Diving into an eight-year-old gaming console might feel a little odd at first. This past summer brought the arrival of Nintendo’s next generation hardware with the Switch 2, and the industry’s attention has naturally shifted forward. Still, the original Nintendo Switch remains one of the strongest consoles the company has ever produced, and it offers an enormous backlog.
The system’s first-party lineup alone is reason enough to jump in. Animal Crossing: New Horizons became a cultural moment during the 2020 lockdown, providing calm routines and gentle creativity to players across the globe—and it even received a new update just last month.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild redefined open-world design, while Tears of the Kingdom expanded that formula into something even more ambitious. Together, they deliver hundreds upon hundreds of hours of exploration, experimentation, and quiet wonder.
The Switch also shines as a home for independent developers. Titles like Celeste and Sea of Stars draw inspiration from the Super Nintendo era, pairing nostalgic visuals with modern design sensibilities. These games feel handcrafted, challenging, deeply personal, and are perfect for portable play.
Support for the console hasn’t slowed to a crawl either. Two of the most celebrated indie releases on the platform, Supergiant Games’ Hades and Team Cherry’s Hollow Knight, both received sequels the end of last year. Hades II and Hollow Knight: Silksong are fully playable on the original Switch so late adopters can still get fresh experiences alongside classics.
For anyone who skipped this generation, the Nintendo Switch still offers a rich, rewarding library waiting to be discovered and with the current $42 discount, now’s a great time to hop in.
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