Having sold 59 million units and counting, it’s safe to say Nintendo Switch has been a phenomenal success. As both a hybrid home console and handheld device, the Switch’s portability is no doubt a major contributor to its appeal. But the ability to play both at home and on the go wouldn’t mean much without good games. Thankfully, the Switch is home to a large library of stellar titles. Here’s a quick list of some of our favorite video games exclusive to Nintendo Switch.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Nintendo wasn’t messing around when it launched Nintendo Switch back in 2017 with the then hotly anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Three years later, the game remains one of the Switch’s killer apps. When you first start Breath of the Wild, you almost can’t believe it. Everything you see in this expansive world is explorable. Everything. Every tree, every mountain, every castle – is scalable. Filled with numerous locales to discover, multiple mysteries and puzzles to solve, and plenty of tools in your arsenal to experiment with, each moment in the game is ripe with possibility. From its poetic score to its expansive lore to its engaging gameplay, Breath of the Wild is one of Nintendo's crowning achievements.
Super Mario Odyssey
Cut from the same cloth, Super Mario Odyssey is the pinnacle of the 3D platformer. And is it really any surprise? The gaming industry has seen many changes throughout the decades, but Super Mario has consistently delivered with each entry in its long and innovative series. Super Mario Odyssey takes the titular character’s signature cap and turns it into the game’s main mechanic. Mario can throw his cap at enemies and “capture” them – inhabiting various creatures to make use of their unique abilities to traverse the many new beautiful worlds on Mario’s quest across the globe to rescue Princess Peach from his longtime nemesis Bowser.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
If you are looking for a game to help you unwind, it’s hard to find anything more relaxing than Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This series is all about enjoying and appreciating the simple moments in life. After creating your character, you will join animal villagers on a deserted island. There, you get to know and make friends with the villagers, catch bugs, go fishing, breed flowers, decorate your home, design custom clothes and furniture, compose a new island theme, and more! You can also terraform your island – if you want a double waterfall overlooking the museum, do it!
If you have a Nintendo Switch Online account, you can also share and download other players’ unique designs, send your friends gifts and letters, and even visit your friends’ islands and meet their own villagers. You might even be able to invite one of their villagers to come live on your island – just make sure you ask your friend if that’s OK with them first!
Game On
There’s plenty more we haven’t mentioned here. Splatoon 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Luigi’s Mansion 3, Pokémon Sword and Shield, and even games made by other developers like Sega’s Sonic Mania, Square Enix’s Final Fantasy titles, and ConcernedApe’s Stardew Valley – there’s something for everyone on Nintendo Switch!
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