The Nintendo Switch has had 3 amazing years in a row now and is set for a 4th. For a console that is a glorified tablet, it keeps knocking it out of the park with the impressive lineup of games. The console has sold more than 41 million units worldwide (as of September 2019) and is just trailing behind the Xbox One, which had an over 3 years head start. So what has everyone been playing on the Nintendo Switch? Here are the top 10 most played Nintendo Switch games in 2019.
10. Pokemon Sword/Shield
These games were ranked 11th and 12th respectively, but another set of GameFreak games also made the list, and it seemed pointless to talk about a similar game twice, so I grouped them together, allowing room for Pokemon Sword/Shield. Despite only being released in mid-November 2019, Pokemon Sword & Shield were one of the most played games of 2019. The games have already sold over 6 million copies. Not bad for a game that got so much hate for the lack of National Dex and low textured trees; see our thoughts here. But even though the game got a lot of hate pre-release, this goes to show how strong and passionate the Pokemon community is with the fact the game got this much play time in a short amount of time. I have clocked in around 50 hours so far and still have so much I want to do. If you were put off this game by the blind hate it got before it was released, log out of Facebook & Twitter and go and play this. It’s a great game. There is also DLC coming later this year, so that gives you even more reason to play it now.
9. Splatoon 2
Splatoon, Nintendo’s own Call Of Duty…kinda. The Splatoon series is essentially a 4v4 territory control game where teams fight to cover as much area of the map in paint while also fighting each other. A very bright and colorful game that even has its own Esports competitions. This is a great game to play with other people online and remains one of the most popular games on the Nintendo Switch, despite being over 2 years old now.
8. FIFA 19
Stephen Covey once said; “There are 4 constants in life…change, choice, principles & yearly FIFA games”. Well, maybe he didn’t say the last one, but he was definitely thinking it. FIFA currently holds the record for Best Selling Sports Video-Game Franchise and has been released every year since 1993 with FIFA International Soccer. If you like football and video games, then chances are you play FIFA. Yes, its football, not soccer, and it doesn’t seem like that trend is going to change any time soon.
7. Super Mario Odyssey
It wouldn’t be a Nintendo console without a Super Mario game. Mario has been a staple of the brand (and their mascot) since the 80s, and I doubt that will ever change. It’s also surprising that after over 30 years, Mario games just never get stale. You can even go back and play Mario games that are 20, 30 years old, and still not be bored of them. Mario Odyssey is a fantastically made game. Each modern game tends to have its own mechanic that makes it unique, and Mario Odyssey has his cap. Mario’s cap, or Cappy, can be used to take over and control enemies, objects, and more. You can use it to become a dinosaur to smash a wall to progress, or take over a switch that you need to pull to progress. The levels are also very immersive too, with plenty to explore. My personal favorite is New Donk City, which is based on New York City. It’s so charming, and I could spend hours in it. And I have. If you own a Nintendo Switch and don’t own Super Mario Odyssey, then shame on you.
6. Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee
This is a game that I was dreaming about for nearly 20 years. Ever since the days of the Nintendo 64, I hoped that one day we would get a fully fledged Pokemon on home console, and in 2018, that became a reality. I also love generation 1. I started with Pokemon Red way back in 1998, so seeing the game that started the dream come to life with modern graphics was truly amazing. It also seems like a lot of people loved the game too, because its ranked quite high on this list. The game itself was really great, too. It follows the story of Red/Blue/Yellow almost exactly, so if you’re an older fan then you already know the concept. One downside though was the use of Pokemon Go’s catching mechanics. It did dumb the game down a lot, but that was part of the intention, because Nintendo wanted to grab the new Pokemon fans who only have experience with Go. As of yet, we haven’t heard anything about future Let’s Go games, but I would love to see other generation 2 remade as a Let’s Go game.
5. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 was a system seller for the Wii U. The Wii U sold around 13 million units, and Mario Kart 8 sold over 8.44 million copies. The Nintendo Switch has sold over 41 million units, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold over 19.01 million copies. So nearly half of all Switch owners own the game, which is incredible. Mario Kart, in my opinion, gets better with each entry, and this is no exception. The gameplay is so smooth and fun to play. The roster is huge, and the maps are fantastic and really come to life. This is a must-have game for any Switch owner, especially if you never got a chance to own it on the Wii U.
4. Minecraft
Minecraft is a game that is literally everywhere, on pretty much every gaming platform that has existed since the game’s release, ranging from PC, consoles, and phones, and the Switch is no exception. Minecraft truly is a juggernaut in the gaming world. Today, Minecraft is the best selling PC game of all time, the best selling console game of all time, and, of course, the overall best selling video game of all time with over 180 million copies sold. The free to play version in China also has over 300 million users. Minecraft has done in a few years what many game series and even gaming companies haven’t been able to do in many decades. I think it will be a long time before any game becomes as big as Minecraft has, for as long as it has.
3. Super Smash Bros Ultimate
Super Smash Bros has become one of the flagship Nintendo franchises since its debut on the N64 back in 1999. Today, Smash Ultimate is currently the best selling fighting game of all time, having sold over 15 million copies. For those that don’t know, basically Smash is basically an 8 player fighter game that uses characters from various video game franchises, usually either Nintendo characters or from series affiliated with Nintendo. This means you can finally make Mario and Sonic have an epic showdown, or have you ever wondered who would win between Link and Samus? Super Smash Bros has become such a huge game series in its own right and even has its own Esports league. It’s easy to see why this ranks so high on this list.
2. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Despite how great Breath Of The Wild is, I’m actually very surprised to see it on this list, especially at the number 2 spot. Breath Of The Wild was a launch title for the Nintendo Switch almost 3 years ago. The game has a 97 rating on Metacritic with only 5 other games with a higher rating (4 at 98 and Ocarina Of Time at 99). The game is universally loved around the world, and it’s clear to see why. The game is huge with so much to explore and an amazing story and lore. Most gamers clock in well over 100 hours before they’re done with their initial playthrough, and its not uncommon to see gamers clocking in 500-1000 hours in total. This is a beloved game, and I’m excited for the sequel to be released in the future.
1. Fortnite
Now this one might anger a lot of people, but Fortnite was the most played game on the Nintendo Switch in 2019. While the game is losing some traction, it is still a juggernaut in the gaming world. The game grossed over $1.8 billion in 2019 through purchases of cosmetic items and is still played by millions every day around the world. Epic have managed to market this game in a perfect way, keeping both players and influencers connected to the game. They’ve even honored one of their biggest creators, Ninja, with his own skin. I have clocked in around 1100 hours on Fortnite on the Switch so far, and I still love it as much I did when I first started playing. I am not surprised this has placed where it has, and I can see it reaching a similarly high place in 2020 too.
Those are the top 10 most played Nintendo Switch games of 2019. What did you guys think? Did you expect Fortnite to be number 1? Did your favorite game not make the cut? Let us know.
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