 2002’s Metroid Fusion, which released on the handheld Game Boy Advance, Metroid Dread is one of the finest games you can buy for a loved one for their Nintendo Switch. Receiving high review scores all the way around, Metroid Dread is a return to form for the classic Metroid franchise. Ditching the first-person mechanics seen in the Metroid Prime series in favor of the 2D side-scrolling, puzzle-solving, and alien-killing of Metroid, Super Metroid, and the like, Metroid Dread truly harkens back to the days of old.

But Metroid Dread still has a lot to offer for newcomers. While the game continues in the lineage of the story started by Super Metroid, it has highly accessible gameplay mechanics and catches players up fairly quickly. And, further, it is perfect for players on the go. Whether you’re shopping for a hardcore gamer this season or a casual Switch owner, Metroid Dread will not disappoint.

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• Released October 2021
• Is a direct follow-up to Metroid Fusion on Game Boy Advance
• Developed by Mercury Steam and Nintendo Entertainment Playying & Development

• Franchise: Metroid
• Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
• Released: 2021-10-08
• Developer(s): MercurySteam, Nintendo EPD
• Publisher(s): Nintendo
• Genre(s): Action-Adventure, Metroidvania
• Multiplayer: Metroidvania
• ESRB: T
• Summary: Metroid Dread is the long-awaited sequel to Metroid Fusion, also known as Metroid 4, from Mercury Steam and Nintendo EPD. After surviving the events of the deadly X-Parasite outbreak in the previous game, Samus Aran is contacted by the Federation to investigate a planet known as ZDR, where the X-Parasite has supposedly been spotted. Upon arrival, she is ambushed by a mysterious warrior and soon hunted relentlessly by deadly federation robots once designed to track the X-Parasites. Samus must uncover the truth behind the warrior and the surviving parasites in this 2D action-adventure return to form for the Metroid franchise.
• Expansions: Metroidvania
• How Long To Beat: 10 Hours
• Prequel(s): Metroid Fusion, Super Metroid, Metroid: Samus Returns, Metroid: Zero Mission

7. Mario Party Superstars

There’s a lot to discover in Mario Party Superstars. Although some complain that this is a watered-down version of the games they remember playing on their old N64 or GameCube consoles, others love the nostalgia of it all.

This game features five classic boards from those old Mario Party games, and within those, there are 100 minigames to play alone or with friends – up to four can play locally or online.

The variety of minigames is what keeps play fun, fresh, and interesting. Mario Party Superstars is a great game for family game night and would make a fantastic gift for the young gamer in your life.

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• Resurrects the classic Mario Party Games on Nintendo 64
• 5 classic boards, 100 minigames
• Can be played online
• Play using a variety of controllers

• Franchise: Mario Party
• Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
• Released: 2021-10-29
• Developer(s): NDcube
• Publisher(s): Nintendo
• Genre(s): Action, Party Game
• Multiplayer: Party Game
• ESRB: E
• Expansions: Party Game
• Prequel(s): Super Mario Party, Mario Party 10, Mario Party 9, Mario Party 8, Mario Party 7 , Mario Party 6, Mario Party 5, Mario Party 4, Mario Party 3, Mario Party 2, Mario Party

8. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Many enjoy Super Smash Bros. Melee for its breakneck pace, while others like Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS for finding the perfect balance between that and the sluggish Super Smash Bros. Brawl. However, 2018’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate may be, objectively, the best title in the series for maintaining the aforementioned balance in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS while bringing back every single fighter from the history of the series.

And this is where Super Smash Bros. Ultimate excels. By concept, the Super Smash Bros. series was meant to be a celebration of every single Nintendo franchise. Yet, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a celebration of this celebratory fighting franchise. Including every single fighter from all of the preceding titles, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is essentially an aggregation of each of the previous titles’ best features and includes a great campaign and peripheral modes to boot. Toss in the innate ability to take the game on the go and it makes the perfect gift for any Nintendo or fighting game fan.

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• Hosts up to 8 players
• Includes traditional fighting game modes as well as a campaign and other peripheral modes
• The base game includes 86 fighters, and there is additional downloadable content, bringing the total even higher

• Franchise: Super Smash Bros.
• Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
• Released: 2018-12-07
• Developer(s): Bandai Namco Studios, Sora Ltd.
• Publisher(s): Nintendo
• Genre(s): Action, Fighting
• Multiplayer: Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer, Local Co-Op, Local Multiplayer
• ESRB: E10+
• Summary: The crossover for the ages arrives as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – the Nintendo Switch installment of the monolithic action/fighting game franchise published by Nintendo. Players can choose from characters such as Mario, Pikachu, Sonic, Solid Snake, Cloud Strife, and more as they duke it out in the ultimate multiplayer fighting game that captures the most iconic elements of several franchises from video game history. The game also features a robust single-player experience called “World of Light,” where players will fight to free the captured fighters as they try to restore order to various video game universes. 
• Expansions: Local Multiplayer
• How Long To Beat: 24 Hours
• Expansion Packs : Fighter’s Pass Vol. 1, Vol. 2

9. Super Mario Odyssey

By the time 2017’s Super Mario Odyssey had rolled around, Mario spent a long time jumping, skipping, and destroying Goombas throughout short, sweet levels. This would be in the form of traditional-type Mario courses in Super Mario 3D World and 3D Land, as well as gravity-bending environments in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2. It had long abandoned the highly open environments of both Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario 64. However, Super Mario Odyssey reversed course, so to speak, by bringing back large, sprawling levels that had been abandoned for a decade and a half.

And this worked to great effect. The Nintendo Switch, first and foremost, allowed for excellent presentation not seen in any previous Mario title, and the game added one of the most interesting gimmicks of any Mario game. Namely, as Mario, you could effectively take the form of most enemies by throwing Mario’s now-animated hat, Cappy, and solve puzzles and get to hard-to-reach places through this mechanic. It was truly one of the most joyful features of Super Mario Odyssey and made it one of the best Mario games to date.

As with Breath of the Wild and Metroid Dread, no matter if the Switch owner you’re shopping for is a newcomer to the Mario franchise or otherwise hardcore Mario fan, Super Mario Odyssey is a must-buy gift for any Switch owner.

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• Released in October 2017
• Developed by Nintendo
• Won at The Game Awards

• Franchise: Super Mario
• Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
• Released: 2017-10-27
• Developer(s): Nintendo
• Publisher(s): Nintendo
• Genre(s): Action-Adventure
• Multiplayer: Action-Adventure
• ESRB: b
• Summary: Super Mario Odyssey is a 3D platformer game developed by Nintendo for the Switch in 2017. Players control Mario as he travels through different worlds to collect Power Moons and rescue Princess Peach from Bowser’s wedding plans. The game introduces new gameplay mechanics such as Mario’s hat, Cappy, which he can throw to possess different objects and enemies.
• Expansions: Action-Adventure
• How Long To Beat: 13h 5m

10. Luigi’s Mansion 3

Luigi’s Mansion is easily one of Nintendo’s most interesting franchises. Introduced on the Gamecube in 2001, the franchise missed multiple generations of Nintendo consoles up until the Nintendo 3DS’s Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, which would then be followed up with Luigi’s Mansion 3, one of the Nintendo Switch’s most spectacular titles and deserving of a spot on any Switch owner’s library.

Once again placed in the boots of Luigi, the player must rid a towering hotel of its ghosts, ghouls, and other spooky creatures. And while that is fun, in and of itself, the game also has very clever puzzle mechanics, maneuvered via the use of Luigi’s Poltergust G-00, the third iteration of the Poltergust device used in the first Luigi’s Mansion that allows Luigi to make a goopy copy of himself to solve said puzzles.

Luigi’s Mansion 3 even includes an online multiplayer mode to keep players coming back well after the epic conclusion to the game’s central campaign. With all of these features, in addition to other charming and hilarious gameplay mechanics, Luigi’s Mansion 3 excels as one fo the Switch’s best titles and a must-have for any Switch owner.

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• Developed by Next Level Games
• Third installment in the Luigi’s Mansion franchise
• Released in October 2019

11. Pokemon Shining Pearl

The third set of core Pokemon games on the Nintendo Switch, and the second set of remakes, Pokemon Shining Pearl and Pokemon Brilliant Diamond perfectly recapture the magic created by the original games, Pokemon Pearl and Pokemon Diamond. While they tend to play it safe compared to Let’s Go Pikachu! And Let’s Go Eevee! the titles end up being very faithful to the original titles on the Nintendo DS.

Like the originals before it, Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond both include the classic, RPG-like gameplay Pokemon fans have grown accustomed to, with players training their Pokemon to the point of evolving into better iterations and learning new moves. It’s a tried-and-true formula that, once again, translates well to the hybrid console and is a great draw to hardcore fans and newcomers alike.

Pokemon Shining Pearl & Brilliant Diamond may be less game-changing for remakes than would be desired. However, they are still satisfying titles with enough changes in presentation that they would warrant a purchase as a holiday gift for someone you know.

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• Developed by ICLA, Inc.
• Released November 19, 2021
• Full-blown remake of original Pokemon Pearl on Nintendo DS

12. New Pokémon Snap

The Pokemon series, an RPG at its core, has spawned many different types of spinoffs. While Pokemon GO serves as a primary example of this, another cult hit that exemplifies this is Pokemon Snap, which released on Nintendo 64 in 1999. The concept was simple enough: More or less on-rails, your goal is to take as many pictures of Pokemon as possible by the end of the level, capturing every on-camera Pokemon in the process. It was simplistic but fun, and it was popular enough to warrant a sequel years later in the form of New Pokemon Snap for Nintendo Switch.

More or less, New Pokemon Snap is more of the same. But who said that was a bad thing? New Pokemon Snap once again has you taking hopefully-high-quality pictures of Pokemon. The gameplay is simple enough, equipping players with lures to get Pokemon to pose in photogenic ways. But is oh so fun and includes vastly improved presentation compared to the polygonal graphics of the 1999 original.

It may be one of the more basic Pokemon spinoffs, but as a still-satisfying and cathartic experience nonetheless, New Pokemon Snap has an appeal that even the Pokemon-averse players can’t help but appreciate.

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• Sequel to 1999’s Pokemon Snap
• Released April 30, 2021
• Has players taking pictures of Pokemon in an on-rails photography experience

• Franchise: Pokemon
• Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
• Released: 2021-04-30
• Developer(s): Bandai Namco Studios
• Publisher(s): Bandai Namco Studios
• Genre(s): Bandai Namco Studios
• Multiplayer: Bandai Namco Studios
• ESRB: E
• Expansions: Bandai Namco Studios
• How Long To Beat: 11 Hours
• Prequel: Pokémon Snap (1999)

13. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

The title that truly exploded the popularity of the Animal Crossing series, Animal Crossing: New Horizons quickly became a go-to for many in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, the game has tons of merit on its own, with a culmination of the best content from previous Animal Crossing titles as well as brand-new features that more than make Animal Crossing: New Horizons worth your giftee’s time.

Putting players in management of an entire island, players have to see to their island’s growth; the most responsibility Nintendo has ever given players in an Animal Crossing title. Still beholden to the money-grubbing Tom Nook, players are still charged with engaging in collect-a-thons. Between fossils, fish, bugs, and more, players can collect to their heart’s content and ultimately make their island more attractive in the process.

Most importantly, compared to many of the other titles you’ll find on this list, and frankly, those found on another consoles, Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers a highly cathartic gaming experience very unique to the series. For that alone, it might be worth gifting the title to someone you love as a de-stressor of sorts.

Read More

• Developed by Nintendo
• Released in March 2020
• Lauded at The Game Awards

• Publisher: Nintendo
• Genre: Social simulation
• Mode: Single-player, Multiplayer
• Platform: Nintendo Switch
• Rating: E

14. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

One of Nintendo’s crowning achievements, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a major step forward for the Zelda franchise. While it mostly adheres to tried-and-true puzzle and action-adventure mechanics, Breath of the Wild, pardon the pun, blew a breath of fresh air into the Zelda series with all-new mechanics and a far different tone from the rest of the series; a decision that made the title unique and one of the best entries in the franchise.

Admittedly, Breath of the Wild will be on the more difficult side for newcomers. Enemies don’t play nice and will inflict heavier damage than they did in previous Zelda games. Some have drawn comparisons to the Dark Souls franchise for this very reason. However, its uniqueness alone as a Zelda title deserves plenty of recognition, and whether you’re looking for someone who wants to continue the franchise or submerge themselves in the Zelda series, you cannot go wrong with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, one of the first and best titles for the Nintendo Switch altogether.

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• Developed by Nintendo
• Released in March 2017
• 19th installment in Legend of Zelda series

• Publisher: Nintendo
• Genre: Action-Adventure
• Mode: Single Player
• Platform: Nintendo Switch
• Rating: Everyone 10+

15. Monster Hunter Rise

One of the latest entries in the Monster Hunter franchise, Monster Hunter Rise is the most recent iteration and released on the Nintendo Switch in March of 2021. It was released to massive acclaim and, provided its existence in a series of consistently great titles, it well deserves a place on any gamer’s shelf, digital or otherwise.

Like its predecessors, Monster Hunter Rise entails action-RPG gameplay where players take on giant monsters using a variety of tactics. There’s a great sense of reward and achievement when toppling these giant creatures, akin to the Dark Souls franchise, and it’s even more fun to do so with others online.

It isn’t the most accessible game on this list, but Monster Hunter Rise is one of the best deep cuts here. It provides a nice introduction to the famous series and is a solid action-oriented experience. If you have a giftee in mind who truly wants to delve into gaming’s more in-depth titles, you’d be pressed to do better than Monster Hunter Rise.

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• Published by Capcom
• Released March 2021
• Sixth core installment in the Monster Hunter franchise

• Publisher: Capcom
• Genre: Action, role-playing
• Mode: Single-player, online multiplayer
• Platform: Nintendo Switch
• Rating: T

16. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

Mario’s clearly doing something right. With yet another core entry on this list, the Super Mario franchise reached another height with the original Super Mario 3D World on Wii U in 2013. However, with 2021’s Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo polished the game to a tee, added extra content, and made it more accessible than ever thanks to the hybrid nature of the console.

First and foremost, the package includes a retouch of the aforementioned Super Mario 3D World. In addition to a greater level of polish and more graphical details thanks to the stronger capabilities of the Nintendo Switch compared to the Wii U, Super Mario 3D World also simply runs at a faster pace. This was a complaint among some with the original 2013 release, that characters moved ever-so-slightly slow, but with the re-release, Nintendo solved the issue in a big way.

Perhaps more importantly, the package also includes Bowser’s Fury; content not seen in the original Super Mario 3D World and is generally completely different from Super Mario 3D World. Trading the short but sweet level design for design more on the level of Super Mario Odyssey (that is, to say, open-world), Bowser’s Fury puts a focus on single-player content, rather than the multiplayer level design that was a big selling point for Super Mario 3D World. Also emphasizing the Cat Suit, Bowser’s Fury alone is enough of a justification for a repurchase of the beloved Wii U title.

Read More

• Developed by Nintendo
• Released in February 2021
• Remake of the 2013 original

• Publisher: Nintendo
• Genre: Platformer
• Mode: Single-player, multiplayer
• Platform: Nintendo Switch
• Rating: E

17. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo Switch)

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the most recent title in the popular Mario Kart series, may in fact be the series at its best. A remaster of the 2014 Wii U release, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe doesn’t so much up the ante as it solidifies the game as a must-have for any Switch owner.

Each course in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe features new and different obstacles, and the crisp graphics help to liven up things as players move at breakneck speeds along the courses. And this holds true across modes, including the traditional racing mode to multiplayer battle modes. 

While Nintendo has never excelled at the feature, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also includes a great online component that allows Switch owners to connect and duke it out wirelessly.

Finally, the game is perfect for the setup of the Switch. Whether you intend on spending a couch-potato session playing Mario Kart with or without pals, or you’re taking it on your next flight, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is certainly a worthy addition to any Switch owner’s library and stands as a phenomenal gift idea for those with Switch-owning family.

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• Developed by Nintendo
• Released in April 2017
• Re-release of 2014’s Mario Kart 8 on Wii U

• Publisher: Nintendo
• Genre: Racing
• Mode: Single-player, multiplayer
• Platform: Nintendo Switch
• Rating: E

18. Metroid Dread

The follow-up to 2002’s Metroid Fusion, which released on the handheld Game Boy Advance, Metroid Dread is one of the finest games you can buy for a loved one for their Nintendo Switch. Receiving high review scores all the way around, Metroid Dread is a return to form for the classic Metroid franchise. Ditching the first-person mechanics seen in the Metroid Prime series in favor of the 2D side-scrolling, puzzle-solving, and alien-killing of Metroid, Super Metroid, and the like, Metroid Dread truly harkens back to the days of old.

But Metroid Dread still has a lot to offer for newcomers. While the game continues in the lineage of the story started by Super Metroid, it has highly accessible gameplay mechanics and catches players up fairly quickly. And, further, it is perfect for players on the go. Whether you’re shopping for a hardcore gamer this season or a casual Switch owner, Metroid Dread will not disappoint.

Read More

• Released October 2021
• Is a direct follow-up to Metroid Fusion on Game Boy Advance
• Developed by Mercury Steam and Nintendo Entertainment Playying & Development

• Publisher: Nintendo
• Genre: Action-adventure, puzzle
• Mode: Single-player
• Platform: Nintendo Switch
• Rating: T

19. Mario Party Superstars

There’s a lot to discover in Mario Party Superstars. Although some complain that this is a watered-down version of the games they remember playing on their old N64 or GameCube consoles, others love the nostalgia of it all.

This game features five classic boards from those old Mario Party games, and within those, there are 100 minigames to play alone or with friends – up to four can play locally or online.

The variety of minigames is what keeps play fun, fresh, and interesting. Mario Party Superstars is a great game for family game night and would make a fantastic gift for the young gamer in your life.

Read More

• Resurrects the classic Mario Party Games on Nintendo 64
• 5 classic boards, 100 minigames
• Can be played online
• Play using a variety of controllers

• Publisher: Nintendo
• Genre: Action
• Mode: Single player, multiplayer
• Platform: Nintendo Switch
• Rating: E

20. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Many enjoy Super Smash Bros. Melee for its breakneck pace, while others like Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS for finding the perfect balance between that and the sluggish Super Smash Bros. Brawl. However, 2018’s Super Smash Bros. Ultimate may be, objectively, the best title in the series for maintaining the aforementioned balance in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS while bringing back every single fighter from the history of the series.

And this is where Super Smash Bros. Ultimate excels. By concept, the Super Smash Bros. series was meant to be a celebration of every single Nintendo franchise. Yet, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a celebration of this celebratory fighting franchise. Including every single fighter from all of the preceding titles, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is essentially an aggregation of each of the previous titles’ best features and includes a great campaign and peripheral modes to boot. Toss in the innate ability to take the game on the go and it makes the perfect gift for any Nintendo or fighting game fan.

Read More

• Hosts up to 8 players
• Includes traditional fighting game modes as well as a campaign and other peripheral modes
• The base game includes 86 fighters, and there is additional downloadable content, bringing the total even higher

• Publisher: Nintendo
• Genre: Fighting
• Mode: Single-player, multiplayer
• Platform: Nintendo Switch
• Rating: E

21. Super Mario Odyssey

By the time 2017’s Super Mario Odyssey had rolled around, Mario spent a long time jumping, skipping, and destroying Goombas throughout short, sweet levels. This would be in the form of traditional-type Mario courses in Super Mario 3D World and 3D Land, as well as gravity-bending environments in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2. It had long abandoned the highly open environments of both Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario 64. However, Super Mario Odyssey reversed course, so to speak, by bringing back large, sprawling levels that had been abandoned for a decade and a half.

And this worked to great effect. The Nintendo Switch, first and foremost, allowed for excellent presentation not seen in any previous Mario title, and the game added one of the most interesting gimmicks of any Mario game. Namely, as Mario, you could effectively take the form of most enemies by throwing Mario’s now-animated hat, Cappy, and solve puzzles and get to hard-to-reach places through this mechanic. It was truly one of the most joyful features of Super Mario Odyssey and made it one of the best Mario games to date.

As with Breath of the Wild and Metroid Dread, no matter if the Switch owner you’re shopping for is a newcomer to the Mario franchise or otherwise hardcore Mario fan, Super Mario Odyssey is a must-buy gift for any Switch owner.

Read More

• Released in October 2017
• Developed by Nintendo
• Won at The Game Awards

22. Luigi’s Mansion 3

Luigi’s Mansion is easily one of Nintendo’s most interesting franchises. Introduced on the Gamecube in 2001, the franchise missed multiple generations of Nintendo consoles up until the Nintendo 3DS’s Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, which would then be followed up with Luigi’s Mansion 3, one of the Nintendo Switch’s most spectacular titles and deserving of a spot on any Switch owner’s library.

Once again placed in the boots of Luigi, the player must rid a towering hotel of its ghosts, ghouls, and other spooky creatures. And while that is fun, in and of itself, the game also has very clever puzzle mechanics, maneuvered via the use of Luigi’s Poltergust G-00, the third iteration of the Poltergust device used in the first Luigi’s Mansion that allows Luigi to make a goopy copy of himself to solve said puzzles.

Luigi’s Mansion 3 even includes an online multiplayer mode to keep players coming back well after the epic conclusion to the game’s central campaign. With all of these features, in addition to other charming and hilarious gameplay mechanics, Luigi’s Mansion 3 excels as one fo the Switch’s best titles and a must-have for any Switch owner.

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• Developed by Next Level Games
• Third installment in the Luigi’s Mansion franchise
• Released in October 2019

23. Pokemon Shining Pearl

The third set of core Pokemon games on the Nintendo Switch, and the second set of remakes, Pokemon Shining Pearl and Pokemon Brilliant Diamond perfectly recapture the magic created by the original games, Pokemon Pearl and Pokemon Diamond. While they tend to play it safe compared to Let’s Go Pikachu! And Let’s Go Eevee! the titles end up being very faithful to the original titles on the Nintendo DS.

Like the originals before it, Shining Pearl and Brilliant Diamond both include the classic, RPG-like gameplay Pokemon fans have grown accustomed to, with players training their Pokemon to the point of evolving into better iterations and learning new moves. It’s a tried-and-true formula that, once again, translates well to the hybrid console and is a great draw to hardcore fans and newcomers alike.

Pokemon Shining Pearl & Brilliant Diamond may be less game-changing for remakes than would be desired. However, they are still satisfying titles with enough changes in presentation that they would warrant a purchase as a holiday gift for someone you know.

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• Developed by ICLA, Inc.
• Released November 19, 2021
• Full-blown remake of original Pokemon Pearl on Nintendo DS

• Publisher: Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
• Genre: Adventure, role-playing
• Mode: Single-player, multiplayer
• Platform: Nintendo Switch
• Rating: E

24. New Pokemon Snap

The Pokemon series, an RPG at its core, has spawned many different types of spinoffs. While Pokemon GO serves as a primary example of this, another cult hit that exemplifies this is Pokemon Snap, which released on Nintendo 64 in 1999. The concept was simple enough: More or less on-rails, your goal is to take as many pictures of Pokemon as possible by the end of the level, capturing every on-camera Pokemon in the process. It was simplistic but fun, and it was popular enough to warrant a sequel years later in the form of New Pokemon Snap for Nintendo Switch.

More or less, New Pokemon Snap is more of the same. But who said that was a bad thing? New Pokemon Snap once again has you taking hopefully-high-quality pictures of Pokemon. The gameplay is simple enough, equipping players with lures to get Pokemon to pose in photogenic ways. But is oh so fun and includes vastly improved presentation compared to the polygonal graphics of the 1999 original.

It may be one of the more basic Pokemon spinoffs, but as a still-satisfying and cathartic experience nonetheless, New Pokemon Snap has an appeal that even the Pokemon-averse players can’t help but appreciate.

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• Sequel to 1999’s Pokemon Snap
• Released April 30, 2021
• Has players taking pictures of Pokemon in an on-rails photography experience

• Publisher: Nintendo, The Pokemon Company
• Genre: Adventure
• Mode: Single-player
• Platform: Nintendo Switch
• Rating: E