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The Best Nintendo Switch Games for 2020

The Nintendo Switch has amassed a bountiful crop of high-quality first- and third-party games. These are the best Switch titles, from new releases to well-worn (but still excellent) ports.

Will Greenwald
 & Will Greenwald Principal Writer, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Overview

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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks

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  • ARMS (for Nintendo Switch)

    ARMS (for Nintendo Switch)

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Deceptively deep, deliberate mechanics.
      • Strong variety of fighters, ARMS, and modes.
      • Limited customization options for online play.
      • Game formats and combinations become repetitive if you don't fall in love with the action.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    ARMS is an exciting, offbeat Nintendo Switch game that takes the tournament fighter genre and gives it a Splatoon-like quirky twist.

    Specs & Configurations

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  • Bayonetta 2 (for Nintendo Switch)

    Bayonetta 2 (for Nintendo Switch)

    4.5 Outstanding

    Pros & Cons

      • Fast, responsive combat mechanics with plenty of depth.
      • Excellent graphics.
      • Looks great and plays well in both docked and portable mode.
      • Physical version includes original Bayonetta.
      • Fairly short as a single playthrough.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Bayonetta 2 was one of the best action games on the Wii U, and the Switch port makes it so much more accessible.

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Nintendo Switch
    Product Price Type Direct
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  • Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (for Nintendo Switch)

    Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (for Nintendo Switch)

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Creative, varied level design.
      • Looks great.
      • Funky Kong mode makes the game more forgiving for less skilled players.
      • Adds very little besides Funky Kong.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is another excellent Wii U game that has found an even better home on the Nintendo Switch.

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Nintendo Switch
    Product Price Type Direct
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    Learn More Mega Man 11 (for PlayStation 4) Preview Review
  • Hades (for Nintendo Switch)

    Hades (for Nintendo Switch)

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

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  • Indivisible (for Nintendo Switch)

    Indivisible (for Nintendo Switch)

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

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    Learn More Indivisible (for Nintendo Switch) Review
  • Kirby Star Allies (for Nintendo Switch)

    Kirby Star Allies (for Nintendo Switch)

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Fun, accessible platforming action.
      • Easy to play on your own or with up to four friends.
      • Multiple game modes.
      • Not particularly challenging.
      • Doesn't offer many new ideas.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Kirby Star Allies for the Nintendo Switch doesn't add much new to the series, but it's still an excellent, engaging, and accessible platformer.

    Specs & Configurations

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  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (for Nintendo Switch)

    The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (for Nintendo Switch)

    4.5 Outstanding

    Pros & Cons

      • Massive, diverse open world.
      • Tons of clever puzzles.
      • Wide variety of things to see and do.
      • Strange desaturation filter makes the game appear hazy.
      • Combat is frustrating early on.
      • Weapon durability is a nuisance.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the biggest, most impressive Zelda game yet, and a fantastic launch title for the Nintendo Switch.

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Nintendo Switch
    Product Price Type Direct
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  • Luigi's Mansion 3 - Nintendo Switch Standard Edition

    Luigi's Mansion 3 - Nintendo Switch Standard Edition

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

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  • Lumines Remastered (for Nintendo Switch)

    Lumines Remastered (for Nintendo Switch)

    4.5 Outstanding

    Pros & Cons

      • Simple, addictive gameplay.
      • Hypnotic music and visuals.
      • Inexpensive.
      • No online multiplayer.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Lumines Remastered breathes new life into the block-dropping PlayStation Portable sleeper hit by porting it to the Nintendo Switch.

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Nintendo Switch
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  • Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle (for Nintendo Switch)

    Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle (for Nintendo Switch)

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Deceptively deep, complex gameplay.
      • Tons of maps and challenges.
      • Well-executed, fun premise.
      • Squad sizes are limited.
      • No online or competitive multiplayer modes.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle combines one of the most beloved names in video games with a horde of manic, cartoon rabbits for a surprisingly satisfying turn-based strategy experience.

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Nintendo Switch
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  • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

    Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

    4.5 Outstanding

    Pros & Cons

      • Completely overhauled Battle Mode.
      • Tons of tracks, including DLC content.
      • Lots of local and online multiplayer options.
      • Some stuttering with four-player split-screen in testing.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the second must-buy game on the Nintendo Switch (after The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild), and it's the most comprehensive Mario Kart game to date.

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Nintendo Switch
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  • Mario Tennis Aces (for Nintendo Switch)

    Mario Tennis Aces (for Nintendo Switch)

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Deceptively strategic, satisfying gameplay.
      • Tight conventional controls.
      • Lots of multiplayer options.
      • Online performance is inconsistent, especially on Wi-Fi.
      • Awkward motion controls in Swing Mode.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Mario Tennis Aces is the best sports game for Nintendo Switch, offering enough in-depth action to keep you swinging.

    Specs & Configurations

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  • Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 01 Variety Kit (for Nintendo Switch)

    Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 01 Variety Kit (for Nintendo Switch)

    5.0 Exemplary

    Pros & Cons

      • Remarkably clever and robust cardboard engineering.
      • Lots of game modes with increasing levels of complexity.
      • Toy-Con Garage is filled with potential for programming and creating your own Switch-based cardboard toys.
      • Slightly more expensive than standard first-party games.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    The Labo Variety Kit is a Nintendo Switch video game, a craft set, and a stepping stone to learning STEM, all wrapped up in an incredibly clever package that turns cardboard into toys and games.

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Nintendo Switch
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  • Nintendo Labo: VR Kit (for Nintendo Switch)
    Best for Nintendo Switch Owners

    Nintendo Labo: VR Kit (for Nintendo Switch)

    4.5 Outstanding

    Pros & Cons

      • Accessible, immersive VR experience for beginners.
      • Toy-Cons are clever and fun to build.
      • Toy-Con Garage VR lets you make your own games.
      • No way to share your Toy-Con Garage VR creations.
      • Switch screen is much grainier than nearly any other VR headset available.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    The Nintendo Labo VR Kit turns your Switch into a simple VR headset for playing a variety of mini games, including ones you can create yourself.

    Specs & Configurations

    Controls Joy-Cons
    Hardware Platform Nintendo Switch
    Motion Detection 3DOF
    Refresh Rate 60
    Resolution 1,280 by 720 (total)
    Software Platform Nintendo Labo
    Type Mobile
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    Learn More Nintendo Labo VR Kit Review Review
  • Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee!

    Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee!

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Colorful, well-animated HD graphics.
      • Exploring and catching Pokemon is more convenient, thanks to visible wild Pokemon and Pokemon Go elements.
      • Only 153 total Pokemon to find.
      • Fairly simple experience compared with the later-generation Pokemon games.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee finally bring full, main-series Pokemon titles to Nintendo Switch in the form of modernized and fairly simple remakes of Pokemon Yellow.

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Nintendo Switch
    Product Price Type Direct
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  • Puyo Puyo Tetris (for Nintendo Switch)

    Puyo Puyo Tetris (for Nintendo Switch)

    4.5 Outstanding

    Pros & Cons

      • Loads of game modes.
      • Classic Tetris and novel (for North America) Puyo Puyo gameplay.
      • Extensive Adventure mode.
      • Adventure mode story builds on lore from games only released in Japan.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    If you like block-dropping puzzles and own a Nintendo Switch, Puyo Puyo Tetris is a must-have game.

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Nintendo Switch
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  • Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (for Nintendo Switch)

    Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (for Nintendo Switch)

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Learn More Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (for Nintendo Switch) Review
  • Rocket League (for Nintendo Switch)

    Rocket League (for Nintendo Switch)

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Nintendo Switch
    Product Price Type Direct
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  • Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (for Nintendo Switch)

    Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (for Nintendo Switch)

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Get It Now
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  • Spellbreak (for Nintendo Switch)

    Spellbreak (for Nintendo Switch)

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Learn More Spellbreak (for Nintendo Switch) Review
  • Splatoon 2 (for Nintendo Switch)

    Splatoon 2 (for Nintendo Switch)

    4.0 Excellent

    Pros & Cons

      • Just as fun and frantic as the first game.
      • Improved graphics.
      • More local multiplayer options than the first Splatoon.
      • Online matches are still heavily curated.
      • Doesn't change much from Splatoon.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Splatoon 2 on the Nintendo Switch feels more like an updated, expanded Switch port of the first game than a sequel, but that's pretty compelling on its own.

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Nintendo Switch
    Product Price Type Direct
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  • Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection (for Nintendo Switch)

    Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection (for Nintendo Switch)

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Nintendo Switch
    Product Price Type Direct
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  • Streets of Rage 4 (for Nintendo Switch)

    Streets of Rage 4 (for Nintendo Switch)

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

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  • Super Bomberman R (for Nintendo Switch)

    Super Bomberman R (for Nintendo Switch)

    3.5 Good

    Pros & Cons

      • Incredibly fun multiplayer action.
      • Battle mode supports eight players.
      • Two-player, co-op Story mode.
      • Lots of unlockables.
      • Expensive.
      • Uneven visual aesthetic.
      • Continues in Story Mode cost in-game money.
      • Can't save after individual levels in Story mode.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Super Bomberman isn't the prettiest game in the long-running series, but its core multiplayer mayhem is as terrific as ever.

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Nintendo Switch
    Product Price Type Street
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  • Super Mario Odyssey (for Nintendo Switch)

    Super Mario Odyssey (for Nintendo Switch)

    5.0 Exemplary

    Pros & Cons

      • Fun, varied gameplay.
      • Many kingdoms to explore and challenges to beat.
      • Capture mechanic adds exciting problem-solving elements.
      • Costumes and Snapshot mode are a blast.
      • Very limited multiplayer.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Super Mario Odyssey isn't just the best Nintendo Switch game yet, it's the best Mario game since Super Mario Galaxy.

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Nintendo Switch
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  • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (for Nintendo Switch)

    Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (for Nintendo Switch)

    4.5 Outstanding

    Pros & Cons

      • The biggest roster yet.
      • Loads of content, spanning dozens of video game series.
      • Polished, satisfying gameplay with lots of variety.
      • Lacks proper online ranking tiers.
      • No online tournament mode.
      • Collectible spirits lack context and detail.

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for the Nintendo Switch earns its title, standing out as the most comprehensive Smash game to date.

    Specs & Configurations

    Product Category Nintendo Switch
    Product Price Type Direct
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  • Telling Lies (for Nintendo Switch)

    Telling Lies (for Nintendo Switch)

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Learn More Telling Lies (for Nintendo Switch) Review
  • Void Bastards

    Void Bastards

    Bottom Line:

    Bottom Line:

    Get It Now
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The Best Nintendo Switch Games for 2020

Compare Specs

Select Up To 3Select Up To 2
Your Selections
ARMS (for Nintendo Switch)

ARMS (for Nintendo Switch)

Bayonetta 2 (for Nintendo Switch)

Bayonetta 2 (for Nintendo Switch)

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (for Nintendo Switch)

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (for Nintendo Switch)

Our Pick
ARMS (for Nintendo Switch)
ARMS (for Nintendo Switch)
Bayonetta 2 (for Nintendo Switch)
Bayonetta 2 (for Nintendo Switch)
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (for Nintendo Switch)
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (for Nintendo Switch)
Hades (for Nintendo Switch)
Hades (for Nintendo Switch)
Indivisible (for Nintendo Switch)
Indivisible (for Nintendo Switch)
Kirby Star Allies (for Nintendo Switch)
Kirby Star Allies (for Nintendo Switch)
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (for Nintendo Switch)
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (for Nintendo Switch)
Luigi's Mansion 3 - Nintendo Switch Standard Edition
Luigi's Mansion 3 - Nintendo Switch Standard Edition
Lumines Remastered (for Nintendo Switch)
Lumines Remastered (for Nintendo Switch)
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle (for Nintendo Switch)
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle (for Nintendo Switch)
ARMS (for Nintendo Switch)
ARMS (for Nintendo Switch)
Bayonetta 2 (for Nintendo Switch)
Bayonetta 2 (for Nintendo Switch)
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (for Nintendo Switch)
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (for Nintendo Switch)
Rating
4.0 Excellent
4.5 Outstanding
4.0 Excellent
4.0 Excellent
4.5 Outstanding
4.5 Outstanding
4.0 Excellent
4.0 Excellent
4.5 Outstanding
4.0 Excellent
Best For
Product Price Type
DirectDirectDirectDirectDirectDirectDirectDirectDirectDirect
Product Category
Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchNintendo Switch

Buying Guide: The Best Nintendo Switch Games for 2020

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About Our Expert

Will Greenwald

Will Greenwald

Principal Writer, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I’m PCMag’s home theater and AR/VR expert, and your go-to source of information and recommendations for game consoles and accessories, smart displays, smart glasses, smart speakers, soundbars, TVs, and VR headsets. I’m an ISF-certified TV calibrator and THX-certified home theater technician, I've served as a CES Innovation Awards judge, and while Bandai hasn’t officially certified me, I’m also proficient at building Gundam plastic models up to MG-class. I also enjoy genre fiction writing, and my urban fantasy novel, Alex Norton, Paranormal Technical Support, is currently available on Amazon.

The Technology I Use

Where to start? I have a standard IT-issued Lenovo Thinkpad for writing and editing, supplemented with an iPad Air and an 8Bitdo Retro Keyboard when I want to write on the go. I also have a Lenovo Legion Go as a platform for running Portrait Displays’ Calman software and controlling the Klein K-10A colorimeter, Murideo SIX-G signal generator, and Leo Bodnar 4K Video Signal Lag Tester I use for testing TVs. 

For gaming, I use a Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X, and a GeForce 5080-equipped MSI gaming laptop. I like collecting retro games as well, and have an Analogue Pocket and a ton of classic consoles and portables. Photography is another interest, and I use a Sony A7 IV when I’m shooting products and events, and a Fujifilm X-Pro3 for my own attempts at visual creativity. And for reading and writing, I’ve become partial to the Kobo Sage for books and the ReMarkable 2 with Type Folio.

When it comes to phones and tablets, I’m pretty platform-agnostic. I use a Google Pixel 8 for my phone and an iPad Air for a tablet. Android, iOS, and iPadOS are all totally fine, but I need a Windows PC. MacOS just isn’t for me.

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