With impressive sales numbers behind it, Nintendo's Switch console has been on a tear throughout 2022 thanks to a number of high-profile first and third-party games. From reliable franchises such as Super Mario to niche games from the likes of Atlus and Spike Chunsoft, the Switch has been a Swiss army knife of interactive appeal, always having something available to appeal to someone.
This year has been heavy on Switch exclusives as well, creating arguably the best reason to buy one of the consoles, as Nintendo delivered multiple first-party exclusives on its system. Almost every month had something unique to offer, and while global circumstances may have put an indefinite delay on games such as the Advance Wars reboot, that gap was quickly filled by dozens of other games on the market.
So which games were the best-rated on this hybrid console? Interestingly, you won't find some of Nintendo's heaviest hitters here, as Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Pokemon Legends: Arceus, and Splatoon 3 didn't make the cut. We've taken a look at this year's best titles from our sister site Metacritic, and below you'll find a list of games that earned high praise from across the industry, with the number one spot going to a port of puzzle perfection.
Portal Companion Collection
Almost two decades after release, Valve's Portal games are still evergreen content that's hard to beat. On Switch, this pair of ports is a polished collection of creative puzzles and razor-sharp writing. The motion controls work better than you'd imagine, there are co-op options aplenty, and rock-solid performance whether you've got your Switch docked or you're on the move.
Persona 5 Royal
In case you missed it the first time that it rolled around, then this year's release of Persona 5 Royal marked the perfect time to hop into the groundbreaking JRPG from Atlus. While this release on Switch obviously can't compare to the technical tweaks present on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, the ability to have a lengthy adventure that has been polished to its finest form no matter where you are, makes for a stellar port of a stylish modern-day classic.
Metascore: 94 | Read our Persona 5 Royal review
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Monolith Soft must have struck a deal with several devils, as that's the only explanation for the staggering amount of content packed into Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Somehow squeezing a galaxy of activities into the Switch and managing to not make the hardware burst into flames, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a jaw-droppingly beautiful JRPG with incredibly intricate systems, sweeping vistas, and a secret around every corner.
Metascore: 89 | Read our Xenoblade Chronicles 3 review
Nier Automata: The End of YoRHa Edition
Long hailed as one of Platinum Games' finest achievements, Nier: Automata got a fresh lease on life on the Switch this year. It's an action-RPG with stunning design, lovable characters, and a story that'll break your heart. On Switch, this mammoth collection of content runs like a dream and shows off the creative vision of a studio that built one of the best games of the 2010s.
Metascore: 89 | Read our Nier Automata review
Atari 50
The Switch is arguably the best platform for retro games, as its handheld factor translates into a perfect hub for nostalgia. Atari 50 on the Switch is a match made in heaven then, as not only does a collection of groundbreaking games get to steal the spotlight, they get a chance to both entertain and educate. It's a time capsule of classic gaming that preserves an important part of the industry's history, and on Switch, this compilation feels right at home.
Neon White
The beauty of Neon White is that it embodies "just one more turn" energy with its focus on speedrunning. The visual novel elements also do a superb job in sucking you into the angelic afterlife as saints and sinners battle it out in dangerous levels, but with each stage being a micro-burst of intense action, quick reflexes, and creative puzzling-solving, Neon White shines as the perfect lunchtime break.
Metascore: 88 | Read our Neon White review
Tunic
It's only fitting that the best Zelda-like of the year would make its way to Switch, even if it isn't officially a new entry in the Nintendo series. Tunic wears its inspiration on its green sleeve, but this touching tribute to action-adventure games from another era also bravely charts its own path forward and establishes a unique identity along the way. Tunic is gorgeous to look at, touching to experience, and more than handy with a sword when it answers a call to arms.
Metascore: 88 | Read our Tunic review
Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course
If the original Cuphead was a filling appetizer for what was to come, then Cuphead: The Delicous Last Course is a meal that'll come dangerously close to turning your trouser buttons into potential shrapnel. An update of the original game that adds a ton of new content along the way, Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course is devilishly good fun that looks like a million bucks and will charm your socks off with its delightful art design.
Metascore: 88 | Read our Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course review
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim draws you in immediately with its elegant art and an ensemble cast of characters tasked with saving the world from an alien invasion, but it's the story-heavy content that you'll stick around for. While the RTS combat is mechnificent and the art direction shines here, it's the story that commands your attention and makes each battle feel like a vital thread in an intricate tapestry.
Metascore: 88 | Read our 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim review
The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe
Take one of the wittiest games of the 2010s, cram an absurd amount of new content in, sprinkle in some clever tweaks, and you've got the perfect recipe to create your own Ultra Deluxe version of The Stanley Parable. As relevant today as it was all those years ago, The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is the definitive version of a satirical masterpiece that runs like a dream on the Switch and adds plenty of replayability to its design.
Metascore: 87 | Read our The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe review
Two Point Campus
If you were a fan of Two Point Hospital, then Two Point Campus is the perfect follow-up to get invested in. Switching from scrubs to robes, this charming game of management in the hallowed halls of academia works surprisingly well on Switch, thanks to a clever control scheme that'll set you on the right path to mold the minds of tomorrow. While performance does take a hit when your university reaches its population limit, everything else about Two Point Campus is a flexible and fun take on education.
Metascore: 87 | Read our Two Point Campus review
Tinykin
Like dynamite, Tinykin is plenty of fun in a small package. This 3D platformer has a great look and premise, as you take control of a mini-astronaut named Milodane. Trapped in the deadliest environment possible--a cluttered room--it's up to you to find your way out while recruiting help from the Pikmin-like creatures who are happy to lend an antenna. It's stress-free gaming with a chill soundtrack, backed up by a charming cast of characters.
Metascore: 87 | Read our Tinykin review
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
It might be the year of the Tiger according to the Chinese zodiac, but for retro gaming fans, 2022 is the year of the Turtle. This year saw two excellent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles releases, with Shredder's Revenge leading the charge. An old-school brawler in the same vein as the classic Konami arcade games, Shredder's revenge blends old-school visuals with modern design, striking a middle ground that feels totally bodacious to play.
Metascore: 87 | Read our Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge review
OlliOlli World
Roll7's OlliOlli games have been pure skateboarding bliss since they arrived, simulators of the shredding arts that can easily pull you into the zone as you work to nail that perfect run. For OlliOlli World, that competitive spirits has been retained but enhanced with more meditative grinds and flips, creating a package of enjoyable gameplay, captivating challenges, and an art style that's easy on the eyes in this cathartic halfpipe dream.
Metascore: 87 | Read our OlliOlli World review
The Last Friend
A quirky blend of action and tower defense, The Last Friend plays like a mix of Plants vs. Zombies fused with Streets of Rage. That makes for an eclectic but surprisingly fun combination, thanks primarily to the well-oiled gameplay, progression systems that feel satisfying, and the best doggos on Nintendo hardware since Nintendogs.
It Takes Two
It took the world by storm in 2021, and in 2022, It Takes Two made the leap to Switch hardware. An excellent system for an excellent game, the Switch's organic co-op nature shines in this release. Whether you're on the couch or on the move, the ability to grab anyone for some local play proves that teamwork makes the dream work on any platform. But on Switch? It Takes Two is an essential purchase for anyone looking for true social gaming.
Metascore: 86 | Read our It Takes Two review
Bayonetta 3
A prime example of the power of delayed satisfaction, the long wait for Bayonetta 3 paid off with a game that was pure action, spectacle, and epic boss fight perfection. Platinum's latest entry in the series is an ambitious adventure with some jaw-dropping design, but it's also a goofy trip through the multiverse that introduces plenty of new ideas along the way.
Metascore: 86 | Read our Bayonetta 3 review
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero
The Legend of Heroes: Trails series is a saga that spans multiple games, but for longtime fans who have yearned to experience the full story, some of those games has been missing in action for far too long. At long last, The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero rewarded those players with the missing pieces of that puzzle, porting a beloved JRPG over to the Switch and showing just how magical this series can be. More content is coming soon, but for now, this particular game is a quaint and self-contained story that was worth the wait.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Who would have thought that merging the worlds of Super Mario Bros. with Ubisoft's Rabbids could help produce one of the best tactical RPGs of all time? Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope makes clever tweaks to the formula made popular by XCOM, by focusing on creating a more flexible battlefield that trims any rigid gameplay fat away. It's a joy to play, and with a cast that's hilariously zany, you can't help but have a huge grin on your face whenever you boot this game up.
Metascore: 86 | Read our Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope review
Beacon Pines
Imagine if Stranger Things and Animal Crossing had been dropped into the Large Hadron Collider, and you'd have Beacon Pines. While it might look like an incredibly cute game at first glance, Beacon Pines tackles surprisingly heavy content and combines it with a lavishly-detailed world to tell a story that's layered, captivating, and full of twists. Every choice, no matter how obtuse, makes a difference in a game that focuses on the power of stories, creating a storybook adventure that's perfect for those cold evenings when you're in the mood for a ripping yarn.
Shovel Knight Dig
If you've yet to experience Shovel Knight then dig this: Shovel Knight Dig is another fantastic entry in the story of the Shovel Knight, one that's brief but enjoyable and evolves the game visuals to a new adorable 16-bit high. As usual, it has a ton of collectibles to grab, plenty of challenges to overcome, and level design that shines. Like a timeless Motorhead song, this is the ace of spades.
Metascore: 85 | Read our Shovel Knight Dig review.
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak
The last couple of years have been a terrific time to be a Monster Hunter fan, and with the release of Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, the hunt has landed a delicious cherry on the top of this amazing Capcom series. Sunbreak may not hold many big surprises in store for longtime fans, but it does feel like the Monster Hunter formula at its very best as you encounter new characters, locales to explore, monsters to fight, and gear to assemble from the remains of creatures that you've defeated in battle.
Metascore: 85 | Read our Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak review.
AI: The Somnium Files Nirvana Initiative
There's something wonderfully cozy about being wrapped in a blanket and a murder mystery, something that you could easily do on the Switch with Spike Chunsoft's sequek to 2019's AI: The Somnium Files. A visual novel with striking art and excellent storytelling, this grisly whodunit boasts excellent voice acting and puzzle sections that'll keep the gears in your head moving as you inch closer to the final reveal.
Tactics Ogre: Reborn
Almost three decades later, Tactics Ogre is back in the spotlight and ready to trade blows with other tactical RPGs that have followed in its wake. While some elements of this classic game do show wear and tear, it's the rich storytelling, satisfyingly meaty combat, and clever quality-of-life improvements that help reinvigorate one of the seminal SRPGs of its era.
Metascore: 85 | Read our Tactics Ogre: Reborn review
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Every Kirby game brings something special to the table, but this year’s entry propels the lovable pink blob right to the top of the Nintendo charts with an incredible adventure.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is the series at its most inventive, a wild ride of creative platforming in a world packed to the brim with secret levels, hilarious powers, and levels that are a joy to revisit.
Metascore: 85 | Read our Kirby and the Forgotten Land review
Return to Monkey Island
Point-and-click adventure games aren't the apex predators of the gaming industry that they used to be, but Return to Monkey Island is a brilliant reminder of just how much ferocious fun this genre was capable of delivering during its heyday. Helmed once again by series creator Ron Gilbert, Return to Monkey Island is a celebration of the genre and the perfect entry-point for newcomers, a loving tribute to the past wrapped up in the shiny new visuals of today. It looks, sounds, and feels fantastic, and for fans of Monkey Island, it's a must-play chapter that helps create a brilliant trilogy.
Metascore: 85 | Read our Return to Monkey Island review
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