1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is widely considered the definitive kart-racing experience on the Nintendo Switch and remains the best-selling game on the platform by a significant margin. Unlike many launch titles, it wasn’t just popular early on – it benefited from years of consistent updates, DLC additions, and bundle promotions that kept it relevant from 2017 through 2026.
The sheer variety of tracks, characters, and racing modes has made Mario Kart 8 Deluxe a staple for both casual families and competitive players. Its local multiplayer appeal – where up to four players can race on a single Switch – transformed living rooms around the world. The introduction of smart steering and auto-accelerate also made the game more accessible for new players, while seasoned fans continued to master advanced tricks and drifting mechanics.
Online play has connected millions of racers globally, leading to unofficial tournaments and community events. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also became a de facto social game at parties, school gatherings, and gaming nights, thanks to its chaotic yet easy-to-learn races. DLC characters and crossover guests kept content fresh years after the base game’s release. As of late 2025/early 2026, lifetime sales figures are astonishing – tens of millions of copies sold across regions and sustained digital engagement.
2. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Released in 2020, Animal Crossing: New Horizons became a cultural phenomenon almost instantly. Its charm lies in its relaxing, open-ended gameplay where players cultivate their own island paradises, build friendships with whimsical animal villagers, and personalize every aspect of island life. It was one of the first Switch titles to create a persistent virtual world that players returned to daily, influencing real-world social habits.
Unlike many games where progression is linear, New Horizons encourages slow-burn creativity: decorating homes, designing landscapes, and hosting friends. Its timing during a period when many people were spending more time at home helped it grow an enormous worldwide audience. Seasonal events, ongoing updates, and shared online communities kept the game lively for years.
Even in 2025 and 2026, long after release, New Horizons maintained strong player engagement and continued sales, thanks in part to new content and community-driven experiences. The title regularly appears high on best-seller charts and still sees active islands in play around the globe.
3. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is not just one of the most popular fighting games on Switch – it’s one of the most celebrated crossover titles in gaming history. Featuring an unparalleled roster of characters from Nintendo and third-party franchises, it offers endless combinations and competitive depth. Local and online tournaments have sustained a vibrant community years after launch.
Every character’s inclusion was marketed with passionate fanfare; newcomers and veterans alike appreciated the blend of nostalgia and precise game mechanics. Its balance between casual fun and high-skill competition means players of all levels find something to love. Ultimate’s frequent balance patches, new stages, and DLC fighters helped keep the meta evolving and the community engaged over long periods.
As of early 2026, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate continues to hold one of the highest lifetime sales figures on the Switch, reflecting its enduring appeal. Fans have even organized world tournaments that rival other eSports events in viewership and participation.
4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
When The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launched alongside the Switch in 2017, it redefined open-world design and became an instant classic. Its expansive Hyrule invites players to explore at will, forging their own paths through physics-based puzzles, dynamic weather, and emergent combat encounters.
Much of its popularity stems from the freedom it offers: players can climb almost anything, experiment with tools, and tackle challenges in countless ways. This design philosophy influenced many games released after it and continues to inspire developers. For many fans, Breath of the Wild remains a must-play experience and one of Nintendo’s crowning achievements on the Switch.
Even with new Zelda titles emerging, Breath of the Wild still sees new players discovering its secrets years later. Its storytelling, cryptic shrine puzzles, and vast landscapes ensure that each playthrough feels unique.
5. Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Odyssey brought the beloved plumber into a celebration of creativity and exploration. It abandoned the linear platforming of past entries in favor of expansive kingdoms full of secrets, collectables, and hidden challenges.
The game’s introduction of Cappy, a sentient hat that lets Mario “capture” enemies and objects, opened up endlessly inventive gameplay possibilities. Players could take control of creatures, vehicles, and even inanimate objects to solve puzzles and traverse levels.
At launch, it became Nintendo’s fastest-selling Super Mario game and quickly became one of the Switch’s most beloved titles. Years later, Odyssey still ranks high in lifetime sales and garners praise for its soundtrack, world design, and sheer joy of discovery.
6. Pokémon Scarlet & Violet
As the ninth generation of Pokémon core RPGs, Pokémon Scarlet & Violet revitalized the beloved monster-catching formula with a truly open-world structure. Players could explore sprawling towns, vast landscapes, and layered biomes while capturing, training, and battling Pokémon in whatever order they chose.
Despite a controversial launch due to technical issues, the games sold extremely well, driven by the franchise’s massive global fanbase and post-launch quality-of-life updates. Add-on expansions like The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk added new areas and challenges, keeping the experience fresh and sustaining strong sales into 2025.
By integrating more dynamic exploration and multiplayer elements, Scarlet & Violet helped evolve the Pokémon RPG genre on Switch and contributed significantly to the platform’s overall success.
7. Pokémon Sword & Shield
Before Scarlet & Violet, Pokémon Sword & Shield was the first mainline Pokémon game on a home console, bridging handheld heritage with Switch hardware. It introduced large open areas called Wild Areas, where Pokémon roam freely and weather changes dynamically.
Sword & Shield also debuted Dynamax/Gigantamax mechanics, which transformed battles with towering Pokémon and strategic depth. Its expansions The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra added substantial content, extending the game’s life and giving players reasons to explore beyond the base campaign.
The title’s strong sales and core mechanics built a foundation that Scarlet & Violet could expand upon, and many fans still revisit Sword & Shield for seasonal events and nostalgia.
8. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom succeeded Breath of the Wild as one of the Switch’s biggest adventures and its story built on that game’s legacy. It invited players back into Hyrule with expanded vertical exploration, new traversal mechanics, and deeper world-building.
The game’s ambitious physics systems and layered world encouraged experimentation, turning every climb, glide, and fight into a potential discovery. Players loved the freedom to invent solutions to problems – resulting in some of the most memorable and unpredictable moments in modern gaming. DLC expansions and seasonal content continued to drive engagement long after launch.
It quickly became one of the top-selling Zelda titles in the franchise and a standout on the Switch platform.
9. Super Mario Party
Super Mario Party brought the beloved party board game format back to life on the Switch. With a huge collection of minigames and chaotic board mechanics, it became a go-to for group gatherings and family sessions.
Its focus on casual fun made it perfect for players of all ages, and its variety of game modes helped it maintain steady popularity over the years. While not as blockbuster-selling as some other titles on this list, it carved out a niche as a staple social game on the Switch.
10. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Rounding out the top ten is New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, a polished package of classic side-scrolling Mario platforming. It combined New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U, giving fans tonnes of content and cooperative play.
While more traditional than Odyssey, its crisp level design and accessible co-op made it enduringly popular among families and longtime Mario fans. Its steady sales and long tail of playership helped secure its position among the Switch’s most successful titles.
The Knowledge Base 
Leave a comment