[updated to include the latest additions to the Sports Games library for Switch]
Nintendo Switch’s popularity has made it the ideal portable console for sports games, and it boasts of several AAA titles as well as hidden indie gems in its catalog. Here are a few of the best sports games for Nintendo Switch for you to play on the go.
EA Sports FC 24
The first game in the series, after the annual FIFA game release association that EA had with FIFA concluded, this one continues to build on gameplay elements, modes, and all the expertise that EA has built over the years to deliver a decent football simulator that can also be played on Switch. It also helped that EA made a substantial change to the way they released these games on Switch: while the earlier ones were limited to basically kit changes, FC 24 used the Frostbite engine on Switch for the first time, resulting in a much closer gameplay performance to the console counterparts.
MLB: The Show 25
San Diego Games’ MLB: The Show 25 was the first game released only for new-gen consoles (along with Switch), and is probably the last remaining baseball simulation game series available on any platform. While real baseball may be on the decline, this game enjoys a massive fan following. The realistic gameplay mechanics and graphics elements continue to provide fans with an enjoyable simulation experience of baseball. This iteration of the series is also where the Road to the Show mode saw 8 actual college baseball teams added to the roster.
Nintendo Switch Sports (2022)
The perfect series of games to utilize the Joy-Con; this one came out in 2022 and features volleyball, golf, soccer, tennis, badminton, bowling, basketball & chambara. The popularity and success that this game obtained is evident in the fact that it went on to become one of the best-selling Switch games of all time at 16.27 million copies.
The game, predictably, comes with robust multiplayer options as well, including local and online matchmaking.
Also Read: The Best Games On Switch
A Little Golf Journey (2021)
If you thought golf couldn’t be any more relaxing, A Little Golf Journey offers a virtual experience of the game that will change your mind. This game features 10 beautifully designed courses with over 100 holes. This is not like your average golf game, though, where there are crowds of about 20 people cheering as they watch you take an eternity to cross the par. In this game, there are no crowds; it’s just you and your companion in an unlikely golf adventure.
Although quite unconventional, A Little Golf Journey still offers enough of a challenge to immerse you in the core golf gameplay. But what sets this game apart is the story, where you’ll discover that there is more at stake than just beating your opponent.
Retro Goal
As the name suggests, Retro Goal is an excellent tribute to old-school football. Inspired by the popular Temco Bowl series, this game looks to revive the cult following its predecessor received through the unique style of gameplay. Retro Goal allows players to both play as and manage their teams with emphasis on the offense. The gameplay is quite straightforward with some addictive elements that are bound to appeal to long-time followers of football.
While the defense is simulated through autoplay, you can still manage the defensive players. On a platform dominated by soccer, Retro Bowl stands out as one of its best American Football games.
Also Read: The Best Fighting Games On Switch
NBA 2K25
There is plenty to recommend NBA 2K24 as one of the best sports games for Switch. It continues the strong legacy of the NBA games(being the 26th entry in this storied franchise). NBA is one of the very few video games on any platform that offers a complete experience while allowing players to live out their basketball fantasies. 2K’s NBA games capture the various nuances of the sport quite well through some refined mechanics. The career mode offers some tough challenges through modes that are optimized for all playstyles.
NBA 2K24 also continued with tweaks to the formula to make it that much more engaging, like Legend Badges. All in all, is a solid entry both in the series and in this list of best sports games for Switch.
Lonely Mountains: Downhill
This title proves how exciting the sport of mountain biking can be, even if you are experiencing it from the confines of your couch. Lonely Mountains: Downhill offers a thrill ride of a lifetime as you venture down a steep mountain that has various obstacles and challenges along the way. What sets this sports game apart is the unique and morbid fact that you can die. In Lonely Mountains, death comes in many ways: by hitting a tree, crashing into a rock, or even the classic falling off a cliff method.
The gameplay is quite challenging and reflects physics and controls inspired by the mobile game, Skiing Yeti Mountain. The gameplay is complemented quite well by some impressive low-poly graphics, which are optimized for the handheld, and all of that makes it one of the best sports games for Nintendo Switch.
Also Read: The Best Horror Games On Switch
AO Tennis 2
Tennis is one of the most popular games in the world, and there are tons of video games that prove this fact. But Nintendo is not of this world, so having even one Switch tennis simulation title may seem like having too many. Nonetheless, Big Ants’ AO Tennis 2 is one of the best tennis games available on Switch. The gameplay is quite engaging and challenging for beginners and pros alike.
Unlike other AAA sports titles, AO Tennis 2 does not compromise much on the graphics, which makes this one the most realistic sports game on Switch. Furthermore, the game was developed in collaboration with the organizers and players at the Australian Open. So, this is as official as it gets when it comes to tennis games.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2
The only thing cooler than having a name like Tony Hawk is having a video game named after you. Skating is more accurately described as an unconventional means of transport that became a favorite pastime, which somehow got recognized as an art. Which means in America, it is greater than the Olympics.
This game offers all the classic elements that made Tony Hawks so popular for so many years. The series’ longevity is proven by Pro Skater 1+2’s fluid playability, which is quite rare for Switch games with such graphics requirements. Although some aspects had to be toned down, the Switch version still offers a similar experience as its bigger, more powerful counterparts.
Mario Strikers: Battle League
We wind up the best sports games on Switch with a game featuring everyone’s favorite Italian plumber and the master of his Nintendo domain. Mario Strikers Battle League follows a 5 vs. 5 competition style, which favors the chaotic gameplay familiar with other Mario titles, such as Mario Kart, over realism.
The gameplay is engaging and offers an enjoyable multiplayer mode as well. Fans of the series will enjoy the returning characters, which made the previous 2 Strikers titles and the entire Mario franchise so popular. Battle League is an exclusive to the platform, which makes it graphically one of the best sports games on Nintendo Switch, with the most fluid gameplay.
