10 Nintendo Switch games you need to play

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
For the fighting game’s first entry on Switch, Nintendo took a Pokemon approach and just played catch ‘em all with game characters. From Metal Gear’s Solid Snake to Final Fantasy’s Cloud, this is a chaotic brawler to scratch every pop culture face-off itch. Importantly, Smash Bros. Ultimate is accessible for new players, but peer beneath the surface and the granularity on offer for the competitive set hands over a different game altogether.

Pokemon Let’s Go: Eevee/Pikachu
The first main entry Pokemon game to land on Switch, Let’s Go is a glorious redesign of 1998’s Pokemon Yellow. Whether you choose Eevee or Pikachu, Let’s Go is a beautiful adventure that takes many of its cues from Niantic’s Pokemon Go. Reducing the grind, you don’t need to battle wild Pokemon, only throw Poke Balls using the intuitive motion controls. You can even transfer ‘mon from the mobile title to fill out your Pokedex.

Hollow Knight
If all the bright colours of this list have been giving you a headache, don’t worry. Hollow Knight has a “one Tim Burton drew earlier” flavour. It is a beautifully atmospheric 2D Metroidvania full of charming characters and dexterity-testing wall jumps. The hand-drawn setting of Hallowsnest is incredible to explore, and constantly challenging for your tiny bug hero armed with a mere nail instead of a sword. D’awwww

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Sometimes games are like maths. In this case XCOM + Mario + Ubisoft’s zany Rabbids = Kingdom Battle. In so many ways it just shouldn’t work but the turn based combat, beautiful Mario worlds, and ridiculous humour fit together perfectly. Even if you’re not an XCOM fan, you’ll find yourself gazing at each level for hours, prepping meticulously for your next bout of Rabbid-flavour madness. And if you thought you hated them? This will make you think again.

Splatoon 2
The closest that Nintendo gets to a bonafide multiplayer shooter, this follow-up to the Wii U exclusive Splatoon is a colourful delight. You play as what’s known as an Inkling. Your aim is to coat as much of the map as possible in your team’s colour while the opposing team tries to do the same. Complete with a single player mode and some fiendish challenge options, Splatoon 2 constantly keeps the simple concept fresh and addictive.

Stardew Valley
The Nintendo Switch version of Stardew Valley is potentially the farming sim in its most dangerous and potent of form. It can be taken anywhere, played wherever you are, and, unlike the mobile version, doesn’t need your thumbs all over the screen.The pull of ‘just one more day’ of looking after your pixel-perfect fruit, vegetables, and chickens is almost terrifyingly addictive. Consider this a warning.