As the Nintendo Switch begins its official goodbye to make way for the Nintendo Switch 2, it's time to look at some of the gems this console gave us over its 8-year lifespan. While Switch games will be playable on the Switch 2, the number of games that will still be produced with compatibility with the original Switch will lessen until it is eventually phased out altogether.

While there are hundreds of amazing games on the Switch, several of them are also available on other platforms or, like Monster Hunter Rise, eventually received ports for other platforms despite originally being Switch exclusives. That being said, true Switch exclusives are where this console truly left its mark on players, and we can only hope the Nintendo Switch 2 will see an exclusive lineup with just as much impact.

10 Pokémon Legends: Arceus Was An Unexpected Change For The Franchise

Metacritic Metascore: 83

While the original Nintendo Switch saw several Pokémon releases in its lifespan, not all of them stood out or met expectations. Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee was a unique Pokémon GO-esque take on the original games with strange mechanics, Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl was a somewhat lackluster remake for Gen 4, Sword & Shield was a great Gen 8 game but predictable, and finally, Scarlet & Violet faced several critiques for its quality.

However, in the midst of all of this, Pokémon Legends: Arceus was unlike anything players of the franchise had ever seen. Taking place in the past and featuring a randomized selection of starter Pokémon with new final evolutions, nobody truly knew what to make of this experimental game, but despite some initial concerns, it became a fan-favorite because of how different it was. Now with Legends: Z-A releasing this year, this has become an anticipated spin-off series with the opportunity to recapture that same novelty Arceus brought to the table.

9 Metroid Dread Was A Feat Worth ing

Metacritic Metascore: 88 | Screen Rant Rating: 10/10

While Metroid Prime Remastered was another stand-out for the franchise on the Nintendo Switch, it is technically a remaster of an already existing phenomenal game, so it didn't surprise anyone that it was just as incredible as the original. That being said, one Metroid game that did stand out was Metroid Dread. Despite being critiqued as extremely difficult, Metroid Dread is a blast, with incredible pacing, graphics, and mechanics.

While it may have been a bigger challenge than players were anticipating, that struggle just made the payoff that much better. Completing Metroid Dread was a feat and one that Nintendo Switch players aren't likely to forget soon. This rewarding experience might have left you exhausted, but I'd argue that it's a bit rarer to find games with a truly difficult final boss, and Metroid Dread falls right in that sweet spot of being punishing, but not impossible.

8 Fire Emblem: Three Houses Put A Unique Spin On A Familiar Franchise

Metacritic Metascore: 89 | Screen Rant Rating: 9/10

While plenty of games might suck you into their world first, or have you fall blindly in love with their characters, Fire Emblem is a franchise known for doing a bit of both. Right from the start, you know you're in for an emotional rollercoaster as you're introduced to the case of characters, but that's not all that makes Three Houses a standout among the rest. As an approachable introductory game to the franchise, Three Houses managed to bring plenty of new Fire Emblem players into the fold.

Everything about Three Houses is designed intentionally to draw you into its compelling story, starting first and foremost with its wonderful writing. While it does have its awkward moments, so does nearly every game, and they are almost entirely outweighed by the good here. The school system offers an interesting extra layer to Fire Emblem gameplay, and new battle mechanics make some bold changes to the formula. Three Houses is already a game that players frequently return to because they aren't ready to say goodbye, and I don't expect that to change anytime soon.

7 Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Was A JRPG For Everyone

Metacritic Metascore: 89 | Screen Rant Rating: 10/10

JRPGs are a unique genre of games that can inspire both deep ion and general avoidance in different audiences. Those who enjoy the genre have played the majority of the heavy-hitters, like Xenoblade, Persona, and Final Fantasy, but every once in a while, one of these games makes its way to the wider market and becomes a game for everyone. Xenoblade Chronicles has been making waves from the start, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 built on that momentum. An undeniable hit among franchise fans, it also introduced an incredible world to audiences who had never given the franchise a chance.

Building on the foundation of the first two Xenoblade games, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 implements several QoL features that make this the best way to experience the franchise for the first time. It's a perfect introduction to JRPGs and a good gateway to both the series as a whole and other JRPG franchises. Overall, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 was an incredibly well-built game with masterful gameplay and character narratives that serves as a reminder of how much the genre has to offer.

6 Super Mario Bros. Wonder Shook The Foundation For Mainline Mario

Metacritic Metascore: 92 | Screen Rant Rating: 9/10

When Super Mario Bros. Wonder was first announced, there was no doubt it would be unlike anything the mainline Mario series had ever produced before. Seeing Mario stomping around as an elephant or characters shrunk down into slime-looking globs gave fans every indication that Mario Wonder would be a magical experience, and it was. In addition to being genuinely difficult at times, Mario Wonder utilized all the features that made Super Mario Bros. games incredible and expanded on them in a way that felt almost experimental.

Singing flowers, dancing enemies, and chaotic power-ups are just a few of the things that can be triggered on any given level, and you never know what you're in for. While I've always enjoyed Mario best with friends, this is the first time the game itself brought me as much laughter and joy as my co-op players did. I find myself returning to it again and again, and I hope that when the Nintendo Switch 2 inevitably sees a Super Mario Bros. release, it's half as insane as this one.

5 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Was With The Switch From Start To Finish

Metacritic Metascore: 92

While Mario Kart 8 was technically originally released on the Wii U, one of Nintendo's most disappointing consoles, I think everyone would agree that the Deluxe version on the Nintendo Switch is not the same game. With the release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch, which featured several changes to modes and other aspects of the game, Nintendo also released several DLC waves that included new tracks and occasionally new characters, some of which were other Nintendo IPs.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was not just a port of the Wii U version to the Nintendo Switch, but instead a fully remastered game with additional content to give the game another chance on a more successful console.

With steadily updated content and changes that kept the meta for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the move, players were always on their toes, and the game never had a chance to truly phase out of popularity. Although the sixth and final wave was released right before 2024, over a year before the end of the Switch's lifespan, it was left with plenty of content for players to enjoy before Mario Kart World releases as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2.

4 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Felt Like A Dream

Metacritic Metascore: 93

The Super Smash Bros. franchise has been a staple for Nintendo since the original game's release in 1999 for the Nintendo 64. Since then, it's had several notable releases, and to this day, there's still debate over which one was the most significant. That being said, it's hard to argue with the impact of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the franchise. Featuring an already impressive base roster, Smash Ultimate then saw several waves of DLC characters that changed things forever.

From Persona 5's Joker to Minecraft's Steve, these DLC character announcements were the kind of event you had to see to believe. Crowds gathered on the edge of their seats to watch these reveals, and the characters' trailers themselves still get views today from players reliving the nostalgia. Closing things out with the impossible, Kingdom Hearts' Sora in Smash, Masahiro Sakurai led Smash Ultimate out with a bang that I don't think can ever be replicated for the franchise.

3 Super Mario Odyssey Still Leaves Me Longing For Another 3D Mario

Metacritic Metascore: 97

While there are several notable 3D Marios, most of which are phenomenal games, Super Mario Odyssey truly stuck the landing by creating a near-perfect 3D Mario experience. Mario platformers are a staple in overall video game history, but there was just something about exploring the world and elements of Mario in a new way that was so captivating you couldn't look away.

Although no 3D Mario has been announced for the Switch 2, Donkey Kong Bananza is a Switch 2 exclusive that bears a striking resemblance to Mario Odyssey, and might just fill that void until we get word about the next official release.

For Super Mario Odyssey in particular, you'll visit several worlds, all vastly different from each other, and each with several things to do. For once, I didn't even mind the amount of backtracking required, as the worlds are enjoyable enough to avoid wearing out their welcome. With a generalized objective of finding what you need to progress, you're encouraged to explore and actively rewarded for it. The graphics, gameplay, and worlds were all so incredibly well-orchestrated that I can only hope the Nintendo Switch 2 uses the foundation built here for the next 3D Mario.

2 Animal Crossing: New Horizons Was There When Players Needed It Most

Metacritic Metascore: 90 | Screen Rant Rating: 9/10

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a game that couldn't have possibly had a better-timed release. Releasing in March 2020, Animal Crossing: New Horizons landed on the Switch right as a majority of countries began to see major lockdowns relating to the ongoing pandemic at the time. With millions of people stuck inside with nothing to do, everyone was looking for a way to ease their minds and connect with people again, and that's where ACNH came in.

As a peaceful game that allows you to build an island town in real time by doing slow, quiet tasks, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was an incredible experience and the perfect way to escape reality. I still the flood of people on social media every Sunday morning discussing Turnip prices, invitingothers to their islands, and just connecting in a way that I had never seen a game result in. It was a unique experience that can't be replicated, and it's precisely why ACNH still holds a special spot for so many.

1 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Was An Unforgettable Launch Title

Metacritic Metascore: 97 | Screen Rant Rating: 9/10

While The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was also released for the Wii U, despite being a Nintendo Switch launch title, it essentially served as the end for the Wii U. With its breathtaking views, responsive gameplay, and overwhelmingly incredible story, Breath of the Wild marked a change for not only the future of Nintendo, but the Zelda franchise as a whole. An expansive and interactive open world showcased what the Nintendo Switch was capable of while simultaneously telling the story of a brand-new type of journey for Link.

While the sequel, Tears of the Kingdom, received some critique rehash of BOTW, I feel that the major reason for that criticism was that the first step into BOTW was so monumental that TOTK couldn't replicate it. Other than the release of a few spin-offs, we have heard zero word from Nintendo regarding what's next for the series. One thing's for sure, though — Nintendo will need to drastically raise the bar if it hopes to match The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's launch on the Nintendo Switch.