The Nintendo Switch is officially coming. It’s not here just yet, but in only a couple of months (3 March to be exact) you’ll be able to get your hands on one. Pre-orders for Nintendo’s fancy new games console have already opened, but what games can you play on your new Nintendo Switch come launch day?
On a snowy Friday afternoon earlier this month, I got the chance to get some proper hands-on time with plenty of Nintendo Switch’s launch titles. From The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, I was playing Switch games for well over five hours in a dimly lit theatre in London. Here are my first impressions.
These are the best Nintendo Switch games you have to play when the new console launches on 3 March.
Nintendo Switch games: The BEST Nintendo launch titles
1-2-Switch
This mini-game-infused title really should have been bundled with the Switch for free on release. But blimey did I have a lot of fun. Every single activity the game tells you to do is utterly bizarre – from milking a virtual cow to catching a sword – all of which left me and my compadre wheezing. Perfect for parties (be it alcohol-infused or otherwise), 1-2-Switch is a proper barrel of laughs.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The AAA title every Zelda fan has been waiting for, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is Nintendo’s proper system seller. In a first for the franchise, Link goes all open world – crafting weapons and items all while dispatching those pesky foes. My 20-minute gameplay demo was all-too-limited (and it was mostly filled with cutscenes), but it left me wanting to spend the entire evening playing.
Snipperclips – Cut it out, together!
Not quite a Switch launch game, but showing up in the eShop not long after, Snipperclips is a 2D puzzler where your artistic talents come into play. You solve puzzles by cutting out characters and shapes, and you aren’t limited to playing solo. Four-player goodness is on the cards and it’s a lovely little party title.
Splatoon 2
I didn’t spend much time with the original Splatoon debut on the Wii U, but its paint-shooter sequel left me very impressed. Its forced motion controls (analogue aiming will be an option come release) were a little janky, but this team-based cartoon shooter should make for some great multiplayer fun on the go.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the reason I’m picking up a Nintendo Switch. While I missed the Wii U version, this Switch release comes with all the extra content that made the original so much fun and a brand-new revamped Battle Mode. You’ll have to wait until 28 April to get racing on Rainbow Road again.
Arms
I’ll preface this by saying I was utterly rubbish at Arms. Involving proper physical exertion akin to those Wii Sports titles back in the day, Arms has you battle it out in an arena either against a friend or the CPU. Waggling a Joy-Con controller in each hand dealing blows against your foes was a lot of fun, even if my colleague absolutely dominated. You’ll have to wait till Spring to play, though.
The complete list of Nintendo Switch games
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (3 March)
- 1-2-Switch (3 March)
- Skylanders Imaginators (3 March)
- Just Dance 2017 (3 March)
- Super Bomberman R (3 March)
- Has-Been Heroes (March)
- Snipperclips: Cut it out, together! (March)
- I am Setsuna (March)
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (28 April)
- Sonic Mania (Spring)
- Puyo Puyo Tetris (Spring)
- Lego City Undercover (Spring)
- Arms (Spring)
- Redout (Spring)
- The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ (Spring)
- Splatoon 2 (Summer)
- NBA 2K18 (September)
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Autumn)
- Super Mario Odyssey (Holiday)
- Fire Emblem Warriors (Holiday)
- Minecraft for Nintendo Switch (2017)
- Minecraft Story Mode (2017)
- Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (2017)
- Ultra Street Fighter II (2017)
- Dragon Quest Heroes 1&2 (2017)
- Dragon Quest X (2017)
- Dragon Quest XI (2017)
- FIFA 17 (2017)
- Steep (2017)
- Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition (2017)
- Shin Megami Tensei (2017)
- Farming Simulator (2017)
- Fast RMX (2017)
- Dragonball Xenoverse 2 (2017)
- Stardew Valley (TBA)
- Yooka-Laylee (TBA)
- Seasons of Heaven (TBA)
- The Sacred Hero (TBA)
- New Suda51 No More Heroes title (TBA)