Anyone who’s picked up a Nintendo Switch in the last five years knows the feeling: that moment when a new game downloads and the world outside fades. With over 141 million consoles sold and thousands of titles to choose from, this guide cuts through the noise by cross-referencing critic scores, sales data, and community buzz to help you pick your next adventure.

4 related posts

Best-selling Switch game: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (71.08 million units) · Highest-rated Switch game (Metacritic): The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (97/100) · Most recent major exclusive: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Which game is “the best” overall is subjective and depends on personal taste
  • Future Switch games may shift current rankings
  • The impact of the upcoming Switch successor on the existing game library remains uncertain
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Here is the essential data every buyer should consider:

Key facts about the best Nintendo Switch games
Highest Metacritic score 97 (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey) (Metacritic (review aggregator))
Best-selling game Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (71.08 million) (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
Most recent system seller The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023) (Statista (market research))
Average Metacritic score for top 10 Approximately 93 (based on Metacritic’s top-rated list)

What are the top 10 Switch games?

Top 10 list

  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 97 Metacritic score (Metacritic (review aggregator))
  • Super Mario Odyssey – 97 Metacritic score (Metacritic (review aggregator))
  • The House in Fata Morgana – 96 Metacritic (Metacritic (review aggregator))
  • Celeste – 92 Metacritic (Metacritic (review aggregator))
  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 92 Metacritic, 71 million sold (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Animal Crossing: New Horizons – 90 Metacritic, 49.91 million sold (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – 93 Metacritic, 37.76 million sold (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – 96 Metacritic, 21 million sold (Statista (market research))
  • Hades – 93 Metacritic (Metacritic (review aggregator))
  • Hollow Knight – 90 Metacritic (Metacritic (review aggregator))

Criteria for ranking

These 10 games were selected by combining Metacritic scores above 90, sales figures from Nintendo official reports and third-party analysts, and community recognition as must-play titles. The list includes both blockbuster exclusives and acclaimed indies.

Bottom line: The top 10 list represents the intersection of critical acclaim and commercial success, but personal taste should ultimately guide your choice. For score-focused players, Breath of the Wild leads; for family fun, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe dominates.

The pattern: critical acclaim and sales don’t always align, but this list covers both dimensions.

What is the #1 Switch game?

Breath of the Wild vs. other contenders

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild holds the highest Metacritic score on the platform at 97, tied only with Super Mario Odyssey (Metacritic (review aggregator)). However, when it comes to lifetime sales, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe takes the crown with 71.08 million units (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).

Sales vs. critical reception

The gap between best-seller and highest-rated tells a bigger story. Breath of the Wild redefined open-world design and won near-universal praise, yet Mario Kart 8 Deluxe outsells it by nearly 30 million units because of its broader appeal to families and party gamers (Statista (market research)).

The trade-off

Which game is “the best” depends entirely on your use case. Critics crown Breath of the Wild; the market votes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

The catch: there is no single “best” game—your priorities determine the winner.

What are the best Nintendo Switch games out right now?

Recent releases 2024-2025

  • The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023) – 96 Metacritic, still the most talked-about exclusive (GameSpot (gaming news outlet))
  • Hades II (early access 2025) – already on Metacritic’s 2025 best list (Metacritic (review aggregator))
  • Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (2025) – 1.27 million units sold as of March 2025 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))

Must-play titles available now

Beyond blockbusters, indie gems like Hades (93 Metacritic), Celeste (92 Metacritic), and Hollow Knight (90 Metacritic) remain essential (Metacritic (review aggregator)). These titles are frequently discounted on the eShop.

Editor’s note

Nintendo released 18 games in 2025, up from 13 the year before, so the library is still expanding rapidly (Nintendo Life (Nintendo-focused news)).

What this means: the Switch library continues to grow with both blockbusters and indie hits.

Why is Nintendo Switch dying fast?

Market saturation

After seven years on the market, Switch sales have naturally slowed, but the platform has sold over 141 million units – making it one of the best-selling consoles ever (Nintendo (official investor relations)). Decline is normal at this stage of a console’s life.

Competition from Steam Deck and new consoles

Handheld PCs like the Steam Deck offer a different value proposition, but they haven’t eroded Switch’s exclusive library advantage. Nintendo still commands a loyal audience with franchises that are not available elsewhere.

Age of hardware

The Switch’s aging hardware – a custom Tegra X1 chip from 2017 – is increasingly showing its limits. However, Nintendo is reportedly working on a Switch 2/Successor, which could be backward-compatible (Nintendo Life (Nintendo-focused news)).

Nintendo’s average Metacritic publisher score was 77 in 2025, missing the top 10 for the first time.

Nintendo Life (Nintendo-focused news)

The catch

The Switch isn’t dying – it’s transitioning. For potential buyers, the risk is buying a console at the tail end of its cycle, but the deep library of great games still offers years of play.

The implication: now is actually an excellent time to buy a Switch with a deep, mature library.

What are the top 3 Nintendo games?

Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

These three titles define the Switch. Breath of the Wild (97 Metacritic) and Super Mario Odyssey (97) share the highest scores, while Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (92 Metacritic) is the sales king (Metacritic (review aggregator); Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).

Why these three dominate

They excel in different dimensions: Odyssey sets the standard for 3D platforming, Breath of the Wild for open-world exploration, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for local multiplayer fun. Together they showcase the console’s versatility.

Bottom line: For your first three game purchases, these three deliver the most value across the widest range of players.

The pattern: these three games cover the full spectrum of what makes Switch special.

Comparison: top Switch games by score and sales

Five heavy-hitters, one clear pattern: critical darlings often sell less than family-friendly racers.

Game Metacritic Score Sales (million) Genre
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 97 31.85 Action-Adventure
Super Mario Odyssey 97 28.73 Platformer
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 92 71.08 Racing
Animal Crossing: New Horizons 90 49.91 Life Simulation
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom 96 21.12 Action-Adventure

The implication: If you want the most playtime per dollar, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the safest bet. For artistic ambition, Breath of the Wild is unmatched.

Confirmed facts

  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best-selling Switch game (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Breath of the Wild has the highest Metacritic score (Metacritic (review aggregator))
  • Nintendo Switch has sold over 141 million units worldwide (Nintendo (official investor relations))

What’s unclear

  • Which game is “the best” overall remains subjective
  • Future Switch games may shift current rankings
  • The impact of the Switch successor on backward compatibility is not yet confirmed

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold nearly 69 million units as of June 2025, securing its position as the platform’s top seller.

Statista (market research)

Breath of the Wild sits at the top of Nintendo Switch reviews with a 97 Metascore.

Metacritic (review aggregator)

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the second best-selling Nintendo Switch game with 49.91 million copies sold.

Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)

For the average buyer, the choice is clear: if you want a single game that will be played for years by the whole family, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the one. If you seek a deep, single-player experience that defines the console, Breath of the Wild is non-negotiable.

Additional sources

gg.deals, switchscores.com, metacritic.com, gamespot.com, reddit.com, reddit.com

For a data-driven perspective on the top titles, the weekly reviews best Switch games list offers a similar ranking based on sales and critic scores.

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Frequently asked questions

How many Nintendo Switch games are there?

Over 5,000 titles are available on the Nintendo Switch, including more than 4,500 on the eShop.

What is the most played Switch game online?

Fortnite and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe consistently rank among the most played online titles.

Which Switch game has the best graphics?

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 are often praised for their visual fidelity.

What is the hardest Nintendo Switch game?

Celeste and Hollow Knight are notoriously difficult, both with Metacritic scores above 90.

Can you play Nintendo Switch games on the Switch 2?

Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch successor will be backward-compatible with original Switch games.

Are Nintendo Switch games region locked?

No, the Nintendo Switch is region-free, so you can play games from any region.

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