10 Best Nintendo Switch Action Games

Level up your Switch experience, gamers! The Nintendo Switch has become a total boss in the console world, letting you slay dragons on the couch or conquer dungeons on the go. But with a library bigger than a Behemoth, choosing your next adventure can feel like picking a fight with a final boss on level 1.

No worries, comrades! Below is your ultimate quest guide, with 10 epic Nintendo Switch action games catering to every play style. Whether you crave loot-uploading adventures, creative sandboxes, or head-to-head showdowns, this list is packed with gems waiting to be discovered.

So grab your Joy-Cons, buckle up, and get ready to dive into a whirlwind tour of the Switch’s finest action titles. Be warned, though: you might find your next gaming obsession lurking around the corner…

10. Darksiders: Warmastered Edition

Metacritic Rating: 77
Release Date: 5 January 2010

Apocalypse never looked so good! Darksiders: Warmastered Edition cranks the original game’s visuals up to 4K, letting you experience the war-torn Earth in all its ruined glory. You play as War, the first Horseman, framed for starting the apocalypse. Now powerless and furious, you’ll forge uneasy alliances, unleash devastating combos, and ride your fiery phantom steed Ruin into battle. 

Can you clear your name and bring the real culprits to justice? Gear up for a brutal adventure packed with loot, upgrades, and enough angelic and demonic butt-kicking to satisfy any Horseman of the Apocalypse.

9. Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition

Metacritic Rating: 84
Release Date: 18 May 2018

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition is a game for the Nintendo Switch that adapts and combines Hyrule Warriors and Hyrule Warriors Legends. This edition includes all the content previously released for both games, including every map, character, mission, and downloadable content. 

If you’re a fan of action-packed video games, you’ll want to check out this game. The game combines the best of two popular franchises – Dynasty Warriors and The Legend of Zelda. With an original version of Link, the player will engage in exciting melee combat against many enemies from the Zelda universe. In addition, you’ll be able to use familiar weapons from previous Zelda games and employ the enemy targeting system to your advantage. The game also retains the classic gameplay mechanic of discovering and opening chests to find valuable items. Overall, Hyrule Warriors is a thrilling adventure you won’t want to miss.

8. Astral Chain

Metacritic Rating: 87
Release Date: 30 August 2019

Step into the shoes of a member of a police task force in Astral Chain, a new action game from PlatinumGames. Equipped with sentient armaments called Legions, you play a crucial role in protecting survivors from otherworldly invaders. You simultaneously control the protagonist and a Legion, allowing you to chain stylish combos and investigate the dark side of a near-future cyberpunk metropolis. Your actions are key to saving humanity from extradimensional invaders called Chimaras. Use Legions’ abilities to track missing persons, subdue criminals, and explore the Astral Plane, where Chimeras invade. The fate of humanity is in your hands.

7. Diablo III: Eternal Collection 

Metacritic Rating: 88
Release Date: 27 June 2017

This game is an unparalleled action role-playing experience. It includes Diablo III, the Reaper of Souls expansion set, and the Necromancer class in one volume. Choose to play as one of humanity’s last defenders and level up with legendary loot and devastating powers. Lay waste to legions of evil throughout all five acts of the storyline, or hunt bounties on elder evils in Adventure Mode.

The Nintendo version of the game comes with some exciting features. You get Switch-exclusive bonus cosmetics with a formidable armour transmog set perfect for Ganondorf, the King of All Evil. You can play the game with up to four friends online, offline via local co-op, or on a single console couch-co-op style. The game supports all Switch controller configurations, including single and dual Joy-Con action. Moreover, the game supports amiibo figures and adds a new amiibo Portal Legendary item.

6. Bayonetta 2

Metacritic Rating: 91
Release Date: 20 September 2014

Bayonetta 2 is an action game by PlatinumGames and Nintendo. Initially, it was for Wii U in 2014, but it later became available for Nintendo Switch. It offers new gameplay elements, like the multiplayer mode Tag Climax and Umbran Climax, which enables Bayonetta to perform supercharged combos by sacrificing her magic. The game’s storyline follows Bayonetta’s quest to save Jeanne’s soul and help Loki reach the sacred mountain of Fimbulventr. Bayonetta 2 is a must-play action game with a unique plot, exciting action, and stunning graphics.

5. Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Metacritic Rating: 92 
Release Date: 29 July 2022

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is an action RPG developed by Monolith Soft and published by Nintendo for the Switch. It concludes the trilogy’s narrative and is set in Aionios, a world with two warring nations, Keves and Agnus, and ten-year-lifespan soldiers. The main characters, Noah, Eunie, Lanz, Mio, Sena, and Taion, fuse as Ouroboros to uncover the truth behind the perpetual War and the nature of their world. Play Xenoblade Chronicles 3 for an engaging storyline, unique characters, and immersive gameplay.

4. Hades

Metacritic Rating: 93
Release Date: 6 December 2018

In Hades, an exciting dungeon crawler, you play as the immortal Prince of the Underworld, fighting your way out of Hades with the help of the gods of Olympus. This action-packed adventure combines elements from Supergiant’s top games. 

Jump into Hades and experience one of the best action games on Nintendo. This masterpiece is perfect for any action-adventure enthusiast looking for a thrilling challenge.

3. Metroid Prime Remastered 

Metacritic Rating: 94
Release Date: 8 February 2023

Metroid Prime Remastered is an updated version of the classic first game in Metroid Prime. Metroid Prime Remastered breathes new life into the classic first game of the Metroid Prime series, creating a fresh and engaging experience for players. With enhanced graphics and modernized controls tailored for the Nintendo Switch, players take on the role of intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran as she explores the intriguing planet of Tallon IV. The gameplay blends first-person shooting and puzzle-solving in an immersive 3D environment, with interconnected locales to navigate and native creatures to battle. Samus’s iconic Power Suit grants players various abilities and weapons, adding to the excitement of the adventure. 

The remaster improves the game’s visual and auditory experience and refines the interface to make it more accessible to both new and returning players—series optimized for the Nintendo Switch with enhanced graphics and modern controls. Players assume the role of Samus Aran, an intergalactic bounty hunter exploring the mysterious planet of Tallon IV. The gameplay combines first-person shooting and puzzle-solving as players navigate through interconnected locales and battle native creatures using Samus’s iconic Power Suit. This remaster revitalizes the game’s visual and auditory experience while refining its interface for accessibility to newcomers and returning fans alike.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Metacritic Rating: 96
Release Date: 12 May 2023

Embark on an epic journey through the vast realms of Hyrule and the mysterious sky islands in “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,” which is exclusively available on the Nintendo Switch. This exciting sequel to “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” allows players to create their paths through the vast wilderness below and the floating isles above. As you explore, use Link’s new abilities to defeat the dark forces that threaten the kingdom. Will you accept the challenge and safeguard Hyrule from impending danger? Come and join the adventure to discover the secrets that lie ahead.

1. Super Mario Odyssey

Metacritic Rating: 97
Release Date: 27 October 2017

Buckle up for a global adventure, Mario fans! Super Mario Odyssey on Nintendo Switch ditches the Mushroom Kingdom for a globe-trotting 3D escapade. Your new partner-in-crime? Cappy, a hat with serious moves. Toss Cappy to capture enemies and objects and even control them with hilarious (and strategic) results! Explore mind-blowing kingdoms, collect Power Moons to fuel your airship, and thwart Bowser’s, well, usual plans. This platform’s packed with secrets, surprises, and enough cap-powered fun to keep you hopping for hours.

Summary

Alright, gamers, that’s our top 10 list of the most-played action adventures on the Nintendo Switch! Now, the real question is: which one will you dive into next? Is it time to explore the vast open world of Hyrule again in Breath of the Wild, or tangle with some roguelikes and see how far you can get in Hades?

Remember, the final boss is out there, waiting to be challenged. So grab your Joy-Cons, power up your Switch, and get ready to level up your skills! Who knows, you’ll be the next name on the leaderboard for your favourite game. Until next time, happy hunting!