10 Best Nintendo Switch Games Of 2024 (So Far)

Nintendo Switch players have had quite a year so far, with the likes of Balatro, Unicorn Overlord, and so many more released in 2024. From epic JRPGs and Nintendo-produced remakes, to surprise indie hits and cozy life sims, there’s really been something for everyone on the Nintendo Switch this year. There are a lot more games to release this year, but there’s a good chance many players have missed out on some of the best releases so far.

With many highly-anticipated Nintendo Switch games coming in 2024 to look forward to, Nintendo Switch owners are being treated to yet another year of incredible games. For those running out of titles to play, or for players who’ve only just picked up a Switch, the list of games actually worth playing is long, and sifting through them all to find the true gems is tough, but made so much easier when compiled into a comprehensive list. Whether it’s a JRPG or an indie players are looking for, the best games of 2024 on Nintendo Switch are sure to please everyone.

10 Megaton Musashi W: Wired (Level-5)

Mech-Based JRPG With Fully Customizable Mechs

Megaton Musashi W: Wired was a Japanese exclusive for quite some time, coming off the back of developer Level-5 shutting down its Western operations and all but condemning Yokai Watch fans to wait an eternity for the Yokai Watch 4 localization. Fortunately, Megaton Musashi W: Wired came to the West in 2024, and has been a bit of a sleeper hit ever since. Fans looking for an epic tale of teenagers fighting a deadly alien invasion in giant mech suits are in for an absolute treat.

Megaton Musashi W: Wired is split into two parts, the first being exploring a sleepy Japanese town full of shops to visit and arcade games to play, and the second seeing players fight giant aliens in a completely customizable mech suit. Players can switch out the weapons and body parts of their mech and even choose the color of each individual body part. There’s also an epic narrative to unfold full of fun and interesting characters, making Megaton Musashi W: Wired a truly unique mech-based JRPG well worth checking out.

9 Little Kitty, Big City (Double Dagger Studio)

Explore A Japanese City As An Adorable Cat

Little Kitty, Big City is a fun and cozy game about exploring a small open world as an adorable cat. The open world city is a vertical sandbox, allowing players to climb their way up to the rooftops and bound around on walls. There’s a plethora of activities to do as a mischievous cat, including complete quests, search for collectibles and more.

For cat enthusiasts, and those looking for a fun open-world sandbox on the Switch, Little Kitty, Big City is the perfect match. Despite its relatively short length, it manages to pack a lot of charm and content into the experience, and has plenty for players to busy themselves with, including dressing up the titular kitty. Little Kitty, Big City is perhaps the best cat simulator around, and does for kittens what Untitled Goose Game did for geese.

8 Fading Afternoon (Yeo)

Open-World Slice-Of-Life Yakuza Game

Developer Yeo has had an illustrious game dev career, producing the excellent school sim The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa and the contemplative action title Arrest of a Stone Buddha. However, Fading Afternoon is by far his greatest work, pooling together the life sim elements of Ringo Ishikawa and the action-packed gameplay of Stone Buddha to create a gorgeously detailed Yakuza game that would make the Yakuza franchise blush. Players take on the role of an aging Yakuza named Seiji Maruyama who must navigate the world of crime while dealing with his own existential crises.

In Fading Afternoon, players explore an interconnected open world filled with activities to do, take over and defend territory from other gangs, and embark on a beautifully written narrative that explores Maruyama and his philosophies on life. Fans of both the Yakuza series and the films of Takeshi Kitano will get a lot out of Fading Afternoon, as will avid pixel art enthusiasts, as it has some of the most beautifully done backgrounds in gaming. Fading Afternoon is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered, and fans can check out both of Yeo’s other games on Switch once they’re finished.

7 Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid (Millennium Kitchen/TOYBOX Inc.)

Open-World Slice-Of-Life Game Set In The Japanese Countryside

For fans of the best cozy games on the Nintendo Switch, Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is a must-play. This spiritual successor to the Boku No Natsuyasumi franchise sees players take on the role of a young boy as he spends his summer holiday exploring the Japanese countryside, catching bugs, playing with friends, and solving little mysteries. It’s an incredibly heartwarming experience that weaves a lovely tale of childhood, growing up, and family.

Surprisingly, Natsu-Mon manages to take the best elements of Breath of the Wild and integrate them into its vast open world. Players can complete quests to improve their stamina, and then go and climb the tallest mountain to find lost treasures. There’s a lot to discover in Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid, and its DLC, which is also available on Switch.

6 Lil’ Guardsman (Hilltop Studios)

Fantasy Version Of Papers, Please

Lil’ Guardsman is absolutely the fantasy version of Papers, Please, tasking players to interrogate a whole host of humans and fantasy creatures alike to see if they’re worthy of entering the castle. In Lil’ Guardsman, players take on the role of the fastidious 12-year-old Lil who, taking over their dad’s shift, must determine whether those wanting access to the castle are worthy. There are over 100 people to deal with, all of whom are voiced, with the player’s choices impacting the overall story.

Lil’ Guardsman also allows players to explore the Sprawl and meet its citizens, as well as engage in an overarching narrative that’s sure to delight fantasy fans. It’s a great indie game, one that was critically acclaimed upon release, garnering a Metacritic score of 82. With plenty of content to get through, players are sure to find Lil’ Guardsman an immersive and wonderful experience they won’t want to put down.

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5 Unicorn Overlord (Vanillaware)

A Complex JRPG Strategy Game

Unicorn Overlord is a vast and sprawling open-world SRPG that balances the epic scale of a JRPG narrative with complex strategy gameplay. Players take on the role of Alain as they attempt to liberate their once prosperous empire and remove the corrupt tyrant controlling it. Unicorn Overlord can be approached in any order players desire, although some areas are level-gated, pushing those who want a more linear experience down a certain path.

There are plenty of side quests and optional battles to take part in, as well as dozens of characters to meet and recruit, each with their own stories to engage with. Unicorn Overlord is absolutely brimming with content, making it easily one of the best reviewed Switch games in 2024. For fans of Fire Emblem, or just strategy games in general, Unicorn Overlord is a must-play.

4 Pentiment (Obsidian Entertainment)

Open-World Medieval Mystery Game

Pentiment releasing on the Nintendo Switch was a little bit of a surprise for everyone, as it had been, much like Hi-Fi Rush, an Xbox exclusive. Fortunately, it’s release on the Switch in 2024 meant that even more people could experience its excellent narrative-driven mystery experience set in a gorgeously reimagined version of 16th century Europe. In Pentiment, Screen Rant‘s 2022 Game of the Year, players explore the small Bavarian town of Tassing as they attempt to solve a series of mysteries by talking to the locals and uncovering clues.

The decisions players make, in classic Obsidian fashion, impact the world around them, making each one feel genuinely meaningful. Pentiment’s soundtrack and overall art design help bring to life the wonderfully written dialogue, making for an excellent narrative experience. It’s also a surprisingly long game too, giving players plenty of value for their buck.

3 Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance (Atlus)

Re-Release Of An Amazing JRPG With Even More Content

Atlus has a habit of re-releasing its games only with far more content and quality of life improvements. While in some cases, it isn’t always worth it, in the case of Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance, it is a completely transformative experience, adding an entire new campaign and several much-needed quality of life changes. Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance is not only a must-play for fans of the original game, but also for newcomers to the series.

Shin Megami 5: Vengeance is an epic JRPG with a sprawling narrative, a huge cast of memorable characters, a phenomenal soundtrack, and overall great art design. A lot of what made the original release frustrating has been removed, and in its place is a wealth of great new content. It’s hard not to recommend this to JRPG fans, or those looking to invest in a new lengthy experience.

2 Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Intelligent Systems)

Perfect Remake Of An Amazing Game

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is not a typical Mario game, as it features several RPG mechanics, combat, and a whole host of intricate puzzles. It’s slightly more narrative driven too, making for a fun experience familiar to fans of the Paper Mario franchise, and unique to those who are only aware of Mario’s main exploits. The Thousand-Year Door remake proved to be an excellent addition to the Switch’s vast library of games, thanks to its numerous quality of life updates.

The remake of The Thousand-Year Door features improved visuals, new content, improved mechanics across the board, and more. While it doesn’t add too much to the original experience, it didn’t really need to as it was already fairly perfect. Newcomers will be delighted with this experience, while veterans will surely enjoy the rush of nostalgia.

1 Balatro (LocalThunk)

Engrossing Poker Roguelike No One Should Miss

It’s perhaps surprising to think that Balatro, the plucky and incredibly innovative indie game, would go on to be one of the best reviewed games of 2024, and yet here it is, against all the odds. Balatro is beloved for so many reasons, but perhaps most of all is its intensely engrossing gameplay. For poker players and those who’ve never heard of the game, Balatro is an accessible and endlessly delightful experience.

Balatro has an impressive score of 90 on Metacritic, and has gone on to have crossovers with fellow indie smash hit Dave the Diver, and even The Witcher 3. It’s an impressive game that everyone should experience at least once. However, when it comes to Balatro, once it’s got its hooks in a player, it simply never lets go.

Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch is the successor to 2012’s Wii U console. The Nintendo Switch allows gamers to easily switch between playing on a TV to a handheld console. The first model was released in 2017, followed by the Nintendo Switch Lite, which is strictly a handheld console. In October 2021, Nintendo released an upgraded Switch console with an OLED screen.

Brand

Nintendo

Original Release Date

March 3, 2017

Original MSRP (USD)

$299.99

Weight

.71 lbs