The best Nintendo Switch games to buy in 2022

Animal Crossing aka the lockdown guilty pleasure of, well, basically everyone. And it’s still got us just as obsessed. For those unfamiliar, Animal Crossing: New Horizons brings you to your very own deserted island where you can build the paradise of your dreams. The perfect form of escapism, if you ask us.

What’s more, you can play with up to seven people locally or online, meaning you can get the whole friend group involved.

Super Mario = *all* the nostalgia, and you can continue the adventure on your Switch. The storyline follows a similar format to the old-school game: Bowser has kidnapped the Sprixie Princess, and it’s down to Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach and Toad to save her. Expect endless fun locations to explore.

While we love Super Mario, it’s safe to say Mario Kart still reigns supreme as the king of all Mario games. Up to four people can play connected to one Switch, and you can play online with up to 12 people. Time to get competitive.

The fact that a universe with as much depth and complexity as The Legend of Zelda can be explored via just your Switch screen is pretty impressive. And you can always link up to your TV if you want an even bigger scale. Breath of the Wild promises to be the biggest Zelda adventure yet, complete more than 100 puzzle-filled shrines. We’re ready to explore.

Take games night to a whole new level with this Carnival Games set-up. There’s bowling, pinball, ice hockey and more – plus multiplayer mode for when you fancy getting competitive with friends.

It’s officially adventure time! Take control of Kirby as he explores a mysterious forgotten civilisation. Even better, the landscapes you’ll travel through promise to appear as ‘3D stages’, and we can already feel ourselves getting gripped.

If you’re after a more standard version of the classic Super Mario Bros. game, there’s one available for your Switch too. You can have up to four players taking part at once and, with 164 courses to choose from, we’re predicting literally hours of fun.

Calling all Marvel fans! You can basically live out your own Marvel movie with this Switch game, choosing your own team made up of characters from the Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, X-Men and more. Your mission? To track down the Infinity Stones before Thanos and The Black Order use them to cause chaos. We’re ready.

It’s a classic favourite for a reason so, hey, maybe it’s time to see what all the fuss is about? Explore worlds or get to work building your own. Four people can play locally, or up to eight together online, which means more chance to maximise the fun.