Ultimate Switch Buying Guide - Part 2: Physical Games

Black Friday is less than a week away, and one item on many shopping lists this year is the Nintendo Switch. However, most bundles only come with one game, with the exception of the standard bundle, which comes with no games. This poses the question: what games should people pick up this holiday season to get the most out of their new purchase? The Switch has a vast library, both physical and digital, but this article will focus on the most noteworthy physical games (namely, the ones I have), along with mentioning some other highlights at the end. For the games that I have played, I will rate them on a seven-point scale based off of how much I would recommend the game.

The Switch's library was noteworthy from day one, mostly thanks to one game: the latest entry in the Legend of Zelda series, subtitled Breath of the Wild. If you are looking to pick up a Switch yourself this holiday season, you have likely heard of it. Dozens of hours can easily be lost to this game's massive version of Hyrule, which after completing an introductory area, can be explored in any way a player wishes. The game is an epic adventure which is the epitome of single-player experiences for the platform, and should really be played. Rating: 7/7

Where Breath of the Wild is a purely single-player experience, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a multiplayer-focused one, and it accomplishes that job pretty well. Anyone can pick up and enjoy this game, especially with the added accessibility features in the Switch version. Mario Kart is a mainstay multiplayer game, and if you intend on playing with others at all, I would suggest picking this up. Rating: 6/7

These first games may be at their best on the Switch, but this next game was the first among these to be exclusive to it: ARMS. This is a fighting game centered around the extendable arms of the playable characters and the various attacks attached to the ends of them. As a fighting game, the gameplay is solid, but as a multiplayer option, it is heavily outclassed. While it does do a good job showcasing the Switch's various styles of play, it leaves a lot to be desired as far as single-player goes. Overall, I would find a hard time recommending this to someone who isn't huge on the genre. Rating: 3/7

Splatoon 2 similarly has a focus on online multiplayer. The 8-player battles online are solid, though there is the slight drawback of the sometimes-shaky internet connection ruining the battles it causes a disconnect in. It also has a single-player that while solid, is short. If you want a meaty single-player from this game, there is the Octo Expansion, a twenty dollar piece of DLC that adds a campaign that is arguably superior to the one in the base game. I would definitely recommend the game to anyone who wants to bring their skills online, whether they're a fan of the shooter genre or not. Rating: 5/7

This next game is very different from the others discussed thus far for two main reasons: it is a tactics RPG (think XCOM or Fire Emblem), and despite the Mario characters, it was made by a third-party company. I am referring to Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. If you hear the Rabbids part of that title and panic a little, do not worry; it is a surprisingly well-made game. The mechanics mesh together well, and it has a well-crafted sense of humor. There also is a co-op mode that is pretty respectable, too. Pick this up if you want a respectable strategic experience. Rating: 5/7

This is not the most noteworthy Mario game on the system, though; Super Mario Odyssey is widely praised as the best 3D Mario game in years. The game hides collectables at every turn, and they are fun to seek out. The "cap-ture" mechanic also provides great variety in the gameplay. This is one of the games that I can almost guarantee that you will enjoy on this platform, so pick it up if you can. Rating: 7/7

The final game that I have physically for the Switch has a little more to it. Nintendo Labo is a series of sets of cardboard, which is then crafted into various creations, ranging from an RC car propelled by the Joy-Con to a full-body suit that controls an in-game giant robot. The process of creating the various apparatuses may seem daunting, but it can be rather enjoyable. As for the games themselves, they all end up feeling like tech demos in my experience. A couple of the creations are compatible with other games, most notable the aforementioned Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but even then, I would only recommend it if you want a fun novelty. Rating: 3/7

Granted, there are many noteworthy Switch games that I have not played. One notable pair of recent releases is Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee! These games are the latest RPGs in the insanely popular series, and people are enjoying these rather accessible games, so I would recommend picking them up, especially if you are rather new to the series. The other big release Nintendo has lined up for this holiday season is Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, the largest, most content-packed entry in the series. I would definitely suggest picking this up, but just note that the game does not technically release until December seventh. Super Mario Party is a return to form for the series of party games, and from what I have heard, it is a fun game to play with friends. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Octopath Traveller are both praised as great JRPGs. Doom and Skyrim are both strong contributions from Bethesda. Starlink: Battle for Atlus is an enjoyable game with Switch-exclusive Star Fox-themed content.

This barely scratches the surface of Switch games out there, even on the physical side. Needless to say, the Switch's library is thriving. I hope this helps you make intelligent decisions when deciding what games to buy this holiday season. However, there is one more part to the Switch: the numerous games available on the eShop, so check that out next time!