Nintendo Switch 2 finally hit store shelves in June after years of rumors and speculation about it. While there was concern that it could not live up to expectations prior to its release, the new gaming platform has been a resounding success in its first six months on the market. It's not only some of the best gaming hardware Nintendo has ever released, but it has had an amazing launch window lineup of games.

The first six months of the Switch 2's lifespan were packed with interesting games, big and small. We've seen bold reinterpretations of classic series like Donkey Kong Bananza and experimental new IP like Drag X Drive. Now that all of 2025's major Switch 2 exclusives are out and the year is winding down, I thought it'd be a great time to rank them.

I've decided to exclude games previously released on the original Nintendo Switch that got Switch 2 Editions this year, like Mario Party Jamobree or Kirby and the Forgotten Land. That said, titles that launched simultaneously on both platforms this year, like Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, are fair game. I'm also focusing on games Nintendo published, so Hades 2 isn't being ranked.

With those exceptions out of the way, check out my ranking below to see what I thought of the first six months of Nintendo Switch 2 gaming.

8 Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

Released on June 5

This Switch 2 launch title is pretty infamous at this point. It's essentially a souped-up tech demo and system tutorial for the console that wasn't given to console owners for free. Instead, you have to pay $10 to learn more about a system you already spent upwards of $500 on. I can't really recommend you go out of your way to play this game for that reason.

That said, some of its minigames are pretty fun, and I commend Nintendo's effort to make a user's manual an interactive, educational, and sometimes even fun experience. Ultimately, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour suffers from being a miscalculation on Nintendo's end. Instead of being a neat novelty like Astro's Playroom, it's by far the one Nintendo Switch game you shouldn't pick up.

7 Drag X Drive

Released August 14

I wish Drag X Drive was better than it actually is. I love a game that really experiments with what a gaming platform or controller can do, and this does that more than any other game in the Switch 2's launch-year catalog. It's essentially a wheelchair basketball game where players use the Joy-Con 2's mouse controls to move around and perform different actions.

While it's initially novel to play Drag X Drive, doing so does get pretty tiring. Its world and aesthetic are dull, so there doesn't feel like much of a reason to keep playing, and it lacks the depth of most other modern sports video games. As a result, it can never really move beyond the confines of a tech demo and feels destined to have dead online servers within a year or two.

6 Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Released December 4

At this point, I would consider every game on this list to be good and worth an interested player's time. That said, I like some Switch 2 games better than others, and I wasn't particularly fond of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. This game had over seven years of hype heading into its release, and it underwhelmed as a fairly unoriginal rehash of the Metroid Prime formula.

Thankfully, that core formula is engaging, and the world design and writing in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond are top-notch. If you've ever wondered what this series is all about or are a die-hard Metroid fan, you will enjoy this game. That said, I would prefer to play any of the other Nintendo-published Switch 2 games released this year over this one.

5 Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Released on October 16

I think Pokémon X and Y are pretty underrated, so I was excited to see the franchise return to Kalos with Pokémon Legends: Z-A. That said, this game takes a pretty creative approach to revisiting a previous Pokémon game. It's all set in one open world, a built-up Lumiose City, and battles now take place completely in real time.

If you've been getting tired of the Pokémon games rehashing the same gameplay ideas year-over-year, Pokémon Legends: Z-A will feel like a breath of fresh air. It is the ugliest game on this list, and the real-time battles could use a little bit of refinement to be more engaging. Pokémon Legends: Z-A is one of the most innovative games this franchise has seen in years, though, and deserves praise for that.

4 Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

Released November 6

The Hyrule Warriors games all follow a similar formula. They let you control different characters from The Legend of Zelda series as they fight hordes of enemies in massive war-game-like battles. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment does not reinvent that approach, but it does run like a technical marvel on Switch 2. From a hardware perspective, this is one of the most impressive games you can play on the system.

On top of that, it delivers one of the best stories in a The Legend of Zelda game in recent memory. It serves as a direct prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, making it a must-play for those who care about the series' canon. While some other Switch 2 games from this year were more original, I'm really glad I took the time to play Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.

3 Kirby Air Riders

Released November 20

The most unexpected game from the Switch 2's first six months was probably Kirby Air Riders, a revival of a cult classic GameCube game. This sequel showed why the original was a cult classic in the first place, though, delivering some thrilling racing action that you can't really find anywhere else. You can play this game competently with just one button, but there's so much more depth there for those interested.

The Air Ride, Top Ride, and City Trial modes all recontextualize the one-button racing mechanics in creative ways, while the Road Trip mode gives you a taste of all three in a roguelite structure. It offers some of the most fun you can have with a competitive game on Switch 2, and always gives you a reason to keep playing with its frequent achievement and award unlocks. Don't sleep on Kirby Air Riders.

2 Mario Kart World

Released June 5

A launch title for Switch 2, Mario Kart World feels like it will be one of the quintessential games for the system. It offers the core Mario Kart experience we've all come to know and love, but with some key changes that make it well worth your time. Racers now include 24 players, and every track in the game is part of one cohesive open world.

This means every track is connected in some way, which the game takes full advantage of in modes like Knockout Tour, where players have to race to stay at the front of the pack or face elimination. Free Roam mode also lets you explore that entire world and uncover its secrets, alone or with friends. It's fun alone or with others, so if you pick up a Switch 2, you can't go wrong with also buying Mario Kart World. You may want to buy the console bundle, it's in, though, as the game is $80 on its own.

1 Donkey Kong Bananza

Released July 17

If you read XDA's game of the year list, it's probably not surprising to you that Donkey Kong Bananza earned the top spot. This new 3D platformer starring one of Nintendo's most iconic characters lets players destroy almost any part of the levels they explore. While that sounds like it could be chaotic and confusing, Donkey Kong Bananza feels surprisingly focused.

It not only pays tribute to the history of Donkey Kong video games, but delivers a kind of gameplay experience I've never seen in a 3D platformer before. I absolutely loved every new idea this game introduced, and reveled at the fact that it understood that the simple act of destruction in games can be so ridiculously satisfying. Like Mario Kart World, it'll go down as an all-timer in the Switch 2's library of games.

An outstanding first year

Nintendo Switch 2 may have one of the best launch-year lineups of any video game console ever. Although Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour and Drag X Drive were duds, both are worthwhile in their own quirky ways. Meanwhile, every other game on this list meets a standard other platform holders wish they could consistently hit with their first-party output. With games like Yoshi and the Mysterious Book and Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave to look forward to in 2026, the Switch 2's future certainly looks bright.