Let me see... checking my entire Switch library... Damn, I bought way more games for this thing than I thought. My Switch library already exceeds my 3DS library, and Fire Emblem isn't even out yet & Awakening and Fates were my favorite 3DS games!
But anyways, getting off track...
My Top 10 Favorite Switch Games:
10. Pokemon Let's Go Eevee! - The very first mainline Pokemon games to grace the Nintendo Switch... Are glorified Gen 1 remakes with Pokemon GO mechanics slapped onto it. I know that's painting a very broad brush and I will say I still had a very great and enjoyable time playing this game and going on a nostalgia trip from my kindergarten/early Elem. school days when Pokemon was my life. Furthermore, this game introduced some new mechanics and elements into the series that I REALLY hope to God they keep on board for Gen 8 and future games to come. Actually seeing all these different types of Pokemon in the overworld & choosing which ones to battle and when to battle them at your leisure is a GARGANTUAN improvement over random battles it is not even funny. It gives me more control of my choices, progress, and growth as a player/Pokemon trainer and it really makes the world of Pokemon feel alive like nothing else. While this is still not quite what I expect from the first mainline, HD, console-quality Pokemon games & I truly hope Gen 8 is a massive leap above these games, they are still good Pokemon games and good games in general.
9. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze - A fantastic 2D platformer featuring everyone's favorite Banana Slama! Beautiful graphics, engaging and challenging level design (for the most part), silky smooth controls, great partners (Dixie Kong for Smash Bros.!), and ohhhh that soundtrack! The only reason this game doesn't rank higher is because I already played it on Wii U, so it loses points for that in my ranking. But, that doesn't make the game any less amazing.
8. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Pretty much my same opinions as Tropical Freeze, a fantastic kart racer and the best Mario Kart has to offer in my view and the added Battle Mode is awesome. But, since I already played it on Wii U, it also ranks lower as a result. Still a fantastic game, though. It's Mario Kart, what more is there to say?
7. Splatoon 2 - The sequel to the one game that, in my mind, was the saving grace of the Wii U. A solid sequel that takes the franchise to new levels. The future is bright for this franchise and I look forward to the eventual 3rd game in the series.
6. Crash Bandicoot: N Sane Trilogy - Something that PlayStation fans back in the 1990s would have thought was impossible, the first 3 Crash Bandicoot games, the games that helped define and cement the PS1 and the PlayStation brand in general, releasing on Nintendo. And the results, in my eyes, were a rousing success! I double dipped on this after I bought it on the PS4, and I can honestly say, I prefer the N Sane Trilogy on the Switch due to the unique advantages the Switch hardware brings and am just more comfortable with platformers on Nintendo. Everything translates pretty smoothly and I very much enjoyed my time with these games.
5. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - The true sequel to one of the greatest RPGs I have ever played. (X is still a very great game on its own.) At Nintendo's presentation of the Switch back in January 2017, this was one of the games I was absolutely looking forward to the most. Expectations were very high, and I'm happy to say that they met those expectations. Just like Xenoblade 1, this took me some time to get used to and truly learn and understand the mechanics, but the world, the story, the cast of characters, kept me invested and compelled me to push forward and I'm happy I did, because the end result was my favorite RPG so far on the Switch. I am also very happy and pleased to see this game's growing success and sales. I hope this will spark and inspire Nintendo to invest further resources and provide more financial support to Monolith Soft. so they can truly take this series to impressive, breathtaking new heights. Here's hoping that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the title that accomplishes just that.
4. Sonic Mania - Despite the quality (and reputation) of the series being up & down & all-around, there is no other video game franchise I have more memories, enjoyment, and love for than Sonic the Hedgehog. My #1, favorite video game franchise. Sure, the 3D games have been very hit or miss, but the 2D games, from the Genesis era, to the Advance trilogy, to the Rush series, have always been consistently good and this game has proven to be one of the best! Sonic Mania is everything I could have hoped and asked for in a great 2D Sonic game! High speed platforming action with plenty of alternate routes to take; Compelling level themes and design; And of course, the amazing soundtrack. The only thing that holds this game back is the over reliance on old zones & levels (Green Hill, Chemical Plant, Stardust Speedway - although Act 1 is my favorite music track in the game, etc), if the game had consisted of nothing but brand new zones with brand new level design, it could have possibly topped my list as my #1 favorite Switch game. But alas, it'll have to settle for #4. Christian Whitehead and his team did a masterful job bring the Genesis styled, classic Sonic formula back and better than ever... Now if we could just get someone who can do the same for the Adventure formula. (Where are my SA1 & SA2 Remakes, Sega?!?)
3. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - The biggest, grandest, most ambitious Smash Bros. game ever made. It certainly lives up to its subtitle. A good mixture between Melee and Smash Wii U, this game feels just right for me as a longtime fan and veteran of the series. The gargantuan cast of characters can feel overwhelming sometimes, but damn it it's awesome! Plenty of single player content, and a lot of upcoming memories with cousins and friends for years. This installment of the All-Star, Video Game slamfest truly is Ultimate! (Now give me Joker already, Sakurai! And Atlus, give me Persona 5 for the Switch!!!)
2. Super Mario Odyssey - It's time to jump up in the air! Jump up, don't be scared! Jump up and your cares will soar away! And if the dark clouds start to swirl, don't fear, don't shed a tear 'cause - This game's incredible! Going back to the original Super Mario 64 formula that made 3D platforming a thing way back in 1996, Super Mario Odyssey manages to refine and perfect everything that made 64 & Sunshine good, while bringing its own unique elements to the table. Put all together to deliver the best Mario game in a very long time and one that raises the bar for the Italian Plumber once again. A grand and epic adventure in scope, wonder, and just plain fun - Everything that has made Mario the icon he is today.
Honorable Mentions: Celeste, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, Octopath Traveler, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Fire Emblem Warriors, Super Mario Party.
#1. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Nearly two years after the Switch's release, my favorite, and in my view, the best game on the system, is its launch title. And the biggest launch title in Nintendo history. Rethinking and redefining everything we knew about Zelda to bring it into the modern conventions and format of the Open-World, Action-Adventure style, while still retaining that core essence and wonder that makes it the series we all know, love, and cherish, Breath of the Wild not only broke the bar set by Ocarina of Time, it shattered the freaking thing!!! While not my personal favorite Zelda game, (that title still goes to Skyward Sword. Where's my HD Remake, Nintendo?!) It is still an incredible game in just about every scale and there's no denying the crucial and incredible impact it has had on the Zelda series as a whole. For these reasons, and plenty more, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is my favorite Nintendo Switch game.
Last edited by PAOerfulone - on 02 February 2019