These are the top 10 games for Nintendo Switch according to the Pocket Gamer team (2018)
PG's team on Hollow Knight, Golf Story, and more
From Super Mario Odyssey to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Stardew Valley to Overcooked 2, Nintendo has proven that it's Switch is a console you need to own.
You guys know very well by now how much I love the Switch. It's a cracking console, practically perfect for busier lifestyles and the pressures of commuting, and became especially interesting when Nintendo opened its doors to third-party developers.
Sure, Nintendo's IPs are fun enough, but I'd never been much of a fan or very interested in its recent consoles since I've always been a Sony girl. I know others in Pocket Gamer have always been fierce Ninty fans, which is what makes this list so interesting.
We can talk about what games are the best in each of their genres, but what do we think on the whole? With so many physical and eShop games available since last year, it's fascinating to see that there are definitive favourites on the platform.
In no particular order, here's what Switch games we at Pocket Gamer just love.
If you want to know what PG's top 10 games more mobile are, check out our iOS and Android articles.
1
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
This is just one of many you won't be surprised to see here and for good reason. Back when The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild came out it received so much positive press attention it almost felt too good to be true. Once you play it, however, you realise that even with such attention it's even better than you imagined.
Once again it's up to Link to head off on an epic adventure and stop Calamity Gannon's reign of evil. In the game you'll meet a wonderful cast of characters, discover vast and vibrant lands, unlock armour, recipes, and take on plenty of colourful baddies. Honestly, I can't praise this one enough.
2
Super Mario Odyssey
Next up another unsurprising and easy pick. Super Mario Odyssey was an unexpected joy (at least to me) where Mario teams up with Cappy and pursues the devious Bowser and his minions. Why? Because Bowser's trying to marry Peach by collecting the very best items from many kingdoms. If he hadn't kidnapped her it would almost be sweet.
What makes this game such a standout isn't only its brilliant, cohesive level design and striking graphics, it's the wide range of complex controls that suits all types of gamers. If you're not looking for a simple play-through, there are all sorts of ways to shake the Joy-Cons and moves to combine to get where you want to go. Speed runners have also taken a fancy to the title, and for good reason.
3
Octopath Traveler
It felt like we waited an age for Octopath Traveler to release on Nintendo Switch and we weren't disappointed when it did. Greeted by a beautiful 16-bit world, the art-style of the game is easy to fall in love with. Once you've gotten into it, however, you discover a rich, detailed world, full of promise, discovery, and adventure.
With eight different characters to get to know and play as, there's a lot of story to get through. You can work through each person's tale as you please and switch between them with ease if you fancy switching it up. In fact, we thought the story was where it struggled which sings pretty high praises for the rest of it. This is one JRPG you shouldn't pass by.
4
Into the Breach
Announced and dropped in the same breath, Into the Breach was a welcome surprise when it appeared on the Switch in August. Created by the folks who brought you FTL: Faster Than Light, it's hardly a shock to learn than it turned out to be one of the finest available strategy games we've ever had the pleasure of playing.
Unlike the majority of strategy games, you're not trying to win. No, with a lot of things out to get you your primary goal is merely to survive. There are other bits you can get on with while you play, of course, but it's the snappy length of the matches that make it an ideal title to get on the Switch.
5
Dead Cells
Aside from the controversy you've no doubt heard about on the internet, Dead Cells should be in your radar for one very important reason: it's bloody good. Though it may have more than a few traces of metroidvania to it, this game is an adventure platformer through-and-through, and it's not afraid to be tough.
Besides its difficulty, randomised levels, and permadeath, it's a fine looking specimen which really shows off that the popular pixel art-style doesn't just fall under one banner. Better still, it reminds you not to get too confident as it throws you unexpected hurdles to cross. That might be the level itself or a sudden horde of enemies. This is a game that's very hard to whine about.
6
Hollow Knight
Speaking of gorgeous-looking games, Hollow Knight is a treat for the eyes and ears. This beautiful 2D platformer is equal parts pretty as it is tough and challenging, and you won't be disappointed when you dive right on in.
When travelling through the cursed kingdom, Hallownest, you'll discover all sorts of settlements, characters, and beasties just waiting for you. If you're feeling super adventurous, you can nip off into the unknown to discover secret pathways, reap rewards, take on tricky bosses, and enjoy every minute of it.
7
Golf Story
Aha! As I've mentioned before, Golf Story was an unexpected joy for me. When it first came to Switch I wasn't too sure about whether or not it'd grip me like popular opinion suggested, but nine hours of uncertainty later I was absolutely smitten. This isn't just another cutesy RPG, it's a deep, detailed golf game with a hell of a lot of heart.
You start off as a wannabe golfing champion still in their early stages of training when you return to your childhood home. Over the course of the game you find a coach, go up against golfing legends, take part in some rather unusual challenges, improve your stats, and buy better golf gear. It's also one of the finest examples of the Switch's HD Rumble you'll find.
8
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Yeah, I know. How could we NOT include Mario Kart 8 Deluxe? Though it did feel a bit cheeky to praise it when it was basically the same game that came out on the Wii U not too long ago, we can't ignore the fact it's brilliant on the Switch.
From its general game modes to its easy breezy controls, the real pull of this Deluxe version is its multiplayer. The fact you can just snap off a Joy-Con and pass it to your pal when out and about, or head online to take part in global races is rather marvellous, too. It'll never stop being fun to watch your friends' faces drop when you beat them.
9
Overcooked 2
If you're always up for getting a few pals together for a game night you should definitely invest in Overcooked 2. You don't have to have played the first one to understand what's going on, and everything about it feels silky smooth and improved upon since Overcooked first came about.
In a fashion that's rather Adventure Time-esque, you'll work through a world of high-intensity cooking levels to stop the rise of the un-bread. Each level offers up a different trial and cooking technique, and you'll be yelling at your friends within the hour, I promise you that. Not in an angry way, of course. It's just so ridiculous, you can't help but make inhuman noises of frustration whilst also trying to contain your laughter.
10
Celeste
Celeste is one of those games that looks simple, but packs such a punch you'll be feeling it the next day. In a mix of excellent platforming and a delicate tale of mental illness, you shouldn't judge this one on appearances alone.
You need to help Madeline journey to the top of Celeste Mountain and, though the trip is hard, each failure is a lesson learned. The further you get, the more complex and eccentric the levels become with predominant themes running throughout. From its primary antagonist to scatterings of other characters, it's deep and rich on so many levels it's almost a necessity to any Switch player.
