40% of The Best Games of 2026 Are Nintendo Switch Console Exclusives

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Currently, critics predict that 40% of the top games of 2026 will be exclusive to the Nintendo Switch. Specifically, two out of the five highest-rated games on Metacritic are only available on the Switch, though they can also be played on PC. While these games aren’t specifically designed for the new Nintendo Switch 2, they will work on the console through backward compatibility. However, this situation isn’t ideal for the Switch 2, as it’s similar to having the best games from 2021 released on the older PS4 instead of the newer PS5.

As a huge Nintendo fan, I’m really excited to see that two of the top games of 2026, according to Metacritic, are Switch exclusives! They’re called Perfect Tides: Station to Station and Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse, and while they aren’t huge, AAA titles – they’re priced at just $20 and $25 – everyone seems to be loving them. Both critics and players are giving them really good scores, which is awesome!

Perfect Tides: Station to Station

Currently, Perfect Tides: Station to Station has a Metacritic score of 86, making it the second highest-rated game of 2026. However, players on Steam overwhelmingly love the game, giving it a perfect 100% approval rating.

This is the second game from developer Three Bees, continuing the story from 2022’s Perfect Tides. While playing the original game will add to your enjoyment, it’s not required – this game can be enjoyed on its own.

The game is a point-and-click adventure where you play as 18-year-old Mara. It’s a story about the ups and downs of becoming an adult, and you’ll explore a city, find useful items, and navigate complicated relationships along the way.

Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse

I’m really excited about Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse! It’s the latest game from Square Enix, and it continues the story from Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo which I loved. And get this – it’s been getting amazing reviews! It actually scored an 85 on Metacritic, which makes it one of the highest-rated games of the year so far!

You don’t need to play the first game to enjoy this one – it’s a completely separate story. However, if you have played the original, you’ll get even more out of it. Both players and critics loved the first game, giving it a 95% positive rating on Steam.

The game puts you in the role of a detective alongside a diverse group of characters, all exploring the secrets of a Japanese region famous for its mermaid folklore. Solving the central mystery requires you to piece together information from different viewpoints.

With scores of 85 and 86, this pair probably won’t finish in the top 10, or even the top 5, by the end of the year. They might land in the top 20, though. It’s impressive, however, that four out of the top five games so far this year are on the older Nintendo Switch console.

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2026-02-23 06:10