Adding Mouse Mode controls, the expected boost to visuals with a 4K/30 option while docked (or 1080/60 if you prefer), Civ VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition also supports all map sizes and more players in multiplayer. As a 10-local-currency-units upgrade to the Switch 1 version, it’d be rude not to.
30fps in portable mode is a disappointment, and with no mouse mode or touchscreen support, this is a fairly bare-bones upgrade.
However, the handheld 30fps here is the smooth-feeling sort, and it’s also not the type of game that critically needs to be at 60fps. In docked mode, it does now hit 60, and thanks to a resolution bump to 1080p, it looks way clearer on-screen whilst benefitting from some lighting and shadow touch-ups. With far shorter load times, as well, these are meaningful quality-of-life upgrades for players who’ve grown accustomed to long waits and blurry visuals on Switch 1.
Minor gripes aside, then, this is a prettier, crisper, and better way to play an all-timer.
No Man’s Sky – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition brings this excellent, constantly evolving space survival adventure to your new Nintendo console in fine style.
Feature-wise, this is an almost-perfect match for other versions of the game, and barring some very minor hiccups here and there, the 1080p/40fps option looks and feels fantastic – doubly so if you’re coming via free upgrade from the Switch 1 version.
Combat is still a bit naff, especially in space, and hardcore pirates might not get all they need from the systems in place here, but this is an almost perfect handheld-hybrid port of an almighty behemoth of a game. The sky, it seems, really has no limits.
What stands out about UFO 50, Mossmouth’s delightful collection of retro-styled games, is not that so many of them are absolute bangers – although they are – rather, it’s the fact that it genuinely all comes together as a single experience.
In this game, you are a visitor in some wonderful exhibition, and UFO 50 is your 8-bit time machine. It’s magnificent, and a perfect fit for Switch.
At first, this doesn’t quite feel like the reinvention of Mario Kart that people wanted or expected, but the more time you spend in the open world and racing with friends, you’ll uncover a mechanically rich kart racer full of secrets and joy. Mario Kart World refines and expands the formula in meaningful ways while upping the charm in many others.
Few games have brought as much laughter as this one since launch. If you need a pick-me-up, Mario Kart World is sure to bring a smile, and it feels like a perfect start to Switch 2’s life.
This beefed-up version of Yakuza Kiwami is effectively the same game, but Sega and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio took advantage of the newer console’s specs for a much smoother, crisper experience that now hits 60fps.
Some aspects can be a little grating, for sure. Boss fights go on for a little too long at times, while the overall pacing isn’t quite as satisfying as Yakuza 0; this is fundamentally a 2016 remake of a 2005 game, and the developers have polished the series since then, ditching features and mechanics that don’t quite work here.
Still, it doesn’t feel quite so bloated as some of the later entries, and it still flexes a peerless sense of style at every opportunity. Playing Kiwami portably on Switch 2 is a joy.
In reinventing the retro wheel, SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance leads the way: a demonstration of how modern tools, accompanied by thought and talent, can be expanded upon to not just reboot franchises, but actually rebuild them in new and incredible ways. It’s one thing to revisit an arcade action game with new graphics, moves, and weapons, cherry picking familiar set-pieces and nostalgic visuals; it’s another entirely to create a new experience, utilising craftsmanship and a belief that the hardware can offer more.
Art of Vengeance, its cadence and flow, its violence and exhilaration — and the fact it makes you feel like an absolute badass from one slain enemy to the next — is a trendsetter. Fix that frame rate, and it’s pure ninja gold.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma manages to reinvent itself while still maintaining the bones that make the Rune Factory series feel like itself. It takes bold new strides in unexpected directions that thankfully pay off.
The Switch 2 version offers the requisite boosts to frame rate and resolution, but also adds Mouse Mode compatibility. Wherever you can get it, Guardians of Azuma is a must-play for Rune Factory fans and would be well-enjoyed by newcomers to the series as well.
Street Fighter 6 on Switch 2 is a cracker, and in portable mode, it may be our preferred way to play this fantastic entry in Capcom’s storied franchise. The only fly in the ointment with this port is 30fps fights in World Tour. It’s a shame, and it’s 100% gonna be a dealbreaker for some.
But if you can overlook that, the rest of what’s here is crisp, clean, and as slick as we could have ever hoped. All other modes are fully featured and running at 60fps, and online works a treat, making this an early, flagship port for the console that showed on launch day that — like its predecessor — this little system can punch well above its weight.
Absolum is an on-par experience to Vanillaware’s Dragon’s Crown, but a superior game in terms of its key metrics. Its combat, collectible augmentations, and planning are exceptionally well-formulated, ensuring no run is ever quite the same, and its strategic options and play-styles are ever-deepening. It’s incredibly impressive in its reconstitution of arcade, role-playing, and roguelike formats, evolving them into something fresh and exciting.
To that end, it’s one of the best of its kind, whatever that kind may be. If you don’t enjoy the idea of repetition and grind, you may not fall in love with its initial five hours, but the momentum for one-more-go becomes so compelling after a while that it’s impossible to relinquish the pad.
Split Fiction feels like a gift. Its sole aim is to entertain and bring players together by testing them at every turn. Hazelight gives us two distinct worlds, each filled with a huge array of activities for co-op partners to enjoy and argue over.
It serves as a surprising visual showcase for the Switch 2 and enhances the Friend’s Pass feature, allowing our original Switch buddies to join in the fun.
Hitman World of Assassination – Signature Edition is a stunning collection of games that sees Agent 47 at his absolute best. With multiplayer aspects woven seamlessly and smartly into the mix, tons of ways to approach every mission, and some of the best level design in the biz, this is a bona fide belter, no questions asked.
However, at launch, this Switch 2 port needed some work to fix its stuttering issues, especially in docked mode. A promised patch eventually arrived, which included various improvements and an option to cap the frame rate at 30fps to keep things consistent, at least – a workable compromise, though it would still be nice to see 47 hit that 60fps target eventually.
Deltarune is a game that can feel odd to recommend, as it’s both difficult to convey in words what makes this game feel special and… well, with further chapters yet to join the present four, it still isn’t finished yet.
Its goofy and subversive narrative, innovative battle mechanics, and killer soundtrack all combine to make this follow-up to Undertale from Toby Fox worth the purchase in its current state, even if it is incomplete and the visuals feel a tad underwhelming.
After 18 years of waiting, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond manages to replicate that magical sense of discovery from the GameCube original while pushing the series in some incredible new directions. Separating the main biomes with a vast open world sounds ridiculous on paper, but the slick traversal provided by Vi-O-La makes exploration more satisfying than ever.
Combine this with the stunning art direction, ferocious new boss characters, and a surprisingly endearing squad of Federation troopers, and to our mind Beyond is quite possibly the boldest, most well-realised Metroid game to date. The long wait was more than worth it. Welcome back, Samus.
Having more content does not necessarily equal a better game, but there’s no denying that Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road’s massive wealth of modes, options, and gameplay variety make it feel like the franchise’s most premium experience yet. Between a fun and heartfelt story mode, a second story mode that includes the highlights of all previous games, and a bunch of additional side content along with robust PvP systems for longevity, it really does feel like you could play Victory Road forever.
At the end of the day, though, it all comes down to that core loop of teambuilding and playing football matches, and Victory Road’s take on the series’ trademark RPG-esque customisability and intuitive action on the pitch feels just as fresh and stylish as ever. Perhaps all those delays really were worth it.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a deeply satisfying follow-up to 2024’s DQ III remake project, closing out the Erdrick trilogy on a fittingly high note. A gorgeous art style, tons of new content and quality-of-life updates, and a wonderful soundtrack all combine to make this one an easy recommendation for any retro JRPG fans.
If you’re interested in RPGs, pick this up at your earliest opportunity. These games stand as excellent reminders of why Dragon Quest is so highly respected today.
This Switch 2 update, on paper, gives us the basics and no more. You’ve now got mouse controls for fine-aiming, and the expected resolution and frame rate increases look and feel very nice indeed. Remember the journey into Mexico, that magical bit with the music, the showstopping part? It’s all the more magical when you can see the very dust in the air, the shimmering heat haze in the distance, now as clear as day thanks to pristine visuals. HDR helps things pop in comparison to the older port, that’s for sure.
There’s still no multiplayer, but it now feels as though the game is being presented on a Nintendo console in a manner befitting such an epic slice of gaming history. With slick controls, DLSS, HDR, volumetric effects, options to personalise mouse mode, 60fps that felt flawless, and a resolution bump that’s got it looking super sharp, this is a gem that still feels modern, immediate, and relentlessly replayable on Switch 2.
Given how cheap the upgrade is for Switch 1 owners, the performance improvements for Fantasy Life i – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition are more than worth the price of admission if you already have the original. And if you don’t and you’re keen on trying out Level-5’s long-awaited sequel, this is absolutely the best way to play on Nintendo systems.
And there you have it, the best Switch game(s) of 2025. Any surprises? How many have you played?
Switch GOTY 2025 FAQ
Before we go, some housekeeping.
What were the best Switch games of previous years?
Here’s a round-up of all the previous Switch GOTY winners on Nintendo Life (click the year if you’d like to see the whole list):
Hang on, where’s [GAME X/Y/Z]?
For any game with both a Switch 1 and a Switch 2 version which garnered enough high ratings to appear, we’ve excluded the lowest-ranking version.
We also included the Mario Galaxy 1 and Galaxy 2 bundle release, rather than the separate eShop versions.
How can I add a game to the list?
Think something is missing? All Switch 1 and 2 games released in 2025 are eligible and available to rate in our database. These real-time lists, based on the User Ratings in our database, are a living ranking of each year’s finest video games, so any Switch or Switch 2 game launched in 2025 has a chance of showing up, even now.
Use the search bar at the very top of the page (or the handy bar below) to find the game page on our database and rate away!
Please note that a game must have a minimum of 30 User Ratings (and a sufficiently high rating, natch) to appear in the list above.
If you’re curious about Nintendo Life staff’s personal GOTY picks, you can find them below:
