Nintendo Switch has amassed a huge amount of great games since the console launched back in 2017. Of course, this abundance of riches leaves us in something of a pickle — too much software, not enough time to play it all. In fairness, it's a lovely problem to have. Help! There are too many excellent games to choose from!

But what are the best games on Switch so far? Well, we asked Nintendo Life readers to rate their favourite Switch games since launch and the list below is the result according to the User Ratings associated with Switch games on Nintendo Life's games database. As with our round-ups of the 50 Best Games from various consoles, years and series, the order here is fluid which means our Best Switch Games change over time reflecting new releases according to their rating. That way, you can be sure it's up-to-date whenever you look.

If you've yet to score your favourites, you can cast your 'vote' by clicking on each game's rating below. Can't see your favourite? Head to our library of Switch games (click the Games tab at the top of the page) and get rating. A game needs a minimum of fifty ratings to become eligible, so it's entirely possible to influence the best Switch games ranking below and get your favourites on the list. And if you'd like to see the best Switch games of individual years (so 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022), we've got you covered, too.

If the game you want to rate isn't in the top 50, feel free to find it using the search tool below and give it a score out of 10. If it's bubbling under, it could very well pop into the ranking below.

Without further ado, let's dive into this selection of the very best Switch games you can play right now...

50. Super Mario Maker 2 (Switch)

Super Mario Maker 2 (Switch)
Super Mario Maker 2 (Switch)
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: 28th Jun 2019 (USA) / 28th Jun 2019 (UK/EU)

Super Mario Maker 2 took everything you loved about Super Mario Maker and turned it up to 11. It's got more of everything: the Super Mario 3D World style, enemies, gizmos, powerups, vertical levels, the Story Mode having an actual story, multiplayer, and more (and slopes, of course). The list of additions is truly massive.

There are a few small issues here and there — the online is still hilariously obtuse in a way only Nintendo could make it, and the slight awkwardness of button-based building is disappointing after how natural it felt on the Wii U GamePad — but they're overwhelmingly dwarfed by the sheer joy and unbridled freedom on offer. Free updates and tweaks to the formula evolved the experience over time, much like the original, with Ninji Speedruns and various new elements added to this expansive Mario toybox.

49. SteamWorld Dig 2 (Switch eShop)

SteamWorld Dig 2 (Switch eShop)
SteamWorld Dig 2 (Switch eShop)
Publisher: Image & Form / Developer: Image & Form
Release Date: 21st Sep 2017 (USA) / 21st Sep 2017 (UK/EU)

SteamWorld Dig 2 is another confident effort from Image & Form, and a worthy successor to the original. Stylish and good-looking, it also has the series' trademark humour and, yes, a pretty good soundtrack. It refines and expands upon the qualities of SteamWorld Dig and hits some delicious high points. Whether you played the first game or not, SteamWorld Dig 2 is a must-have — its charming aesthetic and cast set the scene for a tightly designed and clever exploration game.

48. Sonic Mania (Switch eShop)

Sonic Mania (Switch eShop)
Sonic Mania (Switch eShop)
Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Christian Whitehead
Release Date: 15th Aug 2017 (USA) / 15th Aug 2017 (UK/EU)

Sonic Mania was a true return to form for the mascot, in his 2D 'Classic' guise at least. It celebrates the glory days of the original games while also enhancing their qualities and taking on new ideas. From new areas, imaginative second acts, and some delightful boss encounters, the development team poured a lot of passion and talent into the project. With new characters and modes added in the 'Plus' retail version (also available as DLC), some neat tweaks iron out some of the kinks present in the original release, but regardless of the version you pick up, it's one of the best 2D platformers in recent memory.

47. Cuphead (Switch eShop)

Cuphead (Switch eShop)
Cuphead (Switch eShop)
Publisher: StudioMDHR / Developer: StudioMDHR
Release Date: 18th Apr 2019 (USA) / 18th Apr 2019 (UK/EU)

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.

46. Bayonetta 3 (Switch)

Bayonetta 3 (Switch)
Bayonetta 3 (Switch)
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: PlatinumGames
Release Date: 28th Oct 2022 (USA) / 28th Oct 2022 (UK/EU)

Bayonetta 3 cranks up the chaos, improves the combat, polishes the level design, and adds a ton of new mechanics to the mix, making for the very best entry in this storied series to date. PlatinumGames has absolutely nailed it this time around, carefully layering on more ways to engage enemies, piling on the OTT gameplay sequences, and giving us multiple protagonists without upsetting the balance of what makes these games amongst the very best examples of their genre. With solid performance in docked and handheld modes, impressive visuals, non-stop action, and a hugely replayable campaign that's a joy from start to finish, this really is a huge celebration of everything we love about Bayonetta, an action all-timer and one of the highlights of Switch's impressive library.

45. Final Fantasy IX (Switch eShop)

Final Fantasy IX (Switch eShop)
Final Fantasy IX (Switch eShop)
Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square Enix
Release Date: 13th Feb 2019 (USA) / 14th Feb 2019 (UK/EU)

As with any 20-year-old video game, there are elements of Final Fantasy IX that don't go down today quite was easily as they used to, but the characters, wacky story, and overall gameplay hold up very well in a modern context. Its medieval-style setting makes it a fun nostalgia trip for fans of the older series entries, or players fed up of all the futuristic Final Fantasies.

44. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Switch eShop)

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Switch eShop)
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Switch eShop)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 9th Apr 2019 (USA) / 9th Apr 2019 (UK/EU)

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.

43. Portal: Companion Collection (Switch eShop)

Portal: Companion Collection (Switch eShop)
Portal: Companion Collection (Switch eShop)
Publisher: Valve Corporation / Developer: Valve
Release Date: 28th Jun 2022 (USA) / 28th Jun 2022 (UK/EU)

It's hard to overstate our satisfaction with Portal: Companion Collection. Portal and Portal 2 felt incredibly fresh when they first released, and the years since have not diminished their immense impact. To now have two of the most unique and mind-bending puzzle games on a Nintendo console, and on-the-go if you choose, is a pure joy. If it weren't for the frequent load screens punctuating the experience, we'd have absolutely nothing to complain about here. The motion controls work like a dream, the games run at a near-rock-solid 60fps, you've got local co-op play available at the drop of a hat, and the writing remains as funny now as it did all those years ago. If you haven't played the Portal games before, this should be a no-brainer. If you have... well, just play them again.

42. Astral Chain (Switch)

Astral Chain (Switch)
Astral Chain (Switch)
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: PlatinumGames
Release Date: 30th Aug 2019 (USA) / 30th Aug 2019 (UK/EU)

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.

41. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Switch)

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Switch)
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Switch)
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: 20th Sep 2019 (USA) / 20th Sep 2019 (UK/EU)

This beautiful Switch remake of the classic Game Boy entry rebuilds 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 whole new generation of gamers.

If there's anything holding The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening back, some minor frame rate issues might prove jarring for some players. Others may not even notice, but if you're sensitive to dropped frames it's possible you'll find yourself 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 noticeable chink in this game's otherwise glistening armour.