We’re in the midst of the awards season, and our staff at Twisted Voxel has put together our list of Best of 2025 Nintendo Switch/Switch 2 titles.
2025 has been a good launch year for the Switch 2, with a variety of first-party releases from Nintendo, ranging from racing games to platformers and action role-playing games. For our list, we’ve focused on ranking the 5 best releases that could only be experienced on either the Nintendo Switch or the Nintendo Switch 2 in the year 2025.
5. Pokemon Legends: Z-A
Pokemon Legends: Z-A represents one of the most meaningful evolution the series has seen in years. Its real-time, cooldown-based combat system feels like the most authentic interpretation of Pokemon battles to date, while Lumiose City provides a focused, urban twist on exploration. Mega Evolutions, boss encounters, and smooth progression systems give the game mechanical confidence, and its excellent technical performance on Switch 2 sets a new standard for the franchise. Despite weaker writing and simplified wild zones, Legends: Z-A stands out as a bold, mature re-imagining of the series.
4. Kirby Air Riders
Kirby Air Riders combines accessibility with unexpected depth. Its minimalist control scheme hides a skill ceiling that rewards precision, timing, and track knowledge. The variety of modes, particularly Air Ride and the Road Trip story mode, adds longevity, while City Trials introduces chaotic multiplayer fun. With strong visuals, a high-energy soundtrack, and extensive customization, Kirby Air Riders proves that spin-offs can be just as compelling as mainline entries.
3. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond proves that a long development cycle does not have to end in compromise. It delivers a confident return to first-person exploration, with planet Viewros offering varied regions, satisfying upgrades, and a strong sense of discovery. Psychic abilities add a new layer to both combat and puzzles, and the controls, especially with gyro and mouse support, make it one of the best showcases for the Switch 2 hardware. Though its story and boss design feel uneven, Beyond succeeds where it matters most i.e. atmosphere, exploration, and moment-to-moment play.
2. Mario Kart World
Mario Kart World earns its place on this list through ambition alone. Expanding the series into pseudo-open-world territory while supporting 24-player races, it feels like the most forward-looking Mario Kart yet. The addition of free roam, quests, and P-Switch challenges broadens its appeal beyond traditional racing, especially for families and casual players. While the absence of a true story mode is disappointing, the core multiplayer experience remains endlessly replayable.
1. Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong Bananza feels like a bold statement from Nintendo regarding Donkey Kong having a place among the all-time greats in the modern 3D platformer genre. Comparable in scope and ambition to Super Mario Odyssey, Bananza embraces large-scale sandbox design built around destruction. Donkey Kong’s ability to tear apart environments layer by layer gives the game a unique identity, turning exploration into an act of joyful chaos. Each underground layer introduces new geography, bosses, and abilities, keeping progression fresh and purposeful. While the story is simple and the challenge level skews accessible, the sheer satisfaction of movement, environmental interaction, and discovery makes Bananza the most memorable Switch 2 title of 2025.
