Darksiders Genesis (Switch)

Darksiders Genesis is, for us, the best entry in the series in terms of its mix of satisfyingly meaty hack-and-slash action and huge levels filled with secrets, puzzles and platforming. With its co-op campaign, unlockable arena mode, and Apocalyptic difficulty feeding into that addictive Creature Core grinding, there's an absolute ton here for fans of the series — and newcomers alike — to get stuck into. This Switch version may suffer some slight blurriness and FPS hiccups in portable mode but, if you can make peace with these problems, this is a highly entertaining action game at a very reasonable price.

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube840k

Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.

Hyper Light Drifter: Special Edition (Switch eShop)

Hyper Light Drifter: Special Edition puts Heart Machine’s obtuse yet engaging throwback where it belongs — in portable Nintendo form — and along with a silky smooth frame rate, this is the definitive version of a modern pixel art classic. There are a handful of exclusive features to help freshen up the experience for those who have played it before, while every single boss, secret, and upgrade from the original is waiting for newcomers to experience for the first time. The Nintendo Switch's indie library is even better with this outstanding action game's presence.

Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time (Switch eShop)

We had wanted a new Samurai Jack game for a long time, and even if this one came a little bit late, Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time is a worthwhile experience that properly celebrates a beloved IP while being a darned good action game in its own right. A striking art style, well-executed combat mechanics, and a challenging level of difficulty make this one an easy recommendation, but with the caveat that it’s a little light on original ideas and uneven performance. Still, this acts as a great companion piece to the legendary cartoon; don’t dismiss this as just another tie-in.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order (Switch)

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order isn’t a groundbreaking, narrative-heavy reinterpretation of the comic characters you know and love, but then again neither were the first two games. In that regard, it’s a very faithful sequel that mines the vast roster of characters from the comics while including plenty of nods to the current state of the more modern Marvel Cinematic Universe. While it doesn’t do anything particularly new or outstanding, it embraces the brainless fun of its brawler/hack-and-slash combat with gusto, and it’s at its absolute best when played with a team of player-controlled supers. This one veers well into the RPG arena, too, but given the sheer quantity of action on offer, we couldn't resist adding it here. Feel free to Thanos finger-snap it from existence if you like.

Samurai Warriors 5 (Switch)

As one of the best Musou games on the Switch, Samurai Warriors 5 takes the long-running franchise, gives it a wonderfully vibrant lick of paint, throws in some excellent new combat mechanics and fills its story mode with well-directed cutscenes, resulting in a slick and stylish addition to the series that's sure to please fans and newcomers alike. Yes, it makes a few fumbles here and there, but, overall, what's here is a fine addition to the Switch's line-up of Musou titles. This is a fast-paced, flashy hack-and-slash effort that looks and plays fantastically well and, most importantly, performs almost perfectly whilst doing so.

No More Heroes (Switch eShop)

The Switch version of No More Heroes is something very rare – a game that’s actually better now than it was on its original bow on the Wii, showing us just how little the gaming landscape has actually moved forward. It is certainly, avowedly not for everyone – and you get the impression that’s just how director Suda51 likes it. Artier than most art games, more thoughtful than most think pieces, and cruder than crude oil, No More Heroes uses its own repetition to decisive, impressive effect. Glorious, gore-ious, gorgeous, and gregarious, this madcap anime nightmare deserves your attention.

And again, we can't ignore the excellent No More Heroes II: Desperate Struggle, and its long-awaited (though slightly divisive) 2021 sequel No More Heroes III. Another trilogy (if you're not counting the underrated Travis Strikes Again) all right at home on this little hybrid console.

Furi (Switch eShop)

Furi's series of dauntingly challenging boss fights are capable of turning all but the most committed of players into a gibbering wreck, but it's a deceptively clever game that combines shooter and beat-'em-up mechanics, all wrapped up in a stylish anime-influenced shell. With numerous difficulty spikes and an over-reliance on repetition, it won't be for everyone, but it's hugely refreshing to see The Game Bakers' intense title reward patient observation and persistence, as well as mastery of a carefully calibrated control system.

Bayonetta 3 (Switch)

The latest outing for our favourite Umbra Witch, Bayonetta 3 cranks up the chaos, improves the combat, polishes the level design, and adds a ton of new mechanics to the mix, making it another outstanding entry in this storied series. PlatinumGames nailed it once again, carefully layering on more ways to engage enemies, piling on the OTT gameplay sequences, and giving us multiple protagonists without upsetting the balance of what makes these games amongst the very best examples of their genre. With impressive visuals, non-stop action, and a hugely replayable campaign that's a joy from start to finish, this really is a huge celebration of everything we love about Bayonetta.

Sifu (Switch)

Sifu's core mechanic involves a medallion which gives the Hero the ability to cheat death. This, however, comes at a price: every time you die, you age another year and a death counter ticks up by one. So, you start the game at 20, you die once, your counter is up one, and now you’re 21. If you die again, your death counter is two and you’re now 23. This culminates with your first death over the age of 70 being your last. Defeating enemies can reverse this counter to decrease how much you age upon death, though.

Sifu's hardcore combat that pushes you to the limits of your skill, paired with a smart ageing mechanic, makes for one of the most satisfying gaming experiences in the beat 'em up genre.

Well, those ought to keep you busy chasing down high scores and hunting down secrets for a while! Let us know below if you think we've missed something.

This article is one of our Switch Essentials guides which cover a wide variety of genres, including the Best Switch FPS Games, the Best Switch RPGs, the Best Switch Games For Kids, the Best Switch Couch Co-Op Games and the Best Switch Fitness and Exercise Games. We can also help out hunting down the Best Switch Horror Games, the Best Switch Racing Games, the Best Switch Action-RPGs, the Best Nintendo Switch Roguelikes, Roguelites and Run-Based Games, the Best Free Switch Games, the Best Remakes And Remasters, the Best Switch Music And Rhythm Games, Best Feel-Good Switch Games, Best Switch Open-World Games, Best Switch Soulslike Games, Best LGBTQ+ Switch Games, and even Games to Play After You've Finished Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Whatever your favourite genre, we've got you covered: Strategy Games, Metroidvanias, Puzzle Games, Party Games, Online Multiplayer Games, Local Wireless Multiplayer Games, Shmups, Twin-Stick Shooters, Visual Novels, Kart Racers, Fighting Games, Football Games, Funny Games, Golf Games, 'Walking Sims' And Narrative Games, Switch Games For Lovers And Lonely Hearts, Detective Games, Hidden Gems, 2D Platformers, 3D Platformers, Puzzle Platformers, Tabletop Mode Games, Run and Gun Games, LEGO Games, Sports Games, Survival Games, Beat 'Em Ups, Camera Games, Chill Games, Family Games, Retro-Inspired Games, Short Games, Card Games and Deck-Builders, and Life Sims And Farming Games.

Still hungry for more? Elsewhere we look at Wholesome Games, TATE Mode Games, Flight Sim and Space Combat, Point and Click Adventure Games, and the Best Switch Exclusives, as well as Every Arcade Archives Game, Every ACA Neo Geo Game, Every SEGA AGES Game On Switch, plus the Best Switch Ports, Best Wii U-To-Switch Ports, Best Switch Collections And Compilations, Best Cheap Switch Games, Best Switch Demos, Games That Are Better On Switch OLED, Switch Games Under $10, $20, $50, and Switch games with the Best Soundtracks and the Best Graphics. Phew!

If you're looking for the best Switch games regardless of genre, our reader-voted selection of the Best Nintendo Switch Games should help you out, and you can also find the Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. And finally, if you're interested in other Nintendo consoles and retro games, check out the Best Game Boy Games, Best GBC Games, Best GBA Games, Best Nintendo DS Games, Best Nintendo 3DS Games, Best NES Games, Best SNES Games, Best N64 Games, Best GameCube Games, and Best Wii Games, and Best Wii U Games, as well as Every Available Nintendo Switch Online Retro Game, and ranked lists of Every Nintendo Switch Online NES, SNES, N64 and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Game.