Although the Nintendo Switch’s emergence in 2017 caught few by surprise, nobody truly knew how successful it would become. It sounded radical: a console you can take anywhere that plugs into a TV and that you can play at home like a console version, simultaneously serving as both a handheld and home console hardware.
Now that the Switch 2 is here, it seemed like the right time to highlight the most important games of this first era. From Nintendo’s own titles and phenomenal third-party games to indie games that found the Switch as the perfect place to flourish, the original Switch has created a library of games that will inspire the industry for years.
The Nintendo Classics That Redefined the Console
It is difficult to discuss the Switch without starting with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. It launched with the Switch and took open-world game design to a new level, establishing a new baseline for player freedom and exploration. Players weren’t merely finishing quest objectives; they were making their own narrative by discovering, experimenting, and entertainingly improvising. It was the type of experience that made buying a Switch on day 1 worthwhile.
Shortly afterward, Super Mario Odyssey reminded us that few people share Nintendo’s creativity. Instead of layering on some stale formula, Nintendo gifted Mario with an oddly charming companion, Cappy. With Cappy, Odyssey transformed gameplay into a sandbox of possibilities. Each world brimmed with eccentricity and its own set of magical secrets, showing gamers that Nintendo hasn’t lost the ability to evolve our favorite character while keeping the character we hold dear intact.
Then came Animal Crossing: New Horizons. With the game released around the time of worldwide lockdowns, it became more than a game. It became a social platform that was used by families and friends to see each other when they could not in real life. And it brought to light what games can really mean for people emotionally if the context is right, becoming a cultural moment in ways few imagined.
Third-Party Success and the Switch as a Home for Big Names
While Nintendo’s own games aided in launching the system, it was third party support that propelled the switch into popularity. The demonstration of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt showed that large scale AAA game experiences could be delivered on handhelds. There were clear ton of graphical compromises compared to other consoles, but being able to play as Geralt on a train was worth it.
Another memorable moment included Monster Hunter Rise, which was a worldwide success. It represented what 3rd party developers were able to design on the Switch that catered to the Switch’s strengths, as it was an action RPG that was expansive, yet still took advantage of the system.
Indie Gems and the Switch’s Role as a Creative Hub
While the big titles helped establish the Switch as a prominent platform, the indie games provided a distinction to it. It became a place for small developers to show themselves to a wide audience in a way that would be difficult elsewhere.
In particular, games like Hollow Knight became modern classics with Switch audiences. The dark world of Hollow Knight is skillfully imagined, and players who may never have discovered it in another system were captivated by it on the Switch.
Indie games that may have been ignored on PC suddenly had a new home for short bursts of playtime on the go, which began building new communities of fans. For many, the Switch was not just a console hosting blockbusters but also a vehicle that allowed players to discover smaller, but equally compelling experiences.
The Legacy of the Switch and What Comes Next
In retrospect, the Switch allowed us to do far more than play some exceptional games.
The widespread appeal allowed the console to compete with the highest-end hardware available in the market. Its popularity also mirrors the success in other industries that have benefited from digital access changing consumption.
As another example, online casinos have revolutionized gambling in the same direction. Online casino platforms provide a similar experience to what was historically only available at physical locations but allow people to consume these experiences securely in a digital world. To combine the two examples, the Switch provided players with the opportunity to take console-quality gaming anywhere in a similar way to how online casinos provide secure digital gambling anywhere.
As the Switch 2 starts to write its own story, the effects of its predecessor will be unmistakable. Developers now understand the demand for hybrid gaming, the value of accessibility, and the need to balance larger experiences with deeper, smaller creative experiences. The library of the original Switch, also, will remain an unprecedented achievement in gaming history, a combination of legends, experiments, and surprises that redefined a generation.