This holiday season is the swan song for the Nintendo Switch. When Nintendo talked about its long-awaited Switch successor it told us a lot Will be announced by April 2025But Nintendo thankfully hasn't got any seniority issues as it looks to graduate to Switch sequels, as several excellent titles arrived on the nearly eight-year-old console in 2024. So we're taking a look at some of our favorite games on Switch for 2024. One nice thing about this year's Switch titles offering is that they should all be working on a Switch follow-up – Since Nintendo has confirmed that its next generation will be backwards-compatible(And hopefully any performance issues with the game on the current Switch will be resolved when playing on the next model, if we're very lucky.)
We'll all have to be patient as we wait for the Switch's successor, but these games are undoubtedly worthy of playing during the final months of your current Nintendo console.
I know there are a handful of us on staff for this Balatro This was our personal game of the year, and I don't think any of us are gamblers or big fans of poker. That's the beauty of this indie roguelike; You don't need to be a fan of card games or know anything about poker to enjoy its unique dopamine rush. From music and sound effects to lo-fi visuals, Balatro Hits all the right notes to hook you and lock you in. You may find yourself muttering “just one more run” at times. Next thing you know, it's 3 in the morning and the baby will be up in a few hours – or maybe that last part is just me.
Princess Zelda finally gets her own game, letting you play as her full-time in The Legend of Zelda The real Zelda. it It may not be perfect in its implementationBut it's a worthwhile adventure where Zelda solves puzzles and defeats baddies by summoning previously defeated enemies and everyday objects.
There is an atmosphere of mystery all around Animal Well that could happen tempt you Or just plain confuses youIf you're the kind of person who likes to skip any guides and figure everything out on your own, there's a really good chance you'll love this pixelated 2D platformer. it's a little mixed mario-Open exploration and jumping puzzles with a Metroidvania feeling of adventure – complete with some Mysterioso vibes.
Image: Fellow Traveler Games
1000xresistance It takes place in a postapocalyptic world where the arrival of an alien race drives humanity underground. You play the role of the Watcher, one of several clones of a young girl who is somehow immune to a mass disease brought about by alien occupiers. And of course, not everything is as it seems. This is definitely capital-S, capital-F Science-Fiction.
It's been a big year mario rpg. But after its remake super mario rpg and recreater of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Mario and Luigi: Brotherhood Shows us that our favorite plumbing duo can still keep things fresh in the roleplaying space. brotherhood It features a light-hearted and playful story, fun turn-based combat, and an adorable art style. You can sum up how charming this game is with one singular, two-word game mechanic: Luigi Logic.
Be prepared to feel emotions. neva river is the latest indie from the developer of grisAnd besides being a beautiful work of visual art, it tells a story about caring for a baby fox that will definitely make some people cry (especially if you're a parent).
“I want to take you for a walk.” And how awesome is this classic fighting game collection, which includes various Marvel and Capcom crossovers 2D fighters and even the Punisher The beat-'em-up that began a long-running collaboration. It's worth the price of admission to finally get this best collection marvel vs capcom 2 On modern consoles, complete with online play.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown The first gem was the year 2024, which was coming out in January. Fast forward to October, and sadly, Ubisoft Disbanded your development teamBut lost crown remains a wonderful side-scrolling Metroidvania/Soulslike mash-up with some challenging (yet very fun) combat and platforming. And while the game world is large enough that there's a lot to see, the game respects the player's time by offering helpful in-game tools – like pinning screenshots to the map.
pepper grinder is a unique 2D platformer that forces you to go under and above ground with a drill, dolphin-diving into its colorful ghost-filled world. The game's core mechanic feels frenetic and extremely rewarding as you skillfully navigate the world's obstacles through your practice and the violent path of fallen enemies. After this, its speed is increased by adding a grappling hook later. Be still my beating heart. (No, really, the fast action sometimes gets my heart rate up — in a fun way, not a worrying way.)
Image: Annapurna Interactive
If you've ever enjoyed an escape room, chances are you've delved into Lorelei and laser eyesIts smooth black, white and red art style and eerie setting fill the game with a sense of mystery, and its challenging puzzles are sure to tickle your brain. Just be prepared to take notes, so you don't get overwhelmed when the game forces you to think outside the box – or do basic math.