Games of early switching that aged the best

Summary

• Hollow Knight costs the time of time with stunning visual elements, unforgivable games and constant updates.

• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe excels in timeless visuals, responsive controls and continuous support after startup.

• Bayonetta 2 remains a gem with an unsurpassed struggle, smooth playing and a unique protagonist.

When Nintendo Switch was launched in 2017, he met a library that, although not massive, had a range, style and ambition. Over time, many of these early titles have become a measure – not only for the console, but for their genres. And while playing has evolved rapidly over the years, some of these pioneers simply did not stick – they were doing.

Whether it is the way they still look stunning in manual mode or how their gameplay remains unaffected by age, these six games are proof that great design always survives trends.

6

Hollow Knight

The knight is still rising

There is something kind of poetic that a small bug of the warrior has become Titan of independent games. Hollow Knight In 2018 he arrived quietly at Switch (a year after launch), but it wasn't long before he kicked people's brain like a dream wrapped in a web. Today it still sits comfortably at the top of the Metroidvania food chain – and not because people are nostalgic, but because it really didn't age the day.

This is largely due to timeless 2D art. Hand-drawn aesthetics feels as if it belonged to the museum rather than the game ensemble, and it does not matter whether it is running on OLED switches or start-model-Hollow Knight It looks sharp, liquid and scary beautiful. But his lasting power lies in how his world is unforgivable but righteous. Hallownest remains a maze of despair, secrets and hidden stories. The bosses as glow and knights Watcher still demand patience and reflexes, and the minimalist narrative still cheats the theory of fans ten years later.

Players also return for another reason: Content. With free updates as Godmaster and Grimm, Hollow Knight It has more meat than most games 60. And with Silksong Mia, this little mistake crawls back to the hearts of people – and their playing time.

5

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Rainbow Resistance

What other title could sell more than 60 million copies and still feel fresh at the 3,000 race? Mario Kart 8 Deluxe It could be a technically celebrated port of the Wii U, but it is at age, as if it were at school just to strengthen. Since the lights dropped in the first round, it is clear why it refuses to leave the bestseller graphs.

Visuals still hold better than most modern competitors, even without rays or hyperrealism. Neon compositions as Electrodrome and Mute City Look neat in anchored and pocket modes and the butter smooth framerate 60fps in the game did not miss the rhythm. But what it really seals is how solid the ride is – every drift, boost and shell toss is so fine tuned that it is hard to imagine that Nintendo would ever add it.

And then there is support after starting. Thanks to the passage of Booster Course Pass, which has switched retro and original compositions, well, well, well, Deluxe For most racing games of spray, we managed to keep things fresh. It is a final comfort meal for multiple players and apparently no one is tired of taste.

4

Bayonetta 2

The witch's time still hits different

Of all the games that helped to give the switch its early edge, Bayonetta 2 may be the most misunderstood gem. It's loud, flashy, borderline ridiculous – and absolutely brilliant. Originally exclusive Wii U, which barely played, and the switch finally gave the platinum devilish action game with the audience that deserved.

And even now it holds well. Combat did not age a little; If anything at all, it became a gold standard for the accuracy of the event. The mechanic of the witch time, who slows down the time after the perfect Dodge, still brings this perfect shot of dopamine every time it starts. Chaining Combos Midair, juggling angels and demons as a blazing bowling pegs, still feels like a efficient art mixed with controlled chaos.

It helps how smooth the game runs on the switch. Locked 60 frames per second, short load times and visual effects that – although they do not push the boundaries – still know how to shine in style above the resolution. And let's be honest, there is still no other protagonist like Bayonetta. The way in which pistols are also chosen through shooting in lamps, which are also pistols? Timeless.

3

Splatoon 2

Ink never dried up

Multiple -player shooters should not age well. Meta changes, graphics lags behind and players migrate. But Splatoon 2 He pulled out something rare: it remained a fresh literal mechanic and even in 2025 does not feel stale.

Although followed by Splatoon 3The second game still has a lot of loyalists – and a good reason. Its color-soaked visual effects, hyper-specific maps as Macrel port and Triggerfish campand glorious chaotic Splatfests Transformed online matches into community events. The main loop – moving the lawn to move faster and capture opponents – brings genius. No other shooter causes movement to feel this dynamic or stylish.

But Splatoon 2Permanent force also lies in their surprising narrative. The Octo expansion He transformed what was originally a sliding multiplayer game into something deeper, stranger and emotionally resonant. Between his scary metro environment, cryptic tradition and surprisingly intense problems, it turned out that it was not just an backrest stupidity. He had bites – and it is still a bite.

2

Super Mario Odyssey

Still jumping

When Odyssey It looked like it seemed like a love letter to everything Mario had ever been – and a courageous statement about what could still happen. A few years later it is probably the most effortlessly repeatable 3D platform on the switch. Every kingdom, from the busy city streets of Metro Kingdom to the sun -soaked beach, still bursts with magic and secrets.

But what really helps Odyssey Hold on how he feels. Movement is butter smooth, thanks to Mario's wide range of jumps, overturning, dives and of course Cappy's versatile throwing. This is a game that rewards creativity and curiosity without punishing the player for not being perfect. And unlike some games with an open world that feels bloated over time, Odyssey He is dense without being exhausting.

The artistic style also helps. Its slightly cartoon appearance avoids the aging trap of the realistic game that falls into, and even now they feel like entering these worlds to enter into a pop -up book with joy. There is a reason why Speedrunners still obsessed with this – it's so good.

1

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The kingdom is still coming

This one is almost unfair. Breath of the Wild It wasn't just good – it redefined what “aging well” means while playing. Even then Tears of the kingdom Launched with literal Sky Islands and Underground Cave Systems, many players are still considering Botw A more cohesive and iconic experience.

It's not just nostalgia. Hyrule's open world remains unrivaled in how it supports a clean, unexplored survey. Players can climb anything, slide anywhere and get into trouble in a way that feels completely organic. There is no fatigue of the control list – just wind, weather, physics and curiosity. The shrine still feels cleverly designed. Enemy camps still offer enough space for creative chaos. And moments such as fire lighting to catch updraft or cooking dubious food with a horn with a corner, still evoke the same miracle they did years ago.

Even visually, the painting style of the game is manifested by technical aging. Lighting, atmosphere, silence standing on a cliff during a thunderstorm – it all works, still stunning. And that's about it Breath of the Wild: It wasn't just before. He is still.