If you’re looking for some of the best single-player games to play on your Nintendo Switch, we will give you some suggestions. Whether you’re looking for a scary experience or a cozy one, we have something for everyone on this list!
Here are the top 20 Nintendo single-player games you can get your mitts on right now.
20. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
While you can play this game with others in your household or invite people to your island, this is a very solitary experience, with a lot of the activities in the game only being able to be completed if your island has no visitors.
Grow your own farm, decorate your island to your liking, and create bonds and friendships with the villagers on your island. Work your way up to a five-star island rating from Isabelle, and try to pay off your debt to Tom Nook!
This game has a great soundtrack to go with it and is well worth sinking hours into it.
19. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
One of the most innovative games made for the Nintendo Switch, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, has countless hours to sink into it. From solving Shrines to fighting bosses and cooking meals to survive the harsh environments of Hyrule, you get to explore this open-world Zelda game and try to save Hyrule from Calamity!
This game is superb and is great for kids and adults alike. Some of the puzzles in the game will have you scratching your head as you have to utilize special powers and mechanics to succeed.
18. Metroid Dread
A bit of a darker game, Metroid Dread is the newest Metroid game in the series, where you play as Samus Aran in this side-scrolling platformer and explore the planet ZDR. With new stealth mechanics added to the game, extra challenges are waiting around every corner.
Metroid Dread has a very tense atmosphere through combat and the soundtrack, making it perfect for those older gamers who want a suspenseful experience.
17. Bayonetta 3
Bayonetta 3 is the newest sequel in the Bayonetta series, an action-adventure game with a lot of difficult tactics to keep up with. In a hack-and-slash game with tactical movement and attacks, Bayonetta gets access to “Witch Time” when successfully dodging an opponent, allowing her to go all out on enemies while time is slowed down.
This game is perfectly chaotic, with so many lovable characters throughout. If you want a mature experience with violence and innuendo, this is the game for you.
16. OCTOPATH TRAVELLER II
A role-playing game created by Square Enix, it comes with a unique art style that gives it a vintage aesthetic and is similar to the graphics from older Square Enix games. If you like a turn-based battle, this is the game for you. With many lovable characters to get to know, quests to complete, and battles to engage in, this game will keep you occupied for hours.
You can choose which character you start with and then work through the stories of the eight characters available in the game. Who will be your favorite?
15. Slay the Spire
In a roguelike deck-building game, choose between four characters and work through the spire, battling enemies and elites as you go. With randomized relics and cards, will the odds be in your favor? This game has hours and hours of fun, with many different build combinations to help you make your way to the final boss.
Who will be the character that you champion?
14. Hades
Hades is a roguelike dungeon-crawler where you can get boons from the Greek Gods to help you through your journey to escape your father’s realm in the underworld. You play as Zagreus, a witty and charming son of Hades. Gain the favor of the Greek Gods and escape the underworld, battling bosses and gaining new power-ups as you go.
This game is certainly a challenge, and you’ll find yourself having to start again time and time again. That being said, the game is fun and worth every minute of playtime.
13. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
The first Fire Emblem game to be announced for Nintendo Switch is an incredibly expansive game with activities that you can do outside of turn-based battles, including building a relationship with your fellow students by having tea parties with them and getting to know them on a more personal level.
There are main story and side quest battles, allowing you to make your team as powerful as you want. Not only that, but this game has a lot of replayability value, with three storylines to complete, respectively. Fire Emblem: Three Houses is one of the best single-player games to come to Nintendo Switch.
12. Pokemon Legends: Arceus
A new take on a Pokemon game, travel back in time to Hisui and catch Pokemon by aiming a Pokeball at them and throwing it, hoping you land the hit. This is a unique feature of this game, allowing you to catch Pokemon outside of battle. The world is expansive and introduces side quests to complete, which will get you rewards for your efforts. This game is fun for all ages and can also give you a very relaxing experience.
11. Xenoblade Chronicles 3
This action role-playing game is for those who want some suspense and action. With an extensive story and lovable characters, this game brings you back to the world of Xenoblade Chronicles. With an action-based battle system, control up to seven characters with unique builds and attacks as you traverse the vast open world.
If you find yourself loving this game, make sure you pick up the expansion pass for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 for some extra content!
10. Persona 5 Royal
With an anime style combined with comic-book aesthetics, play as Xavier Mobus, who lives a double life between being a regular student and the Phantom Thief. Meet characters with fascinating personalities, with some of them being wholeheartedly lovable and some being disgustingly hateable.
While fighting off the enemies targeting the Phantom Thieves, forging relationships with the other students, from friendships to romances, and dealing with the paranormal experiences around the school.
Who will you romance and befriend in this wonderful JRPG?
9. Super Mario Odyssey
The first Mario game to come to Nintendo Switch, explore this open world with your trusty friend Cappy. Utilize its unique abilities to traverse the world and stave off enemies, accessing new areas using Cappy as a stepping stool. Work through this vast world, completing mini-games and challenges as you make your way to Bowser and Peach’s wedding to crash it.
This wonder entry in the Super Mario series is easily one of the best single-player Nintendo Switch games you can play.
8. Stardew Valley
A very relaxing experience, Stardew Valley lets you play a character who has inherited their Grandpa’s farm, and it’s up to you to fix it up and make it thrive. Along the way, you can explore the mines, tackle enemies you find, make friendships, and get to know the villagers you now live near. You can also find love along the way, get married, and have children! This game is suitable for all ages and can be the perfect destresser after a long day.
7. Sea of Stars
A magical turn-based RPG with fun battle mechanics, get to know the Solstice Warriors Valere and Zale, fighting against the forces of evil. With a beautiful story, you get to meet unique characters throughout the story. With some adorable creatures and an expansive world full of fascinating enemies, you get to battle.
Not only are there battles to take part in, but you get to choose the skills you level up for your Solstice Warrior and solve puzzles to progress through the story. Sea of Stars is worth playing.
6. Super Mario Bros. Wonder
One of the newer Super Mario Bros. games to come to Nintendo Switch, this is one of the most innovative and creative Mario games to exist. With the choice to play it single-player or multiplayer, use unique abilities to solve the levels and defeat bosses. There are also challenges to complete should you want a break from the standard levels in Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Will you be able to collect all of the Wonder seeds?
5. Fire Emblem Engage
In the newest Fire Emblem installment to come to Nintendo Switch, you take control of Alear. They have woken from a thousand-year slumber with a lack of memory. It is up to you to discover your origins and stop the forces of evil.
Along the way, get to know characters fighting alongside you and romance them as you progress through the story, or create a strong friendship with those you care about. With more enhanced class trees than ever before, you can have a lot of variety and a breadth of combinations in your party.
4. Hollow Knight
A combination of Metroidvania and a Souls-like Hollow Knight is an adorable game with a very mean, challenging side. Make your way through vast twisting and turning caverns and befriend some very peculiar bugs along the way. The art style is a stunning hand-drawn 2D style, with plenty of fun boss fights and enemies to encounter.
Be careful, though, as some endings may break your heart.
3. Luigi’s Mansion 3
If you want a creepy atmosphere, Luigi’s Mansion 3 is perfect for that. Make your way through a huge haunted hotel, purging the area of ghosts and ghouls along the way. Play as Luigi, who is terrified of every sound and sight in the game. This game adds new ways to capture ghosts and deter them from returning.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 also allows you to play this game single-player or multiplayer, depending on your preference.
2. New Pokemon Snap
For a relaxing experience, become a Pokemon photographer for the day! Explore multiple islands and take pictures of your discoveries. There are more than 200 Pokemon to photograph to complete the Pokedex. Can you photograph them all with the utmost clarity to your photos?
1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The sequel to the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, this game is a breathtaking experience with new tips and tricks to use to navigate through Hyrule. Not only this, but you have three layers to work with: the Sky level, the ground level, and the Depths. Each has its own unique enemies and puzzles to complete.
Much like Breath of the Wild, there will be shrines for you to complete, and it’s up to you to be the hero of Hyrule and defeat Ganondorf.
That wraps up our list of the best single-player Nintendo games. There is truly something for everyone on this list.
What’s your favorite single-player Nintendo game?
