Nintendo has been on a rampage this year, especially given that they just dropped a new console. The Switch 2 has allowed many people to see their old games in a new light, and the exclusives have just started rolling out.
In other words, it’s a great time to be a Switch owner, and a lot of games have come out this year that have helped bolster the platform. Third parties seem to be taking to the Switch 2 already, and Nintendo itself has released a few heavy-hitters.
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
It’s been a heck of a year for kart racers. While Nintendo had two of their own, Sega brought the Sonic Racing series back in a big way with CrossWorlds. With many fans saying it’s the best the series has been since Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, Sonic Racing is back in the spotlight.
With an interesting CrossWorld gimmick (where each lap on a track shuffles you off to a new locale) and some out-there driver choices, CrossWorlds managed to keep my attention since it came out.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Star-Crossed World
While Kirby and the Forgotten Land is technically a 2022 release, it came back in a big way in 2025 on Switch 2. The new generational enhancements made the already sleek visual style look even better, with some extra performance boosts on top.
The real key addition was the Star-Crossed World expansion, which added new levels and endgame bosses into the mix. It made an already great Kirby entry even better, and as a package deal on Switch 2, it stands as one of the best games in the entire series.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A
Pokémon Legends: Z-A still has some of the hangups of its mainline predecessors, but it also has a lot to like as well. Even more so than Legends, we’re finally granted a look behind the curtain at what a full-scale modern Pokémon game could be.
The performance was the real standout, though. After how Scarlet & Violet ran, fans were skittish about how Z-A might turn out, but it thankfully runs incredibly smoothly on the Nintendo Switch 2. Ideally, this is the baseline for the series in the future, albeit with more modern visuals.
Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment
I’m typically first in line to play a Hyrule Warriors entry, and at this point, it’s a full-on franchise, not just a subseries. This is also arguably the best it’s ever been, and with (you guessed it) stellar performance on display on Switch 2. While the story mostly plays it safe, especially compared to the wackier timeline shenanigans in Age of Calamity, it offers a wide variety of cast members to experiment with, as well as a ton of content to conquer.
Age of Imprisonment proves this franchise isn’t quite done yet, and I hope we continue to see more innovation from Nintendo and Tecmo Koei.
Mario Kart World
While the fan reaction to Mario Kart World has cooled somewhat, I’ve also spent a ton of time with it, and it’s been a hit with family and friends. Something about this series endures through the ages, even if every entry isn’t a strict improvement on what came before it.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a modern classic, but Mario Kart World‘s diverse track roster has been a blast to keep playing. The free roam mode, while not as expansive as it could have been, ate up a lot of my time as I wandered around the peaceful countryside in search of outfits.
If Nintendo can continue iterating on and updating Mario Kart World, it could evolve into one of the best entries in the series.
Kirby Air Riders
Kirby Air Riders came out of nowhere and took up a top spot on this list. It demands one with its loud and boisterous energy, which has also been a hit at parties and gatherings alike. Drawing from his masterpiece Super Smash Bros., Masahiro Sakurai makes you feel like a million bucks every time you play Kirby Air Riders.
With tons of old-school unlocks and a lot of track variety (including courses from the original GameCube edition), I’ll be playing this one the most out of any 2025 kart racer. It has a chaotic energy that I can really gel with, but there’s also a ton of depth to its machine (kart) mechanics. Like the vast majority of Sakurai’s works, it’s easy to get into and challenging to master. I’m more than willing to go on that journey with Kirby Air Riders.
Hades 2
While Hades 2 isn’t a Switch exclusive, the “one more run” formula is perfect for the Switch 2. With Hades 2, I went on a lot more of those runs than I expected, mostly due to the expanded mechanics and scope compared to the original. There’s support for a lot of different playstyles, and the variety of locales is essentially doubled in the sequel.
Performance-wise, the Switch 2 is also up to the task immediately at launch, and the portable version is well-optimized. If you haven’t played this series yet, now is a good time to start. Both Hades games are available on Switch hardware, which makes things a lot easier.
Donkey Kong Bonanza
I’ve been waiting years for a game like Donkey Kong Bonanza, and it exceeded even my highest expectations. Whether you’re into wandering around and punching everything in sight or surgically attacking story missions, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in Bonanza.
With some pretty significant lore implications in tow, it’s clear that Donkey Kong Bonanza was a labor of love from Nintendo. The true win for this game, though, is the puzzle design. Like Tears of the Kingdom or Mario Odyssey, you can solve platforming approaches in unique ways, some of which have made for some excellent online tech videos.
I hope we see a sequel someday, and that eventually, Donkey Kong will be just as big as Mario in the 3D space.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Since it was announced nearly a decade ago, the hype for Metroid Prime 4 has fluctuated considerably. Metroid fans can be insatiable (present), and Nintendo has put this storied franchise on the back burner more than once. A “wait and see” approach was certainly warranted, especially since the core Prime series has been dormant since 2007.
But with Metroid Prime 4, it served as a reminder that Retro Studios can still cook, and that the Switch 2 was one powerful console. Not only was the performance immaculate on the Switch 2, but the game also looked stylized and well-crafted. Metroid has never looked this good, and I’m glad that Retro took their time to deliver.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
Full stop, Hollow Knight: Silksong is one of the most accomplished platformers of the past few decades. Having conquered Hollow Knight with a 112% completion rate, I thought I knew what to expect, but Silksong managed to surprise me at nearly every turn.
Every time I thought I saw the best of what Silksong had to offer, the game one-upped itself. Specific sequences seemed impossible at first glance, but over time, they became more like a choreographed dance. When you hit the late game areas and take down some of the best bosses in Silksong, you can plainly see why this game was in development for so long.
Nintendo has had a strong year overall, but a third-party game ended up capping the year off in the best way. That seems par for the course for the Nintendo Switch.