So, you’ve bought yourself a Nintendo Switch but don’t know where to start when it comes to playing games? Don’t worry, you’re not alone…

I’ve had quite a few people in my DMs who have bought themselves or their child a Nintendo Switch but they don’t really know where to start when it comes to games. I am always excited to welcome people to the gaming world, especially when it is in the world of Nintendo, and I always find that I am suggesting the same games, no matter what age they are… So, I thought that this would be an excellent topic to discuss on my blog.

Here’s my top game recommendations of what games to play if you are just starting your gaming journey on Nintendo switch.

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Animal crossing New horizons – Commonly known as ACNH in the gaming community – is the perfect beginner game.

ACNH is a simulation game where you develop a community on a deserted island paradise. This game has almost everything you need to get familiar with not just the mechanics of your Switch, but the mechanics of gaming in general. From farming, to mining, collecting, cooking, building, designing, building a community, creating and maintaining friendships, main quests, side quests, solo play and online co-op play, this game really has everything that you need introduce you to gaming and helping you get to know your Switch.

Pokémon is such a great game to introduce yourself to the RPG genre (RPG = role playing game). It’s a really cute and fun adventure game that will help you to learn about learn about completing a story with set quests and challenges, as well as battling and collecting.

To be completely honest, any of the Pokémon games are fantastic, but I think that for Nintendo Switch and the way that Pokémon seems to be going, games such as Pokémon Sword and/or Pokémon Shield, Pokémon Legends Arceus, and Pokémon Violet and/or Pokémon Scarlett are great introductions to the modern Pokémon games and to gaming in general.

Super Mario Bros. is such a classic game and should be a staple in any Nintendo gamer’s game library. It is the perfect platformer game to begin your gaming journey. A platformer is a game style where you work through a story by moving your character from point A to point B through an environment of obstacles. These types of games are great for helping you to learn the controls of your Switch and also for learning some key gaming traits – skills and patience – that you will need in your future gaming journey.

Games such as Super Mario Odyssey. Paper Mario Origami King. and Super Mario Bros. Wonder are great introductions to the the Super Mario Bros. universe on the Nintendo Switch and the platformer genre.

If you’re looking for a game that can be fun during solo gaming or shared with family and friends, Mario Kart is a great game. It’s a racing game that will teach you a whole bunch of mechanics of your Switch controls, as well as a whole bunch of skills in strategy and patience. It’s also just a whole bunch of competitive fun.

The Legend of Zelda game series is an absolute classic and iconic series for Nintendo gaming, and when it comes to the Nintendo Switch, Zelda games have been fantastic. When thinking about which Zelda game I would recommend beginning with when just starting out in gaming and on the Nintendo Switch, there is always one game that immediately comes to mind; Breath of the Wild.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is an open world action adventure game, and is the perfect game to introduce yourself to this style of gaming and learn the mechanics of your Switch controls. The thing that makes this game so great for starting out is that you really can start this at any gaming level because as you play through the game you develop the skills necessary to complete the game. From exploring to fulfilling quests to combat, this game has it all and will help you learn a whole lot about solo gaming and open world gaming, as well as your own style of gaming. You’re bound to sink hours and hours and hours of gameplay into this one so you will also become quite acquainted with your Switch and very familiar with its controls and how you like to play.

It’s hard to mention Breath of the Wild without mentioning its sequel, Tears of the Kingdom. Now, you might be wondering why I am suggesting a sequel game as a starting point for your introduction to gaming. That would be because Tears of the Kingdom is actually great as a stand alone game in the way that it doesn’t really matter too much if you haven’t played the first game.

The games are the same in terms of beginning from scratch and building up your strength and skill as you progress through the game, and they are both open world adventure games with quests and combat and exploration, so you will learn just the same from both games. However, the controls – while mostly the same – are slightly different. That doesn’t really mean much unless you jump straight into Tears of the Kingdom after playing Breath of the Wild, but you are at the start of your gaming journey so that isn’t likely.

Again, just like with Breath of the Wild, you are bound to spend hours and hours and hours playing Tears of the Kingdom, so you will become very familiar with your Switch and how it works, as well as very acquainted with this game style and learn a lot about your personal gaming style.

There is no right or wrong way to go about playing either of these games, however, if you are big on story, I would begin with Breath of the Wild, then go into Tears of the Kingdom.

The Kirby series is another great classic Nintendo game, and as a platformer game it is a fantastic alternative to Super Mario games. When it comes to the Nintendo Switch, you can’t go past Kirby and the Forgotten Land. This is a great game for everyone, whether you are just starting your gaming journey or are a long time gamer. Not only will you learn and become familiar with the control mechanics of your Switch, and gain necessary skills, patience and strategy for future gaming, Kirby is just a super cute fun time that you are bound to fall in love with.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is another must have game in any Nintendo gamer’s library. It is a fighting game and while it is primarily a multiplayer game, it can be played solo against the computer. This is a brilliant game to help you learn the control mechanics of your Switch. Playing in solo mode will allow you to develop skills and strategy, and playing multiplayer will help you to put those skills and strategy into practice while further developing them. It’s also a great game to introduce you to a whole bunch of characters across the Nintendo universe and perhaps spark an interest in the games that they come from. Further, the multiplayer mode means that you can have hours of endless fun with family and friends.

Nintendo Switch Sports is such an underrated game. It is such a fun game and a must have for your game library. Not only is this a super fun way to get active, it is a super fun activity to do with the family or with friends. It has both single and multiplayer modes, so you can build fitness and skills on your own, or with your family and friends. I have mentioned a lot about games helping you learn about the mechanics of your Switch controls; as Nintendo Switch Sports is a game controlled by your physical movements, this is the perfect game to help you learn about the mechanics of your joycons and controls based on movement. You are likely to go into this game greatly underestimating your fitness level, but you are absolutely 100% guaranteed to have a super fun time.

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I hope this helps you start your gaming journey on the right foot. I absolutely love all of these games and they are always the ones that I recommend whenever anyone asks what games they should start off with. They are all super fun games, whether you want to play solo or play with friends and family. They’re also all the perfect starting point as they all help you to learn about the control mechanics of your Switch in different ways and will help you learn a lot about your personal play style and what games you might like to play as you further your gaming journey.

Happy gaming!

OH! Side note, once you become familiar with your Nintendo Switch, you are probably going to want to add some personal flair to it. You can get some super cute cases and thumb grips from Switcheries (you can see some of them in my header photo on this post). There are so many amazing designs, and if you’re like me you’re gonna want a whole bunch, so make sure you use code MUFFINBEAR10 at the checkout to get yourself a cheeky discount!

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