Best Switch Games Of 2022
Image: Nintendo Life

And we're back! Another year done and dusted, one that was jam-packed with Switch games. It might have lacked a mainline Zelda or Mario, but Pokémon fans got double bubble in 2022, with Pokémon Legends: Arceus and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet topping and tailing the year.

In between those potent Pocket Monster packages, we got a large portion of Kirby (plus a tasty side dish), a selection of sports (both the Switch and Mario Strikers variety), a trio of excellent games with a '3' in the title (Xenoblade, Splatoon, and Bayonetta), and both Koei Tecmo and Ubisoft taking the reins on Nintendo IP with Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes and Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope respectively.

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Best Switch Games Of 2022
Image: Nintendo Life

And that's just the first-party stuff. Throw in all the quality third-party releases — Square Enix, in particular, was on fire this year with games like Triangle Strategy, Dragon Quest Treasures, and Crisis Core — a deluge of excellent indies, including Citizen Sleeper, Neon White, Tunic, and Chained Echoes, a great selection of retro collections, and a bevy of quality ports of games big and small, and there simply aren't enough hours in the day to play everything we want to.

Which brings us to your picks of the top 50 best Switch games of 2022. As always, we asked Nintendo Life readers to rate the games this year, and the list below — as governed by the User Ratings for each title in our games database — is the result. The order can and will change, even after publication, subject to those fluctuating User Ratings, which means it's never too late to rate your collection (even those pesky late-December arrivals) and influence the list.

Can't see your favourites? Head to our library of Switch games and use the search bar to find what you're looking for (or scroll to the very top of this page to do the same). Note. To become eligible, a game needs to have been rated by a minimum of 30 users.

Enough waffle. Let's scroll down and enjoy 50 of the very best games of the year, 2022 edition...

50. Beacon Pines (Switch eShop)

Beacon Pines presents a rich world filled with deeply considered, not to mention adorable, characters. The beautifully crafted art, paired with a soundtrack that both captures and sets the mood, make for a wholly enjoyable experience. It might not be for those who prefer action, but it is a lovely and compelling story that sees Luka, Rolo, and Beck delve into a bevy of unique situations. You might finish it in less than a workday, but it’ll stay with you for much longer.

49. ElecHead (Switch eShop)

Elechead is a puzzle-platformer in which your character's head is a source of electricity. Where it really shines is in its ability to introduce mechanics in one section, and then have you completely rethink what you know about the game the next. Every mechanic is put to use ingeniously; even things as unassuming as the level resetting checkpoints are used in interesting ways. While the game doesn’t last long, it uses every second wisely and never outstays its welcome, even if you are left wanting a bit more.

48. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (Switch)

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax offers up an approachable, yet incredibly deep 2D fighting combat system, and a neat RPG-lite mode that guarantees solo players will have lots to do. All this is presented in Arc System Works’ signature and striking hand-drawn art style, showcasing the best of the Guilty Gear developer's skill with the genre.

While the story mode is a complete bore and there’s no rollback netcode in this version, we think P4AU on Switch is still worth your time, particularly if you like the portability, although if you're going to be playing online, you'll likely want to investigate the game on other platforms first.

47. Prodeus (Switch)

Prodeus is the kind of game that knows exactly what it wants to do and executes that vision flawlessly.

It’s not complicated and it’s nothing you haven’t seen before, but every inch of this experience was clearly crafted with passion and talent. The intense firefights, expansive arsenal, metal music, and sprawling level designs all come together to make Prodeus feel like a game that’s just the right mix of retro and modern.

If you have ever been a fan of Doom, Quake, Wolfenstein, or any of the indie boomer shooters of the last few years, you owe it to yourself to give Prodeus a shot. Even if you haven’t much been into the genre before, we’d say this is an excellent place to jump in and see what it’s about.

46. Dragon Quest Treasures (Switch)

If you go in expecting to sink 100 hours into Dragon Quest Treasures or think you’ll get the same kind of intricate plot that the series is known for, you’ll come away disappointed. However, if you are a younger gamer who is itching for a taste of what a JRPG is like, or you just want something laid back to tackle, there is a lot of fun to be had here.

Everything you’d expect in a JRPG is in this game, just stripped back to the basics, all adorned with that timeless Dragon Quest charm. It's a lovely little spin-off, and if you're a big fan of Erik from Dragon Quest XI, it's well worth checking out.

45. Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection (Switch)

Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection is a great compilation of some of the series’ most highly-regarded entries. Aside from some combat that lacks depth and a convoluted story, the three games included here are absolutely worthy of your time.

Comprising Assassin's Creed II, Brotherhood, and Revelations, plus all their solo DLC, there’s still plenty of fun to be had if this is your first Assassin’s Creed experience, with the cities managing to impress with their sense of scale and historical detail. Some of the dated gameplay elements and glitches may make other non-Ezio entries a better jumping-off point, though.

The Rebel Collection is a very fine alternative if you want slightly more modern interpretations of the series, with a seafaring bent. However, if you’re already a fan and can tolerate its foibles — old and new — this is an enjoyable trip into (video game) history and an easy recommendation.

44. Sophstar (Switch eShop)

Sophstar is a competently assembled title: smooth, clean, and enjoyable. What it lacks in gravity and bravado it makes up for in balanced scoring mechanics and an interesting teleportation twist. While its Cadet Mode is its brightest spark, the main campaign shoots for the stars but falls just short of reaching them.

43. Lil Gator Game (Switch eShop)

There are few games out there that successfully capture childlike wonder and imagination better than Lil Gator Game. Despite some minor issues with the writing and how directionless the adventure can feel at times, it's easy to forgive small frustrations when a game is as wonderfully charming from start to finish as this. Lil Gator is up there with the best indie games released this year and comes with a recommendation for anyone remotely interested in feeling like a kid again.

42. Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles (Switch)

Demon Slayer: -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles is a very solid action game, presenting a gripping story and thrilling action combat alongside an art style that almost perfectly matches the popular anime. Though combat can sometimes feel a bit shallow and the performance isn’t always perfect, we’d still give this one a strong recommendation, even to those who don’t have any background with the anime or manga.

41. Coromon (Switch eShop)

Coromon takes aim at one of the greatest series of all time and, while it isn’t any threat to Pokémon’s worldwide domination, it is a charming and fun nostalgia trip for fans. Excessive grinding and a story that takes its time to get going mar what is otherwise a worthwhile journey, but if you're a fan of old-school Pokémon, that shouldn’t put you off investigating this title. Whether you’re a new trainer or you’ve been catching 'em all for years now, Coromon has something for you to enjoy.