10. Cuphead (Switch eShop)
Cuphead was an absolute masterpiece when it originally launched on Xbox One and nothing has been sacrificed in its move to the Switch. A run-and-gun boss battler dressed up like a 1930s Fleischer or Disney animated short, it’s the same visually jaw-dropping, aurally delightful, knuckle-whiteningly difficult game it was on Microsoft’s console and the Switch’s library is all the better for its presence. Its focus on intense boss battles won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into we can’t recommend it enough. Just look at it!
And the Delicious Last Course is the icing on the cake, too.
9. Final Fantasy VII (Switch eShop)
We never thought we'd see the original Final Fantasy VII on a Nintendo console, yet here we are. Final Fantasy VII's reputation speaks for itself — it's a touchstone of game design that played a large role in setting the standard of RPGs for years to come. The Materia system is addictive, and there's a plethora of optional content and superbosses to dig into. Plus, even with the translation issues, this is one of the best stories in the franchise. If you like RPGs, you should give Final Fantasy VII a shot, as this is an experience unlike any other in many ways. Of course, as with many early PS1 games, Final Fantasy VII is a relic of its time, but that doesn’t mean it’s to be respected any less; if you can look past the antiquated elements, the core game here is as brilliant as it ever was.
8. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Switch eShop)
The original Ace Attorney is really getting on in years, which is remarkable when you consider just how well it holds up. Sure, it’s been ported plenty of times and the jump to Nintendo DS certainly helped shake off the retro cobwebs, but as a piece of interactive history, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is as utterly addictive and truly rewarding as it was back at the turn of the millennium. Whether you’re brand new to the world of virtual defence law or a veteran attorney, Phoenix Wright’s first adventures are still a fine set of cases to undertake.
7. Final Fantasy IX (Switch eShop)
Final Fantasy IX acts as a good reminder of why this franchise has remained an RPG institution over the years. Its medieval-style setting makes it a fun nostalgia trip for fans of the older series entries, or players fed up with all the futuristic Final Fantasies, and acts as a callback to the classics. Memorable characters, a wacky story, deep character customization, and plenty of incredible environments certainly help make a case for why Final Fantasy IX deserves a spot on your Switch’s SD card, even if some elements haven't aged particularly well. But with some of the best characters, one of the best stories, and a wonderful world to explore, Final Fantasy IX deserves to be played by anyone who loves turn-based RPGs.
6. Astral Chain (Switch)
With its amazing visuals, fantastic presentation, varied gameplay and deep, rewarding combat, Astral Chain is one of PlatinumGames' most accomplished titles. It mixes detective work with exhilarating battle sequences that are inventive, challenging and – perhaps most importantly – breathtakingly cool. The complexity of the game's myriad systems may prove intimidating for some players, but the inclusion of a co-op play and the ability to automate many of the mechanics via the 'Unchained' mode means that even complete newcomers can still enjoy the ride. Astral Chain isn't just one of the Switch's stand-out hits, it's one of Platinum's best video games.
5. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Switch)
This beautiful Switch remake of the classic Game Boy entry rebuilt everything from the ground up. On top of the beautiful new art style, it added modern conveniences, a dungeon creator, amiibo support, and lots of little quality-of-life improvements whilst infusing every single square inch of Koholint – every secret passage, Piranha, Pokey, and Pig Warrior – with a level of detail and depth that totally reinvigorated both its timeless story and classic Zelda gameplay for a new generation.
If there's anything holding The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening back, some frame rate issues might prove jarring for some players. Others may not even notice, but if you're sensitive to dropped frames, you may be distracted from the otherwise absorbing gameplay. It's a little thing, but with the heritage of technical wizardry behind the Game Boy original, it is a small dent in this game's otherwise glistening armour.
4. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition (Switch)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains a masterpiece, and being able to take such a grand and engrossing adventure on the go is something well worth celebrating. The Switch's Complete Edition is a truly impressive achievement, and although performance isn't perfect, it's still an incredible and impactful role-playing experience. The Witcher 3 set the bar for modern RPGs back in 2015, and this port is a startling reminder that it has yet to be bettered.
3. Luigi's Mansion 3 (Switch)
Luigi’s Mansion 3 is not only a graphical powerhouse and showcase for Next Level Games’ unrivalled mastery of video game animation, but also an immense helping of spooky fun. The amount of care and consideration poured into every facet of the game is abundantly clear, and it all results in one of the most enjoyable and attractive Switch titles that launched in 2019, and the undisputed high point of this underappreciated series.
2. Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Switch)
As soon as Switch launched it seemed like the perfect console for Fire Emblem. Portability and strategy games are a marriage made in heaven, but being able to throw the battle on the big screen in HD gives Three Houses a scope that wasn't possible on the diminutive 3DS.
Three Houses added new strings to the series' bow, though, with the Garegg Mach Monastery providing a Hogwarts-style academy to explore and enjoy as you build those ever-important relationships with your characters from the Black Eagles, Blue Lions, and Golden Deer. It's clearer than ever before that the key to the franchise is its ability to evoke feeling for your units through canny writing and charismatic characters; Three Houses created the perfect environment to foster and develop the students in your chosen house. Indeed, the huge number of options open to you, not to mention the alternatives closed off with each choice you make, might make Three Houses an intimidating prospect, but it excels in forging a vital and worthwhile experience whichever house you pick or route you take. And you don't need to buy another game to go back and travel the road not taken. Take that, Fates!
And if that's still not enough for you, there's always DLC. Did somebody say four houses?
1. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition (Switch)
Originally released for 3DS (and PS4) in Japan, the cumbersomely named Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition is one of the best games Square has ever put its name to, plain and simple — and this Switch release was a fine port, too. Featuring a heartwarming, well-paced narrative supported by a cast of fantastic characters, a dense and interesting overworld packed with dozens of hours of content, and one of the finest soundtracks we’ve heard in a JRPG, it all combines to make this an unforgettable modern classic. Whether you’re a newcomer to the series (or genre) or a returning vet, do yourself a favor and get yourself a copy of Dragon Quest XI as soon as you’re able. This is the epitome of a gift that keeps on giving, and it more than deserves a spot in your Switch library.
There's a huge amount of quality on this list - arguably enough to rival even Switch's stellar launch year. Do you disagree with this ranking? Remember, this is a fluid, ever-changing list governed by each game's Nintendo Life user rating, so rate your favourites and perhaps they'll pop up. Head to our library of Switch games for 2019 and get rating your personal favourites. You can also check out the best Switch games of the 2017 and the best Switch games of 2018, too.
What were your best games of 2019? Did they make this top 50 (yet)? Feel free to 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 127
Edit: Just got some of the games at the top of the list for Christmas so I'll finally get to play some of the big releases of this year. Also Luigis Mansion 3 is my personal Goty.
I am really enjoying this top three and glad to see FE not right at the top as I had feared. Amazing that Phoenix Wright still appears on a list like this (in the top 10!) despite being pretty much the same game it was on the gameboy advance. Quality lasts.
Can't disagree with DOS2 as the top pick. Was intimidated by the sheer size of it but some 30 hours in and I struggle to find any substantial criticism of it. Just brilliant.
Slay the Spire is probably my game of the year on everything, followed by Dragon Quest XI S
for me Fire Emblem Three Houses is number 1 the game surprised me on how great it is
I'm actually surprised Senuas Hellblade made it to the top 5, i'm gonna have to try it out now.
I wanna give DX11 a chance as I'm an RPG nerd, but I dont know.
Judging by the comments this is a self adepting list that changes depending on the user ratings.
Also, I’d rather see what the nintendolife staff thinks is the top 50 switch games of 2019.
Links Awakening is my nr. 1 this year till now. I can’t wait for Luigi’s Mansion 3. I got the feeling that it will become my number 1 for 2019.
I completely disagree with almost all of this list
@USWITCH64 this list changes depending on user reviews. Check back later maybe you’ll agree than 😂
When I first checked marvel ultimate allience was 50. 5 minutes later it was 47.
Well all I can say is my list looks drastically different. But again, That's only my list.
@USWITCH64 at least give us your top 5 if that's the case!
For me, the only game that could dethrone Dragon Quest XI S as the best Switch release this year will be Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition. In fact, I'm counting on it. I'm a huge Dragon Quest fan, but Xenoblade's jump to the Switch will be a much greater leap than Dragon Quest's. Xenoblade's masterful choreography, gorgeous environments, beautiful music, and captivating storytelling were enough to make my jaw drop the first time around in 480p, and a modern coat of paint will only emphasize its brilliance.
EDIT: As it was quickly pointed out, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is actually dropping next year. I don't know how I was under the impression it'd be dropping this winter. Dragon Quest XI S will probably sit as my favorite Switch release for 2019.
September, man... What a month!
Dragon Quest XI, Ori and the Blind Forest, Divinity Original Sin 2, Zelda Link's Awakening, Grid Autosport, Spyro Trilogy, Ni no Kuni, Blasphemous,...
I don't have time and money for soooo much!
@jtmnm It's oficial that Xenoblade will be released on 2020.
@Big-Pepsi Why you don't know? I'm an RPG nerd as well, I've never been a DQ fan, but I tell you man, I haven't played an JRPG as good and polished as this one since... I don't remember when lol.
It totally deserves all the love is getting.
@the_beaver Whoops!
Jeez, the whole top 10 at the moment (well 11, gotta include Cuphead), is a love letter to why this year is so great. DOS II, Hellblade, DQ XI, Astral Chain, Mario Maker, Ori, GRID, DQ Builders 2... haven't played all of them but I sure plan on it.
Not like the rest of the list is slouches either... When a list begins with a game as good as Trials Rising and only goes mostly up from there, you know it's been a good year.
for once, this is a great top 10. and i'm yet to play ay of the top 7 despite laying switch every day, so this is just awesome all over really
Mario Maker 2 has been my favorite game of the year thus far.
@darkswabber Yeah this list a bit of a joke in my opinion. Sone good games, but tons of 20 years and older game ports and small fries I haven't heard of. They're not bad and the ones I hadn't heard of don't look bad, but we don't have even CTR or Sonic in here.
Missed the Contra Collection.
Cuphead, Dragon Quest XI S, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses are absolutely my favorite releases this year. All three are so good in their own unique ways.
Nice to see all the appreciation DQXI S is getting from the playerbase on NL. It's one of the most impressive ports on the system, and S-E clearly put their heart and soul into this port, touching up almost every aspect of the game in the process.
My top 3, in order
1st - Astral Chain
2nd - Grid Autosport
3rd - Virtua Racing
Honorable mentions - Dragons Dogma, Doom 1/2/3, Vasara Collection,Links Awakening once it's been patched.... hopefully.
I'm sure The Witcher 3 will enter my top 3 but can it top the mighty Astral Chain? As could Dragons Quest XI or Divinity Original Sin 2 when I finally play them.
DQ XI S absolutely deserves that top spot.
@JEM Excellent, also see Tales of Vesperia. Seems a bit more like it!
Awesome stuff. That's one hell of a lineup for less than a year. The Switch is quickly becoming my favorite platform of all-time.
Good God... 25 of them are old ports
Astral Chains and Fire Emblem... and just got SteamWorld Quest on Sale. That is about it.
@Sakisa I agree. Well deserved. This game is incredible...I'm amazed it fits on this little cartridge.
@the_beaver did Ni No Kuni get mentioned?
Wow, I did not expect DQ11 to take number one, I am so happy
Did I completely miss my GOTY Slay the Spire? It's not there is it?
Good to see GRID Autosport get appreciation, fantastic racer and I'm genuinely impressed at the port and attention to detail. Sounds and looks amazing on the Switch.
Hellblade disappointed me. I think I need to try it again when my backlog clears.
It does look stunning but I couldn't get on with the combat - fight and beat the baddies on screen, then get attacked and hit from behind. Defeat those, think you're done... get attacked and hit from behind again... defeat those, think you're done...
I found it tiresome rather than enjoyable.
Only Mario Maker 2 makes my list, while I liked the demo of Ori so will get that in time. Overall, a pedestrian year for Nintendo.
Link's Awakening is my GOTY, even if technically a 1993 game.
"And it's far from over"
One wonders then why you're doing it.
@Joe-b Not in this list I think, but everyone says it's wonderful. Really want to put my hands on it.
@Franklin So far it's already been much better than the whole 2018 lol
Ni No Kuni deserves a spot. Currently obsessed with it. Doing every single mission. Trying to capture every single familiar. Great music!
Happy to see Baba Is You well placed. One of those hidden gems of the eShop. Fire Emblem is my No1 so far. Still a lot of 2019 to go yet, though!
@the_beaver
Well that's true.
Glad to see one of my favorite franchises of all time currently sitting in the top spot. Still working on Dragon Quest VII on 3DS. I’ll get to XI eventually.
Multiplayer for GRID will come in an update AFAIK
That's a staggering number of quality titles.
@Yoshinator why comment if you didnt experience any of these?
In my opinion, 2019 is probably the Switch's best year so far, and it isn't even over yet!
I agree with the top 3 surprisingly. Although I'd have switched FE3H and DQ11 But I am shocked that Wargroove and Tales of Vesperia placed so lowly. In fact, beyond the top 3 I feel like the whole list is heavily shuffled around from how I'd have done it!
Where the heck is AI: The Somnium Files?
I really wanted to like FFXII but I just can’t get past Vaan. He’s easily the weakest FF lead character in the whole series (and this is series where a game has a lead character called Bartz who faces a villain called ExDeath) and the fact his appearance doesn’t change with job titles is infuriating.
It’s bad enough he’s stuck with that stupid vest top thing for the whole game but when exploring the snowy areas he still wears it! I can suspend disbelief at a lack of realism in FF games pretty easily but making things unrealistic is too far.
Cuphead is overrated.
Was very excited for that, and other than the visuals it's a one trick pony.
The sequel will hopefully improve other aspects of the game this time.
Strong list and only getting stronger. For me GRID comes out top closely followed Zelda and Ori. Witcher 3, LM3 and Ring Fit Adventure (yes I went there) may change this.
M2’s Virtua Racing port is incredible, and it’s on offer. Fantastic arcade conversion.
Mario Maker 2 is way over-hyped... I really regret buying that game.
@EasyDaRon That doesn't change the fact that they're some of the best Switch games ever.
A really good year so far !
@JEM I added mine to that so now it needs 2
A few issues with the also rans, but I broadly agree with most of the top 10. I’d put Fire Emblem the other side of Super Mario Maker 2, but I’m really not a fan of the Mario Maker games. Looking forward to Dragon Quest XI as it’s my next big adventure on Switch. I’ve got the cart in my case already, and I’m moving onto it as soon as I’ve completed Link’s Awakening. If it belongs in the company of Astral Chain and Three Houses, I’m in for a treat.
Pretty solid list.
And what a ridiculously good year so far for the Switch with much more to come. Insane.
Dragon Quest 11 is well deserved as the best game.
I’ve just ordered 7 & 8 (3DS) as a Christmas treat for myself!
@Big-Pepsi Go ahead. It's lovely.
@the_beaver I hear the same thing.
@the_beaver
Yeah, but it reminds me of Chrono Trigger which is on my "list of games I enjoy so much that I end up only playing them once or not finish to savor it" I feel like I'll end up putting 100 hours in and drop it before fighting the last couple of bosses, games like that end up taking me years to finish, and I kid you not this is what happens when I play games I love.
Baba is you number one for me. Utterly unique and very satisfying when you nail a hardcore headscratcher.
Baba is Me
Brain is Melt
Battery is Dead
@Illusion yeah I thought that, there’s more classics in that game than the Castlevania collection.
Seems like I'm not buying enough games as I only have five of these ones listed here and one of them I haven't even played!
Turns out I didn't pick any $60 game yet
Lots of solid exclusives though
This was a good year for indies too, I got Baba is You, Katana Zero, My Friend Pedro, Risk of Rain 2, Pikuniku. Also there was some solid re-releases of games I've never played before, got Cuphead, but will surely pick Obra Dinn and maybe A Hat In Time and Ori
Astral chain is easily my goty
I totally agree on #1 so far - I’m 40 hours in and having an absolute blast, DQ XI S may well become my favourite JRPG of all time.
@Agramonte FF VIII is a proper remaster, while the prerendered backgrounds could not be saved the in game models are updated in a way they don't feel out of place but have a nice amount of detail to them.
With some quality of life features (no random encounters when backtracking or exploring is great)
Granted it is one of my Favorite FF games I may be a bit biased (and weird)
I feel you'd almost get as good a list from drawing games out of a hat than going by the user scores here sometimes. They seem a bit all over the place from what I've noticed. Can't complain too much with #1 though. While it's definitely not my favourite Switch game this year, it's certainly very good and a worthy winner. Also happy to see Ace Attorney sitting in the top ten.
Edit: Aaaand someone ruined it.
There's some good games I've missed out on, haven't I? I'm definitely leaning towards getting Luigi's Mansion 3 now - it seems to fix most of my qualms with Dark Moon (which I admittedly habe not played much of yet), and I'm interested in a lot of stuff on the list. GRID Autosport being so high is a bit surprising, but it must be worth a look as well. 2019 was definitely a great year for the Switch, though.
Now THIS is a top ten list.
10. Divinity 2
9. Link's Awakening
8. Ori and the Blind Forest
7. Astral Chain
6. Mario Maker 2
5. Dragon Quest Builders 2
4. Luigi's Mansion 3
3. Witcher 3
2. Fire Emblem TH
1. Dragon Quest XIS
Pretty much perfect.
At least this is better than NL’s best of 2019.
@locky-mavo You'd hope so. Would be hard to be worse.
This is one weird list. All the games you’d expect are here, but the order is nuts.
1. Super Mega Baseball 2
2. Tiny Metal 2
Man, the Switch got so many great RPGs this year
Dragons dogma : have over 120 hours into the game and haven't even come to close to learning everything. I have a lot of weapons and armor to dragon forge, and that's not including bbi's content. Good to see it on this list
It's pretty remarkable that the game picked as the #1 release of 2019 by the site's readers didn't even factor into the staff's top 11.
Ayyy Digimon ranked higher than Pokemon
Note to the editor: if you are going to just copy and paste the conclusion from each game’s reviews into this list - the please try to be a bit more descriptive of what type of game it is in those conclusions. Some of the more obscure games on this list I had to look up to see if it was my type of game or not!
@SavimbaLives SMB2 is probs my most played game of the year! Narrowly pipping SMM2
Good list agree with most of it
A far more realistic view in my opinion.
Pretty good list. I'm glad to see Dragon Quest Builders 2 and Luigi's Mansion 3 up there.
I would've put NSMBUDX higher up, though, especially over Yoshi's Crafted World.
I would like to buy Dragon Quest XI S, but only after recovering from the huge Christmas sale in finances.
Thrilled to see DQB2 so high! It was definitely my personal favorite of the year, the amount of joy it gave me was so unexpected.
Fire emblem or dq11 in n.1...ok. now it's true
I'm just happy to see Digimon make this list. Really wasn't expecting it to. My favorite though, would probably be Luigi's Mansion 3. It's just so much fun. Zelda, witcher, cuphead and Dragon Quest are all really good as well. Imo it was a solid year for the switch.
@BenAV Out of curiosity, what is your favourite Switch game this year? My top 3 are
Astral Chain, Luigi's Mansion 3 and Grid Autosport.
@OorWullie If you exlude ports and remakes (which makes the choice a lot easier as there's a few there that I love), gotta be AI: The Somnium Files.
Honestly I'd say that overall most of the games that left the biggest impression for me this year are probably indie titles (Slay the Spire, Cadence of Hyrule, Baba Is You, etc.).
Dragon Quest XI S probably my favourite big, mainstream release. Astral Chain is up there but while it was great, it fell a bit short of what I'd hoped it could be.
Getting through the current top 3 (DQ11S, FE3H, & Witcher III) I am going to have a very packed Winter & Spring! Also can't wait to get into Pillars of Eternity & finally finish through my Hollowknight playthrough. Really great year for Switch!
Hmm, well this turned out to be quite a bad list. Oh well, at least the top 10 list by the writers wasn't bad.
Actually glad that people seemed pretty honest about Pokemon.
@locky-mavo Garbage like this is why I never bother with user scores anymore. It is all fanboys and internet BS, I mean the journalism is bad enough but when you are reliant upon users you are just listening to the most rabid of fanboys.
So happy that Dragon Quest XI S made number 1. It was so traditional in every sense, but had some beautiful self contained stories that added to a larger whole. My favourite game on any system this year. I played it for around 200hrs and never got bored. I was sad it never lit up the charts.
Really great list, especially when you see that Digimon is in front of Pokemon
@JayJ Too right.
Man, it is so nice to see a game i feel is #1 end up at #1! Dragon Quest XI S is worthy of that position.Glad others feel the same.
No Sword/Shield in this list. At list the fans have some sanity.
im glad witcher took the top 3 spot really great game and still plenty things to do.
@BenAV Interesting choice.
I keep seeing this Slay the Spire mentioned over the last couple of weeks. I hadn't heard of it before then. I'm not sure if it's my type of game but I'll never know until I try.
@JayJ You know, it's possible people actually likes those games and aren't just "rabid fanboys". Everybody enjoys different things, and just because a majority of people like something that you don't it doesn't make them incorrect.
Also, you seem to be just as bad as these "rabid fanboys" you're criticizing. Giving so many games a 1/10 clearly just to bring down their average score is just as bad, if not worse, as being a fanboy giving a game a 10/10 to increase the score. You're allowed to dislike the games, but certainly they still have some objective qualities that deserve a couple of points.
@Cynas I just thought it was interesting to see how easily these rankings can be influenced, at the end of the day it really isn't any kind of issue so I see no need to make an issue out of it. The users around here vote and the averages are presented for us, but at the end of the day this is just a representation of the community more than anything else.
I only like six of them
Dragon quest 11 and Fire emblem 3 houses were my favorite games of 2019, so seeing them take 1 and 2 is awesome, glad a lot of other people loved these games
I wish A Hat in Time and Spyro Reignited Trilogy were higher, being the 3D platforming buff that I am, but it was interesting to see them right next to each other on the list. Not sure which I prefer, as Spyro is special because it is a beloved childhood classic, but A Hat in Time was a fresh new experience I hadn't played before on other platforms. Both games suffer from optimization issues on Switch, but that didn't stop them from being stellar experiences and easily two of my favorite games of the year.
Also, I can't possibly comment here without giving a shout-out to Cuphead, which very quickly cemented itself as one of my favorite video games of all time. I love boss fights, and, even more than that, I love the art of animation; Cuphead delivers on both of these fronts in spades. It's the only game I've ever purchased for PC, despite having to play through the whole thing with a keyboard, and I thought it was just a pipe dream that I would ever play it on my Switch.
Lastly, I just received Dragon Quest 11 as a Christmas present I asked for. I'm not into RPGs at all with the exception of the Mario ones, but I am thoroughly enjoying this game. I've already invested over 6 and a half hours into this game because I just can't put it down. Traversing the world feels like a Zelda game, and while Breath of the Wild has spoiled me and I get frustrated with all the invisible walls that keep me from exploring, Dragon Quest 11 is a real treat. Battles are simplistic enough for a complete RPG noob to grasp--unlike something like Xenoblade, which intimidates me--yet they're still challenging and engaging. I don't know if grinding is necessary, but when I'm gaining dozens of experience points at a time, I find myself unable to stop battling. This could end up being one of my favorite games of the year, I can't wait to see how it all plays out.
Untitled Goose Game was robbed.
I don't know how I'm going to find the time to catch up with anything on this list with 300+ hours of Xenoblade and the bottomless pit of Animal Crossing coming up in 2020
@Joe-b I was thinking the same thing as I was playing watching the amazing cinemas...i can't believe all they crammed on the cartridge.
Grid is no longer strictly a solo affair, aside that lovely list that can help newcomers to the Switch pick-up some gems!
Yooka Laylee and the Impossible Lair: a beautiful game, clearly made with love, has a lot of variety in it, a unique touch to things, excellent level design, a ton of stages, a very nice overworld, a huge number of collectibles, a difficulty level that makes you keep coming back to it. Almost left out of the list. As for the overpriced Resident Evil games ports, it's easy to understand why they keep being rereleased for such a price
I feel really weird about games like FF8 and other ports of real old games being on a best of list for 2019. X.x
@JayJ I'd guess if you took out the 1/10 scores aimed at lowering the average score, Sword/Shield would be in the top 10. It's current average score is 7.8/10 which puts it slightly outside the top 50.
Wow, this was a great year for hidden gems! We'll be playing a lot of these in the years to come ^_^
@Kirby_Girl Umm Technically, FF8 HD Remaster isn’t a really an “old game”. It just came out this year. And given some of the changes it toes the “remaster” line.
@mousieone its an update of a now older game. It got its props. Just nice to see something else get more props such as games like Katana Zero over things already deemed classic. I get what you mean by it being a newer release version its just wack imo to see even if it scraps by on those reasons
Wow, so happy that DQXIS and FE3H made the top spots as they have been my MVPs of the year. Will go back and do more routes in FE3H eventually
@Kirby_Girl yeah well not going to argue there; I have similar feelings towards a few things on the list but at least that one legitimately was an update.
I had a great Nintendo gaming year. I played 5 out of the top 10 games on this list.
@baller98 I've been keeping my eye on it, but it seems very short and easy. I definitely don't think I'll get it for the full $40 price, but if it goes on sale, I'll be very interested.
So many great titles this year. DQ XIS is one of the best JRPGs of all time. Heck, games of all time.
DQ11 is overrated for me. It gets so much praise, left right and center and yet I can't even force myself to complete the demo. Wanted to like it but it just doesn't click. What's so great about this game?
Nice to see my personal game of this year, AI: The Somnium Files, on this list.
"There's a huge amount of quality on this list - arguably enough to rival even Switch's stellar launch year!"
I admire the positivity - I almost wish I shared this outlook... but yea, I really don't. 2019 was dreadful. A year that had Pokemon as the main event, no doubt sacrificing at least 2 first party titles into 2020, and that turned out to be a massive disappointment - as shown by its position in this ranking, which is woeful!
How many of this Top 50 has the average gamer played before? 20%? 30% even?! Huge bonus playing these great games on the go, but it doesn't disguise a disappointing year overall - these games should be the cherry on top, not the main event.
2018 and 2019 had enormous potential when they began and they both fell flat.
2020 once again has the potential, arguably even more now that we've seen successive poor years, but once again we have a familiar setting as we approach the New Year... no news, and the apprehension of a January Direct not delivering the goods.
DragonQuest XI is my game of the year! 😏✌🏻
@darkswabber
Why?
I'd trust the majority
I think a hat in time should be higher up, maybe top 20 or 10
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