It was a great year for the Nintendo Switch, even though it was a slow year for big games. Nintendo, third-party developers, and independents released some of the best games of the year.

It was a shame that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was delayed. If you want to play some games in the meantime, here are some of my favorites.

Card Shark

A first person view of four cards - three aces and one six of hearts — with a man across the table.
Card Shark
Image: Devolver Digital

I can pretend I can cheat in Card Shark. You can pull off tricks on your own, such as looking at an opponent's hand while pouring wine, or asking you to shuffle the cards to give your partner an advantage. By the end of the game, you will feel like a master of the cards thanks to the tricks.

Neon White

A weird purple cityscape with smaller pictures of a devil man, a bucket, and other paraphenalia.
Neon White
Image: Annapurna Interactive

I don't think I can come up with a more concise description of the game that Andrew wrote about. You will race through levels with the help of cards that give you special movement and attack powers. Trust me when I say that it works, I fell into a flow state as I tried to shave seconds off my time. Ben Esposito, the creative director of the game, told me that it was the most video games game that could be made.

Nier: Automata The End of Yorha Edition

A man in black battled a mechanical creature with empty buildings in background.
Nier: Automata The End of Yorha Edition
Image: Nintendo

The End of Yorha Edition is an excellent way to play Nier: Automata. This port brought the game to a portable console and, from the few hours that I played, there were very few changes. The game styles, deep story, and haunting music are all present, even though the graphics aren't as nice as other platforms.

Nintendo Switch Sports

A person with white hair bowling.
Nintendo Switch Sports
Image: Nintendo

Another Nintendo-made bowling game is the best thing about Nintendo switch sports. Like the Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort versions, it is an excellent approximation of the real thing, and the new Switch version has an awesome battle Royale-style mode. Soccer, volleyball, tennis, badminton, chambara, and, as part of a recent update, golf, are included in Nintendo Switch Sports.

Persona 5 Royal

Some people sit at tables while a young woman tells the viewer that she’s going to train you harder.
Persona 5 Royale
Image: Atlus

One of the best role-playing games of all time, Persona 5 Royal, finally came to Nintendo Switch this year, and in the nine or so hours I've played, it seems like everything that made the game great on the PS is intact. While the game doesn't look as good as it does on other platforms, I think the luxury of playing it on a portable device makes up for it. If you are looking for a game to sink into, you should check out the original version of the game, which took more than 100 hours to complete.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus

A boy riding a white elk jumping across a river.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Image: Game Freak

I really wanted to catch all of them. Since the beginning of the series, a lot of the mechanics have remained the same. Catching pokémon has gotten a big upgrade, as I found myself constantly sneaking up on other people and trying to catch them. Many of the changes that make Arceus different from other games are for the best.

Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet

A character named Koraidon rides a combination bird and motorcycle in the air.
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet
Image: Nintendo

I couldn't get enough of the open world when I played Pikachu for the first time last month. I was able to complete the game at my own pace, as I explored the continent of Paldea to capture pokmon. Unlike most Pokémon games, the final act of the game was the best: instead of being stomped through the Elite Four, you will find an exciting and mysterious new area.

Rogue Legacy 2

A little person with a sword rushes to a large bearded man with a sword against a dark medieval background.
Rogue Legacy 2
Image: Cellar Door Games

You can play a lot of different characters in the 2D rogue lite, but there are some quirks to it. In addition to standard classes like knights and mages and less traditional ones like pirates, boxers, and even chefs, you will often have to pick from one of many bad traits that offer some kind of bonus. New weapons, options, bug fixes, and more are included in the major update of the game.

Splatoon 3

A character gets hit by a splatter of yellow pain against a colorful street of buildings.
Splatoon 3
Image: Nintendo

I think that changing the formula of the game is a good thing. It's still fun to paint the most ground in the war. New clothes will make you look fresh. You will be jamming the entire time you play the soundtrack. New content has been added to the game since it was released. You should see you on the battlefield.