The Nintendo Switch is home to a ton of games, many spanning the Indie space. Thanks to its unique "switching" structure and its portability, it's become a great console for twin-stick shooter fans. Twin-stick shooting games are a blast to play through and many of them offer up short experiences or roguelike elements that keep their play sessions short, ideal for those that are gaming on the go.
But what are the best twin-stick shooters available on the Nintendo Switch? While there are a lot of great games to choose from, some titles do stand out from others within the genre. Here's a look at some of the best twin-stick shooters that players can snag and enjoy on their portable Nintendo Switch console.
Updated April 6th, 2022 by Russ Boswell: There has been no shortage of Twin Stick Shooters on the Nintendo Switch thanks to its portable design. Players that are looking for high-octane action on the go have a lot of options to choose from in 2022. Players could spend countless hours exploring all of the Twin Stick Shooters that the Nintendo Switch eShop has on offer, giving them a virtual playground to satiate their need for chaotic gameplay. To better showcase some of the coolest and most unique Twin Stick Shooters available on the Nintendo Switch, the following list has been updated and now includes even more entries.
Assault Android Cactus+
Many players gravitate towards Twin Stick Shooters for their frenetic gameplay and chaotic boss battles. Those that love titles similar to Enter The Gungeon for their speed and Bullet Hell-style will definitely resonate with Assault Android Cactus. The "plus" version of this already great game adds even more to the campaign, giving players even more time blasting through hordes of enemies. The title features some cute characters, an interesting storyline, and some pretty challenging bosses.
It doesn't have online multiplayer but it does feature some good old-fashioned Couch Co-Op, allowing up to four players to join in on the fun.
Neon Chrome
There have been a lot of great games released lately that have followed the path of titles like Katana Zero and Cyberpunk 2077, immersing players in interesting and dystopian Cyberpunk worlds. Neon Chrome takes a crack at this aesthetic and brings it into the Twin Stick Shooter realm, providing players with a procedurally-generated adventure that has them fighting through hordes of enemies, bosses, and other dangers.
The best part is that this release is cooperative, allowing up to four players to simultaneously take on the story. The environments are even fully destructible.
Trigger Witch
One of the most adorable, albeit a bit bloody, releases on the Nintendo Switch, Trigger Witch is a twin-stick shooter that oozes style. Those that enjoyed the top-down 2D styling of A Link To The Past will feel right at home in this running and gunning shooter that features a witch who's gotten her hands on some serious firepower. The story is solid, the colorful cast of characters are great, and the gameplay is solid albeit a bit repetitive at times.
Trigger Witch can be played solo or with another player via Local Co-Op.
Towaga: Among Shadows
The Twin Stick Shooter genre includes a wide array of fast-paced games but many of them follow a similar formula. The left thumbstick is often used for movement, while the right controls a player's aimer. At its core, Towaga: Among Shadows is a similar experience, but offers one major difference that helps it stand out among the crowd. The majority of the game will see players rooted in place, creating a blend of twin-stick shooting and tower defense elements.
There are some levels (although they're few and far between) that propel players into the sky to do battle against enemies in a more traditionalized movement-based twin-stick shooting style. For the most part, players will be forced to use tactics and quick reaction skills to blast away enemies before they can make their wait to the pedestal that the player stands on. As gamers progress, they'll unlock a wide array of abilities, upgrades, and other unique skills that make the gameplay even more engrossing.
Rise And Shine
This twin-stick shooter meets side-scrolling platformer is a video game lovers paradise thanks to its abundance of clever gaming references and its rather entertaining story. Although it's very child-like in appearance, Rise and Shine is a goldmine of grown-up humor and challenging gameplay elements.
Players will have an array of enemies to contend with, along with a few punishing boss battles. There's an abundance of puzzles to solve, too, for those that are looking for a break in the action from time to time. Overall, Rise and Shine is a great release and a solid addition to the twin-stick shooter genre.
Relic Hunters Zero: Remix
The Relic Hunters saga finally found its way to the Nintendo Switch via this great "remixed" version of the iconic release, giving players access to a myriad of new and updated content. Action-hungry gamers can jump into this top-down twin-stick roguelike shooter and blast through enemies on their way to discover the mysterious Relics of Power and keep them from falling into the wrong hands.
There are seven playable characters (each with their own stats, strengths, and weaknesses), a handful of game modes, a slew of colorful levels, and a wide array of entertaining guns to discover. It's even got local two-player co-op capabilities.
Iconoclasts
The Nintendo Switch has access to an abundance of fantastic Indie releases but some of them stand out thanks to their impressive gameplay and story-driven worlds. Iconoclasts isn't a twin-stick shooter in the traditional sense but it does feature enough aiming, shooting, and movement-based mayhem to be considered an honorary member of the genre. Those that enjoy the frenetic gameplay of twin-stick shooters will likely find themselves engrossed by Iconoclasts colorful and lore-driven world.
With a cast of interesting characters, a great story, an array of weapons, and some tight platforming gameplay, Iconoclasts is sure to appeal to tons of gamers.
Null Drifter
A lot of twin-stick shooters capture the hearts of fans by simply offering up a stellar gameplay experience. Null Drifter is perhaps the most prime example of this on the Nintendo Switch. The title itself is incredibly retro, thanks to its graphical style and simplistic presentation. It's meant to mimic the graphics that players might see on an old computer terminal and it works to striking effect.
Underneath the charming visuals lies a fast-paced high-octane twin-stick shooting adventure that will keep players on the edge of their seats.
Hotline Miami Collection
Hotline Miami has truly withstood the test of time. It was a unique and entertaining concept when it was originally released and it's still going strong thanks to a sequel. Nintendo Switch players can get their hands on the Hotline Miami Collection, which combines both top-down releases into one frantic package.
For most, Hotline Miami is a hard-as-nails top-down adventure, with some hailing it as one of the hardest titles available on the platform (or in the twin-stick shooter genre in general). Regardless of the difficulty, Hotline Miami is oozing with style and features some of the most entertaining gameplay out there from a twin-stick perspective.
Enter The Gungeon
Perhaps the most enthralling and entertaining twin-stick available on the Nintendo Switch (or consoles in general for that matter) Enter the Gungeon is twin-stick action in the truest sense. Not only are the worlds, characters, bosses, and environments a blast but the gameplay is supremely satisfying. It's challenging, tight, rewarding, and features roguelike elements to keep things fresh and exciting.
Players that are just opening Enter the Gungeon on Nintendo Switch for the first time will be met with a multitude of content to play through, with tons of guns, characters, achievements, and more to unlock.