Michael Grothaus 12/01/2017 - 12:46pm

From Zelda to Sonic, there’s a lot to love about the upcoming Nintendo Switch games

It’s only a few months until Nintendo's new console, the Switch, launches worldwide. Switch will officially be the company’s seventh gaming console–and this one looks unlike any other console you’ve ever seen. The Switch itself is shaped like a tablet computer with two detachable controllers on either side.

These controllers can be removed and assembled to for a traditional joystick. The Switch, like all consoles, is designed to be plugged into your TV, but it also features a 6.6in LCD display, which enables it to be used as a portable gaming machine when the controllers are attached and the device is unplugged from the TV. Finally, the Switch eschews downloadable games and optical discs in favor of flash ROM cartridges.

While the Switch has an interesting design for a console, it’s going to be the games that make or break it. As a new console, don’t expect a huge gaming library the day it comes out. However, over the course of the next year there are plenty of exciting titles coming to Switch. Here are the 10 we like best.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

 

This game will reportedly be the “largest” Zelda game ever, with 12 times the lands to explore than Skyward Sword had. Plus it’s reported so “open world” that you can skip everything and go right to fighting the game’s last boss as soon as you start.

Cube Life: Island Survival


It’s been slagged for being a Minecraft clone, but we’re glad to see this Wii U game making the jump to Switch as it has tons of rabid fans.

Splatoon

 

This kid-friendly shooter is making the jump from the Wii U too. It’s a team-based multiplayer game where kids try to cover each other in colorful ink and paint.

Mario Kart 8


Another game coming from the Wii U, this will likely also include all the console’s DLC for free. Plus we know there is at least one new character added for Switch–King Boo.

Yooka-Laylee


While not official confirmed, developer Playtonic Games says it’s “working very closely with Nintendo to look to bring Yooka-Laylee to the upcoming Nintendo Switch.” It looks to be a beautiful 3D platform-adventure video game.

LEGO City Undercover


This game was very well received on the Wii U, so no surprise it’s making the jump to Switch. In it you play a cop who is chasing down criminals in a huge open world Lego city.

Just Dance 2017


What’s a Nintendo console without a party game? Just Dance 2017 looks to be one of the best dance games ever.

A new Sonic game


Right now the game is going with the name Project Sonic 2017. Not a lot is known about it, but from the teaser trailer it looks to be a bit post-apocalyptic with players being able to control two different versions of Sonic.

A new Pokémon game

 

Virtually nothing is known about the Switch’s upcoming Pokémon game, but given that the Switch can be a portable gaming system too, might we see something similar to Pokémon GO?

A new Mario game

 

And what’s a new Nintendo system without a new Mario game? Like Pokémon, hardly anything is known about this. But six seconds of it were shown off in a Switch trailer and from that we can glean that it looks to be one of the most beautiful Mario 3D platformers ever.