Indie games have been highly successful in recent years, with more and more indie developers picking up small studios and helping them release their titles.
While the AAA studios are constantly launching disaster after disaster, indie studios are offering more often than not true gems. While they don’t have the shiniest graphics, they more than makeup for it with innovative approaches to gameplay and storytelling. And the Nintendo Switch has been an excellent home for indie developers since the console itself caters to these types of games. Let’s quickly look at some of the best Nintendo Switch indie games money can buy right now.
Hollow Knight
Even though the titular character looks adorable, don’t be mistaken. He is a competent fighter that you will help out throughout his quest to save Hallownest. A horrible magical disease has overtaken this imaginary bug “kingdom,” and it will be up to you to figure out what happened. Along your journey, you will unlock various weapons and special abilities to help you navigate levels. The game is a true Metroidvania-styled platformer, having you backtrack to take on previously impossible challenges. Plenty of enemies will stand in your way, as well as bosses that will test your mettle. Fans of platformers definitely need to try out this title if they haven’t already. Hollow Knight also made our list of the best Switch platformers.
The Messenger
An 8 and 16-bit homage to the old Ninja Gaiden games, The Messenger offers plenty of surprises along the way. At first, it might seem like a regular platformer with various abilities that you pick up to navigate the levels. But after a point, the game turns into a true Metroidvania experience, forcing you to return to older levels with new abilities at your disposal. While the story is simplistic, it adds enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. It even jumps between 8-bit and 16-bit styled graphics depending on the time period you are in, which is a cool touch for retro gaming enthusiasts.
Undertale
An interesting foray into the JRPG genre, Undertale is a unique title that has garnered much praise from critics and fans alike. The game pits you as a small child that accidentally falls into the “land of monsters”. You will soon discover that monsters and humans coexisted in the past, but nowadays, monsters have been banished deep underground. Along your efforts to return home, you will interact with countless monsters, some friendly and some not so friendly. With multiple endings and choices to make along the way, Undertale offers plenty of replayability.
Cursed to Golf
A cute combination of golf and dungeon-crawling gameplay, Cursed to Golf is a unique title. You take control of a golfer that was struck by lightning and now finds himself in a limbo-like realm where he has to golf his way out. Every level has countless puzzles that only precise golf shots can solve. As you progress, levels get trickier and trickier, but plenty of power-ups and special abilities help you along the way. Even if you’re not a golf fan, this is an experience you must try for yourself.
OlliOlli World
Continuing the success of the OlliOlli series, OlliOlli World takes things to the next level. You will take on the role of a young skater in Radlandia, where skating is a way of life. You will face countless tracks that will test your skating skills in a beautifully rendered and animated 2.5D world. Don’t be fooled by the cartoony exterior, though. OlliOlli World is just as difficult as past games in the series, and you will have to spend a few hours learning the ropes.
Neon White
If FPS games are your jam, then Neon White has an interesting twist on the genre for you. Emphasizing speed and precision, the game throws you into levels you must quickly navigate while taking out various enemies. Neon White forces you to act quickly since your overall score for a level is influenced by time and accuracy. To spice things up, there is a deck system where every card gives you a power-up or a specific weapon. You will have to pick up these cards throughout a level and adapt to each of them in order to succeed. While not an extremely hard game, getting used to the breakneck pacing will take a while.
Stardew Valley
One of the most successful indie games in recent years, Stardew Valley has sold millions of copies. And it’s made by a single-man team, which is impressive in itself. After taking over your grandpa’s ageing farm, it will be up to you to bring it back to its former glory days. Farm, mine, chop trees and take on various enemies as you try to turn a profit. Interact with NPCs, offer them gifts, or even marry one. Everything is up to you, and the pacing never forces you to hurry up for anything. So if you’re looking for a game you can relax with, Stardew Valley is one of your best options.
Owlboy
An indie platformer that took almost nine years to make, Owlboy puts you in control of the titular character as he tries to save his dying world. You will be faced with countless enemies and puzzles along the way. New abilities will be unlocked in true Metroidvania fashion, some of them let you access new areas. It’s easy to see that this game was a labor of love, from the unique gameplay mechanics to the beautifully drawn 16-bit graphics. If you plan on trying out at least one game on this list, Owlboy should definitely be that game.
There are plenty of other indie titles you should try out for the Nintendo Switch. And while some of them can’t match up with the bigger boys regarding graphics, they more than makeup for it with other elements. With plenty of upcoming Nintendo Switch games on the horizon, the Switch is nowhere near the end of its life cycle.
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