3 Must-Have Nintendo Switch Games For The 2024 Holiday Season

The Nintendo Switch has been the go-to portable console for the past seven years. And yet, it somehow manages to keep the gaming experience feeling fresh thanks to the fantastic titles that drop every few months with some of Nintendo's most beloved characters.

While the games library has grown so full since launch between original titles and the vast collection available through Nintendo Switch Online, there are a few recent releases that should be on your radar!

We've already created an Ultimate Gift Guide for Nintendo Fans, so now, let's dig into the must-have games for Switch this holiday season!

1. Mario & Luigi Brothership

While there've been many games with Mario and Luigi in them over the decades, the duo launched their own games series on the Nintendo 3DS in 2015 with Mario & Luigi Paper Jam. That fun continued in 2024 with the launch of Mario & Luigi Brothership.

In this RPG, Mario and Luigi are transported from the Mushroom Kingdom to the land of Concordia. While there, they travel between various islands, leveling up their abilities and items in turn-based combat.

The art style has strong Paper Mario vibes, but for the first time in this specific games series, you explore a full 3D environment. The combat is a lot of fun and the addition of Luigi Logic, a special power up that gives you a unique attack during boss battles to inflict major damage on your enemies.

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Mario & Luigi Brothership

Dynamic Duo!

If you're a fan of RPGs (or just love all things Mario & Luigi) this game offers dynamic turn-based combat with an original art style.

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2. Super Mario Party Jamboree

A classic since the N64-era, Mario Party is the ultimate game for playing with a group. Even people who claim they don't like video games can't resist getting in on the fun of the game boards and silliness of the mini-games. Super Mario Party Jamboree came out in October of 2024 and is a must-have title for Nintendo Switch.

With five new boards and two classic ones returning, this title is a great mix of familiar franchise tropes but also adds some new elements. In past entries, luck could really upend strategic game playing, but with Jamboree "Pro Rules" can be turned on, which results in fewer random stars be doled out during the game, and foxes more on player performance.

Whether you're playing Party Mode, cycling between your favourite mini games on demand, or hopping online to play against friends or random gamers, this is a title that doesn't get tired because each round is as unique as the people playing it!

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Super Mario Party Jamboree

Party Time!

Everything you love about the Mario Party games is here! Whether you're playing online, or couch co-op with friends this game is endless hours of fun!

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3. The Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom

The latest Zelda entry marks many firsts for the franchise! The biggest - playing as Princess Zelda!

For the first time in a first party Nintendo game, players will be playing the game from Princess Zelda's perspective as she tries to save Hyrule as mysterious rifts open across the land while also rescuing the hero of time who has gone missing.

I wrote extensively about my preview experience with the game and since then thoroughly enjoyed completed this title. While it is most similar to Link's Awakening (the Switch reimagining based on the Game Boy title) it reminded me of how much I love other titles in this franchise and for various reasons had me eager to hop back into tiles like Twilight Princess (because of the Still World) and Link Between Worlds (Echoes are an intuitive new element much like Link turning into a painting was in the 3DS title). This is a really enjoyable Nintendo experience that combines familiar characters and settings with new abilities and stories.

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Echoes of Wisdom

Spotlight on Zelda

Finally! Zelda gets to lead her own adventure! As you meet Zoras, Gerudos, and other familiar charcters from the land of Hyrule, Zelda uses a new ability to solve puzzle on her quest to save her kingdom and Link!

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The Best Switch Games

All signs point to the reveal of the Switch successor happening in 2025. And based on information presented on a shareholders call, it seems that the Nintendo Switch Online service and Nintendo Switch games will be playable on this new console.

So even though the lifecycle of Switch may be winding down, there's no reason to stop collecting and enjoying the great titles that continue to arrive on this console.

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Move Over Link!

Preview: One hour with the Legend of Zelda Echoes of Wisdom

Hitting stores September 26, 2024 the Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom lets you play as Zelda as she goes on an epic quest to save the Kingdom of Hyrule. Armed with new abilities amongst familiar foes there's a great balance between nostalgia and new.

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Ultimate Gift Guide For Nintendo Fans

For fans of of Super Mario, Zelda, Metroid, or any other iconic Nintendo franchise, this collection of gift ideas is sure to delight!

High Score!

Best iPad Mini gaming controller - almost the best iPhone controller

The Razer Kishi Ultra is the highest quality mobile gaming controller the company makes and the experience of using this with iPhone and iPad is (nearly) perfect!

Gaming on the go

For the best gaming experience, slide your iPhone into a controller!

iPhone 15 Pro and Max open up new gaming possibilities on iPhone. But proper gaming needs buttons, and joy sticks and D-Pads! Fortunately, there are some great options to slide your iPhone into a controller grip for a proper gaming session.