Originally released all the way back in 2017, the Nintendo Switch is now over six years old, and it's definitely starting to show its age. While the OLED model certainly provided a much-needed refresh, the Nintendo Switch is very clearly an outdated video game system, and one that's possibly on its way out as rumors of a successor continue to swirl. But that doesn't mean that the Switch is dead and buried just yet. It's quite the opposite, in fact.

2023 has managed to be one of the best years in the Nintendo Switch's long lifespan, delivering a near-perfect swan song for the beloved handheld hybrid. It feels as though Nintendo has pulled all of its resources together to give the Switch a triumphant send-off, with Zelda, Mario, Metroid, and Pikmin all delivering excellent installments this year, and that's not even mentioning the slew of great third-party games that also found their home on the Nintendo Switch this year.

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The 10 Best Video Games Villains of 2023

Part of any great game is the villain players have to contend with, and with the high quality of games in 2023 came an equal amount of great villains.

Dave the Diver

Read The Best War Games's Dave the Diver Review

Though it only got ported to the Nintendo Switch at the end of October, Dave the Diver has quickly become one of the console's best games. With a core gameplay loop that sees players dive into an ever-changing ocean during the day, hunt fish and other sea creatures, and then return to land at night to run a sushi restaurant, Dave the Diver is perfectly suited to short hour-long play sessions, making it an ideal game for Nintendo's handheld hybrid.

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Dave the Diver
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Released
June 28, 2023
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DIGITAL
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Dive by day! Serve by night! The best diving, harpooning, action-adventuring, and sushi restaurant managing experience you'll ever have. DAVE THE DIVER is a casual, single-player adventure RPG featuring deep-sea exploration and fishing during the day and sushi restaurant management at night. Join Dave and his quirky friends as they seek to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Blue Hole.

Explore and unravel the mysteries in the depths of the Blue Hole by day and run a successful exotic sushi restaurant by night.

Dive into the ever-changing Blue Hole and use a harpoon and other weapons to catch fish and various creatures. Upgrade and forge equipment with collected resources and sushi restaurant profits to prepare for the dangers that lurk in the unknown. Running out of oxygen means leaving collected items and fish behind!

Developer(s)
Mintrocket
Publisher(s)
Mintrocket
Genre(s)
Simulation, Adventure
How Long To Beat
23 Hours

Disney Illusion Island

Read The Best War Games's Disney Illusion Island Review

Currently a Nintendo Switch exclusive, Disney Illusion Island is one of the best family games of the entire year, acting as the perfect introduction to the Metroidvania genre for young audiences. Disney Illusion Island sees up to four players take control of Mickey Mouse and the rest of the cartoon gang as they run, swing, climb, and explore a variety of different levels, each one just as colorful and vibrant as the cartoons it's adapting. Genuinely fun for the whole family, Disney Illusion Island feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch.

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Disney Illusion Island
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8 /10
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Released
July 28, 2023
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Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy embark on a new adventure to find three magical books and save the mysterious island of Monoth. You’ll meet unusual allies and dangerous foes as you play solo or with up to three friends as the Fab Four in local co-op*. Work together as you run, jump, swim, and swing your way to victory!

Experience a brand-new Mickey & Friends adventure with hand-drawn animation, a fully orchestrated original score, and featuring performances from the authentic voice talents.

Developer(s)
Dlala Studios
Publisher(s)
Disney Interactive
Platform(s)
Switch
Genre(s)
Platformer

Dredge

Another nautical-themed Switch game, Dredge is not only one of the best Switch games of the year, but one of the best Indie games of 2023 full-stop. Dredge sees players explore a vast ocean, catch some fish, and bring them back to the mainland to sell, using the proceeds for boat upgrades that in turn let players go further out to sea. But the further players venture from shore, the stranger Dredge's ocean gets. A strangely addictive blend of cozy fishing and Lovecraftian horror, Dredge is undoubtedly one of the Switch's best games this year.

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Dredge
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Released
March 31, 2023
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DIGITAL
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Captain your fishing trawler to explore a collection of remote isles, and their surrounding depths, to see what lies below. Sell your catch to the locals and complete quests to learn more about each area’s troubled past. Outfit your boat with better equipment to trawl deep-sea trenches and navigate to far-off lands, but keep an eye on the time. You might not like what finds you in the dark...

Starting from your new home in the remote archipelago, ‘The Marrows’, take to the water and scour the depths for curious collectables and over 125 deep sea denizens. Explore each area while completing quests and visiting neighbouring island regions – each with their own unique opportunities, inhabitants, and secrets.

ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Tobacco
Developer(s)
Black Salt Games
Publisher(s)
Team17
Genre(s)
Adventure
How Long To Beat
10 Hours
Metascore
81
Dredge Leviathan Encounter

Metroid Prime Remastered

After years of rumors and leaks, Metroid Prime Remastered was finally announced and released earlier this year on Nintendo Switch, and it somehow lived up to the hype. Far more than just a remaster, Metroid Prime makes some major graphical and technical improvements to the 2002 original, making it truly feel like a game that was always meant to be released in the 2020s. The only downside of Metroid Prime Remastered is that fans don't now have immediate access to its two sequels, though it would make sense that Nintendo has them in the works somewhere.

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Metroid Prime Remastered
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Released
February 8, 2023
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Intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran receives a distress signal from a wrecked frigate in orbit around planet Tallon IV. Upon investigation, the frigate reveals itself to be a Space Pirate research vessel home to terrifying genetic experiments using the mysterious Phazon substance. There, Samus encounters her nemesis, Meta Ridley, whom she pursues to the surface of Tallon IV. It’s up to her alone to explore the planet’s interconnected regions, investigate its dark secrets, and end the intergalactic threat posed by Phazon.

Experience this critically acclaimed first-person adventure like never before with remastered visuals, audio, controls, and more.

ESRB
T For Teen due to Animated Blood, Violence
Developer(s)
Nintendo, Retro Studios
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Franchise
Metroid Prime
Platform(s)
Nintendo Switch
Genre(s)
FPS, Metroidvania
How Long To Beat
14 Hours

Octopath Traveler 2

Read The Best War Games's Octopath Traveler 2 Review

Released back in February, Octopath Traveler 2 has ended up being one of the most underrated Indie games of the year, but it's managed to remain quite popular on the Nintendo Switch. Just like its predecessor, Octopath Traveler 2 gives fans eight playable characters to choose from, each with their own unique skill set, motivations, and story, and the highlight of the entire experience is once again finding out how all these journeys interweave.

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Octopath Traveler 2
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8 /10
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Released
February 24, 2023
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The story takes place in Solistia, a land comprising an eastern and western continent divided by the sea.

It is a bustling era, wherein large vessels navigate busy sea routes and the power of steam gives birth to new technologies.

Some people thrill to glamorous stars of the stage and industry, while others are brought to tears by war, plague, and poverty.

In this faraway realm, eight travelers hailing from different regions venture forth for their own reasons. Step into their shoes and explore the land as you see fit, using their unique talents to aid you along your journey.

Embark on an adventure all your own.

ESRB
Rated T for Teen for Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, and Use of Alcohol and Tobacco.
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Developer(s)
Square Enix, Acquire
Publisher(s)
Square Enix
Franchise
Octopath Traveler
Platform(s)
Switch, PS4, PS5, PC
Genre(s)
RPG
How Long To Beat
60 Hours
Metascore
84
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The 10 Best RPGs of 2023

Perhaps no other gaming genre shone more brightly in 2023 than RPGs, with the year's Game of the Year winner in tow to prove it.

Pikmin 4

Read The Best War Games's Pikmin 4 Review

A game almost a decade in the making, Pikmin 4 is very much a real thing, and it's just waiting to be played on the Nintendo Switch. While its core gameplay loop remains essentially unchanged from previous Pikmin entries, Pikmin 4 is by far the most accessible entry in franchise history, both in terms of controls and difficulty. Pikmin 4 also makes some fun additions and improvements over prior entries, such as new Pikmin types, a new Night Expeditions mission type, and the ability to customize the player character for the first time in the series. Cozy, calm, and engaging, Pikmin 4 is an ideal Nintendo Switch game, showing that this franchise is far from dead.

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Pikmin 4
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9 /10
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Released
July 21, 2023
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Guide pint-sized creatures in an endearing expedition! Meet Pikmin: small, plantlike creatures with distinct abilities that you can grow, pluck, guide, and overpower enemies with! Use your Pikmin’s miniature might (and a bit of strategy) to explore this mysterious planet in search of your crew—and treasure.

Lead your loyal and curious squad To succeed, you’ll have to balance caring for the Pikmin with leading them into dangerous situations. Do your best out there!
  Pikmin grow from pellets and wildlife that you can bring to your ship. Pluck them from the ground to have them join you. Go team!
  Lead your squad through vast explorable areas to find treasures, discover new paths, and battle enemies of all sizes. You can also direct the Pikmin to collect and carry resources that are helpful for your mission. Up to three Pikmin types can be with you in the field at a time—the rest will hang back until you need them.
  When their task is done, the Pikmin will wait in place for you. Get close and blow your whistle to summon them to your side! This handy action can also help you protect the Pikmin from danger, do a headcount, or simply bring them with you to your next task.

Developer(s)
Nintendo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Franchise
Pikmin
Platform(s)
Switch
Genre(s)
Puzzle, Adventure
How Long To Beat
17 Hours

Sea of Stars

Read The Best War Games's Sea of Stars Review

The winner of The Game Awards 2023's Best Indie Game category, Sea of Stars feels like it was tailor-made for the Nintendo Switch. Technically set in the same universe as 2018's The Messenger - another excellent Switch game - Sea of Stars is a throwback RPG, very much inspired by classic retro titles like Chrono Trigger. From great turn-based combat to a gorgeous pixel art style to great character writing, Sea of Stars is one of the best games of 2023.

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Sea of Stars
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Released
August 29, 2023
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Set in the same world as 2018's The Messenger, Sabotage Studio's Sea of Stars is an RPG that takes inspiration from Japanese classics like Chrono Trigger. Featuring a dynamic turn-based combat system and platforming-based exploration, Sea of Stars is an ambitious and gorgeous addition to the role-playing genre.

ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language
Developer(s)
Sabotage
Publisher(s)
Sabotage
Genre(s)
RPG
How Long To Beat
28 Hours
Metascore
87
PS Plus Availability
N/A

Super Mario Bros. Wonder

The first mainline 2D Mario game in just over a decade, Super Mario Bros. Wonder was just the triumphant return to form that fans have been desperate for. Though its gameplay will be familiar to anyone who's ever played a Mario game before, Super Mario Bros. Wonder's core Wonder Flower gimmick does a lot to make the game feel like a wholly new experience, and the addition of four-player co-op helps to make Wonder feel like this big next step for the franchise. There's no doubt that Super Mario Bros. Wonder is now considered one of the best games on Nintendo Switch, right alongside Super Mario Odyssey and Bowser's Fury.

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Super Mario Bros. Wonder
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Released
October 20, 2023
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The next evolution of Mario fun: Classic Mario gameplay is turned on its head with Wonder Flowers in the Super Mario Bros. Wonder game! These game-changing items can make some wonderfully weird stuff happen. Witness pipes coming alive, wreak havoc as a giant Spike-Ball, and lots more!

Loca: Up to 4 players can tackle courses together, share power-ups, and revive each other. Yoshis can also carry other players on their back to help each other overcome challenging courses!

Online: With a Nintendo Switch Online membership**, you can share your adventure with players from all over the world or play online with up to 12 friends in a Friend Room, with 4 players per course. Help each other out or see who can finish first! If you place a standee while you’re playing online, other players can use them to revive!

Developer(s)
Nintendo EPD
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Franchise
Super Mario
Platform(s)
Switch
Genre(s)
Platformer

Super Mario RPG

Nintendo doesn't often do full remakes, but when it does, it usually knocks them out of the park. A full remake of the SNES 1996 underrated classic, Super Mario RPG looks beautiful and plays wonderfully. While Super Mario RPG's turn-based gameplay won't be for everyone, the game's whimsically odd tone should be enough to draw in any Super Mario fans, and this remake does a great job of making it all feel suitably accessible and engaging.

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Super Mario RPG
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Released
November 17, 2023
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Set out on a classic Mario adventure: Enter—or revisit—a world of whimsy with Mario on a quest to repair Star Road and defeat the troublemaking Smithy Gang. Team up with a party of unlikely allies, like the monstrous Bowser and a mysterious doll named Geno, in a story-rich RPG packed with laughs and quirky characters.

A strange party unites to save Star Road: Meet the team of oddballs setting out to thwart the troublesome Smithy Gang and protect everyone’s wishes. Even Bowser is lending a claw!

Take it easy with Breezy Difficulty Mode: Players new to RPGs or who want a story-focused experience can use the new Breezy difficulty, which makes battles easier and leveling up faster. You can set the difficulty at any time if you change your mind.

Adventure, battle, and traverse across a colorful world: Jump towards your next goal and continue the story. Run into monsters to enter turn-based battles with your party of three. Master the new Chain and Triple Moves system to claim victory.

A delightfully reimagined world: Enjoy familiar sights with colorfully enhanced graphics and spiffy upgrades.


 

ESRB
E For Everyone Due To Mild Fantasy Violence
Developer(s)
Nintendo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Franchise
Super Mario
Platform(s)
Nintendo Switch
Genre(s)
RPG
How Long To Beat
11 Hours

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

A game that needs absolutely no introduction, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has been widely regarded as one of the best games of 2023, and that legacy already seems firmly cemented. Taking the groundwork of its already-phenomenal predecessor, Tears of the Kingdom improves and adds upon the original in almost every way, breaking new ground for the open-world genre once again, this time with its Zonai abilities. Because of the ability to freely ascend through platforms, the ability to fuse weapons, and the ability to build any contraption or vehicle players can think of, there's truly no other game out there like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
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Released
May 12, 2023
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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to the beloved open-world adventure, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This installment once again sees Link and Zelda battling to protect Hyrule from falling to Ganondorf. This new adventure takes place in the same land of Hyrule as Breath of the Wild but sees something called the Upheaval, which allows link to travel to Sky Islands, as well as deep into the Depths beneath Hyrule. Players can use special abilities to fuse together weapons, and build items to help them progress through the release.

ESRB
Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
Developer(s)
Nintendo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
How Long To Beat
59 Hours
Metascore
96