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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesIf you’re looking for the best Nintendo Switch remakes and remasters, start with the kind of game you want to play: Metroid Prime Remastered for atmospheric first-person exploration, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening for a compact, dungeon-focused Zelda adventure, or Super Mario RPG for an approachable, story-driven turn-based RPG. There isn’t one universal winner; each revisits an older game in a different way.
Best Nintendo Switch remakes and remasters at a glance
| Game | Best for | What it revisits | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metroid Prime Remastered | First-person exploration and combat | An HD remaster of the original GameCube game | Offers modern dual-analog and classic control schemes, plus Casual difficulty. Nintendo’s product page |
| The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening | Classic, dungeon-led Zelda | A remake of the 1993 Game Boy adventure | Has a toy-like visual style and optional Chamber Dungeons; TIME reported overworld stutter in its 2019 review. TIME’s review |
| Super Mario RPG | A classic-style, party-based RPG | A faithful remake of the original RPG | Polished for Switch and welcoming to newcomers, while retaining a 1990s RPG sensibility. GamesRadar’s Switch recommendations |
How to choose between the three
- Choose Metroid Prime Remastered if you want to explore a connected world, scan environments and enemies, and return to earlier areas as Samus gains abilities. Its alternate control schemes and Casual difficulty make it easier to tailor the experience to your preference. Nintendo describes the Switch release and its features.
- Choose Link’s Awakening if you want a more compact adventure built around dungeons and the items that open new routes. The Switch remake gives the Game Boy original a new presentation while keeping its distinctive story and setting. Its optional Chamber Dungeons remix pieces from existing dungeons.
- Choose Super Mario RPG if you want a party-based, turn-based RPG with an accessible, polished remake. Its storytelling retains the character of a 1990s role-playing game, which may be part of the appeal if you enjoy classic RPG conventions.
What kind of remake or remaster is each?
The labels matter because these games do not all update their originals in the same way. Nintendo calls Metroid Prime Remastered an HD remaster of the GameCube game. Link’s Awakening is a remake of the 1993 Game Boy title, with a substantially updated presentation. Super Mario RPG is likewise presented as a faithful remake rather than simply a port.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Mario Kart™ World (Nintendo Switch 2) | $79.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Super Mario Galaxy™ + Super Mario Galaxy™ 2 | $64.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time | Buy on Amazon |
Ports, remasters and remakes can overlap in how they update an older game. This selection focuses on releases that meaningfully revisit an earlier game, while identifying the form each one takes rather than treating every re-release as equivalent. For context on the three picks, see Nintendo Life’s guide to Switch remakes and remasters.
What to know about each game
Metroid Prime Remastered: exploration with flexible controls
Samus explores the interconnected regions of Tallon IV, scanning her surroundings and enemies and revisiting places as new abilities open routes. Nintendo says the Switch edition updates visuals and sound, offers modern dual-analog controls as well as classic schemes, includes Casual difficulty, and unlocks art and gallery content. Nintendo lists its release date as February 8, 2023. See Nintendo’s product details.
Recommended Free Tools
#1 Best Overall
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
That combination makes it the strongest fit here for players drawn to environmental discovery and first-person combat, particularly if they value a choice of control style or a less punishing difficulty option.
Link’s Awakening: a compact dungeon adventure with a performance caveat
The Switch remake preserves the original’s unusual story and setting, but presents them with toy-like visuals and an updated score. The central loop remains familiar: explore, find items, and use them to access new paths and dungeons. TIME’s 2019 review also noted slowdown and stuttering in the overworld in both handheld and docked play. That is a review-era observation, not a new performance measurement.
Rank #2
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
- Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
Chamber Dungeons offer an optional way to remix pieces of existing dungeons. They complement the main adventure rather than changing its basic appeal: this is the pick for players who want classic Zelda structure in a relatively compact form.
Super Mario RPG: a welcoming route into classic turn-based RPGs
The Switch remake keeps faith with the original while polishing it for a new release, a combination Nintendo Life describes as welcoming to newcomers. It launched on November 17, 2023, and was developed by ArtePiazza, according to Nintendo Life’s guide. GamesRadar notes that its refreshed presentation does not remove the storytelling’s 1990s RPG character.
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- Race from one course to another through interconnected paths that span the world
- Traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more—with shifting weather patterns and a day/night cycle
- Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line
- Take on the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour—a fierce 24-driver elimination mode
- Explore courses at your own pace and wander the world to discover fun surprises in Free Roam
Pick it if the draw is a classic party-based RPG rather than first-person exploration or dungeon-focused action-adventure.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Other returning Nintendo classics
These three are a focused, genre-balanced shortlist, not a claim that they are the only updated classics on Switch. Nintendo’s February 2023 announcement also referenced Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster and Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp among returning titles. Nintendo’s announcement is a useful starting point if those series better match your interests.
Rank #4
- Journey through space in two Super Mario adventures, now improved for the Nintendo Switch system!
- Travel the stars with enhanced resolution, improved UI, and additional content
- Learn more about the Lumas from additional Storybook chapters, groove to a bit of additional music
- Get additional Health and fall recovery in Assist Mode
- Join Rosalina and the Lumas to restore the Comet Observatory and rescue Princess Peach in Super Mario Galaxy.
All three recommendations also appear in GamesRadar’s January 2026 general Switch recommendations, an editorial list that supports their continued visibility but does not establish an objective ranking. GamesRadar’s list.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Become the Hero of Time and save Hyrule from darkness
- Venture into dungeons, solve puzzles, and travel across time in two different eras to restore balance to the land
- A classic tale, reborn for the Nintendo Switch 2 system, featuring voiced cutscenes, expanded dialogue, symphonic orchestral music, visuals built from the ground up for Nintendo Switch 2, and more
- Play Link’s in-game ocarina by humming or singing into the Nintendo Switch 2 system microphone
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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