Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The best Nintendo Switch games for adults

At first glance, the Nintendo Switch seems like a kid’s system. The platform has, historically, been considered for children. However, as Nintendo has grown, so has its fan base. The company has worked to change this perspective and try to garner adult viewership. They’ve primarily done this by focusing on creating games and bringing in ports that focus on adult audiences.

Although the system may not have all the capabilities of the PlayStation or Xbox, the Nintendo Switch can still bring any adult joy. Adults can, and should, pick up the switch, not just for its portability but also for the awesome games you can play. If you’re looking for a more grown-up-centered game for your Nintendo Switch, you’ve come to the right place!

Bayonetta 3

Bayonetta 3
80 %
M
Platforms Nintendo Switch
Genre Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
Developer PlatinumGames
Publisher Nintendo
Release October 28, 2022
Ready for a good hack and slash? Bayonetta 3 is the perfect game to get your hands into the meat of what the Switch can offer. Right from the jump, you know that this game is not for kids. Bayonetta is a hell-bringing witch who will shoot, whip, slice, and burn any angel, demon, or other monstrosity that stands in the way of her goal. The game can come off as campy because her weapons, style, and movements can be a bit over the top, but it’s a fun game that’s sure to bring you hours of entertainment. Bayonetta can slow down time to stop attacks and inflict Torture Attacks on her enemies to get more bang for her buck. It’s no wonder it’s not a children’s game. The Switch offers both Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 as well, but it doesn’t really matter where you start. This game is definitely for a more mature audience. Bayonetta’s clothes are made up of hair, and some of her heavy-hitting attacks can leave her, uh, exposed, to say the least. But who wouldn’t want to be a foxy, badass witch who can destroy her enemies by summoning Infernal Demons?
Bayonetta 3 Official Teaser Trailer - The Game Awards 2017

No More Heroes III

No More Heroes III
80 %
4.5/5
M
Platforms Nintendo Switch
Genre Hack and slash/Beat 'em up
Developer Grasshopper Manufacture
Publisher Grasshopper Manufacture
Release August 26, 2021
Don’t you hate when you’re not at the top of your field? So does No More Heroes 3 protagonist Travis Touchdown. Even after climbing the assassination ranks in the previous games, there are still more foes to overcome. So, there’s only one way to be number one: Take out everyone above you. And you don’t have to use your awesome, lightsaber-esque katana. You’ll have a chance to learn some of the coolest wrestling moves, from Power Bombs to Brain Busters. With so many ways to kill people, there’s no way you can’t win, right? No More Heroes 3 provides us with a main character who loves technology but is a little socially awkward. This action game is sure to give you the R-rated fun you’re looking for.

Metroid Dread

Metroid Dread
88 %
4.5/5
T
Platforms Nintendo Switch
Genre Platform, Adventure
Developer MercurySteam, Nintendo EPD
Publisher Nintendo
Release October 07, 2021
It took years, but we finally got a new, true sequel to the 2D Metroid series. Announced and released within the same year, Metroid Dread is the game fans of the series have been so eagerly awaiting. The series is famous for spawning the Metroidvania subgenre, but Metroid Dread proves that Samus is still the queen of these search-action-style games, but also that this series is far more mature and challenging than most Nintendo franchises thanks to the new EMMI enemies that hunt you down. Featuring a giant map to explore, tons of upgrades to collect, secrets to find, and bosses to take down, Metroid Dread is perfect for playing in both handheld and docked mode. Even though the game uses 3D models, the cinematography is used to amazing effect, and the story is actually very gripping.
Read our full Metroid Dread review

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
98 %
E10
Platforms Nintendo Switch
Genre Adventure
Developer Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3
Publisher Nintendo
Release May 12, 2023
The Legend of Zelda is a game a lot of players grew up with. Solving puzzles, smashing pots, and exploring Hyrule are definitely staples of this series. However, the latest installment of the series, Tears of the Kingdom, takes the game one step further. Aside from the normal exploration, players are brought into Hyrule as an open world, with both sky islands and an entire underground map. Don’t feel like doing the first part of the game? The good news is you can wander away and do whatever else you want. Sometimes the freedom can be too much and you’ll find yourself doing god knows what. The game makes this list because of the puzzles. Although a lot of the Legend of Zelda games seem easy, Tears of the Kingdom is fundamentally more difficult. The puzzles are more open-ended, allowing for creative and unexpected solutions to work.
Sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - First Look Trailer - Nintendo E3 2019

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons
83 %
4/5
E
Platforms Nintendo Switch
Genre Simulator
Developer Nintendo EPD, Nintendo
Publisher Nintendo
Release March 19, 2020
Okay, so maybe this entry isn’t convincing, but hear us out. Imagine you live in a world where it’s possible to pay your bills, hang out with friends, garden, and enjoy life without stressing? That’s honestly an adult’s dream. The game will provide players with a cathartic experience of accomplishing chores and outside work while still having friends and enjoying your time. Although Animal Crossing: New Horizons may not seem like an adult game, players can quickly turn it into an adult game because it’s so malleable. Essentially, you’re in charge of a desert island. You can morph and form the island into anything you want. This has given players so many liberties in what they can do. In fact, it’s actually become an issue in some respects. Players are able to share their island with anyone who wants to play via Island Dream Codes. This lets players either visit a particular island or visit a random island that the game deems would be fun to visit. Problem is, some children are finding their way into islands that they probably shouldn’t be visiting. Parents have been reporting these islands, and Nintendo is suspending Dream accounts and removing islands from dreams because of it. That being said, what do you think of the spot on our island that’s definitely not a murder corner?

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
84 %
E
Platforms Nintendo Switch
Genre Racing
Developer Nintendo EPD
Publisher Nintendo of America, Nintendo of Europe
Release April 28, 2017
Okay, so Mario Kart 8 is an all-ages game. It’s particularly great for watching little kids get extremely mad. Mario Kart is the perfect game for when friends come over and you want to show them the what-for. However, this Mario Kart game feels different. In previous renditions of the game, players were able to sort of predict who would be first, second, etc. based on how the race was going. Mario Kart 8, however, doesn’t do that. You could find yourself in 12th place throughout two and a half laps, then get a sudden stroke of luck in the final second that puts you at first. Although this mechanic makes the game extremely fun, it’s also extremely frustrating. Nothing will get you cussed out faster than having your friend go from first to eighth place because of one red shell you threw. But playing with friends can make for an amazing time.

BioShock: The Collection

BioShock: The Collection
87 %
M
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Developer 2K Games, Virtuos
Publisher 2K Games, Take-Two Interactive
Release September 13, 2016
Need to shoot something? Good news — the Nintendo Switch has plenty of shooters for you to try out! One of the best shooters is Bioshock: The Collection. This game has all three of the Bioshock games, letting you continue through its crazy narrative without stopping. You’ll encounter deranged people, Big Brothers that can beat your ass, and little sisters who you hope aren’t truly related to you. The game has a lot of interesting background as well. Although you may encounter some things that seem nice, it’s usually masking some horrible joke at your expense. Also, the story itself has a lot of twists and turns. The game will lead you into believing that one idea is pushing your main character, only to suddenly shift and change the story’s direction. It can leave you feeling unsettled but in a good way!

South Park: The Fractured But Whole

South Park: The Fractured But Whole
81 %
M
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure
Developer Ubisoft San Francisco
Publisher Ubisoft Entertainment
Release October 17, 2017
Maybe you want something a little more mindless. South Park: The Fractured But Whole is a constant stream of adult jokes for adult audiences. This outrageously offensive superhero game will keep you coming back for more. You’re able to customize your avatar and join the superhero team of Stan, Kyle, Kenny, and Cartman in the town of South Park. You’ll face off against the darkness that has found itself in South Park and stop it before it’s too late. Those familiar with South Park will understand why this game is here. It’s a funny, quirky fighting game that has complex fighting mechanisms. However, some of the jokes can leave some uncomfortable. Although this game may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s definitely a fun adult-centered game for the Nintendo Switch.

L.A. Noire

L.A. Noire
99 %
Platforms PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre Shooter, Strategy, Adventure
Developer Rockstar Games
Publisher Rockstar Games
Release November 14, 2017
Need a dark and violent crime thriller? L.A. Noire is the game for you. Set in the 1940s, the game follows officer Cole Phelps as he searches for the truth in a city where everyone has something they want to hide. You’ll have a chance to follow Cole as he works for Traffic, Homicide, Vice, and Arson. Each new department will give Phelps a new partner to help navigate you through the cases. You’ll also get flashbacks of Phelps’s war memories. This game will require more patience and problem-solving than most kids have. You’ll have to carefully examine the scene to unravel what happened at each crime scene. Also, you’ll definitely see a few dead bodies and women of the evening.

Doom Eternal

Doom Eternal
85 %
M
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Google Stadia
Genre Shooter
Developer id Software
Publisher Bethesda Softworks
Release March 19, 2020

If you’re looking for the right first-person horror shoot-fest, Doom Eternal is just the ticket. Somehow the wizards at ID managed to cram this fast, fluid, and gory shooter onto this portable system. Step into the boots of the Doomslayer and rip and tear your way through a massive campaign full of demons, weapons, collectibles, and hidden secrets around every corner. You’ll never feel more empowered than after a brutal, drag-out brawl with a swarm of demons.

Doom: Eternal - E3 2018 Trailer

Dark Souls: Remastered

Dark Souls: Remastered
86 %
M
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer QLOC, Virtuos, FromSoftware
Publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment
Release May 23, 2018
If horror and gore aren’t your thing, why not an action role-playing game that can make you cry? Although it’s arguably one of the best games of all time, the Dark Souls series is notoriously difficult. If you tried Elder Scrolls: Skyrim and found that game too difficult, you probably should pass up Dark Souls. The game centers on a time called the Age of Fire. Humans have started to rise in power, but are stopped by an undead curse. This curse will perpetually resurrect humans after death which eventually leads them to lose their minds, which is called the “hollowing.” The bad news is, you’re cursed with the hollowing. To make matters worse, you start by being locked in an asylum. You’ll need to escape to start the story. Dark Souls is a hardcore fantasy role-playing game that will entice and entrance you. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart or the young of age. Be ready to square off with difficult enemies and extremely tough bosses.

Cuphead

Cuphead
86 %
E10
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre Platform, Adventure, Indie, Arcade
Developer Studio MDHR
Publisher Studio MDHR
Release September 29, 2017
There are so many reasons to love Cuphead. The art style takes directly from Disney and Warner Brother’s early 20’s art style. The jazz music flickers and bounces as you face off against seemingly ordinary objects and people. However, the premise of the game is that Cuphead is helping the devil reap the souls that he’s owed in order to escape a terrible fate. The story, although minor in the game, is definitely not something children should know too much about. Additionally, each battle in the game feels like a boss fight. There isn’t one part of this game that should be considered easy. Each fight forces you to take a new approach and, often, it will feel like you’re just doing a little bit better each time. Because of this and the game’s story, it’s definitely not a game we’d recommend for kids

Editors' Recommendations

Jesse Lennox
Jesse Lennox loves writing, games, and complaining about not having time to write and play games. He knows the names of more…
The 13 best gaming laptop deals in March 2024
An Alienware m16 gaming laptop in use on a desk, playing Baldur's Gate III.

There are loads of fantastic laptop deals out there right now, but not all of them will be able to meet the specific needs of gamers who want to play the best PC games. Fortunately, there's no shortage of gaming laptop deals in the market so that you can enjoy savings on these machines. Brands like HP, Alienware, Acer, and Lenovo are all available in the offers that we've gathered below, so read on to find more details on these gaming laptops and determine which one you should buy. Hurry up though, as the discounts may not last long.
HP Victus 15 gaming laptop -- $580, was $800

Ideally designed for someone looking for one of the best budget gaming laptops, the HP Victus 15 might mean you’ll need to tweak some detail levels with certain games but it’s a great starting point. It has an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050. There’s also 512GB of SSD storage so you’ll be able to install a few games at once without a problem. The 15.6-inch screen has a refresh rate of 144Hz so you won’t need to worry about motion blur while other useful features include HP Fast Charge support and speakers tuned by B&O. A backlit keyboard looks great while there’s an integrated numeric keypad.

Read more
Best Nintendo Switch deals: consoles, games, and accessories
Original Switch next to Switch OLED.

The Nintendo Switch is probably one of the most popular handheld consoles right now, if not one of the most popular consoles altogether. So if you're considering grabbing yourself a Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, or Nintendo Switch OLED, you might want to take advantage of the deals below. On the other hand, if you already have one, we've gone out and scoured retailers for accessories and game deals you can snag to expand your library and gear. Of course, we don't know how long these deals will last, so be sure to pick up something you like as soon as you can. There's a bit of a Switch-famine right now, so deals are few and far between.
Best Nintendo Switch deals
Nintendo Switch Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle -- $300

With the Nintendo Switch going for $300, this bundle technically gets you a digital copy of popular racing game Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which usually costs $60, and a three-month individual membership to Nintendo Switch Online, which costs $8, for free. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe lets you race as one of many Nintendo characters across big and bold courses and with power-ups at your disposal, while Nintendo Switch Online grants access to online multiplayer modes, cloud saves, classic Nintendo games, and more.

Read more
All upcoming Switch games: 2024, and beyond
Princess Peach figure skates in Princess Peach: Showtime!

The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular consoles Nintendo has ever produced, with a wide variety of games to choose from and plenty of unique features. We’ve already gotten to play new entries across the Zelda, Super Mario, and Pokémon series on Nintendo Switch, but there are still plenty of great games on the way for the hybrid console. These include exclusive games developed internally by Nintendo, as well as third-party titles and ports of games that are also available on other platforms.

Here's our list of the best upcoming Nintendo Switch games for 2024 and beyond. Of course, some titles without release windows could skip the Switch entirely and wind up on Nintendo Switch 2 (or whatever it ends up being called) And if you're looking at future releases on multiple consoles, don't forget to check out what's upcoming on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC this year.
Upcoming Switch games 2024
The games listed below either have 100% confirmed release dates or solid release windows that we expect them to hit this year. Anything that's up in the air due to more vague launch predictions or previous delays will be listed below confirmed launches.

Read more