Your First Nintendo Switch in India? These Are the Games You Absolutely Need.

For many of us in India, our gaming journey usually starts on mobile or PC. A Nintendo Switch? That’s still a bit of a niche.

It’s 2024, and for many of us in India, our gaming journey usually starts on mobile, maybe moves to PC, and for some, jumps onto a PS5 or Xbox. But a Nintendo Switch? That’s still a bit of a niche, often misunderstood as a ‘kids' console’. If you've just picked one up, or you're thinking about taking the plunge, you've probably got questions. The biggest one: what games are actually worth getting?

Forget the 'must-play' lists from a decade ago. I'm talking about the games that truly showcase what the Switch can do, the ones that hook you immediately, and make you realize why Nintendo still holds a special place in gaming. These are my top picks for anyone just starting their Switch journey in India – games that will resonate whether you’re coming from Call of Duty or Candy Crush.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (or Tears of the Kingdom)

Okay, I know. Everyone talks about Zelda. But there's a good reason for it. If you've spent years in linear mobile games or even more structured PC adventures, the sheer freedom that Breath of the Wild (BotW) offers is mind-blowing. I remember the first time I climbed a mountain, looked out, and just… picked a direction. No invisible walls, no objective markers screaming at me to go here or there. Just a massive world begging to be explored.

What surprised me most was how every little interaction felt meaningful. You can chop down trees for wood, cook food with bizarre ingredient combinations, or just paraglide off a cliff because it looks fun. There are a hundred ways to solve every challenge, and the game actively encourages you to mess around. If you’ve ever felt restricted in a game, BotW completely flips that on its head. It’s a masterclass in open-world design that doesn't hold your hand, trusting you to figure things out. If you play games to escape and explore, this is it. And if you enjoy it, Tears of the Kingdom takes all that freedom and injects a wild new set of powers that let you build basically anything you can imagine. Pick either, you can't go wrong.

Super Mario Odyssey

Forget what you think you know about Mario from those mobile runner games. Super Mario Odyssey is pure, unadulterated joy. It's a 3D platformer, but it's so much more than just jumping from one point to another. Each world, or 'Kingdom', is a playground of inventive challenges, hidden secrets, and unique mechanics.

My biggest surprise here was just how much personality each Kingdom had. From the bustling streets of New Donk City to the gorgeous Sand Kingdom, every area felt distinct and alive. And Cappy, Mario's hat, completely changes how you interact with the environment, letting you possess enemies and objects to use their abilities. It’s incredibly inventive and constantly throws new ideas at you. If you want a game that consistently makes you smile, that feels incredibly polished, and that’s just genuinely fun to play – whether for five minutes or five hours – Odyssey is your pick. It’s proof that simple, engaging gameplay can be deep and endlessly entertaining.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Look, every console needs a go-to game for when friends or family come over. And for the Switch, that’s undoubtedly Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. This isn't just a racing game; it’s a social event generator. Even if your friends have never touched a console before, they'll pick this up in minutes.

What always gets me about Mario Kart is how accessible it is, while still being incredibly competitive. My mom, who usually sticks to WhatsApp, was screaming at the screen after a perfectly timed Blue Shell took out my lead. The sheer variety of tracks (over 40 in the base game, plus a ton more with DLC) and characters keeps things fresh. It's the kind of game that creates instant memories, whether you’re celebrating a last-minute win or laughing at the chaos of a 12-player race. If you want to show off your new Switch to everyone, or just have a blast with some friends on the couch, this is the first game you should be grabbing. It's a guaranteed good time.

So, What's Your First Move?

These three games – Zelda, Mario Odyssey, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – represent the absolute best of what Nintendo offers. They're unique experiences that really shine on the Switch, showing off its versatility and Nintendo's knack for creating memorable, engaging games that feel different from anything you'll find on mobile or PC. They're not just games; they're entry points into a whole new style of play that might just surprise you.

If you've just unboxed your first Switch, or you're thinking about it, these are the titles that will make you glad you did. What do you think? If you've already started your Switch collection, what were your first absolute must-haves? Let me know what I missed!