A Thinker in Space

The Nintendo Switch is deep into its life cycle now, and because of this, there have been thousands of games to grace switch screens all over the world. Tons of high profile titles have been released, from Super Mario Odyssey to the most recent editions to the Pokémon franchise. Alongside these titles, however, thousands of smaller companies have taken a foray into the world of this console/handheld hybrid, and have come through with some of the best games the Switch has to offer. So let’s take a look at some of these lower-profile but still incredible releases that have come out for the Switch in the past 4 years, and maybe you’ll find a new game that piques your interest!

NOTE: These games are in no particular order or ranking – they are each excellent releases in their own right.

1. Thimbleweed Park

Available on all current platforms.

Thimbleweed Park is fantastic homage to the point-and-click mystery puzzle games of the previous generation, such as Maniac Mansion and The Secret of Monkey Mansion (both excellent genre-establishing games in their own right). This game is a side-scroller – you play as a variety of different characters to investigate and explore the town of Thimbleweed Park, a strange, backroad borough with tons of interesting and amusing characters to talk to.

In classic point-and-click adventure style, each playable character has a separate inventory, forcing you to juggle items between them to solve each puzzle that comes your way. Overall, this is an excellent, quirky journey that will continue to make you smile even when the solution to the problem you are trying to tackle remains unclear.

2. Towerfall

Available on all current platforms.

Towerfall is a simple game – you are an archer on a 2D Pixelated map, and you shoot arrows to destroy other creatures (or players) on the map to achieve victory. However, its simplicity does not take away from the exciting, fast paced action that Towerfall boasts. There are two main modes – a Co-Op campaign that can be played with 1-4 players, and a Player-vs-Player mode that can be played with up to 6 archers on the Switch (other platforms only have 4-player PvP, but because of the Switch’s ability to connect up to 8 controllers, the company remade the maps so that they could be enjoyed with up to 6 players). Both modes are equally excellent in their own right, and, with the right group of people, the PvP can offer hours upon hours of gameplay.

The gameplay is simple – it is simply shoot, jump, move, and dash. You play on a Pac-Man style map (if you fall through the pit at the bottom, you will come out the top of the map, and if you walk through a hole on the left or right you will appear on the other side of the screen) and try to defeat your opponents. The Co-Op mode has a variety of different enemies, including some extremely satisfying boss battles. I highly recommend this game for someone looking for a challenging but fun fast-paced combat experience best played with friends!

3. Divinity: Original Sin 2

Available on all current platforms.

Where to begin. This game is definitely more high-profile than the other games on this list, being released by Larian Studios, a longtime producer of RPGs. This game takes heavy inspiration from the Baldur’s Gate games of old, and is not only one of the best games available on Switch, but is one of the best games this reviewer has ever played.

Divinity Original Sin 2 is technically the second game in its series, and is one of many games in the long-running Divinity series, but there is no requirement to go back and play Divinity Original Sin, this game’s direct predecessor. I have heard it is excellent, but have never played it myself. It places you into a fantastical world rich with lore, and gives you a fully interactive environment. All combat is turn-based, making this feel like an authentic role-playing experience, allowing you to follow the campaign and take as many detours as you want to complete any side quests you feel like tackling, or explore any areas on the map. The game rewards you well for going off the main path and gives you many solutions to the puzzles and battles you will face.

This game is fully worth the $50 price tag, but occasionally goes on sale for $35 on the eshop. The sheer number of satisfying gameplay hours you get from this purchase makes it in my eyes one of the highest value games on the market for the switch.

And there you have it! These games are all available today on eshop, and are each excellent editions to any fan’s Nintendo Switch gaming catalogue.

Are there any sleeper hits on the Switch that you love and you want to share with others? Leave a comment telling us your favorite underrated Switch game below!

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(Underrated Games #1)

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