The Nintendo Switch 2 is a huge upgrade over its predecessor. While it may lose out to the OLED model due to its LCD display, there’s no denying that the graphical and performance improvements more than make up for that shortcoming. With that in mind, here are the best Switch 2 games available right now.
Mario Kart World
Let’s get the obvious one out of the way. Mario Kart World is the best and most impressive Switch 2 game available right now. Not only is it gorgeous, but it also supports up to 24 racers, though you can only have four people on a single system. That alone is pretty damn mind-blowing.
The 30 new tracks introduced here are beautiful too, not to mention just how smooth they run on the Switch 2. This is a true showcase of what the console is capable of. If you’re getting a Switch 2, Mario Kart World is a no-brainer.
Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 may have had a rough launch, but CD Projekt Red was committed to improving the game, and improve it has. The release of the Phantom Liberty expansion and 2.0 helped to breathe new life into Cyberpunk 2077, and it’s now one of the best games you can get on the Switch 2.
Alright, let’s talk turkey. When you’re playing the game in handheld mode, you should be able to get a couple hours of battery life out of it. This isn’t perfect, no, but it is comparable to what the Steam Deck is pulling. Let’s not forget that this is an extremely demanding game as well, so squeezing out two hours of playtime on the Swtich 2 is mighty impressive. Cyberpunk 2077 also runs at a pretty comfortable 30fps in handheld mode, and it lets you use gyro controls for the gunplay.
All of these factors come together to create one of the most impressive Switch 2 ports we’ve ever seen. If you don’t have a Steam Deck and you want to play this RPG portably, the Switch 2 is the way to go. Oh, and it also has cross-saves between platforms. Just make sure to link your CDPR account.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
I’m not a fan of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, but even I have to admit that it runs like a dream on the Switch 2. Unlike the Zelda games, which require you to purchase an Upgrade Pack, the Switch 2 upgrades for Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are free, so yeah, check them out on the Switch 2.
The graphical upgrade is very noticeable, and both games run a lot smoother on Nintendo’s updated hardware. I should point out that this doesn’t fix the game’s core issues, namely the boring open-world and mediocre gameplay, but hey, at least it looks pretty.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Breath of the Wild was released as a launch title for the OG Switch and it was already impressive on that console. If you pick up the Upgrade Pack for it on the Switch 2, however, it runs even better. Breath of the Wild runs at 60fps on the Switch 2, which pretty much makes this game perfect in my book.
Not only is the open-world still a total joy to explore, now you can do it while enjoying a buttery smooth framerate too. As far as the battery life is concerned, this is still a pretty taxing game, but it’s not as bad as, say, the port of Cyberpunk 2077.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Tears of the Kingdom released a few years later as a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild. This follow-up makes some tweaks to Link’s Sheika Slate powers, and also expands the open-world of Hyrule in ways that most players probably couldn’t have imagined. The entire base map of Hyrule is still present, though there are some key changes, and Tears of the Kingdom also adds an entirely new underground region below that. Oh, and there are so many ruins in the sky to explore too. The amount of content here is pretty insane.
Just like Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom also boasts 60fps on the Switch 2. The caveat, of course, is that you have to buy the Switch 2 Upgrade Pack, which is a bit of a bummer. I do think it’s well worth the asking price, though.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time might be the surprise breakout hit of 2025. I really enjoyed it on the Switch OLED model, though I did notice that it could look a little blurry when playing in handheld mode. The Switch 2 Upgrade Pack pretty much solves that problem with a huge graphical boost, and the good news is that it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than what you’d be paying for the Zelda upgrades.
For folks who are looking for a cozy game to enjoy on the go, this is one of the best Switch 2 games you can pick up.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Speaking of cozy games, but with a bit more of an anime twist, Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is another solid one to consider adding to your Switch 2 library. Just like Fantasy Life i, Guardians of Azuma does suffer from a bit of graphical blurriness in handheld mode on the Switch OLED model, but runs perfectly on the Switch 2.
Guardians of Azuma is all about farming, building out a village, interacting with NPCs, and even romancing them when you’ve gotten close enough to them. The action combat is stellar, though I did find that the difficulty does drop off quite a bit even when you ramp things up. The combat isn’t really the point though, and folks who just want to enjoy the slice-of-life elements will find a lot to love here.
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster
This is a Square Enix classic at this point. Bravely Default has been remastered and it’s currently one of the best games to pick up on the Switch 2, especially for JRPG sickos like myself.
The graphics have seen quite a significant upgrade, and it’s clear the game has come a long way since its 3DS days. The character models are crisp and beautiful, the turn-based combat still holds up incredibly well today, and it’s just such a joy to play on the bigger screen of the Switch 2. It does kinda drag towards the end, but there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you hooked along the way.
