Nintendo Switch has had a blockbuster year. The console has been difficult to find in stores and online since its launch in March, forcing the Japanese company to double the Switch production. Two reasons the Switch became such a grand success are its hybrid design and an impressive lineup of games. If you have just purchased a Switch console, you might be wondering what games to play. Here is the list of what we think are the best Nintendo Switch games of 2017, though not necessarily in that order.
Best Nintendo Switch games released this year
Super Mario Odyssey
Nintendo has taken the Mario game to near-perfection. The Super Mario Odyssey offers the best gaming experience of any Mario game ever. You will be playing the red-hatted plumber Mario, who is out to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. The timer is gone. Mario no longer has to move only in a straight line. And each level of the game is filled with surprising secrets, challenges, and fun.
We consider Super Mario Odyssey one of the best Nintendo Switch games because it is friendly to new gamers as well as the experienced ones. It rewards you even when you don’t play it the conventional way. You wouldn’t realize how much time you spent collecting Power Moons and outfits.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Zelda was one of the launch titles, and it exceeded the expectations of even hardcore Nintendo fans. It is unlike any Zelda title before it. The post-post-apocalyptic world of Hyrule is jam-packed with unique mysteries that you have to uncover. Nintendo has updated the game many times since launch to make it more engaging. The Breath of the Wild also has many firsts for Zelda such as shrines and voice acting.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Gamers were a bit turned off when leaked pictures of the Rabbid mascots dressed up like Mario characters appeared on the Internet. But they began falling in love with Mario + Rabbids soon after Ubisoft released the game. The Mario-inspired take on the XCOM’s positional tactics got the gamers hooked.
At the beginning of the game, a short video explains how Ubisoft’s Rabbids invaded the Mushroom Kingdom and stole an invention that allows them to combine any two objects to create a new one. The Rabbids then have this brilliant idea of combining themselves with Nintendo items, creating copies of Mario and his friends. Your job is to restore peace in the Mushroom Kingdom.
The strategy role-playing game offers a lot of fun, along with 5-10 minute battles that keep you glued to the console. Certainly one of the best Nintendo Switch games released this year.
Puyo Puyo Tetris
This game combines the iconic puzzler Puyo Puyo with Tetris to bring something unique. You can play rounds of Puyo Puyo, Tetris or a fusion of the two. If you are a puzzle fan, you are going to be hooked to this Nintendo Switch title. There are a variety of modes and multiplayer options like story mode, Big Bang Mode, and Party Mode. The easy to understand rules and colorful presentation add to the fun.
Sonic Mania
Sega’s 2D Sonic game retains the retro graphics and art to give you a feel of the classic Sonic games of the 90s. The Sonic Mania is all about nostalgia. You are going to love it if you are old enough to have played the classics. It has tons of stuff for new gamers as well. Sonic Mania does full justice to the iconic franchise. The character animations, art, music, and different stages are all fun.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Yet another Mario title in the list of the best Nintendo Switch games this year. The new Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has refined and polished the same old Mario Kart formula to make it one of the most fun games. It has all the characters and DLC maps from the Wii U game. With a new Battle Mode, tons of customization options, 200cc trial modes, and new levels of drift boosting, it is a must-buy title.
Splatoon 2
Splatoon 2 is a multiplayer online shooter game that is different from the rest. It’s a shooting game where your weapons are filled with colored ink rather than bullets. The game has an addictive new co-op mode and an improved single-player mode. It works beautifully because it’s fun all the way, with fast-paced matches that offer a tense competition.
Arms
Arms is a boxing game unlike any other. It allows you to take full advantage of Joy-Con’s motion controls when you get in the ring and punch people with your slinky arms. At first, Arms seems like a simple bash ’em up game, but it requires a high level of strategy to beat your opponents. Each character you take on plays things differently, and sometimes you have to change your tactics on the fly to beat them. Once you start playing Arms, it will be incredibly difficult to stop.
Nintendo plans to continue the momentum in 2018
Nintendo has many other first- and third-party titles for Switch owners in 2018. With Bayonetta 3, Pokemon, SteamWorld Heist: Ultimate Edition, and Battle Chasers: Nightwar, 2018 will be an exciting year for Nintendo fans. Other games coming to the Switch next year include Kirby Star Allies, Runner 3, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, and Mega Man 11.
Nintendo revealed recently that the Switch sales surpassed 10 million units in just nine months of launch. That’s despite the fact that it launched in March, a dull month for consoles. The Switch is selling as fast as Sony’s PlayStation 4. It is on track to exceed the lifetime sales of the Wii U (13.5 million units) in the first year of launch. The Christmas shopping season is expected to further boost the Switch sales. Nintendo is planning to manufacture 25-30 million units of the console next year.
