Skip to main content

Nintendo Switch games that run at a smooth 60 frames per second

The Nintendo Switch isn’t the most powerful console on the market. It can’t match the level of visual complexity or fidelity of the PlayStation 4 Pro, nor can it deliver native 4K resolution with HDR like the Xbox One X, let alone what the new PS5 and Series X and S can achieve. What the Switch can still do, however, is deliver a high framerate during action scenes. Several Nintendo Switch games support a 60 frames-per-second framerate, meaning you’ll get the same smooth experience you’d see on more powerful machines.

Related Guides

60 fps Nintendo Switch games

Mortal Kombat 11 review
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Every game featured in the list below has framerates that fall within several different variations. Certain games have a fixed framerate of 60 frames per second, showing no variation during gameplay and never dropping below that rate. Others have a targeted framerate of 60 frames per second but can occasionally dip below that number. Certain games also have varying framerates for different content. In Mortal Kombat 11, for instance, standard fighting will run at 60 frames per second while Fatalities and Fatal Blows will play at a reduced framerate. Fire Emblem Warriors, meanwhile, lets you choose “performance mode” to prioritize framerate.

Please note that other elements in certain Switch games, especially ports of games from Xbox One and PS4, often need to be cut down to make 60 frames per second feasible. You might have to sacrifice graphic value or clarity in this process, which may or may not matter based on the type of game you’re playing.

Game title Only docked? Only portable? Both?
Arms No No Yes
Axiom Verge No No Yes
Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack No No Yes
Battle Chef Brigade No No Yes
Bayonetta 2 No No Yes
BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle No No Yes
BlazingChrome No No Yes
Brawlout No No Yes
Cat Quest No No Yes
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker No No Yes
Cave Story+ No No Yes
Celeste No No Yes
Collection of Mana No No Yes
Cuphead No No Yes
Darkest Dungeon: Ancestral Edition No No Yes
Darksiders: Warmastered Edition No No Yes
Dead Cells No No Yes
Diablo III No No Yes
Disgaea 5: Complete No No Yes
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze No No Yes
Dragon Ball FighterZ No No Yes
Dragon Quest 1-3 Collection No No Yes
Enter the Gungeon: Delux Edition No No Yes
Fast RMX No No Yes
FIFA 19 No No Yes
Freedom Planet No No Yes
Fire Emblem Warriors Yes No No
Giana Sister’s Twisted Dreams: Owltime Edition No No Yes
Guacamelee! 2 No No Yes
Guilty Gear: 20th Anniversary No No Yes
Hollow Knight No No Yes
Iconoclasts No No Yes
Legend of Kay: Anniversary No No Yes
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime No No Yes
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 No No Yes
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe No No Yes
Mario Tennis  Aces No No Yes
Mega Man 11 No No Yes
Minecraft No No Yes
Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom No No Yes
Mortal Kombat 11 No No Yes
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe No No Yes
Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas No No Yes
Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD No No Yes
One Piece: Unlimited World Red No No Yes
Ori and The Blind Forest: Definitive Edition No No Yes
Ori and the Will of the Wisps No No Yes
Owlboy No No Yes
Onimusha: Warlords No No Yes
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus No No Yes
Pokken Tournament DX No No Yes
Puyo Puyo Tetris No No Yes
Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition No No Yes
River City Rampage DX No No Yes
River City Girls No No Yes
River City: Melee Mach!! No No Yes
Rocket League No No Yes
Runner 3 No No Yes
Scribblenauts: Showdown No No Yes
Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse No No Yes
Shantae and the Seven Sirens No No Yes
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero No No Yes
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove No No Yes
Snipperclips Plus No No Yes
Sonic Mania Plus No No Yes
Slain: Back From Hell No No Yes
Splatoon 2 No No Yes
Steamworld Dig 2 No No Yes
Street Fighter: Anniversary Collection No No Yes
Streets of Rage 4 No No Yes
Super Mario Maker 2 No No Yes
Super Mario Odyssey No No Yes
Super Mario Party No No Yes
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate No No Yes
Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido No No Yes
Teslagrad No No Yes
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ No No Yes
The Coma: Recut No No Yes
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening No No Yes
Thumper No No Yes
Transistor No No Yes
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes No No Yes
Turok No No Yes
Turok 2: Seeds of Evil No No Yes
Ultra Street Fighter 2: The Final Challengers No No Yes
Velocity 2X No No Yes
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap No No Yes
Yoku’s Island Express No No Yes
Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair No No Yes
Yoshi’s Crafted World No No Yes
Ys Origin No No Yes

Note: We attempted to make this list as complete as possible, but data on framerate for Switch is not always publicly available. If you have a game with 60 frames per second that isn’t on the list, just shoot us a message.

Gabe Gurwin
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Gabe Gurwin has been playing games since 1997, beginning with the N64 and the Super Nintendo. He began his journalism career…
Ridge Racer 64 sees its first-ever re-release on Nintendo Switch Online
Two players play Nintendo Switch.

Ridge Racer 64 is now available for Nintendo Switch Online. For those keeping track, this is the first time in 25 years the game has been available (legally) on anything but the Nintendo 64 itself. Who wants to dust off an old consoleThe classic racing game is available to all Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscribers starting today.

Ridge Racer 64 first hit shelves in 2000, near the end of the console's lifespan. That put it in competition with other games like Gran Turismo 4 and Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed. Less than a year after its launch, the PlayStation 2 released and dominated console sales for years to come — and that means Ridge Racer 64 flew under the radar for a lot of people.

Read more
The best open-world games on Switch
Link flying through air in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Even when the system launched, the Nintendo Switch was clearly the weakest console of the generation. While the best PS5 games and best Xbox Series X games were pushing graphics to the limit, Nintendo was more focused on delivering fun experiences you could play on your TV or in handheld mode. Despite its lack of raw power, which the Switch 2 addresses to some degree, it hasn't stopped the system from delivering amazing open-world games with vast landscapes to explore. Sure, they may not have the best graphics, but the simple fact that such massive experiences are playable on the Switch makes them technical marvels. These aren't watered-down experiences where it counts, which is the fun factor, so let's list off the best open-world games for the Switch you should be playing.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Read more
How to preorder the Nintendo Switch 2
The Switch 2 on a blue background.

Now that the Switch 2 has made its official debut, everyone is ready to put their money down to get their hands on this new console. The initial trailer showcased just a glimpse of the system but did put many minds at ease by confirming backwards compatibility. Sadly, the one major piece of information we were hoping for, the release date, was missing from the reveal. We know it is coming in 2025, and that there will be events held around the world to play it early, but most of us just want to preorder the system so we know we will have it when it does finally launch. You can't technically preorder the Switch 2 quite yet, but we can show you how to be the first to know when you can.
How to preorder the Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 – First-look trailer

As of the time of this writing, preorders for the Switch 2 are not open at any retailer. We suspect they will open once the full release date and price is shared, likely on April 2 during the next Direct. However, there are some retailers that are currently allowing customers to sign up for email notifications when preorders become available. Here are all the current places you can go to sign up for notifications:
Best Buy
You can visit the Best Buy store and sign up for their email notifications. Emails will include information about the console, but also games and other things related to the Switch 2.
GameStop
GameStop has launched its product page for the Switch 2 and also offers emails related to pre-orders, news, and upcoming games.
When will preorders start for the Switch 2?

Read more