Nintendo Switch

Like previous Animal Crossing games, New Horizon is an easy-going life sim with a relaxed pace. There aren’t many mandatory goals, but you’ll have plenty of things to do. You can spend countless hours chopping down trees, catching fish, and collecting fossils. You’ll also socialize with your neighbors and meet oodles of eccentric characters. The game gives you a tremendous amount of creative freedom compared to its predecessors. While earlier games in the series allowed you to decorate your own house, New Horizons gives you carte blanche over an entire island! You’ll choose where new homes will be built, you’ll decide where to place bridges and other infrastructure, and you’ll even be able to shape the land itself. You’ll also be able to purchase (or craft) thousands of unique items to help you transform the island into your own personal paradise. I kind of liked the way the island was in its natural state, so I resisted the urge to clutter things up with superficialities. Nevertheless, I enjoyed visiting other people’s trash heaps islands to see what kind of choices they made for themselves. This social component was arguably the game’s biggest selling point. If there was ever a game that came out at the perfect time, it’s definitely Animal Crossing: New Horizons. In an era where people were being forced into isolation, New Horizons gave everyone a new way to stay in touch. The game would have been a huge success even if it didn’t launch during the pandemic, but I doubt it would have been dancing with 50 million units sold. The world needed escapism in the spring of 2020, and New Horizon delivered it in spades. I’ll always cherish my time on the island, and I’ll never forget all the friends I made in Honkerton.

Pikmin 4 is built on the same foundation as its predecessors. Once again, players assume the role of intrepid explorers who command armies of tiny plant-based creatures called Pikmin. These Pikmin can retrieve supplies and treasures, and they can also be ordered to attack hostile enemies. Although the basic premise is largely unchanged from earlier entries, Pikmin 4 brings a lot of new ideas to the table. For the first time ever, you can partake in night expeditions and defend your base against waves of nocturnal enemies. These missions could be likened to a tower defense game, and they’re surprisingly intense. My favorite addition to Pikmin 4 is the new canine companion named Oatchi. The rescue pup can retrieve items, break through obstacles, and partake in battles. He also acts as a mode of transport, and he can safely carry up to 100 Pikmin through hazardous terrain. Navigating around the levels has never been easier, and Oatchi almost feels game-breaking at first since he makes it so much easier to move Pikmin from one location to another. Time management has always been a focal point for the franchise, and Pikmin 4 is balanced around Oatchi’s unique abilities. As such, the levels are larger and more involved than they’ve ever been. The amount of content is staggering, and Pikmin 4 is longer than its three predecessors combined. (There’s even an optional side story that’s effectively a remake of Pikmin 1!) An increasing number of publishers are willing to release broken and unfinished games, so I’m glad that Nintendo exceeded expectations. It should also be noted that Pikmin 4 looks way nicer than it has any right to, and it may very well be the prettiest game on the system.

Dragon Quest is the most influential JRPG of all time, and the series has somehow remained relevant since its 1986 debut. One of the reasons why the franchise still resonates with fans is because the games stay true to what they are. The turn-based, menu-driven battle system might seem archaic, but the continued success of Dragon Quest proves that you can create compelling experiences without reinventing the wheel. Dragon Quest XI relies on common character archetypes and the plotline is fairly predictable, but there’s a reason why people keep telling the same stories over and over again. You know exactly what you’re in for when you boot up the game, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Dragon Quest XI is a textbook example of a cozy game, and it’s arguably the best entry in the series. The original PS4 version was a little too rough around the edges, however, so I was happy to see so many meaningful additions in the Definitive Edition. There are new quests, new costumes, and new marriage options. There are plenty of quality of life improvements, too. (The ability to increase the battle speed is a godsend, and it makes grinding for experience a little more palatable.) Dragon Quest XI isn’t the most complex game in the genre, but it’s one of the most engrossing. I took an immediate liking to (almost) all of the characters, and I actually enjoyed spending time with them. Sadly, Dragon Quest XI marks the end of an era. Akira Toriyama’s character designs have always been the heart and soul of Dragon Quest, and his passing will certainly affect the series in a profound way.

Like its predecessors, Bayonetta 3 is an over-the-top action game that’s defined by stylish action and a cheeky sense of humor. It’s arguably the most divisive game in the series, but it’s tremendously ambitious. The set pieces are more elaborate than ever, the gameplay is more varied, and combat is somehow even more outlandish. Bayonetta 3 is built around a multiverse premise, and it focuses on numerous Bayonetta variants from parallel worlds. One of the variants wouldn’t look out of place in ancient Egypt, while another looks like she should be performing magic acts on street corners. Each variant has their own unique skills at their disposal, and it’s a lot of fun to experiment with all of their abilities. During the adventure, you’ll attack your enemies with giant yo-yos, swing around like Spider-man, and summon an assortment of fantastic beasts to the battlefield. The game isn’t afraid to go off the rails, and it seems like no idea was too absurd. Bayonetta can enlist help from a killer clocktower, for instance, and she can also transform into a demonic train for some reason. I also appreciate how creative the boss battles are, and I’m especially fond of the elaborate opera battle that plays out like a rhythm game. (Jeanne’s side-scrolling missions are also worth a mention, and they remind me a lot of Elevator Action Returns.) Some sections center around an obnoxious witch-in-training named Viola, who seems poised to replace Bayonetta by the end of the game. I can see why this development was oft-putting, but I maintain that the game is over-hated. Many of the most outspoken critics were upset because the game destroyed their illogical lesbian headcanon. Bayonetta 3 is the biggest and boldest game in the series, and every level offers something new.

Super Smash Bros. is widely viewed as the best crossover franchise in gaming history, but it has humble beginnings. The first entry in the series only had eight characters, but the roster was expanded with each new game. Although many new characters were introduced along the way, some of them were moved out of rotation. Characters like Mario and Link were part of the permanent roster, but fans accepted that certain characters would need to be dropped in order to make room for new ones. When Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was announced, not many people were expecting everyone to return. The roster included all 63 fighters from previous installments, with an additional 11 newcomers thrown in for good measure. By the time the DLC waves were completed, the roster had expanded to 88! There were also over 100 stages and nearly 1,000 music tracks. Most of the content was Nintendo-centric, but over 20% of the characters were from third-party franchises. While early entries simply leveraged the popularity of Nintendo’s properties, Ultimate feels more like a celebration of the gaming medium itself. Masahiro Sakurai and his team deserve tremendous credit for presenting each character in the best possible light. (Simon Belmont has never looked better, and I wish Microsoft cared as much about Banjo as the Smash team did.) Given the fanfare surrounding it, Ultimate would likely have broken sales records even if the underlying game was sub-par. Thankfully, it plays like a dream. Smash Bros. has always been a series that’s easy to jump into but difficult to master. Anyone can have fun playing the game, and there are enough power-ups and random elements to make things feel competitive. At the same time, more experienced players will always have the advantage. Some people approach it like a proper fighting game while others are just there for the multiplayer mayhem. In either regard, the game mechanics have more depth than what you see on the surface. The sheer amount of characters is amazing, but I’m more impressed with how different they feel from one another. I honestly don’t know how they’re going to top it.

I enjoyed the New Super Mario Bros. games more than most people did, but the widespread complaints about the art style were not entirely misplaced. The games looked sterile and uninspired compared to their 8-and-16-bit offerings, and that’s one of the reasons why Super Mario Bros. Wonder was so surprising. The animation is incredible, and I love how expressive all of the characters were. It makes other 2D Mario games seem lifeless in comparison, and the keyframes look exactly like the official concept artwork. The main gimmick in Wonder is the aptly-titled “Wonder Flowers” that cause all sorts of stage-altering sequences. The flowers might cause warp pipes to come to life, alter gravity, or trigger elaborate dance sequences. It’s not unusual for a Mario game to introduce new gameplay mechanics at regular intervals, but Wonder is arguably the most inventive game in the entire series. I had a lot of fun with the various power-ups too. I developed an immediate affinity for Elephant Mario, and the ability badges were a welcome addition. (The grappling vine and parachute hat were especially useful, and I’d love to see them return in the future.) The most wonderful thing about the game is how flawlessly it controls. It’s remarkably responsive without feeling too loose, and it’s never been easier to land precise jumps. I consider it to be the best-playing side-scroller ever created, and the final stage is the greatest level to ever grace a 2D Mario game. My only complaint is that the multiplayer component feels like an afterthought rather than being an integral part of the game. Even so, Wonder ranks right up there as one of Mario’s greatest adventures.

When counting down the best games on any given system, I don’t generally include ports from previous generations. Even though Mario Kart 8 was first released on the Wii U, the Deluxe version is being recognized on this list because of how much new content it brought to the table. The number of tracks was doubled (from 48 to a staggering 96), and over a dozen new racers were added to the roster. Deluxe also included a proper battle mode, and there were a number of significant gameplay changes as well. The ability to hold two items at once fundamentally changes the dynamics of the game, and there are more weight classes than in the original. From a technical standpoint, the resolution was bumped to 1080p (up from 900p), the loading times were reduced, and HD Rumble was implemented. The ability to play the game in handheld mode is arguably the most important difference, and Mario Kart is an ideal game to play on the go. (The second most important difference is the inclusion of Pauline, but that probably goes without saying.) I already considered Mario Kart 8 to be the best in the series, and the anti-gravity gimmick allows for the most creative tracks in franchise history. I have always been taken aback by the amazing soundtrack and slick production values. The characters feel so alive, and I had a lot of fun reviewing the replays after each race. It’s not uncommon for a re-release to have new features, but Deluxe basically doubles the content of the original game. With nearly 70 million copies sold, it’s the best-selling Switch game by a mile. It’s absolutely deserving of its success, and it’s always the first game I suggest when people ask for Switch recommendations.

The Xenoblade Chronicles games are known for expansive areas, engaging combat, compelling characters, and unexpected plot twists. I had high hopes for Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and my expectations were blown out of the water. The game takes place on top (and inside) of giant creatures known as Titans, and it features some of the most intriguing set pieces in gaming history. The story is just as fascinating, and I found myself becoming more and more invested as the game progressed. I grew rather fond of the characters by the end of the story, and I was surprised by how sympathetic everyone was. It’s a harrowing tale with some gut-wrenching moments, but Monolithsoft isn’t afraid to be silly. I appreciate moments of levity, and that’s one of the reasons why the game is so enjoyable. The developers also deserve credit for coming up with so many interesting gameplay mechanics. There are many layers to the combat, but every aspect of the battle system has a purpose. The action is anything but mindless, and it’s not needlessly complicated in any way. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was met with harsh criticism in some circles, but I truly believe it’s the type of game that gets better the longer you play it. The level design is confusing at first, but this isn’t an issue after you become accustomed to your surroundings. The game doesn’t do the best job of explaining certain mechanics, but everything you need to know about the battle system can be learned in 10 minutes. The character designs rely heavily on anime tropes, but they’re surprisingly well-written. The game gives you a reason to care about the characters, and they end up subverting expectations in the best way possible. The Xenoblade Chronicles is batting 1.000, and it has become one of my favorite franchises. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is the best game in the series, however, and it deserves to be mentioned alongside the best JRPGs of all time. It also has the single best soundtrack of its generation.

I know we’ve already discussed a Mario platformer, but I feel that there are enough differences between 2D and 3D Mario entries to warrant another entry on this list. 3D Mario games are typically a once-in-a-generation affair, so Odyssey was truly something special. Although many gamers compared it to Super Mario 64, it’s even more expansive. It almost feels like an open-world game at times, and there’s a staggering amount of things to do in each stage. Simply put, no Mario game has had more variety. One minute, you’ll be engaged in an impromptu dance-off, and the next you’ll be using a Vespa scooter to escape from an angry tyrannosaurus. Each level has its own unique theme, but the game never ties itself to a single gimmick, art style, or genre. At one point, you’ll battle a surprisingly realistic dragon that looks more akin to what you’d expect to see in Skyrim. My favorite part of the game was the festival where Mario takes on a pixelated form and relives his glory days by battling Donkey Kong. This scenario is basically a public execution, but it seems like a joyous occasion since it’s backed by the catchiest song in gaming history. (Pauline’s got a heck of a voice, and I was glad that she was given a prominent role.) No Mario game has felt more liberating than Odyssey, and you have so many cool moves at your disposal. Mario can throw his hat in mid-air, land on it, and jump to another platform. The mechanics are incredibly complex, but it controls are flawless. Mario can also throw his hat on enemies, allies, and inanimate objects in order to possess them. If he takes control of a frog, he’ll be able to jump to higher places. If he takes control of a Bullet Bill, he’ll be able to soar through the skies. He can also take control of taxi cabs, trees, and a slab of uncooked meat. The game is every bit as ridiculous as it sounds, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Even though Breath of the Wild was developed as a Wii U game, it’s more closely associated with the Switch. Both versions of the game were released on the same day, but the Switch version had more visibility since it was the killer app for Nintendo’s newly-minted hybrid console. It was the perfect showcase for the system for a number of reasons. It was the largest and most ambitious Zelda adventure ever, and you could easily spend the entire day playing it. At the same time, it was also an ideal game to play on the go. Contemporary Zelda games typically feature eight-to-ten massive dungeons, but Breath of the Wild has 120 bite-sized shrines that can usually be tackled within in a matter of minutes. This makes it an ideal handheld game, since you can make meaningful progress even if you don’t have time for a lengthy playing session. Few open world games seem as open as Breath of the Wild, and you’re basically free to go wherever you want. I was blown away by how interactive the environments were, and you can climb almost everything. Most of the puzzles have multiple solutions, and the game let’s you take whatever approach fits you best. Tears of the Kingdom was a worthy follow-up, but I decided to only recognize one of the games on this list since they share so much in common. (They have the same map, the same user interface, and the same musical core, among other things.) Tears has more content, and the ability to fabricate vehicles and other contraptions helps it stand out from its predecessor. I felt more connected to the world in Breath of the Wild, however, and the sense of wonder was more pronounced because I didn’t know what to expect. I was already familiar with the world by the time Tears of the Kingdom was released, so I spent most of my time flying over the environments instead of exploring them. Both games are timeless classics, and they could be considered 1A and 1B on this countdown.