The top 6 Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives of 2026

6. Yoshi and the Mysterious Book

Before Yoshi's latest adventure, I thought our green dinosaur was stuck in a bit of a rut. Yoshi's previous games, like Woolly World and Crafted World, didn't quite capture the wonder and thrill of the series' early days. However, Mysterious Book changed everything. This game takes Yoshi on an exploration journey through the pages of a living Encyclopedia, Mr. E., as he learns about the mysterious creatures within.

The stunning art direction brings the pages to life, combining beautiful 3D environments with hand-drawn watercolor-style characters. Yoshi's Mysterious Book is charming, immersive, and full of memorable personalities and traits for each creature. While the puzzle-solving is straightforward, finding collectibles presents a challenge requiring creative use of Yoshi's abilities and straying from the beaten path.

Although the boss battles could have been more challenging and the narrative depth lacking, Mysterious Book remains my favorite Yoshi game in over a decade.

5. Nintendo Switch Sports Resort

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is like a fresh take on the original Nintendo Switch Sports, offering more sports, depth, and replayability. The original game lacked single-player content, had a limited selection of events, and had a flawed points system. Nintendo Switch Sports Resort addresses all of these issues with a new Island Crown mode, 12 sports, and a points system applied to both offline and online play.

Every sport feels fantastic, with responsive and accurate motion controls. Highlights include Table Tennis with enhanced spin and curve mechanics, Skateboarding using the Switch 2's mouse controls, and Thumb Wrestling, which makes a mundane activity feel exciting. There are a few disappointments, such as the removal of Football/Soccer and Chambara at launch, but I hope they'll be added through updates or DLC.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort is an excellent choice for simple yet exhilarating multiplayer games during the holiday season.