If you unwrapped a Nintendo Switch 2 this Christmas, 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 a stacked line-up of blockbuster exclusives, upgraded ports, and surprise indie hits.
With a library growing this quickly, it can be tough to know where to start. Do you jump into the flagship first-party titles? Revisit remastered classics? Or explore the early wave of third-party heavy hitters taking advantage of the system’s improved power?
If you’re feeling spoiled for choice, don’t worry—this guide should have you covered. 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. Whether you’re a long-time Nintendo fan or new to the ecosystem, these are the titles you won’t want to miss.
Must-Play Games On The Nintendo Switch 2
Mario Kart World
Where better to begin than with the Nintendo Switch 2’s flagship launch title, Mario Kart World? In a bold reinvention of the series, 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.
The shake-up doesn’t stop there. Mario Kart World introduces a brand-new race mode: Knockout Tour. Drivers tear through the open world toward a series of checkpoints, and at each one, the bottom four racers are eliminated. Whether you’re racing side-by-side in couch co-op, battling the chaos online, or taking on the AI in solo play, Mario Kart World feels like an instant classic and a must-play for every new Switch 2 owner.
Donkey Kong Bananza
Move over, Mario—there’s a new 3D platforming king on the Nintendo Switch 2. Donkey Kong Bananza, from the team behind Super Mario Odyssey, delivers the console’s standout platforming experience. Its lush, interconnected worlds are packed with secrets, clever challenges, and the kind of inventive level design that keeps you exploring long after you finish the story.
DK trades Mario’s finesse for raw power, leaning fully into destruction and chaos. You’ll smash through enemies, tear up the environment, and use DK’s sheer strength to climb, launch, and even rock-surf your way across multi-layered worlds. It’s fast, loud, and endlessly satisfying.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
You can’t talk Nintendo without bringing up Pokémon, and the series’ newest entry is essential for any Switch 2 owner. Pokémon Legends: Z-A breaks from tradition by setting the entire adventure within Lumiose City, swapping sprawling open regions for a dense, ever-evolving urban landscape filled with vertical exploration and hidden pockets of activity.
The big draw is the long-awaited return of Mega Evolutions, now more dynamic and impactful than ever. Triggering a Mega form transforms battles into explosive showcases of power and strategy, giving familiar Pokémon a fresh edge. It’s a bold reinvention of the Kalos experience—and one of the standout titles defining the Nintendo Switch 2 era.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
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—but its upgrade pack makes it feel right at home. Boosting performance to a smooth 60fps and sharpening visuals to 4K when docked, Link’s latest adventure has never looked or played better.
If you’re new to the Switch-era Zelda games, you’ll want to start with Breath of the Wild to fully appreciate the journey. But if you’re after the most refined and ambitious version of the formula, Tears of the Kingdom is the definitive choice, offering the grandest and most creative Zelda experience available on the Switch 2.
Hades 2
Hades 2 isn’t exclusive to the Switch 2, but it feels tailor-made for handheld play. Supergiant’s sequel puts you in the role of Melinoë, the Princess of the Underworld, as she sets out to stop Chronos, the Titan of Time. The game builds on everything fans loved about the original—tight combat, stylish world-building, and sharp writing—while giving the series a darker tone and a brand-new mythological focus.
Melinoë’s blend of witchcraft and melee combat keeps every run fast, flexible, and wildly satisfying, especially with new weapons, expanded god Boons, and a deeper cast of characters to interact with. Whether you’re grinding through a late-night run or squeezing in a session on the go, Hades 2 shines on the Switch 2 and stands as one of the console’s most satisfying experiences.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 is no newcomer, but experiencing it on the Nintendo Switch 2 feels like discovering the game all over again. CD Projekt Red’s ambitious RPG has been refined, expanded, and polished since its original launch, and bringing that definitive version to a handheld console is a massive win for players who love deep, story-driven adventures on the go.
Night City’s dense streets, branching quests, and razor-sharp combat translate beautifully to portable play, making every quick session or long commute feel like meaningful progress. Being able to dive into one of the most elite modern RPGs anytime, anywhere turns Cyberpunk 2077 into a must-play addition to your Switch 2 library—and one of the most impressive handheld feats the console has to offer.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Hollow Knight: Silksong has been one of the most anticipated games of the decade, and its arrival on the Nintendo Switch 2 more than justifies the wait. Hornet’s journey through the towering, trap-filled kingdom of Pharloom builds beautifully on the foundations of the original—faster movement, refined combat, and a world so atmospheric and intricate that exploring it becomes completely absorbing.
While it isn’t a Switch 2 exclusive, it feels almost designed for the hardware. The handheld’s responsiveness brings out the best in Silksong’s precision platforming, making every leap, parry, and needle strike feel incredibly smooth. Pharloom’s layered zones and hidden challenges are perfect for quick sessions or long dives, and the sense of discovery never fades. For Metroidvania fans, this is a must-play and a standout addition to the Switch 2 library.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Speaking of Metroidvanias, let’s head back to where it all started. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond stands tall as one of the Nintendo Switch 2’s flagship experiences, marking Samus Aran’s long-awaited return to the Prime series. Retro Studios has delivered a bold evolution of the classic formula, blending the atmospheric exploration fans adore with tighter gunplay, richer environmental storytelling, and some of the most visually striking world design the franchise has ever seen.
Though it’s not exclusive to the Switch 2, the upgraded hardware elevates the experience dramatically. The smoother framerate and enhanced fidelity make scanning alien structures, navigating hostile ecosystems, and battling colossal creatures feel incredibly immersive—especially in handheld mode, where the detailed environments and moody lighting truly shine. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a triumphant continuation of Samus’ saga and an essential addition to any Switch 2 library.
And that’s our list for some of the very best Nintendo Switch 2 games you simply have to play if you got a Switch 2 for Christmas. Think we missed any? Share your recommendations in the official Insider Gaming Discord.
If you’re looking for even more Nintendo Switch 2 titles, check out the release date announcements for Fallout 4 and Pokémon Pokopia.
