The list is short on purpose. Only games that arrived on Switch or Switch 2 in 2026, and that critics genuinely rated highly, are included, and mixed-reception releases were left out rather than used as filler. Scores are the aggregate figures reported around the time of writing and can move a point or two. The page is updated as more releases land and as late ports such as Mewgenics and LEGO Batman collect their own reviews.
1. Mina the Hollower#
Yacht Club Games, the studio behind Shovel Knight, released this top-down action adventure on 29 May 2026 for Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox and PC, so it runs on both generations of Nintendo hardware. Mina, a mouse with a whip and a burrowing dash, explores a cursed island with a Game Boy Color inspired look, Zelda-style progression and Castlevania-style mood. Metacritic landed at about 92, briefly the highest of the year, and outlets such as IGN and RPG Site handed out perfect scores. Critics singled out the secret-packed map and sharp combat. The retro art also suits handheld play well. The caveat is that the deliberately old-school navigation and pixel presentation will feel austere to anyone who wants a modern open world.
2. Pokémon Pokopia#
Pokémon Pokopia is a Switch 2 exclusive from Game Freak and Koei Tecmo's Omega Force, released on 5 March 2026. There is no battling: the player is a Ditto disguised as a human who rebuilds a ruined Kanto by befriending Pokémon and building habitats around their abilities. Metacritic reached 89, the best figure the franchise has seen in years, and OpenCritic reports roughly 93 percent of critics recommending it. Reviewers compared it to Animal Crossing and praised how each Pokémon's skill feeds directly into construction. It is also a strong argument for owning the newer console. The weakness is that some building quests turn repetitive, and TheGamer's 6 out of 10 shows that the low-stakes loop is not for everyone.
3. Resident Evil Requiem#
Capcom's ninth mainline Resident Evil launched on 27 February 2026 on PS5, Xbox, PC and Switch 2, and the Switch 2 version is a rare case where the port is part of the story. Digital Foundry called it one of the best third-party ports on the system, with roughly 60 fps and DLSS-assisted image quality that beats the Xbox Series S. The Switch 2 Metascore was reported at 90 from a dozen reviews, against 88 on PS5, and Nintendo Life gave it 9 out of 10. Critics loved the puzzle-heavy survival horror of Grace's sections and the more confident action of Leon's. The common complaint is uneven pacing, as the action-leaning stretches dilute the dread. Textures and ray tracing are also cut back on Switch 2.
4. Mewgenics#
Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel's turn-based roguelite about breeding and commanding cats came to PC first and reached Switch 2 on 8 September 2026, alongside PS5 and Xbox. It carries a Metacritic score in the high 80s, and critics praised the depth of the class, mutation and breeding systems that make each run personal. RPG Site called the Switch 2 port an excellent portable experience with fast loading and useful touch controls, which suits a game built from short, tactical sessions. Its docked mode is the weak spot: the same resolution as handheld and no anti-aliasing lead to noticeable jagged edges, and the mouse-style Joy-Con control is not to everyone's taste. Dense systems and McMillen's crude humor also demand patience.
5. Onimusha: Way of the Sword#
Capcom revived its samurai series with this action game, released on 4 September 2026 on Switch 2, PS5, Xbox and PC. Playing as Miyamoto Musashi in Edo-period Kyoto, the player fights Genma demons with a parry-focused, deliberate swordplay system and the Oni Gauntlet. The PS5 version sits at 85 on Metacritic with an OpenCritic average of 86, and the Switch 2 version was reported at up to 89. Nintendo Life scored it 9 out of 10 and noted that it runs impressively on the console. It defaults to 30 fps, with an unlocked mode aiming for 60, and handheld resolution takes a visible dip. Critics flagged repeated mini-bosses, a mid-to-late difficulty spike, and awkward English voice acting.
6. Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection#
Capcom's turn-based monster-raising RPG arrived on 13 March 2026 for Switch 2, PS5, Xbox and PC. The player is a Rider who hatches eggs and fights alongside bonded monsters, and Metacritic sits around 86 with Nintendo Life giving it 8 out of 10. Reviewers called it the strongest entry in the Stories line, with a well-voiced story, streamlined egg collecting and dozens of hours of content. It is the clearest example on this list of a good game that the console struggles to run. Nintendo Life reported overworld frame rates wobbling between 30 and 45 fps, with no performance options and pop-in in the hub areas. Difficulty spikes can also demand grinding. Newcomers to the series will find it approachable, but the technical rough edges remain.
7. Pragmata#
Pragmata is Capcom's sci-fi shooter, released on 17 April 2026, in which Hugh fights rogue AI on a lunar station while the android Diana hacks enemies in real time. It is on Switch 2, PS5, Xbox and PC. Metacritic is around 85 on PS5, and the small pool of Switch 2 reviews put that version at roughly 90. The combined aiming-and-hacking loop is the reason critics rate it. On Switch 2, Digital Foundry found an unlocked frame rate hovering between 30 and 50 fps, DLSS from a 540p base image when docked, and 360p in handheld, plus downgraded lighting and stiffer hair. Critics also noted that level design plays it safe compared with its mechanics.
8. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight#
Released on Xbox, PS5 and PC first, the Switch 2 version followed on 18 September 2026 at 70 dollars, with a Deluxe edition at 90. The game earned a Metascore around 84 on other platforms, higher than earlier LEGO games such as LEGO Star Wars, and reviewers praised its combat, humor and story. For Nintendo owners it is a colourful, easily shared open-world adventure that suits both docked couch play and handheld sessions. Because the Switch 2 port arrived months after the rest, there are fewer independent Switch 2 impressions to draw on, so the ranking rests on the game's overall reception. The weak points are the premium price and the fact that the LEGO formula remains familiar.
9. Rhythm Heaven Groove#
Nintendo's rhythm series returned on 2 July 2026 for Switch, and it also plays on Switch 2. OpenCritic shows a top critic average of 83 and Metacritic 82, the best the series has earned on a home console. IGN scored it 9 out of 10, and Eurogamer called it infectiously charming. Praise goes to the music-driven minigames and the surprisingly inventive Beatspell RPG mode. The main concern is technical: several reviewers reported audio latency when playing on a television, which matters in a genre where a single frame decides success. Some critics also felt the core minigames are a little less charming than the series' peaks. It is best played handheld, where the latency problem is less of an issue.
10. Star Fox#
Velan Studios' remake of Star Fox 64 arrived on Switch 2 on 25 June 2026. Metacritic sits at 81 to 82 and OpenCritic at 84, with 87 percent of critics recommending it. Reviewers praised the visual overhaul, orchestral soundtrack, cinematic cutscenes and a steady 60 fps, and some called it a template for how Nintendo should handle remakes. It is a strong pick for newcomers to the series and a good showcase for the console's graphics. The caveat is that it changes little in the campaign itself. On-rails shooting shows its age, and long-time fans who wanted new content instead of a polished replay may come away with mixed feelings.
11. Splatoon Raiders#
Splatoon Raiders is a Switch 2 exclusive released on 23 July 2026, turning the series' Salmon Run idea into a single-player looter-shooter campaign of short raids with crafting and heavy customization. Metacritic is 81 and OpenCritic 80 with 87 percent recommending. IGN gave it 9 out of 10 and described an expertly executed loop, and Game Informer praised the steady sense of upgrading. Several reviews called it the best Splatoon campaign to date. Tom's Guide also noted strong technical performance. The drawback is late-game repetition in missions, and Giant Bomb found little reason to keep playing after the credits. Fans of the competitive online side of Splatoon will not find that here.
12. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined#
Square Enix's remake of the sprawling 2000 role-playing game launched on 5 February 2026 on Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox and PC. Metacritic reads 81 and OpenCritic 85. Reviewers liked the modernised visuals, faster pacing and quality-of-life changes that tame a very long adventure, and its episodic structure suits handheld play. Nintendo Life highlighted the gorgeous presentation. The catch is fidelity: IGN argued that some changes go too far and sand down the experience, and Forbes called it a little soulless at times. The story is still slow and episodic by design, so it rewards patience rather than delivering the fast start modern players might expect.
This list will grow as more Switch and Switch 2 releases arrive in 2026 and as review scores settle. The ordering reflects critic consensus at the time of writing, not a permanent verdict, and games with fewer reviews on Switch 2 specifically will be re-weighed as more coverage appears.