I've Played All 12 Switch 2 Exclusives Released So Far and Here's My Official Ranking

The Nintendo Switch 2 is nearing its one-year anniversary at the time of this writing, and the home console/handheld hybrid has already built an impressive library of games. Since launch, the Switch 2 has enjoyed a wide range of titles, including a lineup of 11 exclusive games and counting.

Barring any surprise shadow drops, the next Switch 2 exclusive game will be Yoshi and the Mysterious Book on May 21, with Splatoon Raiders coming on July 23. A specific release date has yet to be announced, but it's also believed that Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave will release this summer for Switch 2, so owners of Nintendo's latest home console/handheld hybrid have a lot to look forward to in the months ahead.

There will be many more Switch 2 exclusives released in the years to come, but the console is already off to a strong start. I have played all the Switch 2 exclusives released so far, and have decided to rank them so anyone looking to grow their library or who may be new owners of the console knows what to prioritize.

Remasters like Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD and Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S were excluded from this list because I want to keep the focus strictly on pure Switch 2 exclusive experiences. I also did not consider Switch 2 Edition games like Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4: Beyond since those are also available on the Switch 1.

12 Tokyo Scramble

Tokyo Scramble is a bizarre stealth game where players have to hide from dinosaurs. The story is nonsensical, the graphics are ugly and hardly make use of the Switch 2's hardware, and the game is built entirely around lackluster trial-and-error stealth that is never engaging in the slightest. It's one of the most aggravating experiences one can have on the platform, and I wouldn't recommend it to any Switch 2 gamers.

11 Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

Even if Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour was a free pack-in game, it would still be a boring slog that I would recommend people avoid. Essentially a mini-game collection that doubles as an interactive museum where players walk around and read tidbits about the Switch 2 console, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour forgets Reggie Fils-Aime's golden rule: "If it's not fun, why bother?" I played through the entire thing on launch day and have no desire to ever play it again.

10 Survival Kids

Survival Kids is definitely one of the more random games in the Switch 2 launch lineup. A reboot of the Survival Kids / Lost in Blue series, Konami's new Survival Kids is simply not fun to play. The game marries puzzle game challenges with survival elements, tasking players with hunting down resources and crafting tools to overcome the various obstacles they come across. But part of the reason survival games are so fun is their progression. Over time, players amass better equipment and become significantly more efficient than they were at the start. Each level in Survival Kids basically starts players back at square one, so it's like replaying the most boring and limiting parts of survival games over and over again.

To its credit, Survival Kids does support co-op for up to four players. It even allows for local wireless play with only one copy of the game. If it were a budget release, its co-op support would make it easier to forgive its shortcomings, but at an eye-watering $49.99, Survival Kids is almost offensive.

9 Drag x Drive

Drag x Drive is a wheelchair basketball game that utilizes the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls. The controls are a little tricky at first, but it all clicks with enough practice. The core gameplay in Drag x Drive is fun enough, and I didn't regret my time playing it, but it does have two huge downsides that keep it from being a better game. For one, Drag x Drive completely lacks local multiplayer, so it's relying entirely on the idea that people will be playing it for an extended period of time, which seems unlikely. And for two, Drag x Drive is criminally low on content. Unfortunately, there's just not enough to see and do to justify playing it for more than a few brief sessions here and there.

8 Chillin' by the Fire

Chillin' by the Fire's title says it all. It's a game where players sit around a campfire, roasting marshmallows and chopping firewood. The "game" part of the equation is mostly about strategically placing wood on the fire to build it up and keep the flame going, but it's more focused on the social element. Chillin' by the Fire multiplayer allows players to all join together and chill by the fire, with the option to use the Switch 2 Camera to see everyone's faces. It's not a particularly thrilling game and far from an essential must-have, but it is a neat little novelty.

7 Fast Fusion

Mario Kart World wasn't the only racing game available for the Switch 2 at launch. Super fast futuristic racer Fast Fusion also threw its hat in the ring, giving players gorgeous courses to race on and a unique mechanic where cars can be fused together to create entirely brand-new vehicles. The core racing gameplay in Fast Fusion is a blast and the game would have potentially ranked higher if it had online multiplayer matchmaking support. There is local multiplayer, which is definitely appreciated, but the lack of a proper online mode really kills its longevity.

6 Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

I have a love/hate relationship with the Hyrule Warriors games. I thought the first Hyrule Warriors was a lot of fun and enjoyed unlocking all the different Legend of Zelda franchise characters to take out on the battlefield, but I was extremely underwhelmed by the follow-up, Age of Calamity. Whereas the first Hyrule Warriors was a bright, colorful hack-and-lash musou game that didn't take itself too seriously, Age of Calamity was a drab, boring prequel to Breath of the Wild that didn't even tell a canon story.

For me, Age of Imprisonment lies somewhere in the middle. It's nice that the Age of Imprisonment story is a canon prequel to Tears of the Kingdom, but the cutscenes go on too long and the early chapters regularly restrict players from playing in co-op, which is the game's main selling point. It's disheartening whenever you go to start a mission and are told that it's single-player only.

That being said, Age of Imprisonment is a significant step up from its immediate predecessor, delivering the same kind of over-the-top musou action that one expects from the Warriors games, but with sharper visuals and much-improved performance. The lag and stuttering that sometimes plagued the Warriors games on Switch 1 are nowhere to be found here, even when playing in split-screen co-op.

5 Mario Tennis Fever

I've always enjoyed Mario Tennis games, and Mario Tennis Fever is easily one of the best in the series. The Fever Rackets add a hilarious new chaotic element to the proceedings, and multiplayer is good for hours of fun. My only gripe with the game is that the single-player story mode leaves a lot to be desired. Otherwise, Mario Tennis Fever is basically the perfect Mario Tennis experience.

4 Mario Kart World

The crown jewel of the Switch 2 launch lineup, Mario Kart World is a huge open world racing game with series-best graphics and performance. It features dazzling courses, brilliant new movement mechanics that make the minute-to-minute racing more exciting, and a suite of multiplayer modes that should keep players engaged for a long time. Some of the open world elements are disappointing, particularly the lack of direction when exploring solo, but Mario Kart World is still a must-have for any Switch 2 owner.

3 Kirby Air Riders

I did not expect to like Kirby Air Riders as much as I do, but here we are. Having never played the original Kirby Air Ride on GameCube, Kirby Air Riders has been a totally brand-new experience for me and I have been completely blown away. A fast-paced racer with a roster of memorable characters and wild vehicles, Kirby Air Riders is chaotic in the best ways. In typical Sakurai fashion, Kirby Air Riders is absolutely stuffed with content, with the game utilizing an achievement system and plenty of worthwhile unlocks to encourage players to keep with it. The online multiplayer is fun, the offline options are plentiful, and it's really hard to stop playing. Even if you think you might not like Kirby Air Riders, I highly recommend giving it a try for yourself.