Although several high-profile titles are missing from the Switch catalog, that doesn’t mean it’s lacking great sports games. Nintendo’s hybrid console has built up a sizeable roster of both indie and AAA sports titles over the years, with Rocket League, Mario Golf: Super Rush, and PGA Tour 2K21 gracing its small screen. And with the recent release of Nintendo Switch Sports and Mario Strikers: Battle League, the platform is once again home to some of the best party games on the planet.
From golf and tennis to football and baseball, here are the best sports games on Switch.
Further reading
- Let’s admit that Wii Sports is the best game ever made
- The best Nintendo Switch games for kids
- The best Nintendo Switch games for 2022
Mario Strikers: Battle League
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Genre
Sport
Developer
Nintendo
Publisher
Nintendo, Nintendo
Release
June 10, 2022
Mario Strikers: Battle League is the latest entry in Nintendo’s long-running franchise. The arcade-inspired soccer game makes liberal changes to the standard soccer rulebook — adding unique Hyper Strike skills that give you the ability to score double points for a goal. You’ll also find a deep roster of familiar faces, including Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Princess Peach, and Donkey Kong. While the on-field action is fast and frenetic, there’s a good reason to spend time suiting up before each match thanks to unlockable gear. These come with their own stat boosts and change your in-game appearance. Once you’ve learned the ropes, you can head online for a robust multiplayer mode that only looks to get better with time.
Nintendo Switch Sports
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Genre
Simulator, Sport
Developer
Nintendo
Publisher
Nintendo
Release
April 29, 2022
Not only is Nintendo Switch Sports the newest game on our list, but it’s also one of the best. Fans have long been waiting for a Switch version of the iconic Wii Sports — and Nintendo delivered a game that hits on all fronts. With six unique sports (and a seventh, golf, expected to arrive for free later this year), Switch Sports lives up to the hype. Each game takes full advantage of the Switch’s hybrid console nature, and there’s even additional content if you have the Leg Strap attachment (which comes bundled with physical versions of the game). If you’re looking for a great sports title that’s also an intense workout, look no further than Nintendo Switch Sports.
Rocket League
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Racing, Sport, Indie
Developer
Psyonix
Publisher
Psyonix
Release
July 07, 2015
Unlike Nintendo Switch Sports, Rocket League might be one of the oldest games on the console. And despite being several years old, it’s still one of the best sports titles around. Rocket League puts you in control of a superpowered car that can use its boost to temporarily get airborne. This leads to all sorts of aerial acrobatics as teams try to smack a giant ball into the other team’s goal. It sounds ridiculous (and it is), but no doubt it’s one of the most fun sports games you’ll find on any platform.
Mario Golf: Super Rush
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Sport, Adventure
Developer
Camelot Software Planning, Camelot
Publisher
Nintendo
Release
June 24, 2021
Mario Golf: Super Rush is the latest in the Mario Golf series. It takes the elite sport of golf and makes it approachable to everyone, with Princess Peach, Luigi, Toad, and more hitting the links in this family-friendly title. The gameplay is similar to past entries, with a Shot Gauge used to determine the power of each stroke. Speed Golf is one of the biggest changes, which is a mode that sees you speeding through a course as fast as you can. Aside from that wrinkle, Super Rush is a standard Mario Golf outing — and that’s nothing to complain about.
PGA TOUR 2K21
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia
Genre
Simulator, Sport
Developer
HB Studios, Illogika Studios
Publisher
2K
Release
August 21, 2020
If you’re looking for a more grounded golfing experience, consider checking out PGA Tour 2K21. You’ll get to play against real-life pros such as Justin Thomas on real-life courses like East Lake Golf Club and TPC Sawgrass. Each course was painstakingly scanned before getting the video game treatment, meaning just about every blade of grass was faithfully replicated. Not a fan of any in-game locations? No problem — PGA 2K21 includes a course editor that lets you craft the perfect course.
Super Mega Baseball 3
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Simulator, Sport, Indie, Arcade
Developer
Metalhead Software Inc.
Publisher
Metalhead Software Inc.
Release
May 12, 2020
Super Mega Baseball 3 might be a terrible name, but it’s also fairly apt — the game is currently sitting with a staggering 87 Metascore. Fans and critics alike can’t seem to get enough of the 2020 release, which eschews official teams and players for arcade-based gameplay. The moment-to-moment action is fast-paced and friendly to all skill levels. There’s also a robust Franchise mode that puts you in control of an entire team and sees you guiding them through the trials and tribulations of the baseball world. Whether you’re on the pitcher’s mound or behind a desk running the show, Super Mega Baseball 3 lives up to its name.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Simulator, Sport
Developer
Vicarious Visions
Publisher
Activision
Release
September 04, 2020
Remade for a new generation of skaters, the first two Tony Hawk titles are just as good as you remember. Everything you loved about the originals is largely intact, including its banging soundtrack and bombastic levels. The fast-paced, arcade skater tasks you with completing a variety of challenges as you race against the clock. Pull off combos, collect items in hard-to-reach locations, or hit a target score — whatever you’re chasing, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 makes it a blast. If you get bored of playing solo, you can face off against a friend with local multiplayer.
Lonely Mountains: Downhill
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Racing, Simulator, Sport, Indie, Arcade
Developer
Megagon Industries
Publisher
Thunderful
Release
October 23, 2019
Mountain biking doesn’t get enough love when it comes to video games, but Lonely Mountain: Downhill is more than enough to make up for the lack of representation. The minimalistic game sees you barreling down increasingly difficult tracks as you try to cross the finish line in record time. Each map is loaded with challenging obstacles and hidden shortcuts, meaning there are more than a few reasons to jump back into old levels and explore them again. Gameplay is smooth and engaging, and the ability to kit out your bike with a variety of unlockable parts only makes it more rewarding. Throw in online missions and leaderboards, and it’s easy to see why Lonely Mountain: Downhill is among the best sports games on Switch.
Retro Bowl
Platforms
Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Sport, Arcade
Developer
New Star Games Ltd
Publisher
New Star Games Ltd
Release
January 17, 2020
Originally launched as a mobile game before getting a Switch port, Retro Bowl proves you don’t need expensive licensing deals to craft a well-rounded sports game. Before heading out to the field, you’ll get to play manager — drafting and trading players, praising their performance, meeting with the owners, and building out your facilities. Once that’s been sorted, you can dive into 2D gameplay. You’ll only control the offensive side of your team, with defense being simulated based on your stats. Offense is a blast, however, paying homage to the old-school football games of yesteryear while offering enough modern conveniences to stand toe to toe with today’s biggest releases.
Mario Tennis Aces
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Genre
Sport
Developer
Camelot Software Planning, Camelot
Publisher
Nintendo
Release
June 22, 2018
Another Mario spinoff, another family-friendly sporting adventure. His tennis outings have been hit-or-miss over the years, but Mario Tennis Aces stands as one of the best in the series. Things look better than ever, thanks to the processing power of Switch, and the ability to play local and online multiplayer means you’re never short on competition. Plenty of fun, quirky features keep things interesting, too — such as the ability to aim in first-person or break your opponent’s racket.
WHAT THE GOLF?
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, iOS, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Puzzle, Simulator, Sport, Adventure, Indie, Arcade
Developer
Triband
Publisher
Fig Publishing Inc., FoxNext Games
Release
October 01, 2019
What the Golf? is barely a sports game. In fact, it’s barely a golf game. The action-packed title from Triband sends you to a variety of golf courses … but that’s where the similarities end. Each location will throw a bizarre new challenge your way, such as golfing with a house (seriously) or racing to the hole as fast as you can. It’s difficult to describe the off-the-walls sports game, but its eShop listing does a pretty good job of summing it up — What the Golf? is insanely stupid and silly fun.
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