2025 has been a very big year for the Nintendo Switch, with the release of the Switch 2, a handful of top-rated game launches, and the promise of more exclusives and highly anticipated titles to come. There’s nothing quite like being able to play a game on a handheld console, and the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 have proven they have what it takes to reign supreme in that arena. Of course, neither machine has to be played in that way, but it is nonetheless the defining feature that sets them apart.
While the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 adopted hundreds of new titles in 2025, 10 of them stand out among the rest—not just for their inherent quality, but for how well they play on the Switch 2 as well. Developers like Square Enix, Game Freak, and Supergiant Games have all had an excellent year on the beloved platform, delivering titles that are worthwhile from start to finish and showcasing the console’s ability to continually offer unforgettable gaming experiences. Presented in alphabetical order, these are the 10 best Nintendo Switch 2 games of 2025.
Ball x Pit
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Ball x Pit earns its spot as one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 games of 2025 due to how addictively fun its otherwise simple mechanics are. The game’s core loop is incredibly easy to grasp, and once everything clicks, it’s impossible to put down. Despite being easy to learn, it still manages to achieve such surprising depth that it will keep players coming back run after run. Ball x Pit is the kind of roguelike game that fits perfectly on the Nintendo Switch 2, too, as it’s easy to pick up for a short session—even though players may find it hard to play it for only a short period.
- Fast, arcade-style combat built around bouncing and chaining magical balls
- Roguelike progression that carries over between runs
- Ball fusion and upgrades that reward experimentation
- A hub area that expands over time and unlocks new options
- Short runs that make it easy to play in quick bursts
- Released
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October 15, 2025
- ESRB
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Teen / Violence, Blood
- Developer(s)
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Kenny Sun
- Engine
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Unity
Donkey Kong Bananza
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Donkey Kong Bananza stands out among the best Nintendo Switch 2 games of 2025 as an example of a title that knows what it wants to do and executes it with aplomb. Since its release, it has risen to become one of the highest-rated games of the year, and it even went on to win Best Family Game at The Game Awards. Donkey Kong Bananza‘s satisfying destruction mechanics, imaginative level design, rewarding exploration, and playful personality make it a tough game to turn down, as well as one of the Nintendo Switch 2’s first masterpieces.
- 3D platforming built around momentum, movement, and destruction
- Environments that can be broken apart and reshaped through play
- Dense levels that reward exploration and curiosity
- A strong sense of weight and physicality in Donkey Kong’s controls
- Optional challenges and collectibles that extend replay value
- Released
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July 17, 2025
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles
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Despite being a remake, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles landed so well in 2025 because it gave fans the version of the original game they had wanted for years. Reviews consistently highlighted how it maintains everything that made the original special while smoothing out the rough edges with updated presentation, improved translation, and modern quality-of-life touches. The original has long been regarded as one of the most important tactical RPGs ever made, and Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles preserved it and renewed it in a way that can appeal to classic fans and newcomers alike. Plus, it helps that it’s perfect for the Nintendo Switch 2 since putting the console on standby temporarily pauses the game, even if players are in the middle of a battle.
- Updated visuals that stay faithful to the original style
- Revised script and localization for clearer storytelling
- Full voice acting for key story scenes
- Quality-of-life improvements to menus and combat flow
- Classic job-based tactical combat is unchanged at its core
- Released
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September 30, 2025
- ESRB
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Teen / Fantasy Violence, Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Mild Language, Drug Reference
- Number of Players
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Single-player
- PC Release Date
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September 30, 2025
Hades 2
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If there is any game that feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025, it’s Supergiant Games’ Hades 2. Runs are easy to jump into, combat feels great in both handheld and docked play, and there is more than enough content to warrant its price tag. Like the first game, Hades 2 is built around repetition in a way that will keep players coming back for more, with enough variety in builds, story moments, and upgrades to make each run worthwhile. Additionally, the Switch’s standby mode once again shines here as a run in Hades 2 can be lengthy, and the ability to pause it temporarily and take it on the go helps ensure those runs aren’t lost.
- Fast, responsive combat that plays well handheld or docked
- Short, repeatable runs that suit portable play
- A wide range of builds that encourage experimentation
- Story and character moments that unfold naturally over time
- Strong art and music that carry the series’ identity forward
- Released
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September 25, 2025
- ESRB
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Teen / Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Hollow Knight: Silksong
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One thing that made gaming so great in 2025 is the long-awaited arrival of Hollow Knight: Silksong, as players had spent around 7 years waiting for it from the moment development on it began. After an announcement trailer for the game was released 6 years ago and it remained absent for years, it became the source of memes and offhand jokes about how it didn’t actually exist. However, the day finally came this year when Hollow Knight: Silksong arrived, and the Nintendo Switch 2 is arguably one of the best platforms for it. The combat is quick, the movement feels great, and the world is as immersive as ever, giving players new challenges and areas that make it hard to stop exploring.
- Fast, precise combat built around Hornet’s movement
- A large world packed with secrets and tough encounters
- A sharper focus on speed and agility compared to the original
- Hand-drawn art and moody atmosphere throughout
- A long, challenging adventure that rewards patience and exploration
- Released
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September 4, 2025
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
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Team Cherry
- Publisher(s)
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Team Cherry
Kirby Air Riders
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Widely regarded as the Super Smash Bros. of kart racers, Kirby Air Riders leans into the whimsical, unpredictable, and chaotic style of racing that its predecessor introduced on the Nintendo GameCube in 2003. In 2025, bringing back the Kirby Air Ride name after all these years was already a big deal, but what has really worked for the sequel is how comfortable it feels to just pick up and play. There is a bit of a learning curve to it if players want to be really skilled at it, but when it is taken as seriously as it tries to be (which isn’t really much at all), it can be a blast to play with family and friends. Rather than being a simple kart racer, Kirby Air Riders mixes racing with chaotic items, abilities, and short matches that feel more like an attempt at controlled chaos than anything else.
- A long-awaited follow-up to Kirby Air Ride
- Simple racing controls that are easy to jump into
- Chaotic modes that mix racing and light combat
- Local and online multiplayer support
- Bright, playful presentation that fits Kirby perfectly
- Released
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November 20, 2025
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
Mario Kart World
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Mario Kart World took the longstanding series in an entirely new direction in 2025 by essentially making each race a game within a game. Rather than featuring separate tracks alone, Mario Kart World‘s open world placed those tracks in one massive zone, linking them together in its Free Roam and Knockout Tour modes. Players can still race on each track individually, but they are all of them nonetheless interconnected. With a sizable roster of characters, each of whom has a variety of costumes, as well as the ability to roam through an open-world, Mario Kart World is the most distinctive entry in the series yet and one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 games of 2025.
- Connected world that links races together
- Free Roam for driving around outside of races
- Up to 24 racers in a single match
- Traditional modes like Grand Prix alongside newer modes
- Big roster with unlockables like costumes
- Released
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June 5, 2025
- ESRB
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Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
Octopath Traveler 0
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Octopath Traveler 0 arrived on multiple platforms this year, including the Nintendo Switch 2, and brought with it a memorable JRPG experience. It is fairly story-heavy, perhaps even more so than previous entries, but its quality-of-life improvements, custom lead character, and town-building mechanics all make it worth the journey. As a prequel to the first two Octopath Traveler games, it works exceptionally well, and its classic gameplay feel makes it perfect for handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
- Turn-based combat built around job classes and weaknesses
- A larger party that opens up more strategy
- A town-building element that ties into progression
- A custom lead character instead of separate starting paths
- The series’ familiar HD-2D visual style
- Released
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December 4, 2025
- ESRB
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T For Teen // Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes
- Franchise
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Octopath Traveler
Pokemon Legends: Z-A
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Pokemon Legends: Z-A may have scaled things down a bit from its predecessor, but that wasn’t enough to set it back. Going from the open-world of ancient Hisui to the more contained Lumiose City was a big gamble that ultimately paid off. Pokemon Legends: Z-A saw the return of Mega Evolutions, as well as brand-new real-time battle mechanics and a more story-driven take on the original Pokemon formula. While it has received some criticism for its visuals and environments, the risks it took with real-time battles and its stable performance earn it a place among the Nintendo Switch 2’s best games of 2025.
- Real-time battles instead of traditional turn-based combat
- A fully explorable version of Lumiose City
- Mega Evolutions returning as a core mechanic
- Short missions that fit quick play sessions
- A more story-driven take on the Pokemon formula
- Released
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October 16, 2025
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
Split Fiction
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By now, most fans with an ear even remotely close to the ground know about Split Fiction. Cited as one of the best co-op games of 2025, Split Fiction is built around playing with someone else, and it constantly throws new ideas at both players to ensure things never settle into a routine or grow stale. Whether it’s puzzles, platforming, or something entirely unexpected, Split Fiction packs the kind of variety and creativity into its gameplay that’s worth recognizing in 2025.
- Built entirely around two-player co-op
- Constantly changing gameplay ideas and scenarios
- Split-screen design that keeps both players involved
- A mix of puzzles, platforming, and light combat
- Easy to jump into short sessions or longer playthroughs
- Released
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March 6, 2025
- ESRB
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T For Teen // Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Language, Violence
- Publisher(s)
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Electronic Arts
