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Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2017

It's been an amazing year for Nintendo's new console, and we've got a guide for you of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2017.

By Katie MarchbankPublished 6 years ago 8 min read
Top Story - December 2017
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Revealed in November of 2016, the Nintendo Switch released early this year in March to critical acclaim. It's the amazing handheld-home console hybrid that has been sweeping the nation. While in the beginning it was super difficult to find due to the unexpected demand, now Nintendo Switches are relatively easy to find. It's the perfect time of year to get yourself or a loved one this console, but which games should you get to accompany it? Well, no worries, we've got a list of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2017 for your playing pleasure.

It's far from the most graphically intense version of the game out there, but the fact that Doom is even on the Nintendo Switch is a feat in gaming history. No matter how they try and market it, the Switch is essentially a handheld that you can plug into your TV—which makes it all that more impressive that they were able to port a game like Doom to the powerful little system.

If you've never played it, Doom is a first person shooter game that has you fighting demons as a marine in a fast-paced environment. It's one of the only FPS shooters on the Switch and it's absolutely worth the buy whether you're a newcomer to the series or not. Even if you've played it to death on another system, the portability aspect of the Switch makes it super appealing. Tired of fighting demons on your couch? Fight them on the bus! The train! The toilet! Anywhere you can go, your Switch and copy of Doom can go as well.

This sleeper hit definitely punches its way onto the list of best Nintendo Switch games of 2017. Released in mid June of 2017, ARMS is Nintendo's newest IP to grace our hybrid consoles. Everything about this game screams Nintendo: bright colors, precise gameplay, and pure fun.

Play as a myriad of different characters including Spring Man, Twintelle, and Helix, among others. Not only is this game super fun, but it is constantly getting updates with new characters, new arms, new stages, and monthly events! You can play with motion controls or traditional ones, so feel free to play your way and get punching!

Who would've thought a game where you cut your friends into pieces would be one of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2017?! In all seriousness, this game is hilariously fun. You can play it alone, but it's way more fun with a friend or two. You play as little pieces of paper and your goal is to get through each level's puzzle by cutting each other into different shapes.

Communication is super important here and makes for some seriously frustrating (but funny) moments as you're screaming at your friend, "Cut me! Make me a cup! No, the other way!" This game recently added some DLC and came out with a physical version for even more fun.

Ah, Mario Kart. The classic game that ruins even the best of friendships. This enhanced Wii U port comes with all the DLC from the original game, ups the resolution to 1080p, and includes a completely revamped (AKA way better) battle mode! It even has a few new characters not present in the original Mario Kart 8, DLC included, like King Boo and the Inklings from Splatoon (we'll get to those squid kids later on).

But we're not done yet! It even introduces two new items, the boo and the feather, present in some of the older games. If all of that isn't enough to justify purchasing this game, I don't know what is!

I have over 120 hours on this game on PC, so believe me when I say this game is absolutely perfect for the little console and one of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2017. This game was begging to be on a portable console, and here we are. If you don't know the indie sensation that is Stardew Valley, let me give you the run down. You, an overworked employee for the corporation Joja, leave your city slicker life when your dying grandfather gives you the deed to his farm out in Stardew Valley. The place is a mess, and it's your job to turn the dilapidated farm into a thriving place for crops and livestock alike.

Or... not! You don't have to do anything you don't want to in this game. While there are some general "goals" in this game, you basically have free range. You can focus on your farm, get rich in the mines, start a family with one of the townsfolk, or lose yourself in the arcade while drinking beer every night at the bar. It's all up to you! It's a very "pick-up-and-play" style game, which makes it perfect for the portable nature of the Switch.

"This is going to suck." That's what everyone thought when this game was initially leaked before E3. But Nintendo and Ubisoft surprised us all and made one of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2017. Known by the gaming community as "basically X-COM but with Mario," Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a tactical turn-based RPG where you lead a party of Mario characters and Rabbids characters through the Mushroom Kingdom after it was invaded by a group of bad Rabbids.

Even though I'm not a super big fan of the Rabbids characters, I found this game to actually be really fun and require a lot of thought. While linear in story, there are a lot of different ways you can go about attacking the baddies, with each character having their own strengths and weaknesses. This makes for surprisingly deep gameplay and, above all, a ton of fun. Plus it's like, almost always on sale, so you don't have an excuse not to pick this one up.

"Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin..." Can you hear that? It's Skyrim calling you back to lose another 200 hours of your life in its endlessly fun gameplay. Yes, we all played this game to death when it came out back in 2011. In fact, many of us still play Skyrim and love it. But now... it's portable. Can you even fathom that? A game as huge as Skyrim can be taken on the go and played anywhere, anytime.

If you never actually got into the Skyrim hype, now is the time to pick up and play this incredible adventure. The Nintendo Switch version includes all the DLC plus some exclusive Breath of the Wild themed gear. Not only can you be an epic dragon slayer, but now you can do it with the Master Sword!

This game is currently my most played on the Nintendo Switch, and one of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2017. I can't stop. Before this game, I didn't even like multiplayer-driven games. I was a single player game type of girl. But this game totally changed my outlook on shooters and multiplayer games in general. In Splatoon 2, you are a squid. But also a kid. You're a squid kid!

As a sequel to the highly successful original on the Wii U, Splatoon 2 expands upon the premise of the first game by improving the graphics, adding all new gear, weapons, and hairstyles, and most importantly, the brand new mode Salmon Run, which is the equivalent of a horde mode. The game also receives weekly updates that add new weapons or maps, as well as a monthly "Splatfest" where everyone chooses a side and battles it out for the elusive Super Sea Snails that are used to add more abilities to your gear. This game is intense, fun, and will have you saying that you "splatted" someone in no time.

This was my pick for Game of the Year 2017. Super Mario Odyssey is nothing short of a masterpiece of a game, no matter what kind of gamer you are. Casual players will find it accessible and fun, completionists will have a blast collecting every last purple coin and moon, and speedrunners are already breaking records to see how fast you can get through the game with Mario's impressive arsenal of moves.

It's no wonder that I was hype as f*** for Super Mario Odyssey, because the game looked amazing from the initial reveal. Not only did this game meet my expectations, but it exceeded them, and was probably the most fun game I've played in years. If you have a Switch and don't have this game, go pick it up right now and play it. It's truly one of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2017, and will probably be one of the best games in the console's entire lifespan.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was actually 2017's Game of the Year and although it wasn't my top pick, it definitely deserves the title. Breath of the Wild is objectively fantastic. Not only did it completely reinvent the Zelda series as a whole, it took the concept of an open-world game and gave it abreathof fresh air (Hey, I avoided puns this entire post, let me have one at the end!). BOTW is almost difficult to talk about, because the magic of this game is just in experiencing it.

From the very moment you walk out of the starting cave to view the vast land of Hyrule before you, to the tense moment right before the final battle with Calamity Ganon, this game is constantly entertaining you with its perfect mix of stunning visuals, exciting gameplay, and difficult puzzles. I cannot understate what a unique and memorable experience this game is. Pick it up, you won't be disappointed.

Well, that's it for the list of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2017! I hope you found something you didn't realize you needed or helped to validate your purchases. With such an amazing year, it'll be interesting to see what Nintendo brings to the table in 2018. With Pokémon, Metroid Prime, and Yoshi games on the horizon, I doubt they'll struggle to have another amazing year.

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About the Creator

Katie Marchbank

Just trying to take down the patriarchy while playing video games and eating too much pasta.

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