Top: +99 Best Free and Paid Switch Games for Every Taste (2024 Edition)

Here is the ranking of the best Switch games available on the eShop that you will have to play, from free games, paid games to co-op games and switch bed games, we have gathered here the ultimate selection for all your desires.

Another big year is coming for Switch fans, as several exciting Nintendo games are currently in development, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2. If the Switch has proven anything, it's that a The console is truly defined by what you can play on it, and with such a vast library of great games, picking just 25 of the best Switch games has proven to be difficult.

Our selection of the best Nintendo Switch games has been chosen by the team for its excellence. They're not all exclusive to the Switch, but they're better on Nintendo's latest console. We've tried to make this list as varied as possible, hoping there's something for everyone, whether you're a JRPG fan or a hardcore Super Mario fan. 

We've got you covered for the future, too, with our list of all upcoming Switch games, so you know what to add to your wishlist for 2024.

Best Switch games 2024/2025: The essential titles of the new season

Since launching the Color-TV game in 1977, Nintendo has become one of the most successful video game companies in history, its dominance spanning over forty years. Many of the most iconic video games of all time were developed and published by Nintendo, and these games set a precedent for the current and future state of the gaming industry. 

Today, according to the site MetaCritique, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is considered the best Switch game of all time.

Trying to find the best Nintendo Switch games that have been released so far? There's plenty to choose from, and great new titles keep coming out every couple of months. Nintendo has it all, whether you're looking for open-world RPGs, strategy games, racing games, or local co-op games to share with a friend. 

Anyone who owns a Switch knows Animal Crossing and Super Mario Odyssey, but there are plenty of great games for the console beyond Nintendo's great classics. With success comes support, and the Switch has always had much more support from other companies than the Wii U after its launch. 

The digital Switch eShop is full of free and paid games on sale for you to download, and Switch shelves at most stores easily exceed those of the Wii U at its peak. If you need help finding your way around, let us direct you to the crème de la crème. Here are the 30 essential games you need most on the Nintendo Switch.

Top of the Year 2024 (Updated)

The year 2024 has already started off well with Pokemon Legends: Arceus, and the rest of the year is also shaping up to be quite impressive. Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Advance Wars, Splatoon 3, Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, and a sequel to Breath of the Wild are all planned before the end of the year. And that's not even all that is planned as exclusivity! We wouldn't be surprised if a few of the aforementioned titles join the ranks of best Nintendo Switch games 2024.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – The latest installment in Nintendo's venerable fantasy franchise, which embraces its own history as often as it upends it.
2. Super Mario Odyssey – Mario's greatest 3D adventure, which takes him to all corners of the world for hat-themed adventures. 
3. Animal Crossing: New Horizons – The first Animal Crossing game on Switch, with Tom Nook taking you to a deserted island to build a whole new life there.
4. Metroid dread – It's not every day, or even every year, that we get a brand new Metroid game, so we have to appreciate Metroid Dread for the unicorn that it is. 
5. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – The best version of Mario Kart 8 money can buy on Switch in 2024.
6. Pokemon Legends: Arceus – Imagine Breath of the Wild crossed with Pokémon and that's pretty much it, Pokémon Legend Arceus. It is the first open-world Pokémon game that meets the expectations of many fans.
7. Fire Emblem: Three Houses – The latest installment in the Fire Emblem series, in which you must educate the students of one of three prestigious houses, from their studies to turn-based tactical battles on a continent on the brink of war. 
8. Celeste's – A wonderful platformer with an important message, Celeste is right up there on the Nintendo Switch. 
9. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – The latest installment in the Super Smash Bros series – and the first on Switch – features more characters and levels than ever before. 
10. Cuphead – Studio MDHR's Cuphead is a glorious ode to classic anime and a terrific run-and-gun. Cuphead was originally released on Xbox One and PC before being ported to Nintendo Switch.
11. Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening – The best of old school Zelda, reimagined for the Nintendo Switch.  
12. Paper Mario: The Origami King – Paper Mario is back with its first series entry on Switch, and it's a fantastic game.
13. Splatoon 2 – A sequel that brings more multiplayer ink-splatter madness than the Wii U-exclusive original and more Splatfests too.
14. Unpacking – A game of unpacking boxes and moving into a series of new houses and apartments doesn't sound like a game of the year, but it is. 
15. Dead Cells – Dead Cells is an amalgamation of roguelikes and metroidvanias, and the result is a game that will likely be considered one of the best in both genres for years to come.
16. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle – If you mix Super Mario and XCOM together, you basically get Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, a weird strategy hybrid with tons of charm. 
17. Stardew Valley – An adorable pixel-art farming simulator that captured the hearts of our editors.
18. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut – One of the best and most inventive modern role-playing games, Disco Elysium, does quite well on Nintendo Switch.
19. Octopath Traveler – A modern turn-based Japanese RPG inspired by old-school graphics.
20. Minecraft – A beautiful creative open-world, blocky sandbox where you can build, destroy and mine whatever you want. 
21. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury – In my humble opinion, Super Mario 3D World is probably the best game for young children ever made. Especially if you are a parent who wants to play with them. It's simple, no reading necessary.
22. OlliOlli World – The OlliOlli series has been fantastic for years, but OlliOlli World is its final form. 
23. Eastward – Eastward is a superb exclusive to the Nintendo Switch console (also on PC), it is a very rewarding experience that is worth sticking around for.
24. Hollow Knight – Hollow Knight is perhaps one of the best games available on the Nintendo Switch. This is a disturbingly well-designed platformer in the tradition of Super Metroid.
25. Divinity: Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition – Divinity Original Sin 2 is one of your best bets. It's big and bold and manages to deliver surprises and new layers even after dozens of hours of play.
26. Hades – Hades, an isometric roguelike from Supergiant Games, came out of nowhere in 2020 and is now a very strong contender for Game of the Year.
27. Kirby and the Forgotten World – Kirby and the Forgotten World is a three-dimensional platform video game released in March 2022. A free demo of Kirby and the Forgotten World is available on Nintendo eShop.
28. Eastward – Do you like games like Zelda: A Link to the Past and Earthbound? Yes of course. You are a reasonable adult with good taste.
29. Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Square Enix's long-running Dragon Quest franchise has always stayed true to its roots, and Dragon Quest 11 takes on its traditional JRPG identity.
30. Golf Story – Influenced by Camelot's RPG-infused Mario sports games, Golf Story is an inexhaustibly charming role-playing game that's perfect for the Nintendo Switch.
31. Into the Breach – Into the Breach from Subset Games is a game of a rare genre unlike anything else. 
32. Monster hunter rise – The Monster Hunter series has a long history on Nintendo platforms for nearly a decade, and while Monster Hunter World didn't come out on the Switch, Capcom rectified that with the excellent Monster Hunter Rise.
33. New Pokémon Snap – Released over 20 years after the original Nintendo 64 game, New Pokemon Snap is brimming with charm.
34. Tetris Effect: Connected – Tetris and the Nintendo Switch are a perfect match, so it's no surprise that the best version of this classic puzzle game made it onto this list.
35. FIFA 22 coins – Available since October 1, 2021, the EA FIFA 22 license is unquestionably the best football game on all game consoles.

Top of the year 2021

Fortnite proves that it is still a force to be reckoned with as it managed to top the leaderboard. Concerning the best switch games 2021, we find Animal Crossing in second place, Pokemon Unite in 12th place and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury in 20th place.

1. Fortnite
2. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
3. Minecraft
4. Pokemon Sword
5. pokemon shield
6. Zelda: Breath of the Wild
7. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
8. Rocket League
9. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
10. Super Mario Odyssey
11. FIFA 21 Legacy Edition
12. Pokemon unite
13. Monster hunter rise
14. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
15. Super Mario Party
16. Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu
17. Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee
18. Splatoon 2
19. FIFA 20 Legacy Edition
20. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
21. Super Mario Maker 2
22. Luigi's Mansion 3

Best Free Nintendo Switch Games in 2024

Even though the Nintendo Switch is the cheapest of the current generation of gaming consoles, it's still good to know that you don't have to buy a game at full price to pick it up. Likewise, if you already have one, there are many ways to pay nothing or pay little to access an array of the best Switch games.

If you want them best free games on nintendo switch, you have these three options:

• free games from Nintendo eShop
• Nintendo eShop Demos
• Nintendo Switch Online Membership

As rumors of the new 4K-capable Nintendo Switch Pro continue to swirl, and it's hoped to coincide with the release of Breath of the Wild 2, check out the best free games on Nintendo Switch.

The best free-to-play games from Nintendo eShop

1. Apex Legends
2. Rocket League
3. Fortnite
4. Pokémon Coffee Mix
5. Pokémon Quest
6. Pac-Man 99
7. Zen Color
8. Asphalt 9: Legends
9. Fallout Shelter
10. Super Mario 35
11. Tetris 99
12. Super Kirby Clash
13. Brawlhalla
14. Warframe
15. Arena of Valor
16. Pinball FX3
17. Dauntless

The Best Free NES Games Online on Nintendo Switch

Like the respective PlayStation and Xbox systems, one must pay for an online subscription to play multiplayer on the Nintendo Switch. Called "Nintendo Switch Online", the multiplayer subscription service also includes access to a growing list of free downloadable games on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).

1. Double Dragon
2. Donkey Kong
3. The Legend of Zelda
4. Super Mario Bros. 3
5. Yoshi
6. Metroid
7. Kirby's Adventure
8. Punch-Out !! Featuring Mr. Dream
9. Kid Icarus
10. Clu Clu Land
11. Prehistory Man
12. Super Tennis
13. Super Mario Kart
14. Kirby's Dream Land 3
15. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
16. Super Metroid
17. Star Fox
18. F-ZERO
19. Super Punch-Out !!
20. Donkey Kong Country

Ranking best Nintendo Switch Lite games

Want to know which are the best Nintendo Switch Lite games? We're here to give you an expert opinion and offer you some choices that will go perfectly with the basic portable version of the Nintendo Switch. 

Although the Lite isn't most people's first choice, especially now that the OLED version is available, it's a small console capable of running almost all Switch games; the only exceptions are the few games that only work in TV mode. That said, some games that work great on a big TV screen lose some impact on the Switch Lite's small screen. So to save you any disappointment, we've made sure that all the games listed here look just as good on a small screen as they do on a forty-eight-inch TV.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – The best Nintendo Switch game works just as well on the Lite.
2. Animal Crossing: New Horizons – The best Nintendo Switch Lite game for casual fun.
3. Pokemon Legends: Arceus – The best Nintendo Switch Lite game for creature collectors.
4. Stardew Valley – A fresh and delicious farming simulator, for the Switch Lite.
5. Apex Legends – PUBG kicked off battle royale craze, and Fortnite took the genre's popularity to new heights, but Apex Legends may be the best of the bunch when it comes to raw gameplay.
6. Assassin's Creed : The Rebel Collection – Black Flag is an excellent game, brilliantly centering the open-world experience on sailing the high seas.
7. Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl – The best Nintendo Switch Lite game for classic Pokemon fans.
8. Bloodroots – Bloodroots is another lightning-fast, top-down murder game that clearly descends from Hotline Miami. 
9. Metroid Dread – The Nintendo Switch Lite game for gamers who like a challenge.
10. Mario Party superstars – There is still no party like a Mario Party.
11. BioShock: The Collection – BioShock The Collection brings together three of the most impactful and politically charged single-player shooters of the last generation.
12. Celeste's – A perfect platform game that never ceases to be talked about.
13. Super Mario Maker 2 – A classic 2D Mario game with an extra twist of creativity.
14. Borderlands legendary collection – Before Destiny, Borderlands had the original idea of ​​combining first-person shooters with the long-range role-playing mechanics of a Diablo-esque game.
15. Castlevania Advance Collection – Castlevania Advance Collection brings together several games from the saga of the vampire hunting franchise on portable console.
16. Bulletstorm: Duke of Switch Edition – The world is a canvas of carnage, and a beautiful canvas at that.
17. Call of Juarez: Gunslinger – If you want an unapologetic cowboy shooter that's a little less boring than Red Dead Redemption 2, here's Call of Juarez: Gunslinger. 

Best Switch Multiplayer, Local Co-op & 4 Player Games

Trying out all the best Nintendo Switch multiplayer games can put you in a lot of different situations. You might be in the mood to play an online multiplayer game where you can show off your skills against players around the world. Whether it's local co-op games or for a group, here are the best multiplayer switch games.

1. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the pinnacle of Nintendo's fighting franchise, with 74 characters and 100 stages that allow you and your friends to create the chaotic brawls of your dreams.
2. Diablo iii eternal collection – One of the most legendary action-RPG games of this generation is more at home than ever on Nintendo Switch.
3. Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle – If you and your friends have fond memories of the days of mindlessly destroying hordes of bad guys at your local arcade, the Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle is a must-have.
4. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the biggest installment in the series to date, with tons of characters, dynamic tracks and highly customizable vehicles.
5. Overcooked! All You Can Eat – Overcooked, one of the most popular local multiplayer games on all platforms, is a co-op cooking simulator where you and up to three friends work frantically to prepare meals in a busy kitchen.
6. Arms – You'll need two sets of Joy-Cons to get the most out of Arms, a quirky fighting game that incorporates motion controls.
7. Mario Tennis Aces – If you like the way Nintendo offers its tennis games, you will like Mario Tennis Aces. 
8. Rocket League – Three words: football with cars. The Switch plays host to one of the craziest multiplayer games in gaming, which sees two teams of cars pushing a massive ball towards each other's goals. 
9. Super Mario Party – There is no Nintendo console without Mario Party, and Super Mario Party is one of the best games in the iconic friendship-destroying multiplayer series. 
10. Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime – Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime, one of the best co-op games, is a beautiful and adorable 2D space shooter where communication is key. 

See also: Top +99 Best Crossplay PS4 PC Games To Play With Your Friends

Best games to play with family or friends

Nintendo's Switch is the perfect console for co-op multiplayer gaming and it's certainly a hit at a party, but if you want to play with your young kids and grandparents, it can be hard to find games that really fun for everyone. We know from experience that the delicate balance between the interests of the child and yours is often at the expense of yours. So, let's take a look, in no particular order, at the best family games on nintendo switch.

• Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. brain
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
• Overcooked! All you can eat
• WarioWare: Get It Together
• Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
• Luigi's Mansion 3
• Pikmin 3 Deluxe
• Yoshi's Crafted World
• 1-2-Switch
• Super Mario Maker 2
• Just Dance 2022
• Mario Golf Super Rush
• LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
• Puyo Puyo Tetris
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons
• Mario Tennis Aces
• Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order
• FastRMX
• Snipperclips
• Kirby Star Allies
• NBA 2K
• Death squared

Cheap Nintendo Games You Must Try

If you own a Nintendo Switch, you owe it to yourself to buy flagship titles like Super Mario Odyssey and Zelda: Breath of the Wild. But beyond those games, you don't need to break the bank to keep playing on the go. The Switch's online eShop is full of great games, and many of them can be had for a very affordable price.

• Sonic Mania ($20)
• Rocket League ($20)
• Downwell ($3)
• Cuphead ($20)
• Okami HD ($20)
• Stardew Valley ($15)
• A Short Hike ($7)
• Into the Breach ($15)
• Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 PLUS ($20)
• Ori and the Blind Forest ($20)
• Golf Story ($15)
• Thumper ($20)
• Dicey Dungeons ($15)
• Yoku's Island Express ($20)
• Everhood ($15)
• FAR: Lone Sails ($15)
• Mini Metro ($10)
• Limbo ($10)
• Subsurface Circular ($6)
• GRAY ($17)
• Just Shapes & Beats ($20)
• Tetris 99 (Free)
• Fortnite (Free)

Top Switch games for kids under 10

The best Nintendo Switch games for kids are not only fun, but also easy to understand and age-appropriate. Children as young as three pick up gamepads and press buttons. Game ratings help parents choose the best content for their children's safety while playing. Age ratings are based on elements present in the game software and are visible on its packaging. 

So if you're the proud parent of a new Switch owner looking for the best games for kids, we've got you covered. From a classic Pokemon remake to Big Brain Academy puzzle games, here are some of the best Switch games for kids under 10.

• Pokémon Brilliant Diamond
• Super Mario Odyssey
• The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
• My friend Peppa Pig
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons
• Lego DC Super Villains
• Little Dragons Cafe
• Mario Kart Deluxe 8
• Lost Sphear
• Super Mario Bros. Deluxe U
• Scribblenauts Mega Pack
• Lego: The Incredibles
• Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain
• Cars 3: Driven to Win
• Scribblenauts showdown
• Yoku's Island Express
• Kirby: Star Allies
• Cat Quest
• Paper Mario: The Origami King
• Atelier Lydie & Suelle: Alchemists and Mysterious Paintings

Switch games 2022 and release date

The Nintendo console is (already) entering its fifth year. Available since March 2017, we had the right to two versions of the machine with the Lite model in 2019 and the Switch OLED in 2021.

To be able to find your way around and especially anticipate your purchases, here is a list of the main games planned for Nintendo Switch in the coming months and especially the release date of these.

• [March 04] Triangle Strategy – Switch
• [March 10] Chocobo GP – Switch
• [25 March] Kirby: And the Forgotten World – Switch
• [March] Marvel Midnight Suns – Switch
• [March] WWE 2K22 – Switch
• [April 7] Chrono Cross Remaster – Switch
• [April 8] Advance Wars 1+2 – Switch
• [April 20] Star Wars The Force Unleashed – Switch
• [April 29] Switch Sports – Switch
• [May 19] Vampire The Masquerade Blood Hunt – Switch
• [June 10] Mario Strikers Battle League Soccer – Switch
• [June 24] Fire Emblem Warriors – Three Hopes – Switch
• [July 8] Klonoa 1+2 – Switch
• [July 22] Live A Live Remake – Switch
• [22 September] Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown – Switch
• [September 2022] Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – Switch
• [2022] Bayonetta 3 – Switch
• [2022] Dangerous Driving 2 – Switch
• [2022] Disney Speedstorm – Switch
• [2022] FIFA 23 Essential – Switch
• [2022] The Lord of the Rings: Gollum – Switch
• [2022] LEGO Star Wars: Skywalker Saga – Switch
• [2022] Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope – Switch
• [2022] Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (DLC) – Switch
• [2022] MultiVersus – Switch
• [2022] No Man's Sky – Switch
• [2022] Portal Cubic Collection – Switch
• [2022] SD Gundam Battle Alliance
• [2022] Sniper Elite 5 – Switch
• [2022] Sonic Frontiers – Switch
• [2022] Splatoon 3 – Switch
• [2022] The Castillo Protocol – Switch
• [2022] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 – Switch
• [2022] Two Point Campus – Switch
• [NC] Mario Kart 9 – Switch

Read also : Play to Earn – Top 10 Best Games to Earn NFTs

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