Early Switch games that have aged best

Summary

• Hollow Knight stands the test of time with fantastic pictures, unforgiving games and constant updates.

• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe stands out with timeless images, responsive controls and continuous support after launch.

• Bayonetta 2 is still a gem with unbeatable battle, smooth play and a unique protagonist.

When Nintendo Switch was launched in 2017, it was met with a library that, even though it was not massive, had reach, style and ambition. Over time, many of these early titles became benchmarks – not only for the console but for their genres. And while games have developed rapidly over the years ago, some of these pioneers have not only held up – they have been happy.

Whether it is as they still look fantastic in the handheld position or how their games remain untouched by age, these six games are evidence that good design always exceeds trends.

6

Hollow knight

The knight is still rising

There is some kind of poetically with a little bug Warrior becoming a titanium of indie games. Hollow knight Arrived quietly on Switch 2018 (one year after launch), but it didn't take long for it to dig into people's brains as a dream wrapped in spider web. Today it is still comfortable at the top of the Metroidvania food chain – and not because people are nostalgic, but because it really has not aged one day.

It is largely thanks to its timeless 2D art. The hand-drawn aesthetics feels like it belongs in a museum rather than a game file, and it doesn't matter if it's run on an OLED switch or a launch model-Hollow knight Looks sharp, liquid and eerily beautiful. But its lasting power lies in how unforgiving but still fair its world is. Hallownest remains a maze of despair, mystery and hidden stories. Bosses like Radiance and Watcher Knights still require patience and reflexes, and the minimalist story is still fueling fanse theories almost a decade later.

Players also come back for another reason: content. With free updates like Godmaster and Grimm groupThe Hollow knight Have more meat than most $ 60 matches. And with Silk song Still Mia, this little bug continues to crawl back into people's hearts – and their play time.

5

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Rainbow shell resistance

What other title can sell over 60 million copies and still feel fresh on competition numbers 3,000? Mario Kart 8 Deluxe May technically be a glorious port in a Wii U game, but it is aged as if it was held back in school just to get stronger. From the moment the lights lose on the first lap, it is obvious why this refuses to leave the best selling charts.

The visuals still hold better than most modern racers, even without radiation tracking or hyperrealism. Neon-lit tracks like Electrode and Stumstad See slick in both docked and handheld positions, and the gaming slope of the game 60fps Framerate has not missed a rate in several years. But what really seals it is how narrow the driving feels – every operation, boost and shell is so fine -tuned that it is difficult to imagine that Nintendo ever tops it.

And then there is support after launch. Thanks to Booster Course Pass, which adds retro and original tracks far into Switch's later years, Responsive Has managed to keep things fresh long after most racing games sputter out. It is the ultimate multiplayer comfort food, and clearly, no one gets tired of the taste.

4

Bayonetta 2

Witch time still hits differently

Of all the games that helped give the gear their early edge, Bayonetta 2 May be the most misunderstood pearl. It is high, spotted, cross -border ridiculous – and absolutely brilliant. Originally a Wii U-exclusive that barely anyone played, the Switch version finally gave Platinum's Devil-May-Care Action Game the audience it deserved.

And even now it is shockingly good. The fight has not aged a bit; If anything, it has become a gold standard for action precision. Signature Witch Time Mechanic, which slows the time after a perfect Dodge, still delivers the perfect shot of dopamine every time it triggers. Chain combinations Midair, juggling Angels and demons such as flaming bowling pins, still feel like performance art mixed with controlled chaos.

What helps is how smoothly the game runs on Switch. Locked 60 fps, short load times and images that – while not pushing boundaries – still know how to shine in style over resolution. And let's be honest, there is still no other action protagonist like Bayonetta. How does she have wagons through firearms in stilettos that are also guns? Timeless.

3

Splatoon 2

Ink has never dried

Multiplayer shooters should not aging well. Meta changes, graphics fall behind and players migrate. But Splatoon 2 Pull off something rare: It made him stay fresh to a literal mechanic, and even in 2025 it does not feel out of date.

Even though it is followed by Splatoon 3The second game still has plenty of loyalists – and with good reasons. Its color soaked images, hyperspecific maps that Port mackerel and Camp triggerand the wonderfully chaotic Split Turned online matches into community events. The core loop – binding turf to move faster and catching opponents – is genius. No other shooter makes the movement feel so dynamic or elegant.

But Splatoon 2Lasting power is also in its surprising story. The Octo expansion Turned what was originally a lighter multiplayer game into something deeper, scary and more emotional resonance. Between its eerie subway, cryptic lore and surprisingly intense difficulty, it proved that it was not just octopus-child silveriness. It had bitten – and it is still biting.

2

Super Mario Odyssey

Still jumps beyond expectations

When Odysse Tapped, it felt like a love letter to everything Mario had ever been – and a bold statement about what he could still be. Years later, it is undoubtedly the most easily replayable 3D platform player at Switch. Every kingdom, from Metro Kingdom's lively city streets to the sun-soaked beaches by the sea, still fails with charm and secrets.

But what really helps Odysse Keep up is how it feel. The movement is buttery smooth, thanks to Mario's large selection of hope, turns, dives and of course Cappy's versatile throws. This is a game that rewards creativity and curiosity without punishing players for not being perfect. And unlike some open world games that feel inflated over time, Odysse is dense without being exhausting.

The art style also helps. Its slightly drawn look avoids the aging trap realistic games falling into, and even now it feels like going into a pop-up book driven by joy. There is a reason why Speedrunners is still obsessed with this – it's so good.

1

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The kingdom is still coming

This one is almost unfair. Wild breath Not only corrected well – it redefined what “aging good” means in play. Even after The tears of the kingdom Many players are launched with literal heavens and underground cave systems. Cure The more coherent, more iconic experience.

It's not just nostalgia talking. Hyrule's open world remains unmatched in how it encourages clean, unwritten exploration. Players can climb anything, slide anywhere and have problems in ways that feel completely organic. There is no fatigue in the checklist here – only wind, weather, physics and curiosity. Shrines still feel smartly designed. The enemy camp still offers enough room for creative chaos. And moments like lighting a fire to catch an update or cooking dubious food with a Bokoblin -Horn still gives the same wonder as they did years ago.

Visually, the game's painting style is also technical aging. The lighting, the atmosphere, the stillness to stand on a cliff during thunderstorms – it still works, still stunning. And that's the thing with Wild breath: It wasn't just before its time. It's still.