Before we begin we need to address a few things about how thisNintendolist was compiled. The ten games within had to have come out originally in 2019. That means the remake forThe Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakeningdoes not count. It may be a brand new experience, but it is still based on an old game. There are no indie games on here either. That subject is for another article.
It is also important to note that this list was complied in coordination with a similarly titled PlayStation article in regard to third-party games released on both systems. We basically split up twenty games among these two consoles and divided them up for more variety. Make sense? Finally, this list is ordered from the “worst” reviewed to the best reviewed.
10Yoshi’s Crafted World (79)
Yoshi’s Crafted Worldmay not be the most robust and or challenging platformer out there, but it is an adorable entry in Yoshi’s very own spinoff series. Seeing how Nintendo created every level with an intricate touch of perfection made from ordinary materials is like nothing the industry has ever seen before. Yes,LittleBigPlanetand the previous Yoshi game had similar aesthetics, but this goes a step beyond. It is family friendly for whoever wants to play be it solo, or with a co-op partner.
9Pokémon Sword/Shield (81)
At long last Pokémon fans can rejoice for they now have a proper console game in the series.Pokémon SwordandPokémon Shieldmay not exactly be what they imagined.
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It doesn’t have groundbreaking graphics, or a huge open world. It is also missing a lot of Pokémon, which is causing some controversy. So again, it isn’t perfect, but dang does it feel good. It is like scratching a familiar itch. All the little changes to the mechanics make it a good start for what’s to eventually come next.
8Ring Fit Adventure (82)
Nintendo has dabbled with fitness games before via Wii Fit. While that sold well, it wasn’t necessarily for a gaming crowd. Their new attempt,Ring Fit Adventure, is what that game was missing. Disguised as an RPG, players will have to jog through big open areas, collect coins and materials all while fighting random monsters. Fighting said monsters goes into a turn-based battle where exercises like crunches, or tests of grip strength will do damage. It’s an incredible game we’re still loving two months later. And boy are we sweating.
7Collection of Mana (83)
Secret of Manareleased for the SNES in 1993 for North America. Western fans wouldn’t get another untilLegend of Manaon PS1 in 2000. There was, however, another game in-between there akaSeiken Densetsu 3, which launched for the Japanese SNES in 1995.
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After twenty-four years that game was finally made available to the West via this collection, which is why we’re counting it as a a new, 2019 release. Let’s just say the wait was well worth it.
6Tetris 99 (83)
This was a surprise that came out of nowhere as Nintendo Switch Online’s first venture on releasing an exclusive digital game for their service.Tetrisas a free to playBattle Royale? How could that be any good? It may sound weird, but this offshoot in the popular shooter sub-genre brought it and brought it hard. Never had Tetris been so addicting since the Game Boy release in 1989. It just goes to show that old dogs can learn new tricks.
5AI: The Somnium Files (86)
This is the next mind bending narrative from Kotaro Uchikoshi, the director of theZero Escapetrilogy. For those that played that then this visual novel experience should be right up one’s alley. Prepare to go through scenarios multiple times in order to cover the truth through dialogue trees and various puzzles. Visual novels are not for everyone, butAI: The Somnium Filesis one of the best games of the year, or at the very least has one of the best stories.
4Luigi’s Mansion 3 (86)
What started out as a cheap imitation ofResident EvilplusGhostbustershas blossomed into its own thing. After a disappointing launch of the original on GameCube, Luigi has turned this spin-off into something worth paying attention to. Sucking up ghosts feels just as satisfying as ever and playing around with Gooigi is a great mechanic for puzzles. Plus the hotel setting, with its many diverse floors, make it some of the coolest set pieces in any Mario game. Way to Luigi!
3Astral Chain (87)
It may be kind of weird to get this beforeBayonetta 3even though that was announced before this, but be that as it may this is one of PlatinumGames’ best titles. It is likePersonameetsBayonettaas players are accompanied by various otherworldly beings attached at the wrist by handcuff.
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The super fast action paired with perfectly timed dodges was never not satisfying. The story gets pretty crazy on the level ofNeon Genesis Evangelion, which is always good. It certainly had some problems, like the lack of the main character speaking, but overall this turned out great.
2Super Mario Maker 2 (88)
Super Mario Makerwas one of the best twilight games on the Wii U. It created a dedicated community of players both making and attempting level runs. It was a phenomenon despite the platform. The same is mostly true for the sequel. While it may feel more likeSuper Mario Maker 1.5in that not a lot changed and the player base eventually fell off, the recent trailer showcasing Zelda integration shows us Nintendo is dedicated to keeping this thing alive just like their continued support forSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate.
1Fire Emblem: Three Houses (89)
Last, but not least,Fire Emblem: Three Housesis the best reviewed original Switch game this year. There are some disputes with fans over the social aspects of the game getting in the way of gameplay, or that it is too easy. Even the best reviewed things have issues. Nothing is ever perfect. It is kind of like the reaction toPokémon SwordandPokémon Shield. There are steps in the right direction here for a consoleFire Emblemexperience, but there are also a few steps backwards.
