Nintendo has been one of the biggest names in gaming for decades, but for the last eight years, the Switch has held an especially strong grip on players, young and old. The standard console, Switch Lite and Switch OLED have blended incredible games you won’t find anywhere else with a delightfully portable console format. Altogether, this generation of Nintendo systems sold upward of 143 million units globally, according to company financial data.

After what was considered a failed launch of the Wii U in 2012, the Switch’s success is a result of Nintendo’s willingness to experiment with and create new experiences from a number of its pedigreed gaming series, including Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda and Pokemon. Its innovative design allows standard console play to coexist with the motion controls baked into its compact Joy-Con design. 

With the reveal of the Switch 2 console, the slate of Switch games has become more important than ever before. Backward compatibility will mean you’re able to bring your favorite Nintendo games with you onto a new, stronger iteration of the fan-favorite hybrid console. Some of the best Switch games will even be getting free Switch 2 updates or paid Switch 2 edition upgrades.

If you’re looking for the right game for you ahead of a new console release, CNET curated this list of the best Nintendo Switch games you can buy right now.

Best Nintendo Switch Games — June 2025

Nintendo Switch game FAQs

Recent updates to the list

• April 2025: Added Metroid Dread, Pikmin 4 and Super Mario Maker 2. We also began including a list of Switch 2 features on relevant entries so you can prepare for Nintendo’s next generation console.
• November 2024: Added The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Super Mario Party Jamboree
• June 2025: Removed Tetris 99. Added Tetris Effect: Connected.

How we determined CNET’s best Nintendo Switch games

When creating this list of best Nintendo Switch games, we factored in how unique and enjoyable these games are for most players — we evaluated criteria including graphical quality, innovative gameplay mechanics and compelling narratives. The picks we made cover a variety of genres from fantasy to retro platformers to shooters to racing games, and while we favored console-exclusive games you won’t find on Xbox, PlayStation or PC we also included some can’t-miss games that appear on multiple platforms. If you’re looking for help choosing your next game, CNET’s top Switch list is a good place to start narrowing your choices.

Sony’s State of Play online event on Wednesday showcased plenty of trailers of upcoming games launching later in 2025 and into 2026. The preview, which lasted less than an hour, showcased new and previously announced PS5 titles as well as a new controller.

The last State of Play was in February and featured previews of games from the studio behind Returnal, including Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, Lies of P: Overture and Saros.

This time, Sony released a few teasers for many of its most-hyped games, including Ghost of Yōtei, Silent Hill F, Pragmata, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, a remaster of the original Final Fantasy Tactics and even more levels from last year’s fan-favorite hit Astro Bot. 

The trailer fest also included a reveal of a new official Sony fighting stick, which Sony has given the codename Project Defiant (a final name is forthcoming). While it doesn’t have a release date or price, the company noted that it will have wired or «ultra-low latency» wireless connectivity, a durable design and a sling carry case included for easy transport.  

How to watch Sony State of Play

State of Play streamed live on YouTube and Twitch starting at 2 p.m. PT (5 p.m. ET).

007 First Light

We got our first look at the new James Bond game from Amazon MGM Studios, 007 First Light. From the trailer, it’s clear that the game will cover the origins of the super-spy set in what seems like the groovy 1960s. Bond is young and eager, getting his start at MI6, with missions that will take him around the world. 007 First Light is coming in 2026.

Ghost of Yotei

The spiritual sequel to Ghost of Tsushima had a trailer that showed more vibes than gameplay, pretty much just teeing up a gameplay reveal stream coming in July. Ah well.

Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls

Ignore that word salad title — this is a heretofore unlooked-for Marvel fighting game from Arc System Works, famed for the Guilty Gear and BlazBlue series as well as Dragon Ball FighterZ. While a little more grounded than Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 (where are my super jumps?), Marvel Tokon Fighting Souls will have 4v4 tag team battles, promising tight gameplay and fun new costumes for Marvel heroes. It’s coming to PS5 and PC in 2026. 

Lumines Arise

A new game in the Lumines universe is coming from the creators of Tetris Effect: Connected, and you can see the impact with a synesthetic combination of music and visuals working together. Lumines Arise comes out in the fall of 2025 for PS5.

Pragmata

Our second big trailer for Pragmata, Capcom’s next single-player adventure, shows even more of the relationship between the astrogear-wearing protagonist and the robot (looking like a small girl) with more capability than she seems. Pragmata comes out in 2026.

Romeo is a Dead Man

Romeo is a Dead Man, a new game from Grasshopper Manufacture, was created by noted game developer Suda51 (Killer7). The trailer opened with a bloody protagonist origin transitioning into gameplay of him, newly reborn, slashing and shooting his way through hordes of dead demon-like things. This game — and whatever panoply of styles and oddball features suitable for Suda51 — is coming in 2026.

Silent Hill f

Another trailer for the next Silent Hill game set in 1960s Japan, this game interspersed cutscenes with some gameplay of main character Hinako, a schoolgirl, fighting horrific mannequin-like monsters in schools and shrines across a mist-covered town. The game comes out on Sept. 25.

Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement

The next game in the Bloodstained series of Castlevania-likes is another side-scrolling, grim action game, which is coming out in 2026.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger

A new Digimon game from Bandai Namco, Digimon Story: Time Stranger is a story-rich RPG with a cel-shaded anime style set in a Japan invaded by monsters. The game comes out Oct. 3.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles

A remaster of the Final Fantasy Tactics classic, the game has two versions: the original game and the enhanced version with fully voiced dialogue, improved graphics and more. It will launch on PS5 and PS4 Sept. 30.

Baby Steps

Described by one CNET colleague as «open world QWOP,» Baby Steps looks to be a surrealist adventure of a character with one goal: make it to the bathroom. It looks like a zany idea brought to life in Garry’s Mod (and I meant that as a compliment). Baby Steps comes out Sept. 8. 

Hirogami

Hirogami is a beautiful-looking platformer starring protagonist Hiro, a master of origami folding themself into different forms to traverse the locations. It’s got a unique animation look where your character moves «on the 2’s», or with half the frame rate to give it the stylized look of Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. Hirogami is out Sept. 3.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound

From the makers of the Blasphemous games comes the next side-scrolling action entry in the Ninja Gaiden series, Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, featuring two heroes from rival clans who must team up to defeat evil. It’s out July 31 on PS5 and PS4.

Cairn

The upcoming climbing game Cairn got another trailer ahead of its release later this year. In Cairn, you climb using natural handholds, but it’s more than just the ascent — the main character, Aava, has her own personal journey to make in her ascents. Cairn comes out for PC and PS5 on Nov. 5. 

Mortal Kombat Legacy Collection

Over 20 different versions of the original Mortal Kombat games are coming to PS5 and PS4 later in 2025. Retro game restorers Digital Eclipse have bundled the first four Mortal Kombat games (as well as Mortal Kombat 3 Ultimate) and more into the Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, which will also let you challenge players online.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

Another trailer for the remake of the third Metal Gear Solid game, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, showed off more bosses and, curiously, a crossover with Ape Escape (capture the ape and get a robo-ape mecha to deploy?). Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is out Aug. 28.

Nioh 3

Nioh 3 is coming next year. The reveal trailer for the next entry in the samurai demon-killing game showed off its open-world design and a new ninja play style to complement its armored samurai fighting. The game has a PS5 demo out on Wednesday and will be released in early 2026.

Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow

A new game in the storied Thief franchise, Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow, is a PSVR 2-only game that follows in its predecessors’ medieval stealth adventure footsteps — except this time, players get a virtual reality hands-on perspective. Made by Vertigo Games, creators of Metro Awakening and Arizona Sunshine, Thief VR is coming later in 2025.

Tides of Tomorrow

An oceanborne post-apocalypse game that looks like Waterworld by way of the wildly vibrant Sunset Overdrive, Tides of Tomorrow has another feature that could distinguish it from the crowd: a multiplayer story. Though its exact processes are hard to tell from the trailer, players can follow their friend or favorite streamer to see how their choices shape the collective story of the game. Tides of Tomorrow comes out on Feb. 24, 2026. 

Sea of Remnants

Have you ever wanted to sail the seas as a puppet? Sea of Remnants seems like an even more colorful and zany single-player Sea of Thieves with some interesting color and combat mechanics. The trailer showed off dragons and massive floating crab bosses whose shells are coated in gold. Also, what looks like mermaid bosses? Sea of Remnants is coming in 2026.

Sword of the Sea

Yes, Sony debuted a third sea-themed game at State of Play — or rather, one mixing seas and deserts from game makers versed in both. Sword of the Sea is a new indie adventure game from Giant Squid, creators of the iconic games Journey, Abzu and The Pathless. And yes, we’re getting another soundtrack from Austin Wintory. Sword of the Sea comes to PS5 and PlayStation Plus on Aug. 19.