For those uninterested in the coming offerings being dished up later this month, the Nintendo Switch has some hidden gems that have gone undiscovered for too long. The hybrid console has been hanging on for about five years and has no signs of slowing down. However, many minor games are ignored amidst the onslaught of Marios, Zeldas, and other Nintendo IPs that dominate the system. Several smaller games have had a tremendous amount of love and work poured into them and tended to get lost in the shuffle of the system sellers fans typically wait for.
The Nintendo Switch gained a bit of notoriety for being the new indie discovery tool that put previously released Steam games into mainstream audiences' hands (literally). Games like the unique Metroidvania Hollow Knight, which recently had its sequel Silksong announced, saw booming success on the Nintendo Switch, so much so that the game is no longer considered a minor indie title by industry standards. In addition, independent games typically run great on the Switch, hitting high framerates and looking stunning on the portable screen. Though critics can argue that many of these games can end up on mobile devices, the number of phones on the market, in contrast to a switch being a dedicated gaming machine, mostly makes that point moot.
However, as wonderful as the console can be and as massive of a mainstream install base as robust as the Nintendo Switch, these hidden gems often have a hard time being discovered on Nintendo's new online storefront. This list was designed to try to highlight games that run and feel right at home on Nintendo's hybrid console, focusing on several different genres to ensure something for everyone. Many of these titles typically go on sale during big summer and fall events, so it's easy to pick up many of these on the cheap - it's worth players to wishlist some of these if there's a passing interest.
Nintendo Switch Beat-Em-Up Fans Will Love The TakeOver
The renaissance of the modern side-scrolling beat-em-up has come, and more quality choices are available by the day on the Nintendo Switch. With massive hits like Streets of Rage 4 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge released to high critical and financial success. For those still looking to scratch that classic itch, a little gem known as The TakeOver came out in 2019. Anyone calling for the return of Killer Instinct will immediately latch onto the game's animations. The game's characters all look like living motion capture-like action figures with a coat of paint that makes them look like HD versions of characters from the classic fighter.
Players can tackle The TakeOver in single-player or co-op in multiple action-packed locales as they switch from combo-heavy action stages to wild intermissions like an OutRun-themed car-combat level. The music is helmed by some industry greats, including Sega veteran Yuzo Koshiro (of Streets of Rage fame) and guitarist Stephen "Little V" Mills. They'll keep players bouncing and headbanging along well into their second or third playthroughs.
Fans Of Platformers & Sonic Should Play Freedom Planet On Nintendo Switch
A true homage to Sonic the Hedgehog and action platformers of their time, Freedom Planet is a Sega Genesis-like game with high-speed side-scrolling action/platformer that features a solid single-player experience. Choosing from one of three distinct playable characters, players will zip through gorgeous pixel art environments that feel like they popped straight out of the Sega Genesis era. The main protagonist, Lilac, controls herself similarly to Sonic the Hedgehog as she dashes and jumps on foes and battles colossal bosses that feel like direct homages to games like Gunstar Heroes with their unique 3D animations. Additionally, the game features two main modes, adventure and arcade.
Adventure puts players through the main story as they try to save their homeworld from an alien invasion, including full voice acting and a narrative that, while not the most engaging, is still a charming attempt for an independent game. Arcade mode is similar to the recently released Sonic Origins, as Freedom Planet is distilled to its core as a whole 14-zone adventure from level to level with no interruptions. Finally, for those whom Freedom Planet resonates with, it has a sequel that has been in development for years - at this time, the sequel is still due out later in 2022.
DOOM Fans Need to Give DUSK a Try On Nintendo Switch
Originally released for PC in 2018, DUSK is the ultimate love letter to retro first-person shooter and DOOM fans. Taking the role of a treasure hunter in Dusk, Pennsylvania, players are tasked with facing off demons, soldiers, and cultists as they slash and shoot their way through derelict factories, dark woods, and dank caves. Lovingly re-created by the core team and published by New Blood Interactive, the Switch version of DUSK feels like a true modern DOOM throwback and has several difficulty modes and extra features that reduce the barrier to entry for players of any experience level. In addition, the team put incredible effort into making the game feel fantastic on the Nintendo Switch. The experience is tremendous, docked, and portable, with a stable 60 FPS. Players looking for a spooky time should also plug in a pair of headphones to experience the excellent sound design and music - courtesy of DOOM Eternal's DLC composer, Andrew Hulshult.
Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon Is Perfect For Puzzle Fans On Nintendo Switch
It may seem strange to refer to indie darling Shovel Knight as a hidden gem, but Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon came and settled into the Nintendo eShop quietly last year despite critical praise from several outlets. Players taking control of various Pocket Dungeons characters from the Shovel Knight franchise will navigate a series of dungeons on a map as they smash into blocks and enemies, maintaining health and upgrading their stats and powers. The game employs roguelite elements, as seen in Hades, where the gems collected allow players to add items to the game's pool permanently, so subsequent dungeon runs get easier. The gorgeous pixel art the series is known for is polished and even more colorful and vibrant than before, and the music is once again toe-tappingly good enough that players will likely want to crank it up as they bash away as they escape the dungeon. Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon is different from previous games, and its seemingly endless replayability will keep players saying "just one more run" into the early hours of the morning.
Contra & Castlevania Fans Must Play Steel Assault On Nintendo Switch
Originally conceived as a Kickstarter game, Steel Assault was finally released to the Nintendo eShop in late 2021. The original conception for the game was to be a closer link to Mega Man and Batman games on the NES. Still, as it stands, it feels far more like a modern Contra/Castlevania, complete with full sci-fi post-apocalyptic themes. Steel Assault's evolution is truly stunning, as one look at the original concept trailer on Kickstarter reveals a drastic shift in gameplay and design philosophies since the initial reveal. Players will dash through a continuous series of levels that bleed together seamlessly, similar to Sonic 3 & Knuckles repackaged on Sonic Origins recently.
The controls in Steel Assault are smooth and responsive, and the combat is fast and frantic. Also, bosses are screen-consuming robotic beasts and vehicles with stunning detail. Featuring both a more casual story mode and a tough-as-nails one-life-only arcade mode, fans looking for a challenge of yesteryear or just a fun action arcade title will find something to love here. These are just some of the stellar hidden gems deep on the Nintendo Switch eShop, and each one is worth a look.