By Marcus Feld, Games Editor | Updated July 2026

Best Switch 2 Games

The Nintendo Switch 2 landed in June 2025 and the library filled out fast. One year in, there is a clear tier of games that show what the new hardware can do, from open-world racing to a Ditto-powered life sim. We ranked the ten best Switch 2 games worth buying in 2026, scored each one on our 10-point scale, and built a comparison table so you can pick in seconds. Every entry here has actually shipped, so there are no promises about games that are still months away.

What is the single best Switch 2 game to buy?

Mario Kart World is the best Switch 2 game to buy first. It ships as the pack-in on many bundles, it is the platform best seller by a wide margin, and it is the game that most clearly uses the new console. The open-world map, the larger 24-racer grids, and the rebuilt Rainbow Road are the reasons it sits at the top of nearly every Switch 2 list. If you buy one game, buy this one.

That said, the right pick depends on how you play. Solo players who want a big adventure should look at Donkey Kong Bananza. Players who want the sharpest gameplay for the lowest price should buy Hades II. The table below sorts it out.

Best Switch 2 games: quick comparison

Game	Genre	Best for	Score
Mario Kart World	Kart racing	Everyone, first buy	9.5
Hades II	Roguelike action	Best value pick	9.5
Donkey Kong Bananza	3D platformer	Solo adventure	9.0
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond	Action adventure	Atmosphere and exploration	9.0
Hollow Knight: Silksong	Metroidvania	Challenge seekers	9.0
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch 2 Edition)	Open world	Newcomers to the game	9.0
Pokemon Legends: Z-A (Switch 2 Edition)	RPG	Pokemon fans	8.5
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles	Tactics RPG	Strategy fans	8.5
Kirby Air Riders	Arcade racing	Local multiplayer	8.0
Pokemon Pokopia	Life sim	Relaxed play	8.0

The 10 best Switch 2 games ranked

1. Mario Kart World (9.5)

Mario Kart World is the Switch 2 showcase and the reason most players bought the console. It swaps the old menu-and-track loop for a connected open world you can drive across between races, expands grids to 24 racers, and delivers what many reviewers call the best Rainbow Road in the series. It has also sold 14.03 million copies as of December 31, 2025, more than three times any other Switch 2 game. This is the default first purchase.

2. Hades II (9.5)

Supergiant Games followed up its landmark roguelike with a sequel that reviewers have handed rare perfect scores. You play as Melinoe, the Princess of the Underworld, in a run-based action game that stays fresh across hundreds of attempts thanks to deep build variety and sharp writing. It runs beautifully on Switch 2 and costs less than a full first-party release, which makes it the best value on this list.

3. Donkey Kong Bananza (9.0)

Released in July 2025, Donkey Kong Bananza is the biggest solo adventure on the platform. It leans on destructible terrain you can smash and reshape, a genuinely huge world, and the kind of physics playground that only works with the extra power under the hood. If you want one big single-player game after Mario Kart World, this is it.

4. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (9.0)

The long-awaited Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally arrived in December 2025 and delivered the classic search-action loop with a heavy dose of alien atmosphere. Exploration, scanning, and tight first-person combat all return, and the Switch 2 hardware keeps it smooth. It is a must-play for anyone who loves getting lost in a hostile world.

5. Hollow Knight: Silksong (9.0)

Team Cherry's sequel was one of the most anticipated games of the decade, and it landed in September 2025. Silksong is a demanding, secret-filled metroidvania that rewards patience and skill. It is not the easiest game here, but few titles offer more to explore. Buy it if you want a challenge that pays off.

6. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Switch 2 Edition (9.0)

The Switch 2 Edition brings sharper visuals and better performance to one of the finest open-world games ever made. If you never played Tears of the Kingdom, or want to revisit Hyrule with the Ultrahand building tools at a steadier frame rate, this is the version to own.

7. Pokemon Legends: Z-A, Switch 2 Edition (8.5)

Pokemon Legends: Z-A brought the series back to Lumiose City and has moved 3.89 million copies as of December 31, 2025, making it one of the platform's biggest third-tier sellers. The Switch 2 Edition improves the frame rate and resolution that held the base version back. Pokemon fans should not skip it.

8. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles (8.5)

This full remaster proves the original's tactical design still holds up decades later. Grid-based battles, a deep job system, and a story about politics and betrayal make it one of the best strategy games on the console. If you like turn-based tactics, put it near the top of your list.

9. Kirby Air Riders (8.0)

A sequel to the 2003 GameCube cult favorite, Kirby Air Riders keeps the one-button racing hook and builds a bright, chaotic party game around it. It shines in local multiplayer and has already sold 1.76 million copies. Grab it if your Switch 2 sees a lot of couch play.

10. Pokemon Pokopia (8.0)

Pokemon Pokopia is an Animal Crossing-inspired life sim where you play as a Ditto that can transform to help build and decorate a town. It is a relaxed, cozy counterweight to the action-heavy games above and sold 2.2 million copies in short order. Perfect for wind-down sessions.

How we scored these games

Every game here is rated on the Daily Game Score scale, where 9 to 10 is exceptional, 8 is great, 7 is good, and anything below 5 is flawed. We weigh gameplay, presentation, performance on Switch 2, and value for money. We only include games that have shipped and that we have played, so this list changes as new heavy hitters arrive.

Is the Switch 2 worth buying in 2026?

Yes. The hardware is selling faster than any Nintendo console before it, and the first-party lineup is already deep. Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa summed up the launch bluntly.

"The Switch 2 has had an exceptionally strong start, even compared with past gaming consoles."
Shuntaro Furukawa, President of Nintendo

With Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, Metroid Prime 4, and Hades II all available, there is more than enough to justify the console today. More big releases are on the calendar, so the library only gets stronger from here.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best-selling Switch 2 game?

Mario Kart World is the best-selling Switch 2 game, with 14.03 million copies sold as of December 31, 2025, according to Nintendo's sales data. It sits well ahead of Donkey Kong Bananza in second place.

What is the best Switch 2 game for one player?

Donkey Kong Bananza is the best single-player Switch 2 game, offering a large, destructible world and a full solo campaign. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are strong solo picks too.

What is the cheapest great Switch 2 game?

Hades II is the best value on the platform. It scores among the highest of any Switch 2 game and costs less than a full-price first-party release, which makes it an easy recommendation for players on a budget.

How many games does the Switch 2 have in 2026?

The Switch 2 library has grown quickly since the June 2025 launch, with total software sales passing 37.93 million units across the platform by the end of 2025. New first-party and third-party titles continue to arrive through 2026.

The bottom line

The best Switch 2 games in 2026 are led by Mario Kart World for its all-round appeal and Hades II for its value, with Donkey Kong Bananza close behind for solo players. Start with those three, then work down the list based on the genres you like. If you also own a PlayStation, our roundup of the best PS5 games in 2026 covers the other side of this console generation, and you can find our latest scored coverage on the Daily Game Score homepage.

Sources: Game Informer, Wikipedia best-selling Switch 2 games, Nintendo investor relations.