The best Nintendo Switch 2 games for 2026

Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . Engadget The best Nintendo Switch 2 games for 2026 Load up your new console with excellent games for all kinds of players. One of the best things about the Switch 2 is how familiar it feels if you have used any previous Switch console. You can still move between handheld and TV play without thinking about it, and most of your favorite games come along for the ride. Nintendo’s compatibility page highlights the rare titles with quirks, while its transfer guide helps you bring over your data so you can pick up right where you left off. Once you are set up, the Switch 2’s library opens up fast. From cozy indie adventures to sprawling open-world games and couch-co-op staples, the system has something for every kind of player. We pulled together the best Nintendo Switch 2 games to help you figure out what to play first, whether you are replaying old favorites or diving into something completely new. Best Nintendo Switch 2 games for 2026 Mario Kart World isn’t quite the reinvention of the massively popular franchise that I thought it might be based on Nintendo’s extensive preview of the game. No matter. Mario Kart is a proven formula, and Nintendo has done more than enough to make MKW the kind of game that millions of people will play over the next decade or so. There are a ton of cleverly-designed new tracks that you can pick up and play immediately - but the more time you put into them, the more shortcuts and secrets you’ll find to help master them. There’s a truckload of Nintendo characters to pilot your kart or bike, from the heavy hitters to bizarre but amusing choices like a Piranha plant. And there are beefed-up multiplayer and sharing features powered by GameChat on the Switch 2. But while Mario Kart World will feel familiar to the millions who played Mario Kart 8 , it also introduces a few noteworthy new features. One is that the majority of courses don’t have you doing three laps around a track - instead, you’re driving from point A to point B, with every track being set in a part of a larger world (hence the name). And there’s an open-world mode where you’re not in a race. You can cruise from one side of the map to the other, looking for little bonus challenges, unlocking more outfits for your characters and finding other collectibles. There are hundreds of P-Switch challenges and dozens of Peach medallions and question mark boxes you can track down. The fact that you can’t cruise around free roam in multiplayer mode is a major bummer, and the world itself feels somewhat deserted as a result, but there’s still a ton to do here. The open-world nature of the...

Preview: ~500 words