Switch in the game

Ultimate is the latest installment in Nintendo's ambitious crossover fighting game series. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is lives up to its namesake as the "ultimate" Super Smash Bros. The Super Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC fighters helped branch the series out like never before, even adding Xbox-owned characters to the roster like Banjo-Kazooie and Steve from Minecraft.

It's hard to see how Super Smash Bros. Ultimate could possibly be topped, but it will definitely be interesting to see if Nintendo ever makes an attempt. With Super Smash Bros. Ultimate being named one of Japan's favorite games, it has certainly set the bar high. The next Nintendo Switch game that made the top 10 is another exclusive to the platform. Splatoon 2 is the sequel to the Wii U multiplayer game Splatoon that features similar gameplay but with more modes and features.

Fans already know that a Splatoon 3 game is in development for the Switch , but it remains to be seen if it will be quite as popular as Splatoon 2 has proven to be. It's simply a fantastic turn-based role-playing game filled with charming characters, a beautiful world, and a deeply satisfying combat system. On Switch, you can switch between two distinct styles: modern 3D visuals and a classic 8-bit top-down presentation.

The latter is especially intriguing for handheld mode. See our Dragon Quest 11 review. The top-down adventure stars a duo of adventurers--Sam and John--who are exiled from their subterranean mining world and forced to explore the outside world. As an action-adventure game with dungeons, puzzles, and a whole stable of interesting enemies and bosses, it's easy to draw comparisons to classic The Legend of Zelda games.

Eastward is also marked by great writing and a really unique world that's a joy to explore. It also has a wild array of weapons, including a frying pan and flamethrower. While Eastward suffers a bit from uneven pacing across its lengthy plus hour adventure, it's a highly rewarding experience that's worth sticking out until the end.

Relentlessly engaging and rife with variety, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the most impressive entry in the beloved strategy series. You play as a professor who oversees one of three houses at a mysterious monastery. There, you cultivate relationships and train your students to be prepared for the battles ahead. While recent Fire Emblem games have leaned more into social simulation, Three Houses takes this concept to the next level and includes some well-implemented management sim features.

It strikes a wonderful balance between storytelling, preparation for the next battle, and the always-wonderful tactical combat scenarios the series is known for.

With deftly written characters, an exceedingly good tale, and smart tweaks to the layered combat system, Fire Emblem: Three Houses is an astonishing experience from start to finish. And more than any other Fire Emblem game before it, Three Houses encourages multiple playthroughs to see the whole story, and each playthrough is different.

See our Fire Emblem: Three Houses review. After not playing the game for decades, the hero of this story embarks on a quest to recapture his love for golf using his dad's old clubs. His first stop is a local country club where he tries to sign up for lessons. From there, Golf Story becomes a zany and peculiar little game filled with the unexpected. While it does feature traditional top-down golf with a three-click swing system, many of the activities you complete are more chaotic in nature and often not grounded in any semblance of reality.

The writing is hilarious and the off-the-wall characters add color to what is ostensibly a fairly sad tale about one man's midlife crisis. Golf Story is the most Game Boy-esque game on Switch, and its endearing visuals and wacky objectives make it one of the best and most unique exclusives on the platform. See our Golf Story review. Though escaping the Underworld is the goal in Hades, being sent back to it after each failed run isn't a bad consolation prize.

Hades, more than any other roguelike before it, intertwines its fast-paced action gameplay with its exquisite story in such a way that failure can be a good thing.

You play as Hades' son Zagreus, a charismatic hero in his own right, but it's the supporting cast and all of their own interpersonal tales that make Hades such an enriching experience. Each attempt to escape the Underworld is a thrilling pursuit, one that relies on experimentation with your build to find the right balance for you. The combat has more depth than you'd initially expect, and after a few hours of futile escape attempts, Hades really starts to click. Even after you finally escape, Hades has a wonderful endgame that includes new storylines and challenging combat scenarios.

See our Hades review. One of the most engrossing metroidvanias ever made, Team Cherry's Hollow Knight is a finely tuned experience that's basically tailor made to play in handheld mode on Switch.

Hollow Knight stars a nameless knight with a tiny nail to defend itself in the dreary and mysterious world of Hallownest. Where Hollow Knight truly stands out is in its world design and systems. The world of Hallownest is absolutely massive, with each region serving a distinct purpose in the overall flow of the story.

Over the course of the adventure, you unlock different abilities that open up new areas. The challenging combat focuses on well-timed dodges and carefully placed strikes. With well-balanced mechanics, cool boss battles, and a world that's wholly unique, Hollow Knight is a can't-miss game for metroidvania enthusiasts.

See our Hollow Knight review. The House in Fata Morgana is quite simply a masterpiece among visual novels, with a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack and suspenseful story that spans nearly a millennium, centering around an eerie mansion, a mysterious Maid, and the lives of those who once lived there. It's one of the highest-rated video games of all time on Metacritic and once held a perfect score, so whether you're already a fan of visual novels or just appreciate a phenomenal story, this is one hidden gem on the Switch that's worth experiencing.

Subset Games' Into the Breach is a rare type of game that feels and plays like nothing before it. In the distant future, the monstrous Vek are threatening humanity. To save the world from monsters, you assemble a team of three mechs who take on the Vek in small-scale battles on eight-by-eight grids.

Each battle only lasts several turns, and the goal isn't to overpower the Vek; instead, you're trying to deter their attacks and limit damage on critical infrastructure. You can also see a preview of each Vek's next move at the start of every turn, allowing you to strategize for the best possible outcome.

Into the Breach is more like chess than a traditional tactics game, and you'd be surprised at how involved the matches can get. Into the Breach innovates on the form more than any other game in recent memory. See our Into the Breach review. Seven years passed between the release of the first act of Kentucky Route Zero and its final chapter. It was more than worth the wait to see this surrealist narrative reach its fitting conclusion. You play as Conway, a truck driver on the verge of retirement who finds himself on the Zero, a bizarre purgatory filled with memorable characters, breathtaking scenery, and a profound message that gets to the heart of what it means to live in America, warts and all.

It's also about life and death and all of the little pains and triumphs that fill the gap between our bookends. Kentucky Route Zero is a remarkable point-and-click adventure, and one of the rare games that can actually change the way you think about the world around you. See our Kentucky Route Zero review. In fact, many would consider it the best entry in the storied series and one of the best games ever made.

Breath of the Wild was Nintendo's first real foray into open-world games, and it's easily one of the best in class. Breath of the Wild provides a sense of exploration never before seen in the series. He can climb virtually anything, which creates an incredible sense of scale and freedom.

This overarching change extends to the central progression as well. Replacing elaborate dungeons with tons of small-scale Shrines allows you to approach the adventure in your own way. Breath of the Wild is one of the few open-world games that isn't littered with extraneous systems and objectives. It prides itself on offering a slower pace and a more scenic, desolate world that's ripe for exploring, whether you're on foot, horseback, or scaling a cliff searching for a new discovery.

Breath of the Wild is a stunning, brilliant adventure. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe contains more than 40 racers and 48 tracks, including many of the best courses from Mario Kart history. Deluxe adds several notable features, including driving assistance settings for new players and two item slots. It also has an extended Battle mode, which winds up making Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the most content-rich and well-rounded entry in series history.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe released during the Switch's launch window, but it remains one of the most popular multiplayer games on the console for good reason. It should be in every Nintendo Switch owner's library.

See our Mario Kart 8 Deluxe review. After a nearly two-decade wait, Metroid has returned to its side-scrolling roots for an adventure that closes out the current Metroid saga.

Remarkably, Metroid Dread lives up to the high expectations set by longtime fans. Dread shines mechanically, with fast-paced combat, a wide range of upgrades to acquire, and a stable of bosses that test your fortitude and counterattack skills. Dread also introduces the EMMI, creepy robots who patrol designated zones and cause instant game overs if you're caught.

It's an absolute joy to explore the maze-like locales, and Dread's huge swath of secrets to uncover encourages multiple playthroughs. Metroid Dread is easily one of the best side-scrollers on Switch, and it's a reminder that going back to your roots can be a truly excellent idea. See our Metroid Dread review. The region itself is gorgeous and complimented tremendously by the graphics at play. The gym battles are challenging and the mythological-based adventure is sure to please both returning and new players.

Vooks said that "The story is wonderful, the creatures themselves are all fantastic and adorable, and Max Raids will absolutely never not be great fun.

Politics graduate, freelance writer and all around film geek. If George isn't lecturing someone on the history of the MCU, he's probably ranting about the political consequences of Putin's latest horse riding trip. By George Chrysostomou Published Dec 30, Share Share Tweet Email 0. Related Topics Lists pokemon metacritic. George Chrysostomou Articles Published Politics graduate, freelance writer and all around film geek.