Switch 1 Top 5 Lists!
We’re just a month away from the Switch 2 releasing, and like a lot of folks, I’ve been reflecting on the 8+ years I had with the Switch 1.
It has most of the best games Nintendo has ever made, across both new releases and classic collections, available to play anytime, anywhere. That makes it a true must-have console, one that is easily Nintendo’s must successful system in their long and storied history.
It’s also the first console that I truly got to enjoy alongside my 11-year-old son. We have so many great memories from the past 8 years, ranging from unlocking all of the characters together in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate all the way to forging and breaking alliances in Mario Party Jamboree.
Between the two of us, we ran through six different Nintendo Switch consoles and played collectively for hundreds of hours. Yikes, that’s a lot of gaming to reflect on.
So let’s reflect! We had a father-son lunch today and at the restaurant we laid out each of our top 5 games. We’ll go through them in alternating fashion. (Quick note, cross-platform games will appear if the Switch was the platform where we played the game the most.)
Damon’s #5 - Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
I was surprised this one connected so much with Damon, given its 8-bit pedigree, but Damon loved the cast of characters, the surprisingly complex stories and backstories, and the chiptune music (that we saw performed live!).
Ronjan’s #5 - The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
I missed out on the original Game Boy release entirely as a child, but I loved the Switch remake so much that it became my 2019 game of the year and my 2nd-favorite game in the franchise behind A Link Between Worlds.
Damon’s #4 - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Damon’s absurdly excited for Mario Kart World to release next month, but until then, he still loves playing this one. The insanity of 96 different tracks may never be topped. And oh my, dat soundtrack.
Ronjan’s #4 - Celeste
While this game was technically cross-platform, I associate it most closely with the Switch, as I played it during a stretch at work when I had to fly to Pittsburgh every two weeks. It has one of the most impactful stories of any game I’ve played and was my 2018 game of the year.
Damon’s #3 - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
I don’t honestly care much for the franchise: I love the “Nintendo museum” aspect, but don’t care much for the gameplay. Damon, on the other hand, loooooves setting up wacky scenarios and seeing what happens. It might be his favorite “what if machine”.
Ronjan’s #3 - Super Mario Odyssey
When hatred and bigotry led to the election of a monster in 2016, the world felt scarier than ever. This game - and the breakout music track Jump Up Super Star - filled me with joy and gave me the energy to get up off of the mat. It’s my 2017 game of the year that I also placed at #4 in my all-time Mario list.
Damon’s #2 - Miitopia
Damon’s a true creative type, and he’s constantly imagining and designing characters and stories. This game tapped into that aggressively, as he could make Mii characters, cast them into roles, and see how the story plays out. While I never got into this game myself, it was fun watching him live out his creative dreams.
Ronjan’s #2 - Super Mario Maker 2
When it came out, this game was a mild disappointment. I’d played the original Wii U game much more than this sequel, perhaps lacking the “spark” to keep me engaged. A few years later, Damon became that spark. He’d make levels and I’d have to try to beat them. And it’s the best experience I’ve ever had with the Mario franchise.
Damon AND Ronjan’s #1 - Animal Crossing: New Horizons
This game got us through the pandemic, and I’ll never forget it (as my 2020 game of the year). We played for different reasons, of course: Damon liked decorating his island, while I liked filling out the bug and fish collections. But this game grabbed both of us for hundreds of hours and more than anything will be what we think of when we think about the Switch 1.
And that’s that. What a run. Can’t wait for the next one.