Today, March 3, marks exactly five years since the release of both the Nintendo Switch, and the iconic video game The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Though obviously, It’s also the anniversary of delightful launch titles such as Snipperclips, Super Bomberman R, Fast Racing RMX, and more. It’s hard to believe that half a decade has gone since then, but looking at the Switch’s packed library of stellar titles, what a legacy it has already created.
Originally revealed in October 2016, before a larger reveal event in January of 2017, the Nintendo Switch had been rumoured for years while the Wii U continued to falter, whispers of Nintendo’s NX console supposedly merging both handheld and console into one device. This turned out to be the truth, and after its official unveiling – as well as receiving the snappy Nintendo Switch title – the hype was at a fever pitch, as fans were eager for Nintendo to prove themselves again.
We have fond memories of queuing up to grab ours at midnight and playing BotW all the way through into the morning, giddy with excitement and overwhelmed with the possibilities of this new Hyrule. Now so many years later, the Nintendo Switch is a wild success, selling over 80 million units, with incredible software like Luigi’s Mansion 3, Super Mario Odyssey, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Astral Chain, Animal Crossing, and so much more.
It shows no signs of stopping either with a packed release schedule for 2022 – as you can see in our guide to the best new Switch games – and if Nintendo is to be believed, it’s also only about halfway through its life cycle. With both the Switch Lite and the Switch OLED now out in the world, the time certainly feels right for a hardware upgrade. But at this point, waiting for a Switch Pro feels like hunting for Bigfoot. With five years of incredible titles to look back on, how have you enjoyed your time with your Nintendo Switch, and what future game are you most excited to see?
Take a trip down memory lane and watch the original mind-blowing reveal trailer for the Nintendo Switch as well.
If you only recently picked up a Nintendo Switch, be sure to also check out our guide to the best Switch games and make sure you haven’t missed out on any of the fantastic titles the hybrid system offers.