Player Two Co

The Best Nintendo Switch Games to Gift

The Switch has the friendliest game library in gaming — bright, family-safe, and loved across every age. Here are the most giftable, with the age rating and a live price on each.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

If you’re buying a game for a Switch owner, you’re in luck: the Switch has the most giftable line-up in gaming. The best-known titles are bright, easy to pick up, and beloved by kids and adults alike, so you can give one with real confidence even if you’ve never held a controller.

We’ve sorted these by the person you’re buying for — a party crowd-pleaser, a cozy favorite, a big prestige adventure — and every game shows its official ESRB age rating, so it’s easy to match to a child. If you’re not sure what they already own, a Nintendo eShop gift card is the failsafe.

How this is funded: Player Two Co earns a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which gift we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

The picks at a glance

Ranked for who they suit and how safe a gift they are. Tap a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t hands-on-tested these — here’s exactly what we do instead.

#GiftBest forPrice
1
Nintendo Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Nintendo Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The single safest game gift there is. Everyone from a 6-year-old to a grandparent can pick up a controller and have fun in ten seconds — and as a download code it can't arrive late or go out of stock.

Best for anyone
$59.99 · See it on Amazon

Price as of October 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A gentle, no-pressure island-life game with no way to lose. It's the game non-gamers fall in love with — creative, calming, and endlessly relaxing rather than stressful.

Coziest pick
$59.88 · See it on Amazon

Price as of October 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Nintendo Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Nintendo Super Mario Bros. Wonder

One of the most joyful games on the Switch, and instantly familiar to anyone who's ever touched a Mario game. A delight solo or with the family — and as a download code it can't arrive late or go out of stock.

Best new game
$59.88 · See it on Amazon

Price as of October 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

A giant, critically adored adventure and a genuine event game. If your gamer is into big open-world exploration, this is the prestige gift — the one they'll be thrilled you knew about.

Best big adventure
$69.00 · See it on Amazon

Price as of October 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Nintendo Mario Party Superstars

Nintendo Mario Party Superstars

The best board-game-and-minigames party pack on the Switch. If the gift is really 'something the whole family can play at Christmas,' this is it.

Best for groups
$59.99 · See it on Amazon

Price as of October 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

6
Nintendo Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Nintendo Kirby and the Forgotten Land

An adorable, forgiving 3D adventure that's perfect for a younger kid or a nervous newcomer — gentle enough to never frustrate, with a two-player mode a parent can jump into.

Best for younger kids
$56.96 · See it on Amazon

Price as of October 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

7
Mojang Minecraft

Mojang Minecraft

The most-owned game on earth for a reason: it's a creative sandbox with no rules, endlessly playable, and beloved across every age. A safe, affordable win for a kid who talks about it constantly.

Best for creative kids
$29.83 · See it on Amazon

Price as of October 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

8
Nintendo Pokémon Scarlet

Nintendo Pokémon Scarlet

If the kid (or kid-at-heart) on your list is into Pokémon at all, a mainline Pokémon adventure is a guaranteed hit. Scarlet is the modern open-world entry they can explore at their own pace.

Best for Pokémon fans
$53.70 · See it on Amazon

Price as of October 23, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

Every pick, explained

#1Best for anyone

Nintendo Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The single safest game gift there is. Everyone from a 6-year-old to a grandparent can pick up a controller and have fun in ten seconds — and as a download code it can't arrive late or go out of stock.

Great because

  • Zero learning curve — pick up and play in seconds
  • Up to four people on one Switch, so it's an instant party
  • The best-selling Switch game ever; it's beloved for a reason

Keep in mind

  • A very online player may already own it
  • It's a code, not a box — there's nothing physical to wrap unless you print it
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Digital game (download code)
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite and Switch OLED (the code redeems on their Nintendo Account)
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if you know for certain they already have it (most Switch owners do eventually).

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#2Coziest pick

Nintendo Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A gentle, no-pressure island-life game with no way to lose. It's the game non-gamers fall in love with — creative, calming, and endlessly relaxing rather than stressful.

Great because

  • Completely relaxing — there's no failing or losing
  • Wildly popular with people who don't consider themselves gamers
  • Hundreds of hours of gentle, creative play

Keep in mind

  • Slow-paced by design — not for someone who wants action
  • It's a code, not a box — there's nothing physical to wrap unless you print it
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Digital game (download code)
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite and Switch OLED (the code redeems on their Nintendo Account)
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they specifically want a fast, competitive or action game.

Details read from the product listing on September 15, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#3Best new game

Nintendo Super Mario Bros. Wonder

One of the most joyful games on the Switch, and instantly familiar to anyone who's ever touched a Mario game. A delight solo or with the family — and as a download code it can't arrive late or go out of stock.

Great because

  • Bright, joyful and genuinely funny
  • Up to four players together on one screen
  • A download code, so there's nothing to ship and nothing to lose

Keep in mind

  • It's a code, not a box — there's nothing physical to wrap unless you print it
  • Redeems on their Nintendo Account, so it can't be lent or resold afterwards
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Digital game (download code)
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite and Switch OLED (the code redeems on their Nintendo Account)
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they only play on PlayStation, Xbox or PC — this is Switch-only.

Details read from the product listing on September 15, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#4Best big adventure

Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

A giant, critically adored adventure and a genuine event game. If your gamer is into big open-world exploration, this is the prestige gift — the one they'll be thrilled you knew about.

Great because

  • One of the highest-rated games of the decade
  • Enormous — hundreds of hours of exploration and building
  • Arrives as a download code, so it can be sent at the last minute

Keep in mind

  • Deep and involved — not a casual pick-up-for-ten-minutes game
  • It's a code rather than a box, so there's nothing physical to unwrap
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Digital game (download code)
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite and Switch OLED (the code redeems on their Nintendo Account)
Good for
Ages 10 & up
Age rating
E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Skip it if: Skip for a very young child or a total newcomer — it rewards patience and exploration.

Details read from the product listing on September 15, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#5Best for groups

Nintendo Mario Party Superstars

The best board-game-and-minigames party pack on the Switch. If the gift is really 'something the whole family can play at Christmas,' this is it.

Great because

  • Built for four people laughing on the couch
  • Classic boards and 100 minigames anyone can grasp
  • Great for mixed ages — kids and adults compete evenly

Keep in mind

  • Less fun solo — it really wants a group
  • Sold as a download code here, so there's no box to wrap
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Digital game (download code)
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite and Switch OLED (the code redeems on their Nintendo Account)
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they mostly play alone — this shines with company.

Details read from the product listing on September 15, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#6Best for younger kids

Nintendo Kirby and the Forgotten Land

An adorable, forgiving 3D adventure that's perfect for a younger kid or a nervous newcomer — gentle enough to never frustrate, with a two-player mode a parent can jump into.

Great because

  • Very approachable and low-stress
  • A second player can help out, ideal for a parent + child
  • Charming and genuinely fun for adults too

Keep in mind

  • Not much challenge for a seasoned player
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
Ages 6 & up
Age rating
E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Skip it if: Skip for a hardcore gamer looking for a tough challenge.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#7Best for creative kids

Mojang Minecraft

The most-owned game on earth for a reason: it's a creative sandbox with no rules, endlessly playable, and beloved across every age. A safe, affordable win for a kid who talks about it constantly.

Great because

  • Bottomless creativity — build anything
  • Affordable and universally loved
  • Play alone or together with friends

Keep in mind

  • Check which platform they play on — many kids already have it on a tablet
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Also on Xbox, PlayStation, PC & mobile (buy for their device)
Good for
Ages 7 & up
Age rating
E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Skip it if: Skip if they already play Minecraft on another device (progress doesn't always carry over).

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#8Best for Pokémon fans

Nintendo Pokémon Scarlet

If the kid (or kid-at-heart) on your list is into Pokémon at all, a mainline Pokémon adventure is a guaranteed hit. Scarlet is the modern open-world entry they can explore at their own pace.

Great because

  • Instant excitement for anyone who likes Pokémon
  • Open-world and beginner-friendly
  • Huge replay value catching and battling

Keep in mind

  • Choose Scarlet vs Violet — a few exclusive creatures differ between them
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
Ages 7 & up
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they already own Scarlet or Violet — check first, they're a matched pair.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

Match the game to the person

For a party or family, Mario Kart and Mario Party are unbeatable crowd-pleasers. For someone who wants to relax, Animal Crossing is the gentle, no-pressure classic. For a younger child, Kirby is forgiving and adorable. For a serious player, the huge Zelda adventure feels like a real event. And for a fan of Pokémon or Minecraft, a mainline entry is a guaranteed hit. Check the age rating we show, and confirm they don’t already own it.

Buying for a grown-up who plays after the kids are in bed? Our best Switch games for adults list is chosen for exactly that. And if they’ve moved up to a Switch 2, our Mario Kart World vs Mario Kart 8 Deluxe comparison explains which Mario Kart to give.

Not sure how to actually hand over a Switch game? It’s easy — a physical cartridge, a download code, or an eShop card all work. See how to gift Switch games.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Switch game to give as a gift?

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the safest single pick — nearly anyone can enjoy it, it's brilliant with a group, and it's the best-selling Switch game ever. For relaxing, choose Animal Crossing; for a big adventure, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

What Switch game is best for a young child?

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is gentle, forgiving and adorable, with an easy two-player mode a parent can join. Mario titles are also great. All are rated E or E10+, which we show on each pick.

How do I make sure they don't already have the game?

Ask casually, or choose a very recent release they're less likely to own. If you can't check, a Nintendo eShop gift card removes the risk entirely — they pick a game they don't have.

Do these games work on the Switch Lite?

Nearly all standard Switch games work on the Switch Lite, the regular Switch and the OLED model. The rare exception is a game that requires detached controllers or TV mode, which wouldn't suit the handheld-only Lite.

Sources

  • ESRB — Ratings Guide — The Entertainment Software Rating Board's official age-rating definitions: E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+), T (Teen), M (Mature 17+) and the content descriptors printed on every game box (accessed July 22, 2026)
  • Nintendo — Nintendo eShop Cards — Nintendo's own page on eShop cards: funds add to a Nintendo Account balance to spend on games and DLC in the eShop; cards are sold in fixed amounts (accessed July 22, 2026)
  • Nintendo Support — How to Redeem a Nintendo eShop Download Code — Nintendo's official redemption steps: open the eShop, choose Enter Code, and enter the 16-character code, or redeem online — a Nintendo Account is required and the balance is region-locked to the account's country (accessed July 22, 2026)

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