From AAA titles to Indie games, there are a lot of titles on offer for the Nintendo Switch. There are too many to choose from, meaning many hidden gems for the Nintendo Switch have gone unnoticed or don’t perform as well as they could.
Therefore, our list of the 15 best hidden gems for Nintendo Switch will undoubtedly help you discover a new game to fall in love with.
15. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
While this game is still a commercial success, it’s one of the few forgotten Zelda games. Offering an alternative ending to the events of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, this game will have you going through all of the emotions. From joy as you reunite the team to absolute heartbreak as you see the twist ending.
Admittedly, this game has some performance issues, but that shouldn’t get in the way of enjoying a well-made game with many fun mechanics and a fantastic story to boot.
14. Oxenfree
This is a hauntingly good game but is often overlooked on the Nintendo Switch, with a preference for other consoles. This game ported excellently over to the Nintendo Switch and offers point-and-click mechanics through a horrifying adventure that will keep you on your toes.
It does have a lot of horror elements and triggering topics, such as suicide, so please tread carefully with Oxenfree.
13. Ib
A somewhat well-known RPG maker horror game that was available on PC for the longest time has made its way over to Nintendo Switch.
This creepy game is a cult classic in the horror game community. Many popular YouTubers were playing it on release. The remake has shone a light on this hidden gem of a game once more and is allowing gamers on all platforms to experience the Eldritch horror of Ib.
12. A Space for the Unbound
This visual novel is set in the late 90s in Rural Indonesia. This beautiful game confronts hard-hitting topics like mental health and takes you on a beautiful and memorable journey of the high school sweethearts Atma and Raya, both incredibly unique in their own ways.
If you’ve been searching for a new visual novel or hidden gem on Nintendo Switch, give this one a whirl.
11. Oneshot: World Machine Edition
OneShot is a beautiful adventure game where you can play as an adorable protagonist and navigate puzzles in this world that breaks the fourth wall often. While on PC, it would put files on your desktop; this version of the game comes with unique features and collectibles exclusive to this console version.
OneShot is a fantastic game with a beautiful story, art style, and some unique puzzles to navigate. You don’t want to miss out on this hidden gem.
10. Mini Metro
If you are a fan of resource management, puzzles, and the like, Mini Metro is a fantastic game that can get quite complicated. Tasked with making an efficient train line service and connecting different regions on the map, each level gets more and more difficult, with an increasing population and other factors making the game harder over time.
9. Bad North
Bad North is a minimalist real-time strategy game where you have to manage your gorgeous island village from invading Vikings and try to come out victorious. It is equal parts charming and brutal and is often overlooked. If you’re looking for a new RTS and roguelite, this is the perfect game for you on Nintendo Switch.
8. Beacon Pines
Beacon Pines is a narrative adventure game packed with adorable characters, a stunning atmosphere, and a slightly creepy aesthetic. That being said, it’s perfect for gamers of all ages, with fun puzzles to solve, great voice acting, and multiple endings, giving it plenty of replayability.
Beacon Pines is worth trying, no matter how old you are!
7. Grapple Dog
Grapple Dog feels like a traditional platformer and works perfectly for the Nintendo Switch. Playing as an adorable dog named Pablo, you get to explore a colorful world and use your grappling hook to help you through the levels and utilize it in combat.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, fun game for gamers of all ages, Grapple Dog is the hidden gem on the Nintendo Switch you’ve been looking for.
6. Tinykin
A puzzle platforming game, Tinykin fits so well on the Nintendo Switch. With plenty of challenges to take part in throughout the game, you play as Milodane, who meets an array of creatures on his journey on Planet Aegis.
You have to navigate the planet, the various creatures in the world, and puzzles to get all the pieces you need to rebuild your ship to return home.
5. Arms
Games like Splatoon and Super Smash Bros Ultimate performed incredibly well on the Nintendo Switch. Arms, however, wasn’t given as much love and recognition. Initially, it was one of the best-selling games on Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, it has since not received as much love or interest. If you like fighting games, you’re bound to love Arms, with plenty of unique characters to choose from and many interesting battle mechanics that make Arms a lot of fun and set it apart from the typical fighting game.
If you want a new and fun fighting game experience, try Arms.
4. Sunless Sea
Suppose you’re looking for a new horror experience; Sunless Sea certainly provides just that. The game offers action/adventure elements combined with roguelike elements as you die repeatedly to uncover new secrets and explore this gothic horror atmosphere.
Plenty of grotesque elements exist, as you can die or eat your crew to survive Fallen London. The more you explore, the darker this Lovecraftian experience gets.
3. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen was a huge hit worldwide. It was also one of the fastest-selling games on PlayStation and Xbox, with a Nintendo Switch version finally releasing in 2019. If you are looking for an open-world RPG game with a unique multiplayer system that allows you to use other players’ Pawns, which can help you traverse the wide world of Dragon’s Dogma. It can be quite a challenging game, too. Depending on your class, you can be powerful or struggle to take on an Ogre.
2. Slay the Spire
While Slay the Spire is popular on PC, it is a hidden gem for Nintendo Switch and deserves a chance from Switch owners. This game is perfect as a handheld game, as you build your own deck of cards that you can play to work your way up through the Spire to defeat the final boss. With plenty of unlockables and goals to reach within the game, it has hours upon hours of replayability. One feature is a fun Ascension system that boosts the difficulty with each successful Ascension!
If you enjoy roguelikes and card-builders, this is the game for you.
1. Thumper
For those who enjoy rhythm games, Thumper is a great choice. Classified as a rhythm violence game, you play as a space beetle and complete each level to work towards defeating the bosses. Mechanics include wall riding, flying above notes to survive, and having a shield to take some damage. Thumper is a futuristic rhythm game that every fan of rhythm games should try. Thumber easily stands out from the crowd; a new game from Drool Games (creators of Thumper) has a brand-new sensory rhythm game on the way.
Why not see what Thumper is all about and see if you’ll get your hands on Thrasher?
That concludes our list of hidden gems for the Nintendo Switch. What are some of your favorite hidden gems on Nintendo Switch?
