2022 was a great year for digital and indie games on the Nintendo Switch. Everyone knows about the hits like Splatoon 3 or Neon White, 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.

Did you miss our previous years? Check out our lists for Nintendo eShop games you might have missed in 2021 and in 2020. Some might even be on sale now for the holidays!

Vagante

Who Is It For? Anyone who enjoys the punishing mechanics of games like La-Mulana will enjoy what Vagante has to offer. This procedurally generated dungeon crawler is full of style, approaches, and secrets for the player to explore. Despite the high difficulty curve, Vagante keeps pulling the player back for more, and the sense of progression is nothing short of satisfying.

Popslinger

Who Is It For? Anyone who yearns for that sweet, retro 90’s Japanese cartoon aesthetic will be drawn to Popslinger rather quickly. The musical-shooter nails the aesthetically perfectly while still delivering entertaining gameplay. The shooting challenges are genuinely challenging too, making the game great and balanced on all fronts.

Retro Bowl

Who Is It For? If you want American football on the Nintendo Switch, your only options are Mutant Football League (Which is solid but a little cringy) and Retro Bowl. Retro Bowl should be the choice for just about anyone. It’s affordable, addicting, and offers a much more rewarding arcade experience than one would expect. This port runs wonderfully, and the only thing Retro Bowl is missing is multiplayer.

Ocean’s Heart

Who Is It For? Ocean’s Heart will instantly appeal to players who yearn for 2D T he Legend of Zelda games. It wears its inspiration on its sleeve and isn’t exactly creative, but it plays well. If players can look past the lack of strong puzzles and a few gameplay hiccups, they will fall for the game’s bright and nostalgic aesthetics.

The Legend of Tianding

Who Is It For? This one has a little something for just about everyone. The Legend of Tianding is a solid brawler, an enthralling storyteller, and a masterclass in presentation. If you are looking for a side-scrolling brawler with RPG elements and an engaging story, this is the one.

Maglam Lord

Who Is It For? In our review of Maglam Lord, we said that “If you like sweet romance, found family, and gay people, we recommend giving this one a shot.” That summarizes this hybrid RPG/Dating Sim quite well. The gameplay is bland, but the aesthetics and vibes that Maglam Lord gives off are worth staying around for.

Monark

Who Is It For? If you’re interested in a slightly different take on strategic JRPGs, absolutely give Monark a go. I’ve only ever seen its unique style of battles in one other game, Lost Dimension, which happens to be by the same developer – be forewarned, however, that the battle system includes some pretty atrocious grind. Those who are willing to stick it out will be rewarded with a very real and genuinely human story and some banger tunes.

Demon Gaze EXTRA

Who Is It For? We didn’t see too many dungeon crawlers this year, so fans of the genre will want to check out Demon Gaze EXTRA. It’s not a mind-blowing game by any means, but it is above average in just about every way in the genre, with nice art to complement the gameplay.

Land of the Screens

Who Is It For? Land of the Screens is a nice, short outing for players who like games that have a lot to say. The commentary on the effects of social media and anxiety is effective, and the characters are easy to connect with.

Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus

Who Is It For? Fans of FMV games like Dark Nights With Poe and Munro or Night Book will enjoy what Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus has to offer. It’s another charming game with solid acting and interesting characters. This is also a fun game for fans of murder mysteries.

Ikai

Who Is It For? Ikai is lacking in visuals and budget but makes up for it with quality scares and a neat mechanic or two. It feels dated, but sometimes it does in the best way, making this a solid horror game for horror game enthusiasts.

Happy’s Humble Burger Farm

Who Is It For? Any horror fan who is looking for a game that’s a little weird will be happy with what Happy’s Humble Burger Farm gives them. The OG PlayStation visuals look great, and the gameplay loop consisting of cooking and surviving just works. This is a sneaky contender for horror game of the year.

Cat Cafe Manager

Who Is It For? This is a game for cozy simulator fans. Cat Cafe Manager is quirky, satisfying, and has nice visuals. It will remind players of Stardew Valley more often than not, and that of course isn’t a bad thing.

Haven (And It’s Couple Update)

Who Is It For? Those who like a side of combat and exploration for their character-driven story. Though there are really only two characters in this game, it presents a very heartful and compelling look into their relationship while also including moments of humor and sensuality. Also, lovers of gay little freaks (affectionate).

Andro Dunos 2

Who Is It For? Andro Dunos 2 is likely the best 2D side-scrolling shooter of the year, with the only competitor being the next game on this list. Because of this, fans of shooters should pick this one up and…

Cotton Fantasy

Who Is It For? Cotton Fantasy is the rebirth of the cute ’em up franchise that has been slowly building up on the Switch since the remakes started last year. It’s bright, and colorful, and appeals to both the hardcore and casual crowd.

Variable Barricade

Who Is It For? Variable Barricade is a fun and light otome game that’s perfect for people looking to start playing romance visual novels. It’s got great art and a fun and comedic narrative but isn’t going to blow your mind. A great addition to the Otome genre though and the flowchart system will be enough to keep gamers after all the endings satisfied.

Cult of the Lamb

Who Is It For? Cult of the Lamb is an adorably cute and fiendishly quirky game that blends together the elements of a rogue-like game and a life simulation. You play as a lamb who becomes a cult leader and your goal is to maintain and grow your very own cult of cute animals, whilst slowly dethroning the other ‘gods’ in hectic dungeon crawls. It’s a lot of fun and perfect for those who want something to scratch the itch whilst waiting for Hades 2 to release.

Citizen Sleeper

Who Is It For? Citizen Sleeper is an incredibly well-written science fiction game about humanity. It’s also great for tabletop fans, as it uses some roleplaying mechanics in the background. A great narrative, cyberpunk aesthetics, and a killer soundtrack rounds out the experience.

Mini Motorways

Who Is It For? Planners who can spend hours on simple games with addicting, yet challenging loops will love what Mini Motorways has to offer. Players simply need to connect houses to the businesses of the corresponding colors with roads, but avoiding congestion is harrowing. It’s a fun pick-up-and-play game that will always call players back.

Card Shark

Who Is It For? True to its name, Card Shark is a game for those who want to bet high and win every time. This is a game that focuses on the art of trickery and deception rather than actually playing a hand of cards. This isn’t a card game sim in the slightest; it’s a cheating sim.

AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative

Who Is It For? Lovers of Kotaro Uchikoshi’s work first (especially the previous AI: The Somnium Files) and aficionados of buck-wild visual novels in general second. Though the game tells you you needn’t have played the first game in the series to enjoy this one, I personally would not recommend taking that route, but either way, you’re in for a wild ride absolutely brimming with Uchikoshi’s signature insane brilliance.

Pocky & Rocky Reshrined

Who Is It For? Pocky & Rocky is a neat part of video game history, and anyone who fancies themselves a historian who enjoys shoot ’em-ups will enjoy Pocky & Rocky Reshrined. A top-down shooter with cute aesthetics and tons of oni for the player to shoot, this one is nothing short of a good time.

Redo!

Who Is It For? There are tons of excellent metroidvanias out there, but fans of the genre tend to be rabid and consume every game they can. Redo is for them, with solid gameplay and a great atmosphere. It is far from the top of the class, but it’s worth checking out if a player has exhausted all of the heavy hitters.

Autonauts

Who Is It For? If the superb Factorio hasn’t completely satisfied your perpetual motion machine itch, Autonauts will help. It’s a surprisingly deep machine builder that allows for tons of programming. The cutesy visuals are misleading – This is a game that rewards those who stick around and learn the mechanics.

Mothmen 1966

Who Is It For? Fans of visual novels and adventure games who want something a little more retro and spooky should be delighted by Mothmen 1966. The visuals come straight from the 80s and the narrative is nothing short of compelling.

Little Orpheus

Who Is It For? Fans of movies and side-scrolling action games will be delighted by Little Orpheus. This little gem experienced significant delays due to the war and lost marketing momentum. Despite this, Little Orpheus deserves to be played.

Lost In Play

Who Is It For? Just about everyone. The visuals are striking. The story is full of charm. The puzzles are engaging. This is an adventure puzzle game that will bring players back to their childhoods, making it a must-play that isn’t talked about enough.

Arcade Paradise

Who Is It For? Arcade Paradise will appeal to two audiences. Players who miss old arcade machines and players who enjoy management simulators will both enjoy this one. The management has a great sense of progression, and there are a few machines that are actually fun to play. Anyone who likes both will get their money’s worth.

Blossom Tales 2

Who Is It For? Fans of 2D Zelda will want to check out this series. Blossom Tales 2 is a sequel, so players should check out the original game first. This sequel falls short of the original in quality, but it is still an excellent game with great visuals.

Idol Manager

Who Is It For? Anime fans and those who love management sims will sink plenty of time into Idol Manager. It’s a deeper experience than one would expect, and the narrative explores the dark aspects of idol culture.

Dawn of the Monsters

Who Is It For? Beat ’em up fans should already be playing Dawn of the Monsters. It’s one of the most well-rounded games in the genre since Streets of Rage 4. If players like kaiju movies, this one is even better.

Signalis

Who Is It For? Horror Fans. No, Really. It is a masterclass in tension and narrative, with an emotional and layered story that worms its way into your brain and sticks there. Signalis is an instant classic in the truest sense.

Kardboard Kings

Who Is It For? Kardboard Kings is there for fans of both management simulators and trading card games. There isn’t much to the short story, but there are tons to enjoy throughout the game’s sandbox-style of managing a game shop. It’s full of life, cute, and has a lot of cute easter eggs.

If starting a card shop is too much for you, consider just playing solitaire on solitaire-masters.com.

The Cruel King and The Great Hero

Who Is It For? Lovers of classic JPRGs, particularly those who are also fond of fairy tales. Cruel King feels in many ways like a return to the days of simpler turn based battle mechanics, albeit with some modern conveniences that makes it easier to play than the games of yore. Add to that a positively delightful storybook plot and setting with a colorful and memorable cast of supporting characters and you get one of the year’s brightest hidden gems.

Chained Echoes

Who Is It For? Classic JRPGs should be able to glance at Chained Echoes and see that it is for them. It avoids the pitfalls of most modern games trying to imitate the SNES days, while paying homage. The turn-based RPG has gotten some fantastic love over the last few years, and Chained Echoes is another reminder that the genre isn’t dead. It’s a must play for any turn-based fanatic.

The Knight Witch

Who Is It For? It might be another shoot ’em up, at a glance, but The Knight Witch also crosses into the metroidvania space well. It isn’t the best game in either genre, but The Knight Witch has enough going for it make it worth playing. It will test your patience with unfair difficulty spikes, so The Knight Witch certainly isn’t for players who aren’t all in.

I Was A Teenage Exocolonist

Bonus Mini-Review From Ryan Easby: I Was A Teenage Exocolonist is an interesting beast of a game. You’re landing on an alien planet for the first time as a child, and you get to play through ten full years of your life. Sounds relatively simple right? Well, it’s not.

You’ve done this before. And you’ll do this again. And you’ll do it again. And again. And again. And again. Making choices that affect how people perceive you, saving people you know die, and making sure that chaos doesn’t take over. There are multiple different potential career paths, and romances, all with their own endings and quirks. What’s interesting about I Was A Teenage Exocolonist is how beautiful the entire game is, with a gorgeous art style and a card-based gameplay system that’s easy to understand, yet difficult to master.

You have full control over your character’s appearance, their pronouns, their best friend, and their lives. While I’ve not yet got every single ending or had everybody I want to survive actually survive one playthrough, I’m absolutely going to. It’s an incredibly engrossing world, and once you know exactly what’s happening here you can streamline a run dramatically. It’s refreshing to have a game of this nature where the characters are fleshed out, where your choices ACTUALLY matter rather than being a drop in an ocean. Oh, and it’s a perfect handheld game. It runs incredibly well, can be paused and gone back to without much trouble, and won’t cause your battery life to suffer.

Now, you need to get out there. You’re going to be dead soon, and then you’re going to be alive again. The beauty of the world and the majesty of life is at your fingers, and you can make everything perfect, just as it should be.