Nintendo has been one of the biggest names in gaming for decades, but for the last eight years, the Switch has held an especially strong grip on the gaming market. The standard console, Switch Lite and Switch OLED have blended incredible games you won't find anywhere else with a delightfully portable console format. Altogether, this generation of Nintendo systems sold upwards of 143 million units globally, according to financial data released by the company.
After what was considered a failed launch of the Wii U in 2012, the Switch's success is a result of Nintendo's willingness to experiment with and create new experiences from a number of their pedigreed gaming franchises -- including Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda and Pokemon. Its innovative design allows standard console play to coexist with the motion controls baked into its compact JoyCon design.
To help you narrow your game choices, CNET curated this list of the best Nintendo Switch games you can buy right now.
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How we determined CNET's best Nintendo Switch games
When creating this list of best Nintendo Switch games, we factored in how unique and enjoyable these games are for most players -- we evaluated criteria including graphical quality, innovative gameplay mechanics and compelling narratives. The picks we made cover a variety of genres from fantasy to retro platformers to shooters to racing games, and while we favored console-exclusive games you won't find on Xbox, PlayStation or PC we also included some can't-miss games that appear on multiple platforms. If you're looking for help choosing your next game, CNET's top Switch list is a good place to start narrowing your choices.
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