Looking to get a Switch, what are the best exclusive games?

Good picks. I would also reccomend smash bros ultimate, which comes out next week.

Xenoblade 2, Golf Story, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, The World Ends With You, Splatoon 2, Bayonetta 1 + 2.

I'm hoping they port over Wonderful 101 and Tokyo Mirage Sessions as those are definitely must plays.

Switch is great for indies too so even if you have a PC that's super powerful you may prefer getting it on switch.

Smash is out next week so add that to your list too

Golf Story

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Pokémon Let's Go
Smash Brothers Ultimate isn't out until next week but I'll go ahead and mention it.

I don't believe any of the games you asked about in the last paragraph are available as of now.

Check out Blaster Master Zero, Mighty Gunvolt Burst and Azure Striker Gunvolt by IntiCreates if you fancy 2D side scrollers with supreme sprite aesthetics.

And definitely Cpt. Toad, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze and Bayonetta 1 and 2 if you skipped the Wii U.

I think that's the first time I've ever seen bomb chicken on anybody's wish list. Is this game any good and what's it about? Seen it on the eshop but it just seemed like indie shovelware

More_Badass said:

Is Smash good for online or newbies? Don't really play multiplayer, and Smash seems like a game where you'd get dominated by veterans

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Depends on the mode.

More fun, free-for-all modes are very new player friendly.

fyi bomb chicken is coming to PC as well

More_Badass said:

Is Smash good for online or newbies? Don't really play multiplayer, and Smash seems like a game where you'd get dominated by veterans

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Smash is easy to learn hard to master, most people play it casually so this won't be a problem.
Also the online will have kind of a ranked mode.

We'll likely get a Metroid Prime Trilogy announcement at the Game Awards.

Your list looks pretty good already, I'd add:

-Black Bird
-Pocket Rumble
-Into the Breach
-Quad K Fighters
-Bayonetta 2
-Dankmaku 3
-Blossom Tales

Jaded Alyx said:

Golf Story

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Seconded. An indie gem that you can't get anywhere else.

More_Badass said:

Is Smash good for online or newbies? Don't really play multiplayer, and Smash seems like a game where you'd get dominated by veterans

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With Ultimate, there's (apparently, hopefully, likely?) better matchmaking in place, so even if you wanna jump online to duke it out on the ladder, you're unlikely to get roflstomped by some diehard veteran. And even aside from that, there's gonna be plenty of modes to tide you over until you feel confident enough for that.

Cartridge Games said:

Switch is great for indies too so even if you have a PC that's super powerful you may prefer getting it on switch.

Smash is out next week so add that to your list too

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Can confirm. I'd rather play indies on switch than pc...that is if they run well. Being able to play anywhere is great.

Good that you have Octopath.

Arms
Golf Story
Taiko no Tatsujin
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna – The Golden Country
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Kamiko
Kirby Star Allies
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Gold
Splatoon 2
Sega Ages - Thunder Force IV

if you buy retail there is a retail version of Snipperclips Plus btw (beware as there are also downloadcode only versions of Snipperclips)

More_Badass said:

Also curious if games like Super Metroid, Metroid Prime, Madworld, and Eternal Darkness are available on Switch. Always was interested in playing those but never had a Nintendo console.

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Nope. There's a metroid prime trilogy port rumour but who knows if it's true

Of the exclusives you didn't cover...

• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
• ARMS
• Splatoon 2
• Xenoblade Chronicles 2
• Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna - The Golden Country
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Jaded Alyx said:

Golf Story

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I disagree. Found it to be too tedious and repetive. Quit after like 3 hours.

I will never not recommend Golf Story in these threads.

Pokemon
Smash
Mario Kart

Zelda and Mario, of course.
Octopath was incredibly disappointing to me. If the free demo is still available, give it a shot before you buy the full game. I love jrpgs but I couldn't stand this one. Xenoblade Chronicles 2, while it has an incredibly scary learning curve, is still the golden standard for the genre on the Switch by far.

Did you own a Wii U? If you didn't then there're even more titles you probs won't have played.

Bayonetta 1+2
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Octopath Traveller
Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze
Xenoblade Chronies 2
Zelda BOTW
Super Mario Odyssey
Smash (in a couple of weeks)
Let's Go Pikachu / Eevee (ignore the hardcore nerd haters: they're great fun!)
Golf Story
Splatoon 2
Mario & Rabbids

You've never owned a Nintendo Console? Then there's a man you need to get familiar with

Forgot to say if you like shmups there are also load of Psikyo ones that have been re-released for the switch. They are available on the eshop individually or as part of physical collections - for example here's the first collection:

https://www.play-asia.com/psikyo-collection-vol-1-multi-language/13/70c7gd

I think these rereleases are switch exclusive.

Also Hamster has been porting Nintendo's old arcade library to the switch, some of which has never been properly released before (and in sky skippers case has probably only ever been played by a few people):

Donkey Kong
Excitebike
Mario Bros.
Punch-Out!!
Sky Skipper
Urban Champion
VS. Super Mario Bros.

Jaded Alyx said:

Golf Story

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Yeah this is a really good game. Wish it was on other consoles. One of the best uses of HD rumble too.

Splatoon 2 is probably the best online game for Switch. It is a fun game.

Golf Story is a great indie game, Smash releases next week and looks amazing, if you like 2D platformers Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze is the best one ever made. While you can't currently play any of the games you mentioned there's a decent chance Prime Trilogy HD gets announced at the game awards. If you like XCOM style strategy Mario + Rabbids is great.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and it's not even close

More_Badass said:

Never had a Nintendo console before

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In which case there are loads of amazing Wii U ports. Bayonetta collection is sublime! Hyrule warriors is fun too if you like that type of game.

But yeah Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is absolutely outstanding.

Bayonetta is the bomb.

I mean, BotW is better, but that's in the OP.

Have a blast, OP! I was almost in your boat recently -- I bought a Switch and it was only my second Nintendo console after the Wii -- and I am loving mine.

Jonneh said:

You've never owned a Nintendo Console? Then there's a man you need to get familiar with

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That reminds me, I still need to pick up Tropical Freeze! That'll be my very first Country of the Donkey Kongs. I just see so much praise for it here that I can't not get it.

Xenoblade 2 and then Xenoblade 2 Torna.

If your first game on Switch is Breath of the Wild take your time to enjoy that. If you like it it will absorb you for at least 60-100 hours if you want to explore the world. Or 200+ like me.

You won't need another game for a few weeks if you like BotW.

If your done and like JRPGs and fantastic worlds play Xenoblade 2. Or/and Mario Odyssey.

Those are the 3 best games on Switch for me until now.

Octopath is good too, also Ys 8 is a nice RPG. But both don't top Xenoblade 2 for me. I'm a bit jellous you have those games before you :)

Civ 6. I havent set my switch down in several days. The game is crack

I'd reeeeeally wait for whatever revision is coming at this point, the Pro version of a console is always worth it.

Mario + Rabbids
Golf Story

I also thought Xenoblade 2 was significantly better than Octopath.

If you're interested in multiplayer games, I'd recommend ARMS and Mario Tennis Aces, some of my favorite MP games this gen, both local and online.

Xenoblade 2 is a fantastic RPG that I highly recommend.
Splatoon 2 is great too, both SP and MP.

Bayonetta 2 is one of the greatest games of all time, OP. I can't recommend it enough.

Xenoblade 2 is a goat JRPG and doesn't require playing any of the past games. Its definitely not for everybody though.

Hollow Knight is out on everything but I would say the Switch version is best because of the portability.

Smash is out soon....

Mario Kart 8 and Smash, especially for multiplayer.

Girlfriend and I each got a Switch.

Here is our modest collection.

1. BotW
2. NitW
3. TWEWY
4. OpT
5. SMO
6. SMK8D
7. DKCTF
8. Splatoon 2
9. Stardew Valley
10. SSBU (download code)
11. LGPE
12. CTTT

I think the day 1 pack is:

- Mario Odissey
- Zelda BotW
- Mario Kart 8 DX
- Smash Bros.U

Unless you have any specific objection towards any of those, it's the basic list.

Retail exclusives:

ARMS
Bayonetta 2 (1 is also available on Switch)
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition
Kirby Star Allies
Gal Metal
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Tennis Aces
Mario & Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate
New Super Mario Bros U Deluxe (releases January)
Octopath Traveler
Pokken Tournament
SNK 40th Anniversary Collection
Splatoon 2
Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Party
Super Smash Bros Ultimate
Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido
Taiko No Tatsujin: Drum N' Fun
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The World Ends With You: Final Remix
Xenoblade Chronicles 2



Switch exclusive Indie games:

Blaster Master Zero
Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King (Available on PC, but console exclusive on Switch)
Bomb Chicken
Debris Infinity (Available on PC, but console exclusive on Switch)
Fast RMX
Flat Heroes (Available on PC, but console exclusive on Switch)
Into the Breach (Available on PC, but console exclusive on Switch)
Mighty Gunvolt Burst
Golf Story
Kamiko
Mini Metro (Available on PC, but console exclusive on Switch)
Pocket Rumble (Available on PC, but console exclusive on Switch)
Pode
Severed (Available on mobile/PS Vita/Wii U, but not on other consoles)
Snipperclips
SpiritSphere DX
Wandersong (Available on PC, but currently console exclusive on Switch)


Retro recommendations:

Arcade Archives: Donkey Kong
Arcade Archives: Excitebike
Arcade Archive: Punch-Out
Arcade Archives: Sky Skipper - (This is the first time that this game has released on consoles)
Arcade Archives: Super Mario Bros
Gunbird 1 + 2
Johnny Turbo's Arcade Night Slashers - (This is the first time that this game has released on consoles)
Ikaruga
Sega Ages - Lightening Force: Quest for the Darkstar
Strikers 1945


Non-exclusive recommendations:

These aren't exclusives, but they are fun games to play in portable mode:

ACA Neo Geo: Garou: Mark of the Wolves
ACA Neo Geo Magical Drop 3
ACA Neo Geo Metal Slug 1 and 3
ACA Neo Geo: Neo Turf Masters
ACA Neo Geo: Waku Waku 7
Battle Chef Brigade
Bleed 2
Capcom Beat em up Bundle
Celeste
Child of Light
City Skylines
Civilization 6
Cosmic Star Heroine
Dead Cells
Diablo 3
Enter the Gungeon
Flinthook
Graceful Explosion Machine
Hand of Fate 2
Hollow Knight
Horizon: Chase Turbo
Iconoclasts
Just Shapes & Beats
Katamari Damacy: Reroll
Lego City Undercover
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
Lumines Remastered
Minecraft: Switch Edition
Night in the Woods
Overcooked 1 + 2
Pac Man Championship Edition 2
Puyo Puyo Tetris
Rocket League
Runbow
Salt & Sanctuary
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse
Sonic Mania
Stardew Valley
Steamworld Dig 2
Steamworld Heist
The Messenger
Thimbleweed Park
The Banner Saga 1, 2, 3
Toki Tori 1 + 2
Transistor
Undertale
Valkyria Chronicles 1
Valkyria Chronicles 4
Wild Guns Reloaded
Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap
Worms W.M.D
Yoku's Island Express

My top 10

1) Zelda Breath of the Wild
2) Super Mario Odyssey
3) Super Smash Bros Ultimate
4) Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (+ Torna the Golden Country)
5) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
6) Bayonetta 2
7) Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
8) Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
9) Octopath Traveler
10) Golf Story

These below are not exclusives but they are just perfect in portable mode.

Puyo Puyo Tetris
Hollow Knight
Stardew Valley
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
Sonic Mania
Battle Chef Brigade
Valkyria Chronicles
Ys VIII Lacrimosa of Dana

Zelda, Mario are the must-have, they are arguagbly the biggest most polished games on the system.

Smash is like a museum, it's both for casual and hardcore players with plenty of contents for both single and multiplayer.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 + Torna is also a great pick if you want a big meaty +100 hours JRPG to play in single player.

Also if you plan to pay Switch online, you get the NES collection, these are my favourite gems:
- Yoshi
- Gradius
- Mighty Bomb Jack
- Balloon Fight

Jonneh said:

You've never owned a Nintendo Console? Then there's a man you need to get familiar with

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David Wise is so good man

God tier:
BotW, Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8

Mastapiece tier:
Bayonetta 2, Splatoon 2

Still kind of essential tier:
Xenoblade 2, DKCTF

Xenoblade 2.

Bayonetta 2
Golf Story
Mario Kart
Splatoon 2