Best Nintendo games of 2026

Looking for the best Nintendo games of 2026? Here’s our hand-picked selection of must-play titles that deliver great gameplay, graphics and freedom of choice. In this curated ranking you’ll find games for every taste — from action and battle royale to RPG, strategy and casual fun.

1. Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a 2022 platform game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. Released on March 25, 2022, is the thirteenth mainline installment in the Kirby series and the second on the Switch, as well as the first non-spinoff game in the series to be in full 3D. The player controls Kirby in an adventure through the titular forgotten land to rescue Waddle Dees kidnapped by the ferocious Beast Pack.

2. Bayonetta 3

Bayonetta 3 is a 2022 action-adventure game developed by PlatinumGames and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. The game was directed by Yusuke Miyata and produced by Yuji Nakao, with series creator Hideki Kamiya as supervising director.

3. Metroid Dread

Metroid Dread is a 2021 action-adventure game developed by MercurySteam and Nintendo EPD and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch on October 8, 2021. Dread is the ninth main Metroid game, the first since Metroid: Other M (2010), and the first original side-scrolling Metroid game since Metroid Fusion (2002).

4. Luigi’s Mansion 3

Luigi’s Mansion 3 is a 2019 action-adventure game developed by Next Level Games and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the third installment in the Luigi’s Mansion series, following Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (2013).

5. Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a 2022 action role-playing game developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company for the Nintendo Switch. It is part of the eighth generation of the Pokémon video game series and serves as a prequel to the fourth-generation titles Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (2006).

6. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a 2020 social simulation game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the fifth main installment in the Animal Crossing series, following Animal Crossing: New Leaf.

7. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a 2023 action-adventure game developed by Nintendo EPD for the Nintendo Switch. The player controls Link as he searches for Princess Zelda and fights to prevent Ganondorf from destroying Hyrule.

8. Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a 2019 tactical role-playing video game developed by Intelligent Systems and Koei Tecmo’s Kou Shibusawa and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. A collaboration between Intelligent Systems and Koei Tecmo, it is the sixteenth entry in the Fire Emblem series and the first for home consoles since Radiant Dawn, originally released in 2007.

9. Pikmin 4

Pikmin 4 is a 2023 real-time strategy video game co-developed by Nintendo EPD and Eighting, and published by Nintendo. It is the fourth main installment of the Pikmin series, following Pikmin 3 (2013), and the fifth installment overall.

10. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 is a 2014 kart racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U. It retains the gameplay of previous Mario Kart games, with players controlling characters from the Mario series and other Nintendo characters in races around tracks. Tracks are themed around locales from the Super Mario series populated with power-ups that help players gain advantages in races.

11. Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey is a 2017 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. An installment in the Super Mario series, it follows Mario and his new ally Cappy—a sentient hat—as they journey across various kingdoms to save Princess Peach from Mario’s nemesis Bowser’s plans of forced marriage.

12. Splatoon 3

Splatoon 3 is a 2022 third-person shooter game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is the third game in the Splatoon series and the sequel to Splatoon 2.

These are some of the best games for Nintendo in 2026. Got a favorite we left out? Share it in the comments — we love discovering new titles.

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