It’s almost distressing to think that the Switch was released in 2017. It still feels brand new to me, but then, time has lost all meaning since I got old. But now we’re all waiting for the big reveal of Nintendo’s successor, and you can kind of feel that with the big releases this year.

Going to be real with you, this was a much slower year for the handheld, which feels like a weird thing to say when it saw the release of a newZeldagame. However, it was a subduedZeldagame, like it’s been a subdued year for the console. But regardless of that, we still got plenty to play on the little hybrid.

Switch Game of the Year nominees 2024

It’s time to name the best of those games. As with every year here at Destructoid, the window of eligibility for our nominees runs from the beginning of December 2023 to the end of December 2024 (sorry,Uncle Chop). We also have a rule that a game can only be included in one category, so if something seems missing from this list, you might find it in another category.

Here are the nominees for Destuctoid’s Best Switch Game of 2024.

Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door referencing N64 Paper Mario

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Yeah, one of the nominees this year is technically a GameCube game, butPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Doorwas one of the best on the console, and all of that charm isretained for its glow-up. Largely, it’s just a remaster of an already great game, but also, it’s an already great game. Everything on top is just gravy.

Star Wars Hunters

Star Warsis no stranger to online games, andStar Wars Huntersgrows its footprint with a hero-basedOverwatchapproach to PVP. Despite recent high-profile failures in the genre (such asConcord),Star Wars Huntersfound itsaudience and is thriving.

Steamworld Heist II

It’s hard to believeSteamworld Heist IIarrived eight years after the original, but thewait has been worth it.The sequel takes the 2D, turn-based tactical gameplay even further by taking it to the high seas. It’s incredible that any game could even top the satisfying feeling ofSteamworld Heist. Or, as Jamie Moorcroft-Sharp put it, “SteamWorld Heist IIis a phenomenal title that offers you the best when it comes to short, tactical encounters with thrilling turn-based gameplay.”

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition

I’m never far from an NES (it’s a few feet away in my living room), but it’s well-trodden ground for me. I always love finding new ways to interact with my favorites in its library, andNintendo World Championships: NES Editiondoes just that. A series of concise time trials give you the chance to compete on the world stage in miniature speed-running. It’s a celebration of the company’s roots.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

AZeldagame actually starring its titular character has been on quite a few wishlists, and this year, it finally arrived. It may not have the grandeur ofTears of the Kingdom, but it makes up for it with inventive gameplay centered around summoning whatever you want. Lots of problems can be solved with beds, but it takes more than a mattress to save the kingdom.

Super Mario Party Jamboree

Mario Partygames can be very hit-and-miss, but this year, we got a direct hit. There’s nothing insanely mindblowing aboutSuper Mario Party Jamboree– it doesn’t completely change the recipe – but it combines the best parts ofSuper Mario Partywith the classic formula and comes away withone of the best games theseries has seen since its inception.

Athenian Rhapsody

It’shard to describeAthenian Rhapsody, so I’m just going to quote the developer, “a souls-like platonic dating simulator with cooking-mama and WarioWare style battle mechanics… and by that, I mean it’s a choose-your-own-adventure action RPG with the ability to trade ENTIRE PLAYTHROUGHS between friends!!” I’m sure that answered your question. What you really need to know, however, is that it’s offensively good. Hence being on this list.

Star Wars: Hunters wookiee

sniper in steamworld heist 2

Nintendo World Championship Event

Zelda Echoes of Wisdom bed stairs

Super Mario Party Jamboree Monty Mole in an F1 car.

Athenian Rhapsody

OW2 Mercy in her Rose Gold skin

Weapons kid running in street