The Nintendo Switch seems to have bridged a crucial gap between its first-party and third-party titles. Developers are craning their necks to get a look at how their games might benefit from the Nintendo Switch, and with that interest has come a barrage of compelling software to keep us occupied between Nintendo’s bigger releases. While you wait for the next big thing, here are 10 indie games you should play next on the Nintendo Switch.
10. Snake Pass
Snake Pass is a quirky little platformer that has players slithering around as a snake instead of jumping that amounts to a truly unique puzzle-solving experience. You should play Snake Pass if you like games that revolve around puzzles and collectibles, just don’t expect this one to have a compelling story. What little narrative it does offer is bare-bones, easily forgettable, and poorly paced. Regardless, it’s the perfect game to play between long sessions in Zelda or Splatoon, offering its progression in a classic level-by-level format that makes it easy to consume in bursts.
9. Yooka-Laylee
Inspired by the popular Nintendo 64 series Banjo Kazzooie, Yooka-Laylee offers up a nostalgic and beautiful open-world platforming adventure. This premise alone is a divisive pitch, an instant yes or an instant no for even the most open-minded of gamers, but regardless of your stance the game is a perfect choice for those yearning for the charming worlds and over-the-top characters of gaming’s past.
8. Crawl
Crawl is a dungeon crawler which features pixel art and a local-multiplayer (Couch Co-Op) focus that makes it absolutely perfect for the Switch. One player, the “hero,” traverses the dungeon while up to three other players, the “villains,” try to take him down. The winner takes top spot as “hero” during the next play-through, each of which lasts about thirty minutes, making it ideal to play in tabletop mode after Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
7. Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King
We’re die-hard Zelda fans here at Joy+Sticks Gaming, so anything that’s even remotely inspired by Zelda is on our radar. Blossom Tale: The Sleeping King is one of these games; an obvious tribute to the classic look and feel of The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past with a charm all its own. One of the problems with games inspired by Zelda is that it draws a comparison that it’s destined to lose, but where other games fall short, Sleeping King overwhelmingly succeeds. If you’re a fan of the Zelda series, and if you’re one of the many hoping that you’ll one day be able to play that series as whatever gender you choose, this game is for you.
6. The Sexy Brutale
Mystery, intrigue, puzzles, crime: these are the words that describe the stellar narrative surrounding The Sexy Brutale. You play as a priest in a haunting gothic mansion, reliving the same time loop in order to save the mansion’s inhabitants. It’s reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask with a focus on a dark and more adult audience, and is sure to satisfy fans of crime-solving mysteries and puzzlers.
5. Overcooked: Special Edition
This one’s a bit of a hit-and-miss for us, but Overcooked is an extremely popular multiplayer title. The concept revolves around players taking control of chefs in tiny, wacky kitchens and completing tasks, “orders,” within a given time limit. It’s fast-paced, zany, and a blast to experience with friends after the giggles from 1-2-Switch begin fade.
4. Nine Parchments
Nine Parchments is a co-op action game about a group of wizards searching for the legendary Nine Parchments that were blown out of their school after an explosion. Its gameplay is reminiscent of the Diablo series, but with the kind charm that makes Nintendo games both accessible and popular. It’s a blast and is absolutely perfect for those looking for an adventure you can play with your friends.
3. The Flame In The Flood: Complete Edition
Survival games are experiencing something of a come-up as of late, and one of the best reviewed survival games of this year is The Flame in the Flood. You play as a woman, accompanied by her dog, as they traverse the flooded waterways of what was once America. Your task, of course, is to survive, but unlike other survival games there is no ultimate solitude or plateau to be found upon establishing your strategy of survival, which is exactly what sets this one apart. It’s a great game, and should be a go-to for anyone who’s enjoyed the survival aspects in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
2. Brawlout
As if its name isn’t enough of a give-away, Brawlout is a self-described “party fighting game” that’s basically a Smash Bros. clone. Beyond catering to fans clamoring for the next Smash game, however, it’s also the perfect, more affordable alternative for those who are only sort of into occasional rounds of Smash Bros. No matter which side you’re on, Brawlout is perfect for the Switch, and an even greater testament to the Switch’s portable multiplayer capabilities.
1. Stardew Valley
The pitch that most players give to sell each other on Stardew Valley is usually, “it’s basically Harvest Moon,” which is true, but now that we’ve clocked our 70+ hours into the game, we can’t help but feel like it’s much, much more than that. Stardew Valley is everything we loved about the all-but-dead Harvest Moon franchise to be, and then some. It’s charming, addictive, and down-right fun. Simply put, if you’ve ever at all been a fan of simulation games like The Sims, you’ll love Stardew Valley, especially on the Nintendo Switch.
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