Image: Nintendo LifeAs we head into the final week of 2024, it's time to slay the GOTY monster that devours the Decembers of many a gamer.While Nintendo itself has been in wind-down mode, with most internal resources focused on the next console and a software lineup to kickstart it, Switch itself has had a pretty great year. Nintendo enlisted its various partner studios to shoulder the first-party load as Switch went into its eighth year, and third parties and indies have continued to keep things interesting.As ever, there are more great games to play than time to play them, but news that the Switch successor will be backwards compatible gives our backlogs a reprieve for another generation.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Here at Nintendo Life Towers, we'll be sending out our reader-ranked Top 50 Switch GOTYs soon, but to shine a personal light on a range of 2024 gems, today we'll be highlighting the NL team's unranked picks. Our staff members submitted their Top 5 Switch games of the year and they're presented below, in no particular order, spotlighting some NL favourites that may get overshadowed elsewhere by your Zeldas and your Marios (although you'll find those below too, naturally). Bring out your GOTYs!We've got a whopping 27 on the list this year, a testament to the huge variety of experiences on Switch. You'll find a list of honourable mentions at the bottom, too.NL staff key: Alana Hagues (AH), Alex Olney (AO), Felix Sanchez (FS), Gavin Lane (GL), Jim Norman (JN), Liam Doolan (LD), Ollie Reynolds (OR), PJ O'Reilly (PJ)Balatro (Switch eShop)Publisher: PlayStack / Developer: LocalThunkRelease Date: 20th Feb 2024 (USA) / 20th Feb 2024 (UK/EU)You know, I kind of hate Balatro for making me love it so much. I don't have time for these sorts of crazy-intense relationships anymore. It's too much commitment. But here we are, with a crazy amount of hours down the toilet to this amazingly addictive blend of card game (which I'm not even a huge fan of) and video game elements that super-power your deck. It's easy to get into, incredibly moreish don't stress if, like me, you're put off by card rules and it's also got a very unique and weird vibe about it, so once you've clicked with it...well...RIP and all that. PJOne moment I found myself curious about the furore. The next, Im swept up in its hypnotic music, quirky collection of jokers, and picking the Wheel of Fortune every time it pops up. What do you mean "Nope!"? It means "Nope, youre never putting this game down." AHOf all the puzzling, platforming, and sword-swinging Ive done this year, nothing compared to the moment I discovered how to change the order of Jokers. Talk about finally seeing the Matrix. JNPlease note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.Thank Goodness You're Here! (Switch eShop)Publisher: Panic / Developer: Coal SupperRelease Date: 1st Aug 2024 (USA) / 1st Aug 2024 (UK/EU)2024 couldnt give me anything else that made me laugh nearly as much as Thank Goodness Youre Here. Ive never played a game that made my face ache, but I had to take a break halfway through this one after a particularly crude joke with a fish left me with tears in my eyes. Its an absolute gem of British comedy and a definite must-play (just steer clear if your mums within earshot). JNPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Switch)Publisher: Ubisoft / Developer: Ubisoft MontpellierRelease Date: 18th Jan 2024 (USA) / 18th Jan 2024 (UK/EU)It's been one of the really big gutters of the year in gaming news, that the team behind this incredible outing for the PoP has been disbanded. Where's the point in it all when you serve up one of the great side-scrolling platformers and maybe just the best Prince of Persia game yet to turn around and be told it didn't do well enough?This is a dazzling game, a smart, exciting and hugely addictive effort that looks, sounds, and plays like an absolute dream. PJVolgarr the Viking II (Switch eShop)Publisher: Digital Eclipse / Developer: Crazy Viking StudiosRelease Date: 6th Aug 2024 (USA) / 6th Aug 2024 (UK/EU)I relish a good retro-inspired challenge, and Volgarr 2 provides it in spades. A minor issue with the UI has since been patched out, and the optional Undead Mode makes this an approachable action-platforming jaunt for newcomers. Sublime. ORThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Switch)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: NintendoRelease Date: 26th Sep 2024 (USA) / 26th Sep 2024 (UK/EU)You know, I actually prefer Echoes of Wisdom to Tears of the Kingdom. Is that controversial? I don't think so. This is just more my speed, more my cup of tea, when it comes to Zelda. And as much as I adore the bigger outings, after Breath of the Wild, I'm more than happy to settle into something a little less overwhelming. At least for now. PJZelda fans have waited almost 40 years to play as the princess in her own mainline adventure and now they finally can in Echoes of Wisdom. Thank you, Nintendo. LDBuy The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of WisdomUSAUKEURJPNCANRollerCoaster Tycoon Classic (Switch eShop)Publisher: Atari / Developer: Graphite LabRelease Date: 5th Dec 2024 (USA) / 5th Dec 2024 (UK/EU)The core of this game might be 25 years old, but my goodness has it not aged a day. The complexities, the simplicities, the unbridled creativity available to the player - it's the king of management sims today, just as it was at the turn of the millennium. AOBotany Manor (Switch eShop)Publisher: Whitethorn Games / Developer: Balloon StudiosRelease Date: 9th Apr 2024 (USA) / 9th Apr 2024 (UK/EU)This beautifully written, colourful game reminded me of StreetPass Garden so much that it snuck into my top five. Much like that 3DS novelty, it taught me diddly-squat about actual botany, but exploring the grounds, solving its puzzles, and absorbing the narrative (which follows an intelligent protagonist navigating Victorian BS) was a highlight of the year. GLI played through Botany Manor in one evening and had no regrets when I wrapped it up. Its a delightful little puzzler that mixes just the right amount of head-scratching evidence deduction and chilled exploration, all while drip-feeding a pertinent story. Cheering at the sight of a bound book wasnt on my 2024 bingo card, but here we are. JNDragon Quest III HD-2D Remake (Switch)Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: ArtdinkRelease Date: 14th Nov 2024 (USA) / 14th Nov 2024 (UK/EU)Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is another HD-2D masterpiece thats an absolute must-play for any Dragon Quest fan out there. It also comes with all the modern enhancements and QoL improvements to make the adventure more accessible than ever before. Now bring Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake in 2025! LDFear the Spotlight (Switch eShop)Publisher: Blumhouse Games / Developer: Cozy Game PalsRelease Date: 22nd Oct 2024 (USA) / 22nd Oct 2024 (UK/EU)It takes great skill to maintain tension and dread throughout the duration of an entire game; even if it does only last a few hours. For its debut title, however, Cozy Game Pals effortlessly tells an engaging story packed with scares and intriguing puzzles. Dont wait until Halloween for this; play it now. ORUnicorn Overlord (Switch)Publisher: SEGA / Developer: VanillawareRelease Date: 8th Mar 2024 (USA) / 8th Mar 2024 (UK/EU)Ive said a lot about Unicorn Overlord already, so Ill keep this brief if you love strategy RPGs, youll find an extremely moreish game that rewards tinkering. If you dont you should still try it out; its on the easier side, it encourages experimentation and exploration, and its beautiful. Switch is the perfect place to play it, too. So get on it. AHThis one is right up there with your Octopath Traveler 2s and your Triangle Strategies. You know that rarefied sort of turn-based RPG effort that just nails everything and leaves you begging for more? Well, this is that. Unicorn Overlord blew me away earlier in the year, and I demand to see it further up more GOTY listings. *shakes fist at own reflection* PJCan of Wormholes (Switch eShop)Publisher: Munted Finger / Developer: Munted FingerRelease Date: 29th Aug 2024 (USA) / 29th Aug 2024 (UK/EU)2024 turned out a great year for puzzlers on Switch, but I had expected World of Goo 2 and Lorelei to be bloody good; Can of Wormholes came out of nowhere. The work of the wonderfully named solo dev Munted Finger, it's an elegant, layered puzzler that fully explores every idea it presents. Equal parts mind-bending and silly, it's one of the best things I've played all year. GLSuper Mario Party Jamboree (Switch)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo CubeRelease Date: 17th Oct 2024 (USA) / 17th Oct 2024 (UK/EU)Super Mario Party Jamboree is the best Mario Party yet! A sublime main party mode, with seven great boards, 110+ minigames total, and a bunch of other modes like Koopathlon, and Bowsers Kaboom Squad. Theres just so much to dig into, and the perfect choice for a game if you have some friends or family for a visit. FSBuy Super Mario Party JamboreeUSAUKEURJPNCANStandardJamboree BundleHouse Party BundleCastlevania Dominus Collection (Switch eShop)Publisher: Konami / Developer: KonamiRelease Date: 27th Aug 2024 (USA) / 27th Aug 2024 (UK/EU)I dont usually put compilations on my list, but Castlevania Dominus Collection was a dream. Three of my favourite DS games somehow made the near-perfect jump from dual screens. All three of these games are excellent in their own right and stand up to the best in the genre even today. AHWizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (Switch eShop)Publisher: Digital Eclipse / Developer: Sir-TechRelease Date: 23rd May 2024 (USA) / 23rd May 2024 (UK/EU)The opportunity to fill in gap in your personal gaming history is always welcome, and Wizardry was one such gap for me. Digital Eclipse did its usual excellent work at presenting this classic in the best possible light, and by all accounts they've gone back in since launch and added even more great stuff. I'm looking forward to dipping back into this one over the holidays. GLNeva (Switch eShop)Publisher: Devolver Digital / Developer: Nomada StudioRelease Date: 15th Oct 2024 (USA) / 15th Oct 2024 (UK/EU)Its truly rare to see a game that nails the genuine look thats pitched in the initial concept art stage. However, with Neva, Id hang up nearly any frame of animation and praise it all day. Its truly a sight to behold and a satisfyingly snappy adventure to play, too. ZGSonic X Shadow Generations (Switch)Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Sonic TeamRelease Date: 25th Oct 2024 (USA) / 25th Oct 2024 (UK/EU)When I was playing through Sonic X Shadow Generations, I couldnt stop thinking about the similarities Shadows add-on kind of had to Bowsers Fury (and thats only a good thing). This add-on makes an already exciting package filled with all sorts of Sonic nostalgia even better and does a fantastic job honouring Shadows legacy in his big year. LDPentiment (Switch eShop)Publisher: Xbox Game Studios / Developer: Obsidian EntertainmentRelease Date: 22nd Feb 2024 (USA) / 22nd Feb 2024 (UK/EU)Pentiment is a unique and fascinating game. It takes place in the Middle Ages and the art style, music, and even the fonts are all in line with what you would expect when you hear 'medieval' and 'video game'. This is a great port of a game that's a work of art its very clear that a lot of love and care went into it. FSLlamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story (Switch eShop)Publisher: Digital Eclipse / Developer: Digital EclipseRelease Date: 13th Mar 2024 (USA) / 13th Mar 2024 (UK/EU)Digital Eclipse cracked straight on with another fine entry in its Gold Master Series, giving an excellent overview of an iconic dev. Serving up a spicy collection from Minter's catalogue in a convenient package, with several sides of context to get the most out of them, this is essential for anyone interested in the history of the medium. Best enjoyed with a curry and a good brew. GLCrow Country (Switch eShop)Publisher: SFB Games / Developer: SFB GamesRelease Date: 16th Oct 2024 (USA) / 16th Oct 2024 (UK/EU)A love letter to classic survival horror, Crow Country lets you loose in an abandoned theme park thats filled to the brim with locked doors, horrifying creatures and plenty of puzzles that (almost) always made the necessary backtracking a rewarding endeavour for me. Whats here gameplay-wise isnt necessarily new, but a solid hint system, well-designed maps and little jabs at the genre kept me chugging along while curled up under a blanket with the lights out. ZGPaying homage to classic survival horror is so difficult. You've got to get all of the genre's weird little quirks in there, but do so in a way that doesn't feel immediately outdated and awful. Few manage to nail it, but Crow Country is one of them. If you spent the '90s scrambling for weird little keys and awkwardly shooting zombies, this is for you. ORMarvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (Switch)Publisher: Capcom / Developer: CapcomRelease Date: 12th Sep 2024 (USA) / 12th Sep 2024 (UK/EU)We've seen some licensing miracles over the years, but Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection might just beat 'em all. Capcom is taking us for a ride here (in a good way) with a decade of fighting game evolution. Honestly, I think a lot of fans would have been more than satisfied with a simple re-release of MvC2: New Age of Heroes on modern platforms, but this collection goes above and beyond. LDLorelei and the Laser Eyes (Switch eShop)Publisher: Annapurna Interactive / Developer: SimogoRelease Date: 16th May 2024 (USA) / 16th May 2024 (UK/EU)A late addition to my top five. Simogo (Year Walk, Sayonara Wild Hearts) takes a fairly standard escape room well, escape mansion formula and laces it with Lynchian horror and French New Wave cinema style to create something truly unique.It's a game you absolutely need a pen and paper to scribble notes on as you play and, despite its quirks (the lack of a 'back' button in menus wound me up no end), its laser focus on a singular vision makes it an experience you'll never forget. GL A chat with SimogoNine Sols (Switch eShop)Publisher: Red Candle Games / Developer: Red Candle GamesRelease Date: 26th Nov 2024 (USA) / 26th Nov 2024 (UK/EU)In a year full of excellent Metroidvanias, its miraculous that Nine Sols manages to stand out. The beautiful art and music are totally up my street, but its the combat that makes Nine Sols truly shine. Brutally difficult particularly that final boss its the most satisfying game Ive played this year. AHPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Switch)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Intelligent SystemsRelease Date: 23rd May 2024 (USA) / 23rd May 2024 (UK/EU)Original copies of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door have only been getting more expensive, so its nice to see Nintendo finally step in this year and make what is arguably the best Paper Mario entry of the lot readily available once again. Thats why its one of my top Switch picks of 2024. LDAfter hearing all the praise Paper Mario TTYD had gotten over the years, I was sceptical if this could live up the hype, but my god did it do just that! Not just a fantastic game, a phenomenal game. Story, writing, pacing, music, combat - its just all top-notch. FSBuy Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Switch)USAUKCANJPNKilling Time: Resurrected (Switch eShop)Publisher: Nightdive Studios / Developer: Nightdive StudiosRelease Date: 17th Oct 2024 (USA) / 17th Oct 2024 (UK/EU)Based on its gameplay alone, Killing Time: Resurrected isnt exactly outstanding. But its utterly bizarre setting, enemies (tickling Murder Clowns, anyone?), and FMV-driven storyline elevate it significantly. In all my years of gaming, I simply havent played anything quite like it. ORPepper Grinder (Switch eShop)Publisher: Devolver Digital / Developer: Ahr EchRelease Date: 28th Mar 2024 (USA) / 28th Mar 2024 (UK/EU)Pepper Grinder is one of the most satisfying games Ive played all year. The movement is so smooth. The level gimmicks are so clever. The visuals are so pretty. Its very much on the short side, but, gosh, what a spicy mouthful it turned out to be! JNShogun Showdown (Switch eShop)Publisher: Goblinz Studio / Developer: RoboatinoRelease Date: 5th Sep 2024 (USA) / 5th Sep 2024 (UK/EU)This was the biggest surprise of 2024 for me. Shogun Showdown came out of absolutely nowhere to eat up a solid month of my time. Deviously simplistic, even one small mistake can end a run. But picking the right tiles and making the right moves to clear out a wave of enemies is like pure poetry. This is a must-play if you like rogue-likes and deckbuilders. AHAnimal Well (Switch eShop)Publisher: Bigmode / Developer: Shared MemoryRelease Date: 9th May 2024 (USA) / 9th May 2024 (UK/EU)I love Animal Well. It's up there with the very best examples of its genre, I reckon. Take a chance on it if it doesn't really seem like your cup of tea and, I promise, you'll be blown away. It's an ingenious puzzle box of a thing, a beautiful-looking adventure that slowly unfurls as you push forward through breezy platforming, best-in-class brainteasers, and some stunning visuals to boot. PJTheres one particular moment in Animal Well that made me feel simultaneously incredibly clever and unbelievably stupid. The answer had literally been right there the whole time. Ive already said too much. But, rest assured, I love it when a game hits that sweet spot. JN "No matter what you put in a game, it will get found"Before we finish, here are just a few Honourable mentions games we've thoroughly enjoyed this year that are bubbling under our personal top fives:And for non-Switch shoutouts, Astro Bot, Silent Hill 2, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and Metaphor: ReFantazio kept us occupied on other platforms.Let us know below which of these games you enjoyed most this year, and look out for our upcoming reader-ranked Best Switch Games of 2024 feature where you have your say. (Remember, you can rate your favourite 2024 games and influence that list, even after it goes live.)Even with Nintendo focusing on the new hotness this year, 2025 is shaping up very nicely. Fingers crossed for a belter. The best new Nintendo Switch games coming soonRelated GamesSee AlsoShare:00 Gavin first wrote for Nintendo Life in 2018 before joining the site full-time the following year, rising through the ranks to become Editor. He can currently be found squashed beneath a Switch backlog the size of Normandy. Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...Related ArticlesToby Fox Shares Another Development Update On Deltarune Chapter 3, 4 & 5"Progress has still been steady"PSA: Switch 2 Is Getting Revealed In The Next 100 DaysSet your Alarmos'Switch 2' Is Projected To Be The "Clear Winner" In The Next Console GenerationWhile either Sony or Microsoft will "struggle mightily"