Despite the Nintendo Switch only releasing in 2017, it has become a must-have handheld console with a large variety of AAA and indie titles. Whether players are looking for a full-on RPG adventure like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, or a classic Mario game like Super Mario 3D All-Stars, there’s something for everyone.
Sadly, not every game enjoys the same lofty heights of success as the top ten. A huge variety of titles have been released for the console in the years since its release, and some have already been lost to time. When was the last time players thought about these Switch games?
10 Dragon Quest Builders 2
Dragon Quest Builders 1 and 2 were great sandbox Switch games. The first was a unique take on the JRPG franchise and had some genuinely interesting pieces of lore. The second, though, not so much. Dragon Quest Builders 2 is, unsurprisingly, a sequel to the first Dragon Quest Builders, set in the realm of Alefgard. Packed with memorable characters and dangerous monsters, this had all the makings of a great Switch game.
The game was trapped between the release of mainline Dragon Quest Switch games, which didn't help it shine. It was also overshadowed by Minecraft’s move to the console.
9 Deadly Premonition 2
Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise was both a sequel and prequel to the cult classic that is Deadly Premonition, released in 2010. However, the poor performance of this game on the console was disappointing. The frame rate detracts from the experience, particularly in the outdoor sections of the open world.
It also did not have the option to invert the game's camera along the Y-axis, which was a poor choice from an accessibility point of view. This was a shame, particularly because the first game did have this option.
8 Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE Encore
Tokyo Mirage Sessions FE Encore was essentially a crossover between Atlus's Shin Megami Tensei and Nintendo's Fire Emblem series. In theory, this sounds like a match made in heaven for fans of JRPGs: Two titans of the industry meeting in an unholy, quirky marriage. It first released for the Wii U in June 2016, and January 2020 saw the release of an enhanced port for the Nintendo Switch.
However, players quickly forgot about its stylish gameplay and vivid narrative. Sadly, the game alienated its audience with its idol aesthetic and lackluster puzzles.
7 Pokken Tournament DX
Pokkén Tournament DX was an "enhanced" port of the Wii U game that first released in 2016. An arcade fighting game based on Bandai Namco's Tekken, featuring Pokemon, sounds incredible. The Wii U version sold 69,675 copies in its first week, meaning Pokkén Tournament entered the Media Create sales charts as the highest-selling game in the region during its debut week. Whilst the Switch version didn’t sell quite as many (53,395 copies within its first week in Japan), it still placed number one on the all-format sales chart.
Some fans have drawn comparisons between Pokkén Tournament DX and the cult classic that is Pokemon Colosseum, mainly due to the 3D battles that take place. However, the intensity and style of Pokkén Tournament DX just doesn't come close to what new fans were expecting. The Switch game had a successful launch, but sadly, it faded away quickly. Fans criticized the port for not adding more new characters, as well as the poor framerate of its new split-screen mode.
6 Timespinner
This gorgeous pixel art adventure is inspired by the classic 90s action-platformers like Super Metroid and Castlevania. Published by Chucklefish, Timespinner has a heart-wrenching story following timekeeper Lunais on her quest for revenge against the empire that killed her family.
If it sounds familiar, it’s because this game has had a troubled past. It began life as a Kickstarter project in 2014, eventually making its way to the Switch in 2020. While some fans weren’t fond of the under-utilized time-bending powers, others praised the science-fiction story and its connected world.
5 Oxenfree
Oxenfree is a fun supernatural mystery graphic adventure with a gorgeously striking 2.5D art style. It has recently pervaded the cultural consciousness once more due to the announcement of a sequel: Oxenfree II: Lost Signals. It is also getting a TV series in the near future, adapted by none other than writer Robert Kirkman, co-creator of The Walking Dead.
Despite its relative obscurity, this is certainly an indie title that fans of psychological horror can’t afford to miss out on. It has won a number of awards, such as "Best Narrative" at The Game Awards 2016 and "Outstanding Achievement in Story" at the D.I.C.E. Awards.
4 Mario Tennis Aces
It might be surprising to see a Nintendo title on this list. It's fair to assume that Nintendo games would succeed on a Nintendo console; after all, Mario Tennis Aces sold over 3 million copies by the end of 2019, making it, at the time of writing, the 23rd best selling game on the Nintendo Switch.
It was also the best-selling Mario Tennis game, outselling Mario Tennis N64 (previously the best selling Mario Tennis title) by over a million copies. Yet despite its sales success, it has fallen out of popularity, as discussion of the game has faded over time.
3 Yooka-Laylee
Yooka-Laylee was described as a “spiritual successor to the Banjo-Kazooie series”. Much like Banjo-Kazooie, this Switch game could have been a nostalgic, magical adventure. The story follows chameleon Yooka and bat Laylee, who must take down an evil corporation and retrieve a magical book.
Fans were particularly excited about the revival of the "collectathon" 3D platformers that were popular in the late 90s. It broke Kickstarter funding records and received a lot of coverage prior to launch. However, voice actor drama, its capitalization on nostalgia, and the weight of carrying the “Banjo” name meant that Yooka-Laylee did not meet expectations.
2 De Blob
De Blob is a puzzle-platform game that was an exciting idea back in the day of the Wii. The game's live band soundtrack grows as the player character, de Blob, collects red, yellow and blue paint from Paintbots. The goal is to restore the color to the lives of aliens, stolen by the monochromatic INKT Corporation.
Upon its release in 2008, it scored an average of 80% on Metacritic. However, whilst the Wii version eventually became a cult classic, the Nintendo Switch version didn’t add anything new. A decade on, very few people were asking for a De Blob revival.
1 Overwatch
Overwatch is one of those games that nearly everyone has heard of. Fans of first-person shooters have all tried their hand at Blizzard Entertainment’s zany, colorful adventure. Three years after its release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, Overwatch finally came to Switch.
Fans criticized the poor texture quality, washed-out colors and performance in Docked Mode. The biggest issue, and perhaps the most important when it comes to shooters, was the poor accuracy provided by the Switch’s Joy-Cons. Precise shooters, such as McCree and Ashe, really struggled with this. The port to Nintendo Switch did mean that more players than ever could get involved, which is definitely a good thing. But nobody deserved this.