Since the Nintendo Switch was first launched in 2017, it's become the home to some of the company's most innovative and successful games ever. From The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to Super Mario Odyssey, it didn't take long for Nintendo to prove that its hybrid console had a ton of potential, and third-party developers quickly scrambled to port their games over to the Switch as soon as possible.
After failing to capture an audience with the Wii U, Nintendo could finally partner with third parties to develop exciting exclusives for the Switch. Some of the best games on the console are created by third-party companies that are willing to experiment with the system's unique design and portability, and these games make owning a Switch even more essential.
9 Astral Chain
Before the Nintendo Switch launched, PlatinumGames was one of the few third-party developers releasing games on the Nintendo Wii U. Between Bayonetta 2 and The Wonderful 101, the studio gained enough experience with the hardware that they would also help co-develop Star Fox Zero for the console as well.
After forging a phenomenal bond during this tumultuous era, it wasn't a major surprise when Astral Chain was announced as a new Switch exclusive from PlatinumGames. This action-adventure lives up to the reputation the developer has crafted for itself over the years and is easily one of the most underrated games on the Switch.
8 Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order
The fact that Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order is a Switch exclusive is still baffling seeing as the original games were developed for Sony and Microsoft's consoles. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 was eventually ported to the Wii, but the series was rarely associated with Nintendo.
Long-time fans of the franchise rejoiced when it was announced after a decade since the last entry in the series. It was developed by Team Ninja and features over thirty playable characters from the Marvel universe, including fan favorites like Rocket Racoon and Nightcrawler. It's a ton of fun to play on your own, but Ultimate Alliance 3 is at its best when played together with a friend or two.
7 Snipperclips - Cut It Out, Together!
One of the best parts about buying a Nintendo Switch when it was first released was the spectacular lineup of launch titles available to play right away. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and 1-2-Switch lead sales during the first week, but other titles like Fast RMX and Snipperclips also captured the audience's attention and became some of the Switch's first success stories.
The concept for Snipperclips began as a prototype on Adobe Flash, but it would later be pitched to Nintendo by its creators, SFB Games. This cute puzzle game showcased the potential of the Joy-Cons, and how easy it was to hand someone the controller to hop into multiplayer with them. The puzzles throughout the game are incredibly creative and require communication and teamwork to pass them.
6 Tetris 99
For the longest time, Nintendo was the only console maker that didn't require its player base to pay for online multiplayer. That changed in 2018 when they released Nintendo Switch Online, a paid subscription that gives you access to online features in games like Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros., as well as the ability to play games from Nintendo's previous consoles.
Shortly after Nintendo Switch Online launched, it was revealed that another benefit to subscribing to the service would be access to Tetris 99. This battle royale pits 99 players against each other as they play Tetris using either offensive or defensive strategies. It's a simple yet genius spin on one of the greatest games of all time, and you can unlock different themes from series like Metroid and Pokemon.
5 Bayonetta 3
Like Marvel Ultimate Alliance, it's still hard to believe that Bayonetta has become a Nintendo-exclusive series. The first game in the series originally launched on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and quickly accumulated a cult following with its style and unique premise. Its sequel was canceled by Sega, but Nintendo decided to help fund the project, and Bayonetta 2 would become exclusive to the Wii U and later ported to the Switch.
Eight years after Bayonetta 2 stunned critics and audiences alike, Bayonetta 3 would finally grace the Switch with its presence as another exclusive. While its story quickly subverts expectations, Bayonetta 3 is full of stellar action sequences and some of the best music since its first debut.
4 Golf Story
Golf Story is another excellent Switch exclusive that was launched in 2017 and once again proved how much potential the console could have for indie developers. It was originally intended to be a Wii U game, but Golf Story kept growing in scope and would eventually require some financial assistance from Nintendo to help it launch on Switch.
Instead of traversing from course to course like a typical golf game, Golf Story is more of an RPG full of fascinating characters, side quests, and more. Golf Story also has a surprisingly moving story evocative of early Harvest Moon titles or Stardew Valley. If you get tired of standard golf, the game also has mini-golf, disc golf, and more.
3 Shin Megami Tensei V
The Megami Tensei series may be one of the most confusing series in the gaming industry due to its slew of spin-offs like Persona and Devil Summoner. The first Shin Megami Tensei launched on the Super Famicom in 1992 and after appearing on platforms like the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, the series started becoming exclusive to Nintendo's handheld consoles around 2009.
Shin Megami Tensei V is the most ambitious entry in the series and looks stunning when playing on your TV or in handheld mode. It's the first game in the series since 2003's Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne (and its remake) to be playable on a TV, so having both options makes completing this nearly 50-hour JRPG much easier.
2 Cadence Of Hyrule
It's not often that Nintendo allows third-party developers to use their iconic characters in other games. Still, it's been happening more recently and lets the franchises experiment with new ideas and genres. Cadence of Hyrule was created by Brace Yourself Games - the developer behind Crypt of the NecroDancer - and beautifully weaves the rhythm-based action they are known for into the world of Hyrule.
You can play as Link, Zelda, or Cadence as they attempt to stop Octavo from using his magical flute to wreak havoc across the land. The remixes of classic Legend of Zelda music are innovative and quickly get your foot tapping as you play through Cadence of Hyrule's riveting campaign.
1 Mario + Rabbids Sparks Of Hope
When Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was announced for the Switch in 2017, audiences were hesitant to get excited about a new Ubisoft game that featured Mario and his friends working alongside the Minion-like Rabbids. Shortly after the turn-based adventure was released, most people were surprised by how well-made and fun it ultimately was.
A few years later, Ubisoft would release a sequel that somehow improved on everything its predecessor seemed to have perfected. The combat is much more open and adaptable to multiple playstyles, each character has a unique personality that shines through the campaign, and Sparks of Hope may also have one of the best soundtracks of any Switch game. It's great to see Nintendo allow more developers to play with their characters and IPs, and so far it has led to some of the most compelling and exciting games on the Switch.