As part of GameRevolution’s Game of the Year 2017 week, we have now arrived at our top 10 best Nintendo Switch games. Wow, what an amazing first year for a console that launched back in March. As you’ll see below, there is no shortage of high-quality experiences to be found on the home console and handheld hybrid.
Whether it’s straight from Nintendo or from a third-party developer, this is a heated list of phenomenal games that will have you playing the system on-the-go or at home for a long, long time. It was a tough decision for us to make, but here’s GameRevolution’s Top 10 Best Switch Games of 2017.
10. Snipperclips – Cut it out, together! (GR Review)
A launch game for Switch, Snipperclips makes great use of the unique features that the system has. Snipperclips is a quirky little puzzle game that can be played entirely in co-op. It will have you cracking up as you cut and shape your hilariously animated Joy-Con characters to complete various activities like playing basketball, carefully transferring an egg, and more.
Also: GameRevolution’s Top 10 Best PS4 Games of 2017
Snipperclips is a party game that brings pure joy for anyone playing or watching. There’s simply nothing like the memories you’ll make with it, especially with the weird statements you’ll find yourself saying to each other while playing. Whether you choose to help or hinder the group’s goal, there’s lots of fun to be had no matter where you are.
9. Fast RMX (GR Review)
It has been sometime since we’ve gotten an F-Zero game, but Fast RMX is a great replacement in the meantime. This stunning sci-fi racing game is truly for those that want to go fast. Even in singleplayer, the AI is challenging and the controls require real dedication to master.
No matter if you’re playing on a TV or in handheld mode, Fast RMX boasts a consistent gameplay experience with a buttery smooth 60 frames-per-second. To keep you playing, there are many vehicles to unlock that you can take to the tracks to boost and overtake your opponents in the insane, high-octane racing.
8. Sonic Mania (GR Review)
There’s no doubting that the Sonic franchise hasn’t been doing well for quite some time, but Sonic Mania acts as the humble return to its roots that the series has needed for so long. Sonic Mania takes what was great about the first three Sonic the Hedgehog games on Genesis and remixes them with a loving touch.
Sonic Mania is a game for longtime fans made clearly by fans of the original games. It looks just like a Sega Genesis game from the nostalgic art to the eggscellent boss design. It’s certainly more than a simple remaster, containing tons of surprises and some new levels that elevate Sonic Mania to being perhaps the best Sonic game ever made.
7. Golf Story
Who would’ve thought that a strange blend of retro art and golf in an RPG would be so good? Nonetheless, that’s exactly what Golf Story is. The story of your character aiming to become a professional golfer is surprisingly enjoyable due to the clever and amusing writing.
It’s complemented by the easy-to-grasp, but hard-to-master golfing gameplay. Timing your swing and lining up your shot is what you’d expect from a golf game, enhanced by the varied and complex courses you’ll play on. Being a meaty RPG, Golf Story includes stats to increase, golf clubs with varying stats to collect, and even numerous side quests that utilize golfing in some unique ways.
6. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
When leaks of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle first appeared, no one expected much from this tactical RPG. Oh, how we were all wrong. Mario + Rabbids is a bizarre crossover that looks at first glance like a “my first XCOM“, but there is a lot of depth to be found in its strategic gameplay.
The colorful and charming locations play host to deep turn-based battles as you maneuver your team around the map to string together chaotic combos with your three-person squad. Mario + Rabbids only becomes more challenging as the game goes on, forcing you to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of your party. It is a crossover almost no one wanted, but we’re now glad it happened.
5. Splatoon 2 (GR Review)
It isn’t often that Nintendo introduces a new IP into its slew of franchises, so it’s unfortunate that the first Splatoon was released to a relatively small audience on Wii U. Thankfully, Splatoon 2 is not only on a bigger and better system, but is a bigger and better sequel to the original third-person shooter.
A robust singleplayer campaign has you master your squid kid’s transformation before taking it into the deep and constantly evolving online multiplayer. The multi-layered ink gameplay in Splatoon 2 makes it more unique than any other shooter out there, and all of the varied maps utilize that gameplay well. For those looking for something less competitive, the new wave-based co-op mode Salmon Run is a welcome addition to an already expansive and addictive online game.
4. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (GR Review)
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe deserved a second chance at life on Switch, and Nintendo really delivered. Releasing with all previous DLC bundled together made it already worth a purchase, but Mario Kart 8 Deluxe didn’t stop there. Nintendo added features like being able to hold two items at once, the playable inkling kids, and the ability to play splitscreen anywhere you want.
Most importantly, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe fulfilled many fans’ wishes by revitalizing its battle mode entirely. From the new Renegade Roundup to the beloved Balloon Battle, these battle modes help flesh out Mario Kart 8 Deluxe into the most complete Mario Kart experience ever.
3. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (GR Review)
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 finishes off one of the best years ever for gaming on a really high note. Prior to its release, you could find just about every genre represented well on Switch, except for a huge JRPG. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 fills that much-needed gap, offering a massive role-playing experience that will keep you busy for literally hundreds of hours.
The world of Alrest is absolutely gigantic, encompassing so many different environments to explore for hours on end. The combat is the finest the series has seen, piling on layer after layer of complex elements that somehow work together perfectly. This is all before mentioning the Pokemon-like Blade system that lets you collect dozens of companions that affect everything from battles to exploration in unique ways.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (GR Review)
For many, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a system seller for Switch, and for good reason. Breath of the Wild takes what you thought you knew about the series and flips it on its head with the sheer amount of freedom given to you. After a short prologue, the world opens up and you are able to go anywhere and do whatever you want.
Want to get your unprepared butt kicked by the final boss as soon as you start? Go right ahead. If you want to spend hundreds of hours completing the puzzle-based shrines and finding collectibles, you can do that, too. The possibilities are endless as seen in the ability to climb anything with ease.
People are still playing and finding secrets in Breath of the Wild nine months later; a testament to its masterful design. In fact, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild would be the best Nintendo Switch game of 2017 if it weren’t for one other masterpiece.
Switch Game of the Year: Super Mario Odyssey (GR Review)
What a year for video games. While Breath of the Wild is one of the best Zelda games to ever release, the same can be said for Super Mario Odyssey being one of the best Mario games ever. A truly open 3D platforming experience has been lacking from the series since Sunshine in 2002, and Super Mario Odyssey brings it back even better than anyone could’ve imagined.
On a quest to save Princess Peach from marrying Bowser, you embark on a journey across more than a dozen different worlds teeming with Power Moons to collect. These collectibles are the bread and butter of Super Mario Odyssey. You can find them anywhere and everywhere, and the joy of discovering one never stops.
This is mainly because of the seemingly endless ways of finding a moon. Some will have you test your platforming skills, others will make you complete special challenges, while others still will make you think outside the box. This is assisted in large part by the new capture mechanic.
Taking over a body lets you utilize Mario in ways you never thought of before. No matter who you’re playing as, the gameplay is the finest the Mario series has ever seen. Super Mario Odyssey is not only our Switch game of the year for 2017, but one of the greatest video games ever made.
