Best Nintendo Switch Games From 2022
The best Nintendo Switch games from 2022 include Animal Crossings: New Horizons, Splatoon 3, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Video games are a hit among nearly every age group. With options to play them on our computers, phones, and gaming consoles, there really is no excuse to skip some quality time with your favorite game(s). But one console offers the ability to game on the go, which is a fantastic option in an increasingly busy world. The portable Nintendo Switch ensures your favorite video games are always close at hand and the best Switch games in 2022 prove just that.
However, gamers who turn their Switch on regularly always seek the newest, latest, and greatest video games. Don’t worry. We can help you sort through the piles of info and discover a new gem. Below, we dive into details about seven of the best Switch games in 2022.
BEST NINTENDO SWITCH GAMES 2022 – TOP SELLERS
Nintendo Switch is still hot among gamers, even after all these years. Sales are particularly good for certain franchises. Below, we will look at three all-time top-selling Switch games for Nintendo. All numbers reflect the latest lifetime sales data released by the company.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
The Mario Kart franchise continues to stand the test of time, making the list of best Switch games in 2022. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was based on the Wii U game – Mario Kart 8. The original launched in 2014 and was such a smashing success that Nintendo decided to expand it.
So, in 2017, the company released Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch. The popular game includes all the features from the original, along with some fantastic upgrades.
Although the sought-after game is not new, it continues to rake in consumer accolades. By the end of the third quarter of 2022, it was Nintendo’s best-selling Switch game ever. The company sold 48.41 million units since the game’s launch.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
What may surprise you is the game that came in at number two at the close of the third quarter, making it one of the best Switch games in 2022.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the latest edition of the Animal Crossing universe. This incredibly popular game is a live social simulation released in March 2020. Players develop their own characters and interact with others while designing a new life on a deserted island.
Like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is tough to beat in terms of overall sales. Customers are happily doling out hard-earned money for a copy of this game for their kids (or themselves).
At the close of the third quarter in 2022, Nintendo sold 40.17 million units in just over two years. It’s easy to see why this was one of the best Switch games in 2022.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Trailing behind the top two best Switch games in 2022 is Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. But don’t let its third-place position fool you. Nintendo released the fifth installment of the Super Smash Bros. line just before Christmas in 2018.
Thanks to the jaw-dropping 74 characters to choose from, there is no end to fun gaming. And that is likely one of the reasons for its continued popularity four years after its release.
By the end of the third quarter, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sold 29.53 million units throughout its life. So, clearly, fans aren’t tired of it yet and it’s an easy addition to the best Switch games in 2022.
BEST SWITCH GAMES 2022 – NEW RELEASES
After seeing how well the classic games are selling, it would be easy to assume Nintendo isn’t doing great things in its game development. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. The company launched multiple highly successful options, putting them among the best Switch games in 2022.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Pokémon fans rejoiced when one of the newest iterations got released in January, quickly joining the ranks of best Switch games in 2022, early in the year. (In November of 2022 Pokémon Scarlet and Violet launched as the latest installment to the core series.) The role-playing game takes players on action-packed adventures through the Pokémon world.
Set in the distant past, in the Hisui region that would later become Sinnoh, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a prequel to events occurring in the 2006 game Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. And needless to say, it was a hit from the start, selling a whopping 13.91 million units by the end of September 2022.
Splatoon 3
If you haven’t taken a step into the Splatoon universe, now is the time. Splatoon 3 was a widely anticipated game and definitely didn’t disappoint. The third-person shooting game offers single-player and multiple online multiplayer options.
After its release in early September, it became the fastest-selling game in the Splatoon franchise. By the end of the release month, unit sales already neared eight million copies and it easily made the list of best Switch games in 2022.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
The latest edition to the Kirby series was an almost instantaneous success. Kirby and the Forgotten Land was officially released at the end of March 2022 and rapidly exceeded 5.2 million copies sold. Additionally, it has received great write-ups from fan sites and multiple year-end game review sites. Perhaps one of the reasons for its success is the new 3D gaming feature.
BONUS NINTENDO SWITCH GAME RECOMMENDATION
There is one other game that comes almost universally recommended by gamers. It takes the spot for our bonus recommendation.
Nintendo Switch Sports
This top-rated video game launched at the end of April 2022. Although critics weren’t necessarily thrilled with it, the fans disagreed. Within two months, Nintendo Switch Sports sold 4.8 million units.
If you were a fan of Wii Sports, this may be right up your alley. It is a sports simulation game set at a fictional facility. Players can choose from seven sports, including the familiar swordplay, bowling, and tennis games.
So, what are you waiting for? You have had a chance to read about the seven best Switch games of 2022. Now is the time to hop online and pick up one (or three). Gaming adventures await; the sky is the limit. And, thankfully, Nintendo Switch offers a little something for everyone.