Top Nintendo Switch Games For Beginners In 2024

Choosing the right game as a beginner on the Nintendo Switch can be overwhelming, given the vast library available. This guide highlights some of the most accessible and enjoyable titles perfect for newcomers. Let's dive in!

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the quintessential beginner-friendly game on the Nintendo Switch. It’s a life simulation game where you move to a deserted island and build your own paradise. There's no real objective other than to relax and enjoy the process of decorating your island, collecting items, and befriending adorable animal villagers. One of the game’s greatest strengths is its lack of pressure; you can play at your own pace, whether that’s for 30 minutes a day or several hours. The controls are simple to learn, and the game provides gentle guidance in the early stages, ensuring you're never lost or confused. It’s incredibly soothing and therapeutic, making it an ideal choice for players looking to unwind. The game's charming visuals and delightful soundtrack add to its appeal, creating a world you'll want to return to day after day. Plus, the regular updates and seasonal events keep the experience fresh and engaging, even after hundreds of hours of gameplay. Whether you’re into fishing, bug catching, interior design, or simply chatting with your neighbors, Animal Crossing: New Horizons offers something for everyone, making it a standout title for beginners. The game’s non-linear nature allows you to experiment and discover new things at your own pace, fostering a sense of accomplishment and creativity. It's a game that truly understands the joy of simple pleasures and the satisfaction of building something beautiful from scratch. For beginners, the initial tutorials are comprehensive yet unobtrusive, gently introducing you to the game's mechanics without overwhelming you with information. As you progress, you'll unlock new tools and features that expand your possibilities, but the game always ensures that you feel comfortable and confident in your abilities. It's a game that rewards curiosity and encourages exploration, making it a perfect starting point for your Nintendo Switch journey.

2. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an excellent choice for beginners due to its intuitive gameplay and accessibility features. This kart racing game is easy to pick up and play, yet offers a surprising amount of depth for those who want to master it. The game features a wide variety of characters from the Mario universe, each with their own unique kart and stats. What makes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe particularly beginner-friendly is the Smart Steering feature, which helps prevent players from falling off the track. This is a game-changer for new players, allowing them to focus on the racing and item usage without constantly worrying about veering off course. Additionally, the game offers various assist options, such as auto-acceleration, which further simplifies the controls. Despite its accessibility, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe remains highly engaging and competitive. The item system adds an element of randomness and excitement, allowing even novice players to make unexpected comebacks. The game also boasts a robust multiplayer mode, both online and offline, making it perfect for playing with friends and family. Whether you're racing against AI opponents or competing against seasoned veterans, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe offers a fun and rewarding experience for players of all skill levels. The colorful graphics and catchy music add to the game's appeal, creating an atmosphere of lighthearted fun. As you progress, you'll unlock new karts, wheels, and gliders, allowing you to customize your ride and improve your performance. The game also features a variety of race tracks, each with its own unique challenges and surprises. From the lush greenery of Mario Circuit to the treacherous twists and turns of Rainbow Road, there's always something new to discover in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. For beginners, the game's forgiving nature and helpful assist options make it easy to jump in and start having fun right away. As you become more comfortable with the controls and the game's mechanics, you can gradually disable the assist options and challenge yourself to become a more skilled racer.

3. Yoshi's Crafted World

Yoshi's Crafted World is a delightful platformer that stands out as a great option for beginners due to its charming aesthetic and gentle difficulty curve. Set in a world made of cardboard and other craft materials, this game is visually stunning and incredibly inviting. The gameplay is straightforward: you control Yoshi as he traverses various levels, collecting items and defeating enemies. What makes Yoshi's Crafted World particularly beginner-friendly is its relaxed pace and forgiving gameplay. Yoshi can flutter jump to extend his air time, making it easier to navigate tricky platforms. The game also features a mellow mode, which gives Yoshi wings, allowing him to fly through levels without the risk of falling. This is a fantastic option for younger players or those who are new to platformers. Despite its accessibility, Yoshi's Crafted World remains engaging and enjoyable for experienced players. The game is full of secrets and collectibles, encouraging exploration and rewarding curiosity. The level design is creative and imaginative, with each stage offering unique challenges and surprises. The game also features a charming co-op mode, allowing you to play with a friend or family member. Working together to overcome obstacles and collect items adds a new layer of fun to the experience. The game's whimsical soundtrack and adorable character designs further enhance its appeal, creating a world that is both comforting and captivating. As you progress, you'll unlock new costumes for Yoshi, allowing you to customize his appearance. The game also features a variety of side quests and challenges, providing plenty of opportunities to extend your playtime. For beginners, Yoshi's Crafted World is a perfect introduction to the platforming genre. Its gentle difficulty curve and forgiving gameplay make it easy to pick up and play, while its charming aesthetic and engaging content will keep you hooked for hours. Whether you're a seasoned gamer or a complete novice, Yoshi's Crafted World is sure to bring a smile to your face.

4. Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an excellent entry point for beginners to the 3D platformer genre. This game takes the classic Kirby formula and transplants it into a vibrant, post-apocalyptic world. Players control Kirby as he explores abandoned cities and wilderness areas, rescuing Waddle Dees and battling enemies. What makes Kirby and the Forgotten Land particularly beginner-friendly is its simple controls and adjustable difficulty. The game offers two difficulty modes: Spring-Breeze Mode for beginners and Wild Mode for more experienced players. Spring-Breeze Mode provides Kirby with extra health and makes enemies weaker, allowing newcomers to focus on exploring and enjoying the game. The game also introduces the Mouthful Mode, where Kirby can inhale real-world objects like cars and vending machines to gain new abilities. These abilities are easy to use and add a fun twist to the gameplay. Despite its accessibility, Kirby and the Forgotten Land remains challenging and engaging for experienced players. The game is full of secrets and collectibles, encouraging exploration and rewarding curiosity. The level design is creative and varied, with each stage offering unique challenges and surprises. The game also features a charming co-op mode, allowing you to play with a friend or family member. Working together to overcome obstacles and defeat bosses adds a new layer of fun to the experience. The game's colorful graphics and upbeat soundtrack further enhance its appeal, creating a world that is both whimsical and captivating. As you progress, you'll unlock new abilities and upgrades for Kirby, allowing you to customize his playstyle. The game also features a variety of side quests and challenges, providing plenty of opportunities to extend your playtime. For beginners, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a perfect introduction to the world of 3D platformers. Its simple controls, adjustable difficulty, and engaging gameplay make it easy to pick up and play, while its charming aesthetic and delightful content will keep you hooked for hours.

5. Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee!

Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! are fantastic starting points for anyone new to the Pokémon series. These games are remakes of the original Pokémon Yellow version and offer a simplified and streamlined experience. Players explore the Kanto region, catching Pokémon, battling trainers, and completing quests. What makes these games particularly beginner-friendly is their simplified catching mechanics and intuitive gameplay. Instead of battling wild Pokémon, you simply throw Poké Balls at them using motion controls. This makes catching Pokémon much easier and more accessible for new players. The games also feature a co-op mode, allowing you to play with a friend or family member. Working together to catch Pokémon and battle trainers adds a new layer of fun to the experience. Despite their accessibility, Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! remain engaging and enjoyable for experienced Pokémon fans. The games feature all the classic Pokémon from the Kanto region, as well as new features like riding Pokémon and customizing your partner Pokémon. The level design is faithful to the original games, with some updated graphics and animations. The games also feature a charming storyline and memorable characters. As you progress, you'll collect badges, battle gym leaders, and eventually challenge the Elite Four. The game's colorful graphics and upbeat soundtrack further enhance its appeal, creating a world that is both nostalgic and captivating. For beginners, Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! are a perfect introduction to the world of Pokémon. Their simplified mechanics, intuitive gameplay, and charming content make them easy to pick up and play, while their nostalgic appeal and engaging storyline will keep you hooked for hours. These games offer a perfect balance of accessibility and depth, making them a great choice for anyone looking to start their Pokémon journey.