10. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (Switch eShop)
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective was one of the best games on Nintendo DS. Now it is one of the best games on Nintendo Switch. If you're a fan of Ace Attorney, Danganronpa, AI: The Somnium Files, or just of having a good dang time with a brilliant story and stunning art, then why are you still here? Go and get the game. Now. Go!!!!
9. Sea of Stars (Switch eShop)
Sea of Stars is a sensational achievement for Sabotage. Following on from The Messenger, the studio is two for two in providing impressively designed and genuinely innovative takes on classic genres.
Some pacing issues aside, the complex narrative, deep and strategic combat, thoughtful level design, and fantastic visuals and music all combine to make this one of the easiest recommendations we can make. If you consider yourself a fan of old-school RPGs, you must play Sea of Stars.
And if not? The execution and polish here are so good that we’d suggest you give it a try anyway - few games would be a better introduction and representation of what makes JRPGs great. Sea of Stars is an instant classic and a new high-water mark for modern retro-styled indies.
8. The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure (Switch)
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure takes everything that’s excellent about Zero and runs a marathon with it. It’s one of the best-paced games in the series, with some of the best characters, best music, and easily the best setting. The Crossbell Arc is a hugely compelling two-parter that captures everything that makes the Trails series what it is perfectly, and Azure in particular deftly balances high-stakes drama, political intrigue, and poignant character moments. This is one Switch RPG we won't be feeling blue about anytime soon.
7. The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie (Switch)
Capping off the Crossbell and Cold Steel arcs with a nice little bow, The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie hits some high highs – such as with C and the True Reverie Corridor – and when it does, it's an RPG fan’s paradise. But as an overall package, it feels like an easy excuse to get a huge number of characters together rather than do something meaningful with them. It’s far from the series’ best, but fans will find a lot to love here, even if we'd recommend seeking it out on another platform for the best experience, or waiting for a patch.
6. Persona 4 Golden (Switch eShop)
Persona 4 Golden remains a thoroughly enjoyable and engrossing RPG that, for the most part, has stood the test of time.
Although its visuals might be a bit dated, the gameplay and story presented here do more than enough to justify the purchase, while all the tweaks and additions that came with this ‘Golden’ edition round out most of the rougher edges from the initial PS2 release.
If you're looking to give the Persona series a shot, Persona 5 Royal is a good place to start, but P4G is an excellent entry in the series and one that we would recommend you pick up when you can.
5. Final Fantasy VI (Switch eShop)
After years of begging for the 16-bit Final Fantasy VI to be playable on Switch, the Pixel Remaster brings us a fantastic version of what might just be one of the best RPGs ever made.
Timeless music has been made even better with the new arrangements, while the visuals have been enhanced in a lovely pixel-perfect manner. And what it might lack in difficulty, Final Fantasy VI makes up for in basically every other aspect — incredible characters, fantastic bosses, an amazing story, and fun gameplay.
An all-timer that barely feels its age.
4. Pikmin 4 (Switch)
Pikmin 4 is a sumptuous strategy adventure that serves up tons of fun for returning fans of the franchise whilst also adding lots to entice new players into giving it a try.
Oatchi is the star of the show in our eyes, a very good boy who is woven cleverly into the core of the puzzle action. Series-best dungeons, a hugely inventive overworld, night missions, Dandori battles, and post-credit goodies only sweeten the deal.
Yes, the co-op is disappointing, and the campaign's not gonna be challenging enough for some diehard fans — and my word the opening hours are talk-talk-talk — but overall Nintendo nailed it here, serving up a magical Pikmin adventure tailor-made for Switch.
3. Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Switch)
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is, quite simply, the best 2D Mario game since Super Mario World in our opinion; the slickest, sharpest, and smartest that two-dimensional Mario has felt since 1991.
In its Wonder Flowers, badges, and online aspects, it serves up an endlessly inventive and impressive platforming adventure that will utterly hook you. From its myriad animation details to its infectious anything-could-happen spirit, it's got charm up the wazoo.
A refinement of a well-established formula, it doesn't totally upend the 2D tea table, but with local co-op and online fun adding to the replayability factor, this feels like 2D Mario with its mojo back. Super Mario Wonder is one of the very best platformers we've played.
2. Metroid Prime Remastered (Switch)
With Metroid Prime Remastered, the seemingly impossible was achieved: a masterpiece was made even better.
The minor issues we have with the motion controls and the occasional visual hiccup pale in comparison to the enhancements that have been made here. The visual improvements are extensive, right through to the tiny details, and it all comes together to create one of the best-looking games on Switch, remaster or not.
The new twin-stick control setup works flawlessly for both veterans and newcomers, too, but if you're itching to go back to the original GameCube controls, that option is there. With an expanded gallery feature to round things out, Metroid Prime Remastered feels like a new benchmark in how older games can be thoughtfully revitalised for the modern age.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch)
It’s impossible to talk about everything that makes The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom so incredible, and making those discoveries yourselves is part of the magic.
It’s also impossible to overstate just how much there is to do in this Hyrule the second time around. Much like its predecessor, this will become your playground for several years, with a little sprinkling of that older Zelda fairy dust mixed into Breath of the Wild’s formula.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is a glorious, triumphant sequel to one of the best video games of all time - absolute unfiltered bliss to lose yourself in for hundreds of hours.
Disagree with this ranking? Something missing you think should be on the list? Remember, a game needs a minimum of 30 User Ratings to qualify for this fluid ranking. If you haven't rated your favourite games of 2023 yet, simply click the User Rating star on each entry and score the game out of 10, or find the missing game in our database and rate away.
Got a favourite that perhaps didn't make this top 50 games of 2023 (yet)? Share your thoughts below.
This article is one of our Switch Essentials guides which cover a wide variety of genres, including the Best Switch FPS Games, the Best Switch RPGs, the Best Switch Games For Kids, the Best Switch Couch Co-Op Games and the Best Switch Fitness and Exercise Games. We can also help out hunting down the Best Switch Horror Games, the Best Switch Racing Games, the Best Switch Action-RPGs, the Best Nintendo Switch Roguelikes, Roguelites and Run-Based Games, the Best Free Switch Games, the Best Remakes And Remasters, the Best Switch Music And Rhythm Games, Best Feel-Good Switch Games, Best Switch Open-World Games, Best Switch Soulslike Games, Best LGBTQ+ Switch Games, and even Games to Play After You've Finished Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Whatever your favourite genre, we've got you covered: Strategy Games, Metroidvanias, Puzzle Games, Party Games, Online Multiplayer Games, Local Wireless Multiplayer Games, Shmups, Twin-Stick Shooters, Visual Novels, Kart Racers, Fighting Games, Football Games, Funny Games, Golf Games, 'Walking Sims' And Narrative Games, Switch Games For Lovers And Lonely Hearts, Detective Games, Hidden Gems, 2D Platformers, 3D Platformers, Puzzle Platformers, Tabletop Mode Games, Run and Gun Games, LEGO Games, Sports Games, Survival Games, Beat 'Em Ups, Camera Games, Chill Games, Family Games, Retro-Inspired Games, Short Games, Card Games and Deck-Builders, and Life Sims And Farming Games.
Still hungry for more? Elsewhere we look at Wholesome Games, TATE Mode Games, Flight Sim and Space Combat, Point and Click Adventure Games, and the Best Switch Exclusives, as well as Every Arcade Archives Game, Every ACA Neo Geo Game, Every SEGA AGES Game On Switch, plus the Best Switch Ports, Best Wii U-To-Switch Ports, Best Switch Collections And Compilations, Best Cheap Switch Games, Best Switch Demos, Games That Are Better On Switch OLED, Switch Games Under $10, $20, $50, and Switch games with the Best Soundtracks and the Best Graphics. Phew!
If you're looking for the best Switch games regardless of genre, our reader-voted selection of the Best Nintendo Switch Games should help you out, and you can also find the Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. And finally, if you're interested in other Nintendo consoles and retro games, check out the Best Game Boy Games, Best GBC Games, Best GBA Games, Best Nintendo DS Games, Best Nintendo 3DS Games, Best NES Games, Best SNES Games, Best N64 Games, Best GameCube Games, and Best Wii Games, and Best Wii U Games, as well as Every Available Nintendo Switch Online Retro Game, and ranked lists of Every Nintendo Switch Online NES, SNES, N64 and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Game.
Comments 66
The FF Pixel Remasters at #4 is surprising. Not saying it's undeserved but that's way higher than I would have expected.
I agree with the top 5 almost perfectly I would just put Pikmin 4 above wonder and by extension ff remasters
I'm only 25 hours into Tears of the Kingdom and I already think it's one of the best games of all time.
The user scores here tend to be a bit all over the place so I don't think these lists are worth a lot but it's always a bit of fun to look through and see how out of place some games are. No big surprise at what made the top three though at the very least.
Tad unfair including the 3 MGS games together and individually…
Six more reviews to qualify Trombone Champ for this list. Come on, people!
Yay! Finally Metroid prime remastered gets the recognition it deserves
It would be interesting to see what this list would look like if the 30 user review requirement was trimmed down to, say, 10. It's a completely fair approach to keep the number high, weeding out many games with more skewed scores or joke ones, but lowering the number could allow a wider variety of games and expose more hidden gems, rather than leaving the bottom of the list padded out with some low scoring games.
(and yes, part of the reason why is that I want to see Gravity Circuit sit in the top 10 with its 9.3 score, and no, I won't stop talking about it it's such a hidden gem)
Fire Emblem Engage is criminally low! It had the best gameplay of any Fire Emblem game I've ever played.
Am sad that Silent Hope didn't make it... has 8.3 at the moment, but only 4 votes. I spent around 90 hours on that one... it is very good, in my opinion.
Am very happy to see Star Ocean up there, though! Gorgeous game.
Mr Sun's Hat Box is my GOTY, but few seem to have played that one.
@gamingxaidan Yeah, Fire Emblem Engage had the best gameplay in the series but easily the worst story in the series.
Metroid should take the top spot over TotK, as it's the better remaster of the two. Yes, Tears has some additional content, but only mimimal changes were made over the original. Felt like playing the same game again. Metroid was the same game, but felt like a brand new, more beautiful experience.
@gamingxaidan I was thinking the same thing. Fire Emblem Engage should be ranked higher. A lot of people loved the game. Has the best combat/gameplay and graphics of the series, and for my 2 cents it had the best battle animations as well. Even had a few character stand outs. I absolutely adore the game. It's my obvious GOTY, followed by Persona 5 Tactica, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and Super Mario RPG.
I do know that a lot of 3H fans tended to dump (got review bombed somewhere iirc) on it for being closer to classic FE formula and having less focus on relationships and downtime life simulation. I like both 3H and Engage, but I prefer strategic combat to be the focal point, as I've never been a fan of life simulation. Whilst I enjoyed 3H, I felt the monastery segments were artificially adding story and playtime and just kinda superfluous. I did however, like it's story driven approach otherwise. FE isn't known for strong stories, but Path of Radiance had a strong narrative that pulled at the heart strings quite a bit and had a very good anti racism message. The game really took it's time not only to elaborate and polish the story, but actually had plot filling, entertaining side stories at camp that usually ended in rewards. If it is wasn't for the fact that PoR is ludicrously expensive to buy, I would wholeheartedly suggest PoR for those who prefer story driven FE like 3H over strategic combat say like Engage. This whole series is full of amazing games, I kinda wish they'd all get the love that 3H does amongst the fan base.
It would be more interesting if the ports, remakes, and remasters were removed from this list. I like a lot of these games, but it sort of feels like half of these games are OLD GAMES. As great as they are, they had their time in the sun, honestly.
@Joker1234 Agreed. I loved the combat. I’d give the combat 10/10, but the story a 6/10.
@Joker1234 Agreed on the gameplay part, but the worst story is typically agreed to be Fates. Plot holes, Corrin dindu nuffin, Fateslandia, (unnamed continent) etc, etc. I swear the fan base likes to make Fates the whipping boy and these are just some of the negative criticisms I've read.
I liked Engage's story for what it was: maybe it was cartoon esque, but it didn't pretend to be otherwise. The Jugdral games need the Echoes treatment so NA people can see some of the good old days story wise though...
Well Trials to Azure really does look cool. But I guess my Christmas wish is that we stop getting cool looking games that I would otherwise go crazy for… if I didn’t have to play as a cop. This one, Astral Chain, and next years Decapolice look soooo good
Honestly surprising to see TOTK at the top given the recent discourse online about the game. It deserves the top spot though.
Echoing the sentiments above, FE Engage is my GOTY. Yes, the writing is weak, but it has the best gameplay in the series by a landslide (though as a game as a whole, I like 3H better).
My favourite games that released years ago but I only just got round to playing are Outer Wilds, Inscryption, The House in Fata Morgana, Persona 5 (an all time top 10) and Persona 3 (but oddly, I didn’t get along with Persona 4).
I wanted to vote for The Case of the Golden Idol but it wasn’t on the list of options! Bad oversight - it definitely belongs here
@blindsquirrel
i think in this case even those being labelled "haters" (not by you) for having criticism of the game may still give it a 7 or 8 in the broader context. speaking for myself, at least. ✌️
@somnambulance
i tend to agree. im not sure if a half baked re release if a 20 year old game should be categorically eligible for GOTY. let alone giving one compilation 4 places in the list. 🙄
maybe it should be its own category... 🤔
@Everythingnotsaved Are you serious? XD. So you felt like a new game was the same as the previous entry, but a game that is literally the same as the one we played 20 years ago, but with better graphics, is not the same... I see.
I LOVE Metroid Prime, it's one of my favorite games ever, but what you said is ridiculous, man xD
@ZZalapski
"Six more reviews to qualify Trombone Champ for this list. Come on, people!"
rated. ✊
EDIT - whoops! i guess i already rated this one at some point. 😅
@-wc- It makes me feel like I should unrate or downvote games I like or overrate unseen titles, just to give new content more of a chance in being seen. I’d rather see a game like say… Gravity Circuit make a list like this than games that have been successful for potentially decades now, even if I find the game derivative in some ways and not quite as good as its influences. HOWEVER, it IS a new experience and there is novelty in that, a novelty which should be recognized.
And, yes, I am a huge Kojima fan, but to have Metal Gear eligible to swallow nearly a tenth of the list is unnecessary. I say all this as someone who would say that Final Fantasy VI is the best game that came to the Switch, but certainly not even a contender for GotY.
I played and finished some bad games this year, I finally wanted to get through my backlog cause well I paid for them. Funny to see Tiny Thor and Souldiers in my top five most played this year. Dang frustrating games, but my favorite was Zelda, I really enjoyed the monster medals to hunt them all and so much neat things to see.
After looking through the list, this year really did have some good games. Glad to see Persona 4 Golden ranking that high as well!
Damn, Trails to Azure is that high?! I really wanna get into this series but I'm holding out for a Trails in the Sky trilogy collection of sorts. Physical, hopefully.
@blindsquirrel The people more critical of TotK voice their opinions louder and more frequently. Most others are just happy with it.
@imadeanaccount Trails into Reverie is at an 8.9, but with only 28 ratings so far.
Realized I only bought 3 games this year for the switch, Fire Emblem Engage, TotK and Super Mario Wonder.
@BIG3 You gotta go for Pikmin 4 and Metroid Prime!
Wait I thought gamers hated TOTK...... Obviously not. Also agree with others here that Fire Emblem Engage should be much higher, and so should Master Detective Archives.
@somnambulance
I am also a big MGS (1-4) fan from way back, and also a FF (4 6 7 and to a slightly lesser extent 9 10 and 12) fan. cheers.
I'm sure it's a detail I'm overlooking, but i5 seems that the MGS titles were eligible for the list, yet the FF titles were not, even though, IIRC, the FF games are also available a la carte. do i have this right? seems inconsistent.
bottom line: I agree, those individual MGS titles should come out to make room for 3 more possibly less known games that are clearly meant for the list. 👍
EDIT - a little followup, FFVI has a user score of 8.6, which would put it somewhere between vampire survivors and mario rpg remake on this list. FWIW.
How on earth is Persona 3 Portable trending below an 8? It’s a 10 for me - I think the characters and tone are among the best in the series - but I think there’s a knee-jerk response to its “visual novel” sections. They’re EXACTLY the same as the real world sections in P4G but more honest: you skip from point to point rather than walking and pretending you could stumble on something secret (which you can’t). I actually prefer the P3P approach to P4G’s, as it doesn’t lead you on or waste your time.
P4G is still dope, though. 137hrs, my clock reads.
Really hope Persona 6 comes to the Switch 2.
@somnambulance
Remakes and Remasters deserve to be on the list, they allow both old and new fans to enjoy these games either for the first time or the first time in a long time.
I never got all the praise engage’s gameplay gets. It was one of the main reasons I dropped it. Particularly the emblem mechanic.
@-wc- Yeah, that is inconsistent and sort of strange the FF games weren’t cherry picked too. I mean, realistically, I’d give more 10s to MGS and FF than just about any other series, so I’m biased to want them to rank highly, but… at the same time… they were already GotY tier titles ages ago…
@Doom64_abit i can understand a remake being GotY. That’s a game being remade and hopefully there’s something new to it. I gave FF7R GotY in 2020, and I can see the argument for REmake 4 this year, even if it’s not my personal pick. Remasters and ports, however, they’re just modernizing old games. Metroid Prime? Already a GotY contender years ago, potentially a winner, for instance. It does no credit to the art of game-making to call the same game with better optimization to be GotY again when new ideas are being built and potentially buried by what already exists. Is it an absolutely fantastic remaster and a 10/10? Yes, certainly, but it already had its GotY run.
Think of it this way, if a black and white film in 1925 won the best film Oscar that year, would the film community have been accepting of that same film having been colorized and dubbed for a 1955 release and saying that it deserved best film again? Or would it make sense for a new pressing of a Shakespeare play to win a best new book award of some nature? It’s good art, sure, and it’s great for it to receive new fans and be publicized, but its art that had already had its time and new art deserves its recognition.
Very good year for switch owners.
We All know TOTK was the True GOTY23...
You have to go down the list a bit, but I'm happy Suika Game and Bayonetta Origins made the list; they're both high in my personal top 10 although Mario Wonder is my number 1.
Best Switch Games of 2023
1. Super Mario Bros. Wonders
2. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
3. Sonic Superstars
4. Red Dead Redemption
5. Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remastered
6. Metroid Prime Remastered
7. Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
8. Pikmin 1, 2, & 4
9. Fire Emblem Engage
10. Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
11. Fatal Frame IV: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse HD
12. Sea of Stars
13. The King of Fighters XIII: Global Match
14. The Rumble Fish+
15. Detective Pikachu Returns
16. Teslagrad Remastered
17. Samba de Amigo: Party Central
18. Cocoon
19. Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp
20. Mortal Kombat 1
21. Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure
22. Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie
23. The Breakers Collection
24. DNF Duel: Who's Next
25. WarioWare: Move It!
26. Oxenfree II: Lost Signals
27. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
28. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Wave 4
29. Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection
30. Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless
31. Octopath Traveler II
32. Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon
33. Star Ocean: Second Story R
34. Mega Man Battle Network - Legacy Collection
35. We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie
36. Blasphemous 2
37. Final Fantasy: The Pixel Remastered Collection
38. Disney Illusion Island
39. Quake II
40. Bokura
41. Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection
42. Meg's Monster
43. Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key
44. Astral Ascent
45. My Time at Sandrock
46. Borderlands 3
47. WrestleQuest
48. Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider
49. Double Dragon Collection
50. NeverAwake
51. Ray'z Arcade Chronology
52. Persona 3 Portable
53. Persona 4 Golden
54. Persona 5 Tactica
55. Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons
56. Blanc
57. Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
58. Worldless
59. Puzzle Bobble Everybubble!
60. Outer Wilds
61. Graze Counter GM
62. Ash of Gods: The Way
63. The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story
64. Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story
65. Master Detective Archives: Rain Code
66. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince
67. A Space for the Unbound
68. Gal Guardians: Demon Purge
69. Hogwart Legacy
70. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
71. Another Crusade
72. Trinity Trigger
73. F-Zero 99
74. GrimGrimoire OnceMore
75. Nocturnal
76. Suiko Games
77. Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
78. Figment 2: Creed Valley
79. Vampire Survivors
80. Wargroove 2
81. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredders Revenge - Dimension Shellshock DLC
Most Disappointing Switch Games of 2023:
1. Tales of Symphonia Remastered
2. Batman: Arkham Trilogy
3. Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Volume 1
4. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Wave 5
5. Shark! Shark!
6. Dynablaster
7. AEW: Fight Forever
8. AstroSmash
9. Front Mission 2 Remake
10. Sonic Origins Plus
11. Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion
12. Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai
13. Wonder Boy Collection
14. Just Dance 2024
15. PowerWash Simulator
16. Gargoyles Remake
17. The Making of Karateka
18. The Last Hope - Dead Zone Survival
19. MythForce
20. Everybody 1-2 Switch!
21. MLB The Show 23
22. Fashion Dreamer
23. Horizon Chase 2
24. Fae Farm
@-wc-
Oh definitely that’s the case. I always expected it to be near the top, but thought something like Mario Wonder would get first place.
@BodkinDQ Personally i think Engage was the weakest entry since i started Awakening. I mean sure it had the best map gameplay and animations but literally everything else was questionable. What about those minigames or the ring gacha? What about that horrible story that had the tension of a deflated balloon... I am not sure what is there to like about the characters either to be honest, i could not stand most supporting discussions with that amount of cringe. There is also the very real question about the graphical style... and i didn't even mention the lack of awesome Music like idk God Shattering Star, Twilight of the Gods, ID Purpose yet.
Granted, i am not the biggest Strategy person and usually only play on normal either quite enjoying the story like in shadows of valentia or some relationship stuff, but having neither of those does not seem like the answer to the way i like the Fire Emblem Series. These are most likely a lot of personal problems mixed inside there but this game is certainly not without its issues.
FE Engage is only at number 30? Lower than unremarkable Advance Wars and overrated Sea of Stars? Lol, this must be a joke.
Amazing switch year 2023.
For me top 3 are:
Zelda
Mario wonder
Pikmin 4
Bring on Switch 2 for 2024.
Blasphemous 2 at no 13 WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YEAH!!!
Overall good ranking (except for listing the Metal Gear games both individually and as a collection, the latter would've been enough but oh well) based on the rankings of my fellow Nintendo Life users as while we can argue about the order almost all the most notable releases of this year are included here!
One things for sure, which is the Switch has had another really great year. Amazing that in its 7th year it’s still going so strong
Zelda on 1...you chose wise guys! Its also my number 1. Also happy that Pikmin 4 is in the top 5 (on 5).
@Solaine Hey, to each their own!
I think it boils down to personal preference and the FE fandom is pretty well divided on the 2 types: those who prefer strategy combat driven and those that prefer story driven. You fall into the latter and me the former.
The strategic combat was much more involved in Engage, but it never became convoluted. There's definitely more you have to think about in battle, which I thoroughly enjoy. Battle animations themselves haven't been this tight since the GBA era. The graphics are the strongest of the series being as this game is trying to do more with the switches capabilities than even 3H. Art will always be subjective, but as for me personally I quite liked it. The story is cartoon esque, but at least it's not full of plot holes or trying too hard like Fates, (which I love those games btw). Engage most characters are just like the vast majority of FE characters: tropes with 1 dimensional personalities. However there are a few that I genuinely like:
Yunaka: paints the happy go lucky facade, but clandestine behavior that tries to hide that undeniable edge underneath, which completely goes out window on the battlefield where she becomes quite intimidating. As unorthodox as she tries to act, she's a tragic story running away from her past as an assassin. Orphaned from a young age, the man who took her in was an assassin. She learned the tricks of the trade from him and became an exceptionally talented assassin herself. Her last job screwed with her head though: her last mission was to kill him. She finished the job, but the psychological damage made her desperate to change her ways. Outside of that, she's a compendium of knowledge when it comes to weapon facts, has extremely sharp eyes, and more or less takes over as strategist when you meet Yunaka in her intro chapter. She is also exceptionally talented at acting, whether it be drama (supports with Seadall) or her phenomenal voice acting where she can imitate countless characters and Emblems alike with uncanny precision. (Laura Post her VA has amazing range and talent)
Veyle: is another with a tragic backstory, but has spoiler reasons I can't really go into, but whether it be her one sided love for her father or her atrocities she's been manipulated to do, she's well written too. She's naturally sweet and compassionate, feels remorse, and her propensity for spicy food rivals my own, lol.
And the twin dragons in the DLC are very nicely written as well, but again, spoilers and unfortunately they're hidden behind a paywall...
So yeah, the only thing I can't defend too much is the story and -most- of the characters. There's a few character stand outs, but most are fairly 1 dimensional and I'm a sucker for Saturday morning cartoon esque story, what can I say? Forgive the long novella esque response, but I kinda wanted to share my perspective as to why I personally love Engage so much. But yeah, as a friendly suggestion, absolutely get your hands on Path of Radiance. That game actually has a phenomenal story, hope you like~
@rvcolem1 If you're already fairly certain that you're not going to enjoy a game to its conclusion, why commit your time (an even rarer resource than money) to actually reach the end?
I'm not criticizing how you play games, just pointing out the sunk cost fallacy; you don't have to do what randos in a comments section suggest, of course.
My favorite games of 2023-
1: Fire Emblem Engage
2: Persona 5 Tactica
3: (Tie) Super Mario Wonder/ Super Mario RPG
Definitely a bias for Fire Emblem and Mario~
@ZZalapski honestly even as frustrating as the games that I played were they had some redeeming qualities. Souldiers, I did almost quit from the game crashing a lot in the last quarter of the game.
One big reason I went backlog heavy is I took a new job that didn't start for like a month and had already put my last job on notice so I had almost a month and a half off.
You're not a rando you respectfully asked a valid question and have a fair point of view. I will say TV shows I'll bounce hard if I stop enjoying them, but for me I tend to find something good In games. Plus I try to not buy things I really believe that I will hate. The e shop is huge with something for all tastes even doglike dating Sims. Well now I'm meandering....
Mameda no Bakeru might be my GOTY though. It's like the SNES and N64 goemon games were merged into a pot and seasoned with mythology and taiko. I love it.
That's a pretty pleasing top 10, if I'm being honest.
Thanks to the editor(s) who add the little blurbs to these games so that when they show up, we're given that little extra context! It would be too easy to just let it be the headers and move on.
I wish Engage was a better game, but it definitely deserves to be in the top 50 Switch games of the year. The characters seriously deserved a better plot and presentation. I found them quite endearing.
My favourite didn't even make the list.
Never Awake has to be by far the best twin stick shooter I've ever played.
“Games must have at least 30 reviews to be eligible.”
So when people finally get around to playing Outer Wilds, you’ll update this list for it to be #1?
Anonymous;Code
@Serpenterror You forgot Anonymous;Code at #1
Is that 5 of the 10 made by Nintendo? Sure there is probably a ton of bias on this site but good effort by the big N.
Others are surely more across this stuff than me since I rarely play anything other than my switch, but with Microsoft buying everyone, I wonder if they could claim similar stuff with regards to pc/xbox/steam deck? Between Bethesda and Activision/Blizzard there would be a few top 10s this year?
Nintendo is punching up with regards to the resources they put in though.
Ouch, Sonic Superstars 7.2... I thought it was a better game. Did it get that low score for the terrible coop?
Where is pikmin 1+2
and octopath traveler 2 should be higher.
@Krull I was thinking of playing Persona 3 again. It has been a few years since I played on my psp, but think I'll wait for Reload.
How can you include Metal Gear Solid in this list by doing so you applaud the lazy job Konami did. The same goes for Batman Arkham Trilogy
@doom64_abit Agreed, particularly as for many of these games (like Metal Gear Solid) it's the first time gamers on Nintendo consoles will have gotten to play them.
It's slightly weird that FFI-VI are listed as one game whereas MGS isn't but it's probably justified by FFI-VI having been released on Nintendo consoles prior to now. I do think it changes things if a game is being released on a Nintendo console for the first time (I know MGS3 was on 3DS, but it was running on significantly downgraded hardware from the original).
Had Wonder been the 2nd 3D Mario on the Switch, it would have been jousting for Tears for 1st place. Maybe even taking the coveted spot as the themes were so Mystical and amazing and you could almost feel it trying to pop out the screen in the stunning World-Map overview. Like ''make me 3D pleaseee!!''
Even Pikmin 4 got the memo of being an ambitious title, pushing Our beloved glorified Calculator to it's 250 screaming and melting core limits!
I'd have happily placed Pikmin 4 in 2nd spot. As for Wonder,, oh well. Another case of: Nintendo had it all , but threw it all against a brick wall. But 'everyone else' will say ''imagine hatin' on 2D (even though I'm not hating), Wonder is t3h b3est - get outta here!1''
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