Nintendo’s newest shiny console, the Nintendo Switch, is one of the most popular games consoles in recent memory. This is in no small part thanks to it being a home console that you can also take with you to enjoy a fantastic catalogue of games while on the go. I have to admit that the variety of games that the Nintendo Switch boasts has rapidly become unbelievably diverse and vast, with both first-party games and an assortment of indie titles that would make any gamer gasp in awe. As such, Nintendo’s newest handheld will undoubtedly have something for literally everyone to enjoy. With that, this week on the otaku rabbit hole, we’ll be looking at three indie games that anyone who owns a Nintendo Switch should consider getting for their console ASAP, because to have not experienced these games is to do yourself a disservice! Without further ado, lets just jump right into it and check out what the Nintendo Switch has hidden in its line-up.
- Hollow Knight
How could I talk about fantastic indie titles for the Nintendo switch without starting with what is arguably one of the best games that I played in 2018, Hollow Knight. You play through the game as a stranger that one day wanders into the land of Hallownest, where all is not well. The world you come to explore has fallen to ruin and the creatures that inhabit it and the enemies you face are slowly succumbing to an infection, reducing them to a primal, animalistic state. The world of Hollow Knight is filled to the brim with life and luscious vistas aplenty. Its story, however, is far from clear cut, and is instead one that you will slowly pry from the world and characters around you, in a manner similar to what you’d find in a Souls-Borne game. For fans of the Metroidvania genre, with a rather high difficulty ceiling, Hollow Knight is most definitely an experience you should not miss. This game is easy to pick up and play but is hard to master, with some truly challenging platforming sections and boss battles as the game progresses. Whilst difficult and at times frustrating, these challenges prove incredibly satisfying to overcome with one of the absolute best, in my opinion, being the Mantis Lords fight due to the challenging combat, fantastic score and feeling of adrenaline that it gave me. This is a game that I cannot praise highly enough. Even though the gameplay of Hollow Knight is already enough to recommend this game, it even has a beautiful art style and musical score to boot – it really is the complete package. A full, in-depth review will be coming soon for this game, that will go into more detail on the ins-and-outs of this game, but for now, please PLEASE check out this game if you haven’t already. This game is also available on Steam, and other platforms, so there’s no excuse for anyone to miss out on this fantastic title.
- Crypt of the NecroDancer
For our second indie title of the Nintendo Switch, I would be doing a massive disservice to not mention the amazing game that is Crypt of the NecroDancer. This game is far from easy and will relish in beating you down again and again. The strange thing is, though, you’ll never find it too frustrating because more often than not, the death you suffered will be your own doing. Fusing the rhythm game genre with rogue-like dungeon crawler elements, Crypt of the NecroDancer makes for an incredibly addictive experience where, to move, heal or even attack, you need to time everything to the beat of the song. This game has a story that unfolds the more you play, and has multiple playable characters to choose from, many of which come with an altered soundtrack to help mix up the gameplay experience. By taking the best parts from other rogue-like games, Crypt of the NecroDancer makes for a fun yet challenging experience like no other. This game is certainly one for fans of the genre but is also a pretty fun jumping-in point for anyone less experienced with games like these and who love a good soundtrack in their games. Crypt of the NecroDancer is also available on a multitude of different systems, including on Steam. For an experience you won’t forget with insane replayability, then please check out this game.
- The Missing: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories
This game is something truly special and has already secured a place in my heart. After booting up this game for the first time and playing it to the end of the first chapter, I was left with a sense of stunned awe that drove me ever forward to complete this marvel. A fantastically melancholy game that tells an important story, The Missing: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories is an experience like no other. While the game is certainly the furthest thing from happy, it does come with a beautiful art style to compliment the sombre tone exquisitely. While this game is certainly not for everyone, it is a game that is certainly deserving of a lot of praise and one I would recommend people check out for themselves. I have already covered this game in a previous review, so if you would like to read more of my thoughts on it in greater detail, please follow the link here. Be warned, however, that this review does contain major spoilers for this game and it covers many of the dark themes of this game too. You have been warned. The Missing: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories is also available on PS4, Xbox One and Steam, so I beg you, dear reader, to check this out if it seems like something you may enjoy.
There are so many incredible indie titles for the Nintendo Switch, that I have undoubtedly left off many games that certainly deserve at least an honourable mention for this list. However, these three titles listed here are ones that I would say that everyone should at least try, and you never know, these games may just surprise you. Thanks again for joining me on this trip down the otaku rabbit hole. Until next time, keep it weeby!
Loplop x
Down the Otaku Rabbit Hole! 