The best Nintendo Switch games to get in 2023

2023 is a year packed with game releases, many of us have been dying to play! But which ones are worth putting on your radar?

Below we’ve rounded up 20 of the biggest (and best in our opinion) Nintendo Switch games we’re looking forward to, including AAA titles like the brand new Zelda and promising-looking indie titles. 

Of course, these are not all the games slated for release in 2023 – Nintendo has a habit of announcing new titles only a couple of months before their official launch date. So, we’ll be adding to (and subtracting from) this list through the year, or when new announcements go live.

Release Date: 17 March 2023

Originally announced at The Games Award 2022, a Bayonetta origin game was not something we thought we needed, but alas, when the stylised storybook trailer dropped we knew it was a must play!

In this game, you simultaneously play as 10-year-old Cereza and Cheshire, a demon bound to her stuffed toy, as they journey through the Avalon Forest to find the power to save Cereza’s mother.

Release Date: 24 March 2023

The latest instalment of the adventure RPG is slated to be Ryza’s final adventure to discover the roots of alchemy. She must work with her friends to protect her home from ruin. 

With the series' most extensive open world map and 11 party members to befriend, this game easily offers hundreds of hours of potential gameplay.

Release Date: 14 April 2023

In this dark roguelike game, you play as a lamb saved from death by an ominous god and to repay your life debt you must grow in power to take down the lesser gods. Plus, you get to start an adorable cult where you take care of your cultist and build a lovely place for them to live and worship your holy word.

Cult of the Lamb was initially released in 2022 as a digital game and now has a physical release. This Australian indie title is a must-play, and with the free expansion coming soon it's the perfect time to start.

Release Date: 19 April 2023

This Minecraft spin-off is an action-strategy game where you become a hero to protect the Overworld from an invasion by the piglins from the Nether. While the story takes place in the Minecraft universe, you don’t need to be a die-hard player to take up the challenge of protecting lands. 

This is a must-have if you want to introduce the world of RPGs to a young Minecrafter.

Release Date: 12 May 2023

Link returns to the Nintendo Switch in May. We. Can. Not. Wait.

Tears of the Kingdom is a direct sequel to the vastly successful Breath of the Wild. Ganon is back, stronger than ever and desperate to decimate Hyrule. Our boy Link has lost his arm and the Master Sword. Even the latest teaser trailer doesn’t give us enough information on what to expect. All we can do is wait as the official release date edges closer.

Release Date: 16 May 2023 

This epic fantasy RPG has been on our radars since it was leaked that developers from Xenoblade Chronicles, Secret of Mana and Pokemon were involved in the making. 

Players take control of three young heroes–Cyan, Elise and Zantis–as they try to defy the fate handed to them by the gods and save the world of Trinitia from destruction.

Release Date: 30 June 2023

In this Tim Burton-esque fantasy adventure, you play as trainee detective Yuma who is hunted by a Shinigami spirit. If you loved the Danganronpa series, you’d be glad to know those developers are the minds behind this new dark fantasy game.

Release Date: 27 June 2023

Harvest Moon fans rejoice the beloved GameCube game is coming to the Switch in June under its new name Story of Season: A Wonderful Life.

This winter, put down roots in the peaceful town of Forgotten Valley and create your own generation-spanning tale of friendship, family and cosy farming. 

This remake has been on our dream list since Story of Seasons began re-releasing its old Harvest Moon title, and it should be on yours too.

Release Date: 21 July 2023

After seven years of speculation, we will finally have a new Pikmin game. While it might seem like a fevered dream, it’s officially happening. On 21 July 2023, we will get on a spaceship and explore new lands with the adorable plant-y little creatures. 

In the newest Pikmin title, we have been introduced to Ice Pikmin and a cute dog companion Oatchi that helps carry the Pikmin. While we don’t know the story or the name of our main player-character, Pikmin 4 is a game we will spend hundreds of hours on.

Release Date: 28 July 2023

This Cuphead-meets-Mickey Mouse adventure platformer should be on your radar if you want a gorgeously animated co-op game. Play as Mickey, Minnie, Goofy or Donald as they explore the mysterious island of Monoth and recover three mystical books to save the world from disaster. 

If you enjoyed playing Super Mario Bros and Cuphead this game needs to be on your list.

Release Date: 25 July 2023

Ever wanted to be a Hogwarts student and go on adventures like Harry Potter? Well, Hogwarts Legacy will make those dreams come true. While the game is already available on the PS5 and the Xbox, it will soon be on Nintendo Switch. 

No one knows how the 4k graphics made the more robust gaming consoles will hold up on the Switch, but either way, it’ll be a magical experience for Potter fans. Get your wands ready because Hogwarts needs your help to stop a goblin rebellion.

Release Date: 29 August 2023

This retro-inspired turn-based RPG is the story of two Children of the Solstice who have the powers of the sun and moon to create Eclipse Magic, the only force capable of fighting off monsters created by the evil alchemist The Fleshmancer. 

A free demo is available on the Nintendo eShop if you need some convincing on getting this beautiful game.

Release Date: 5 September 2023

2023 has been the year of farming game remakes, and we are living for it. Rune Factory 3 Special lets you settle down in a fantasy town as a young adventure with a massive secret. Here you will fight monsters, build your farm and befriend the local townsfolk. 

This remake also includes a brand new Newlywed Mode, a standalone adventure that is unlocked after marriage to each of the game’s eligible bachelors. Plus, it comes with a ‘Hell’ difficulty mode for those who want a challenge.

Release Date: 2023?

Okay, let's file this one down in incredibly hopeful. We’ve been waiting for Silksong to release since Team Cherry announced the Hollow Knight sequel in 2019. It was initially slated for 2020, but that came and went, along with 2021 and 2022. 

At this point, no one knows when the game will come out, and many are starting to call it ‘Sulksong.’ However, stay optimistic because the game was teased as part of the Xbox Showcase in June 2022, focusing on upcoming games in the next 12 months. So surely if it was showcased, 2023 should be the Silksong year…right?

Release Date: 2023

This 22-minute time loop game has been out on other consoles for quite some time and was announced for a Switch release in late 2021…which didn’t happen.

The official Nintendo eshop has Outer Wilds in its game inventory, but sadly it still has no release date. Fingers crossed this is the year the 2022 BAFTA Games Awards winner finally ports to the Nintendo Switch system.

Release Date: 2023

The wacky physics-defying couch co-op game is coming back with a knee-breaking sequel. Pack and move furniture as you discover who is kidnapping all the moving technicians. 

If you loved the first Move Out, getting the sequel is necessary. Now all there is to do is wait for its official release date.

Release Date: 2023

We love Star Wars here, so this free-to-play squad-based arena shooter is in our must-play for 2023. Star Wars Hunters is set between Episodes VI and VII events, and you can play as a Wookiee warrior, a Dark Side force user, a bounty hunter or an Imperial Stormtrooper!

Release Date: 2023

Is anyone else missing '90s-style shooter games? Well, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is coming to fill that gap in our hearts. Play as a Space Marine and mow down dozens of Chaos Space Marines and deamons sprites. And just like any retro-style shooter, all the enemies will explode like beautiful water balloons with each hit!

Release Date: 2023

This story-driven Lord of the Rings game is a must-have if you’re a J.R.R. Tolkien fan. Plus, you get to play as Gollum, the ring (precious) obsessed creepy hobbit, as he travels across Middle Earth to reclaim what’s rightfully his. If you ever wondered what it’d be like to recreate Andy Serkis’ performance, this is where you get to do it.

The game was initially scheduled to release in 2021 and then again in 2022…we are crossing our preciouses that 2023 will be the winner.

Release Date: 2023 (unconfirmed)

We’ve been waiting for Metroid Prime 4 for way too long. At this point, it's just a distant and foolish dream. After being scraped and restarted at the start of 2019, it's unclear where in the development process it is. 

Realistically, if we get Metroid Prime 4 this year, it’ll likely be slated for late 2023. And that’s wishful thinking. For now, all we can do is wait and see.

If you’re looking for new games for your Nintendo Switch, check out our online shopping hub. There are some great video games you can start playing today!