10. Portal: Companion Collection (Switch eShop)
It's hard to overstate our satisfaction with Portal: Companion Collection. Portal and Portal 2 felt incredibly fresh when they first released, and the years since have not diminished their immense impact. To have two of the most unique and mind-bending puzzle games on a Nintendo console, and on-the-go if you choose, is a pure joy. If it weren't for the frequent load screens punctuating the experience, we'd have absolutely nothing to complain about here. The motion controls work like a dream, the games run at a near-rock-solid 60fps, you've got local co-op play available at the drop of a hat, and the writing remains as funny now as it did all those years ago. If you haven't played the Portal games before, this should be a no-brainer. If you have... well, just play them again.
9. Splatoon 3 (Switch)
Splatoon 3 is more of the same, but refined to borderline mechanical perfection. It's the most fun we’ve had with an online shooter in years, and for series veterans it makes Splatoon 2 feel entirely redundant for all but its unique single-player content. It feels like the development team solved every problem the Splatoon community was bleating on about, and then fixed some more that we didn’t even realise were problems until they were fixed. There's nothing revolutionary about it compared to its predecessors, and it's perhaps missing a Big New Idea™ that you might have expected, but Splatoon 3 is the pinnacle of the series, and the pinnacle of shooters on Switch.
8. TRIANGLE STRATEGY (Switch)
Triangle Strategy is an absolute triumph for Artdink and Square Enix, a fantastic mix of satisfyingly strategic battles, an excellent choice-driven campaign narrative and top-notch world-building, all of which come together to form one of the finest tactical RPGs we've played in a very long time. There's an absolute ton of content here, with a huge story featuring multiple paths to take depending on the choices you make and several properly impactful endings to enjoy on return visits. Serenoa Wollfort's epic journey is a joy from start to finish, a grand and ambitious adventure that stands proud as one of the very finest examples of its genre on Switch.
7. Pokémon Legends: Arceus (Switch)
Designated a mainline entry in the series by Game Freak itself, Pokémon Legends: Arceus feels like the result of the developers learning lessons for 25 years, refining the formula, and finally taking the franchise in a new, incredibly exciting direction. Technically it may stumble in places, but with an emphasis on extremely rewarding exploration, addictive catching mechanics, a fine roster of Pokémon, and a genuine sense of scale that’s unlike anything in the series, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is up there with the greatest Pokémon games ever made in our book.
6. NieR:Automata The End of YoRHa Edition (Switch)
NieR:Automata is a modern classic. Most importantly for Switch owners, this is a top-notch port that has clearly been produced with respect and focus, often surpassing our expectations in both visuals and performance. Finding a comfortable seat and a pair of headphones makes the Switch version a wonderful way to experience the game, and it is an unforgettable journey. Nothing is as it seems, either in the story or gameplay, and it's one of the finest gaming achievements of the last decade.
5. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (Switch eShop)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is the best Turtles beat 'em up ever made, and a faster, better-looking, and arguably more entertaining affair than even Streets of Rage 4. It looks delicious, sounds superb, and rekindles childhood memories beyond all expectation, time-warping you back to 1987. Its combat system is so much fun to mine that you feel compelled to keep coming back to try new strategies, and with its awesome co-op multiplayer, the experience evolves again and again. Like any beat 'em up, it does get repetitive as you enter the last third, but that’s more a fault of the concept than the game. Shredder’s Revenge really is an unprecedented shell-ebration.
The Dimension Shellshock DLC adds new fighters and a Survival mode, too, and if you can't get enough of your Turtle-filled co-op brawlers, there's also Digital Eclipse's TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection, which features a boatload of Konami classics that'll keep you busy for hours.
4. The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero (Switch)
In a series renowned for its stellar writing, twisting plots, and wonderful characters, The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero is a stand-out RPG. Narrowing the focus of its story to one state, and honing in on a smaller cast of characters, makes for a fantastic and engrossing adventure that is about both intimate relationships and huge, secretive scandals. The fact that this is just one half of a duology means that, while the story wraps up nicely here, we have tons of questions that we’re itching to get answers to in Trails to Azure. If you haven't played Trails, it's time to overcome that barrier, because there’s no better place to zero in on this fantastic series than in Crossbell.
3. Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Switch)
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a great big colourful joyride of an adventure for our little pink pal. This first fully three-dimensional mainline entry in the franchise is bursting at the seams with fun and inventiveness, managing to transpose everything we know and love about past Kirby games to this all-new arena whilst adding plenty of delightful new aspects as it goes. Mouthful Mode is just as daftly entertaining as it looked in the trailers, each and every level is packed full of secrets and dripping in wonderful detail, and there are enough side activities, collectibles, and co-op fun here to keep you entertained and coming back for more for a good long while.
2. Persona 5 Royal (Switch)
Persona 5 Royal is the very definition of ‘required reading' for JRPG fans. A deep and moving story, stylish presentation, amazing soundtrack, and decision-driven gameplay all combine to make for an unforgettable and exceptional experience that proves itself to be every bit deserving of the hype and praise it’s already received. While those who have played this elsewhere may want to consider whether Switch's portability is enough of a selling point to justify paying full price to double dip, it suits it perfectly. Persona 5 Royal remains a game that we absolutely recommend you pick up as soon as you can. This easily stands as one of the very best RPGs of the last decade and you’d be doing yourself a disservice to miss out.
1. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (Switch)
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a genuine masterpiece and the highlight of Monolith Soft's superb series thus far. There's an emotionally-charged and surprisingly edgy epic to get stuck into here, a sprawling and hugely engaging narrative populated by a cast of unforgettable characters that's backed up by some of the very best combat we've had the pleasure of getting to grips with in this genre to date. Over 100 hours into this one, we're as captivated now as we were when we first booted it up and it has more than delivered every bit of the adventure, emotion, and action that its key art promised it might. Aionios awaits, it's time to seize the future.
Disagree with this ranking? Something missing you think should be on the list? Remember, a game needs a minimum of 30 User Ratings to qualify for this fluid ranking. If you haven't rated your favourite games of 2022 yet, simply click the User Rating star on each entry and score the game out of 10, or find the missing game in our database and rate away.
What are your favourites that perhaps didn't make this top 50 games of 2022 (yet)? Share your thoughts below.
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, and 2021. 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.
Comments 58
Sorry Persona 5 but I had to (temporarily) lower your score just so I could see Xenoblade on top where it belongs.
Arceus was my choice for the Switch, but I can totally agree with XBC3. Probably my favorite narrative in gaming this year. I’m not a fan of the gameplay, but I still gave the game a 9/10 simply because the story hooked me deeply. It’s up there with Red Dead 2 and Death Stranding for top gaming narratives of all time, in my eyes.
@BenAV You did the right thing. Persona 5 had its time to be GotY already. As great as it is, let’s let a new game take the crown.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is in fourth. Well, when you consider the fact that the two big JRPGs (which I'm pretty sure were the only two games this year that got 10/10) were obviously going to make the top two, that's pretty good! Wasn't expecting the Portal Collection to make third, but ok! Haven't played it, as I have the games on PC. but still pretty cool.
Edit: Wait, now Kirby is at third? Only being behind the RPGs? PERFECTION
Very solid list! I'm glad to see Xenoblade 3 up there! I'm also happy to see Niers user score went up. When I first checked it was sitting at an 8.0.
Live A Live deserves better!
I bought 39 made-in-2022 games, although a lot of those were cheaper indies. I'm a bit surprised 3 of my top 10 aren't on this top-50 list at all, but I guess there were just a lot of great games. My 10 ten are:
*= not on this list. I suspect if the ranking was 'one of favorite games of year' rather than stars, Pokemon Violet/Scarlet would have appeared since a lot of people both loved it and acknowledged its flaws.
There are plenty of games on this list I haven't played but are on my wishlist and a few that are just not really my preferred genre.
Apparently I've only played 11 of these 50 games and the 7 in my top 10 were the only ones I paid for. I played the free part of Capcom Arcade 2nd and demos of live a live, Tinykin, and Splatoon 3; they weren't bad but I didn't like them quite enough to buy them at full price.
I agree with the top 2. Absolutely outstanding gaming. There are some odd positions here but that is to expected as it's a vote and number of votes vary from game to game.
Kinda crazy how few brand new games are on this list. Remakes, collections and reissues are clearly where the money is.
I only played one of the games on this list. It's somewhat of a liberating experience to not be caught up in hype and fomo.
Neon White at 20 is a tragedy. Play that game everybody, it’s amazing
@skulltulips I’d usually find a list like this for a console to be sad but on Switch I get it; portability is valuable to a lot of people and it totally gives a new lease of life to older games. Now if this were a list for say the PS5 and it was full of old ports and remasters when it should be pushing games forward with new experiences…that would be sad
I swear if The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles was eligible for this list, it would've taken every single award for me. PEAK F***** FICTION BABY.
I don't tend to play a lot of games from the current year (instead choosing to focus my time on games I missed from previous years) but out of the little I played from 2022 specifically? My Game of the Year is unquestionably Pokemon Legends Arceus. It's weird, it's janky and it doesn't always stick the landing....but my god was it one of the most thought-provoking, engaging and just plain fun overhauls of my all-time favourite series into something entirely new. I hope to Arceus we get more Legends games because this subseries has gigantic potential for the future.
Splatoon 3 was also a fantastic experience that fully cemented Splatoon as my favourite in-house Nintendo series thanks to it basically refining every little grievance from 1 and 2 into near perfection, easily my runner-up from this year.
Anyone who thinks 2022 was a down year for gaming on Switch is just wrong.
Kirby was the biggest surprise. Could have been #1 just because it came from no where.
For me it's
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Splatoon 3
Pokemon Arceus
TMNT Shredders Revenge
Haven't played XC3 since I lost interest in the franchise after X so won't comment on it or other jrpgs I skipped this year. Live a Live was the one I was most interested in but I'm waiting to play that.
Really surprised at Triangle Strategy being outside the top-10. Don't really get that.
Tunic and Rouge Legacy are definitely two games I want to play, but I'll be finishing some other games first.
I'm not sure what my top 10 are, but Kirby and the Forgotten Land, XC3 and Pokémon Legends: Arceus are three of them.
Splatoon 3 is incredibly fun too, but I've not been taking advantage of that yet.
Glad to see Kirby & XC3 so high up. Both fantastic games.
I know it was always going to be unlikely, but I was kinda hoping Samurai Maiden would have squeaked by on the lower end of the list. Probably not too many people around here have played it, though.
My favourite games this year on the Switch (not necessarily released this year):
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond
Disney's Magical World 2 Enchanted Edition
Pokemon Legends Arceus
Kirby And The Forgotten Land
Rune Factory 5
The Cruel King And The Great Hero
SteamWorld Dig 2
Super Mario 3D World + Bowsers Fury
Story Of Seasons Pioneers Of Olive Town
The Legend Of Zelda Skyward Sword HD
Pocky & Rocky Reshrined
Lego Star Wars The Skywalker Saga
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredder's Revenge
Dodgeball Academia
Bravely Default II
Andro Dunos 2
Of course there are still quite a few games from this year I want to play, mostly jrpgs. And last but not least the honorable mentions:
The Smurfs Mission Vileaf, Asterix & Obelix Slap Them All, Marsupilami Hoobadventure, Y's Origin, Crash Bandicoot 4 It's About Time, De Blob 1+2, Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series, Hotwheels Unleashed
Some absolutely great games on the Switch this year:
Most of my play time went to my Xbox and Elden Ring this year, but the games above on the Switch were fantastic.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land might be the best, most complete idea of a game I've played on Switch, since the Switch launched!
It's mechanically sound, the gameplay is varied, there's a lot to see and do, and the audio/visuals are a treat. Kirby made such a seamless transition to 3D that it's hard to believe HAL Laboratory didn't do this sooner.
An absolute must-play.
@FishyS Unfortunately, Pokemon Scarlet/Violet have been lampooned rather than appreciated for what it is, which is an admittedly large step forward for the mainline games in the series, so I’m sure it was littered with 1 star reviews. I agree with you that it’s a fantastic title.
Great shout to Dream Buffet too. I liked it, even if I wouldn’t top 10 it. Surprised fewer people have said anything about it.
My Switch only top 10:
1. Pokémon Legends: Arceus
2. Triangle Strategy (c’mon NLife let’s get this one in the top 10)
3. Pokémon Violet
4. Xenoblade Chronicles 3
5. Kirby and the Forgotten Land
6. Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course
7. Signalis
8. Splatoon 3
9. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
10. Sonic Frontiers
Although, with Sports Story coming out today, we realistically have the possibility that that game may land anywhere in the top 10. Switch had a stellar year. The top 9 are all 9/10 or 9.5/10s for me too. Really strong showing. Shoutout to Beacon Pines too, which I liked about as much as Sonic, though for totally different reasons.
P5R is a great game but I wouldn't put it above Xenoblade Chronicles 3 simply because it's a 6 year old game
Triangle Strategy was my personal GOTY, and I definitely think it deserved to be in the top 10 at least! It’s such a fun strategy RPG and almost a perfect game in my opinion.
Persona 5....oh I haven't even opened this game yet and already on S&V gaming.....
Triangle Strategy in the top ten. Nice!
And XC3 in top spot, right where it belongs.
@RR529 samurai maiden did look kind of fun, but the $60 price tag scared me and likely most others away; if it's ever on a really good sale I might snag it. It only received 8 user reviews which is far below the 30 required to even be eligible for this article.
Glad to see Xenoblade 3 in the top 2 spot, but in my personal opinion I think it deserves the top spot over Persona 5, being the pinnacle of it's masterpiece series and an actually new game.
EDIT: XC3 is currently at the top spot, but we'll clearly be seeing a back and forth.
Sigh. No mention of Chained Echoes. Maybe it's too recent? It's nonetheless incredible.
I mostly agree with the rankings, especially since XC3 took the top spot. Possibly the best gaming narrative I've played in recent memory.
I understand this list is fluid per the site's aggregate rankings, but I really do think Live A Live deserves to be a little higher.
I just want to say that streets of rage 4 is way better than tmnt shredder’s revenge.
good list - shows there are a ton of good stuff to be played
and of course scarlet and violet was too late to really make it on here but the real game of the year just came out too..
>>>>>> Lil Gator <<<<<<<<
that game is a masterpiece
Someday everyone will know how good "Nobody Saves the World" really is, and that's from someone who doesn't really like rpgs.
Any 2022 list that doesn't include Persona 5 Royal is fraudulent. Especially after the years of port begging..
I cannot argue with that top 5. I'm surprised to see Triangle Strategy so high. Would I enjoy it if I like Fire Emblem?
@Purgatorium I'd take advantage of that. Some of these top games weren't really marketed enough to give anyone FOMO, but I'd love to be in the position you're in of getting to play them for the first time.
Great job NL community, really solid list.
Very happy to see 13 Sentinels in at #11
Why no love for HORRID HENRY'S KRAZY KARTS!?!?!? ; )
@skadoom Dragon Quest Treasures (released Dec 9) also wasn't listed despite being mentioned in the opening paragraphs. It likely was too late to properly number either.
This year was quite the banger for me in the third-party and indie departments, though pretty ho-hum for the first-party department (even with the amazing Kirby and the Forgotten Land).
1) Atelier Sophie 2 ~The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream~ (Switch)
2) Infernax (Switch)
3) Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Switch)
4) Lil Gator Game (Switch)
5) Sonic Frontiers (Switch)
6) Rogue Legacy 2 (Switch)
7) Nobody Saves the World (Switch)
8) Little Noah: Scion of Paradise (Switch)
9) Sonic Origins (Switch)
10) Kirby and the Forgotten Land (Switch)
-Honorable Mentions-
Cotton Fantasy (Switch)
Kao the Kangaroo (Switch)
The Outbound Ghost (Switch)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge (Switch)
ElecHead (Switch)
RPGolf Legends (Switch)
Here's hoping 2023 will see both first-party and third-party (and indie) libraries at the equal qualities and quantities...
If I ignore older ports that I absolutely love, like Persona 5R, 13 Sentinels, Stanley Parable, Nier Automata, No Man’s Sky and Portal Collection then my top 5 would be:
1. Xenoblade Chronicles 3
2. Triangle Strategy
3. AI Somnium Files Nirvana Initiative
4 .Pokemon Legends Arceus
5. Disney Dreamlight Valley
Finally! At least here where people have actually played XB3 it gets the deserved victory.
Push Square put The Last of Us Part 1 on their GOTY list which admittedly cracked me up 🤣
Anyway for me personally Kirby Pokèmon Legends Arceus and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 were the Switch's best highlights for me. In fact I'm planning a second playthrough of Legends Arceus and Kirby soon. Oh that's right Sonic Frontiers too.
Pokemon Legends Arceus I feel should've been even higher, but I'm glad it got lots of love irregardless. It was without a doubt my GOTY and one of my favorite games of all time. Phenomenal game and deserves the praise...
...I understand people not wanting an older port of a game like Persona 5 Royal getting number 1, cos it was already a GOTY when it came out and is one of the biggest JRPGs ever, really I do understand where people are coming from. It's just sad to see people intentionally lowering the score though for it in favor of Xenoblade 3, which I just can't get into the gameplay of, but tbf that's just personal taste, cos I can tell it's a great game. I think the solution is to not take ports into consideration for these, cos a game like P5R is as close to perfection as it gets and shouldn't get it's score -slightly- tanked because of it.
Would like to give a last min nod to Dragon Quest Treasures. Doing a playthrough of it right now. It's not perfect, but the general gameplay loop is a lot of fun. Definitely enjoying it.
Loved Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Huge Kirby fan anyway, so that helped. Lol. But I had an absolute blast with it.
I guess many people here didn't play the originals, otherwise Monkey Island would be in the top 10 for sure haha. What a FANTASTIC game!
Xenoblade 3 clearly deserves the top spot, though. Persona 5 is a great game, sure, but it came to Switch way too late, it can't be first!
Pokemon Legends Arceus takes this for me. Scarlet and Violet fall a little short of it, but I still like them. Also the Kirby and the Forgotten Land deserves a mention for sure. It's the most enjoyable Kirby game for me in two decades. I hope they keep making Kirby games like it!
@tseliot Oh I'm definitely going to get to some of these eventually. Though 2023 is looking like it's going to be a big year so eventually could be a while.
Man I was waiting to see how high the diehard apologists had managed to push Pokemon Scarlet/Violet. I know that it's widely hated, but nowhere in the top 50? I smell shenanigans...
where is Chained Echoes?!???
@N64-ROX So it was actually on the list? I thought maybe it wasn't at all because I didn't see in the top 50 lol.
@BenAV I’m sorry I like xc3 but it’s not in the same class as persona 5 royale people who think it is needs to get their heads re-examined I’m sorry xc3 is good but persona 5 royale is a MASTERPIECE
@Joekraken Other way around. Played Persona 5 Royale recently and it was pretty good but nowhere near any of the mainline Xenoblade games.
@Itakiteacher it wasn't on the list at all - I was surprised because there's usually plenty of people in the comments section saying it's fantastic, don't listen to the haters.
Persona 5 is really loved heh? I expected Pokemon violet and scarlet on 1, but they aren't even on the list. I had hoped for Kirby to be on place 1, but 3 is also very good. I did expect Bayonetta 3 to be higher though, and Mario+Rabbids much higher (the lower difficulty in Mario+Rabbids from what I have heard might have spoiled it).
@N64-ROX
Chained echoes was on the list but seems to have dropped off. The list is constantly evolving after all (wich is rubbish in my opinion, but I don't work for this site so what can I do?).
I think FFVII Crisis Core deserves to be here.
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