With Christmas time, comes gift giving. Many of those gifts will have been of a Nintendo Switch and games, but what comes next? Besides the obvious games like Smash, Super Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild, here are tengames to check out on Switch if you are a new owners.
Axiom Verge
Axiom Verge is the best Metroid game Nintendo never made. Not only does it perfectly capture the spirit of the series, but it manages to go further than 2D Metroid game Nintendo themselves have made, including the recent remake of Metroid 2. Innovative game design, unique items, challenging boss fights and amazing music combine to give a truly unforgettable experience. Whether you are a fan of the classic series, or just like the style of gameplay, you will walk away satisfied after playing this.
20XX
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Azure Striker Gunvolt Striker Pack
I am doing these 2 games entries in one go, because of their obvious inspiration
Mega Man 11 may be out on Switch along with collections of the classic Mega Man games and the X series, but for those who want more like it, 20XX and Azure Strike Gunvolt are what you want. Both are the top of the food chain when it comes to games inspired by Mega Man but take things in different directions. 20XX is a rougelike inspired by the X series, has multiple protagonists and requires multiple playthroughs of everchanging levels. There are multiple characters to choose from and multiple ways a level can play out depending on how it is generated. Earning powerups is different here but no less satisfying and you have to be more strategic as well.
Azure Striker Gunvolt Striker Pack on Switch is actually a collection of the first 2 games in the series reworked for the system and in HD. These games are inspired by the Mega Man Zero series ( being made by the same team even) and are very true to that series, being challenging and story based. Inti Created gave us a polished experience and if I may be honest, this feels more like an evolution of the Mega Man series than Mega Man 11 did.
Dead Cells
Dead Cells is a Rougelike Metroidvania. That may seem like an odd choice of genres to blend, but the result was spectacular. The action is intense and reminiscent of Dark Souls ( albeit as a 2D game), and the goal of always getting a bit further works well in a non linear setting. Choosing your attack style, fighting enemies and epic bosses, and searching for secrets are all part of the game, along with a nice dose of dark humor. Finding new powerups will let you find new routes to go down, and the game quickly becomes more and more interesting as you go on.
99vidas
Beat em ups are amazing as I said above. But while the Capcom beat em up bundle is composed of the great beat em ups of the past, 99Vidas is a beat em up for the modern era. Based on a Brazilian gaming podcast, 99Vidas is a throwback to games like Streets of Rage as well as the recent Scott Pilgrim vs The World The Game. Both a great looking game, as well as a surprisingly deep fighter, 99Vidas is perfect for those that want a modern take on the brawler genre,
Cosmic Star Heroine
There are many RPGs on Switch, but one that should have your attention is Cosmic Star Heroine. Made by the developers of Cthulhu Saves the World, CSH is a throwback to the era of 16 bit JRPGs like Phantasy Star and Lunar on the Sega CD, but has some neat new ideas as well. Games Like Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Octopath Traveler are amazing, but Cosmic Star Heroine shouldn’t be ignored. An innovative combat system, engaging cyberpunk themed story and great music and art make the game a hidden gem that should not be hidden.
Diablo III
Diablo III doesn’t need much introduction. The game is one of the best action RPGs around and there are few that can match the level of polish here. The Switch version can be taken on the go. To quote my review
“Diablo III looks absolutely amazing on the Switch, in both handheld and docked mode and I was amazed by how well the game was ported. It feels like nothing was lost except for some graphical fidelity that most will not notice. Combat feels natural and I quickly got into the groove and found myself playing until the battery drained.
The Switch version comes with some neat bonuses, such as a Ganondorf transmogrification set, that lets you transform your equipment to make yourself resemble the king of Evil. This will appear in the stash when starting the game, along with an item that will let you use amiibo. Using the amiibo will summon enemies to attack you and drop extra loot. I gained one legendary weapon this way, which helped me out a lot. There was also a Cucco pet, along with other pets that are available in all versions. This version also lets you start in Adventure mode right away, in case you don’t want to have to play through the story again.”
This is just a well done port made better by the Switch
Puyo Puyo Tetris
Puzzle games are the lifeblood of gaming whether or not we realize it. They can appeal to more audiences than any other genre and have played a major role in helping systems succeed. An example of this was Tetris as a launch title for the original GameBoy, and it is therefore fitting to mention Puyo Puyo Tetris here. A crossover between the two series, the game is full of content that will make any puzzle fan happy. You can play a story mode, a Puyo Puyo Mode, a Tetris Mode or a hybrid Puyo Puyo Tetris Mode. Multiplayer and Online play are included and overall, this is the ideal game to play if you need to occupy yourself for a few minutes.
Doom
To once again quote my review of a game
“I was excited for the port of DOOM from the beginning but was worried about how it would perform. The Switch is not as powerful as the PS4 and Xbox One, let alone high end PCs, so there was reason to worry. However, I am delighted to say that the game proves what I said at the very beginning: Nintendo Switch accomplishes things thought to be impossible. DOOM is a technical marvel on the Switch, both in docked and handheld mode. While sacrifices have been made to ensure optimal performance, the game is still here and still feels as fast paced and smooth as ever. It may be half the FPS of the other versions, but still retains the feel of intensity.”
For those who want an amazing FPS game, DOOM is the way to go. Updates have brought gyro controls and other optimizations to improve the experience and the multiplayer is among the best for Switch. This is one that should definitely be on your radar.
Ys 8
The Ys series is a legendary one and its debut on Switch was nothing short of incredible.
Once again I will quote my review.
“Ys games are known for great action and great music, and Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana continues that tradition brilliantly. The game brings with it several new innovations in terms of combat to keep things fresh and the result is an action RPG on par with the top action games. New dodge and reactions mechanics bring a new way of approaching combat that makes this game more involving than the previous entries, and while they take a while to get used to, they really do make the experience fulfilling.”
The game is a great alternative for people who want a Zelda like game but not Breath of The Wild, as well as those that want a great action RPG. With some of the best music in the series and a truly engaging story, Ys VIII stands out as the best in the series thus far and a worthy game for any Switch library.
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So there you go. Will you check out any of these, and if so which ones? Let us know!
Disclaimer: The above was the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of ROG or its staff.