Nintendo platforms have quietly become one of the best places to get lost in vast virtual worlds. With the arrival of the Switch 2 and the landmark release of Elden Ring on a Nintendo system for the first time, the conversation around open world gaming on handheld-console hybrids has never been more exciting. Nintendo Life recently updated its definitive guide to the best open world games across both Switch generations, and it’s a reminder of just how far the platform has come.
Why the Switch Family Is an Open World Powerhouse
When the original Nintendo Switch launched in 2017, it did so alongside a game that redefined the open world genre. The ability to take massive, sprawling adventures on the go was revolutionary, and developers have spent years since pushing the hardware to its limits with ambitious ports and original titles. The Switch 2’s significantly improved performance now makes even the most demanding open world epics viable, including games that seemed impossible on Nintendo hardware just a few years ago.
The Hyrule Duo That Started It All
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Still the gold standard. Breath of the Wild rewrote the rules of exploration with its physics-driven sandbox, climbable everything, and a genuine sense of discovery around every corner. Nearly a decade on, it remains the benchmark by which all open world games are measured.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Its sequel took the same Hyrule and exploded the possibilities vertically, adding sky islands, underground depths, and the wildly creative Ultrahand building system. It’s a bigger, stranger, and more player-driven world than its predecessor.
Elden Ring Finally Reaches a Nintendo Platform
The biggest news driving the guide’s update is the arrival of FromSoftware’s Elden Ring on Switch 2. The Lands Between, once thought too demanding for Nintendo hardware, is now fully playable both docked and in handheld mode. For Soulslike fans, this is a milestone moment — one of the most celebrated open world designs ever made, featuring FromSoftware’s signature cryptic storytelling and brutal combat, finally available on a Nintendo console. It arguably headlines any serious open world conversation on the platform.
More Massive Worlds Worth Your Time
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The 2019 Switch port of CD Projekt Red’s masterpiece remains a technical marvel. A sprawling fantasy RPG with dozens of hours of side quests, it proved early on that big-budget open worlds could survive on the platform.
Xenoblade Chronicles Series
Monolith Soft’s RPGs offer some of the most breathtaking landscapes in gaming, and entries like Xenoblade Chronicles 3 deliver continent-sized worlds full of unique monsters, colonies, and stories.
Cyberpunk 2077 and Other Switch 2 Heavyweights
The Switch 2 era has unlocked a new tier of ports, with massive titles like Cyberpunk 2077 making surprisingly capable appearances. Games like No Man’s Sky, Hogwarts Legacy, and Red Dead Redemption also give players entire worlds to wander, whether at home or on the bus.
How to Build Your Open World Library for Less
Filling your backlog with massive RPGs can get expensive, and that’s where digital marketplaces come in. At TURGAME.com, you can pick up discounted Nintendo eShop gift cards and game codes, letting you grab these open world epics — and plenty of indies in between — without paying full retail prices. It’s a smart way to stock up before your next 100-hour adventure.
Final Thoughts
From the plains of Hyrule to the fog-shrouded Lands Between, the Switch and Switch 2 now host one of the strongest open world lineups of any platform. Whether you’re a veteran explorer or new to the genre, there has never been a better time to get lost.
Source: Nintendo Life – Guide: Best Open World Games On Nintendo Switch 1 & 2
Source: Nintendo Life