The best Nintendo Switch games

"The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" is the definitive adventure game on the Nintendo Switch, sending players on a sprawling journey across a fantasy world with hundreds of secrets to discover.

Released alongside the Switch in March 2017, "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" is an open world adventure game continuing one of Nintendo's most iconic franchises. Controlling a hero named Link, players must learn to survive the elements while exploring the fantasy world of Hyrule.

Hyrule is a vast continent filled with hundreds of ancient tombs, magical creatures, and other hidden secrets. Saving the world as Link requires a mix of puzzle solving and combat skills, but players of any age can complete the journey if they invest the time.

The length of Link's journey depends on the path you take across Hyrule, and the portable Switch makes it easy to spend time with "Breath of the Wild" wherever you go.

More games to try if you like "The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild": "The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt: Complete Edition," "Pine," "Assassin's Creed: The Rebel Collection"

In "Super Mario Maker 2," players can create and share their own outrageous courses for unlimited replay potential with up to four players.

"Super Mario Maker 2" is the latest game starring Nintendo's mascot allowing players to create their own 2D platforming stages brick by brick and share them online.

With options for up to four players and an endless pool of courses to download from the internet, "Super Mario Maker 2" has unlimited replay potential. If you're new to "Super Mario" in general, the game also includes a single player campaign with challenges that will teach you how to play and build your own stages too.

More games to try if you like "Super Mario Maker 2": "Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe," "Sonic Mania," "Yoshi's Crafted World"

"Pokemon Sword" and "Pokemon Shield," the latest entries in Nintendo's iconic Pokemon franchise, feature an expansive story mode and hundreds of collectible monsters to trade and battle with.

Nintendo's popular Pokémon games have typically been relegated to handheld consoles, but "Sword" and "Shield" make the most of the Switch's hybrid features to deliver the most visually impressive Pokémon game to date.

Players create a character and build their own team of Pokémon — the hundreds of collectible creatures you can find in the wild. To complete the game's 16-hour story you'll need to defeat eight gym leaders from eight different cities in Pokémon battles and become the country's Pokémon champion.

"Pokémon Sword and Shield" feature online play too, allowing players to trade and battle with friends or other people around the world. If you've played previous Pokémon games, you can also bring your old Pokémon to the new game with a Nintendo app called "Pokémon Home." Though "Pokemon Sword" and "Pokemon Shield" both offer the same basic experience, each game features exclusive Pokemon that can only be found in that particular version.

More games to try if you like "Pokemon Sword and Shield": "Pokemon Let's Go! Pikachu and Eevee," "Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition," or "Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX"

Mario's first big adventure on the Switch is a can't miss experience that sends him to a variety of outrageous new worlds.

"Super Mario Odyssey" is a 3D platforming game starring Nintendo's mascot in his biggest adventure yet. While the levels in classic Mario games, like "Super Mario Maker 2," are usually a quick race to the finish, "Super Mario Odyssey" lets Mario navigate huge 3D obstacle courses, complete challenges, and interact with other characters in the world.

Armed with a magic hat named Cappy, Mario is once again tasked with saving Princess Peach from his archenemy Bowser. Cappy lets Mario take control of his foes and use their abilities to his advantage, and Mario has a wide range of acrobatics to help him reach new heights.

With hundreds of challenges and collectibles to find, and fun, flexible controls, "Super Mario Odyssey" is a must-play for any Switch owner.

More games to try if you like "Super Mario Odyssey": "Yooka-Laylee," "Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy," "A Hat in Time"

"Fire Emblem: Three Houses" is a turn-based war strategy game that encourages you to build relationships with your soldiers and master your tactics on the battlefield.

"Fire Emblem: Three Houses" continues Nintendo's long-running series of strategy role-playing games. Players act as a field general controlling an army of unique units on the battlefield, and every decision could have fatal consequences for your troops. Battles take place in turns and require you to move your army across the map like a chess board to progress.

In between battles you'll act as an instructor, allowing you to improve your relationships with different soldiers or bring new ones under your command. Players choose from one of three houses at the start of the game, greatly impacting their perspective during the story. You'll serve the motivations of your house and navigate the political drama that follows as you march to war with the other factions.

"Fire Emblem: Three Houses" has been celebrated for its detailed combat mechanics and its dedicated character work. As you build your army you'll find yourself becoming invested in the personalities of each character, and stressing over your decisions as you put them at risk in battle.

More games to try if you like "Fire Emblem Three Houses": "Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle," "Wargroove," "Disgaea"

"Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age" is the definitive release of the classic Japanese role-playing game, and features more than 100 hours worth of gameplay.

"Dragon Quest" is a classic series of role-playing games dating back to the original Nintendo Entertainment System. The franchise is best-known for its character designs from "Dragon Ball" artist Akira Toriyama, and a simple turn-based combat system that has since influenced "Final Fantasy" and "Pokémon."

"Dragon Quest XI" is a sprawling adventure with more than 50 hours worth of story and even more hours worth of content if you want to fully complete the game. Starting with just a single hero, players meet and recruit seven other adventurers to their team during the journey, each adding a new layer to the story and new abilities to employ during battle.

The Switch port is the definitive edition of "Dragon Quest XI," and even lets players activate a special retro graphics mode that replaces the game's 3D models and environments with 2D backgrounds and sprites.

More games to try if you like "Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age": "Octopath Traveler," "Trials of Mana," "Final Fantasy VII."

"The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening" is a classic Game Boy release re-imagined for the Switch with a brand-new art style.

Released in 1993, "Link's Awakening" was the first portable "Zelda" game, which made it a perfect title to remake for the Switch, Nintendo's portable hybrid console.

While most "Zelda" games take place in the kingdom of Hyrule, "Link's Awakening" leaves players stranded on a mysterious island. Link, the game's hero, has to wake a mythical creature called the Wind Fish to find his way home.

The Switch version of "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening" has undergone a graphical overhaul, with a cartoonish visual style that's unlike any other "Zelda" game. But at its core, it's the same adventure that captivated fans more than 25 years ago.

More games to try if you like "The Legend of Zelda Link's Awakening": "The Binding of Isaac Afterbirth+," "Cadence of Hyrule," "Okami"

With a roster of more than 70 characters, 100 playable stages, and 500 songs, "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" encapsulates decades' worth of video game history in an all-star mash-up.

"Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" is an eight-player fighting game featuring an all-star roster of characters from different video game franchises, including "Super Mario," "Pokémon," and "Street Fighter."

Few games can compare to the sheer amount of options "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" gives to players, letting up to eight people play on a single Switch with specific settings for controls, items, and team handicaps. The game also features a detailed adventure mode, character and stage builders, and online modes, so there's no shortage of ways to play.

"Super Smash Bros." is popular enough that top players have built professional gaming careers competing in tournaments and live streaming their play on YouTube and Twitch.

More games to try if you like "Super Smash Bros. Ultimate": "Brawlhalla," "Pokken Tournament DX," "Dragon Ball FighterZ"

"Mario Kart 8 Deluxe" is an arcade racing game for players of all ages with online play and tons of tracks.

"Mario Kart" has mastered a unique arcade-style of racing, blending crazy throwable items and wild courses into an otherwise easy to play game. Players can compete in time trials, a circuit of multiple races, or battle with items in an enclosed arena.

With support for four players on a single Switch and up to eight racers online, "Mario Kart 8" is one of the most popular multiplayer games on the Switch and one of the most approachable games for players of all ages.

More games to try if you like "Mario Kart 8 Deluxe": "Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled," "Team Sonic Racing," "GRID Autosport"

Few games are as relaxing as "Animal Crossing: New Horizons," which lets players create their own home and make new friends on an island resort.

"Animal Crossing" has a much different appeal than most games. Rather than navigating your way through an adventure or competing against other players, you'll simply be building your life and home on a small island.

You'll still need to search for supplies and craft items, but the pace of the game and what you choose to do on your island is totally up to you. Seasons will pass on your island the same way they do in real life, so you can enjoy lots of seasonal events with your friends and in-game characters throughout the year.

The game's support for online play has made it especially popular during the coronavirus pandemic, with people using the game to host weddings, graduation parties, and other social gatherings.

More games to try if you like "Animal Crossing: New Horizons": "Minecraft," "My Time at Portia," "Stardew Valley"

With a Nintendo Switch Online membership, you get access to some of the best classic Nintendo games for just $20 per year.

Nintendo Switch Online isn't a game, but signing up for Nintendo's online service will give you access to more than 30 retro titles from the '80s and '90s. That includes classic versions of "Super Mario World" and "The Legend of Zelda" with modern options for saving your game and playing online with a friend.

Many of the retro games included with Nintendo Switch Online are sold with Nintendo's $80 NES Classic and Super Nintendo Classic consoles, but the online service costs just $19.99 per year, or $34.99 for a family account that can be shared with up to eight Switch devices.

The only catch is that you'll need to have your Switch connect to the internet to play these games. If you plan to play retro games offline, you'll have a 24-hour time limit before you have to connect to the internet again.

You can see the full list of games included with Nintendo Switch Online here.

More games to try if you like Nintendo Switch Online retro titles: "Sega Genesis Classics Collection," "Mega Man Legacy Collection 1 + 2," "SNK 40th Anniversary Collection"