The Nintendo Switch 2, which was released a year ago, has firmly established itself as a worthy successor to one of the best-selling consoles of all time.
With nearly 20 million units sold since its launch in June 2025, Nintendo has announced that the Switch 2's retail price will increase from $449.99 to $499.99 in the US on September 1, making it one of the rare modern consoles to receive a price rise less than two years after release.
No console is complete without great games, though, and Switch 2 has continued to grow its library. Here, we highlight the best games since its release – titles that have defined the early life of the system, as well as refined versions of older games.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Remastered
Metacritic scores: 95 & 94
Key review: “Lives up to the high expectations created by the success of Breath of the Wild” – Shacknews
Both beloved titles from Switch return with enhanced graphics and performance, taking full advantage of Switch 2's upgraded hardware. These remasters provide an opportunity for players to revisit the game’s kingdom of Hyrule with improved visuals and smoother gameplay.
2. Hades II
Metacritic scores: 95
Key review: “Hades II is much more than a sequel. Supergiant Games’s work exceeds all expectations, with a gameplay loop that keeps you hooked at every moment” – IGN Spain
Supergiant Games returns with another masterfully crafted rogue-like release. Hades II is a mix of fast-paced action, character-driven storytelling and expressive art that has made it one of the year’s most captivating titles. The sequel also introduces a richer overworld, more complex upgrade paths and a broader supporting cast that grows with each run.
Players have embraced its balance of challenge and accessibility, where every defeat teaches something useful. Hades II continues Supergiant’s tradition of presenting games with warmth, personality and unmistakable identity.
3. Mina the Hollower
Metacritic score: 91
Key review: “Mina the Hollower is another masterpiece from Yacht Club Games. It’s one of those games that only gets better the more you play it, and considering how enjoyable it is off the hop, that’s really saying something” – Nintendo Insider
Yacht Club Games follows up the success of Shovel Knight with a top-down action adventure inspired by Game Boy Colour classics. Players take on the role of Mina, a whip-wielding adventurer with the ability to burrow underground, using her unique movement abilities to navigate dungeons, uncover secrets and battle a range of supernatural foes.
What elevates Mina the Hollower beyond nostalgia is the confidence of its design. The game combines precise combat, rewarding exploration and a striking gothic aesthetic, while introducing enough modern refinements to feel fresh.
4. Hollow Knight: Silksong
Metacritic score: 91
Key review: “A staggering achievement in world-building and narrative depth” – VGC
The game is a rich Metroidvania with beautifully animated environments, deep combat mechanics and a compelling story. Switch 2 enhancements improve frame rate and visuals, making it one of the best ways to experience Silksong.
5. Donkey Kong Bananza
Metacritic score: 91
Key review: “A thrilling revival of a Nintendo icon, bursting with inventive level design” – Polygon
Bananza is a Switch 2-exclusive 3D platformer featuring jungle ecosystems, co-operative animal companions and rhythm-based jungle challenges. It leverages the system’s hardware for stunning visuals and smooth gameplay.
6. Resident Evil Requiem
Metacritic score: 90
Key review: “A Requiem is not a final, but a threshold. And as it crosses that threshold scented with nostalgia, it renews confidence and hope through the path it opens for the series' future” – Oyungezer
Capcom returns to its flagship horror series with a darker, more introspective chapter. Resident Evil Requiem leans heavily into atmosphere, combining tight resource management with a narrative that explores the psychological toll of survival.
The game balances familiarity with innovation, offering a refined combat system alongside more open-ended environments. It is a confident continuation of the series’ recent resurgence, delivering scares that feel both earned and enduring.
7. Pokemon Pokopia
Metacritic score: 89
Key review: “Pokemon Pokopia is a fantastic entry to the cosy and townbuilding genres, and easily one of the greatest Pokemon games I’ve played” – Loot Level Chill
The latest entry in the long-running series introduces the Pokopia region, blending open-world exploration with a renewed focus on creature interaction. Building on the foundations of recent titles, it refines traversal and battle systems while placing greater emphasis on player choice and environmental storytelling.
The game’s biggest strength lies in how it modernises familiar mechanics without losing the charm that defines the franchise. With improved performance and a more cohesive world design, Pokemon Pokopia feels like a measured but meaningful step forward.
8. Split Fiction
Metacritic score: 89
Key review: “Split Fiction is a perfect game, I can’t put it any other way” – PSX Extreme
Under the guidance of Lebanese-Swedish director Josef Fares, game design studio Hazelight has produced some of the best co-op game experiences. Its latest game, Split Fiction, is about two writers – one penning a sci-fi and the second writing a fantasy – who both get sucked into virtually constructed versions of their stories.
The game received rave reviews upon its release on other consoles, and can now be enjoyed on Switch 2.
9. Pragmata
Metacritic score: 88
Key review: “Pragmata is Capcom at its best. As good as this company can be with its established franchises, it's when it tries to do something different that we get the real gold” – Digitally Downloaded
After years of anticipation, Capcom’s science-fiction adventure arrived with a story set on a near-future lunar research station. Players control Hugh Williams, an astronaut stranded on the moon, alongside Diana, a mysterious android whose hacking abilities are essential for survival.
Pragmata stands out for its unusual combination of action and puzzle-solving. Encounters require players to balance combat with real-time hacking mechanics, creating a rhythm unlike most modern shooters.
10. Simogo Legacy Collection
Metacritic score: 88
Key review: “Even if you end up playing only 1 or 2 of the games, the level of quality showcased in Simogo Legacy Collection makes it well worth owning” – Video Chums
This collection brings together key works from Swedish indie studio Simogo, offering players a chance to experience its most influential titles in one package. Known for blending storytelling with inventive mechanics, the studio’s catalogue ranges from musical puzzlers to narrative-driven adventures.
More than a simple compilation, the collection contextualises Simogo’s creative evolution. It highlights a studio that has consistently prioritised mood, experimentation and artistic identity over convention, making it an essential release for players interested in the medium’s more expressive side.
11. Street Fighter 6
Metacritic score: 87
Key review: “The series’ most cinematic entry yet, with a branching narrative that feels truly player-driven” – Eurogamer
This iteration brings the full fighting experience to Switch 2, with cross-platform online play, performance modes, and a robust roster of classic and new fighters.
12. Mario Kart World
Metacritic score: 86
Key review: “Mario Kart World is bold, ambitious and utterly charming” – Loot Level Chill
The biggest game release alongside the launch of Switch 2 is Mario Kart World, the first new mainline entry in the Mario Kart series in more than a decade. This instalment introduces open-world tracks, off-road mechanics, elimination modes and supports up to 24-player races. It also features unlockable costumes, which offer a fresh take on the beloved racing series.
13. Deltarune
Metacritic score: 86
Key review: “Deltarune continues to push the boundaries of storytelling in RPGs, with its signature charm and inventive mechanics” – Game Informer
Chapter 3 of Toby Fox’s acclaimed RPG series arrives on Switch 2, offering expanded graphics, new combat systems and extra content that leverages the console’s performance enhancements.
14. Super Mario Bros Wonder: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park
Metacritic score: 85
Key review: “An inessential but enjoyable expansion for the best 2D Mario game of the modern era, with some fun multiplayer distractions and a soupçon of new single-player content” – Metro GameCentral
Super Mario Bros Wonder makes the transition to Switch 2 with improved visuals, smoother performance and additional content designed to showcase the new hardware. The centrepiece is Meetup in Bellabel Park, a new multiplayer-focused expansion that introduces fresh stages, challenges and co-operative activities.
15. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
Metacritic score: 85
Key review: “A solid port that captures the essence of Night City on the go” – IGN
This version of Cyberpunk was optimised for Switch 2 with improved loading times, adaptive resolution and control refinements for hand-held and docked play.
16. Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut
Metacritic score: 85
Key review: “An incredible introduction to the Yakuza series, polished and full of life” – IGN
The Director’s Cut version brings Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima’s prequel adventures to Switch 2 with enhanced visuals, smoother frame rates and all previously released content. It’s an ideal way for newcomers and returning fans to experience the gritty world of Kamurocho.
17. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Metacritic score: 78
Key review: “Samus Aran makes a strong comeback: Metroid Prime 4 is not only a great game, but also looks fantastic” – 4P.de
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond marks the return of one of Nintendo’s most acclaimed franchises, bringing a renewed sense of scale and atmosphere to Samus Aran’s journey. The game ventures into unfamiliar regions of space, where ancient Chozo history and new threats converge.
Early impressions highlight richer world building, more deliberate pacing and environments designed for thoughtful exploration rather than spectacle. With expanded suit abilities and refined combat, Beyond seeks to balance nostalgia with innovation, offering a measured yet ambitious step forward for a series cherished by long-time fans.
18. Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage
Metacritic score: 78
Key review: “For the asking price, it's hard to find much to fault with Virtua Fighter 5 on Switch 2. The slick, 60fps gameplay is approachable enough for newcomers, but with layers upon layers of depth to uncover, dedicated fight fans will find plenty to enjoy” – Nintendo Life
Sega’s long-running fighting series returns with an expanded version of Virtua Fighter 5, bringing enhanced online features and a renewed focus on competitive play. While the foundations remain familiar, the World Stage edition modernises the experience for a new audience.
Unlike many contemporary fighting games, Virtua Fighter continues to favour technical mastery over spectacle. Its emphasis on timing, positioning and mechanical depth has helped it maintain a devoted following, and this latest release serves as a reminder of why the series remains so influential within the genre.
19. Mario Tennis Fever
Metacritic score: 77
Key review: “Mario Tennis Fever keeps up the tradition of the series by bringing a fun and funny tennis game based on the Mario universe to Nintendo's latest console” – Starbit
Nintendo revisits its long-running sports spin-off with a more refined and competitive edge. Mario Tennis Fever blends arcade-style accessibility with deeper shot mechanics, introducing new stamina systems and dynamic court conditions that shift the pace of matches.
While it retains the series’ signature charm and colourful roster, the game places greater emphasis on timing and positioning, rewarding more deliberate play. It is a confident update that balances party-friendly appeal with enough depth to keep experienced players engaged.
