Nintendo Switchplayers have had quite a year so far, with the likes ofBalatro,Unicorn Overlord, and so many more released in 2024. From epic JRPGs and Nintendo-produced remakes, to surprise indie hits and cozy life sims, there’s really been something for everyone on the Nintendo Switch this year. There are a lot more games to release this year, but there’s a good chance many players have missed out on some of the best releases so far.
With manyhighly-anticipated Nintendo Switch games coming in 2024to look forward to, Nintendo Switch owners are being treated to yet another year of incredible games. For those running out of titles to play, or for players who’ve only just picked up a Switch, the list of games actually worth playing is long, and sifting through them all to find the true gems is tough, but made so much easier when compiled into a comprehensive list. Whether it’s a JRPG or an indie players are looking for,the best games of 2024 on Nintendo Switch are sure to please everyone.
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10Megaton Musashi W: Wired (Level-5)
Mech-Based JRPG With Fully Customizable Mechs
Megaton Musashi W: Wiredwas a Japanese exclusive for quite some time, coming off the back of developer Level-5 shutting down its Western operations and all but condemningYokai Watchfans to wait an eternity for theYokai Watch 4localization. Fortunately,Megaton Musashi W: Wiredcame to the West in 2024, and has been a bit of a sleeper hit ever since. Fans looking foran epic tale of teenagers fighting a deadly alien invasion in giant mech suitsare in for an absolute treat.
Megaton Musashi W: Wiredis split into two parts, the first being exploring a sleepy Japanese town full of shops to visit and arcade games to play, and the second seeing players fight giant aliens in a completely customizable mech suit. Players can switch out the weapons and body parts of their mech and even choose the color of each individual body part.There’s also an epic narrative to unfold full of fun and interesting characters, makingMegaton Musashi W: Wireda truly unique mech-based JRPGwell worth checking out.
9Little Kitty, Big City (Double Dagger Studio)
Explore A Japanese City As An Adorable Cat
Little Kitty, Big Cityis a fun and cozy game about exploring a small open world as an adorable cat. The open world city is a vertical sandbox, allowing players to climb their way up to the rooftops and bound around on walls.There’s a plethora of activities to do as a mischievous cat, including complete quests, search for collectibles and more.
Little Kitty, Big Cityhad some minor performance issues on Switch when it first launched. Fortunately, these have been mostly addressed, making it a far smoother experience now.
For cat enthusiasts, and those looking for a fun open-world sandbox on the Switch,Little Kitty, Big Cityis the perfect match. Despite its relatively short length,it manages to pack a lot of charm and content into the experience, and has plenty for players to busy themselves with, including dressing up the titular kitty.Little Kitty, Big Cityis perhaps the best cat simulatoraround, and does for kittens whatUntitled Goose Gamedid for geese.
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8Fading Afternoon (Yeo)
Open-World Slice-Of-Life Yakuza Game
Developer Yeo has had an illustrious game dev career, producing the excellent school simThe Friends of Ringo Ishikawaand the contemplative action titleArrest of a Stone Buddha. However,Fading Afternoonis by far his greatest work, pooling together the life sim elements ofRingo Ishikawaand the action-packed gameplay ofStone Buddhato create a gorgeously detailed Yakuza game that would make theYakuzafranchise blush.Players take on the role of an aging Yakuza named Seiji Maruyama who must navigate the world of crimewhile dealing with his own existential crises.
InFading Afternoon, players explore an interconnected open world filled with activities to do, take over and defend territory from other gangs, and embark on a beautifully written narrative that explores Maruyama and his philosophies on life.Fans of both theYakuzaseries and the films of Takeshi Kitano will get a lot out ofFading Afternoon, as will avid pixel art enthusiasts, as it has some of the most beautifully done backgrounds in gaming.Fading Afternoonis a hidden gem waiting to be discovered, and fans can check out both of Yeo’s other games on Switch once they’re finished.
7Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid (Millennium Kitchen/TOYBOX Inc.)
Open-World Slice-Of-Life Game Set In The Japanese Countryside
For fans of thebest cozy games on the Nintendo Switch,Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kidis a must-play.This spiritual successor to theBoku No Natsuyasumifranchise sees players take on the role of a young boy as he spends his summer holiday exploring the Japanese countryside, catching bugs, playing with friends, and solving little mysteries. It’s an incredibly heartwarming experience that weaves a lovely tale of childhood, growing up, and family.
Players can pick upNatsu-Mon: 20th Century Kidand its DLC in a cheaper bundle. The DLC adds a whole new island for players to explore, as well as new characters who appear in the base game’s map.
Surprisingly,Natsu-Monmanages to take the best elements ofBreath of the Wildand integrate them into its vast open world. Players can complete quests to improve their stamina, and then go and climb the tallest mountain to find lost treasures. There’s a lot to discover inNatsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid, and its DLC, which is also available on Switch.
6Lil' Guardsman (Hilltop Studios)
Fantasy Version Of Papers, Please
Lil' Guardsmanis absolutely the fantasy version ofPapers, Please, tasking players to interrogate a whole host of humans and fantasy creatures alike to see if they’re worthy of entering the castle. InLil' Guardsman, players take on the role of the fastidious 12-year-old Lil who, taking over their dad’s shift, must determine whether those wanting access to the castle are worthy. There are over 100 people to deal with, all of whom are voiced, with the player’s choices impacting the overall story.
Lil' Guardsmanalso allows players to explore the Sprawl and meet its citizens, as well as engage in an overarching narrative that’s sure to delight fantasy fans. It’s a great indie game, one that was critically acclaimed upon release, garnering a Metacritic score of 82. With plenty of content to get through,players are sure to findLil' Guardsmanan immersive and wonderful experience they won’t want to put down.
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5Unicorn Overlord (Vanillaware)
A Complex JRPG Strategy Game
Unicorn Overlordis a vast and sprawling open-world SRPGthat balances the epic scale of a JRPG narrative with complex strategy gameplay. Players take on the role of Alain as they attempt to liberate their once prosperous empire and remove the corrupt tyrant controlling it.Unicorn Overlordcan be approached in any order players desire, although some areas are level-gated, pushing those who want a more linear experience down a certain path.
There are plenty of side quests and optional battles to take part in, as well as dozens of characters to meet and recruit, each with their own stories to engage with.Unicorn Overlordis absolutely brimming with content, making it easilyone of the best reviewed Switch games in 2024. For fans of Fire Emblem, or just strategy games in general,Unicorn Overlordis a must-play.
4Pentiment (Obsidian Entertainment)
Open-World Medieval Mystery Game
Pentimentreleasing on the Nintendo Switch was a little bit of a surprise for everyone, as it had been, much likeHi-Fi Rush, an Xbox exclusive. Fortunately, it’s release on the Switch in 2024 meant that even more people could experience its excellent narrative-driven mystery experience set in a gorgeously reimagined version of 16th century Europe. InPentiment,Screen Rant’s 2022 Game of the Year,players explore the small Bavarian town of Tassing as they attempt to solve a series of mysteries by talking to the locals and uncovering clues.
The decisions players make, in classic Obsidian fashion, impact the world around them, making each one feel genuinely meaningful.Pentiment’ssoundtrack and overall art design help bring to life the wonderfully written dialogue, making for an excellent narrative experience. It’s also a surprisingly long game too, giving players plenty of value for their buck.
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3Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance (Atlus)
Re-Release Of An Amazing JRPG With Even More Content
Atlus has a habit of re-releasing its games only with far more content and quality of life improvements. While in some cases, it isn’t always worth it, in the case ofShin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance,it is a completely transformative experience, adding an entire new campaign and several much-needed quality of life changes.Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeanceis not only a must-play for fans of the original game, but also for newcomers to the series.
Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeanceis a multi-platform re-release ofShin Megami Tensei V, which was a Switch exclusive. It features the original story as well as a new one that almost doubles the runtime.
Shin Megami 5: Vengeanceis an epic JRPG with a sprawling narrative, a huge cast of memorable characters, a phenomenal soundtrack, and overall great art design. A lot of what made the original release frustrating has been removed, and in its place is a wealth of great new content. It’s hard not to recommend this to JRPG fans, or those looking to invest in a new lengthy experience.
2Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Intelligent Systems)
Perfect Remake Of An Amazing Game
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Dooris not a typicalMariogame, as it features several RPG mechanics, combat, and a whole host of intricate puzzles. It’s slightly more narrative driven too,making for a fun experience familiar to fans of thePaper Mariofranchise, and unique to those who are only aware of Mario’s main exploits.The Thousand-Year Doorremake proved to be an excellent addition to the Switch’s vast library of games, thanks to its numerous quality of life updates.
The remake ofThe Thousand-Year Doorfeatures improved visuals, new content, improved mechanics across the board, and more. While it doesn’t add too much to the original experience, it didn’t really need to as it was already fairly perfect. Newcomers will be delighted with this experience, while veterans will surely enjoy the rush of nostalgia.
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1Balatro (LocalThunk)
Engrossing Poker Roguelike No One Should Miss
It’s perhaps surprising to think thatBalatro, the plucky and incredibly innovative indie game, would go on to beone of the best reviewed games of 2024, and yet here it is, against all the odds.Balatrois beloved for so many reasons, but perhaps most of all is its intensely engrossing gameplay. For poker players and those who’ve never heard of the game,Balatrois an accessible and endlessly delightful experience.
Balatrohas an impressive score of 90 on Metacritic, and has gone on to have crossovers with fellow indie smash hitDave the Diver, and evenThe Witcher 3. It’s an impressive game that everyone should experience at least once. However, when it comes toBalatro, once it’s got its hooks in a player, it simply never lets go.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is the successor to 2012’s Wii U console. The Nintendo Switch allows gamers to easily switch between playing on a TV to a handheld console. The first model was released in 2017, followed by the Nintendo Switch Lite, which is strictly a handheld console. In October 2021, Nintendo released an upgraded Switch console with an OLED screen.
