Even seven years into its lifespan, the Nintendo Switch's library keeps on growing. From first-party Nintendo games starring iconic characters like Mario and Zelda, to major triple-A releases with handheld ports, to a wide variety of unique and innovative indie games, there are tons of games to play on the Switch, no matter what the player's taste.

And even if they just prefer to stick to this year's library, players will find tons of great games available for the Switch. With the Switch 2 very possibly on the way next year, the original modular console is finishing strong. Here are the best games to come out for the Nintendo Switch in 2024, based on Metacritic scores and Screen Rant's own reviews.

10 Unicorn Overlord Is A Retro-Styled Strategy RPG

Metacritic: 86

For fans of light strategy games on the go, there are few better options than Unicorn Overlord. Developed by Vanillaware, previously of 13 Sentinels fame, Unicorn Overlord is a strategy RPG that follows Alain, an exiled prince who sets out to push back the conquest of an invading empire. Players will engage in real-time battles with enemies throughout the world, building their own parties of five by selecting unit classes, weapons, and strategies. Positioning and orders are everything in this tactical RPG, as battles unfold automatically, with the player interjecting only to command their units.

Unicorn Overlord is not Switch exclusive, and is also available on PlayStation 4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Widely praised for its well-written characters, evocative artwork, and deeply complex (yet surprisingly accessible) gameplay, Unicorn Overlord was compared favorably to Nintendo's Fire Emblem series, a similar set of tactical RPGs. It's one of the best strategy games to come out this year, and certainly the best on Switch. All that earned it an 86 on 9/10 review by Screen Rant.

9 The Plucky Squire Is An Adorably Creative Adventure

Metacritic: 83

The debut game by All Possible Futures, The Plucky Squire takes players on a storybook adventure through multiple dimensions. It begins on the literal pages of a colorful picture book, when the villain Humgrump kicks protagonist Jot out of his own story. Forced to travel between the 2D world of illustrations and our own big, scary 3D world in order to save his friends, Jot overcomes various trials, ranging from simple word puzzles to platforming challenges to boxing with badgers. Players can also control Jot's charismatic allies, using their unique abilities to take on certain puzzles.

The Plucky Squire is also available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Although designed and perfectly suitable for younger audiences, there's enough to love about The Plucky Squire that it'll also appeal to the young-at-heart. Its gameplay has been positively compared to the Zelda series for its irresistible charm and bold blend of 2D and 3D. It was nominated for both Best Debut Indie and Best Family Game at The Game Awards 2024. This earned The Plucky Squire an 83 on 7/10 review from Screen Rant.

8 The Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake Revives A Landmark RPG

Metacritic: 84

First released in 1988, Dragon Quest 3 is one of the most widely imitated RPGs of all time. It's easy to see its influences - changeable classes, customizable parties, a day/night cycle, and a massive open world, among others - in almost every other high fantasy RPG that's come after it. Now, players can enjoy the glory of Dragon Quest 3 in an all-new form: the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, now on the Nintendo Switch. Players will travel throughout a whimsical world, exploring dangerous dungeons and vibrant villagers as they set out on a quest to save the world from certain doom. Everything's done up in a lavish retro visual style that blends old-school pixel art with modern graphical polish.

The Dragon Quest 3 remake is also available on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Turn-based battles are quick and satisfying, with a class and progression system that's simple on the surface, but contains nuanced depths available to any bold enough to explore. As the earliest-set game in the series, it's also a perfect entry point for Dragon Quest newcomers. With iconic character and monster designs by Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, and a lush, orchestrated score by Koichi Sugiyama, the Dragon Quest 3 remake scored an 84 on 9/10 review from Screen Rant.

7 Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown Is A Standout Side-Scrolling Platformer

Metacritic: 86

After a long hiatus, one of the original Metroidvania series is back with the innovative Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Starring new protagonist Sargon, The Lost Crown features side-scrolling platforming and challenging combat. Using Sargon's twin blades and time-based magic, players will navigate a mazelike map, defeating enemies, discovering secrets, and solving puzzles as the warrior Sargon seeks to rescue the kidnapped Prince Ghassan. Featuring exhilarating boss battles, undertaken in immensely satisfying special moves and unique abilities. It's also the start of a bit of a Prince of Persia revival, with The Rogue Prince of Persia following a few months later.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is also available on macOS, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is an excellent revival of a long-dormant series, and a great choice for anyone who loves a bit of a challenge. It earned an 86 on Screen Rant that praised its deeply satisfying and deeply customizable combat system.

6 Princess Peach: Showtime Is Her Second-Ever Starring Role

Metacritic: 74

For only the second time ever in the Mario franchise's decades-long history, Princess Peach starred in her own game this year - Princess Peach: Showtime. Featuring the eponymous Princess across 50-plus levels, Showtime plays very differently from traditional Mario. It's all about dres in various costumes, taking on a variety of different roles as suits the situation. Each time she changes costumes, she changes her entire moveset and abilities, with ten different costumes and ten different playstyles appearing throughout the game. Levels are short and sweet, mostly featuring a variety of different mini-games that encourage players to learn and improve Peach's various costume-based skills.

For a little extra showtime, the game also features post-game completionist goals that require players to find every item in the game. Praised for its cheerful tone, colorful visuals, and classic Nintendo charm, but critiqued for its length, Princess Peach: Showtime received a 74 on a 9/10 review from Screen Rant.

5 Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Features Toy-Like Sandbox Charm

Metacritic: 85

And speaking of Nintendo heroines getting long-overdue starting roles this year, there was also The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. Starring the series' namesake for the very first time, Echoes of Wisdom draws on two recent, critically-acclaimed Zelda releases: the top-down/side-scrolling gameplay and toyetic visual style of the Link's Awakening remake, and the sandbox/building mechanics of Tears of the Kingdom. As Zelda, players carve their own paths through Hyrule, using the magical Tri Rod to make copies of just about anything and everything they find. They can copy boxes to build a staircase, beds to rest and regain health, or enemies to fight other enemies - the possibilities are almost endless.

It all amounts to a joyful experience that encourages creative thinking. Most puzzles have multiple solutions, so players are free to experiment and discover what works best for them. Echoes of Wisdom was a crowd pleaser, with a Screen Rant. It was nominated for both Best Action/Adventure and Best Family Game at The Game Awards.

4 Mario & Luigi: Brothership Is A Delightful RPG Adventure

Metascore: 77

The only thing the Mario brothers do better than platforming and racing is RPGs, and never in recent memory has that been clearer than with the release of Mario & Luigi: Brothership. A new entry in the long-running Mario & Luigi subseries, Brothership brilliantly blends platforming and turn-based combat. The platforming sections feature unique abilities that the brothers learn throughout the game, allowing them to proceed past all manner of obstacles. The turn-based combat is handled simply, with options to attack, defend, or use special abilities, including extra-special Bro Attacks, but all that is complicated by timing-based inputs.

This makes combat especially exciting; it's difficult to look away when the player has to attack, block, or dodge in real time, even when the combat itself is technically turn-based. With a 77 on 7/10 on Screen Rant, this is just one of multiple must-play Mario games to come out for the Switch this year.

3 Balatro Is A Viral Pseudo-Poker Sensation

Metacritic: 90

Balatro's meteoric rise from a solo developer's portfolio piece to Game of the Year nominee has been well documented. Made entirely by the anonymous dev LocalThunk, Balatro is part-poker, part-roguelike, all fun. Players proceed through a series of Antes, each one divided into three Blinds, and must combine randomly-drawn cards into the best hands possible in order to reach a minimum score within a limited number of turns. Between rounds, though, they can buy various upgrades: special rare cards with unique power-ups, tarot cards that "upgrade" the points scored on different kinds of hands, and a wide variety of Jokers that change the rules in any number of weird and wacky ways.

Balatro is also available on Android, iPhone, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Although it is a poker-based game, it includes no gambling.

Balatro is as hypnotic as it is frustrating; that is to say, it's hard to put down, especially after a tough loss. With so many cards and Jokers to choose from, no two runs are alike. It received a 10/10 review from Screen Rant. Although it's multi-platform, it's pretty great on the go, which makes Switch an excellent choice of platform.

2 Super Mario Party Jamboree Is A Multiplayer Must-Have

Metacritic: 82

For those unfamiliar with the triumphant highs and despairing lows of Mario Party, here's the gist: players travel around a game board by rolling dice. The goal is to reach the end of the game with the most stars in hand. Some squares grant coins, which can later be converted into stars; other squares take coins away, or give them to others. These dice rolls and movements are punctuated by mini-games, which range from putt-putt golf to truncated races to burger building. These games are all good, chaotic fun, and reward additional coins to the winner and runner-up.

As a party game, the fun of Mario Party is designed to be shared. And Jamboree is one of the best in the series, with more mini-games than ever before. It received an 82 from 9/10 review from Screen Rant, with critics praising its variety and wealth of content.

1 Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door Is The Best Switch Game Of 2024

Metacritic: 88

There's something magical about a Mario RPG, but even then, few have reached the heights of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. First released in 2004 for the GameCube, the second Paper Mario game was lauded for its memorable characters, outstanding music, exciting combat, and unique 2D aesthetic. It stars paper versions of Mario and friends as they set off on a journey to find seven Crystal Stars in order to retrieve a lost treasure. The characters each use special, paper-related abilities to traverse obstacles, folding themselves into paper boats, airplanes, and more in order to solve puzzles.

The Thousand-Year Door also features turn-based combat, which, like Mario & Luigi's, uses timed abilities for greater engagement. It was a joy when it was first released, and it holds up so well today that it's a joy to see Paper Mario on Switch. With an 88 on Metacritic and a 9/10 review on Screen Rant, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is the best game to come out for the Nintendo Switch in 2024.

Source: Metacritic (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)