I played 15 Nintendo Switch games in 2025 — here’s the 5 you need to buy first
Nintendo Switch 2 is now six months old, and I suspect the number of owners has just shot up with many kids (and, of course, big kids) unwrapping a shiny new Switch 2 over the holidays.
I’ve had my trusty Switch 2 since launch, and have already played (and mostly enjoyed) more than a dozen Nintendo Switch 2 games over the past several months. From the flagship Nintendo exclusives like Mario Kart World and Donkey Bananza, to impressive blockbuster ports including Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition and Star Wars Outlaws.
If you’re a brand new Switch 2 owner, you might be weighing up which games to spend your leftover holiday money on, and that’s where I can help out. Below, I’ve put together a list (presented in no particular order) of the Nintendo Switch 2 games you should play first on your console.
Best Nintendo Switch 2 games to play first
Mario Kart World
There’s a good chance you already own a copy of Mario Kart World if you received (or bought) the Switch 2 Mario Kart Bundle. It was the console’s flagship launch game, and when all is said and done, it will probably be among the best-selling Switch 2 games of all time. It’s a little rougher around the edges than the uber-polished Mario Kart 8: Deluxe, not to mention it offers significantly less content at present, but it still places high on the podium because sometimes you just can’t beat Mario Kart.
The big “gimmick” for World is the inclusion of a sizable open world, which lets you drive around a colorful map, taking on micro-quests as you please. Otherwise, it’s the same Mario Kart experience that Nintendo fans have loved for decades. However, the new Knockout Tour mode is a blast, and the Mushroom Kingdom has never looked as vibrant as it does on Nintendo Switch 2. The on-track racing has also been improved with abilities like Wall Rides and Rail Grind, adding new driving strategies.
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour might be a controversial pick. The introduction experience took a lot of online punches when it was announced as a paid title rather than a free Switch 2 pack-in, like Wii Sports on Nintendo Wii or Astro’s Playroom on PS5. As a collection of tech demos and basic mini-games designed to showcase the unique features of the Switch 2, I can understand why the $10 purchase price didn’t sit right with some, but I think it offers enough value (and novelty) to justify picking up if you want a slightly cheaper game to play.
The simple but charming experience takes place within a giant Nintendo Switch 2 console, which has been retrofitted into a museum-like hub. You pick a basic avatar and then run around collecting stamps and medals by completing mini-games and acing quizzes that test you on a series of fact files you’ve just read. Collect enough items, and you unlock the next part of the experience. It’s a fun way to get to grips with your new console, and is excellent for showcasing various Switch 2 features like Mouse Mode. It’s also a great one for demoing your new gaming gadget to your non-gaming family members. Just don’t expect more than an afternoon or two of fun from this one; there’s little replay value.
Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza is probably the Nintendo Switch 2 system-seller right now. It’s Tom’s Guide’s current top pick for the best Nintendo Switch 2 game and was nominated for a slew of awards at the recent Game Awards 2025 (winning Best Family Game). It earned loads of critical acclaim while it launched around a month after the Switch 2’s debut. The new 3D platforming collectathon from the team behind Mario Odyssey, you play as — who else — Donkey Kong, on a quest to reach the center of the Earth with lovable companion Pauline at his side.
It would have been easy for the developers to ape Mario’s movestyle, but Donkey Kong Bananza smartly leans into the iconic character’s strengths: Smashing everything in sight. Each level is stuffed to bursting with Banana Gems to collect, and you find them primarily by smashing through the terrain that surrounds you, turning entire structures into dust. It’s seriously good fun, and the destruction on offer serves as an impressive showcase of the Switch 2’s performance power. The finale is also a real show-stealer, ending the joyful adventure on a high note.
Hades 2
After an early access period on PC, Hades 2 has finally been fully launched, and is currently console exclusive on Nintendo Switch 2 (Sorry, PlayStation and Xbox). The team over at Supergiant Games hasn’t tried to radically change the rougelite formula that made the first Hades such a hit, but instead made smart improvements and several fan-requested tweaks that only make its new trip into the Underworld all the more compelling. If you’re after a Switch 2 game that will have you say “just one more run” long into the night, then Hades 2 is the obvious pick.
Like its predecessor, Hades 2 is set in the world of Greek mythology, but this time you play as Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld, on a quest to defeat Chronos, the Titan of Time. This is no small task, and bringing down such a powerful foe will take several runs through a procedurally generated set of challenging levels. Death doesn’t mean defeat, as each failure gives you new abilities that will carry into your next attempt. Hades 2 also gives you plenty of reasons to stick around long after your first victory over Chronos, with a deep and rewarding post-game.
Zelda: Breath of the Wild / Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
If you haven’t already played them (or skipped one of them), then put Zelda at the very top of your Switch 2 must-play list. They are glorious, content-rich quests that rework the Zelda formula in inventive and engaging ways. Both offer a near-unrivaled sense of exploration and discovery as you set out into a vast, lush Hyrule, playing as Link on a quest to defeat the evil Ganondorf and save Princess Zelda (okay, so the story doesn’t reinvent the wheel). I consider both these games masterpieces that were only blemished by rocky technical performance on Switch 1. With those kinks ironed out, they’re now basically perfect.
Every Nintendo Switch 2 game I’ve played (so far)
- Donkey Kong Bananza
- Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
- Hades 2
- Hitman: World of Assassination – Signature Edition
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker (Nintendo Switch Online)
- Mario Kart World
- Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
- Persona 3 Reload
- Sonic X Shadows Generation
- Star Wars Outlaws
- Super Mario Galaxy 2
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