So you’ve played through both open-worldZeldagames,Mario KartandOdysseyand cozy favorites likeStardew ValleyandAnimal Crossing. Here are some games that you might not have experienced yet.
1Super Mario RPG
Nintendo’s firstMarioRPG crashed onto the SNES in 1996, marking the plumber’s final outing on the company’s 32-bit console. 27 years later and the beloved title received a full remake for the Switch, with the arrival ofSuper Mario RPGin 2023.
Unfortunately, many were quick to write the game off as yet another remake. Though it received solid review scores,RPGwas overshadowed by the year’s big releases likeJedi SurvivorandHogwarts Legacythanks to its holiday release window. But don’t be fooled,Super Mario RPGis well worth your time.
It features beautifully faithful 3D graphics, your choice of original or reimagined (Yoko Shimomura) soundtrack, and the same cheeky humor that earned the original so much praise.
2Mario+Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Mario+Rabbids Kingdom Battlecertainly earned a lot of fans within the first few years of the Switch’s life. While early adopters were clamoring for games, Ubisoft managed to pull off a successful blend of cartoon nonsense and turn-based strategy. This earned the game rightful praise.
But in the years that followed, the game was too easy to dismiss. If you only picked up a Switch within the last few years, you might have never considered giving the game a shot. If that sounds like you, you’re missing out. Not only is the game supremely silly, but this is the closest we’ll probably ever get toXCOM: Mario, and it’s especially addictive once it gets its hooks into you.
As a bonus, you can usually pick it up for next to nothing (even used copies are cheap since the game was often given away as a pack-in).
3WarioWare: Move It!
Though failing to reach the heady heights of beloved Wii titleSmooth Moves,Move It!is still fundamentally aWarioWaregame and for that we should all be grateful. The game follows the usual formula of offering a chaotic mix of microgames that best suit a multiplayer setting, though there’s the usual single-player mode to work your way through too.
Unlike 2021’sGet It Together!which introduced a poorly received character system where each player had special abilities (which affected how you approached the various activities),Move It!returns to the simple formula that defined the original titles.
If you’re looking for a party game that goes a little harder thanMario Partyand is well-suited to short bursts, this is the one.
4Endless Ocean Luminous
Endless Ocean Luminousis probably the most divisive title on this list. A sequel to 2009’sEndless Ocean 2for the Wii, the game received mixed reviews with reviewers from the likes of Famitsu and The Verge praising its unique andchill atmospherewhile GameSpot, IGN, and Digital Trends averaged a 5/10 rating.
Ultimately, this is a scuba diving simulator that emphasizes free-form exploration with no real goal in mind beyond documenting the marine life you encounter along the way. For that reason, it’s best to adjust your expectations before you go in (and maybe wait for a sale). There’s a whole cooperative multiplayer mode to partake in if you’re keen, too.
5Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp
Advance Warsis a franchise that debuted on the Game Boy Advance in 2001 and has since been remade and released on the Switch. Nintendo initially announced the game at E3 2021, with a release slated for later that same year but decided to delay the release when Russia invaded Ukraine. The game was eventually released in March 2022, with the delay probably not helping the game’s impact and eventual sales.
Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Campis a turn-based strategy game. Command a variety of units with various perks and drawbacks and use the terrain to your advantage while navigating obstacles. There’s a huge amount of content here since both games are rolled into a single package, with greatly improved visuals over the Game Boy Advance classic.
The game is often cited as the inspiration for modern masterpieceInto the Breach(which you canplay for free with a Netflix subscription).
6Golf Story
Golf Storyanswers a question that nobody asked: what if there was an RPG that solely revolved around golf mechanics? The game appeared from seemingly nowhere in 2017, long before the Switch secured its spot as Nintendo’s best-selling console. To date, it’s the only place you can go to experience this utterly unique adventure.
Delightful pixel-art graphics set across a range of courses keep the game fresh throughout. You’ll need to collect and choose your clubs carefully, use your swing to solve puzzles in the world, deal with unfavorable wind and topography, and eventually complete a full round of golf to progress the story.
It’s the perfect game if you enjoy “computer golf” but would fall asleep just looking at a real-life set of clubs.
7Snipperclips
A Nintendo Switch launch title,Snipperclipsis what happens when a company the size of Nintendo decides to make a delightful cooperative game to help sell its vision of detachable Joy-Cons. The game is designed for two-player co-operative play, and centers around solving a series of puzzles with a unique cutting mechanic.
As the name might imply,Snipperclipsinvolves cutting characters down to size in order to accomplish goals like balancing a pencil, transporting a ball, or filling in the outline of a shape. You snip by lining your character up with a buddy’s and hitting ZR.
The game embraces a loose and humorous playstyle, with cutesy characters and plenty of opportunities for hilarity as you cut your co-op partner down to size.
8Mario & Luigi: Brothership
The Switch is certainly showing its age at this point, which might be whyMario & Luigi: Brothershipstruggled out of the gate when it launched in late 2024. The game is the first entry in theMario & Luigifranchise sincePaper Jamin 2015, continuing in the usual RPG style in which players control both Mario and Luigi as they work to restore balance in the land of Concordia.
Players will need to work to reconnect splintered islands by solving puzzles and defeating bosses. The game features a combination of turn-based combat and timed button presses, which adds an engaging dynamic element to the core gameplay (a trope that’scommon in many JRPGs).
The game received mixed reviews but overall left a positive impression. While the visuals are unique and impressive, several reviewers criticized the performance. This might be one of those Switch games to play on theSwitch 2 when it finally launcheslater this year.
9Ape Out
Ape Outis a masterpiece of game design that everyone should experience at least once. The game puts you in the role of an ape who must escape increasingly complex mazes while being pursued by captors armed with guns. You must run, bludgeon, and outsmart your opponents in a bid to find your freedom. Sounds simple, right?
The real genius ofApe Outcomes from its soundtrack, a relentless dynamic score of jazz percussion that follows your every move. As a result, it’s well worth breaking out the headphones for this one.Ape Outonly ever released on the Nintendo Switch and Windows, so if you haven’t got a gaming PC then Nintendo’s handheld is your best bet.
As a fun aside, theofficialApe Outsoundtrackis an audio-only recording by the game’s author Gabe Cuzzillo.
10Dorfromantik
Dorfromantikfuses city building and puzzles, resulting in one of the most relaxed strategy games of a generation. The game presents you with a set of hexagonal tiles that you must place to score points. The main game mode has additional requirements, like making sure settlements reach a certain size, which requires some careful planning and plenty of luck.
There are six land types, including railroads and rivers that must be connected. Tiles cannot be moved once you’ve placed them, but you are able to see the next three tiles (though you can only play the top tile). The game also features a variety of additional play modes, including a zen mode in which you are left to your own devices to build beautiful landscapes.
Dorfromantikis only available on Windows and Nintendo Switch, though fans might be interested to hear thatDorfromantik: The Board Gameis also available (if you’re able to find it).
