Even with the pandemic going on, Nintendo has been going strong with the support of the Nintendo Switch by offering loads of entertaining titles throughout 2021. This year may not be on the same levels as Nintendo in 2017 with Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey, but it definitely comes close.
In alphabetical order, here's a list of Game Rant's top 10 best Nintendo Switch games of 2021.
Cruis'n Blast
Most racing games these days are made to feel realistic and typically feature advanced graphical effects and impressive visuals, such as Forza Horizon 5, and then there are games like Cruis'n Blast, which throws all of that out of the window. The arcade racer features non-stop action and is a thrill ride from start to finish. Players can control fast cars (and Unicorns, of course) to race down varied tracks that are purely insane.
Cruis'n Blast proves that arcade racers don't need flashy graphics or realistic driving to give players an enjoyable time. It's a simple albeit goofy racer that can appeal to all types of players and is one of the Switch games this year that deserved more attention.
Mario Party Superstars
Mario Party Superstars pulls from the classic Nintendo 64 era of Mario Party, revitalizing several game boards from Mario Party 1, 2, and 3. Not only that but Mario Party Superstars has a whopping 100 mini-games taken from all of the previous Mario Party titles, making this title one of the best of the series, especially for long-time fans.
The previous entry in the series, Super Mario Party, was criticized for not having full online multiplayer at launch, but Mario Party Superstars fixes all of that, offering players smooth and intuitive online pla6 for all of the game boards. And if a player happens to disconnect from a match or if a game needs to be paused, players can suspend the match and come back later with all of the progress saved.
Mario Party Superstars is the ultimate multiplayer experience and goes to show just how powerful nostalgia can be.
Metroid Dread
Metroid Dread was originally planned to release on the Nintendo DS back in the day, but now after many many years, it made its way out of the dark and onto the Nintendo Switch. And not only did Metroid Dread rise up to the fans' expectations, but it had the highest launch out of every game in the series prior.
Developer MercurySteam has done a standup job with Metroid Dread, especially in the storytelling and gameplay departments. Gathering all of Samus's abilities, defeating the EMMIs, and exploring the massive map is such an enjoyable experience, and controlling Samus feels absolutely perfect. Throw that all in together with the unexpected plot twists throughout Metroid Dread, and fans have got themselves one of the best Metroid games of all time.
Monster Hunter Rise
After the hit that was Monster Hunter: World, fans were waiting patiently to see what Capcom would put out next, and that game was Monster Hunter Rise. Built from the ground-up for the Nintendo Switch, Monster Hunter Rise takes full advantage of the Switch's graphical capabilities, without sacrificing anything. The game runs smooth as butter (even in handheld mode), the online works magically, the loading is fast, and the inclusion of the new Wirebug mechanic really changed the game for the better.
With the addition of all of the post-launch DLC content that Capcom has been adding to the game, there's no shortage of quests for players to tackle, either solo or with a group of friends. The grind of defeating monsters, upgrading weapons, and completing quests never gets old. And Monster Hunter Rise will only continue to prosper once it launches on PC next tear and its Sunbreak expansion launches.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin takes the iconic world and monsters of the series and turns it all on its head by being a single-player, turn-based RPG that very much differs from the mainline series. Instead of teaming up with other players to go on quests, players will instead take on the role of the protagonist and befriend monsters (called Monsties) and take them into a Pokemon-like battle.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is a highly accessible entry into the Monster Hunter series, providing gamers with a compelling narrative with a charming cast of characters, a simple but enjoyable combat system, and a gorgeous world to explore. If there's anyone out there intimidated by the deep and complex systems that the mainline Monster Hunter possesses, try jumping into Wings of Ruin, as it can be a great jumping-off point for any RPG fan.
New Pokemon Snap
New Pokemon Snap brings back what fans loved in the original Nintendo 64 version, and then some. The on-rails photography "shooter" looks glorious on the Nintendo Switch, with its modernized HD graphics looking very superior over the original. Each biome is brimming with Pokemon to photograph and the entire experience is just a chill laid laid-back ride.
Pokemon spinoffs often tend to be ignored by the mainstream, with stuff like Pokemon Ranger and Pokemon Conquest being very niche titles in the Pokemon universe. However, New Pokemon Snap manages to pull in all types of Pokemon fans, both new and old. It's a solid entry in the franchise and is a worthwhile sequel to the original that shows off so many Pokemon in a new light that any Pokemon fan can appreciate. Anyone's who is looking for a passive, stress-free game on Switch should look no further than New Pokemon Snap.
No More Heroes 3
After taking a bit of a hiatus from the mainline series, No More Heroes 3 makes a return in a big way on the Nintendo Switch. Travis Touchdown is at the top of his game in this wacky and stylized 3D hack and slash title from none other than Suda51, the madman behind games like Lollipop Chainsaw and Killer7.
No More Heroes 3 has everything that fans should expect, like tons of violence, crude and off-the-wall humor, and lots of boss fights. This latest entry takes things to the next level by introducing a couple of new abilities for Travis, as well as a new open city to explore via motorbike. The wackiness of each boss fight encounter alone makes No More Heroes 3 one of the best games on Switch by far.
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl
When Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Pokemon Shining Pearl were initially revealed, some fans were upset by the game's art direction and the fact that Game Freak was not working on this Pokemon remake. However, it seems that many people still enjoyed their journey through the Sinnoh region once again but in a Chibi-esque art style. The Gen 4 games revolutionized the Pokemon series back n the day, being the first mainline titles to release for the Nintendo DS system.
Still, even after many years, the pair of games still hold up and thanks to the many new quality of life features from developer ILCA, there's a lot to love here. The Underground area has gotten a major revamp, the Pokemon Contests are flashier than ever, and being able to explore the region in HD is such a treat for fans new and old, even if Pokemon BDSP tends to stick to its roots.
Shin Megami Tensei 5
It's difficult not to compare the Shin Megami Tensei series to the Persona series. One was born from the other and they both share similar elements such as the engaging battle system, the recruitable demons, and the need for the main character to save the world from danger. With Shin Megami Tensei 5, though, it manages to not only stand apart on its own, but Atlus has created a living, breathing world that is so compelling for players to work their way through.
Because of its very high difficulty level, Shin Megami Tensei 5 players are encouraged to mess around with stats and demons to make a party that is good enough to get past the game's punishing bosses. Unless players strategize and take advantage of their demons, there's no way to just brute force through the demanding fights. SMT5 can be brutal, and it can be a lonely adventure without a cast of other characters by their side, but the journey is oh so worth it for the challenge and rewarding feeling alone.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
Many Nintendo fans already know how wonderful an experience it is to play Super Mario 3D World since it originally launched for the Wii U. The addition of a four-player mode to a semi-3D Mario game was revolutionary at the time, and it's still a blast to play today and feels great to control. What makes this one of the best games of 2021, however, is that the new Bowser's Fury mode that was added in for the Switch re-release, and it's truly a gem of a Mario game that fans need to check out.
It's not a full-blown Mario game by any means, but players are thrown into an open 3D environment with many different Cat Shines to collect. It's a really fun playground for players to jump and run around in, solving various puzzles while also having to avoid fireballs from a giga-sized Bowser. However, players can eventually grow in size as well in their Catsuit and show Bowser who's boss and it's very satisfying. Players will find themselves spending hours and hours attempting to collect everything there is in Bowser's Fury.