20.Halcyon 6: Starbase Commander
If you prefer a bit of complexity and thinking in your games, this is the game for you.
WhileHalcyon 6: Starbase Commanderis an RPG, it also has many strategic elements, including a few gameplay mechanics that might remind you ofFTL: Faster Than Light.
While most of the game takes place on the titular star base (there are base-building elements too), you also take a party on ground missions that feel more like a traditional RPG.
19.Chicory: A Colorful Tale
Imagine a top-down action-adventure game like theZeldaseries, except without any of the combat. Instead, replace the sword with a paintbrush that you can use to color in the world around you.
That’sChicoryin a nutshell, a game that sees you playing as a young artist looking to restore color to a world that’s been wiped white.
It’s meatier than you might expect, packed with puzzles and a story that will take you at least 20 hours to complete.
Related:The Best Games Made With GameMaker (Formerly GMS2)
18.Battle Chasers: Nightwar
If you like JRPG-style combat and exploration but prefer Western-style art and storytelling,Battle Chasers: Nightwaris not a game to miss.
The artwork is by Joe Madureira (“Joe Mad”), who also wrote and drew the comic that the game is based on, so the visuals bear a similarity to the Joe Mad-designedDarksidersgames.
Exploration takes place in a isometric,Diablo-style view, while battles are the traditional “your party on one side, enemies on the other.” Combat is deep enough to be satisfying, but not overwhelmingly complex.
17.Golf Story
Golf Storywas one of the original indie hits on the Nintendo Switch, and it still holds up now. If you haven’t played it, you absolutely should.
While it isn’t quite as perfectly tuned as theMario Golftitles from the Nintendo Game Boy Advance era,Golf Storycomes closest to replicating the “golf RPG” feel that those games pioneered.
Related:The Best Sports Games on Nintendo Switch, Ranked
16.Eastward
Looking at screenshots forEastward, you’d be forgiven for assuming the game was a JRPG inspired by classics likeEarthbound.
Rather,Eastwardis more of an action-adventure game that’s similar to earlyZeldagames, but in a post-apocalyptic setting that’s prettier than any end-of-the-world setting deserves to be.
15.Tangledeep
You’ll find no shortage of roguelikes and roguelites on the Nintendo Switch, including the massively popularHades. ButTangledeepcombines roguelike elements with a 16-bit graphics style that wouldn’t look out of place on the SNES.
The game also isn’t prohibitively hardcore. If you’re looking for a more mellow experience, you can change some of the settings so it’s not as punishing.
14.Celeste
Another early hit on the Nintendo Switch,Celesteis a challenging platformer game hidden beneath a friendly looking aesthetic.
Surprisingly, there’s no combat here; it’s just a lot of difficult platforming. But whereCelestereally stands out is its accessibility options that make it easier for anyone who wants to play the game to do so.
Related:The Best Platformer Games on Nintendo Switch, Ranked
13.Cosmic Star Heroine
Take a base of science-fiction anime, throw in some 16-bit RPG action, and a dash of cyberpunk, and blend it all up! What do you get? Zeboyd Games’Cosmic Star Heroinein a nutshell.
This game takes inspiration from countless classic RPGs, much as Zeboyd’s previous titleCthulu Saves the Worlddid.
You’ll find base-upgrading elements, similar to the gameplay in theSuikodenseries. And enemies appear on screen, meaning they can be avoided and there are no annoying random encounters!
Related:The Best Nintendo Switch Hidden Gems You May Have Overlooked
12.Untitled Goose Game
The basic premise ofUntitled Goose Gameis pretty silly: you’re a goose and you’re here to cause trouble. If you play it in cooperative mode, you work with your partner to wreak mayhem on everyday people.
It would’ve been easy to make this a game likeGoat Simulator, but the developers took a different approach withUntitled Goose Game.
You have several different goals—stealing items, breaking stuff, tricking people into all kinds of situations—and it’s up to you to figure out how to actually do those things. It’s a puzzle game with lots of humor in it.
Related:The Best Couch Co-Op Nintendo Switch Games for Couples
11.Cuphead
WhileCupheadmay have originally launched on the Xbox One—a more powerful console than the Nintendo Switch—it still plays well on Nintendo’s lesser hardware (yes, even in handheld mode).
That doesn’t mean it’s still not tough as nails. If you’ve never played the game before, make sure you’re in a patient mood before you approach it. Despite the aesthetics,Cupheadis a punishingly hard game.
Related:The Best Indie Game Soundtracks of All Time, Ranked
10.Wargroove
WithAdvance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Campseemingly stuck in an indefinite delay,Wargrooveis the closest you’ll come to the tactical gameplay of that classic series on the Nintendo Switch.
It takes place in a medieval setting rather than a pseudo-modern one, but the gameplay itself will feel instantly familiar to anyone who’s enjoyed theAdvance Warsseries.
Related:The Best Strategy Games for Nintendo Switch, Ranked
9.SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech
Image & Form’sSteamWorldseries has touched a variety of genres, from tower defense to platforming exploration and even a 2D take onXCOM-style tactical combat.
WithSteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech, theSteamWorlduniverse enters the realm of RPGs with a card-based combat system reminiscent of Monolith Soft’sBaten Kaitos.
This isn’t a deck-building game. And it’s not a roguelike, either. Think of it as a more traditional RPG with a few twists on gameplay: as you proceed through the story, you can upgrade and add new cards to your deck, giving you access to more powerful combat techniques and abilities.
8.Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
Instead of paying homage to a single classic series,Shovel Knightpays homage to the entire history and genre of 2D platformers.
This is more than just a throwback to all the games that inspired it—Shovel Knightuses mechanics found in everything fromDuckTaleson the NES to modern versions ofDark Souls.
It can be tough at times, but never unfairly so. If you have a soft spot in your heart for retro games but want to enjoy them with modern quality-of-life improvements,Shovel Knight: Treasure Troveis what you want.
Related:The Best Nintendo Switch Games Ported From Other Consoles
7.Dead Cells
Dead Cellscombines procedural generation and roguelite gameplay with the traversal mechanics of a Metroidvania-style game.
If that alone doesn’t interest you enough to get into this game, then perhapsDead Cellsisn’t for you.
However, if thatdoessound intriguing, then you should absolutely give it a shot.Dead Cellsis a few years old by now, but it still feels incredibly polished to play and there are few games on its level.
Related:The Best Metroidvania Games on Nintendo Switch, Ranked
6.Slay the Spire
Slay the Spireis the rare game where even gamers who aren’t fans of the digital card game genre find themselves hooked.
This deckbuilding roguelite may be built around cards, but for the most part, it plays more like an RPG than, say,Magic: The Gathering.
You start with a deck of action cards based on your class, then add new cards as you venture through the dungeon and battle baddies. Try to make it all the way to the boss! It’s tougher than you think.
Related:The Most Satisfying Nintendo Switch Games for Grinding
5.Cult of the Lamb
Cult of the Lambis an odd mixture of cute aesthetics and dark subject matter. You could describe this game as likeStardew Valleybut with cults—and that wouldn’t be wrong at all.
Once you start discovering its depths, you’ll find thatCult of the Lambcreates a much bigger whole than the sum of its individual components, and that’s what makes the game so special.
4.Neon White
When it’s at its best,Neon Whiteis a game that makes you feel like a pro speedrunner, even if you’ve never thought about speedrunning.
Speedrunners try to play through games as quickly as they can, whether to break personal records or world records. Most games aren’t designed specifically for speedrunning, butNeon Whiteis.
Even if you’re playing through a given level for the hundredth time, trying to shave seconds off your time, it never gets old.
3.Hollow Knight
While the Nintendo Switch has plenty of Metroidvania-style games, few have resonated with fans the wayHollow Knighthas.
InHollow Knight, you’ll be platforming, swinging swords, casting spells, and flat-out surviving your way through various areas, unlocking new abilities, and exploring what’s out there.
Even if you’ve played through the game on another platform, and even if you’re just waiting forHollow Knight: Silksongto finally release, you might find thatHollow Knighton the Nintendo Switch is really good.
Related:The Best Nintendo Switch Games That Actually Run at 60 FPS
2.Stardew Valley
While it was originally released on PC,Stardew Valleyfeels like a game that was made with the Nintendo Switch in mind.
Whether you’re farming, getting to know the locals, delving into the mines, or fishing the days away, it all works fantastically on the Nintendo Switch. Playing in handheld mode is as relaxing as it gets.
And if you want to play with a friend in couch co-op mode, all you have to do is dock the console. It plays perfectly on TV.
Related:The Best Nintendo Switch Crafting Games (That Aren’t Animal Crossing)
1.Hades
Hadesis a fantastic roguelite experience no matter which system you play it on. However, making your way out of the underworld on the Nintendo Switch is really something special.
This game isn’t just incredibly satisfying to play, it’s also eminently replayable. Even if you’ve beaten it before, it’s well worth a second play—and many more plays.
And when played on the Nintendo Switch, it’s just so convenient to take it with you anywhere you go. It plays really well in handheld mode.
Related:The Longest Nintendo Switch Games
