Nintendo Switch

2022 was a great year for the Nintendo Switch, with some great new titles from Nintendo itself, some great RPG ports from third-party developers, ...

And the game has already gotten [a fresh batch of new content](https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/14/23457879/splatoon-3-chill-season-2022-update-nintendo-switch) since its September release. [Splatoon 3](https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/14/23457879/splatoon-3-chill-season-2022-update-nintendo-switch) doesn’t do much to change the Splatoon formula, but I’d argue that’s a good thing. The soundtrack [absolutely rocks](https://www.theverge.com/2022/12/1/23488120/nintendo-live-2022-concert-holograms-k-k-slider-animal-crossing-splatoon-3), so you’ll be jamming the whole time you play. [Persona 5 Royal](https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/17/23403042/persona-5-royal-nier-automata-nintendo-switch-review), one of the best role-playing games of all time, 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 PlayStation is intact. [Nintendo Switch Sports](https://www.theverge.com/2022/4/27/23044617/nintendo-switch-sports-wii-sports-party-game) is that it has another Nintendo-made bowling game. Take all that with a ridiculous story told largely in the form of a visual novel, and you get, as creative director Ben Esposito told me, [“the most video games game possible.”](https://www.theverge.com/23187369/neon-white-ben-esposito-most-video-games-game-possible) In addition to standard classes like knights and mages and less traditional ones like pirates, boxers, and even chefs, you’ll often have to pick from one of many bad traits (like hard-to-see enemies) that offer some kind of bonus, meaning each run is a balancing act of risk and reward. An offshoot from the mainline Pokémon series, Arceus rethinks a lot of the mechanics that have stayed largely unchanged since the beginning of the series. [“turns you into a demon-hunting speedrunner,”](https://www.theverge.com/23169390/neon-white-review-steam-nintendo-switch) and I don’t think I can come up with a more concise description. Nintendo itself released a bunch of excellent games (including two great Pokémon titles), third-party developers ported some phenomenal RPGs, and indies launched some of my sleeper hits of the year. The tricks all serve a story with some exciting turns, and by the end of the game, you’ll actually feel like you’re a master of the cards. But if you’re looking for some games to play in the meantime, here are some of my favorite Switch games from 2022.

With just a few days left in the year, it seems almost certain that the Nintendo 64 classic GoldenEye 007 will be coming to Nintendo Switch in 2023.

When it does come, fans can look forward to local co-op on the Nintendo Switch version — a feature that will be missing from the game when it also arrives on Xbox. At the time it was announced as “coming soon” for those with a subscription to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. However, it clearly was mentioned for 2023 in Australia.

Some overlooked games you might have missed - Another year has gone by and we've seen a positive smorgasbord of new Switch...

[Finding Paradise (Switch eShop)](games/switch-eshop/finding_paradise) [Finding Paradise](https://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/finding_paradise) is a worthy successor to the superlative [To The Moon](https://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/to_the_moon). [Beacon Pines (Switch eShop)](games/switch-eshop/beacon_pines) [Beacon Pines](https://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/beacon_pines) presents a rich world filled with deeply considered, not to mention adorable, characters. [Wobbledogs (Switch eShop)](games/switch-eshop/wobbledogs) [Wobbledogs](games/switch-eshop/wobbledogs) fulfils the dream all the same, except instead of gorgeous little puppies, you're making cuboid abominations with the help of comedically-bizarre breeding rituals that involve dogs laying eggs and periodically going into cocoons. [Penko Park](https://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/penko_park) is still a wonderfully charming 'successor' to [Pokémon Snap](https://www.nintendolife.com/games/n64/pokemon_snap). [Windosill (Switch eShop)](games/switch-eshop/windosill) [Strange Horticulture (Switch eShop)](games/switch-eshop/strange_horticulture) [Strange Horticulture](https://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/strange_horticulture)’s biggest struggle is shoehorning itself into the Switch’s little screen and thumbstick controls. [Penko Park (Switch eShop)](games/switch-eshop/penko_park) [Tinykin (Switch eShop)](games/switch-eshop/tinykin) [OneShot: World Machine Edition](https://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/oneshot_world_machine_edition) has an endearing, sombre story in which developer Future Cat makes you – the player – a character. [Haiku the Robot (Switch eShop)](games/switch-eshop/haiku_the_robot) [Haiku the Robot](https://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/haiku_the_robot) is a game that has all the hallmarks of the non-linear platformers that came before it (enter a zone, find an upgrade, use upgrade to access new zone, repeat) but with some stellar world-building and a GBA-inspired art style, this really isn't one to miss. So today we'd like to showcase a clutch of games that we feel might have fallen under your radar, whether due to launching at an inopportune time or for simply being a little bit obscure.

2022 Nintendo produced many big hitters, instantly impressing fans and players. Best Nintendo games of 2022 include Bayonetta 3, Mario + Rabbids and Pokemon ...

In fact, [Bayonetta 3 has impressed players](https://www.cbr.com/bayonetta-3-best-features/) with its crisp fluid combat and general gameplay, bringing the pure ridiculousness to life in creative ways. [Xenoblade Chronicles](https://www.cbr.com/tag/xenoblade-chronicles/) franchise has become a beloved staple of Nintendo over the years, but Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has hit unprecedented levels of popularity since its July release. Nintendo Switch exclusives deserve a lot of love, but 2022 has also been a huge year for the console getting some huge ports of successful games, and not just Persona 5. Sparks of Hope sees the return of Ubisoft with their Rabbids franchise, and players have been impressed with the improvement from the initial crossover, Kingdom Battle. [various updates have been quickly released](https://www.cbr.com/nintendo-games-best-dlc/) to counter any issues experienced, which always comes as a relief to players. Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a fun experience but not without a level of difficulty. The Nintendo Switch has since taken these concepts and applied them elsewhere, but 2022 finally saw the release of Nintendo Switch Sports, carrying on from that legacy made by its Wii counterpart. Warriors: Three Hopes is seen as a spin-off to the 2019 release Fire Emblem: Three Houses, offering players an alternative path with familiar characters and scenarios. [Pokémon](https://www.cbr.com/tag/pokemon/) franchise, from announcing Ash's departure from the anime to two groundbreaking new games. Wii Sports was the perfect game to encourage an extra level of interaction and activity in gaming, as well as appealing to all ages, especially in families. The Nintendo Switch continues to be a popular console with its innovative ideas and various new releases. Triangle Strategy thrives with a compelling story being held up by this satisfying gameplay and the various quality of life features, including the encampment.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus. The game puts players in the Hisui region. It offers an introduction to open-world encounters and the visuals are quite good.

Scarlet and Violet offer a fresh coat of paint to the series. The adorable pink glutton swallows a car and transforms into one. It offers an introduction to open-world encounters and the visuals are quite good.