Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives of 2026 praised by TechRadar

A strong year for Switch 2 games

TechRadar has published a ranked list of its top six Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives of 2026, describing the year as a strong one for the console's first-party line-up. The writer says the system's library already feels well developed for hardware that is not yet two years old, and reports spending more than 800 hours playing on the Switch 2 this year.

The list also credits third-party titles, citing Resident Evil Requiem as an example of a major release that was well optimised for the console. The full ranking covers six games, although the published material available details four of them.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book

Ranked sixth on the list, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is described as a return to form for the series. According to TechRadar, the game centres on exploration, with Yoshi travelling through the pages of a living encyclopedia named Mr. E. to learn about creatures living inside it.

The writer praises the art direction, which combines 3D environments with hand-drawn, watercolour-style characters and stop-motion animation. The core puzzles are described as fairly simple, but hunting for collectibles such as Smiley Flowers is said to be a genuine challenge that requires creative use of creature abilities. Criticisms include boss battles that are not tough enough and limited narrative depth, but the writer calls it the best Yoshi game in more than a decade.

Nintendo Switch Sports Resort

Fifth place goes to Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, which TechRadar compares to the jump from Wii Sports to Wii Sports Resort. The writer says it adds more sports, more depth and more replay value while keeping the simple appeal of the series.

The game addresses three weaknesses of the original Nintendo Switch Sports: a lack of single-player content, a small selection of events and a flawed points system. A new Island Crown mode adds a competitive single-player element, the game includes 12 sports, and points now apply to offline as well as online play. Highlights include table tennis with enhanced spin mechanics, skateboarding that uses the Switch 2's mouse controls, and thumb wrestling. Football and Chambara are missing at launch, which the writer hopes will be fixed through updates or DLC.

Splatoon Raiders

The list also features Splatoon Raiders, a single-player spin-off of the multiplayer series. TechRadar's five-star review described it as a solo reinvention of the series with smartly designed missions and engaging progression systems.

The game is described as a third-person looter shooter packed with content: missions at various difficulty levels, more than a hundred weapons, and an online co-op mode with gear and weapon parts. The writer notes initial scepticism about moving away from the series' Turf War format, but says the change paid off, praising the visuals and level design.

Pokémon Pokopia

Pokémon Pokopia is called the biggest surprise hit of 2026 by TechRadar. The writer says the spin-off received widespread acclaim and social media attention, and that global shortages affected the physical edition of the game.

The game takes a cosy, Animal Crossing-style formula and expands on it, according to the writer. Players help villagers by building homes and upgrading infrastructure, while the Pokémon themselves are described as more distinct than Animal Crossing's residents. The main story has a darker tone, casting the player as Ditto investigating the disappearance of humanity. The writer says the game offers hundreds of hours of content, from custom house building to completing the Pokédex.

What it means for Switch 2 owners

The list suggests Nintendo's first-party output has given the Switch 2 a varied exclusive line-up in its second year, spanning family sports games, platformers, shooters and life-sim titles. For readers considering the console, the writer recommends Nintendo Switch Sports Resort in particular as a holiday pick for family play.

It is worth noting that this is a single writer's ranking rather than an award or sales measure. The full top six, including the highest-placed entries, is set out in TechRadar's original article.