Just five years ago, Nintendo was at a crossroads. The Wii U was languishing well in third place in the console wars and, after considerable pressure, the company was making its first tentative steps into mobile gaming with Miitomo and Super Mario Run. Fast-forward to today: The Switch is likely on the way to becoming the company's best-selling "home console" ever, and seven Switch games have outsold the Wii U console. However, the Switch's online store isn't the easiest to navigate, so this guide aims to help the uninitiated start their journey on the right foot. These are the games you should own -- for now.

Just five years ago, Nintendo was at a crossroads. The Wii U was languishing well in third place in the console wars and, after considerable pressure, the company was making its first tentative steps into mobile gaming with Miitomo and Super Mario Run. Fast-forward to today: The Switch is likely on the way to becoming the company's best-selling "home console" ever, and seven Switch games have outsold the Wii U console. However, the Switch's online store isn't the easiest to navigate, so this guide aims to help the uninitiated start their journey on the right foot. These are the games you should own -- for now.

Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission. The Nintendo Switch is one of the hottest home video game consoles of 2019--and possibly of the last decade. The console's dual handheld/TV console designation combined with Nintendo's many beloved games make it a must-have item for gamers of all ages. While lots of folks may have already picked up either a Switch or a Switch Lite, if you haven't pulled the trigger yet, Black Friday is one of the best times all year for finding great deals and discounts on tech and gadgets, and the Nintendo Switch is no exception. Here are our favorite Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals available so far.

Pornographic images have started to appear on the side of balloons in Super Mario Odyssey, a video game popular with youngsters. Hackers have found a way to attach the adult images to the balloons, which appear as part of an online competitive challenge in the Nintendo Switch title. Experts believe they have gained access to a piece of software used by game creators, which has unlocked options that are usually hidden from public view. They have used this tool to override the cartoon avatars that normally appear on the balloons, and instead inserted their own smutty icons. Social media users were the first to raise the alarm about the sick prank, warning parents to be on the look out for the rogue objects.

Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, a dark mythological adventure that follows a young warrior suffering from psychosis, was the big winner at the 2018 Bafta video game awards on Thursday night at Tobacco Dock, London. The game, which was developed in conjunction with psychologists and neuroscientists to ensure its accurate depiction of mental illness, was nominated in nine categories and won for best British game, best performance, artistic achievement, audio achievement and a new category, games beyond entertainment, which celebrates new releases with a political or social message. Accepting the latter prize, psychologist Paul Fletcher, a professor of neuroscience at Cambridge University who worked closely with the game's Cambridge-based developer, Ninja Theory, said: "Mental illness is usually characterised by the fact that it's invisible. Working with Ninja Theory has shown me something valuable: games can aspire to and achieve a remarkable exploration of state of the mind and mental suffering." However, the night's biggest award, best game, also provided its biggest shock.

Thu 1 Feb 2018 07.00 EST Last modified on Thu 1 Feb 2018 07.01 EST'Luke, how do I get this power moon? Luke!" I'm playing Super Mario Odyssey while my partner, Luke, is trying to work. "You'll figure it out," he says patiently. Luke has been playing video games since he was a child, but this is my first ever game, and he's thrilled that I'm invested in Mario's quest to save Princess Peach. Considering it's a $100bn (£70bn) industry, gaming is a surprisingly "love it, or just don't get it" kind of activity. I've tried video games a few times over the years, as people seemed to be having so much fun with them. But I never got into it. I kept dying, so I gave up. Last year, though, my curiosity was piqued again as I watched Luke play the newest Mario game with his children. One slow Sunday, I picked up the Nintendo Switch. No one was more surprised than me when I kept coming back to the game, and eventually beat Bowser. My newfound enjoyment of video games prompted me to want to learn more about what people love about them. A straw poll of my gaming friends revealed diverse motivations, but everyone said they found gaming relaxing and satisfying, especially after a stressful day at work. One person even said gaming had been key to recovering from severe burnout. Another told me that playing World of Warcraft with a partner helped them to stay connected while they were living in different cities. "It's mental weightlifting," Luke says, when I ask what he likes about video games. There's puzzles to solve, foes to conquer, things to collect, and maps to navigate: "It feels good to use the brain in this way." Video games often get a bad rep – however unjustified – for being violent, and bad for attention and literacy. But Celia Hodent, a game user-experience consultant with a doctorate in psychology, is not surprised to hear that people feel gaming adds so many positive things to their lives. "A good game can put you into a flow state," says Hodent – that feeling when you're fully immersed in an activity, and time flies because you're enjoying yourself. "When you're watching a film or listening to the radio you may eventually check your phone.

The Nintendo Switch games console has outsold its predecessor, just 10 months after its launch. Nintendo sold 7.23 million Switch consoles in the previous quarter, bringing total sales to about 14.86 million devices. The Wii U, which went on sale in November 2012, sold 13.56 million units before it was discontinued in 2017 and was considered a commercial failure. Nintendo reported its most profitable quarter since 2009. The company announced an operating profit of 116.50 billion yen (£755m, $1.07 billion), up from 32.26 billion yen a year ago.

Nintendo has revealed its Switch console has become the fastest-selling home video game system in U.S. history. Launched on March 3, 2017, in 10 months the Switch has sold more than 4.8 million units in the United States, according to Nintendo's internal sales figures. That's the highest total for the first 10 months of any home video game system in U.S. history, surpassing Nintendo's own Wii system, which was the previous record holder with more than 4 million units. Nintendo says in the U.S., more than 60 percent of Nintendo Switch owners have Super Mario Odyssey, and over 55 percent own The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. 'Fans across the country have experienced the joy of playing their favorite games at home or on the go,' said Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America's President and COO.

Our list includes favorites for Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox for kids, teens and adults. Exclusively available for Nintendo Switch, Super Mario Odyssey is easy to pick up but impossible to put down. 'Tis the season to be jolly – and what better way to keep the kids (and kids at heart) happy and entertained than with a brand-new video game? This year saw no shortage of explosive action titles, fantasy role-playing games, and near-photorealistic sports simulations. Here are my recommended discs (or downloads) to make someone's holiday break a merrier one.

When the Nintendo Switch launched in March, some jokingly called it a "Zelda machine." That's because there wasn't much of a reason to buy the console other than to play The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Now, nine months later, the Switch boasts an expansive roster of impressive games that range from ports of cherished third-party releases to new Nintendo titles that are bound to be remembered as classics. Here's a look at some of the best games you can play for the Nintendo Switch right now. Some Nintendo Switch are well-suited for passing the time during a quick commute to work. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is not one of those games: It's best enjoyed when you have a substantial block of time to sink away into the game, allowing you to get lost in its sprawling world.