Friday 3rd March 2023 marks the sixth anniversary of Nintendo Switch's launch. The console has built a remarkable library of software old and new in that time, so — as Switch enters its seventh year — we're republishing this reader-ranked list of the 50 best games on the system.

A game needs a minimum of 50 user ratings to become eligible. Once it reaches that threshold, anything is fair game. Enjoy!


Nintendo Switch has amassed a huge amount of great games since the console launched back in 2017. Of course, this abundance of riches leaves us in something of a pickle — too much software, not enough time to play it all. In fairness, it's a lovely problem to have. Help! There are too many excellent games to choose from!

But what are the best games on Switch so far? Well, we asked Nintendo Life readers to rate their favourite Switch games since launch and the list below is the result according to the User Ratings associated with Switch games on Nintendo Life's games database. As with our round-ups of the 50 Best Games from various consoles, years and series, the order here is fluid which means our Best Switch Games change over time reflecting new releases according to their rating. That way, you can be sure it's up-to-date whenever you look.

If you've yet to score your favourites, you can cast your 'vote' by clicking on each game's rating below. Can't see your favourite? Head to our library of Switch games (click the Games tab at the top of the page) and get rating. A game needs a minimum of fifty ratings to become eligible, so it's entirely possible to influence the best Switch games ranking below and get your favourites on the list. And if you'd like to see the best Switch games of individual years (so 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022), we've got you covered, too.

Without further ado, let's dive into this selection of the very best Switch games you can play right now...

50. Final Fantasy VII (Switch eShop)

Final Fantasy VII (Switch eShop)
Final Fantasy VII (Switch eShop)
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square Enix
Release Date: 26th Mar 2019 (USA) / 26th Mar 2019 (UK/EU)

Final Fantasy VII presented gamers with one of the biggest conundrums of our time: is it Aeris or Aerith?

Pronunciation posers aside, this game represented the series' 3D debut and was the first mainline game to not appear on a Nintendo platform. Therefore, Square took full advantage of the space available on Sony's CD media that simply wasn't available on Nintendo's cartridges at the time.

In many ways, FF7 is a relic. If you were there at the time, it likely affected you deeply; if you've never played it before, it's influence quickly spread across the entire genre and you'll most likely have seen everything it has to offer done elsewhere, and better in the intervening years. That's only natural — and it happens to all the very best games — but if you can overlook the odd clunky mechanic and antiquated piece of design, the core game here is as brilliant as it ever was.

49. Super Mario Maker 2 (Switch)

Super Mario Maker 2 (Switch)
Super Mario Maker 2 (Switch)
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: 28th Jun 2019 (USA) / 28th Jun 2019 (UK/EU)

Super Mario Maker 2 took everything you loved about Super Mario Maker and turned it up to eleven. It's got more of everything: the Super Mario 3D World style, enemies, gizmos, powerups, vertical levels, the Story Mode having an actual story, multiplayer, and more (and slopes, of course). The list of additions is truly massive when you take a step back.

There are a few small issues here and there — the online is still hilariously obtuse in a way only Nintendo could make it, and the slight awkwardness of button-based building is disappointing after how natural it felt on the Wii U GamePad — but they're overwhelmingly dwarfed by the sheer joy and unbridled freedom on offer. Free updates and tweaks to the formula mean the game has evolved since release much like the original did, with Ninji Speedruns and various new elements added to this expansive Mario toybox.

48. Tetris Effect: Connected (Switch eShop)

Tetris Effect: Connected (Switch eShop)
Tetris Effect: Connected (Switch eShop)
Publisher: Enhance Games / Developer: Resonair
Release Date: 8th Oct 2021 (USA) / 8th Oct 2021 (UK/EU)

Tetris is one of the greatest video games of all time, and Tetris Effect: Connected is perhaps the best iteration of the classic puzzler yet. While this Switch port doesn't offer a great deal over existing versions in terms of features, it delivers the one key ingredient that its rivals cannot: portability. Sure, some will argue that Tetris Effect: Connected's unique brand of synesthesia only really comes alive when played on PSVR or an Oculus Quest headset, but we'd argue passionately that this game benefits far more from the ability to pick it up and play whenever, wherever. Just as the Game Boy and Tetris combined to create an irresistible, world-conquering fusion back in 1989, Tetris Effect: Connected has finally found the hardware that allows it to truly shine, making this an utterly essential purchase for all Nintendo Switch owners. Just don't forget those headphones.

47. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Switch eShop)

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Switch eShop)
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Switch eShop)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 9th Apr 2019 (USA) / 9th Apr 2019 (UK/EU)

The original Ace Attorney is really getting on in years, which is remarkable when you consider just how well it holds up. Sure, it’s been ported plenty of times and the jump to Nintendo DS certainly helped shake off the retro cobwebs, but as a piece of interactive history, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is as utterly addictive and truly rewarding as it was back at the turn of the millennium. Whether you’re brand new to the world of virtual defence law or a veteran attorney, Phoenix Wright’s first adventures are still a fine set of cases to undertake.

46. SteamWorld Dig 2 (Switch eShop)

SteamWorld Dig 2 (Switch eShop)
SteamWorld Dig 2 (Switch eShop)
Publisher: Image & Form / Developer: Image & Form
Release Date: 21st Sep 2017 (USA) / 21st Sep 2017 (UK/EU)

SteamWorld Dig 2 is another confident effort from Image & Form, and a worthy successor to the original. Stylish and good-looking, it also has the series' trademark humour and, yes, a pretty good soundtrack. It refines and expands upon the qualities of SteamWorld Dig and hits some delicious high points. Whether you played the first game or not, SteamWorld Dig 2 is a must-have — its charming aesthetic and cast set the scene for a tightly designed and clever exploration game.

45. Ori And The Blind Forest: Definitive Edition (Switch eShop)

Ori And The Blind Forest: Definitive Edition (Switch eShop)
Ori And The Blind Forest: Definitive Edition (Switch eShop)
Publisher: Microsoft / Developer: Moon Studios
Release Date: 27th Sep 2019 (USA) / 27th Sep 2019 (UK/EU)

What we have here is a flawless port of a game which absolutely deserves all of the praise it has received. From start to finish, Ori and the Blind Forest is a real joy to play. Challenging yet never feeling unfair or discouraging, and almost relaxing to control. The mesmerising art style and musical score are the icing on the cake that makes the player actually care about the protagonist and want to keep playing to the game’s conclusion. It was a bit of a surprise to see this game make its way to the Nintendo Switch, but we’re glad that it did. An unmissable experience.

44. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (Switch)

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (Switch)
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (Switch)
Publisher: Atlus / Developer: Vanillaware
Release Date: 12th Apr 2022 (USA) / 12th Apr 2022 (UK/EU)

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a wonderful achievement for dynamic storytelling, as it puts forth a compelling and multifaceted narrative that’ll keep you guessing right up until the very end. This excellent story, combined with enjoyable combat portions, a striking art style, and some top-notch voice acting make for an experience that you won’t want to miss out on. It’s the kind of game that’ll have you wishing that you could play it again for the first time, just so all its best elements could be new again.

43. Cuphead (Switch eShop)

Cuphead (Switch eShop)
Cuphead (Switch eShop)
Publisher: StudioMDHR / Developer: StudioMDHR
Release Date: 18th Apr 2019 (USA) / 18th Apr 2019 (UK/EU)

Cuphead was an absolute masterpiece when it originally launched on Xbox One and nothing has been sacrificed in its move to the Switch. A run-and-gun boss battler dressed up like a 1930s Fleischer or Disney animated short, it’s the same visually jaw-dropping, aurally delightful, knuckle-whiteningly difficult game it was on Microsoft’s console and the Switch’s library is all the better for its presence. Its focus on intense boss battles won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into we can’t recommend it enough. Just look at it!

42. Bayonetta 3 (Switch)

Bayonetta 3 (Switch)
Bayonetta 3 (Switch)
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: PlatinumGames
Release Date: 28th Oct 2022 (USA) / 28th Oct 2022 (UK/EU)

Bayonetta 3 cranks up the chaos, improves the combat, polishes the level design, and adds a ton of new mechanics to the mix, making for the very best entry in this storied series to date. PlatinumGames has absolutely nailed it this time around, carefully layering on more ways to engage enemies, piling on the OTT gameplay sequences, and giving us multiple protagonists without upsetting the balance of what makes these games amongst the very best examples of their genre. With solid performance in docked and handheld modes, impressive visuals, non-stop action, and a hugely replayable campaign that's a joy from start to finish, this really is a huge celebration of everything we love about Bayonetta, an action all-timer and one of the highlights of Switch's impressive library.

41. Final Fantasy IX (Switch eShop)

Final Fantasy IX (Switch eShop)
Final Fantasy IX (Switch eShop)
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square Enix
Release Date: 13th Feb 2019 (USA) / 14th Feb 2019 (UK/EU)

As with any 20-year-old video game, there are elements of Final Fantasy IX that don't go down today quite was easily as they used to, but the characters, wacky story, and overall gameplay hold up very well in a modern context. Its medieval-style setting makes it a fun nostalgia trip for fans of the older series entries, or players fed up of all the futuristic Final Fantasies.