2020 has seen the release of highly anticipated games for the Nintendo Switch, with many more still to arrive for the remainder of the year. This list will establish the best Nintendo Switch console exclusive games of 2020 so far, taking into account replayability, community feedback, and numerous consumer ratings. The following titles are sure to keep you coming back to your Switch for more.
A Short Hike
Release date: August 18, 2020
A Short Hike is an adventurer’s dream; the game sees the exploration of the backcountry towards a Summit. Encounter other hikers, discover hidden treasures, and embrace the world around you. Enjoy leisure activities along the way, including fishing, swimming, or merely embracing nature. A Short Hike can be summarized as a charming and peaceful little game, and it can be enjoyed by all ages.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Release date: March 20, 2020
Coming in as the fifth release in the Animal Crossing franchise, New Horizons has you arrive on a deserted island, gradually crafting and building in and around your surroundings until the location is bustling with a vibrant array of lovable animals. This is the perfect title to sit back and relax to, with nothing in the game hurrying or rushing you. New Horizons is the break from reality we all need in 2020.
Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
Release date: June 5, 2020
Clubhouse Games puts a whole new form of convenience to “game night.” Choose from 51 different types of games, including board games, card games, sports games, solitaire, and much more. This is a must-have for parties or casual occasions, and it should bridge the gap between video game players and tangible party game enthusiasts alike.
Hades
Release date: September 17, 2020
Hades is a rogue-like dungeon crawler that centers around hacking and slashing your way out of hell as the immortal prince of the Underworld — all the while wielding powers and mythic weapons. Accompanying you includes the counterparts of Zeus, Athena, Poseidon, and many more Olympians.
Paper Mario: The Origami King
Release date: July 17, 2020
Mario sets out on his latest journey around the world in The Origami King. Featuring a unique ring-based battle system that incorporates puzzle-solving skills with traditional Mario gameplay, this new iteration puts a fresh twist in the Mario series, building off from the original Paper Mario released roughly 20 years ago.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX
Release date: March 6, 2020
Rescue Team DX is a 2020 remake of the 2005 Pokémon games Blue Rescue Team and Red Rescue Team. It is a part of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, which is essentially a Pokémon-styled dungeon crawler. This is a well-made remake with a beautiful art-style refresh of the original games, and it adds a nice touch of new content to keep things fresh.
Sega Ages: Fantasy Zone
Release date: January 23, 2020
Take command of the spaceship Opa-Opa, utilizing your guns and bombs to blast your way through numerous levels, with the mission of eliminating enemy bases you encounter. At the end of each level is a stage boss that must be defeated in order to progress. Fantasy Zone is quite challenging, so casual shoot-’em-up players be warned.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars
Release date: September 18, 2020
Enjoy three HD remastered games (that need no introduction) in one package — Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy. Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a commemoration to the 35th anniversary of Nintendo’s Super Mario franchise, and it is the ultimate nostalgic trip in 2020 for Mario fans alike. Nintendo does a fine job of serving these three games justice, with higher quality textures, and maintaining the original soundtracks, all the while not making too drastic of changes.
What the Golf?
Release date: May 21, 2020
What the Golf? is a ridiculous, physics-based golf parody where each golf course is a new random type of golf. It is wildly funny, weird, and tons of fun. It becomes abundantly clear that the developers don’t know much about the legitimate rules of golf, making the game even more enjoyable. If you enjoy making a fool of yourself when playing golf in real life, then this game is for you.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
Release date: June 10, 2020
Definitive Edition is a remastered version of the original Xenoblade Chronicles, which was released for the Nintendo Wii in 2010. This critically-acclaimed RPG pits the hero Shulk, along with his companions, against the mechanical invaders known as the Mechon. Adventure across a massive world with your mythical blade known as the Monado, while practicing real-time combat, which has you string together unique attacks and strategically positioning your party members in battle.
