Hello for the fourth time in a row I am going to be summarizing all the major release from this year and give my overall opinion on them. As well as seeing how it compares to the previous years for the Switch. Apologies in advance if I miss some.
This time is special because the Switch 2 released this year, I'm wondering whether to make a seperate thread for it or to combine it with this one.
With that aside though I'll being:
January:
Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Switch
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD
Tales of Graces f Remastered
Guilty Gear -Strive- Nintendo Switch Edition
February:
Sid Meier's Civilization VII
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II
Glover
Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection
March:
Carmen Sandiego
MLB The Show 25
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & The Envisioned Land
Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark
April:
Battlefield Waltz
Lunar Remastered Collection S
Star Overdrive
The Hundred Line - Last Defense Academy
May:
Capcom Fighting Collection 2
High On Life
June:
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
Gex Trilogy
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
Poppy Playtime Chapter 4
Front Mission 3: Remake
July:
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4
Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Shadow Labyrinth
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound
August
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles 2
OFF
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown
Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution
September:
NBA 2K26
Everybody's Golf Hot Shots
Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter
Hades II
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds
Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac
LEGO Party
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
Hollow Knight: Silksong
October:
Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2
Absolum
Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga
Little Nightmares III
Just Dance 2026 Edition
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
Tales of Xillia Remastered
Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted
Super Mario Galaxy
Super Mario Galaxy 2
November:
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO
December:
Metroid Prime 4
Octopath Traveler 0
So expectedly so this year wasn't as strong as others due to the release of the Switch 2, surprisingly though it's far from the worst.
The further we go into it's lifespan the more Nintendo will likely focus on it, which is a good thing since future games won't be limited by the hardware of the Switch 1.
In terms of ranking while this year certainly wasn't strong it still had some heavy hitters.
So here is how I would rank them:
What do you all think of this year? And how does it compares to the others in your opinion?
And should I dedicated a thread specifically for the Switch 2?
I think having a separate thread for the Switch 2 version of this would be a good idea (though I don't think it's a good idea to do a year ranking for that this year, since this is only the first year of the Switch 2 and all rankings would have just one year spot: 2025, because it has no competition yet 🤣)
As for 2025: I haven't gotten a single 2025 Switch game yet. Though that will hopefully change next year assuming that I start playing Pokémon Legends Z-A when I hopefully have enough money to afford a Switch 2). But based on what I know of the Switch games that have come out this year, my personal Switch 1 year ranking from 2017-2025 goes like this:
2019 > 2022 > 2023 > 2024 > 2017 > 2018 > 2025 > 2020, give or take a few placements here and there
2018's saving grace was Smash Ultimate, lol 🤣
@iLikeUrAttitude, kind of unrelated to this thread, but I like your pfp. I watched Dragon Quest the Adventure of Dai for the first time earlier this year and absolutely loved it.
My top 5 favorite games:
1: Pokémon Violet
2: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
3: Animal Crossing New Horizons
4: Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
5: The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
Between it, Hades II, and Xenoblade X DE, I'm scoring the year a solid 8. I didn't pick up a huge amount of games but the ones I got were very high quality and gave me plenty of content to get stuck into.
Maybe Metroid Prime 4 can potentially push things up a bit higher, although I'm trying to keep my expectations in check there.
I've not bought any Switch 1 games this year, in fact I have sold 2 of my games but I am planning to buy Sonic Racing Crossworlds and Metroid Prime 4 at some point if I can get a good secondhand price. I think as the Switch ages it gets more difficult to convert games across from other formats and Nintendo's attention has mainly gone over to Switch 2. 2025 feels a little weak but I suspect 2026 will be terrible in comparison as the Switch 1 becomes actively sold as more of a junior console and games that suit that market. I've not played all the Switch 1 games I have completely yet anyway. There could be 3 years of gaming left for me in my existing software range plus I'm always going back to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for a session or two every week.
I realise I only bought a single Switch 1 game this year — XBC:X, which I regret. I did also buy the Switch 2 version of Z-A but I don't count that. This was very much the end of high profile Nintendo releases for me for S1, and I bought any multi-platform game on Steam to play on the Deck instead, including Fantasy Life i.
So strictly personally speaking, a 2/10 from Nintendo for Switch 1. XBC:X isn't the worst game I've played, but it's close. I remembered why I dropped it halfway on Wii U replaying it now, and couldn't even get that far.
@BonzoBanana
Yeah I feel the same way, I barely touched my switch ever since I got a PC.
Having so much more freedom in terms of games, hardware, accesibility etc. is a world of a difference.
Same reasoning applies to the Switch 2, unless it really has something I want I'll just stick to my PC.
I think it's fine, the purpose of these threads is just to discuss the state of the switch in the current year, seeing how it compares to the others is mostly an afterthought.
Also nah it's Switch 1 focused, probably making a seperate thread for the Switch 2 after Metroid Prime 4 releases.
Though if more people get confused then sure a mod should be called.
If you own a Switch strictly for first party games, it might have been the Switch's worst year.
Arguably one of worst years, aggregate score wise. Not a single "big" new release. Plenty of great ports and remasters though, which is why I own and appreciate a Switch. Another solid year for rpg fans (and I am), but otherwise very okay. No complaints from me, lots of...variety.
Switch Physical Collection - 1,529 games (as of November 20th, 2025)
Switch 2 Physical Collection - 3 games (as of November 23rd, 2025)
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Topic: How Would You Rate This Year For the Switch? (2025)
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