12. No Man's Sky - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Switch 2)
No Man's Sky - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition brings this excellent, constantly evolving space survival adventure to your new Nintendo console in fine style.
Feature-wise, this is an almost-perfect match for other versions of the game, and barring some very minor hiccups here and there, the 1080p/40fps option looks and feels fantastic - doubly so if you're coming via free upgrade from the Switch 1 version.
Combat is still a bit naff, especially in space, and hardcore pirates might not get all they need from the systems in place here, but this is an almost perfect handheld-hybrid port of an almighty behemoth of a game. The sky, it seems, really has no limits.
11. Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Switch 2)
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma manages to reinvent itself while still maintaining the bones that make the Rune Factory series feel like itself. It takes bold new strides in unexpected directions that thankfully pay off.
The Switch 2 version offers the requisite boosts to frame rate and resolution, but also adds Mouse Mode compatibility. Wherever you can get it, Guardians of Azuma is a must-play for Rune Factory fans and would be well-enjoyed by newcomers to the series as well.
10. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Switch 2)
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - NS2 Edition is a fantastic revamp of perhaps Nintendo's most sublime sequel. What was once a technical marvel on aged hardware now has a chance to truly shine, with visual and performance boosts undoubtedly making it the definitive way to play.
Nothing will ever match the feeling of playing it for the first time, of course, and some bonus content would have been welcome, but armed with Zelda Notes and the promise of buttery smooth upgrades, we'd challenge anyone to dip back in without losing hours to its unrivalled wonder.
9. Deltarune (Switch 2)
Deltarune is a game that can feel odd to recommend, as it’s both difficult to convey in words what makes this game feel special and… well, with further chapters yet to join the present four, it still isn’t finished yet.
Its goofy and subversive narrative, innovative battle mechanics, and killer soundtrack all combine to make this follow-up to Undertale from Toby Fox worth the purchase in its current state, even if it is incomplete and the visuals feel a tad underwhelming.
8. Mario Kart World (Switch 2)
At first, this doesn't quite feel like the reinvention of Mario Kart that people wanted or expected, but the more time you spend in the open world and racing with friends, you’ll uncover a mechanically rich kart racer full of secrets and joy. Mario Kart World refines and expands the formula in meaningful ways while upping the charm in many others.
Few games have brought as much laughter as this one since launch. If you need a pick-me-up, Mario Kart World is sure to bring a smile, and it feels like a perfect start to Switch 2's life.
7. Split Fiction (Switch 2)
Split Fiction feels like a gift. Its sole aim is to entertain and bring players together by testing them at every turn. Hazelight gives us two distinct worlds, each filled with a huge array of activities for co-op partners to enjoy and argue over.
It serves as a surprising visual showcase for the Switch 2 and enhances the Friend's Pass feature, allowing our original Switch buddies to join in the fun.
6. Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition (Switch 2)
Street Fighter 6 on Switch 2 is a cracker, and in portable mode, it may be our preferred way to play this fantastic entry in Capcom's storied franchise. The only fly in the ointment with this port is 30fps fights in World Tour. It's a shame, and it's 100% gonna be a dealbreaker for some.
But if you can overlook that, the rest of what's here is crisp, clean, and as slick as we could have ever hoped. All other modes are fully featured and running at 60fps, and online works a treat, making this an early, flagship port for the console that showed on launch day that — like its predecessor — this little system can punch well above its weight.
5. Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Switch 2)
Given how cheap the upgrade is for Switch 1 owners, the performance improvements for Fantasy Life i - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition are more than worth the price of admission if you already have the original. And if you don't and you’re keen on trying out Level-5’s long-awaited sequel, this is absolutely the best way to play on Nintendo systems.
Surprised? Not a bad little collection, is it?
Remember, the ranking above is not set in stone and changes dynamically based on each game's user rating. Simply click on the relevant game, score it out of 10, and influence the order.
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Comments 108
Mario Kart World #13?
Yeah this is nonsense.
Just ordered cyberpunk! Never played it before so this should be fun. Considering Yakuza but definitely digital. No key cards for me thanks. The rest is meh until DK Bonanza.
Just grabbed Hogwarts Legacy for 10€. You can borrow a copy of the Switch 1 version from your friend or library and get a discount for the Switch 2 version. Absolutely bonkers
This is a really interesting look. I agree with a lot of this, but I think we can all agree, there is a load of great stuff to play on the switch 2! 😆
Wow, I was expecting Mario Kart or Cyberpunk to be at the top! I'm really happy to see that Fantasy Life i is so highly rated so far. I am still really enjoying it, 80 hours in. The main thing which has really surprised me is just how much game is rammed in there! To do everything would surely take hundreds of hours. Very much recommended.
Who made this list...
Since it doesn't matter, so far for me it's
1. Hogwarts Legacy
2. Rune Factory
3. Cyberpunk
4. Mario Kart
5. Street Fighter
6. No Man's Sky
Still got Kunitsu-Gami, Sonic, and Yakuza waiting to be played
@Truegamer79 I took the dive and it's amazing! Been umming and aahhing about the game on PC for a while, but the switch version sold me. It's a lot better than I expected. I hope the same goes for you too, enjoy
@Buizel I'm guessing it got a little review bombed over the 80 dollar price point.
Wow this is the list that nobody expected...!
None of the launch titles are very good: Guardians of azama is fun for first 10 hours then gets repetitive, however Xenoblade X looks and runs better on NS2, than any console I previously played it on Wii U/Switch1.
@geiseldiesel The users on this site. It's based on average user score.
@geiseldiesel It's based on Nintendo Life user ratings.
Yay for Fantasy Life! My kids and I got the Switch 2 edition and have been really enjoying it. It's exactly the kind of title to get for the summer when homeschool is on break and it's 100 degrees outside. I never played the 3DS version but I'm about 30 hours into the game and have only tried one profession so lots of value for the money!
Fast fusion should be in the top 3 IMO!
I love the fact the rank at the moment isn't what you'd expect. Of course it will change, but still rather refreshing to be surprised.
I can't get into the Fantasy Life series. I tried on the 3DS. I acknowledge it's a good game tbf. These placings are very very strange. BUT there is a lot of good software on the Switch 2 already. Fair play!
I've been considering buying Fantasy Life and this makes me want it more.
However, play MKW multi-player as much as possible. It's excellent, that way. I'm creating a ton of memories with my kids and it's been great!!!
It's a solid launch line-up overall but for me it's missing a great single player exclusive. Donkey Kong will thankfully rectify that next month but it's meant I haven't spent as much time on my Switch 2 as I expected.
Thanks for the list. Yeah not a lot of interest so far. Direct soon?
@Rob3008 Same here, 10 hours of Mario Kart according to the stats. I was busy, too, but had I had a fantastic single player game the number would surely be higher. Here’s hoping that Bananza is as good as you’d expect from the 3D Mario team.
@geiseldiesel We did, Nintendo Life users. Have you not read the article? Lol.
@NintendoPete Did the same. Should be well worth it.
Im all in on Cyberpunk at the moment. Not a great deal bar MK interested me at launch, thats a positive as it means I get to really focus on Cyberpunk, maybe even finish it this year (thats not a joke)
I’m confused by the Zelda notes comment. So is it bad in both versions? It sounds like it’s a nice addition in TOTK but awful in BOTW based on the score comments
Nonsense list, Mario kart is the killer app that showcases the hardware. The others are patches to improve old games.
Really enjoying Kunitsu-Gami so far, it’s really original but I’m not sure I agree it’s a visual stunner. Maybe I’ve been on my ps5 pro too much recently!
This has to be one of the most disappointing launches in terms of games I’ve known for a long time.
It’s just all Switch 2 editions which are not new games. Upgrades and remasters sort of.
The new Donkey Kong game looks cool but I feel that this is such a slow start.
I don’t want to just have games that I’ve played 5 years ago already and have to pay top price for them.
The system sales are already amazing but I can’t help feeling underwhelmed right now with Switch 2.
@Buizel Looks like it has been bumped up to 11 already. Think users are giving it ratings now to have it rectified! As others have said, weird list of games really.
Can't say that I agree with the placement order of this list. I think that the new entry of one of biggest exclusive franchises on the console is clearly number 1. Mario Kart World has been a fantastic way to enjoy and discover the console's capabilities.
@BFahey3 Having used Zelda Notes for about 10 hours, I'm unsure what the big issue everyone is having with it. The biggest complaint I've seen is how annoying the voice guidance is... but you have to manually activate it and you can even mute it with text telling you what to do instead, so how grating it was for the end user is 100% their decision. It's only use case is when something is at a different altitude, but even then, you can just have it tell you via text instead of voice.
I've been using it with 0 voice guidance and its been the most helpful tool for the game and blows away anything the community has made for it since it's fully synced to your save file and checks off everything you've done within seconds of finding it. It even has exclusive lore collectables and I think it's one of the coolest additions personally.
And this was for Breath of the Wild. I haven't even tried it yet on Tears of the Kingdom yet.
I hate when this site does these lists. Just rename them to "Look at how terrible this compilation of your opinions is!"
@MTMike87 that zelda noted or voice support should be inside the game.. i no idea why they seperate it only avaible on mobile
This an absolute nonsense list. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 does NOT deserve a 4/10! That’s downvoting a good game because it’s a barebones port. Meanwhile, I’m sure the pricing trolls downvoted Mario Kart. And get outta here with Zelda. These games are Switch 1 games and I don’t care about the upgrades. Of course they’re better for that, but they’re the same games. Might as well have the GameCube games ranked.
That said, it’s been a weak launch for the console, in my opinion, FOR SOFTWARE. The hardware is fantastic and I wish I had more to new things to play on the console. Mario Kart is the only essential title on the console at launch, in my opinion, though Fast Fusion and Welcome Tour and maybe Deltarune are in my top 10 this year so far (with Split Fiction).
Mario Kart and Rune Factory are listed twice? This list seems far from perfect, must be insufficient data.
Tears of the Kingdom and Breath of the Wild are where they belong. That being number 1 and 2 respectively. Fantastic games made even better for Switch 2
nothing that stands out for me. would have probably bought yakuza if it came on card, will get it one day when its dirt cheap.
@NintendoPete Just beware that the discount works like the old Gold Points system. If someone claims it, it won't be available for anyone else.
Of the exclusive titles for the Switch 2, there's only one right answer for the number one spot and that is Fast Fusion. The latest update has really put it heads and tails above any other launch title.
So far I have a couple of these played and around a dozen more I'd like to buy, though half of those are on indefinite hold with all my storage space occupied by unplayed, performance-boosted Switch 1 games. Considering the cost of microsds and that I'll probably want to keep a lot of those Switch games on there permanently, I have no idea if or when I'll get around to the rest of the new ones.
"visuals still feel a tad underwhelming" in relation to Deltarune is wild to me. Did the person who write that never play a pixel art game before Deltarune???
@Buizel it's not nonsense. Very fun for a weekend then that's about it. A bland open world that feels like an afterthought and not a feature; a fun new Knockout Tour mode that unfortunately feels like you're playing the same races over and over; adding 24 players to the reg versus mode makes the online play feel more random than 8 and a lot less fun also it's FULL of connector tracks; lacks track content compared to 8 (before the expansion base even). Compare that to how feature rich something like Fantasy Life I is. Huge disappointment.
Surprised to see Mario Kart so low on a Nintendo news site. Granted I share similar sentiments. Fun game, barren open world, higher than it appears skill ceiling, but straight tracks that make the game feel less mario kart and more arcade ninstop driver.
Its probably the most mixed back Mario Kart game I can remember
Hadnt really seen much discussions or reviews of suikoden 1&2 for switch 2.
Curious if theres any known issues with that particular version (in terms of in game, i know the game card and lack of update path are both points of contention) such as bugs or issues not present in other versions or if its just a case of it being the same thing just better performance/sharper visuals.
Puyo at the bottom is a joke. If you haven’t bought the original, it is a solid package.
Switch 2 Tour on the other hand…
I knew Fantasy Life appears to be receiving a lot of praise, but never expected it to hit the top of the charts at the time of writing. Might need to check this one out. I'll need to look at the file size though as I dont have an Express card yet.
I'll never understand the obsession with Zelda BOTW and Zelda TOTK. They just literally do nothing for me. Sorry. Not my kind of game. I know I can not be alone in that.
I prefer Hogwarts, Yakuza, Bravely Default, and Mario Kart. I would put the new Donkey Kong in that list (and will buy it), but I absolutely 100% prefer the 2D side scrolling Donkey Kong games over this new open world style.
There's an awful lot going on in Street Fighter's 8th image! Blimey!
I do find it hilarious though that a game that got absolutely horrible reviews for being a buggy mess when it first came out and was being sold for a discount shortly after is suddenly a top tier game for the Switch 2 now that it is available on the platform. I am speaking of Cyberpunk 2077 of course.
The game was absolutely trashed by reviewers when it came out on originally.
Don't get me wrong. I own Cyberpunk 2077 on the PS5 and think its a good game. Its just funny how drastically the opinion on this game has changed since it came out.
How can rune factory be on there twice with different scores??
Oh hell you guys just stick to re-posting Digital Foundry videos.
Putting No Man’s Sky in front of Mario Kart World, Delta Rune, and Split Fiction? Good grief
@Shmoo its based on consumer reviews. If this was based on what NL's opinion, some of those games wouldn't even be mentioned.
Lmao saying Mario kart isn’t number one is just lying to yourself and wanting to be different. This list should’ve been ranking either all 3rd parties or games that aren’t Mario kart. Come on now LOL
Having a Wii U game as the best thing on Switch 2 is pretty terrible.
As amazing as Breath of the Wild os, It's sad to see this 2017 WiiU game being considered the best Switch 2 game in 2025 (It's almost like the NES Super Mario Bros released on Virtual Console on Wii on December 25, 2006 was considered the best Wii game in 2006. Imagine that!) Also, Nintendo should host a masterclass on how to screw up Mario Kart.
@BFahey3 The Switch 2 Editions of BotW and TotK on NintendoLife were reviewed by two different people. Ollie Reynolds seems to have made the decision to dock BotW a point based on the Zelda Notes functionality. Jim Norman didn't do the same with TotK.
Personally I find Ollie's decision bizarre, but we're all entitled to our own opinions.
Surprising a LoZ game gets number one... not gonna lie I took it for a spin on BoTW and started a new game. The update ALMOST wants me to go back and playthrough again.
@PharoneTheGnome For what it's worth, I don't think DK Bananza is "open world" in any meaningful way. It's got big areas to explore like Super Mario 64, etc., but like, they're levels you go through in order.
Kinda funny that Delta Rune is so good that it gets two spots, and the #1 game was originally a Wii U game.
@chickje
actually not true - on reddit someone tested it - that's why I tried that out in the first place. But - I can give it a try with a different account and post my result later.
@USWITCH64 yeah he must've been, wot a joke.
@gsilver It doesn't have two spots, it's just that its rank changed between you reading the first page of the list and you reading the second page. Since this article was just posted, lots of users are going into the games' pages on NintendoLife and adding their rankings. It's updated live.
Mario Odyssey has improved visuals and stable framerate on Switch 2 like Zelda, so isn't this a launch title?
I wonder how many NintendoLife users review bombed MKW?! That inane practice doesn't happen on this beloved site - SURELY?!
@Truegamer79 started Cyberpunk for the first time a week ago and I'm enjoying it very much.
There is so much content and so much to do!
If you like FPS games you are gonna love it!
Could not disagree more about Zelda notes!
@WheresWaveRace Thumbs up just because of your image
and, yes, where is Wave Race!!
@USWITCH64 One question, did you read the subheading?
"25 games, ranked by you"
I love the genre spread for this launch lineup.
Still buying my launch games.
Removed - off-topic
Kinda wild the #1 game on this list literally came out on the Wii U.
Wtf??????
Mario Kart World on 12.
Tears on 3.
What is wrong here?
Bit of a dig to rank a game that came out on the Wii U as the best launch title for Switch 2. I mean you’re not wrong but come on, Nintendo.
My Switch 2 should arrive tomorrow.
I also ordered Mario Kart World(want this physical) and I already have the Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition.
I'm ready, I don't care about the rest of these games now. I already own some of these games on other platforms.
I could imagine getting Sonic Generations on Switch 2 and sell my Xbox version. But there's no hurry.
These scores are bloody ridiculous. All the games on key cards should get points deducted.
The one new game is #12? Most of the rest you’ve played years ago.
My List:
1: Mario kart
2: Streetfighter
3: No mans sky / Cyberpunk (equal second spot)
4: Hitman
5: Zelda Tears
Looks like the word of mouth working in this website too for Mario Kart World. The game is so much better than this and deserves higher place at least on Top 5.
My list:
1 Hogwarts Legacy
2 Cyberpunk 2077
3 Bravely Default
4 Yakuza
5 Rune Factory
6 Mario kart World
@The-Chosen-one how is street fighter? 30 or 60fps?
@CJD87 I believe it's 60fps in fighting mode, but gameplay is limited to 30fps in the 'open world' - including the fights that happen in there.
My list of 6 that I'm playing so far:
1 Mario Kart World (zany fun, a true joy)
2 Fantasy Life (I totally underestimated its awesomeness)
3 Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma (my favourite RF game is RF4 Special, but this one is loads of fun so far)
4 Breath of the Wild (it's like driving in an old car that has just been given a huge overhaul - it's absolutely fantastic to re-explore Hyrule like this)
5 Cyberpunk (still can't believe it's running so well - can we have the new Witcher next year as well?)
6 World Tour (worth the $10 if you're a nerd like me)
I would challenge the statement of Zelda notes. Not a great implementation here, but lots of potential going forward.
It was one of the best features on the Wii U to have a map on a separate screen. If they can nail a seamless integration (no lag) with a smart phone to manage inventory, it would be a game changer.
Nintendo if anyone is the company to do it.
Hitting a start menu breaks immersion.
Cyberpunk is an awesome tech showcase for the console but I have to be honest, 8 hours in I’m finding it hard to follow what’s going on. Really trying to understand what the story is about so far and it’s just flying over my head, like I’m doing things and don’t really understand why.
@CJD87
60FPS (all other modes)
The adventure (story) mode is 30fps. (Even my pc struggles with that one)
They optimized it quite nice its a stable 30fps i love it.
@PharoneTheGnome
It’s one of the few examples of a game that completely repaired its first time image. Most of the time a game that launches that bad stays that bad in reception for ever. But Cyberpunk is an example of a great game that was buried under a mountain of technical problems. Once that was fixed and they fleshed it out a bit more with content updates over the years, the great foundation came shining out. It’s gaming’s best redemption story.
@larryisaman
It’s got a lot of what I like to call Euro-jank in both the story presentation and the game play. I happen to like Euro-Jank story presentation so I like how it’s told. But some who are more used to how Japanese and American developers present their stories might find it more obtuse than it needs to be. As for the Euro Jank gameplay… Stalker taught me a long time ago how to put up with it. Although I admit it’s the one game I own on Switch 2 where I just can’t comfortably use it in pure handheld mode. I got to table top it with my pro controller.
Finding MKW at 13 feels like living in a dystopian world, especially when you see Fast Fusion and No Man's Sky above it.
Welcome Tour should've been dead last
Digital, Game Key-Card BS, updated versions, ports. So, only MK World and Rune Factory are left.
@Lord
Why? The scores came from us, the Nintendo Life readers. If a lot of people gave a high score to a game that was released as a game key card, clearly that detail didn't bother them too much. Are they not entitled to their opinion?
I am so sick of reviewers holding a free, optional app against Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. It has nothing to do with the games' quality on Switch 2. It's like knocking Mario Kart because you don't like the feel of the joy-con wheel controllers.
@AaronElWhite Even worse is that this same ranking seems to praise Zelda Notes as beneficial in the TotK blurb while complaining about in the BotW one. Make up your mind!
@The-Chosen-one @The-Chosen-one Super and thanks for replying...
I'm not an FPS snob, as long as 30 is locked then I'm usually pretty happy
thanks, it looks to be a cool game
Where's Hitman? Been having a lot of fun with it on Switch 2.
I highly recommend Yakuza 0, but be very careful when playing mobile: the lengthy cutscenes means that it is a long time between opportunities to save your game. If you are low on battery, there is a risk you will need to revisit substantial slews of the game if your console drops out.
Only play on a full battery.
Tears of the Kingdom enhances every aspect of Breath of the Wild, which makes it more fun to play, but I guess nostalgia screams louder and places the latter above the former on the list
@BaldB3lper78 I'm enjoying the hell out of BotW on the new switch. That said it is a disappointing launch overall. If the Switch 2 wasn't released and I booted up BotW on my old switch, after 5 years way from the game, I'd still be enjoying the hell out of it.
I think this was flawed. We need to do it again.
NLers… Come on…placing Fast Fusion above MKW? You’re being petty. You will be happier once you accept that it is the greatest Mario Kart game ever made. And it’s not even finished yet!
No Man's Sky runs like dookie, I can't believe anyone is giving it a pass. It's like ScarVi on Switch 1.
Overall a very poor launch lineup. Mostly old titles, a lot of Game Keys, and even Mario Kart appears to underwhelm a lot of players.
Time to step up a notch.
This ranking is based on each game's NL users' scores (that's you and me).
Make sure you rank the games you've played to improve the ranking.
60 hours back into replaying BOTW (which i already had 200 hours in back in the day). Seriously this game is so good and this is the best way to play it with all the improvements.
Im eyeing something to fill the gap between my replay of botw and DK. Originally I was eyeing cyberpunk but fantasy life I is getting some high praise so I may shift my stance. Fast fusion will be a purchase one day, but I dont need another racer atm since im playing MKW. When you really think about it, there's not much new stuff to play past MKW, and fast fusion.
I'm glad Cyberpunk finally got to have a good launch.
Got all three Sega-made launch titles, which I hadn't previously owned.
PPT2S and SXSG are lots of fun, though I wish the AI were less sensitive (i.e. aggressive) whenever I play Tetris/Puyo Puyo well (even with auto difficulty disabled). Few to no complaints about SXSG, barring the usual trial-and-error that comes with navigating levels at high speed.
Still need to try Yakuza 0 out, though that'll have to wait for when I have a bit more free time.
Sorry but this list is really bad. Mario Kart World is number one..dont get why this site is so anti MKW! Also bravely default is such a great game and deserves to be higher (shame the key card thing blemished the release)
@the_beaver when I last viewed this list, it had Fantasy Life at #1 which is absurd. Also will never agree with anyone who puts BotW over TotK
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