Welcome to NintendoUp‘s first annual Game of the Year awards. In our massive 45-minute video (with plenty of chapters in case you want to skip around), we go through and rank all the Switch games in consideration for this year’s honor.

This tier list represents my personal rankings for the year’s top games. And if you’d rather read (or can’t watch the video at work), continue on for a written summary of the final tier list.

Games I Want To Play

To begin, here are some promising games that couldn’t make the cut because I didn’t have the chance to try them out yet. Make no mistake, however, these are all great-looking games.

• Hatch Tales: Announced many years ago, this Atooi-developed remake/sequel to Chicken Wiggle for the 3DS is one I want to finally try out, despite its infamous reputation.
• Emio: The Smiling Man: I played the first game in the Famicom Detective Club remake series for Switch, and this one looks to be even better. Beware, as it’s definitely M-Rated.
• Freedom Planet 2: As a fan of the original Sonic-inspired platformer, I’m confident this sequel will impress.
• Shin Chan: Shiro and the Coal Town: I played the previous installment to learn Japanese. It’s a fun, relaxing summer game, but I doubt it’d win Game of the Year.
• Shin Megami Tensei: Vengeance: I played the original game without the enhancements, and frankly I prefer the Persona games and Tokyo Mirage Sessions. Still, this is a great RPG and it’s worthy of your time.

C-Tier: Not For Me

1. Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition
A fine game, but with a severe lack of content. You can watch our YouTube shorts review below for more details.

2. Braid Anniversary Edition
I played Braid on the Xbox 360, but it’s just not my type of game. Still, if you love puzzle games, this isn’t a bad option.

3. Endless Ocean: Luminous
This sequel offers a relaxing underwater adventure, but it’s not compelling enough to keep me coming back.

B-Tier: Good, But Not Good Enough

1. Mario vs. Donkey Kong
I wanted to really like this game, but I’m not a big fan of puzzle games. I’m not sure why Nintendo decided to remake this game, but I’m all for them remaking every Game Boy Advance game in existence.

2. Tetris Forever
While packed with classic Tetris games and extra features, it’s hard to get excited about a compilation of old Tetris games. If you love Tetris, however, this could be your Game of the Year.

A-Tier: Great Games

1. Princess Peach Showtime
Good-Feel, known for hits like Kirby’s Epic Yarn and Yoshi’s Crafted World, delivers yet another enjoyable experience. While not their best work, it’s still a solid title. Watch our YouTube shorts review below for more details.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Any Zelda game is good to have, but as explained in our full video, I have a major issue with the direction Zelda is going these days. This is a well-crafted experience, but I’m not excited by it the same way as Ocarina of Time or Skyward Sword. I wish this were Game of the Year, but I just can’t get there. I’m happy if you enjoy it more than me.

3. Castlevania Dominus Collection
The highlight of this collection is the sequel to the WiiWare game The Adventure ReBirth, which elevates this Nintendo DS compilation into something special, especially if you love Castlevania even more than I do. Check out our (very old) review of Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth below.

4. Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind
Sign me up for some SNES-style beat-em-up action. It’s a love-letter to the old SNES Power Rangers games, and I’m all for it.

5. Another Code: Recollection
This remake of two older Nintendo DS games offers pleasant mystery-solving gameplay. It’s especially great if you’re learning Japanese like me.

6. Penny’s Big Breakaway
An awesome 3D action-platformer I played on my Steam Deck (also on Switch). It’s fun and quite unique, so give this indie game a go.

7. World of Goo 2
I originally had some control issues with the game (see video below), but after those were addressed, World of Goo 2 charmed with its relaxing gameplay. I normally don’t like puzzle games, but this and the original WiiWare game are exceptions.

8. Pizza Tower
A Wario Land inspired platformer with an insane art style. Sign me up.

9. Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble
This Switch-exclusive is the best Monkey Ball since the GameCube days. It can’t hold a candle to those masterful works of art, mind you, but it’s still good fun.

10. Fantasian: Neo Dimension
I originally played this game on Apple Arcade. From the creator of Final Fantasy, this RPG brings traditional gameplay with some unique twists. While enjoyable, it doesn’t quite measure up to the heavy hitters in the genre.

11. Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection
Many fans were excited to get their hands on this one after so long. Featuring the iconic Marvel vs. Capcom 2, this collection is a nostalgia trip for fighting game enthusiasts. However, it didn’t captivate me as much as I hoped as I’m not a big Marvel fan these days.

12. Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
I’m just not in the mood for an old-school Dragon Quest game with old battle mechanics, but I love Dragon Quest 11.

S-Tier: The Game of the Year Nominees

1. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Remake)
This remake of a fan favorite GameCube classic deserves all the praise it can get. As the best Mario RPG game ever made, its charm, story, and gameplay are unmatched. Nintendo’s decision to bring it back to the Switch was nothing short of genius. It’s a must-play for any fan of RPGs or Mario games.

2. Mario & Luigi: Brothership
While this game was met with mixed reviews, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s a fresh take on the Mario & Luigi series, offering engaging gameplay and charming graphics. IGN’s harsh rating of 5/10 was unjustified in my opinion (see the video below). I’d easily give it an 8.5/10.

3. Super Mario Party Jamboree
The best original Mario Party game since Mario Party 6 or 7 for the GameCube. That alone should get you excited. Could a Mario Party game really be Game of the Year…?

4. Sonic X Shadow Generations
This title brings the excellent Sonic Generations experience to Nintendo gamers for the first time, coupled with an excellent Shadow campaign that steals the show. It’s a nostalgic trip that Sonic fans, especially those who missed out on the original release, will appreciate. Watch (or read) our full review below.

5. Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD
While I wasn’t a big fan of the original 3DS version, this HD port changed my perspective. The enhanced visuals and the comfort of playing it on a big screen made me rediscover its charm.

6. Yakuza Kiwami (2024 Switch Port)
I love the Yakuza series, and this remake of the very first game is worth a play for Nintendo-only gamers. If you own a PS4 or Xbox, however, give Yakuza Zero a play before this one. It’s the prequel and sets up the story for this game.

7. Bakeru
A hidden gem from the creators of Princess Peach Showtime, this beat-‘em-up game lets players explore different Japanese prefectures, collecting souvenirs and engaging in fun combat. Its nostalgic vibes remind me of the golden era of GameCube games.

Game of the Year

This year was kind of a letdown for Switch fans, so we broke the rules. There are two games for you to choose from. If you allow remakes or ports the honor of Game of the Year, then hands down Paper Mario is the clear winner. It’s an amazing game.

But if you’d prefer to only grant original games the coveted title, then—astoundingly—a Mario Party game takes the crown with the excellent Super Mario Party Jamboree. I know…it’s hard to believe.

1. Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Remake)
This game is so underrated. Play it immediately.

2. Super Mario Party Jamboree
If you asked me if I’d be excited for a Mario Party game five years ago, I would have laughed in your face (well, no, not really…I’m not that big of a jerk). Happily, Mario Party is finally great again! Grab your friends and get partying.

Conclusion

So, what do you think the best Switch game is? 2024 was an off year for Nintendo, but I’m excited for the Switch 2 to arrive so we can discuss the latest and greatest from Nintendo and move on from this year’s pickings.

Who knows? In January, Nintendo fans might just be eating good…

Remember to watch the full video (above) for more detail and gameplay for each game mentioned, and we’ll see you guys next year!