The Nintendo Switch has officially hit eight years old, and with that, I’m suddenly aware of my rickety knees.
Across its eight-year lifespan, the Switch became the most-sold console of all time. That’s right, it even beat out the classic PS2, and everyone’s favourite console: the Zeebo.
With the Switch 2 release right around the corner, we’re looking back on some of the best games that defined the generation.
Nintendo has also confirmed that the Switch 2 will be backwards compatible, which means that unlike the PS5, you can still use your physical Switch cartridges in the new console.
Nintendo also recently announced a Virtual Game Card feature that will let you transfer your digital games to your new console. You can even share them with family members connected to your account.
With that in mind, here are some of the best games that have kept us company these past eight years.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
No other game screams Nintendo Switch like Animal Crossings: New Horizons does. In fact, I’d say that this game defined 2020, as we were all locked in our homes for the first year of COVID and yearning for some form of connection.
Let’s be real — if you’ve ever wondered what the peak ‘cozy gaming’ experience is, you can look to Animal Crossing for the blueprint.
You show up in a new town, tidy it up, connect with villagers and slowly rake up big dollars. You can also visit other players’ homes and trade unique items. Plus, just like in real life, you pay a mortgage to a greedy landlord raccoon. And they say video games are meant to be escapism.
Buy it from: Amazon ($72.71), Nintendo eShop ($79.95)
Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Asking for a sequel to Breath of the Wild was already a tall order. Unsurprisingly, Tears of the Kingdom topped its predecessor and delivered a front-to-back flawless experience.
This is one of the rare Legend of Zelda games that are a direct sequel to another title. You start the game as Link post-Breath of the Wild, exploring a creepy cave with Zelda. In the said cave, you discover an old wretched corpse of Ganondorf (the big bad evil guy of the series), who shoots an evil spell, corrupting Link and resetting your skills from the last game.
This sets the foundation for the game, introducing you to new mechanics, environments, and enemies.
Arguably one of the best new gameplay features in Breath of the Wild is the ability to build and power constructs. There are countless clips online of players going full “evil mad scientist” mode and discovering new ways to play years later.
Not only will Tears of the Kingdom go down as one of the best games on the Switch, but it’s also a genuine top competitor for one of the greats of all time, making it a must-play.
Buy it from: Amazon ($71.96), Nintendo eShop ($89.95)
Pikmin 4
The Pikmin series was genuinely slept on by the general public for too long. That is, until Pikmin 4 dropped in 2023 and quickly became one of the most pleasant games on the Switch.
You’ll play as an astronaut who crash lands on a foreign planet while on a search-and-rescue mission for Olimar (the playable character in previous games).
Your crew is scattered in the crash, but you wake up discovering that the aliens on the planet, the Pikmin, respond to your commands. From here, you’ll collect and command them to do tasks for you.
You’ll eventually find different kinds of Pikmin with different affinities. Some might be able to charge electric fences, weigh enemies down, swim through water and more.
With the help of the Pikmins, and your adorable space dog companion, you’ll set out to rescue your crew members and rebuild your ship to get off the planet.
Buy it from: Amazon ($89.68), Nintendo eShop ($79.95)
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Folks, I have to admit that I am a weeb. But after you’re done playing Fire Emblem: Three Houses, I guarantee you’ll join the club too.
If you’re unfamiliar with the series, let me get you up to speed. Fire Emblem is a series of medieval-inspired strategy games. The catch? Whenever a character dies in the game, they’re gone for good. Each playthrough will be unique as characters will level up with different stats. So, a character who might carry you through one playthrough could be hit like a wet noodle the next. The stakes are truly high.
In Fire Emblem: Three Houses, you play as a mercenary recruited to a unique school for gifted students. There, you become a teacher of one of three houses: The Blue Lions, The Black Eagles and The Golden Deers. Every house has its own storyline that reveals new tidbits about the characters and the wider world of the game.
I went into this one as a complete newbie to the franchise, and came out as a fan for life. There’s even a pseudo-sequel game, Fire Emblem: Three Hopes, where instead of turn-based combat, you get to hack n’ slash through mobs like butter.
Not only does Three Houses have stellar combat, you’ll also spend time bonding with your students and exploring the school grounds. I’ve apparently clocked over 250 hours in this game over the years, and honestly, I’m sure I’ll be booting up another run in no time.
Buy it from: Amazon, ($99) Nintendo eShop ($79.95)
Mario Odyssey
Every Nintendo console gets its own special 3D Mario game. The Nintendo 64 had Super Mario 64; the Gamecube had Mario Sunshine, the Wii had Super Mario Galaxy, and the Switch had Mario Odyssey. Now, my most controversial gaming opinion is that Mario Odyssey might just be the best Mario game ever made. After a few hours of gameplay, you’ll quickly understand why.
The story of Mario doesn’t really matter too much. You play Mario (duh), except this time, you get a cool, funky hat. This hat lets you possess different objects and enemies in the game. You’ll get to transform into a goomba, a t-rex, plants — nearly anything you can dream up. The hat will also open up some neat movement tricks to let you speed through areas if you’re patient enough to learn how.
Across the game, you’ll explore a bunch of different environments, collecting multiple hidden stars in each. It’s a tight, fun game loop that will feel fresh your whole way through.
Buy it from: Amazon ($101.97), Nintendo eShop ($79.95)
Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium is one of the most important games of all time. It’s one of the sharpest, best-written narratives I’ve played and read. Believe me, you’ll be reading a lot in this game.
The game starts with you waking up in a hotel room, completely forgetting who you are. You quickly learn that you’re a police detective tasked with investigating the death of a dock worker. You drank yourself stupid, however, neglecting the hanging body for days and alienating everyone in town.
After quickly teaming up with a fellow officer, you soon discover more about the political tensions in the town. That’s right baby, this game is a full-blown political science course.
In the game, your subconscious manifests as different characters who guide you or lean into your worst impulses. These have made for both some of the funniest and simultaneously most heartbreaking moments in a game I’ve ever played.
My personal favourite is when your subconscious urges you to sing the most “sufficiently tragic tape” karaoke. Your character is hurting, and ooh boy does he need to make it known. If you fail the dice roll here, you’ll be left sounding like Pinky the Mouse. The second-hand embarrassment is real, because lord, who hasn’t witnessed this at a karaoke night?
Oh, and the soundtrack by Sea Power is an absolute gem worth listening to.
Seriously, if you haven’t already, it’s worth picking up and trying it yourself.
Buy it from: Amazon ($59.95), Nintendo eShop ($60.00)
Hollow Knight
Wanna play as a cute little bug guy with a needle sword and fight creepy bug guys? If so, Hollow Knight is for you.
Inspired by games like Metroid, Dark Souls and Castlevania, Hollow Knight is a tough but thrilling action game that’ll get your blood pumping.
Across the game, you’ll traverse through different environments, collecting power-ups and defeating various evil-looking bosses. Hollow Knight doesn’t make its narrative obvious, but you’ll be able to pick up on context clues throughout your run and piece bits together.
Despite coming from a small indie team, Hollow Knight has quickly become one of the most celebrated games in recent years, thanks to its stellar design and skill expression. Fans have been waiting years for its sequel, Silksong, so be sure to dive into the original before it drops.
Buy it from: Amazon ($49.38), Nintendo eShop ($17.50)
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Mario Odyssey helped re-invent the classic 3D Mario experience for a fresh console generation. But what about the classic 2D experience that we all fell in love with? Well, that’s where Super Mario Bros. Wonder comes in.
This is an obvious pick if you’re looking for a fun, four-player co-op Mario game. It’s filled with such whimsy and joy that you’ll forget the current news cycle for a brief moment.
Mario Wonder has your classic series staples paired with some fresh iterations. For one, you’ll transform into a huge elephant that sprays water at people. But there are also new enemies to keep the experience fresh and fun for series veterans.
Buy it from: Amazon, ($79.95) Nintendo eShop ($79.95)
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is yet another cozy game that you’ll spend days occupied by.
You play as a city-slicker who moves to Stardew Valley after your grandpa passes at the start of the game.
When you arrive, the farm is overrun with crops, stones, and trees, and you must start fresh. Over the day, you’ll interact with the villagers (who are all unique characters), go fishing, spelunk in caves, plant and harvest your crops and, most importantly, give gifts to those you want to woo. You know what I mean.
Even more impressive, the game was made by just one guy. And while the game has been out for years, he’s still continuously improving it and adding a bunch of features.
For that reason alone, it’s become the next Minecraft and the inspiration for countless indie games coming out today.
Buy it from: Amazon ($59.61), Nintendo eShop ($16.99)
Balatro
I could gush about Balatro for hours. It’s become my latest hyperfixation where I scurry away at work to play it on my lunch breaks.
The game is a blend of poker and rogue-lite. You’ll select a bunch of cards like in Poker, and these cards will have added multipliers. You’ll pair these with upgrades and Joker cards that’ll add bonus effects. Each run is different, as you’ll get random buffs, and you also can try out different decks for an extra layer of fun.
It’s the perfect game to knock out a quick 15 minute run, or to play until 3am if that’s your jam.
Buy it from: Nintendo eShop ($21.95)
And there you have it — the best games that made the Nintendo Switch a must-have console in any household. I can only hope the Switch 2 has some truly stellar games that reach this level of quality to last us another eight years.
If you’d like to know more about the Nintendo Switch 2 and when you can get your hands on it, be sure to tune into the Nintendo Direct tonight at midnight. Here’s hoping we’ll get more news on pricing, and any upcoming games.
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