In today’s list of the best games that have come out over the past 12 months, we’re taking a look at the Switch. And boy, has it been a good year if you like your gaming to take place on a hybrid console-handheld.
In today’s list of the best games that have come out over the past 12 months, we’re taking a look at the Switch. And boy, has it been a good year if you like your gaming to take place on a hybrid console-handheld.
There are brilliant new entries in long-running series, fantastic new games that make the most of the Switch’s hardware, and even a Tetris game. It wouldn’t be a Nintendo list without a Tetris game.
It was super hard to pare this one down to just ten entries, so if you think there are other Switch games from 2021 that deserve some love, let us know in the comments. Before we get there, though, here are what we think are the ten best Switch games of 2021.
A spectacular entry into the 2D Metroid canon, Dread adds in new weapons and kit, super tense stealth sections and some ingenious design twists that’ll keep you on your toes at every turn. Throw in a great story and you’ve got yourself the whole package right here.
This one manages to capture everything that makes the Monster Hunter series so addictive, while lowering the bar for entry every so slightly. It still demands a lot of attention, but it’s not quite as overwhelming as some of the other games have been. And Rampage mode is ace.
While it’s weird that this took so long to find a home on Nintendo’s console, we’re super glad that it did. Part homage, part reimagining, all Tetris. It’s a game you’ll be instantly familiar with, but it’ll surprise you at every turn as well.
A game that builds on everything that its predecessors have done, throwing in new demon-raising mechanics, and dropping you into the middle of a war between demons and angels. It’s massive, it’s got a brilliant story and it’ll keep you playing for weeks.
A strange, compelling RPG set in the aftermath of a terrible war that sees you playing an amnesiac detective who’s trying to solve a murder. There’s no traditional combat here, with various skill trees and checks used to push the story along. It’s weird and wonderful and well worth checking out.
The sequel to one of the best JRPGs of this century. It manages to capture what made the original so great, while still moving its ideas forwards. Challenging, thought provoking, and that perfect kind of manic.
A HD repolishing of an oft overlooked entry in the Zelda series. It’s a massive, engaging, narrative-driven experience with more than a few brilliant ideas thrown in for good measure. And it acts as a bridge between earlier Zelda and Breath of the Wild.
One of the best roguelike platformers gets a few new tricks in this excellent sequel. You’re still delving into tricky dungeons to find treasure, take down enemies and grab new gear, but the new twists will keep even seasoned players on their toes. It’s challenging, but worth it.
A bundle of the first two Overcooked games and their DLC, as well as some new content exclusively released here. It’s a fast-paced, wonderfully crazed cooking game and once you’ve played it you’ll be hooked.
Two of the finest arcade sports game in the world, repurposed for modern devices and released together in one glorious bundle. They’re focused, brilliantly designed, and will have you kick-flipping your way to joy for hours on end.
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