Best Switch Games That Run at 1080p & 60 FPS

In 2017, Nintendo took its monopoly of the handheld market and blended it with a home console release to wild success. The Nintendo Switch has sold over 130 million consoles worldwide and currently stands as the third best-selling console of all time. However, it runs on outdated hardware, and for all its ingenuity and Nintendo charm, performance issues have been a cloud hanging over the console.

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Finding titles that run at high performance consistently, be it in resolution or frame rate, has been a rarity for many Switch owners on their portable hybrid machine. Though that is not the case universally, below are some outstanding titles that pull off the highest performance levels on a docked Nintendo Switch.

Updated November 5, 2024 by Blaise Santi: Nintendo fans are eagerly awaiting the company's announcement for the Switch's successor, with the hopes of getting to experience the next generation of casual gaming and all its new specs. However, some Nintendo Switch owners have barely scratched the surface of what the console is capable of, including plenty of games that operate smoothly at 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second.

Though some of the most notable releases on the console, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Pokemon Scarlet & Violet suffer from notorious performance issues, there are still many games out there to satisfy those who obsess over a game's graphical capabilities. Check out these additional games, and maybe consider purchasing them if you're willing to give your Switch another run before its lifespan ends.

1 Star Wars Episode 1: Racer

Now This Is Podracing!

In 1999, Star Wars Episode 1: Racer was a child’s dream of podracing brought to fruition in gaming. Featuring all the characters, podracers, and locations from The Phantom Menace and more; the game was an inspired blend of futuristic racing games and the Star Wars license. The gameplay is a winning mix of boosting at top speed across long stretches, mastering winding turns, and making breathtaking jumps.

Its 2020 HD re-release on the Switch brings the breathtaking high speeds of podracing to today's 1080p 60fps standard. Despite dated textures, the high-octane thrills and winding courses remain untouched and Switch motion controls can bring unparalleled immersion.

2 Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition

Even The Mainline Zelda Games Don't Look This Good

Hyrule Warriors was originally released for the Wii U before being ported to both the Nintendo 3DS and the Switch. As a result, the Switch edition of this Legend of Zelda spin-off has seen a lot of improvement in terms of its performance. When docked, the game reaches 1080p with 60 fps, but even in handheld mode, it renders at 1080p despite the Switch screen only displaying 720p.

The improved framerate on this game is especially important given that it's a high-octane hack-n-slash. Players will get to experience all the mayhem of fighting hordes of minions as the most iconic Zelda characters without fear of lagging or poor resolution. Simply put, Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition is a great deal for Switch users wanting some more quick fun.

3 Fast RMX

It Definitely Feels More Than 60 FPS

• Platform(s): Switch
• Released: March 3, 2017
• Developer(s): Shin'en Multimedia
• Genre(s): Racing

The Fast Series has brought high-speed futuristic racing to Nintendo gamers since 2011’s Fast Racing League on Wii. Taking favorable comparisons to the Wipeout and F-Zero franchises, the gameplay works on a color-switching mechanic to pull off boosts and jumps respectively. This is truly a celebration of futuristic racing games with navigating tracks at ferocious speeds proving one of the most satisfying twitch reflex tests around.

A 2017 Switch launch title, Fast RMX is an enhanced, expanded version of the Wii U’s Fast Racing Neo. Its plethora of tracks and vehicles with crisp visuals and high performance make this one of the strongest racing games on the Switch.

4 DOOM 3

The Iconic Series Looks Great On Switch

Though it met a tepid response from franchise fans on its initial 2004 release, Doom 3 has come to be seen as one of the defining FPS experiences of its era. Set on Mars in the year 2145, the player is placed in a corporate research facility where experiments with teleportation open up a gateway to hell, and shortly afterward, Mars is invaded by Demons.

As a franchise reboot, Doom 3 replaced the frantic, blasting-through hordes approach to the dismay of many, but what it offered instead was an unforgettable claustrophobic horror. Its revolutionary lighting stands up to this day, and there is still plenty of run-and-gun mayhem among unnerving environments and jump scares for the ages.

5 The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD

The Wii Title Needed A Big Upgrade

A game many thought would be lost to the Wii eternally due to its motion controls arrived on the Nintendo Switch in 2021. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD would bring the last of the linear 3D Zelda titles to Nintendo’s hybrid console to outstanding success. Not only were the motion controls of the original available through Joy-Cons, but an entirely analog control scheme was worked into this remaster. Yet most notably the performance of the game was dramatically improved. Running at a locked 60FPS, shortening load times, and revamping the aesthetic for a charming watercolor effect, brought the Master Sword origins story a new breath of life.

Without this long linear Zelda title Breath of the Wild would never have come to be. It is not without its flaws, but it contains some of the most imaginative and brilliant dungeons Eiji Aonuma’s team ever designed.

6 Splatoon 3

As Long As Your Wi-Fi Connection Is Solid...

Nintendo’s original online shooter franchise would finally get a Switch-exclusive entry in 2022. Splatoon 3 would carefully build on the additions made from the previous entry, namely in its imaginative campaign. Using the paint mechanic as a method for open-ended exploration, the player must fight Octarian enemies and save Alterna from the Fuzzy Ooze. The bite-sized missions offer a choice of exploration and racking up collectibles or racing to the objective. At its best, this single-player experience echoes some of the most innovative designs of Super Mario Sunshine. Yet the hub world base campaign is not the main attraction.

Splatoon 3 delivers all the fast ink-splattered multiplayer mayhem of previous entries with more weapons, practice ranges, and customization options than ever before. Turf Wars and the cooperative Salmon Runs return for some of the fastest online gameplay available on the Switch.

7 Streets Of Rage 4

The Graphics Are Impressive For A 2D Sidescroller

Most people were glad to see one of the most legendary beat-'em-up franchises make a comeback, with Streets of Rage 4 being widely anticipated by the masses. While some players were worried about whether this game would hold up to the series' immense legacy, a few hours in this fun title was all it took to convince players of its quality.

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With an art style that is both modern and reminiscent of the series' past, Streets of Rage 4 feels like a labor of love that proves once again that state-of-the-art graphics are overrated in the grand scheme of things. This game runs like butter on the Switch and is tailor-made for the multiplayer focus of this console.

8 Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition

Every Level Is A Painting

Rayman as a franchise may well have peaked with the arrival of Rayman Legends in 2013. Initially designed to be a Wii U exclusive, Legends has come to be seen as one of the greatest 2D platformers ever made, and has been released on nearly every platform since. Containing over 120 levels, many unlockable from the previous Rayman Origins as well as time trial ‘invasion’ levels make for outstanding replayability.

Original-level design, creative soundtrack choices, and seamless controls make this a must-play for any fans of the genre. Rhythm-based levels and raucous multiplayer will leave a lasting impression from this short but incredibly sweet experience.

9 Sonic Mania

Sonic Has A Need For Speed

Sonic Mania is a Switch classic at this point, originally released in 2017 to commemorate Sonic's 25th anniversary. It's a return to form for the platforming franchise, featuring the 16-bit graphics of the earliest games but with a brand-new story as well as reimaginings of iconic Sonic the Hedgehog levels. Best of all, it runs incredibly well on the Nintendo Switch. Plus, getting to see classic Sonic graphics at 1080p is especially a treat for the most nostalgic of video game fans.

10 Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze

This Game's Performance Is Bananas

This return to the Donkey Kong Country franchise brings precision platforming and superlative-level design to 1080p perfection on the Switch. The Kongs are called to action when Kong Island is frozen over by the invading Snowmads cutting Donkey Kong’s birthday celebrations short. Akin to its predecessors, Tropical Freeze is a challenging, engrossing platformer demanding the very best of players across pitfalls, vines, springboards, buzzsaws, and minecart mazes.

The vibrant art style is one of Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze's outstanding assets, making a tough experience at once inviting and moreish. Should difficulty be off-putting, consider Funky Kong, a playable character who lowers the game difficulty to a less demanding level.