Summary
- Hollow Knight stands the test of time with stunning visuals, unforgiving gameplay, and constant updates.
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe excels with timeless visuals, responsive controls, and continuous post-launch support.
- Bayonetta 2 remains a gem with unbeatable combat, smooth gameplay, and a unique protagonist.
When the Nintendo Switch launched in 2017, it was met with a library that, while not massive, had range, style, and ambition. Over time, many of these early titles became benchmarks—not just for the console, but for their genres. And while gaming has evolved rapidly in the years since, some of these pioneers haven’t just held up—they’ve thrived.
Nintendo Switch Games to Play For Those Who Can't Afford the Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2's price might be hard for some fans to manage, but the original Switch library still offers plenty of games worth checking out.
Whether it’s the way they still look stunning in handheld mode or how their gameplay remains untouched by age, these six games are proof that great design always outlasts trends.
6 Hollow Knight
The Knight Still Rises
Hollow Knight
- Released
- February 24, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
- Team Cherry
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Linux
- Genre(s)
- Metroidvania
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
There’s something kind of poetic about a tiny bug warrior becoming a titan of indie gaming. Hollow Knight arrived quietly on Switch in 2018 (a year after launch), but it didn’t take long for it to dig into people’s brains like a dream wrapped in cobwebs. Today, it still sits comfortably at the top of the Metroidvania food chain—and not because people are nostalgic, but because it genuinely hasn’t aged a day.
That’s largely thanks to its timeless 2D art. The hand-drawn aesthetic feels like it belongs in a museum rather than a game file, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s running on an OLED Switch or a launch model—Hollow Knight looks sharp, fluid, and eerily beautiful. But its lasting power lies in how unforgiving yet fair its world is. Hallownest remains a maze of despair, mystery, and hidden stories. Bosses like the Radiance and the Watcher Knights still demand patience and reflexes, and the minimalist storytelling still fuels fan theories nearly a decade later.
Players keep coming back for another reason, too: content. With free updates like Godmaster and The Grimm Troupe, Hollow Knight has more meat than most $60 games. And with Silksong still MIA, this little bug keeps crawling back into people’s hearts—and their playtime.
5 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Rainbow-Shell Resilience
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Released
- April 27, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Racing
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
What other title could sell over 60 million copies and still feel fresh on race number 3,000? Mario Kart 8 Deluxe might technically be a glorified port of a Wii U game, but it’s aged like it got held back at school just to grow stronger. From the moment the lights drop on that first lap, it’s obvious why this one refuses to leave the bestseller charts.
The visuals still hold up better than most modern racers, even without ray tracing or hyper-realism. Neon-lit tracks like Electrodrome and Mute City look slick in both docked and handheld modes, and the game’s buttery-smooth 60fps framerate hasn’t missed a beat in years. But what really seals it is how tight the driving feels—every drift, boost, and shell toss is so finely tuned that it’s hard to imagine Nintendo ever topping it.
And then there’s the post-launch support. Thanks to the Booster Course Pass, which added retro and original tracks well into the Switch’s later years, Deluxe has managed to keep things fresh long after most racing games sputter out. It’s the ultimate multiplayer comfort food, and clearly, no one’s getting tired of the taste.
4 Bayonetta 2
Witch Time Still Hits Different
Bayonetta 2
- Released
- October 24, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Platinum Games
- Platform(s)
- Switch, Nintendo Wii U
- Genre(s)
- Action
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Of all the games that helped give the Switch its early edge, Bayonetta 2 might be the most misunderstood gem. It’s loud, flashy, borderline ridiculous—and absolutely brilliant. Originally a Wii U exclusive that barely anyone played, the Switch version finally gave Platinum’s devil-may-care action game the audience it deserved.
And even now, it holds up shockingly well. Combat hasn’t aged a bit; if anything, it’s become a gold standard for action precision. The signature Witch Time mechanic, which slows time after a perfect dodge, still delivers that perfect shot of dopamine every time it triggers. Chaining combos midair, juggling angels and demons like flaming bowling pins, still feels like performance art mixed with controlled chaos.
What helps is how smoothly the game runs on Switch. Locked 60fps, short load times, and visuals that—while not pushing boundaries—still know how to shine with style over resolution. And let’s be honest, there still isn’t another action protagonist quite like Bayonetta. The way she cartwheels through gunfire in stilettos that are also pistols? Timeless.
3 Splatoon 2
Ink Has Never Dried
Splatoon 2
- Released
- July 21, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Multiplayer shooters aren’t supposed to age well. Meta changes, graphics fall behind, and players migrate. But Splatoon 2 pulled off something rare: it made staying fresh a literal mechanic, and even in 2025, it doesn’t feel stale.
Despite being followed by Splatoon 3, the second game still has plenty of loyalists—and for good reason. Its color-soaked visuals, hyper-specific maps like Port Mackerel and Camp Triggerfish, and the gloriously chaotic Splatfests turned online matches into community events. The core loop—inking turf to move faster and trap opponents—remains genius. No other shooter makes movement feel this dynamic or stylish.
But Splatoon 2’s lasting power also lies in its surprise storytelling. The Octo Expansion turned what was originally a lighthearted multiplayer game into something deeper, weirder, and more emotionally resonant. Between its eerie subway setting, cryptic lore, and surprisingly intense difficulty, it proved this wasn’t just squid-kid silliness. It had bite—and it’s still biting.
2 Super Mario Odyssey
Still Jumping Over Expectations
Super Mario Odyssey
- Released
- October 27, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
When Odyssey dropped, it felt like a love letter to everything Mario had ever been—and a bold statement of what he could still become. Years later, it’s arguably the most effortlessly replayable 3D platformer on the Switch. Every kingdom, from the Metro Kingdom’s bustling city streets to the sun-soaked beaches of Seaside, still bursts with charm and secrets.
But what really helps Odyssey hold up is how it feels. The movement is buttery smooth, thanks to Mario’s wide array of jumps, flips, dives, and, of course, Cappy’s versatile tosses. This is a game that rewards creativity and curiosity without punishing players for not being perfect. And unlike some open-world games that feel bloated over time, Odyssey is dense without being exhausting.
The art style helps, too. Its slightly cartoonish look avoids the aging trap realistic games fall into, and even now, re-entering these worlds feels like stepping into a pop-up book powered by joy. There’s a reason speedrunners still obsess over this one—it’s that good.
1 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Kingdom Still Comes
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone: Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Wii U, Switch
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
This one’s almost unfair. Breath of the Wild didn’t just age well—it redefined what “aging well” means in gaming. Even after Tears of the Kingdom launched with literal sky islands and underground cave systems, many players still consider BOTW the more cohesive, more iconic experience.
It’s not just nostalgia talking. Hyrule’s open world remains unmatched in how it encourages pure, unscripted exploration. Players can climb anything, glide anywhere, and get into trouble in ways that feel entirely organic. There’s no checklist fatigue here—just wind, weather, physics, and curiosity. Shrines still feel cleverly designed. Enemy camps still offer enough room for creative chaos. And moments like lighting a fire to catch an updraft or cooking dubious food with a Bokoblin horn still spark the same wonder they did years ago.
Even visually, the game’s painterly style sidesteps technical aging. The lighting, the atmosphere, the stillness of standing on a cliff during a thunderstorm—it all still works, still stuns. And that’s the thing about Breath of the Wild: it wasn’t just ahead of its time. It still is.