2020 was a big year for Nintendo, with it being one of the best financial years for the company in over a decade. With that said, the Switch didn’t get quite as many heavy-hitters this year as compared to previous ones, but there were still plenty of great new games for fans to sink their teeth into, both first party and third party titles alike.
This year happened to be particularly port-heavy, but there’s nothing wrong with great games from older consoles making their way onto Nintendo’s hybrid console. What matters is that there were a ton of games to enjoy on the Nintendo Switch in 2020.
Without a doubt, Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been probably the most important game that has released for the Nintendo Switch in 2020. Launching in April, New Horizons came at a time when gamers really needed it: the world was in the middle of a global pandemic with most of the world in lockdown, and everybody was stuck indoors. Luckily, this title allowed for friends and family to connect in ways that were otherwise impossible, and New Horizons offered quite a lot of fun for gamers new to the series and veterans alike. The title continues to receive support from the Big N today, with seasonal updates that add new craftable items and more. The title was even nominated for Game of the Year at this year’s Game Awards, which only further speaks to the title’s incredibly high level of quality.
Nintendo is no stranger to mini-game collections, with the likes of Wii Sports and Wii Play as prime examples, and Clubhouse Games falls into the same category of these titles. But this time around, there are a whopping 51 games ranging from classic board games like Connect Four, Chess, and Checkers to card games like Texas Hold ‘Em and War. There’s a ridiculous amount of variety to the 51 different games included, and with parts of the world world still stuck in a lock down, Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics is the perfect game for a nice distraction.
Hades, an indie game that’s been nominated for eight different awards at the Game Awards 2020, is undoubtedly one of the best games to come to the Nintendo hybrid console this year. Its nominations have included Best Score and Music, Best Art Direction, Best Indie, Game of the Year, and more. It’s easy to see why Hades has gotten so many award nominations, as it excels in nearly every facet. Its combat is fast, fluid, and incredibly addictive, offering a high level of replay value to players.
Just releasing last month, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is still fresh in fan’s minds. The title is both a follow-up to the first Hyrule Warriors with similar gameplay, and also serves as a prequel to 2017’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Because of this, Age of Calamity arguably has an incredibly large level of appeal to both Warriors fans and Zelda fans alike. The gameplay, while a tad bit repetitive, can be loads of fun and offers endless hours of entertainment with a mission-based structure that lends itself well to multiple playthroughs.
No More Heroes and No More Heroes 2 were two fantastic games on the Nintendo Wii, and have finally returned to Nintendo’s current console, just in time for the release of No More Heroes 3 next year. While these games are HD ports, they are exceptional ports at that. Stepping into the shoes of Travis Touchdown, No More Heroes features fun and frantic combat and great sense of humor. Both games have received graphical upgrades as well as some new control options, and has aged fairly well overall. Those who missed these games on the Wii should definitely consider giving these titles a try on the Switch.
There was a time when the idea of Microsoft porting over some of its exclusive games to other consoles seemed absolutely impossible. That’s no longer the current case, as several Xbox-exclusives have since made their way onto Nintendo’s current console including Cuphead, Ori and the Blind Forest, and now its sequel Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Like its predecessor, Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a Metroidvania-style 2D platformer with wonderful gameplay, and absolutely breathtaking visuals. It’s honestly miraculous how great Ori runs on the Switch, and stands as one of the more impressive ports for the console to date.
Paper Mario: The Origami King is the most recent entry into the long-running Paper Mario series, bringing in enough of the old to keep it familiar but introducing a lot of new content to establish itself as a great game in its own right. Visually, it’s one of the prettiest looking games on the Switch, with standout locations such as the beautiful Autumn Mountain and the Las Vegas-inspired Shroom City. In typical Paper Mario fashion, the game’s story is great and filled with witty characters and dialogue at every corner. And even though the game’s main combat is completely different from the older games in the series, it still offers a lot of enjoyment and challenge.
Pikmin 3 was a great game when it released back on the Wii U in 2013, and it’s still a great game on the Switch in 2020. A port of this game has been a long time coming, and Nintendo finally did it seven years after its initial release. Everything that longtime fans have loved about the Pikmin series is here, from its classic gameplay and its lovable characters to the beautiful graphics and unique art style.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars includes three of the greatest Mario games in one single package and two of them in full HD for the first time ever. Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy are some of the greatest 3D platformers ever, and just having the chance to play these great games again on the Switch makes this collection a must-have. While not necessarily perfect ports, fans of the original are still in for a real treat with them, while those who haven’t played them can be introduced for the first time ever.
Xenoblade Chronicles was one of the best RPGs on the Wii when it originally released in 2010, and it returns again to the Nintendo Switch for its tenth year anniversary. Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition contains all of the content present in the original game, plus some additional content as a bonus for returning fans. Additionally, the game’s graphics and soundtrack get a big overhaul for this edition and everything looks and sounds better than ever before. This is, without a doubt, the best way to experience Xenoblade Chronicles, and is the perfect starting point for any newcomers to the series.
Overall, the Switch saw a lot of great titles in 2o2o, even though there weren’t quite as many as previous years. With plenty of games announced and more likely over the horizon, 2021 is shaping up to be an even bigger year for the Nintendo Switch.
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