2024 was a good year for Nintendo and the Nintendo Switch, but somehow, it was over-shadowed by the upcoming release of the next console, which should be revealed any day now.
Nevertheless, there were plenty of great exclusives for Switch owners this year. As we highlight the best of 2024, we will recap the seven best Nintendo exclusives released this year.
8Mario vs. Donkey Kong
An enjoyable remake
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (2024)
With Nintendo focusing on the future, they still had to release games this year. With that in mind, there will be a theme across several of these listed games: remakes.
That’s okay, though, asMario vs. Donkey Kong, the remake of the 2024 GameBoy Advance game, is an enjoyable platforming adventure.
Its ability to focus on accessible difficulty while still offering a challenge in select modes for seasoned veterans means there’s something for every Switch owner to like here. It’s such a natural fit with its pick-up-and-play mentality, updated charming visuals, and excellent controls that it’s a wonder we didn’t see the game remade sooner.
Mario vs. Donkey Kongwon’t win any awards, but it doesn’t need to. It offers the excellent platforming Nintendo is known for and delivers it in spades. If you’re looking for some quick fun, look no further.
7Princess Peach: Showtime!
Lights, Camera, Action
Princess Peach: Showtime!
If you’re looking for accessible platforming from a new game rather than a remake of a classic, look no further thanPrincess Peach: Showtime!
It’s about time Nintendo gave Peach another starring role that suits her well. Its stage play concept, adorable costumes, and catchy music are all a home run.
While gameplay can sometimes feel repetitive, and every stage isn’t a winner, the boss battles stand out, giving you enough reason to keep playing.
Again, it won’t win any awards, butPrincess Peach: Showtime!is still plenty of fun and worth checking out.
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6Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition
Party like it’s 1985
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition
Nintendo has recently been on a roll with its digital remixes of beloved games.Tetris 99andF-Zero 99are absolute blasts to play.
WithNintendo World Championships: NES Edition, Nintendo focuses on speedrunning through some of the most challenging moments of past NES classics.
Think of it like WarioWare for old-school gaming. You’ll need to rush through over 150 trials in games likeSuper Mario Bros.,Metroid,Donkey Kong, and more.
It’s another perfect addition to the bite-sized gameplay in Nintendo’s digital line-up and a chance for the company to show off the best moments from its older games.
5Mario & Luigi: Brothership
A much-anticipated return
Mario & Luigi: Brothership
Six long years after the release ofBowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey, we finally have anotherMario & Luigigame.
Mario & Luigi: Brothershiphas everything you expect from a Mario RPG title: a colorful and pleasant visual aesthetic, humor, and a great combat system.
Developed by Acquire, known for their work onOctopath Traveler II,Brothershipproves that theMario & Luigiseries can live on without AlphaDream. It feels like a true, blue RPG experience, featuring characters we already know and love alongside newcomers.
There’s plenty of content to see and do as well beyond the main story. Make no mistake: this is a meaty experience, something Mario RPGs felt like they were getting away from recently. If Nintendo wants to expand on Mario RPG games,Brothershipis a great starting point.
4Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD
Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD
2013’sLuigi’s Mansion: Dark Moontook the maligned but fan-favorite GameCube launch title and made it one of the best games on the Nintendo 3DS.
The 2024 re-release,Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, gives the game the glow-up it deserves.Dark Moonwas held back by the limitations of the 3DS hardware,but theHD remake for Nintendo Switch removes that obstacle.
Quality of life improvements, gorgeous visuals, and even some gameplay enhancements help giveLuigi’s Mansion 2the love it deserves.
While the foundation and DNA remain the same, a surprising amount of work went into the HD release, making it stand out and worth your time, no matter how muchDark Moonyou played.
3The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Super Zelda Maker
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
This generation’sLegend of Zeldagames have accompanied two distinct art styles on Nintendo Switch, both beautiful in their own right.Echoes of Wisdomincorporates the cute visuals in theLink’s Awakeningremake, adding to the feeling that Hyrule is a playground for exploration and experimentation.
It’s an excellent combination of visuals and gameplay, asEchoes of Wisdom’s strength is how well it combines the gameplay of traditional 2D Zelda games with the creativity introduced inBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom.
Echoes of Wisdomfeels like the Zelda franchise’s version ofSuper Mario Maker. It allows players to use impressivecreativity to solve puzzles, deal with enemies, and explore the world of Hyrule.
It’s more than a simple spin-off, proving it deserves a seat at the big kid’s table alongside more traditional Zelda titles.
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2Super Mario Party Jamboree
It’s party time
Super Mario Party Jamboree
Thank goodnessMario Partyis back. There’s something satisfying about a nice, simple game night with a loved one—until you steal their star on the last turn, of course.
Super Mario Party Jamboreecorrects the mistakes ofSuper Mario Partyand, inspired by the success ofMario Party Superstars, blends old-school classic mini-games and boards with a wonderful selection of new challenges.
The real win here is that we can change the rules for each game to our heart’s desire. It allows for an impressive, albeit somewhat shallow, customization to play the game as we see fit—no more random mini-games. We can finally vote on them!
IfSuper Mario Party Jamboreeindicates where theMario Partyfranchise is headed, then I want to be along for the ride. Believe it or not, this would be my favorite Nintendo game of the year, but we need to talk about one more remaster of a beloved title.
1Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (2024)
20 years after the originalPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Doorgraced the Nintendo GameCube, it’s finally back and better than ever.
Was it disappointing that we didn’t get a bevy of new content akin toLuigi’s Mansion 2or the proper TLC ofMetroid Prime: Remastered? Yes. Does that ultimately matter? No, becauseThousand-Year Dooris just that good of a game.
Quality of life updates making the game a more enjoyable and modern experience alone do enough to address the original game’s major critiques and flaws. It still has all the charm and beauty it did back in the day, and the combat holds up surprisingly well.
This is a game that everyone needs to own to complete their Nintendo Switch collection. Whether you played and fell in love with the original 20 years ago or, for some reason, missed out, please do yourself a favor and play this game.
