A new Nintendo console is always an event, and the company’s latest one is no different.
The Nintendo Switch 2 launched earlier this year and has had a steady cadence of awesome titles releasing just about every month, and there are no signs of it slowing down any time soon. With 2025 coming to an end, it’s time to look back on what Switch 2 gamers have been able to enjoy in its first six months or so.
Here’s our picks for the top games on Switch 2 in its first half-year.
Table of contents
Best Switch 2 games in 2025
Mario Kart World
Switch 2’s launch title is still one of its best games, offering dozens of characters, tracks, and countless hours of fun whether in online multiplayer, couch co-op, or solo play.
Donkey Kong Bananza
At Destructoid, we called it one of Nintendo’s best games ever. DK and Pauline’s journey was fun, endearing, and full of all sorts of smashing terrain in what can only be described as cathartic cuteness.
Octopath Traveler 0
Square Enix’s gorgeous art, refreshing gameplay changes, and arching storylines across numerous playable characters and companions earned it a high score in our review.
Hades 2
Hades 2 is simply one of the best roguelike action games ever made, so naturally, it ends up on our list for 2025. It launched in 1.0 with the Switch 2 Edition in September, and instantly became a top game on any console, let alone one that was just a few months old.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Samus’s latest adventure is one of the best-looking games Switch 2 has to offer, and the latest evolution of the Metroid franchise. It’s a worthwhile experience for long-time fans of the series and the start of a potential new era.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Somehow, it was worth the wait. It took many, many years for the follow-up to Hollow Knight to finally launch. And when it did, it became an instant classic, somehow meeting and even surpassing expectations.
Kirby Air Riders
If Mario Kart World is not your thing, then maybe Kirby Air Riders’ destruction dirby and high octane racing modes might be. This is a delightfully unique title that’s quite unlike anything else, and the joy that Sakurai had while creating it could be felt within.
