If you unwrapped a Nintendo Christmas Switch 2 consider yourself very lucky you’ve just secured one of the hottest gaming devices of the year. Nintendo’s latest console has only been out since June 5, 2025, but in just half a year, it’s already built an impressively stacked line-up that rivals launch years from previous generations. From blockbuster exclusives that showcase the system’s upgraded capabilities to enhanced ports that breathe new life into beloved classics, plus a wave of surprise indie hits that feel right at home on the hardware, the Switch 2 has hit the ground running in a way few consoles manage.
With a library expanding this rapidly and showing no signs of slowing down, it can be genuinely tough to know where to start. The sheer variety of experiences available might leave you paralyzed with choice. Do you jump straight into the flagship first-party titles that Nintendo is famous for? Should you revisit remastered classics that now run buttery smooth at higher resolutions? Or maybe you want to explore the early wave of third-party heavy hitters that are finally taking full advantage of the system’s significantly improved processing power and graphical capabilities?
If you’re feeling spoiled for choice and a bit overwhelmed by the options, don’t worry—this guide should have you covered from every angle. Insider Gaming has put together a definitive list of must-play Nintendo Switch 2 games to help you hit the ground running and make the most of your brand-new console right out of the box. Whether you’re a long-time Nintendo fan who’s been with the company since the NES days, a casual player looking for your next favorite game, or someone completely new to the Nintendo ecosystem, these are the titles you absolutely won’t want to miss as you begin your Switch 2 journey.
Best Nintendo Switch 2 Games to Play First in 2025
1. Mario Kart World – Best Switch 2 Launch Game
Mario Kart World – Take your Kart across the open world. Image by Nintendo.
Where better to begin than with the Nintendo Switch 2’s flagship launch title, Mario Kart World? In a bold reinvention of the long-running series that caught even veteran fans by surprise, Nintendo has thrown open the track boundaries and delivered a sprawling open world filled with secrets, challenges, and a massive selection of new courses to discover as you explore every corner of the map. It’s the kind of ambitious shake-up that the franchise has been building toward for years, and it pays off spectacularly.
The innovation doesn’t stop there. Mario Kart World introduces a brand-new race mode called Knockout Tour that fundamentally changes how you approach competition. Drivers tear through the open world toward a series of checkpoints scattered across the landscape, and at each one, the bottom four racers are ruthlessly eliminated from the race. The tension builds with every checkpoint as the field narrows and the stakes get higher. Whether you’re racing side-by-side in couch co-op with friends and family, battling through the chaos of online multiplayer lobbies, or taking on the surprisingly challenging AI in solo play, Mario Kart World feels like an instant classic and an absolute must-play for every new Switch 2 owner.
2. Donkey Kong Bananza – Top Switch 2 Platformer Game
Donkey Kong Bananza – Get searching for those Bananas! Image by Nintendo.
Move over, Mario—there’s a new 3D platforming king swinging onto the Nintendo Switch 2. Donkey Kong Bananza, developed by the same talented team behind Super Mario Odyssey, delivers what many are already calling the console’s standout platforming experience and a worthy successor to the throne. Its lush, vibrantly detailed interconnected worlds are packed with secrets tucked into every corner, clever challenges that test your skills in creative ways, and the kind of inventive level design that keeps you exploring long after you’ve rolled credits on the main story.
DK trades Mario’s precise finesse and acrobatic grace for raw, primal power, leaning fully into destruction and glorious chaos at every turn. You’ll smash through enemies with satisfying weight, tear up the environment in explosively fun ways, and use DK’s sheer gorilla strength to climb impossible heights, launch yourself across vast chasms, and even rock-surf your way across multi-layered worlds that demand creative thinking. The movement feels chunky and powerful in all the right ways. It’s fast-paced, unapologetically loud, and endlessly satisfying in a way that makes you grin from ear to ear with every barrel roll and ground pound.
3. Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Best Pokémon Game for Christmas Switch 2
Pokemon ZA – Explore Lumiose City like never before. Image by Nintendo.
You can’t talk Nintendo without bringing up Pokémon, and the series’ newest entry is absolutely essential for any Switch 2 owner looking for that signature Nintendo magic. Pokémon Legends: Z-A breaks from the traditional formula in fascinating ways by setting the entire adventure within the confines of Lumiose City, swapping the sprawling open regions we’ve grown accustomed to for a dense, constantly evolving urban landscape filled with vertical exploration opportunities, rooftop pathways, underground networks, and hidden pockets of activity that reward curious trainers who venture off the beaten path.
The big draw that has fans buzzing is the long-awaited return of Mega Evolutions, now more dynamic, visually impressive, and strategically impactful than they’ve ever been before. Triggering a Mega form mid-battle transforms these encounters into explosive showcases of raw power and tactical depth, giving familiar Pokémon a fresh edge that makes team building feel exciting again. The way Mega Evolution integrates into both story moments and competitive battles shows how much thought Game Freak put into bringing this beloved mechanic back. It’s a bold reinvention of the Kalos experience that respects what came before while pushing the series forward—and one of the standout titles truly defining the Nintendo Switch 2 era.
4. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Best Zelda Game on Switch 2
Zelda TOTK – Any excuse to revisit Hyrule. Image by Nintendo
Unlike some of the other games on this list, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom didn’t debut on the Nintendo Switch 2—it originally launched on the original Switch in 2023. But its comprehensive upgrade pack makes it feel like it was designed specifically for this new hardware from the ground up. Boosting performance to a silky smooth 60fps that makes exploration and combat feel incredibly responsive, and sharpening visuals all the way up to native 4K resolution when docked, Link’s latest adventure has genuinely never looked or played better than it does on Switch 2.
If you’re completely new to the Switch-era Zelda games and haven’t experienced either of the recent open-world entries, you’ll definitely want to start with Breath of the Wild first to fully appreciate the narrative journey, character development, and mechanical evolution between the two titles. But if you’re after the most refined, technically polished, and creatively ambitious version of the open-world Zelda formula, Tears of the Kingdom is unquestionably the definitive choice. It offers the grandest scale, the most creative building mechanics, and the richest gameplay possibilities of any Zelda experience currently available on the Switch 2, making it an essential purchase.
5. Hades 2 – Best Roguelike Game for Nintendo Christmas Switch 2
Hades 2 – Somehow even better than the first. Image by Nintendo
Hades 2 isn’t exclusive to the Switch 2 and you can certainly play it on other platforms, but it genuinely feels tailor-made for handheld play in a way that’s hard to articulate until you experience it yourself. Supergiant Games’ highly anticipated sequel puts you in the role of Melinoë, the Princess of the Underworld and sister to the original game’s protagonist, as she sets out on a dangerous quest to stop Chronos, the ancient and terrifying Titan of Time, from reshaping reality itself. The game masterfully builds on everything fans loved about the original—the tight, skill-based combat that rewards mastery, the stylish visual world-building that brings the underworld to life, and the sharp, witty writing that makes every character memorable—while giving the series a noticeably darker tone and an entirely fresh mythological focus that explores lesser-known corners of Greek legend.
Melinoë’s unique blend of witchcraft and melee combat keeps every run feeling fast-paced, strategically flexible, and wildly satisfying in ways that make “just one more run” an impossible promise to keep. This is especially true with the introduction of new weapon types that dramatically change your playstyle, expanded god Boons that offer more build variety than ever before, and a deeper, more complex cast of characters to befriend, romance, and interact with across multiple runs. Whether you’re grinding through a challenging late-night run trying to beat a tough boss, or squeezing in a quick session during your commute or lunch break, Hades 2 absolutely shines on the Switch 2 and stands tall as one of the console’s most addictive and satisfying experiences.
6. Cyberpunk 2077 – Best RPG Experience on Switch 2
Cyberpunk 2077 – We’ve got a city to burn. Image by Nintendo
Cyberpunk 2077 is certainly no newcomer to the gaming scene after its tumultuous 2020 launch, but experiencing it on the Nintendo Switch 2 genuinely feels like discovering this ambitious game all over again with fresh eyes. CD Projekt Red’s sprawling RPG has been extensively refined, meaningfully expanded with new content and questlines, and meticulously polished since its rocky original launch, and bringing that definitive, fully realized version to a handheld console represents a massive technical achievement and a huge win for players who love deep, branching, story-driven adventures they can take on the go.
Night City’s incredibly dense streets packed with NPCs and detail, the labyrinthine branching quests that respond to your choices in meaningful ways, and the razor-sharp gunplay and hacking mechanics all translate beautifully to portable play without feeling compromised. Every quick fifteen-minute session or long commute feels like you’re making meaningful progress through V’s journey, whether you’re advancing the main story, tackling side gigs, or just exploring the neon-soaked districts. Being able to dive into one of the most technically impressive and narratively ambitious modern RPGs anytime, anywhere, without being tethered to a TV or gaming PC, turns Cyberpunk 2077 into an absolute must-play addition to your Switch 2 library—and one of the most impressive handheld technical feats the console has to offer.
7. Hollow Knight: Silksong – Best Metroidvania Game for Christmas Switch 2
Silksong boss – Later bosses make this guy look tame. Image by Nintendo
Hollow Knight: Silksong has been one of the most hotly anticipated games of the entire decade, generating endless speculation and memes during its long development cycle, and its arrival on the Nintendo Switch 2 more than justifies every minute of the wait. Hornet’s journey through the towering, trap-filled kingdom of Pharloom builds beautifully and naturally on the rock-solid foundations of the original Hollow Knight—offering faster, more acrobatic movement options, more aggressive and refined combat encounters, and a world so hauntingly atmospheric and intricately designed that exploring it becomes completely absorbing in a way few games manage.
While it isn’t technically a Switch 2 exclusive and will be available on other platforms, it feels almost purposefully designed for this particular hardware. The handheld’s excellent responsiveness and minimal input lag bring out the absolute best in Silksong’s demanding precision platforming, making every desperate leap, perfectly timed parry, and needle strike feel incredibly smooth and satisfying when you nail the execution. Pharloom’s vertically layered zones and countless hidden challenges are perfectly suited for both quick pick-up-and-play sessions when you have twenty minutes to spare, or those long, immersive evening dives where you lose track of time completely. The sense of discovery and wonder never fades even dozens of hours in. For Metroidvania fans, this is an absolute must-play masterpiece and a standout addition to the Switch 2 library that belongs in every collection.
8. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Best Action-Adventure Game on Nintendo Switch 2
Metroid Prime 4 – The long-awaited sequel is finally here. Image by Nintendo
Speaking of Metroidvanias, let’s head back to where the subgenre’s very name originated. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond stands tall as one of the Nintendo Switch 2’s most prestigious flagship experiences, marking legendary bounty hunter Samus Aran’s long-awaited and much-anticipated return to the beloved Prime series after nearly two decades. Retro Studios has delivered a bold evolution of the classic first-person adventure formula that defined a generation, expertly blending the atmospheric, lonely exploration that fans absolutely adore with significantly tighter, more responsive gunplay, richer environmental storytelling that unfolds through subtle visual details and scan logs, and some of the most visually striking and artistically ambitious world design the franchise has ever seen across its nearly forty-year history.
Though it’s not technically exclusive to the Switch 2 and can be played on the original Switch hardware, the upgraded system elevates the experience dramatically in ways that are immediately noticeable. The smoother framerate makes aiming and movement feel far more precise and modern, while the enhanced visual fidelity and improved lighting systems make scanning ancient alien structures, carefully navigating hostile alien ecosystems teeming with life, and battling screen-filling colossal creatures feel incredibly immersive and transportive—especially in handheld mode, where the detailed, layered environments and the moody, evocative lighting truly shine and showcase what the Switch 2 hardware is capable of. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a triumphant continuation of Samus’ saga that honors the series’ legacy while pushing it boldly forward, and an absolutely essential addition to any Switch 2 library.