Oliver Mackenzie from Digital Foundry just did something unprecedented in his annual Games of the Year video. His entire top 5 list for 2025 consists exclusively of Nintendo Switch 2 titles. Not a single PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or PC game made the cut. In a year that included Clair Obscur Expedition 33, Hollow Knight Silksong, and ARC Raiders, the tech analyst behind some of gaming’s most respected performance breakdowns chose to celebrate Nintendo’s launch lineup above everything else. And honestly? It makes perfect sense.
The Switch 2 Edition
Mackenzie titled his video “The Oliver Mackenzie Switch 2 Edition” because, according to him, he owns over 400 games on the platform and couldn’t resist focusing on what he called the strongest console launch year in decades. His picks span multiple genres, showcasing how Nintendo nailed variety alongside quality. From 3D platformers to first-person shooters to racing games, the Switch 2’s first year delivered experiences that resonated with someone who spends his professional life analyzing gaming technology.
The number one spot went to Donkey Kong Bananza, Nintendo’s bold decision to revive one of its oldest mascots with an ambitious 3D platformer built for the Switch 2 launch window. Mackenzie praised the game’s mechanically interesting and polished platforming built around DK’s core abilities, including upward, horizontal, and downward punches mapped intuitively to face buttons, plus jumping, rolling, terrain manipulation, and five unique Bonanza transformations that grant special abilities.
What impressed him most was how the game handles progression. Unlike modern open-world collectathons that force players to gather arbitrary numbers of items to continue, Bananza gates player movement through specialty terrain types and increasingly complex level design. The game doesn’t revolve around reaching some collectible threshold. It focuses on pure platforming challenge and mastery, with postgame Bonandium gem collection as optional bonus content rather than mandatory padding.
Why Donkey Kong Bananza Matters
Mackenzie noted that Bananza represents a conceptually challenging major release that took a protracted development time, likely because Nintendo spent years designing gameplay around potentially game-breaking abilities. The result is a 3D platformer that rewards practice and mastery, with intricate speedrun routes, complex world skips, and techniques that demand precision. IGN awarded it their only 10 out of 10 Masterpiece score for 2025, calling it a brilliant successor to Super Mario Odyssey.
The game was developed by a surprisingly small core team of four people, with director Bern Fred Lindner seemingly driving much of the project according to credits. That Nintendo trusted a tiny team to deliver a flagship Switch 2 title speaks to how confident they were in the vision. The gamble paid off with what many consider the best 3D platformer Nintendo has released since Super Mario Galaxy 2.
Mackenzie’s only concern involves the postgame content, which encourages collection-focused grinding that doesn’t match the core gameplay’s purity. But he acknowledged this is minor compared to the excellence of the main campaign and the creative freedom the game grants players once they master its systems.
Metroid Prime 4 Beyond
While Mackenzie didn’t rank his picks beyond the number one spot, he spent significant time discussing Metroid Prime 4 Beyond, the long-awaited sequel that finally released in December 2025 after being announced in 2017. The game was rebooted in 2019 when Bandai Namco’s Singapore studio couldn’t meet Nintendo’s standards, with development shifted to Retro Studios who had created the original trilogy.
What makes Prime 4’s inclusion remarkable is that it demonstrates the Switch 2’s technical capabilities. Digital Foundry’s analysis confirmed the game runs at 1080p 60fps in docked mode with appreciably more detail and sharpness than Switch 1 versions of previous Metroid titles. The portable mode maintains stable performance while delivering visuals that match or exceed the original GameCube releases running on modern hardware.
Mackenzie praised how Retro Studios leveraged their established Metroid Prime technology base to create something that feels both familiar and fresh. After years of staff changes and development challenges, the studio delivered a game that proves first-person adventure design hasn’t lost relevance despite the 18-year gap since Metroid Prime 3.
The Other Switch 2 Standouts
Mackenzie’s list included several other Switch 2 titles that showcased Nintendo’s commitment to diverse experiences. Fast Fusion, developed by what appears to be a small team, impressed him with mechanically sound racing gameplay built around drifting. The game features bounded level design that imposes sensible constraints, gating player movement through specialty terrain as levels become more sharply defined deeper into the interplanetary layers.
He also highlighted how enhanced versions of existing Switch 1 games benefited dramatically from the Switch 2’s hardware. Titles like The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, Echoes of Wisdom, Link’s Awakening remake, and Kirby and the Forgotten Land all received major boosts. These weren’t simple resolution bumps. They were transformative improvements that made already excellent games feel like new releases.
The honorable mentions section included Kirby Air Riders, Mario Kart World, and surprisingly Star Wars Outlaws running on Switch 2. That last one particularly impressed Digital Foundry’s team, with Mackenzie calling it a really exciting port, possibly an impossible port given that it’s such a technologically demanding game on the Snowdrop engine that never even came to PlayStation 4 or Xbox One.
What This Says About Nintendo
An entire top 5 consisting of Switch 2 games isn’t just about one person’s preferences. It reflects how Nintendo approached their console launch differently than Sony and Microsoft. Rather than relying on third-party multiplatform titles with minor enhancements, Nintendo delivered a slate of first-party exclusives that justified the hardware upgrade through gameplay innovation rather than just prettier graphics.
Compare this to typical console launches where the first year consists mostly of cross-gen titles, remasters, and third-party games that look marginally better than last-gen versions. The Switch 2 launched with Donkey Kong Bananza, followed by waves of first-party excellence throughout 2025. By December, Metroid Prime 4 Beyond capped off a year where Nintendo released more must-play exclusives than PlayStation and Xbox combined.
Mackenzie’s picks also validate Nintendo’s decision to prioritize gameplay feel and creative design over raw technical specifications. The Switch 2 isn’t as powerful as PlayStation 5 Pro or high-end gaming PCs, but it doesn’t need to be. Games like Donkey Kong Bananza prove that tight controls, clever level design, and artistic vision matter more than polygon counts and ray tracing effects.
The Digital Foundry Perspective
What makes Mackenzie’s list particularly significant is his background. Digital Foundry built its reputation on technical analysis, frame rate comparisons, and performance deep dives. They’re the people who measure every dropped frame and analyze every rendering technique. When someone from that world chooses Nintendo’s gameplay-first approach over Sony and Microsoft’s graphics showcase titles, it sends a message about what actually matters in game design.
Throughout 2025, Mackenzie provided technical breakdowns of PlayStation 5 Pro upgrades, analyzed PC port quality, and discussed next-gen rendering techniques. He knows exactly how impressive games like Clair Obscur Expedition 33 and DOOM The Dark Ages look on maximum settings. And yet, his personal favorites were games that prioritized fun, creativity, and mechanical depth over visual spectacle.
This doesn’t mean graphics don’t matter. Mackenzie still appreciates technical achievement, which is why he praised Metroid Prime 4’s performance and acknowledged how well Star Wars Outlaws runs on Switch 2 despite being an impossible port. But when choosing his favorite games of the year, he valued how they played over how they looked.
Looking Ahead
If 2025 was the Switch 2 launch year, what does 2026 hold? Nintendo typically front-loads console generations with heavy-hitting exclusives to establish momentum, then spaces releases more carefully in subsequent years. But with franchises like Zelda, Pokemon, Splatoon, and more still waiting for their Switch 2 debuts, the pipeline remains packed.
Mackenzie mentioned in his video that he’s excited for several 2026 titles, though he didn’t specify whether those would also be Switch 2 exclusives. Given his enthusiasm for Nintendo’s platform and the strong third-party support the console has already attracted, it wouldn’t be surprising to see another Switch-heavy list next year.
The broader question is whether other critics and analysts will follow Digital Foundry’s lead in recognizing Nintendo’s achievement. Game Awards voters crowned Clair Obscur as 2025’s Game of the Year, while Steam users chose Hollow Knight Silksong. But neither reflects the consistent quality Nintendo delivered across an entire year of releases. Mackenzie’s list might be the most honest assessment of which games actually delivered joy rather than just impressive technology or viral moments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Oliver Mackenzie?
Oliver Mackenzie is a contributor and technology analyst at Digital Foundry, the gaming tech analysis outlet known for detailed performance reviews and technical breakdowns. He specializes in console hardware analysis and has been with Digital Foundry for several years.
What games did Oliver Mackenzie pick for 2025?
Mackenzie’s number one pick was Donkey Kong Bananza. His full top 5 consisted entirely of Nintendo Switch 2 titles, including Metroid Prime 4 Beyond, Fast Fusion, and enhanced versions of Switch 1 games. He also gave honorable mentions to Kirby Air Riders, Mario Kart World, and Star Wars Outlaws on Switch 2.
What is Donkey Kong Bananza?
Donkey Kong Bananza is a 3D platformer released for Nintendo Switch 2 in July 2025. It marks the first Donkey Kong game developed in-house by Nintendo in over 20 years. The game features destructible environments, physics-based gameplay, and five unique Bonanza transformations that grant special abilities.
When did Metroid Prime 4 Beyond release?
Metroid Prime 4 Beyond released on December 4, 2025, for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. The game runs at 120 frames per second on Switch 2 and features optional mouse-like controls using the Joy-Con. It was originally announced in 2017 and rebooted in 2019 under Retro Studios.
Is Digital Foundry still part of IGN?
No. Digital Foundry announced in August 2025 that they parted ways with IGN and became fully independent. The outlet is now audience-supported through Patreon and answers only to its viewers rather than corporate ownership.
Why did all of Mackenzie’s picks focus on Switch 2?
Mackenzie owns over 400 games on Switch 2 and felt Nintendo delivered the strongest console launch year in decades. His picks reflect his personal preference for gameplay innovation and mechanical depth over pure graphical fidelity, which aligned with Nintendo’s first-party lineup.
Did any non-Nintendo games make his list?
No. Mackenzie’s entire top 5 consisted of Switch 2 games, though his honorable mentions did include Star Wars Outlaws, a third-party Ubisoft title that he praised as an impressive technical achievement on Nintendo’s hardware.
What did IGN score Donkey Kong Bananza?
IGN awarded Donkey Kong Bananza a 10 out of 10 Masterpiece score, their only perfect rating in 2025. They called it a brilliant successor to Super Mario Odyssey and Nintendo’s first Switch 2 masterpiece.
The Nintendo Difference
Oliver Mackenzie’s all-Nintendo list for 2025 will inevitably spark debate. Some will dismiss it as fanboy bias or claim he’s ignoring superior games on other platforms. Others will argue that someone from Digital Foundry should prioritize technical achievement over subjective fun. But that criticism misses the point entirely.
Personal game of the year lists reflect individual taste, and Mackenzie’s preferences lean toward tight mechanical design, creative gameplay systems, and games that respect player skill. Nintendo delivered those qualities in abundance during 2025. Whether you agree with his specific picks or not, the argument that Switch 2’s launch year deserves recognition as something special holds merit.
Donkey Kong Bananza revived a classic franchise with genuine innovation. Metroid Prime 4 Beyond finally delivered on an eight-year-old promise with excellence. Fast Fusion proved small teams can create mechanically satisfying experiences. Enhanced versions of beloved Switch 1 games demonstrated how hardware upgrades should feel meaningful. And third-party impossible ports like Star Wars Outlaws showed that technical wizardry can still impress even the most jaded analysts.
The gaming industry often gets caught up in graphics comparisons, teraflop measurements, and resolution wars. Mackenzie’s list serves as a reminder that none of that matters if the games aren’t fun to play. Nintendo understood this fundamental truth and built an entire console launch around it. Whether you own a Switch 2 or not, that approach deserves celebration. Sometimes the best games of the year aren’t the ones that look the most impressive in screenshots. They’re the ones you can’t stop playing, the ones that make you smile, the ones that remind you why you fell in love with gaming in the first place. For Oliver Mackenzie in 2025, those games all happened to be on Switch 2. And judging by the critical and commercial success of Nintendo’s lineup, he wasn’t alone in that assessment.