Five Nintendo Switch games you should play

The Nintendo Switch has become a massively popular console for gaming. With countless titles making their way onto the video game market, there is endless choice when it comes to finding the next game to play. 

That’s where this article comes in. Whether you’re new to the Nintendo Switch or looking for some game recommendations, here are my top five favourite Switch games that you should play. 

Zelda Breath of the Wild

Genre: Open-world, action-adventure 

Developer: Nintendo

Publisher: Nintendo 

This game is simply breathtaking. Released in 2017, it fast became a bestseller. This was my first ever Zelda game and boy did it amaze me. With an open world and hundreds of missions, there is plenty to do and so much fun to be had. If you’re a person who enjoys turning over every stone, then Zelda Breath of The Wild will satisfy your curiosity. 

I find this to be a game I always return to. There’s just so much to do that I never get sick of it. Defeat monsters, complete the shrine quests, hunt animals, make recipes, save Princess Zelda, and find all the Korok seeds. 

Even the littlest details of the game charm you, such as the ability to feed the dogs in the game. A great little hint: they like apples. Give them a few for a nice surprise. Another wonderful detail is the ability to see the aurora borealis in the night sky occasionally whilst in the Hebra Mountains.

The fighting mechanics are great, making the strike of a sword that kills an enemy even more satisfying. You can collect a wide array of weapons, some proving more effective against particular enemies. Like an ice blade against fire chuchus.

The enemies vary in difficulty, from the easy-to-defeat red bokoblins to the mighty strong Lynel. Be sure to avoid facing them early in the game, or you may meet a cruel end. 

The visuals of this game make it the Starry Night of the Nintendo Switch world. It strikes you with its beauty and majestic scenery. The first time I came across a dragon I was left speechless at the overwhelming awe that filled me. 

One downside is that you may find the game to lag in Korok Forrest if you have an older Switch console model. 

Another disappointment is the fact you can’t pet the dogs that appear in the campsites. But you do get to pet your horse when you ride it. Small victories.

If you love this game, then you will also love its sequel, Zelda Tears of the Kingdom which is another brilliant Nintendo Switch Game.

Hades

Genre: Roguelike, action role-playing, dungeon crawler

Developer: Supergiant Games

Publisher: Supergiant Games

If you were obsessed with Greek mythology as a child, then this game is for you. 

Hades is a single-player game where the more you lose the better the game is. As someone who, despite my love for gaming, sucks at every game I play, this is a huge advantage for me. 

Play as Zagreus, the son of Hades as he attempts to escape from the underworld. Crush enemies, befriend gods, and maybe even romance a certain someone (or someone’s). Yes, you heard me right. You can romance up to three of the love interests with no repercussions.  

The battle mechanics are one of the best I’ve played in any game. You unlock new weapons as the game progresses which you can upgrade to help smash your way through the underworld. 

With each level, you can encounter gods who will give you special boons on your runs. This is where strategic thinking comes into play as you want to choose boons that give you certain power-ups to maximise your chances of escape. 

The unique thing about Hades is the more you lose the more the game progresses. Each run you play allows you to interact with other characters, learn more about Zagreus’ past, and collect items to aid you in becoming more powerful. 

In line with this, befriending the gods opens up new dialogue that furthers the gameplay, so be sure to offer them ambrosia from time to time. 

The music featured in the game is another elegantly placed feature of the game reiterating that this indie game is simply a work of art. 

The fighting mechanics work perfectly with the Nintendo Switch console, making for smooth attacks.

Supergiant’s Hades has an ingenious and creative take on Greek mythology. With a beautiful art style, incredible voice acting, and a captivating plot, it’s hard to put this game down. 

The news only gets better if you play this game and fall in love with it. The developers are releasing Hades 2, with the early access currently available to play on Steam!

Stardew Valley

Genre: Simulation, RPG

Developer: ConcernedApe

Publisher: Chucklefish

Did you love playing the Harvest Moon franchise on the Nintendo DS? Then Stardew Valley is the perfect Switch game for you. This game is more than just a farming simulator. 

Fight monsters in caves, romance the local bachelor/bachelorettes, stand against an evil corporation (or join them if you’re THAT kind of person), and grow the best crops in all of the town. 

The game begins with your character leaving their job in the city to start a new life in Pelican Town on a farm left to them by their late grandfather. Here you are tasked with trying to rebuild the farm to its former glory. 

This local indie game really packs a punch. Much like Harvest Moon (the game series from which it was inspired by) you can work towards home upgrades and improving the resources on your farm. 

The crops you can grow change with the seasons, and you can use machinery to turn your farm goods into more profitable items like mayonnaise, jams, and wines.    

You also work towards improving the town, such as building a community center for the townsfolk. Befriending your countryfolk brings new tasks and insightful backstories. You can gift them gifts, which sees them mailing you the occasional item. 

One of the best parts of the game is the freedom of choice it offers you. You’re not limited to growing crops or raising farm animals. You can choose to focus instead on foraging, fishing, mining, or monster slaying. 

There are many ways to generate money and many ways to live your life in Pelican town. I highly recommend this game to those who love to work their way through projects and challenges.

Eastward

Genre: Action-adventure, role-play

Developer: Pixpil, Pixpil Games

Publisher: Chucklefish

Are you a fan of any of these tropes? A stoic man adopts a small, cute child. Robots take over humanity. The world risks being destroyed but a small powerful child can save it. 

If you are then let me introduce you to Eastward, the game that has all those tropes. 

The story begins in a small underground town shut out from the ‘surface world’ where you play as John, a miner who doesn’t talk. He stumbles across Sam a little girl and takes her in unaware of the power she possesses. 

And so, their adventure begins, traveling to towns on the surface world and befriending people along the way. But time is of the essence. A dark force known as the miasma threatens to destroy all of man and robotkind. 

This is a charming game that sucks you in with a beautiful art style, an emotional storyline and fun gameplay. 

It’s up to Sam and John to travel Eastward to find a way to stop the miasma and keep humanity alive. With John’s trusty frypan and Sam’s supernatural powers, there is no challenge too big and no enemy too strong. 

Each city you travel to is filled with stores you can visit to stock up on food and ammo. Interact with the quirky villagers and play the minigame Earth Borne, a fully functional RPG. 

And of course, with the help of John’s reliable frypan, you can fry up some delicious meals to help keep your health up. 

This is a heartwarming yet challenging game packed with fun and adventure. Play as Sam and John to fight the evil miasma that threatens all life as we know it.

Pokémon Scarlet & Pokemon Violet

Developer: Game Freak

Publisher: Nintendo 

If you loved playing the Pokémon games on other consoles, then getting the latest installment of the series is a no-brainer. This was the first Pokémon game I played since Pokémon Ultra Moon back in 2017 and the first Pokemon franchise game I played on the Nintendo Switch. And though it’s not my favourite (Pokémon Platinum will always have my heart), I do find it to be worth a play.

The open world allows you to explore for hours and catch Pokémon to your heart’s content. If like me, you haven’t played a Pokémon game for a hot minute then this open-world gameplay will bring exciting changes. 

Shiny hunting is easier compared to the earlier games in the sense you can see the shiny Pokémon roaming around rather than running blindly through wild grass for hours on end. 

One of the best things about the game is the seven-star Tera Raid events they hold. In these limited-time events, you battle against strong Pokémon that are not available in the main game. Beating them allows you to catch them and collect the rare items offered as rewards. 

What I love about Pokémon Scarlet/Violet is its multiplayer functions. Trading with friends is the best way to collect all the Pokémon and finish the Pokédex. 

The surprise battles and trading solidify the sense of community within the Pokémon world. It’s amazing to go blind into battle with a stranger, who like you, has spent countless hours building a team and exploring all that is on offer in Paldea.  

Yet the game comes with flaws. Despite the open world map, each city consists of countless buildings that you cannot enter, making the cities feel rather empty. 

The worst thing I find is the tedious wait times to enter online Tera Raids. Want to battle a specific Tera Raid Pokémon to get a specific item you need? Sure, you can play! If the game will load you in. Majority of the time I find myself unable to connect. 

Ultimately, there is one thing that has me absolutely sold on Pokémon Scarlet/Violet. 

Fuecoco.

Look at this adorable little goofball.

I hope this list has given you a few new Nintendo Switch games to play. At AVCon we’re serious about video games and want to share all our knowledge. Our team are always playing the latest releases and finding the best of the best. Let us know your own favourites for the Nintendo Switch.