2021 was a great year for digital and indie games on the Nintendo Switch. Everyone knows about the hits like Death’s Door, but not every game got the same critical acclaim or attention. Here are a few digital gems on the Nintendo Switch that you might have missed last year.
Cotton Reboot!
Who Is It For? Cotton isn’t exactly a household name in the United States, but that shouldn’t discredit how solid of a shoot ’em up series it is. Fans of the genre will want to take a look at this colorful piece of art. Players get to enjoy this short gem through a modern or retro lens with tons of presentation features that include visual and audio touches. Whether the player is a casual player or is chasing high scores, there is something for everyone in Cotton Reboot!
Black Book
Who Is It For? Anyone who is itching for more card-based RPG combat after playing Slay The Spire will be intrigued by Black Book. The game heavily leans on Russian lore with fantastic storytelling that involves a witch doing whatever it takes to bring her beloved back from the dead. The actual card battling is solid, though there are a few technical hiccups along the way. It’s not a perfect experience, but if players can buy into the story they will have a great time with Black Book.
Bustafellows
Who Is It For? Bustafellows is an exciting and fascinating visual novel that’s full of style, so anyone wanting a flashy visual novel will have a great time here. With an incredible presentation that is full of great art and voice acting, Bustafellows is an absolute treat. The characters aren’t for everyone, but the rest of the experience makes the cliches easy to forgive.
Trigger Witch
Who Is It For? Trigger Witch is a fairly short and focused experience. The action is tons of fun and there are tons of guns for players to have a good time with. Anyone who wants a 2D twin-stick game with tons of heart lots of gun puns will love what Trigger Witch has to offer.
Dreamscaper
Who Is It For? Anyone who had their first taste of rogue-lite games from Hades might want to jump into Dreamscaper. While the gameplay isn’t quite as refined as Supergiant Games’ masterpiece, it still entertains with tons of weapons and skills for players to explore. The somber and touching story about facing your own shortcomings and insecurities easily hits home, perfect for anyone who wants something like Hades but is more grounded.
Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle
Who Is It For? Those who feel nostalgia when they think of anime card games like Yu-Gi-Oh will feel right at home when playing Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle. Cygames has done a stellar job at delivering a highly satisfying single-player experience while also giving players the opportunity to play online in matchmaking. The best part is that every card can be unlocked in-game, making Shadowverse a game that can be fully enjoyed after the initial purchase.
Golf Club: Wasteland
Who Is It For? Anyone who is up for a 2D side-scrolling arcade golf game with a surprisingly touching story will be interested in this one. Golf Club: Wasteland takes place well after the end of the world, and players control an older golfer who just wants to see Earth one more time. A radio plays fun tunes while people share their stories of what life was like on Earth. It all comes together to be a delightful and powerful experience.
Dandy Ace
Who Is It For? Anyone looking for an accessible rogue-lite with bright colors and interesting mechanics will be interested in this Dandy Ace. The game has an isometric camera view with action-based combat. The skills are cards that players can tweak, giving Dandy Ace more depth than you would expect. It’s not the best game in its genre, but it’s a good time with tons of positive energy.
What The Dub?!
Who Is It For? Anyone who is into the Jackbox games will feel right at home with What The Dub?! The surprisingly entertaining game about inserting dialogue into movie clips is lots of fun with the right group. Of course, like most of these games, this won’t appeal to everyone, so make sure everyone in the room has the same sense of humor first.
Super Arcade Football
Who Is It For? Anyone is who up for a small, arcade soccer experience will appreciate Super Arcade Football. The story is admittedly atrocious and there is no franchise mode, but the actual soccer is fun for those who can look past that. 1 v 1 gameplay with friends is fun, and at this game’s cheap price tag, that’s enough.
Unmetal
Who Is It For? Anyone who misses the Metal Gear series will want to jump into Unmetal. This stealth game is so much more than a parody, it’s a complete love -letter. The humor is spot-on, the stealth is satisfying, and the pacing is superb. Unmetal suffers from some annoying boss bottles, but this is an otherwise stellar alternative to Metal Gear.
Overboard
Who Is It For? Anyone who loves a good murder mystery but wants to be the murderer will love Overboard. It isn’t a long experience, but it is a game full of secrets and endings, making it worth diving into over and over again.
Suzerain
Who Is It For? Have you ever wanted to be the President of a nation that is recovering from civil unrest? Maybe not, but Suzerain ensures that this is actually an enjoyable experience. Anyone who is open to visual novels and a deep political narrative will enjoy Suzerain. It’s not particularly deep in the gameplay department, but what Suzerain does, it does well.
Loop Hero
Who Is It For? Anyone who loves satisfying gameplay loops and incredibly retro gameplay will adore Loop Hero. This brutal game will keep players coming back for more and more. The RPG elements work well with the card and tableau mechanisms, making Loop Hero a near-masterpiece with only a few shortcomings.
Wytchwood
Who Is It For? Wytchwood is great for those who love crafting and exploration. It doesn’t really have any combat, but it makes up for that with a satisfying gameplay loop and charming presentation. The storybook visuals are nothing short of beautiful, and the game’s wonderful exploration effectively showcases these visuals.
Unreal Life
Who Is It For? Anyone who is looking for a unique narrative with a beautiful message about growth will be intrigued with Unreal Life. This tale doesn’t have the best gameplay or even story, but the presentation is gorgeous and successfully makes players feel every emotion necessary to connect to the character.
The Wild At Heart
Who Is It For? Do you want more Pikmin? While The Wild At Heart isn’t a Pikmin clone, it does draw from a lot of the mechanics that make the iconic franchise so great. Really, The Wild At Heart borrows tons of Nintendo mechanics, so if you want a Nintendo sampler with gorgeous visuals, this might be the game for you.
Sword of the Necromancer
Who Is It For? In her review, Lilith perfectly described just who Sword of the Necromancer is for. “Have you ever played Shadow of the Colossus and thought to yourself, ‘I mean yeah this is pretty good, but it’d be even better if it was gay’? If you answered ‘yes,’ then boy howdy do I have the game for you!” Sword of the Necromancer is a fun dungeon crawler with a wonderful story, making it something worth checking out even if the gameplay loop isn’t perfect.
Saviors of Sapphire Wings / Stranger of Sword City Revisited
Who Is It For? Anyone who can’t get enough of solid dungeon crawlers will likely adore Saviors of Sapphire Wings / Stranger of Sword City Revisited. This bundle includes a solid dungeon crawler that was previously only available on the PS Vita and the all-new Saviors of Sapphire Wings. Both games have some shortcomings, but NIS America has added some quality-of-life additions that make both games a joy to play through.
Necrobarista: Final Pour
Who Is It For? A visual novel with an incredibly unique visual flair is what you get when you play Necrobarista. Those who are interested in trying out a visual novel with 3D visuals and a neat outlook on death should certainly cozy up to Necrobarista.
