The Nintendo Switch is a surprisingly strong home for action games, combining a hybrid console that works in handheld mode with a library where Nintendo's own adventures sit next to PlatinumGames brawlers, id Software shooters and a deep bench of indie standouts. From stylish character action to Metroidvanias and roguelikes, its best action games reward quick reflexes and are just as comfortable on a commute as on a TV. Controls are solid across the board, though the hardware shows its age in the heaviest ports.
1. Hades#
Supergiant Games released Hades in full on Switch in September 2020, after a long early access period on PC. You play Zagreus, son of Hades, fighting out of the Underworld through randomly arranged rooms while Olympian gods grant boons that reshape your attacks. Each death returns you to the House of Hades, where conversations and upgrades move the story forward. The combat is fast, readable and endlessly varied, and the voice acting and art are superb. Its weakness is that button mashing can carry some weapon builds, and runs can feel repetitive before the story opens up.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild#
Nintendo EPD launched Breath of the Wild alongside the Switch in March 2017, and it reset expectations for open-world design. Link can climb almost any surface, glide with a paraglider and combine physics and elemental effects to solve problems and fight enemies in a huge Hyrule. Combat is more improvised than in a pure brawler, built on picking up whatever weapon is nearby. That is also its weak spot: weapons break constantly, which frustrates players who want to master one favorite. It is an action-adventure first, but few games on the platform make moment-to-moment combat feel this free.
3. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate#
Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. developed Super Smash Bros. Ultimate under Masahiro Sakurai, releasing it in December 2018 with every fighter from the series' history. The base roster was 74 characters, later expanded to 89 with DLC, across more than a hundred stages. It is a platform fighter, easy to pick up in a four-player match and deep enough for tournament play, and World of Light gives solo players a long adventure. Its online mode suffers from lag and weak matchmaking, so it is best enjoyed on a couch with friends.
4. Bayonetta 2#
PlatinumGames developed Bayonetta 2, which first appeared on Wii U in 2014 and arrived on Switch in February 2018 together with a port of the original Bayonetta. You play a witch who strings together guns, kicks and summoned demons in combos, with Witch Time slowing enemies if you dodge at the last moment. It is fast, flamboyant and endlessly inventive, with spectacular set pieces and a grading system that encourages replays. Its story is deliberately ridiculous and its sexualized tone is not for everyone, and newcomers may find the higher difficulties punishing.
5. Metroid Dread#
MercurySteam and Nintendo EPD released Metroid Dread in October 2021, the first new side-scrolling Metroid adventure since 2002's Fusion. Samus explores the hostile planet ZDR while being hunted by E.M.M.I. robots that force stealth and tense chases. Boss battles are sharp, controls are precise and the map rewards exploration with a steady stream of new abilities. It is also a demanding game, and its counter-based combat punishes mistimed inputs. It is fairly short for the genre, so those who want a long adventure may finish it quickly.
6. Hollow Knight#
Team Cherry's Hollow Knight reached Switch in June 2018, more than a year after its Windows launch, and brought a vast hand-drawn Metroidvania to a console that suits it perfectly. You control a silent insect knight exploring the underground kingdom of Hallownest, fighting with a nail and spells powered by Soul. Combat is precise, bosses are memorable and the atmosphere is quietly beautiful. Its free content updates added plenty of extra depth. Lack of direction can leave players lost, and the map must be bought and updated as you explore, which some find tedious.
7. Astral Chain#
PlatinumGames and director Takahisa Taura made Astral Chain exclusively for Switch in August 2019. You play one of twin police officers who fight alongside a chained Legion, a creature you control at the same time as your character. The pairing gives combat a layered rhythm that is unlike other brawlers, and the cyberpunk city and investigation sections add variety. Character designs are by manga artist Masakazu Katsura. The silent protagonist feels odd next to the voiced twin, and the investigative parts can drag between fights.
8. Doom Eternal#
id Software's Doom Eternal launched in March 2020, and Panic Button ported it to Switch in December that year. It is a demanding first-person shooter where Glory Kills restore health, the chainsaw refills ammo and the flamethrower restores armor, so you are always forced to keep moving and switching weapons. The pace is relentless and encounters feel like puzzles. The Switch version has lower resolution and visual compromises, but it remains impressively smooth. The platforming sections are awkward, and the story is more talkative than many players want.
9. Cuphead#
Studio MDHR made Cuphead in the style of 1930s cartoons, using hand-drawn animation and a jazz-infused soundtrack, and it arrived on Switch in April 2019. It is a run-and-gun and boss-rush game in which every boss has several phases and quick patterns you need to learn. Two players can team up locally. It is easily one of the best-looking games on the platform. It is also very difficult, with the late game feeling unforgiving, so players who dislike repeated deaths should skip it.
10. Dead Cells#
Motion Twin's Dead Cells arrived on Switch in August 2018, combining Metroidvania exploration with roguelike structure. Levels are procedurally generated and death means losing your weapons and upgrades, so each run is about improvising with whatever you find. The combat is tight and fluid, and the huge variety of weapons keeps things fresh. It works very well in handheld mode. The story is thin and mostly exists in the background, and the permadeath structure will not appeal to players who want a fixed, authored adventure.
11. Streets of Rage 4#
Dotemu, Lizardcube and Guard Crush Games released Streets of Rage 4 in April 2020, reviving the classic beat 'em up after decades. Hand-painted art, a driving electronic soundtrack and combo-based brawling make it a love letter to the 16-bit era, with up to four players locally and two online. Axel, Blaze, Cherry and Floyd play differently, and more characters unlock later. The campaign is short and a little conservative, so it works best for replay and co-op rather than as a long solo game.
12. Bayonetta 3#
PlatinumGames released Bayonetta 3 in October 2022, introducing Demon Masquerade, which lets Bayonetta merge with summoned demons, and a second playable witch, Viola, who fights with a parry-based style. The combat is among the most refined in the genre, and the game is bigger and more spectacular than before. It is also uneven on Switch, with inconsistent frame rates and long loading times, and some new sections and characters interrupt the pacing. Start with Bayonetta 2 if you are new to the series.
13. Katana Zero#
Askiisoft's Katana Zero, published by Devolver Digital, reached Switch in April 2019. You play an amnesiac assassin who dies to a single hit but can slow time, so every room becomes a quick puzzle you solve by trial and error and replay in one smooth flow. The synthwave soundtrack, neon look and dialogue system where you can interrupt characters give it plenty of style. It is short, and the ending leaves many questions unanswered, which some players find abrupt.
14. Monster Hunter Rise#
Capcom's Monster Hunter Rise launched on Switch in March 2021. You track and fight huge monsters with one of 14 weapon types, using the Wirebug for vertical movement and riding a Palamute dog companion across the map. Up to four players can hunt together online. It is more accessible than earlier games in the series and runs well for a handheld. Its menu and crafting systems still take time to learn, and the pace will feel slow to those who want instant action.
15. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity#
Omega Force developed Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, a Nintendo-published prequel to Breath of the Wild released in November 2020. It is a musou game in which you cut through hundreds of enemies as a cast of 18 playable characters from Zelda's world, using Sheikah Slate abilities and big special moves. It is a great fit for fans of the Zelda setting and for playing in short bursts. Repetitive missions and an inconsistent frame rate hold it back, and those who dislike the genre will get little from it.