The Switch had an unbelievable run, returning Nintendo back to the head of the table as the dominant player in video gaming. A killer console concept tied with exceptional software, the Switch should rightly go down in history as arguably the greatest console of all time. With that, there’s no better time to look at the games that defined my experience. Obviously, I can only choose from what I’ve played (sorry Xenoblade) and, more importantly, this is my own list. So if anything is missing, or out of place, assume that’s by design, not by accident. Without further ado, here are my top 20 Nintendo Switch 2 games

20 – Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu & Eevee

The first Pokemon games on the Switch full stop sought to capitalise on the (waning, granted) craze of Pokemon Go, while also bringing a full adventure to the console. What we got was a reboot of Pokemon Yellow, giving players either a Pikachu or an Eevee depending on what version they picked up. The game followed the events of Yellow, even down to the addition of Jessie and James from Team Rocket. Didn’t really try to reinvent the wheel, but it was a really lovely experience. A warm hot chocolate of a game. Pure comfort.

19 – The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD

The oft-maligned swansong to the Nintendo Wii, Skyward Sword is, for my money, the best of the “traditional formula” Zelda titles. And it’s better for getting a second go on Switch. The controls can be a little frustrating, the scope can be a little dialled back in comparison to its ambition (which I chalk to the technical limitations of the Wii). The artwork, the story, the character; Skyward Sword is a top tier Zelda in every department. Put the time in to understand the control set up, and allow yourself to enjoy some of the greatest dungeons in series history. Linear? Yes, very. But that doesn’t detract from the experience, for me. Oh, and the music. I’ll bat for Skyward Sword every day of the week. A gorgeous game.

18 – Pokemon Sword & Shield

The first new mainline Pokemon games for the Switch hit the system in 2019 to a bit of a mixed reaction generally, but that didn’t stop me ploughing hours upon hours into it. Set in Galar, based loosely on the United Kingdom, you go from town to town winning gym badges, catching hundreds of creatures, and squirting up to football hooligans, apparently. It doesn’t go all in on an open world (Scarlet and Violet in 2022 would have that honour), but its mix of fixed camera towns and the more open “wild areas” connecting them made for a really interesting experience. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but I felt far more connected to this one that Sun and Moon prior. Its DLCs are pretty good, too!

17 – Celese

A beautiful, brutal, 2D pixel art platformer about facing one’s own anxiety while attempting to achieve the things they want to achieve in life. Our protagonist, Madeline, has to climb a literal mountain. It’s hard, but not unfair, too. I played this in handheld for about a fortnight solid, and it’s stuck with me since. A really good game, one rightly championed as a key indie release on Switch.

16 – Neva

The most recent game on this list, Neva is the latest from Spanish developer Nomada Studio, of Gris fame. Gris always interested me in terms of it’s aesthetic, but I couldn’t get on with it as an actual game. Neva hooked me and never let me go. A story of a girl and a wolf fighting the forces of evil across a year. Less action-y than it is puzzle-y (though the action elements slap) Neva is just a beautifully made game. I played it in one sitting, and sat in silence for like an hour after it was over and tried not to cry. A genuine masterpiece.

15 – Tetris 99

When you think about it, Tetris is basically the ultimate game. Tetris 99 is what happens when the ultimate game becomes a battle royale. Tetris 99 asks you to play a game of Tetris at the same time as 98 other people, and basically use the lines as weapons to attack your opponents with. As more get knocked out, the game becomes the single most stressful experience in gaming. And then you lose, and go again. And again. Until, eventually, you win. And it feels incredible. Has managed to outlast every other game that attempts the “99” formula. Brilliant.

14 – Golf Story

An Indiessential from the early days of the site, Golf Story was the first indie game I remember really taking off thanks to the success of the Switch. A top down pixel art sports RPG, in the same vein as the Mario Golf and Tennis games from the Game Boy Color and Advance. A genuinely really fun game, with a great sense of humour as well. Still worth your time. Just don’t bother with the sequel.

13 – Luigi’s Mansion 3

The game that basically convinced Nintendo to buy Next Level Games. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is the most tight and focused the series has ever been. Set in a hotel (The Last Resort is a great name, by the way), with each floor enjoying different themes, Luigi has to work his way through to the rooftop in order to save Mario, Peach, and a bunch of Toads from the clutches of King Boo, so they can enjoy their holiday. The Back Page Podcast once described Luigi’s Mansion 3 as the most “Naughty Dog” a Nintendo game has ever been, and I can’t stop thinking about that descriptor. You won’t know how much you wanted scripted set pieces involving Luigi until you play this. Do it.

12 – Super Mario Bros. Wonder

The New Super Mario Bros. games wore thin quick. A minor stylistic change, a handful of new power-ups, and AN ACTUAL BREAK later, and you’ve one of the best 2D Mario games ever made. Super Mario Wonder takes us away from the Mushroom Kingdom and into the neighbouring Flower Kingdom, and lets things get weird. The game’s big gimmick is the “wonder seed”, which can basically transform a level completely. One level is a full blown musical number. This is 2D Mario unsanitised. Unafraid of being strange, while delivering the best 2d platforming since Rayman Legends. A really great game.

11 – The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

How do you follow up one of the most critically acclaimed games ever made? Easy- just do more of it. Nintendo saw the success of (and likely the sheer work put into) Breath of the WIld, and opted to give it the Majora’s Mask treatment. Kind of. Tears of the Kingdom is a straight sequel, set 5 years after Breath of the Wild, in the same world, but with more. More areas to explore, more mechanics you can’t believe didn’t exist until now (Ultra Hand is a ridiculous power, by the way)- in any other scenario, Tears of the Kingdom is considered the superior title. Its biggest flaw? It came out second. I couldn’t help but directly compare both offerings, as I played through Tears of the Kingdom. When the credits rolled, I wasn’t left with the same willing to experience it again. A magnificent game, hurt only by timing.

Join us tomorrow where we cap off this top 20, which I’m absolutely certain won’t lead to my credibility being called into question.