The top 20 Nintendo Switch exclusives of all time

      When the Nintendo Switch debuted in 2017, expectations were significant. This hybrid console immediately appeared to be the ultimate gaming device, and the launch of a new Legend of Zelda title signaled that Nintendo was committed to supporting it with top-notch games. The standard was set high from the outset—and Nintendo consistently exceeded it over eight unforgettable years.

      While the Nintendo Switch era isn’t coming to a complete end just yet, it will soon be overshadowed by the Switch 2 on June 2. This upcoming transition has prompted us to reflect on the impressive array of games released on the platform since 2017. Third-party developers made a notable return to Nintendo, offering ports that expanded the Switch's library, but the console's standout feature has been its exclusive titles. Nintendo's teams delivered exceptional games, reviving numerous forgotten series while providing beloved franchises with some of their finest iterations. Titles like Zelda, Mario, Fire Emblem, and others turned the Nintendo Switch into an essential device, and this goodwill is likely to carry over to Switch 2.

      In recognition of this legacy, we are counting down our 20 favorite Switch exclusives of all time. This list focuses solely on games that are exclusively available on Switch, excluding titles that were later ported to other consoles and any Wii U ports (apologies to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe). Even with these limitations, narrowing it down to 20 was a challenging task. Initially, this countdown was intended to be a top 10, but that proved impossible. You'll understand why once you see the final list, which could have been arranged in countless ways based on individual preferences.

      20. Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics

      Nintendo

      While Animal Crossing: New Horizons is often recognized as the standout pandemic game of 2020, Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics held equal significance in my home. This straightforward compilation gathered classic tabletop games like Checkers and Shogi into a tactile and thoughtfully designed collection tailored for bored families. The game may not be the most glamorous on this list, but it didn't need to be. Personally, I dedicated countless hours to playing Mancala with my partner—something I had never really attempted before Clubhouse Games. The package explained the rules so effectively that I ended up purchasing a real Mancala board after a week. The game’s capacity to teach and provide cultural context for 51 different games secures its place on this list among some heavyweight competitors.

      19. Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope

      Ubisoft

      When Nintendo first announced the crossover between Mario and Ubisoft’s Rabbids, it seemed like a joke destined to become an oddity of gaming history. This turned out to be unfounded, as Ubisoft crafted a surprisingly excellent tactics game with Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. This marked the beginning of a promising series that quickly recognized its potential. Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope builds on the strengths of its predecessor, enhancing the action-packed turns that allow players to perform multiple moves simultaneously. This was made possible by a revamped movement system that replaced the first game’s grid with a more flexible approach. The outcome is the Switch's best tactics game and a serious contender for the best Mario spinoff yet.

      18. Ring Fit Adventure

      Nintendo

      Perhaps more than any other game on this list, Ring Fit Adventure exemplifies Nintendo's commendable innovative spirit. It would have been easy to make a motion-controlled fitness game akin to Wii Fit that simply instructed players to mimic exercises. However, Nintendo went a step further by designing its own pilates ring and turning it into a controller for a full-fledged RPG. Ring Fit Adventure offers a brilliant take on the fitness genre, recognizing that gradually building muscle shares similarities with the traditional RPG grind. The small battles accumulate over time, provided you have the patience to keep at them. This inspired game design from Nintendo proved to be a much-needed positive influence during the years of social isolation that marked this platform.

      17. Super Mario Bros. Wonder

      Nintendo

      It's expected to see numerous great Mario games on a Nintendo console. What’s more remarkable is encountering a phenomenal 2D Mario game today that feels as thrilling as a 3D one. That's what we experienced with the surprising Super Mario Bros. Wonder, a reinvention that the 2D Mario formula urgently needed. Rather than leaning on the overused nostalgia of the New Super Mario Bros. series, Wonder provided Mario with an expressive redesign, colorful new foes, and a variety of creative wonder effects that fundamentally redefined traditional platforming levels. Although it may not have the lasting impact of Mario's best escapades, Wonder succeeds in rekindling the magic that made Mario's early games so appealing.

      16. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity

      Nintendo

      The Switch era brought us several unexpected partnerships with Koei Tecmo, merging both the Zelda and Fire Emblem franchises into Dynasty Warriors-like Musou games. While these titles are some of the Switch's more