The 10 BEST Switch Games of 2023
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VOICE OVER: Ty Richardson
WRITTEN BY: Ty Richardson
The Switch saw a ton of great games in 2023. Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we're looking at the best games to launch on Nintendo's console over the past year. Our list of the best Switch games of 2023 includes “Pikmin 4” (2023), “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” (2023), “Metroid Prime Remastered” (2023), “Super Mario Bros. Wonder” (2023), and more!
Welcome to MojoPlays, and today, we’re taking a look at our picks of the 10 Best Switch Games of 2023!
The 1996 SNES classic has forever been stranded on the console it was developed for. Well, that and the long-discontinued SNES Mini. But this remake is now the perfect way for old and new players to relive or experience it for the first time. With two difficulties, refined visuals and music, and new mechanics added to the combat, “Super Mario RPG” has now been retrofitted with all sorts of bells and whistles to modernize and preserve the original (more or less). Sure, there are some technical hiccups here and there, but overall, it's the same fantastic RPG from 1996 with more than just spit and polish.
“Breath of the Wild” impressed a ton of folks back in 2017 in how it shifted “Zelda” into an open world survival game. So, how does “Tears of the Kingdom” expand upon its predecessor’s ideas? It’s all in fusions. Use your runic powers to glue items together to create new weapons, methods of transportation, and more. This new mechanic forced players to think of other ways to cross gaps, fight enemies, and navigate Hyrule. If you loved “Breath of the Wild”, this probably blew your mind.
For “Danganronpa” fans, it's been a tad frustrating to accept that the franchise may truly be over. Luckily, Kazutaka Kodaka is back with his team for a brand new experience! “Master Detective Archives” retains the dark humor and murder mystery formula of the “Danganronpa” series while giving players more freedom in their detective work and telling an original story. You’re actually rewarded for investigating every possible aspect of the scene, and you’re given some unique abilities to solve your mysteries across a forty-hour game. You don’t want to sleep on this one.
If you loved “WarioWare: Smooth Moves”, “Move It!” is, in some sense, a spiritual successor. We aren’t saying that just because it also focuses on motion controls. Yes, that is a similarity they share, but “Move It!” gets more creative with it. You have to actually perform the actions rather than simply shake the controller and make general gestures. Of course, just like the other entries in the series, it came with a hearty helping of multiplayer modes for us to keep the party going with our friends. Come on, how can you say no to some “WarioWare”?
“Advance Wars” is often forgotten among the GBA gems of old. Imagine our surprise and delight when this remake was announced for Switch, and it was being made by WayForward! Not only does it carry the charm and visuals WayForward is known for, it also retains the difficulty of the original games. Additionally, it came with multiplayer support both local and online so we can take to the battlegrounds with friends! Just don’t expect to breeze through the game unless you’re playing on the easiest difficulty.
Square Enix quietly released a couple of great horror games this year. “Little Goody Two Shoes” you can get on most platforms, but “Paranormasight” is only available on Switch and PC. After meeting a quirky young lady fascinated in occult tales, you learn and experience creatures and events described in a series of tales known as “The Seven Mysteries of Honjo”. For a visual novel with limited movement, “Paranormasight” delivers a chilling experience that will make you jump and possibly make you keep going…even if you want to take a break.
For a time, we were wondering what was going on with this title as it was announced in 2015 and was “close to completion”. Then, years of silence. What came was everything we could have dreamed of. “Pikmin 4” pulls pages from both the second and third game, providing a breezy bit of exploration during the day and leaving the more difficult sections to the night. Plus, the way Oatchi was implemented and expanded your possible “Dandori” skills was brilliantly designed. If you haven’t gotten to play a “Pikmin” game before, this is the perfect start to your journey before you go play the first three (all of which are on Switch!).
With “Metroid” making a massive comeback thanks to the launch of “Metroid: Dread” in 2021, now is the perfect time to slowly reintroduce “Metroid Prime”. Just about everything in this remaster is brimming with so much more detail than the GameCube original, and yet it still plays beautifully just as it did back in 2002. On top of that, it came with different control schemes to satisfy both players who experienced the original and those who played it on the Wii with motion controls. Worth the forty bucks? We would have paid more.
Kirby’s thirtieth anniversary celebration came to a close with this remake of an often overlooked Wii classic. “Kirby’s Return to Dream Land” allows Kirby and three other friends to search for pieces to the Lor Starcutter. However, this remake came with a few extra goodies to keep you busy after the main campaign. Magolor Epilogue, Merry Magoland, and an expanded boss rush mode made this worth another sixty dollars, especially when some pals were down for a relatively easy going platformer.
“Super Mario Bros. Wonder” is hands down the best Switch game we experienced this year. As Nintendo’s legendary developers like Shigeru Miyamoto slowly reach retirement, the most anxiety-inducing question is “what does Nintendo look like without them?” Well, “Wonder” was the first glimpse. Made almost entirely of a brand new team of Nintendo’s internal staff, “Wonder” showed us how a Mario game can be immensely fun with its clever ideas for mechanics, themes, and power-ups. The music, character animation, and wide selection of playable characters also brought a ton of personality to the new Flower Kingdom. Seriously, all you need to see is Piranha Plants on Parade, and you’ll be sold.
What’s the best game you played on Switch this year? Did it make our list? Let us know down in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe to MojoPlays for more great videos everyday!
“Super Mario RPG” (2023)
The 1996 SNES classic has forever been stranded on the console it was developed for. Well, that and the long-discontinued SNES Mini. But this remake is now the perfect way for old and new players to relive or experience it for the first time. With two difficulties, refined visuals and music, and new mechanics added to the combat, “Super Mario RPG” has now been retrofitted with all sorts of bells and whistles to modernize and preserve the original (more or less). Sure, there are some technical hiccups here and there, but overall, it's the same fantastic RPG from 1996 with more than just spit and polish.
“The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” (2023)
“Breath of the Wild” impressed a ton of folks back in 2017 in how it shifted “Zelda” into an open world survival game. So, how does “Tears of the Kingdom” expand upon its predecessor’s ideas? It’s all in fusions. Use your runic powers to glue items together to create new weapons, methods of transportation, and more. This new mechanic forced players to think of other ways to cross gaps, fight enemies, and navigate Hyrule. If you loved “Breath of the Wild”, this probably blew your mind.
“Master Detective Archives: Rain Code” (2023)
For “Danganronpa” fans, it's been a tad frustrating to accept that the franchise may truly be over. Luckily, Kazutaka Kodaka is back with his team for a brand new experience! “Master Detective Archives” retains the dark humor and murder mystery formula of the “Danganronpa” series while giving players more freedom in their detective work and telling an original story. You’re actually rewarded for investigating every possible aspect of the scene, and you’re given some unique abilities to solve your mysteries across a forty-hour game. You don’t want to sleep on this one.
“WarioWare: Move It!” (2023)
If you loved “WarioWare: Smooth Moves”, “Move It!” is, in some sense, a spiritual successor. We aren’t saying that just because it also focuses on motion controls. Yes, that is a similarity they share, but “Move It!” gets more creative with it. You have to actually perform the actions rather than simply shake the controller and make general gestures. Of course, just like the other entries in the series, it came with a hearty helping of multiplayer modes for us to keep the party going with our friends. Come on, how can you say no to some “WarioWare”?
“Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp” (2023)
“Advance Wars” is often forgotten among the GBA gems of old. Imagine our surprise and delight when this remake was announced for Switch, and it was being made by WayForward! Not only does it carry the charm and visuals WayForward is known for, it also retains the difficulty of the original games. Additionally, it came with multiplayer support both local and online so we can take to the battlegrounds with friends! Just don’t expect to breeze through the game unless you’re playing on the easiest difficulty.
“Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo” (2023)
Square Enix quietly released a couple of great horror games this year. “Little Goody Two Shoes” you can get on most platforms, but “Paranormasight” is only available on Switch and PC. After meeting a quirky young lady fascinated in occult tales, you learn and experience creatures and events described in a series of tales known as “The Seven Mysteries of Honjo”. For a visual novel with limited movement, “Paranormasight” delivers a chilling experience that will make you jump and possibly make you keep going…even if you want to take a break.
“Pikmin 4” (2023)
For a time, we were wondering what was going on with this title as it was announced in 2015 and was “close to completion”. Then, years of silence. What came was everything we could have dreamed of. “Pikmin 4” pulls pages from both the second and third game, providing a breezy bit of exploration during the day and leaving the more difficult sections to the night. Plus, the way Oatchi was implemented and expanded your possible “Dandori” skills was brilliantly designed. If you haven’t gotten to play a “Pikmin” game before, this is the perfect start to your journey before you go play the first three (all of which are on Switch!).
“Metroid Prime Remastered” (2023)
With “Metroid” making a massive comeback thanks to the launch of “Metroid: Dread” in 2021, now is the perfect time to slowly reintroduce “Metroid Prime”. Just about everything in this remaster is brimming with so much more detail than the GameCube original, and yet it still plays beautifully just as it did back in 2002. On top of that, it came with different control schemes to satisfy both players who experienced the original and those who played it on the Wii with motion controls. Worth the forty bucks? We would have paid more.
“Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe” (2023)
Kirby’s thirtieth anniversary celebration came to a close with this remake of an often overlooked Wii classic. “Kirby’s Return to Dream Land” allows Kirby and three other friends to search for pieces to the Lor Starcutter. However, this remake came with a few extra goodies to keep you busy after the main campaign. Magolor Epilogue, Merry Magoland, and an expanded boss rush mode made this worth another sixty dollars, especially when some pals were down for a relatively easy going platformer.
“Super Mario Bros. Wonder” (2023)
“Super Mario Bros. Wonder” is hands down the best Switch game we experienced this year. As Nintendo’s legendary developers like Shigeru Miyamoto slowly reach retirement, the most anxiety-inducing question is “what does Nintendo look like without them?” Well, “Wonder” was the first glimpse. Made almost entirely of a brand new team of Nintendo’s internal staff, “Wonder” showed us how a Mario game can be immensely fun with its clever ideas for mechanics, themes, and power-ups. The music, character animation, and wide selection of playable characters also brought a ton of personality to the new Flower Kingdom. Seriously, all you need to see is Piranha Plants on Parade, and you’ll be sold.
What’s the best game you played on Switch this year? Did it make our list? Let us know down in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe to MojoPlays for more great videos everyday!
