Pure Nintendo’s most played Switch games of 2022

There are only so many hours in a year.

So kind of Nintendo to track how many hours we spend playing video games each year, isn’t? My parents wouldn’t like to see such numbers, but I’m a grown adult now with kids of my own, so they’ll just have to cope with 176 hours I spent on one game alone. I’m sure many others can boast a lot more than that.

But the games are fun to talk about, and even more fun to justify. So, here are the most played Nintendo Switch games of 2022 from some of the Pure Nintendo staffers. Big thanks to Nintendo and all of the developers who gave us titles worthy of double…nay, triple digit gaming hours.

Jemma Casson

• Splatoon 3: This was my first foray into the world of Splatoon, and I’m glad I finally made it! Somehow, this ended up being my most-played title of the year, probably because it’s just pure fun. I spent a lot of time online despite those pesky server issues.
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Unsurprisingly, Mario Kart featured prominently in my gaming lists of 2022. Firstly, because it happens to be one of my favorite games, period. Secondly, because the new DLC has breathed new life into this title. And I can’t wait to see what’s next!
• Pokemon Unite: Another surprise. It was only thanks to a Pure Nintendo game night earlier in the year that I even discovered this game. I quickly became addicted, playing a round or two most nights for many months. It’s super-competitive, yet absolutely fun. And how cute do those pocket monsters look with little outfits on?

Trevor Gould

• Pinball FX3 – This has made my “most played list” every year since its release. And thanks to the addition of Indiana Jones: The Pinball Adventure back in March, it returns. I’d score it even higher than Kirk, but I can’t criticize any review that also gives a shout-out to Police Force. Is a lone table enough to make my personal top 10? We’ll soon find out when we record our GOTY podcast.
• Sonic Origins – I did a 6-page spread on this collection in issue #62 of PNM, and my playtime shows I was indeed thorough. With the extras and improvements (for Sonic CD especially), I anticipate talking more about this collection shortly.
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 24 tracks across three waves in 2022!?! Let that sink in for a minute. What else can I say? A favorite of many, I’ve no doubt this will make a few top 10s.
• Mega Man Legacy Collections – These represent another big PNM spread (co-authored by Jes), and it makes me happy to know that the magazine is getting my A-game, so to speak. These oldies are still goodies!
• Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration – I don’t hand out 9 out of 10 scores too often, but this one deserves it. The fact that it only came out last month and still snuck into my “most played list” shows it did something right.

Kirk Hiner

• Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – Was there really ever any doubt? The Xenoblade Chronicles games have  topped these lists since before Nintendo was filing these reports—one of them three times now! I’m 176 hours into Xenoblade Chronicles 3 with plenty of DLC to go. Will it top my most played games of 2023, too? Not if Atelier Ryza 3 and Breath of the Wild 2 have anything to say about it.
• Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes – 81 hours and I only bothered addressing one hope! I still haven’t enjoyed a Warriors game as much as Warriors Orochi 3: Hyper on the Wii U, and I haven’t enjoyed a Fire Emblem game as much as Radiant Dawn on the Wii, but these franchise mash-ups have been worth at least one play-through.
• The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles – I started this with my daughter, Sophie, for her review in 2021, but she finished it on her own. After she went off to college, I decided to complete what I missed. I’m glad I did, because it was a hoot throughout. 72 hours was likely too much, but some of that was spent sleeping with the game still running. Have I mentioned before that I’m old?

Jes Taylor

• Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope – I adored the first Mario + Rabbids game, and the sequel is bigger and better in every way (except getting rid of Yoshi as a playable character; come on Ubisoft!!). From the redesigned combat movement, to the great story full of Mario Easter-eggs, to that amazing soundtrack, Sparks of Hope might be on my list for GOTY. I 100% Sparks of Hope and spent (checks notes) 62 hours having fun with Mario and the Rabbids.
• Splatoon 3 – Awesome multiplayer improvements? Check. Great single player campaign? Check. Big Man?? Check. Splatoon 3 was a blast to play, and I sunk a lot of hours into the game—surprisingly more hours into the card battle mode than I ever would have thought. Overall, I surpassed the 56 hour mark on Splatoon 3 thanks to that last SplatFest. (Although I feel like there’s a certain Pure Nintendo staffer who has me beat…by a few hundred hours.)
• Overwatch 2 – I played a lot of Overwatch when it first came out, but played a crazy amount of the game when it went free-to-play in October. While Overwatch 2 isn’t for everyone, I had a blast playing the game with friends. It surprisingly snuck up on my most-played list.
• Bear and Breakfast – Easily one of my most anticipated games of 2022, Bear and Breakfast lived up to all expectations and more! I put in 38 hours on the Switch version alone (with another 57 hours on PC). Now the devs are adding new content in their Winter Update and Spring Update? Sign me up! Is Bear and Breakfast a surprise GOTY for me? Who knows?
• Shoutout to Mega Man Legacy Collection! I co-authored a big PNM spread with Trev celebrating Mega Man’s 35th anniversary. It’s one of the few times I can remember playing, and completing, 11 games in a 3 week period of time. It was crazy fun, and I’m glad we agreed Mega Man 2 is the best.