Franchises That Had The Most Growth On Nintendo Switch

Key Takeaways

• The Nintendo Switch achieved success by offering a hybrid experience and high-quality games from various franchises.
• Pokemon, Splatoon, and Xenoblade Chronicles became essential franchises on the Switch, gaining fan support and continued evolution.
• Series like Fire Emblem and Super Mario delivered standout games on the Switch, cementing their presence in Nintendo’s library.

The Nintendo Switch is a significant milestone in the video game industry. By combining portable and traditional modes, the platform managed to attract the attention of many players, becoming one of the best-selling consoles in history. Much of this is also due to the excellent game library that the hybrid received, with support even from various third parties.

However, Nintendo’s exclusives were the ones that stood out the most in this generation, with consistent and high-quality releases. Additionally, the Nintendo Switch generation was also marked by several franchises gaining more prominence than in the developer’s previous generations, taking full advantage of the hybrid’s potential to secure a place in the hearts of fans.

11 Pokemon

Good Sales And A Spin-Off That Became A Fan Favorite

• Games On Nintendo Switch: 12

Despite the mainline Pokemon games not pleasing some players, especially in comparison to previous generations, the franchise still had relative success on the Nintendo Switch. Both Sword and Shield and Scarlet and Violet were sales successes, but the main highlight of the series on the console lies in the spin-offs it received.

Legends: Arceus introduced something new to the franchise, bringing players to an era where humans did not yet have much knowledge about Pokemon, making significant mechanical changes, especially in captures and battles. Thus, it didn’t take long for the spin-off to become a favorite among fans, leading the developer to work on new releases with the same concept.

10 Animal Crossing

One Game Achieved Great Success On The Nintendo Switch

• Games On Nintendo Switch: 1

Animal Crossing: New Horizons stood out on the Nintendo Switch, becoming a global phenomenon thanks to its engaging gameplay and welcoming design. The title perfectly took advantage of the Switch’s portable and docked modes, allowing players to customize their islands with freedom and interact with friends intuitively, increasing its popularity.

Even being the only game of the franchise released on the platform so far, Animal Crossing: New Horizons established itself as one of the Switch’s best-selling titles. The constant content updates, seasonal events, and strong fan community ensured its continued relevance, establishing the franchise as a fundamental pillar in the Nintendo Switch ecosystem.

9 Metroid

Samus Aran Had Good Moments On The Switch

• Games On Nintendo Switch: 2, 3 with Metroid Prime Beyond

Metroid Dread stood out on the Nintendo Switch by offering an engaging 2D experience, combining classic mechanics with modern level design and other functions. The game, which was originally designed for the DS, was an excellent title, providing players with great graphics and fluid gameplay, being one of the best titles in the Switch library.

Additionally, Metroid Prime Remastered brought the acclaimed Prime series to the Switch, with graphical improvements and optimized controls that enhance the original experience. The franchise continues to expand with Metroid Prime 4, reinforcing the series’ position as one of the great pillars of Nintendo’s exclusive games for the console.

8 Splatoon

Originated On Wii U But Consolidated On The Switch

• Games On Nintendo Switch: 2

Splatoon initially emerged on the Wii U, bringing an innovative proposal of a shooter focused on ink and dynamic multiplayer modes. The series quickly gained a loyal fan base thanks to its unique style, accessible mechanics, and constant content updates, establishing itself as a distinct franchise within Nintendo’s portfolio.

With the arrival of the Nintendo Switch, Splatoon consolidated itself as one of the most relevant franchises on the platform. Titles like Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3 took advantage of the console’s hybrid power to offer even richer experiences, with improved online modes, new maps, and varied weapons. This continuous evolution reinforced the series’ popularity, making it a fundamental pillar in the Switch’s library and attracting both new players and longtime fans.

7 Pikmin

All Main Games Can Be Played On The Nintendo Switch

• Games On Nintendo Switch: 4

Although Pikmin 4 was announced even before the launch of the Nintendo Switch, it took years for the game to actually be released. In the meantime, the developers took the opportunity to bring the other three main games of the series to Nintendo’s hybrid platform, expanding its presence and enhancing the fans’ experience.

With the release of Pikmin 4, the series established itself as one of the most relevant franchises on the Nintendo Switch. The game features refined mechanics and improved graphics, taking full advantage of the console’s potential to offer engaging gameplay and visually impressive experiences, also strengthening the variety of exclusive games the console has.

6 Super Smash Bros.

Everyone Is Here

• Games On Nintendo Switch: 1

Even with only one game released on the Nintendo Switch, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a milestone for the franchise as a whole. Besides the gameplay improvements, the developers managed to include all the characters that have ever appeared in the series as playable, allowing fans to reunite with their favorite fighters in a single title.

Another great highlight was the selection of additional characters, which brought many surprises from other franchises. Joker from Persona, Steve from Minecraft, and Sora from Kingdom Hearts were some of the additions that joined names like Kazuya, Ken, and Terry. This care with the roster helped to consolidate Ultimate as the biggest and most ambitious game in the series.

5 Mario Kart

The Best-Selling Game On Nintendo Switch

• Games On Nintendo Switch: 1

Mario Kart 8 achieved some impressive feats, such as being the best-selling game on the Wii U with over 8 million copies sold, but it was on the Nintendo Switch that the full potential of the franchise was explored, with the game reaching over 60 million sales. Additionally, the port of the game to Nintendo’s hybrid platform also added a lot of new content.

From tracks to new characters, it was on the Nintendo Switch that Mario Kart 8 became the definitive experience of the series, giving players fluid gameplay, impressive graphics, and a large amount of content to be used. Moreover, the frenetic gameplay and multiplayer also contributed to the great success that the franchise still has on the console.

4 Fire Emblem

Maintaining The Highlight Of The Nintendo 3DS

• Games On Nintendo Switch: 4

After resurfacing on the Nintendo 3DS, Fire Emblem became one of Nintendo’s most important franchises, consolidating its success on the Nintendo Switch. Fire Emblem: Three Houses was mainly responsible for this impact, becoming the best-selling game in the series. With a captivating narrative, well-developed characters, and time management mechanics inspired by Persona, the title received critical and commercial acclaim.

Besides Three Houses, the franchise also expanded its presence on the console with Fire Emblem: Engage. Despite presenting the best graphics and gameplay of the series so far, its narrative did not reach the same impact as its predecessor. Spin-offs in the Musou style also contributed to consolidating Fire Emblem as one of the most prominent series on the Switch.

3 Super Mario

Nintendo’s Mascot Received Great Games In 2D And 3D

• Games On Nintendo Switch: Over 40 games are available, including spin-offs and those on Nintendo Switch Online.

The Super Mario franchise consolidated its prominence on the Nintendo Switch with two of the most acclaimed games in the main series, Super Mario Odyssey and Super Mario Wonder. Both exemplify Nintendo’s ability to innovate without losing the classic essence, delivering captivating experiences. Odyssey brought open and explorable 3D worlds, while Wonder redefined the formula of 2D games.

Combining creativity and engaging mechanics, Nintendo presented some of the best level designs in the series’ history. Whether navigating through the vast kingdoms of Odyssey or exploring the imaginative stages of Wonder, each game offers carefully crafted challenges that highlight the developers’ talent, representing the pinnacle of the franchise on the Nintendo Switch.

2 The Legend of Zelda

The Best Nintendo Switch Games Are From This Franchise

• Games On Nintendo Switch: 7

Despite already being one of Nintendo’s main franchises, The Legend of Zelda gained even more prominence and relevance on the Nintendo Switch. The series’ formula underwent major changes, presenting incredible open-world maps and exploration with plenty of freedom and possibilities, where Link can always look for creative solutions.

Moreover, both Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom were critical successes, receiving praise from everyone. Fortunately, the two mainline games of The Legend of Zelda were not the only content the franchise received on the Nintendo Switch, as remakes, ports, and even games featuring Zelda herself were produced for the console.

1 Xenoblade Chronicles

The Franchise That Became Synonymous With The Nintendo Switch

• Games On Nintendo Switch: 3, 4 with Xenoblade Chronicles X

Since the launch of the Nintendo Switch, Xenoblade Chronicles has stood out as one of the most present franchises on the console. With enhanced and new versions, it is possible to experience everything from the original journey in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition to the adventures of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, making the series evolve into one of the biggest pillars of the library available on the console.

The accessibility provided by the Nintendo Switch made the franchise indispensable for JRPG fans, in addition to excellent graphics showing the console’s potential. Each title offers a rich and interconnected universe, with impactful narratives and remarkable gameplay. Whether because of the nostalgia of the first games or the innovation of recent releases, Xenoblade Chronicles on the Switch represents the definitive experience for fans of the series.