The Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2024 So Far – Balatro, Pentiment, Mediterranea Inferno, UNI2, Unicorn Overlord, and More – TouchArcade Leave a comment

With the primary quarter of the yr behind us, there have been so many superb video games hitting Swap with many extra to return. Even seven years later, it continues to get nice exclusives, ports, and new video games. I’ve put collectively an inventory of the very best Swap video games of 2024 thus far throughout a wide range of genres from video games Shaun and myself have performed. As common, this checklist is in no specific order, and I’ve included a mixture of new releases and ports of older video games that play superb on Swap. Keep tuned for extra Swap recreation protection within the close to future highlighting particular genres and in addition one thing particular.

The Greatest Nintendo Swap Video games of 2024 So Far

Unicorn Overlord

After I reviewed Unicorn Overlord, I discussed how I felt it was too quickly to say if it was my favourite technique RPG, nevertheless it positively is up there. I like the gameplay, music, visuals, and story. Vanillaware by no means misses and Unicorn Overlord feels excellent on Nintendo Swap in handheld mode. This one is crucial. Simply get the demo should you aren’t certain it’s for you. It’s price it.

Princess Peach: Showtime!

Princess Peach: Showtime!, like Bayonetta Origins, didn’t make the very best first impression in its demo. It opens up and is extra fascinating than I anticipated with the same old Good-Really feel model you’d anticipate. Whereas it’s positively aimed toward a youthful viewers, Princess Peach: Showtime! has good replay worth and appears wonderful on the OLED display screen in handheld mode. I simply hope it will get a number of updates to enhance efficiency in elements and in addition to skip a few of the cut-scenes when revisiting performs. One different facet I haven’t seen talked about a lot is the sport’s nice soundtrack. Hopefully Nintendo releases it on disc or streaming sooner or later.

Pentiment

Pentiment is a powerful expertise from begin to end on Nintendo Swap with its beautiful visuals on the OLED display screen. When you skipped it earlier than on PC and Xbox, now’s the time to rectify your error and play one of many best video games of the previous few years. It may not be for everybody, however Obsidian’s historic narrative-driven recreation is an important. Hopefully it will get touchscreen help in a future replace as a result of I’ve no complaints barring that.

Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown

When it hit earlier this yr on Swap, Shaun mentioned Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown was a shocking entry in each the Prince of Persia collection and the Metroidvania style. He additionally praised how good it felt all through its prolonged runtime. I agree with him. Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown feels excellent to play and it is likely to be my favourite newer recreation within the style. Give the demo a shot should you aren’t certain. It feels tremendous good on Swap.

Spirit Hunter: Dying Mark II

No matter whether or not you’re new to the collection or not, Spirit Hunter: Dying Mark II is crucial for horror and journey recreation followers. It has a number of small issues holding it again from being excellent, however it’s simply probably the greatest video games of 2024 thus far, and an ideal match to play on Swap in handheld mode. I can’t wait to see what the staff does subsequent.

Shiren the Wanderer: The Thriller Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island

My first style of a Shiren the Wanderer recreation was on PS Vita years in the past with the fifth entry. Since then, we noticed ports, however lastly had a brand-new entry in Shiren the Wanderer: The Thriller Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island that’s at present unique to Nintendo Swap. Not solely is Shiren the Wanderer: The Thriller Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island a incredible recreation, nevertheless it has been unimaginable seeing how the collection handles its personal even in 2024 with this entry. Shiren the Wanderer: The Thriller Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is a perfectly designed thriller dungeon recreation and RPG.

Below Evening In-Start II Sys:Celes

We don’t see too many preventing video games hit Swap alongside different platforms, however UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes has been superlative in each method. Not solely does its aesthetic really feel proper at residence in handheld mode with its scaling and beautiful colours on the OLED, however the gameplay continually surprises me. UNI2 is the sport that acquired me to make use of my leverless extra on Swap as properly, however I even have loved taking part in it with my 8BitDo controllers. I like nearly all the pieces UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes has to supply from its gameplay to on-line and music. This one is a winner.

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley managed to completely mix its various solid, beautiful visuals, superb audio virtually all through its 4 hours or so runtime. Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley isn’t going to be for everybody, however I loved the relaxed exploration and easy puzzles fairly a bit. Whilst somebody largely new to the model, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley was stress-free expertise to play as a break from the more-involved RPGs which were releasing recently.

Balatro

I really feel like I’ve written about Balatro greater than anything recently, however it’s that rattling good. When you’ve one way or the other missed my 5/5 Swap evaluation, interview with LocalThunk, and this week’s Steam Deck function together with it, Balatro is pure bliss, however I shouldn’t be getting you hooked on it. Simply don’t purchase it. Belief me. Save your self. I’m going again for yet another run now whereas cooking dinner.

Mediterranea Inferno

A reductive method of describing Mediterranea Inferno could be an arthouse movie instructed within the model of a Suda51 recreation. If that sounds interesting to you alongside the premise, you’ll not be disillusioned. I like how Mediterranea Inferno blends horror, humor, need, and different subjects in a method that engrosses you from begin to end. The hanging aesthetic can also be an ideal match for the Swap’s OLED display screen. Hopefully it will get touchscreen help sooner or later.

Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story

The Making of Karateka noticed Digital Eclipse set the bar supremely excessive, however Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story exhibits that the staff is able to overdelivering, and surpassing how good that unique launch was. Given the a part of Jeff Minter’s profession this ends at, I hope Digital Eclipse does a second launch specializing in his later video games together with the cell ones. Till then, Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story is an important launch in 2024 should you care about video games historical past or like Jeff Minter’s video games.

Bonus

Splatoon 3 Facet Order

Since this is part of a DLC bundle, I included it as a bonus. Splatoon 3: Growth Move Wave 2 – Facet Order (fairly a mouthful of a reputation) is a incredible roguelite mode that made me get again to taking part in Splatoon 3 usually after dropping it some time in the past. Whereas it could not hit the set-piece highs as previous recreation expansions, that is precisely what I wished to see from Splatoon as a collection relating to DLC. I hope this mode is included within the subsequent recreation as properly. The staff nailed all the pieces right here, and if it ever does get extra added by means of free updates, it will likely be excellent. When you personal Splatoon 3, that is completely price getting.

That’s it for this function on the very best Swap video games of 2024 thus far. When you’ve not learn the Steam Deck and cell ones but, test them out right here and right here. When you performed one thing this yr on Swap that you just suppose I ought to’ve included or need us to strive, please tell us within the feedback beneath. Thanks for studying.