Whether it’s your friends, your family, or even an estranged in-law, there’s a good chance that someone you know owns the perennially popular Nintendo Switch. Fetching a few Switch games as holiday gifts is a stellar idea, but with thousands on the market and more every year, where do you even begin?
Right here, of course. Our 2021 Nintendo Switch gift guide features some of the very best games on the system. It’s a diverse enough bunch to suit several tastes and cover every age group. It’s got bestsellers and under-the-radar gems. Put simply, it’s your ticket to gift-giving success.
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Mario Party Superstars
For 23 years and counting, the Mario Party series has brought folks together, handed them controllers, and tested relationship bonds enough to make even Milton Bradley blush. It’s a charming romp with iconic Nintendo characters that tasks players with traversing stages built like board games, tossing in a sundry set of minigames along the way.
The latest entry, Mario Party Superstars, is something of a “Greatest Hits” package. All five of Mario Party Superstars’ boards are lovingly remastered renditions of beloved N64-era Mario Party levels. Sweetening the deal, Mario Party Superstars celebrates every game in the series with 100 of the best minigames ever devised.
But even if you’re purchasing this for someone who has never before touched one of these games, they’re sure to see just how timeless these boards can be. It’s an excellent collection that can bring families together as few other games can.
Get it on Amazon here!
Untitled Goose Game
Even if it did have a title, Untitled Goose Game would probably just go by “Goose Game.” After all, what better way is there to sell us on a video game starring a terrible goose?
And make no mistake. This truly is one terrible goose. The entire goal of Untitled Goose Game is to bring raw mayhem into the lives of as many people as possible. The player inhabits the role of a mischievous goose on the loose. Progression is tied to solving hilarious puzzles, manipulating the hapless men and women of your targeted town into doing the darnedest things, and often paying the price for it.
If you want to surprise that impish Switch owner in your life this holiday season with a game that will let them drop a bucket of war on a burly man and run away honking, we can’t think of a better choice.
Get it on here Amazon!
Super Mario Maker 2
What could possibly be cooler than spending a relaxing weekend traipsing through timeless levels in classic Mario games? How about creating new Mario games yourself? Super Mario Maker 2 wracks our brains with an ambitious suite of options allowing even the most inexperienced creator a chance to build — and play! — something special.
Stages can be built with art assets from five great Mario games, including famous power-ups, quintessential bosses, and more. Players can upload their stages to the internet for others to enjoy and download hundreds of rad handcrafted levels from around the world.
Super Mario Maker 2 is ideal for anyone with a creative spark and a love for video games.
Get it on Amazon here!
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
There’s a reason Animal Crossing: New Horizons has sold 35 million copies and counting. It’s fun. The latest in a long line of Nintendo’s anthropomorphically-themed social simulations sees players take a plane trip to a deserted island. Once you’ve arrived, the sky’s the limit on what you can build, how you can reshape the landscape, which quirky talking animals will call your island their home, and more.
From digging up fossils and catching big fish to redirecting rivers and designing meme-worthy t-shirts, New Horizons pulls folks in for the long haul. There’s so much to do, so much to see, and so many different ways to invite real-life friends to your digital island and unwind. No wonder it’s been such a big part of our lives in the COVID era.
Recently, a massive free update has improved the game all the more so, enhancing New Horizons with nifty quality of life improvements and a bevy of new content. Additionally, the Happy Home Designer paid DLC grants access to neat new modes and innovations. Anyone you know who enjoys using social media to maintain their connection with other people can benefit from this game, but if you think they’d have a good time turning an entire island into their own unique brand of paradise, this is the obvious holiday 2021 frontrunner.
Get it on Amazon here!
Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Pikachu is one of the most instantly recognizable fictional mascots in the world. The series that started with that adorable yellow rodent and “only” 150 of his pals has spawned a global franchise phenomenon celebrating its 25th anniversary this holiday season. Pokemon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl collectively comprise the latest experience — there are always two versions of each new entry, you see, all the better to inspire trainers of all ages to build friendships with other players in the pursuit of, so the slogan goes, catching ’em all.
Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl brings Pokemon veterans back to the land of Sinnoh, the cherished setting of several Pokemon games from back in the late 2000s. Nostalgia’s a powerful thing, so this will feel a bit like a class reunion for those vets. But every Pokemon game is built from the ground up to represent a fully accessible first adventure, so Sinnoh might just be the perfect place for intrepid young trainers to begin their journey.
Get it on Amazon here!
Metroid Dread
It’s funny how things pan out sometimes. The Metroid series pioneered a certain gaming genre, which has blossomed in its wake, even as Metroid itself has had to endure long periods of dormancy. Games like Hollow Knight, Celeste, Dead Cells, are all big hits from independent developers whose love for Metroid shines through in every pixel.
But 2021 was the return of the queen. Heroine Samus Aran has blasted off for her heavily anticipated latest escapade in Metroid Dread, a challenging sci-fi 2D platformer with an incredible degree of depth that has reminded fans why they fell in love with the series in the first place.
This is a game that rewards patience. It’s not enough to build Samus’ stockpile of stellar attacks; players are expected to master every stage. Solving complex puzzles to unlock new areas is a huge part of the appeal, and the dangerous foes lurking around every corner will thrill and chill even the most seasoned gamers. This one’s for your Switch-owning friends who crave a contest of wills between players and programming.
Get it on Amazon here!
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the Nintendo Switch game. Fantastic hits like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, and the games you’ve seen on this list have all contributed strongly to the Switch’s appeal, but it was Link’s most recent 3D quest that tilted heads and created the demand for this machine in the first place.
All of that is to say, there’s a pretty good chance the Switch owners you know already own Breath of the Wild. So, what’s the best holiday gift for someone who owns — and reveres — this award-winning game? Another installment in the Zelda series, of course, and one that has long gone overlooked. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is a modern remaster of Link’s second grand adventure for the Nintendo Wii.
By the time it originally arrived on the scene, many gamers had moved on from the Wii, never giving Skyward Sword’s rich story and memorable cast a chance. With its painterly aesthetic, in-depth swordplay, and tough dungeons, Skyward Sword has flown under the radar for far too long. You might just know a Zelda fan or two who has always been curious about Skyward Sword but never found the opportunity to check it out firsthand.
Get it on Amazon here!
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