Topic: What is your favorite game this year?

[jarodea]

What is the best new Switch 2 game you bought this year? I see there is a lot of negativity here so I figured we should talk about what we like.  For me it is Pokopia, which I suspected.  Dragon Quest Builders 2 is my favorite Switch game.  I've always wanted an Animal Crossing with something to make, not just laying down wallpaper, and a Minecraft with a story or reason to progress.  Oh buddy, Pokopia, like DQB2, provides it in spades.  Other than finally figuring out how to play Steel Panthers 3 on my computer, it is the game I most played this year.

[broodwars]

You might want to update your topic name there. I did not play my likely favorite game of the year on the Switch 2.

As for actual Switch 2 2026 games, I guess my favorite would be Splatoon Raiders but I still found that game pretty lacking. Runners-up would be Yoshi & the Mysterious Book and the Star Fox reboot.

I expect if I played my copy of Fortune's Weave, it would probably take the top Switch 2 spot, but I'm very behind on my Fire Emblem games. I gave up on 3 Houses out of sheer boredom for its tedious gameplay loop, and Engage isn't exactly grabbing me so far (it doesn't help that it has some major audio problems on Switch 2).

[jarodea]

Kind of explaining my topic title there. Fire Emblem was never going to be one of my top games but if it is for someone that's cool.  I've always been an Advance Wars guy.

[Khushrenada]

Hmmm. Not sure. It's been an odd year for me. Most of the games I played were just last month during the Backlaugust event. Played some stuff in there I liked such as WarioWare: Move It!, Super Monkey Ball 3D, ElecHead, A Short Hike and TOEM. Early in January, I wrapped up playing Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy along with Super Mario Bros. Wonder. I did enjoy both of those games. Also have revisited some past games. Played Metroid Prime: Remastered along with Metroid Fusion and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (finally beat that game on Hypermode also). Just got a Switch 2 last month and have let myself get sucked back into F-Zero GX and Super Mario Sunshine. I'll always have a soft spot for Sunshine. Really enjoying this replay of it. Finally tore myself away from it to get back to Donkey Kong Bananza. I'd played through the opening level at the end of August and have finally gotten back into yesterday playing through the second level and nearly finding everything in it (just 5 fossils and 1 banana undiscovered) and then moved onto the next level. Maybe it will become my favorite game of the year by the time I'm done. Also want to get some time in with Mario Kart World as well but I'm going to be moving in October so that will pause my gaming time for awhile.

I do also have Pokopia and Star Fox for Switch 2 as well but my plan is to play DK and Kart first before getting to them but maybe one of those could be the best Switch 2 I got this year. I'd like to put a bow on Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition by beating a few remaining tyrants and side missions and move on to another Xenolade game. This time XC2 which would be my first time playing it along with the Switch 2 enhancements. Yet, I also find myself wanting to tackle a Zelda game. The OoT remake has made me itching to crack out my 3DS version and play that as I'd really like to do it with that 3D effect. It would also be the second time I've played any version of OoT. Yet, there's also Echoes of Wisdom that I've really wanted to play as well and Tears of the Kingdom is still sitting on my shelf waiting for me to dive into that. The Nintendo Today app keeps posting things about Breath of the Wild and it's got me wanting to revisit that world but in its sequel form. (And there's Wind Waker on the GameCube app which will be tempting me like Sunshine did.)

Jarodea mentioned seeing a lot of negativity here. To me, negativity seems much more muted these days compared to a decade ago in the Wii U years or even back in the Wii times. The recent talk about storage space for the Switch 2 has perhaps had some of the most "negative" vibes but it can't be helped with a real issue in the gaming industry which has lost its ability to compress files. Nintendo is once again winning in this battle as well. They still know how to deliver their games in an acceptable file size but that can only do much against 3rd parties which seem to have given up in caring about that. It's also brought up some of the restlessness people have felt with the Switch 2's growing library but that ties into what people like. Some people like certain titles and franchises and if they aren't seeing entries and software for those likes then it's going to be harder for some to be positive about their current feelings on the Switch 2 library. Back at the end of 2017, I made a topic asking if that might be Nintendo's best year ever when it comes to software releases. Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey in the same year during the Switch's first year was big but there was also a lot of other big games released such as Splatoon 2, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and even Mario Kart 8 DX which had a little bit extra compared to its original Wii U release but would also go on to add so much more as it continued to dominate sales over the Switch's lifespan. Even some smaller gems like ARMS and the under-rated SnipperClips were there. (And there was also what was released on 3DS during that year when talking about what all Nintendo released but I'm just focusing on Switch 1 for this point.) When you consider that first year Switch 1 had, I guess I'm a bit more understanding when people have talked about feeling the Switch 2 hasn't really wowed them yet with the games it has released. Switch 1 set such a high bar for a console's early software.

But it does seem like there is some enthusiasm and positivity returning with the recent Nintendo Direct and Nintendo may be  having us witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational battle station. Starting this month, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is a pretty epic game and delivering for those who felt Three Houses was a high point of the series. (Although if you aren't an FE fan then I'm not sure this will do much to change one's mind). Switch Sports Resort next month may seem like a more minor software title but the Wii/Switch sports games still sell and are enjoyed by many still even if the series doesn't have the impact on culture it did when it first appeared on the Wii. OoT remake is looking like it will be a big hit. The Duskbloods is supposedly soon to release although even if it is December, the return of Professor Layton is the big deal for me. Metroid is getting a new entry. Kirby's getting an epic new entry. Xenoblade is getting a new entry. Pokemon is coming and there may be other big surprises in 2017. The Square software of Kingdom Hearts 4 and Final Fantasy 7 part 3 will be big for a lot of gamers although obviously not exclusive to the Switch 2 library. I'm getting excited about what's to come but I'm also feeling the pressure to start playing some Switch 2 stuff now to try and keep up with all this software that I want to play.

[M.K.Ultra]

For Switch 2 I bought Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Star Fox, Splatoon Raiders, Orbitals, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, and the Xenoblade Chronicles. I still haven't played Xenoblade or Orbitals and I'm too early into Fire Emblem, so I cannot fairly consider those. Of the other three I would say Splatoon Raiders is my favorite, but Star Fox is a close second. Both got set aside pretty quickly because of Backlaugust but I have plans to return to both. I think that Star Fox update just dropped so I really should get back into that multiplayer and get those achievements while the community is still there.

[Evan_B]

You've been on quite a gaming Odyssey, Khush. Curious to hear your thoughts on Xenoblade 2 if you finally get to it. I'm not the biggest Ocarina fan but I'm biting on the remake because of some of the quality of life enhancements and... let's face it, it does look gorgeous. I also would recommend Echoes of Wisdom, which is a little rough around the edges but delightfully so. It also has a great Hyrule map.

Looking at what I've played this year so far, it's a mixed bag. I'd say moment to moment, my favorite games this year have probably been Pragmata (new) and Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta. Other games have done neat things that I feel were worth celebrating, and while I loved Pragmata very much upon playing and completion, I look back on it and say "that was very fun," though not necessarily worthy of the glowing rating I gave it at the time. Maybe it does. I was very generous.

Meanwhile, Ys Memoire is just a super solid RPG with some very fun customization systems. It doesn't hold you hand and it also doesn't waste your time with ton of bloat. A rarity these days. I've played a fair few smaller indies, but I'm a bit disappointed to say that a number of glowing recommendations haven't quite hit the mark for me.

[ejamer]

On negativity:  One reason I still love these boards (even though don't participate much - I just don't have much to say) is that people tend to be painfully realistic. There are some Nintendo sites where people drink the kool-aid so hard, I can hardly stand visiting. NWR/RFN are pretty open when things are good, and equally open when they should be better.



As for the actual question, ask me next year. Pokemon Pokopia wins almost by default this year... but I'm betting that 12 months will be transformational for our opinion of Switch 2 here. Should be awesome. Not a great answer though, so I'll list a few games that have been great this year.

Most Played
My son and I have played a ton of Monster Hunter World (Steam). We're finding Fatalis a bit tough. Get to third phase, break both horns, but haven't been able to finish him off yet with just the 2 of us. This hasn't been my favorite game played in 2026... but the sheer amount of time invested, and the co-op nature make it a solid call.

Much Loved (by my Son)
- Hollow Knight: Silksong (Steam) was every bit as good as hoped, according to my son. A winner through and through.
- Mina the Hollower (Steam) probably isn't as good as Shovel Knight, but that's a high bar. Mina did stand out as a fantastic game! However, my son couldn't understand why reviewers said the game was difficult... It's not, and that assertion made him question whether reviewers who complained about difficulty are just bad at games, or don't have enough retro gaming experience to understand how Mina worked.
- Dokapon Kingdom (Steam) had mixed results; his friends didn't really get into the game, as the pacing was too slow... but we've had a good session with all the stupidity and spite you'd expect from this title that convinced him it was awesome when played with the right people.
- Palworld (Steam) still has some jank, even with official release 1.0, but does so much right that it's easy to forgive the problems. My son is putting a bunch of time into this now, enjoying it tremendously.

Greatly Enjoyed (by Me)
- La-Mulana (Steam) holds up as an amazing retro-styled game. Yes, some puzzles are simply too obscure. No, I don't feel bad about referencing online hints and tips when stuck (despite having beat the game years ago). Absolutely love this game.
- Undertale (Steam) didn't thrill me as much as it did others, but was enjoyable and worth playing. I only did pacifist route; seemed like the obvious hook for this game, and wasn't really difficult.



A Few Let Downs
- Claire Obscur: Expedition 33
- Okami


Some Games We'd Like to Try
- Monster Hunter Stories 3
- Xenoblade 2 and 3 (Switch 2)
- Blue Prince
- Kirby and the World Beyond
- Xenoblade Genesis

[Khushrenada]

On negativity:  One reason I still love these boards (even though don't participate much - I just don't have much to say) is that people tend to be painfully realistic.

Well, I, for one, am glad you are taking the time to post a bit on here even if you don't think you have much to add.

And you know what, I'll give a big ol' Honk! to Jarodea as well for his contributions and getting a topic like this started.

[Khushrenada]

You've been on quite a gaming Odyssey, Khush.

In a way. It's also cause I keep saying I'm going to play this or that and then changing my mind. I was so excited and really feeling urge to pick up Metroid Prime 4 when it released. I played Remastered as a way to satiate the Metroid craving I had and then that led to Fusion and then Prime 3. By that time, I did get a copy of MP4 and then put it off. I also realized I still had yet to play Metroid Prime Hunters so I started that on my old DS Phat but only got through a few opening rooms and didn't get back to it. Now Metroid Ravenous is coming out and that's the new hotness and I just don't seem to care about MP4 as much anymore but I'd still like to dive into it at some point. I'd wanted to have a couple days where I could just play it pretty non-stop and dive right in but then that timing never happened and I started playing other things.

This last month has been me revisting a bunch of games from Backlaugust to complete them. At the time August ended, the games I'd fully completed were Banjo-Kazooie, Elec-Head, Mega Man III, Mega Man IV, Carto, Catan: Console Edition and What Remains of Edith Finch. In a way, Aero Porter could probably be part of that group.

Since then, I fully completed TOEM, A Short Hike, Onion Assault, Dedede's Drum Dash Deluxe (getting platinum medals and trophies for everything on normal and special mode), Kirby Fighters Deluxe (in that I beat Very Hard mode and unlocked the Shadow Kirby skin and completed New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe by finding all exits and getting all Star Coins and a 5 star save file. Came close to finishing the Challenge mode of Super Monkey Ball 3D but the hardest level is actually a bonus type level for the 8th world in which you need to collect all the bananas to beat it and not just reach a goal. Even then, to fully complete the game really means playing and winning in the Monkey Fight and Monkey Race parts of the game so completing the Challenge mode is kind of like completing a third of the game. Did want to get back to WarioWare: Move It! but I really need to play that on Switch 1 because of some of the micogames but I just haven't bothered to boot up my OG Switch with my playing everything else on the S2 right now. And as I now start to progress more into Bananza, getting back to WarioWare is falling more and more to the wayside.

Still, that's 13 games completed in two months with a couple kind of close. I guess I'd just like to try to rack up a bit more points in Aero Porter even though it's kind of an endless game as it falls more in the puzzle genre (like a Tetris or Puzzle League game) but I seem to have fully unlocked its max form so its complete in a way. Kind of thought I might be able to unlock the extra questions in Who Wants to be a Millionaire? as well but just never felt like revisiting that game over other some of these others. Pikuniku is complete for the single player portion. Maybe I find someone willing to do the two-player section with me someday to fully check that game off. Really close to almost making it 16 games but I hold myself to multiple standards for considering something complete, I guess.

[Khushrenada]

On a different note as I work to derail this thread off its original topic, I'd had a couple years where my income was up and down and just didn't feel like I could do much purchasing for gaming. Plus, Nintendo sort of felt like it was stretching out the life of the Switch over 2024 and 2025 with less software I felt an urge to buy right away. I only show 18 games added to my backlog in 2024 and 28 in 2025. As a result, this year exploded with 92 games added as I finally did have a better and steady income and started playing catch-up on a getting a lot of games now before the physical copies became harder to find and perhaps rising in price. I bring this up because, while mentioning in this thread about a lot of big games coming out in 2027 for Switch 2 that I'm eager to play, there's a lot of games now from the past few years that I'm also itching to tackle. I thought I'd post a list from those 92 games I got this year that I'm also wanting to tackle sooner than later if you want to talk about games that could excite the gamer in you and perhaps be one's favorite game they played this year.

Monster Hunter Stories (3DS)
Mischief Makers (N64)
Hollow Knight: Silksong (Switch 1/2)
Riven (PC)
Princess Peach: Showtime! (Switch 1/2)
Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Switch 1/2)
Stray (Switch 1/2)
Dredge: Deluxe Edition (Switch 1/2)
Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition (Switch 1/2)
Metroid Prime 4 (Switch 1/2)
Ace Attorney Investigations Collection (Switch 1/2)
Batman: Arkham Trilogy (Switch 1/2)
Rhythm Heaven Groove (Switch 1/2)
Mario Kart World (Switch 2)
Pokemon Pokopia (Switch 2)

That list isn't in any particular order but if it was I think I'd put Ace Attorney Investigations at the top. It would finally be my completion of the whole series (aside from the Layton/Wright 3DS spinoff game that I've still saved to this point) and I know that the second game has something to do with a loose thread from a case in the second Phoenix Wright game. I've wanted to see that wrapped up for a long time now. Obviously, I haven't played any of these yet so I can't really name them as my favorite game of the year but I feel there's still a lot of gems waiting for me to get around to them.

[Evan_B]

A part of me feels the need to give Mischief Makers a try, considering it’s the N64 2.5D game everyone raves about. But I have noticed a certain bat-shaped chunk of your backlog that I also have not yet tackled. Once I’ve put a fair bit of time into The Middle Earth duology I might jump to those… except Dragon’s Dogma 2 calls to me more powerfully than almost anything I’ve touched this year.