Summary
In 2017, Nintendo took its monopoly of the handheld market and blended it with a home console release to wild success. The Nintendo Switch has sold over 130 million consoles worldwide and currently stands as the third best-selling console of all time. However, it runs on outdated hardware, andfor all its ingenuity and Nintendo charm, performance issues have been a cloud hanging over the console.
Finding titles that run at high performance consistently, be it in resolution or frame rate, has been a rarity for many Switch owners on their portable hybrid machine. Though that is not the case universally, below are some outstanding titles that pull off the highest performance levels on a docked Nintendo Switch.
Updated Aug 05, 2025 by Blaise Santi:Nintendo fans are eagerly awaiting the company’s announcement for the Switch’s successor, with the hopes of getting to experience the next generation of casual gaming and all its new specs. However, some Nintendo Switch owners have barely scratched the surface of what the console is capable of, including plenty of games that operate smoothly at 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second.
Though some of the most notable releases on the console, likeThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildorPokemon Scarlet & Violetsuffer from notorious performance issues, there are still many games out there to satisfy those who obsess over a game’s graphical capabilities. Check out these additional games, and maybe consider purchasing them if you’re willing to give your Switch another run before its lifespan ends.
In 1999,Star Wars Episode 1: Racerwas a child’s dream of podracing brought to fruition in gaming. Featuring all the characters, podracers, and locations fromThe Phantom Menaceand more; the game was an inspired blend of futuristic racing games and theStar Warslicense. The gameplay is a winning mix of boosting at top speed across long stretches, mastering winding turns, and making breathtaking jumps.
Its 2020 HD re-release on the Switch brings the breathtaking high speeds of podracing to today’s 1080p 60fps standard. Despite dated textures, the high-octane thrills and winding courses remain untouched and Switch motion controls can bring unparalleled immersion.
Hyrule Warriorswas originally released for the Wii U before being ported to both the Nintendo 3DS and the Switch. As a result, the Switch edition of thisLegend of Zeldaspin-off has seen a lot of improvement in terms of its performance. When docked, the game reaches 1080p with 60 fps, but even in handheld mode, it renders at 1080p despite the Switch screen only displaying 720p.
The improved framerate on this game is especially important given that it’sa high-octane hack-n-slash. Players will get to experience all the mayhem of fighting hordes of minions as the most iconicZeldacharacters without fear of lagging or poor resolution. Simply put,Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Editionis a great deal for Switch users wanting some more quick fun.
3Fast RMX
It Definitely Feels More Than 60 FPS
TheFastSeries has brought high-speed futuristic racing to Nintendo gamers since 2011’sFast Racing Leagueon Wii. Taking favorable comparisons to theWipeoutandF-Zerofranchises, the gameplay works on a color-switching mechanic to pull off boosts and jumps respectively. This is truly a celebration of futuristic racing games with navigating tracks at ferocious speeds proving one of the most satisfying twitch reflex tests around.
A 2017 Switch launch title,Fast RMXis an enhanced, expanded version of the Wii U’sFast Racing Neo. Its plethora of tracks and vehicles with crisp visuals and high performance make this one of the strongest racing games on the Switch.
Though it met a tepid response from franchise fans on its initial 2004 release,Doom 3has come to be seen as one of the defining FPS experiences of its era. Set on Mars in the year 2145, the player is placed in a corporate research facility where experiments with teleportation open up a gateway to hell, and shortly afterward, Mars is invaded by Demons.
As a franchise reboot,Doom 3replaced the frantic, blasting-through hordes approach to the dismay of many, but what it offered instead was an unforgettable claustrophobic horror. Its revolutionary lighting stands up to this day, and there is still plenty of run-and-gun mayhem among unnerving environments and jump scares for the ages.
A game many thought would be lost to the Wii eternally due to its motion controls arrived on the Nintendo Switch in 2021.The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HDwould bring the last of the linear 3D Zelda titles to Nintendo’s hybrid console to outstanding success. Not only were the motion controls of the original available through Joy-Cons, but an entirely analog control scheme was worked into this remaster. Yet most notably the performance of the game was dramatically improved. Running at a locked 60FPS, shortening load times, and revamping the aesthetic for a charming watercolor effect, brought theMaster Sword origins storya new breath of life.
Without this long linear Zelda titleBreath of the Wildwould never have come to be. It is not without its flaws, but it contains some of the most imaginative and brilliant dungeons Eiji Aonuma’s team ever designed.
Nintendo’s original online shooter franchise would finally get a Switch-exclusive entry in 2022.Splatoon 3would carefully build on the additions made from the previous entry, namely in its imaginative campaign. Using the paint mechanic as a method for open-ended exploration, the player must fight Octarian enemies and save Alterna from the Fuzzy Ooze. The bite-sized missions offer a choice of exploration and racking up collectibles or racing to the objective. At its best, this single-player experience echoes some of the most innovative designs ofSuper Mario Sunshine. Yet the hub world base campaign is not the main attraction.
Splatoon 3delivers all the fast ink-splattered multiplayer mayhem of previous entries with more weapons, practice ranges, and customization options than ever before. Turf Wars and the cooperative Salmon Runs return for some of thefastest online gameplay available on the Switch.
Most people were glad to see one of the most legendary beat-‘em-up franchises make a comeback, withStreets of Rage 4being widely anticipated by the masses. While some players were worried about whether this game would hold up to the series’ immense legacy, a few hours in this fun title was all it took to convince players of its quality.
With an art style that is both modern and reminiscent of the series' past,Streets of Rage 4feels like a labor of love that proves once again that state-of-the-art graphics are overrated in the grand scheme of things. This game runs like butter on the Switch and is tailor-made for the multiplayer focus of this console.
Raymanas a franchise may well have peaked with the arrival ofRayman Legendsin 2013. Initially designed to be a Wii U exclusive,Legendshas come to be seen asone of the greatest 2D platformers ever made, and has been released on nearly every platform since. Containing over 120 levels, many unlockable from the previousRayman Originsas well as time trial ‘invasion’ levels make for outstanding replayability.
Original-level design, creative soundtrack choices, and seamless controls make this a must-play for any fans of the genre. Rhythm-based levels and raucous multiplayer will leave a lasting impression from this short but incredibly sweet experience.
Sonic Maniais a Switch classic at this point, originally released in 2017 to commemorate Sonic’s 25th anniversary. It’s a return to form for the platforming franchise, featuring the 16-bit graphics of the earliest games but with a brand-new story as well as reimaginings of iconicSonic the Hedgehoglevels. Best of all, it runs incredibly well on the Nintendo Switch. Plus, getting to see classicSonicgraphics at 1080p is especially a treat for the most nostalgic of video game fans.
This return to theDonkey Kong Country franchisebrings precision platforming and superlative-level design to 1080p perfection on the Switch. The Kongs are called to action when Kong Island is frozen over by the invading Snowmads cutting Donkey Kong’s birthday celebrations short. Akin to its predecessors,Tropical Freezeis a challenging, engrossing platformer demanding the very best of players across pitfalls, vines, springboards, buzzsaws, and minecart mazes.
The vibrant art style is one ofDonkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze’s outstanding assets, making a tough experience at once inviting and moreish. Should difficulty be off-putting, consider Funky Kong, a playable character who lowers the game difficulty to a less demanding level.
