The Nintendo Switch 2 has officially completed its inaugural year, and what a sensational debut it has been. Over the past twelve months, Nintendo has remained steadfast in its commitment to the platform, delivering a robust steady stream of first-party titles. While few have reached the legendary heights of the original Switch’s launch titan, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the overall level of polish and creative ambition across the library has been exceptional. From Mario and Kirby to Metroid and Pokémon, the console’s premier franchises have all arrived with strong, compelling entries.
Now that the dust has settled on this first year, it is the perfect moment to reflect on the Switch 2’s inaugural lineup. Our comprehensive ranking of all 12 major releases reveals a remarkably high standard; frankly, there are almost no misfires in the bunch. Aside from a pair of glorified technical showcases, nearly every offering from Nintendo has provided a meaningful and enjoyable experience. While ranking such a consistent collection of games inevitably sparks debate, rest assured that even the entries at the bottom of our list offer plenty of charm.
Below, we have ranked every major first-party game released during the Switch 2’s first year (including titles available on both the Switch and Switch 2).
12
Drag x Drive
Image: Nintendo/Nintendo EPDRelease date: Aug. 14, 2025
Read: Polygon’s Drag x Drive review
Drag x Drive was intended to serve as a showcase for the Switch 2’s innovative mouse-control capabilities. While using Joy-Cons as pointer inputs in a shooter is one thing, the promise here was to combine controllers for entirely new input paradigms. Unfortunately, this wheelchair-basketball title proved to be a flawed proof-of-concept, hampered by awkward, noisy, and imprecise movement mechanics. It ultimately functions as a shallow technical demo that loses its luster after just a few rounds.
11
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Image: NintendoRelease date: June 5, 2025
Read: Polygon’s Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour review
To put it bluntly, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is essentially an interactive instruction manual that should have been pre-installed on every console. Charging full price for this remains one of the most baffling decisions of this hardware generation. However, there is a silver lining: for every tedious tutorial, there is an genuinely clever minigame that utilizes the system’s unique features in inventive ways. If you are the type of player who thrives on chasing high scores, this collection provides surprising longevity, feeling much like a prelude to a future Mario Party installment.
10
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book
Image: NintendoRelease date: May 21, 2026
Read: Polygon’s Yoshi and the Mysterious Book review
The performance gap between our bottom two entries and the rest of this list is substantial. Virtually every other first-party title released for the Switch 2 has enjoyed widespread critical acclaim. Please don’t take Yoshi and the Mysterious Book landing here as a slight; it is a charming, delightful puzzle-platformer that stands out as perhaps the best title on the system for younger players. It falls into this position simply because its gameplay loop leans into repetitive design, losing out by the narrowest of margins in an incredibly crowded field.
9
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
Image: NintendoRelease date: Nov. 5, 2025
Read: Polygon’s Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment review
The high-octane, hack-and-slash style of the Hyrule Warriors franchise is certainly a niche preference, but for those who enjoy the chaos, Age of Imprisonment is a blast. The Switch 2 hardware breathes new life into the massive battlefield scenarios of the Tears of the Kingdom spinoff, maintaining a significantly more stable frame rate even when you are carving through hordes of Moblins. While the narrative is somewhat forgettable and mission variety could be broader, there are few things more cathartic than barreling through waves of enemies as a literal Goron cannonball.
8
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Image: Retro Studios/Nintendo via PolygonRelease date: Dec. 4, 2025
Read: Polygon’s Metroid Prime 4: Beyond review
Arguably the most contentious release of the Switch 2’s first year, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond struggled to live up to the massive weight of anticipation. It is, at times, a disjointed experience featuring overly chatty characters and a somewhat puzzling open-world hub design. Yet, despite these flaws, Retro Studios proves why they are masters of environmental storytelling. The planet Viewros is meticulously crafted, and unraveling the mystery behind its fallen civilization makes for an exceptionally atmospheric sci-fi adventure.
7
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Image: Nintendo via PolygonRelease date: Oct. 16, 2025
Read: Polygon’s Pokémon Legends: Z-A review
Even if one questions its condensed open-world structure, Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels undeniably refreshing. By moving away from the traditional turn-based combat system toward a real-time approach, the game allows for a more dynamic, hands-on experience in directing your team. It is a bold, promising step forward that reimagines the series’ fundamentals. Furthermore, the eccentric denizens of Lumiose City provide plenty of flavor, filling the urban landscape with intriguing side quests and bizarre musings on city development.
6
Mario Tennis Fever
Image: NintendoRelease date: Feb. 12, 2026
Read: Polygon’s Mario Tennis Fever review
The Mario Sports line has felt somewhat stagnant since the Wii U era, but Mario Tennis Fever marks a triumphant return to form. The core tennis gameplay remains satisfyingly snappy, but the addition of “Fever Rackets” introduces a welcome layer of strategic complexity. By incorporating environmental hazards and synergistic racket combinations, the game transforms standard matches into chaotic, high-stakes spectacles. Despite a lackluster single-player story mode, the core competitive gameplay is brilliant, wacky, and deeply addictive.
5
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream
Image: Nintendo via PolygonRelease date: April 16, 2026
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Read: Polygon’s Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream review
Few expected the cult-classic 3DS life sim to make a comeback, but its arrival on the Switch 2 has been a delight. Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream offers an incredibly weird, charming take on island management, handing players the reins to their own chaotic reality TV show. With an expanded Mii editor and free-form creative tools, the potential for absurdity is limitless. While the absence of built-in online sharing is a minor disappointment, the community surrounding the game—especially the vibrant, meme-rich corner of Reddit—has more than made up for it.
4
Pokémon Pokopia
Image: Koei Tecmo, Game Freak/Nintendo, The Pokémon CompanyRelease date: March 5, 2026
Read: Polygon’s Pokémon Pokopia review
Who could have predicted that the finest Pokémon experience in over a decade would take the form of a life-sim crafting game? If you are a fan of Dragon Quest Builders, the appeal here is immediate. The team at Omega Force has done a fantastic job translating the wonder of the franchise into a chilled-out, creative sandbox. Experimenting with habitat construction to attract new species to your personal island is easily one of the most rewarding gameplay loops the Switch 2 has offered to date.
3
Mario Kart World
Image: Nintendo / Nintendo EPDRelease date: June 5, 2025
Read: Polygon’s Mario Kart World review
Mario Kart World faced immense pressure during the Switch 2’s launch, but looking back a year later, it is clear that this racer is a true standout. Beyond the initial hype, we find a remarkably polished and deep racing experience. Between the inventive track design, the exhilarating “Knockout Tour” mode, and the casual joy of the free-roam segments, this is easily one of the most comprehensive titles in the series’ history. With planned future content updates, it is well-positioned to remain a pillar of the console’s library for years to come.
Source: Polygon
