Nintendo Switch Year In Review 2025 – Our Most Played Games

Jim Norman, Employees Author

Most performed video games of 2025:

Okay, I used to be anticipating to see two of those, however how the hell did I spend 34 hours within the NSO Recreation Boy library? I performed plenty of Mario’s Picross final yr (what can I say? It makes me glad!), however certainly not that a lot. Hey ho, welcome to the rostrum, little man.

68 hours in Mario Kart World does not utterly shock me, given how lengthy I spent trying to find these rattling P-Switches, Peach Medallions and ? Panels. Possibly in the future I am going to be capable to come again to it with an open thoughts and an open coronary heart… however I am going to depart it one other couple of months.

And eventually, the least stunning of all of them: Donkey Kong Bananza. It seems that reviewing and guiding a recreation like this one takes fairly a little bit of time, and I poured 112 hours into this unhealthy boy to be sure that it was 100% wrapped up. A completely elegant reintroduction into the 3D platforming house for the prized primate.

All in all, a considerably meatier yr — although one the place I nonetheless racked up triple figures on my PS5 with some tasty releases that have not come our approach but. I put 456 hours into 51 video games, with Silksong and Pokémon Legends: Z-A simply lacking out on a top-three rating. Deliver on 2026 and one other ~500 hours of gaming!

Ollie Reynolds, Employees Author

Most performed video games of 2025:

Is it actually any shock that my most performed recreation of 2025 is Metroid Prime 4: Past? Having written our evaluate for Retro Studios’ newest, together with a 100% completion information marketing campaign, sure, Past managed to utterly dominate my life for a great few weeks there.

The Hundred Line – Final Protection Academy is not too far behind, thoughts you. That is nonetheless my favorite recreation of 2025, and to be trustworthy, even with all the time I put into Prime 4, I am kinda shocked The Hundred Line did not bag the highest spot. I am actually tempted to play by it once more from scratch in 2026, so we’ll must see if it winds up on my high three once more this time subsequent yr.

Lastly, I have been dipping out and in of Road Fighter 6 so usually in 2025 that it is nearly managed to nab third place. I have been testing and reviewing an entire bunch of arcade controllers for the Change 2 lately, and SF6 is the go-to recreation to actually put them by their paces. Extra of the identical this yr, please!

I additionally really feel compelled to say that none aside from Resident Evil 6 simply missed out on the highest three. Look, I like this recreation, and I spent a lot time in The Mercenaries No Hope mode. I simply can’t get sufficient.

Alana Hagues, Deputy Editor

Most performed video games of 2025:

…effectively, one in all these isn’t just like the others, eh? I am undecided what occurred in the beginning of the yr, however I apparently could not put down Hi there Kitty and mates, which I performed for *gulp* 173 hours. Was I okay for the primary half of 2025? I believe so?

In any other case, my different two video games I really predicted would pop in my 2024 write-up — unsurprising provided that Xenoblade Chronicles X is completely huge, and I rolled credit on the 112-hour mark. And between reviewing, the DLC, and guiding it, Pokémon Legends: Z-A clocked in at 94 hours. Woof. A few of that’s donut farming, idling, and taking screenshots, after all.

Hole Knight: Silksong was near the highest three at 83 hours, whereas Fantasy Life i is nipping at Hornet’s ankles at over 70 hours. In any other case, Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons are throughout 50 hours.

General, a darn good yr! 2025 was a a lot busier yr for my Nintendo consoles than 2024 was — I’ve clocked in 1029 hours between the Change 1 and Change 2. I’ve a sense that’ll slip a little bit in 2026 for all times causes, however we’ll see!

Gavin Lane, Editor

Most performed video games of 2025:

I used to be primarily channelling the ‘Oh crap, I would like to complete that earlier than the sequel drops’ vitality in 2025.

I might escaped Hades a number of instances earlier than, naturally, I simply hadn’t gotten to the floor the ten instances wanted to get the correct ending. One factor led to a different, and yep, one other 28 hours on the clock. As for Hole Knight, I purchased it on sale years in the past however by no means bought to it. I am now sitting on 86% completion with 35 hours on the clock, and I think about the NS2 Version will encourage me to push that increased.

And sandwiched between these two, there’s Bananza, a recreation I like rather less each time I return, however I’ve nonetheless managed 32 hours and counting. Most likely time to name it a day, until the children badger me for extra “Ooo, banana!” and the Zebra Bananza music.

Effervescent beneath that, it was a bitty yr – 272 hours throughout 61 video games, together with a first-play of Metallic Gear Strong and a giant ol’ chunk of time with each Mario Kart World and that scorching new 2025 launch, Katamari Damacy REROLL. Give the children what they need, I say. Naaa na-na na-na-na na-na…

Mai Ladyman, Video Producer

Most performed video games of 2025:

In all honesty, I didn’t do an excessive amount of gaming in 2025 as a consequence of that age-old excuse of life (and work) getting in the way in which. Oh… and taking part in on different platforms, primarily PC (sorry!). 2025 started with me beginning yet one more Stardew save in an try to succeed in Perfection, and despite the fact that I’m nowhere close to that milestone, it was a pleasant routine of mine earlier than and after work.