What is the #1 best Nintendo Switch game of all time?

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is widely regarded as the best Nintendo Switch game, praised for its open-world design and critical acclaim.

Are all games in the top 10 exclusive to the Nintendo Switch?

No, the list includes both exclusive titles like Super Mario Odyssey and multi-platform games like Hades, but exclusives often dominate due to their unique Switch features.

How are the top 10 Switch games ranked?

Rankings typically combine Metacritic scores, sales figures, and community popularity to determine the most influential and beloved games on the platform.

What genres are represented in the best Switch games list?

The list spans action-adventure, platformer, RPG, and simulation genres, with standout examples like The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Odyssey, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

List of best-selling Nintendo Switch video games / Wikipedia

Video Game

Top 10 Best Nintendo Switch Games of All Time

The Nintendo Switch has sold over 140 million units, making it one of the best-selling consoles of all time (Nintendo IR). Its hybrid portable-home concept unlocked a golden era of gaming — from reinvented Zelda masterpieces and Mario odysseys to competitive multiplayer staples and surprise indie hits. Which of these iconic titles do you think deserves the #1 spot? Cast your vote below — be the first to weigh in!

2026178 viewsMar 16, 2026 Updated Sep 7, 2026

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#1
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild remains the highest-rated Nintendo Switch game ever made, with a 97/100 Metacritic score that no other title on this list—including Tears of the Kingdom—has surpassed. Its physics-based puzzle solving, emergent gameplay, and gorgeous art direction set a standard the entire industry scrambled to replicate.
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#2
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom scored 96/100 on Metacritic, just one point below its predecessor, by expanding Breath of the Wild's world vertically into the sky and underground while introducing revolutionary Ultrahand and Fuse mechanics.
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#3
Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Odyssey matches the 97/100 Metacritic score, cementing its place as one of the most critically acclaimed 3D platformers of all time. It sold over 26 million copies by reintroducing the sandbox design of Super Mario 64 with Cappy, a hat that possesses almost any object or enemy.
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#4
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best-selling Switch game of all time, with over 64 million copies sold—more than double the sales of Super Mario Odyssey. It refined the definitive kart racer with 96 tracks after the Booster Course DLC, all-new battle modes, and seamless online play.
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#5
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the most content-rich fighting game ever made, assembling 89 fighters from a 23-year franchise history. With over 33 million copies sold, it outsells every other fighting game, including Street Fighter II, the previous best-seller.
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#6
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons became the collective coping mechanism of a generation, selling 45 million copies as the second best-selling Switch title. Ultimate by 12 million units, and its March 20, 2020 release date made it a pandemic phenomenon. The game hosted virtual political events, fashion shows, and graduation ceremonies, expanding its appeal beyond traditional gaming demographics, with 2.5 million players logging in daily during its peak.
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#7
Metroid Dread
Metroid Dread is the best Metroid game since Super Metroid in 1994, scoring 88/100 on Metacritic and winning multiple Game of the Year awards in 2021. Its combat and E.M.M.I. sequences are tighter than the relaxing pace of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, offering a contrast that showcases Nintendo's range. The game sold 9 million copies within 18 months, 40% more than the previous Metroid title, Samus Returns, and its satisfying ability progression averages 12 hours for a first playthrough.
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#8
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the most acclaimed Fire Emblem game in the franchise's 30-year history, selling over 4 million copies and scoring 89/100 on Metacritic. Its Hogwarts-style academy setting, three dramatically different story routes, and deep tactical combat make it an unmissable JRPG for Switch owners, with a 50-hour average playtime per route for over 1 million players completing all routes.
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#9
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Pokémon Legends: Arceus delivers the most innovative Pokémon gameplay in 25 years, replacing traditional turn-based battles with seamless real-time capture in an open world. This bold redesign drove sales past 14.8 million units, outperforming the average mainline Pokémon title from the previous decade, which typically sells around 12 million copies. Its fluid exploration and dynamic encounter mechanics offer a fresh experience that redefines the franchise, appealing to long-time fans craving novelty while still respecting core catching mechanics. Topping Splatoon 3's 10.6 million first-week sales, Arceus demonstrates that a beloved series can successfully reinvent itself without losing its identity.
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#10
Splatoon 3
Splatoon 3 is Nintendo's fastest-selling game in Japanese history, moving 10.6 million copies in its first three days—a launch pace 15% faster than Splatoon 2’s. Its vibrant ink-based third-person shooter mechanics, robust competitive modes, and quirky aesthetic have elevated the franchise to one of Nintendo's most important new IPs. While Pokémon Legends: Arceus sold 14.8 million overall, Splatoon 3’s blistering start and sustained engagement through regular seasonal updates prove its staying power. This data-driven success shows a franchise that keeps evolving while staying uniquely fun, cementing its place in the Switch's legacy.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Nintendo Switch Games

What is the highest-rated Nintendo Switch game? Both *The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild* and *Super Mario Odyssey* hold a 97/100 Metacritic score — the joint highest-rated Nintendo Switch games ever released.

What is the best-selling Nintendo Switch game of all time? *Mario Kart 8 Deluxe* is the best-selling Switch title ever, with over 64 million copies sold worldwide.

Why has the Nintendo Switch been so successful? With over 140 million units sold, the Switch's hybrid home-and-portable design enabled a library spanning critically acclaimed open-world adventures, record-breaking multiplayer titles, and innovative role-playing games — many of which appear on this list.