Top 12 Underrated Nintendo Switch Games

Last updated on January 19th, 2023 at 09:53 am

The Nintendo Switch, which features a number of well-known brands and characters, has emerged as the ideal partner for home alone time. It’s unfortunate that so many fantastic games have to sit there virtually collecting virtual dust when there are literally thousands of games on the Switch.

Since the Switch eShop’s introduction, it has been challenging to keep up with the sheer volume of software that is added on a weekly basis. Despite our best efforts, it has been harder and harder to evaluate every Switch game we’d like to.

Mini-reviews are one way we’ve dealt with the problem. Over the last year or so, we’ve also sent out sporadic requests to Nintendo Life readers for recommendations for titles we’ve missed, and these have resulted in some fantastic reader recommendations.

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Here is our list of 12 Underrated Nintendo switch games. So, let’s get started.


12 Underrated Nintendo Switch Games

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  • 1. Kaze and the Wild Masks

Underrated Nintendo switch games

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What Kaze and the Wild Masks lacks in novelty, it makes up for with the brilliance of its level design, snappy controls, fluid move set, and appealing aesthetics. It is an utter delight from beginning to end.

Through and through excellent, action-packed platforming, with amazing gameplay variation and gimmicks that don’t sacrifice what the game excels at – difficult, quick-paced obstacle courses and cunningly concealed secret locations. best sell?

Like Freedom Planet was to Sonic the Hedgehog, Kaze and the Wild Masks is to Donkey Kong Country. Do not skip this. It is our best game in the list of Underrated Nintendo switch games.


  • 2. Ape Out

Underrated Nintendo switch games

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A top-down fighting game in which you play as an evasive gorilla. The game is chaotic, and the violent beat-’em-up action combined with the bright color scheme created a deep effect on my mind. The game’s crowning achievement is its music; fast-paced jazz not only encourages your misadventures but also your aggression.

There could be a few cymbal crashes if a hillbilly bangs his head against the wall. When he grabs someone and uses them as a human shield while being shot by his friend, a cheeky six-piece drum fill could start. There are countless options.


  • 3. Dreamscaper

Underrated Nintendo switch games

Dreamscaper, an action roguelike (with some puzzles, too) with an intriguing day/night cycle, made its mark during the boom of Summer internet expos. It takes a unique hybrid approach: during the day, you explore the plot and form relationships; at night, you battle through the character’s nightmares and thoughts. a strikingly original and fashionable take on the genre.


  • 4. Arms

Underrated Nintendo switch games

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After being included as a DLC character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Arms did enjoy some attention. Even Nintendo’s unique promotion with their e-store coupons includes it. But you wouldn’t be the only person who has ignored this game entirely.

Even though Arms is a fantastically simple fighting game, many people would quickly forget about it after being mesmerized by games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or the well-known Mario games that were released in the same year. Without a compelling plot, this might easily be mistaken for another B-grade button masher.


  • 5. Inked: A Tale Of Love

Underrated Nintendo switch games

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Inked: A Tale of Love, which transitions from Apple Arcade and serves as a reminder of the delightful diversity to be found in the Switch eShop library, is an excellent example of what can be accomplished by small but strong creative teams.

This is a really enjoyable and gratifying game with clever puzzles, stunning presentations, and a tale full of emotive moments. It uses a hand-drawn approach not only for aesthetic flair but as a crucial component of the plot.


  • 6. Astral Chain

Underrated Nintendo switch games

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Another Nintendo exclusive that should have received more attention but didn’t (fret not, we’ll get to the smaller games shortly) is this one. Astral Chain met the same demise as Arms; it just couldn’t compete with the rest of Nintendo’s stellar lineup, even if some of them (Luigi’s Mansion 3, for example) are all bark and no bite.

Despite Platinum Games being the brilliant creator of Nier: Automata, their most recent project’s 2019 release hardly received any attention. To be fair, one of the things that caused Nintendo fans to forget about Astral Chain was their own Bayonetta franchise.


  • 7. Overboard!

Underrated Nintendo switch games

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Overboard! concentrates more on the details of a single day and the subtleties of interaction, as 80 Days was more concerned with the general implications of seeing the entire world.

As a cast of basically horrible characters dance around one another with hidden purposes and pre-existing opinions about everything, including our Veronica and beloved, deceased Malcolm, it’s a magnificent lesson in how to construct a delicate Rube Goldberg machine of speech and dependencies. It’s great; give it a try.


  • 8. Banner of the Maid

Underrated Nintendo switch games

The gameplay of the turn-based RPG Banner of the Maid is similar to that of the Fire Emblem series. Its plot is quite inventive as it uses fantastical elements to reimagine the French Revolution (history nerds beware).

The battle and class systems are more evocative of the earlier Final Fantasy Tactics from the Nintendo DS, which is a startling departure from the Fire Emblem game’s gameplay.

For those who didn’t like Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, Banner of the Maid plays like the unofficial continuation of a legendary game and is an unexpected but delightful trip back in time.


  • 9. Tux and Fanny

Tux and Fanny

Tux and Fanny is a game with really basic graphics and a robotic voice (as in Horace) that makes it appear like a joke, making it very simple to skim over. When you give it a chance, you’ll discover that it’s a quirky, endearing, and truly intelligent little game that sends you on a variety of exploration and minigame adventures. All with the noble intention of filling a soccer ball with air.


  • 10. Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth

Digimon Story

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Although many younger gamers favor the far more financially successful Pokemon series, some of the older players may be familiar with Digimon. Despite having some similarities, Digimon distinguishes itself by aiming for a little older audience and having a more compelling plot and a catchier theme tune.

Because Cyber Sleuth incorporates unique characters and plot lines into the Digimon universe, players of many backgrounds may enjoy the game. When compared to its pocket monster counterpart, the fighting system has more varied movements, status conditions, and a range of effects, which provides a bigger degree of variation.


  • 11. Bonfire Peaks

Bonfire Peaks

With some gorgeous voxel-based aesthetics, Bonfire Peaks markets itself as a streamlined, focused game that should also be rather soothing to play. You move boxes about and go through spaces in order to burn your possessions, so it’s important to keep that in mind before you begin.

It is far more engaging and healthful than that description suggests, so playing it on the Switch may be a terrific way to unwind.


  • 12. Drawngeon: Dungeons of Ink and Paper

Drawngeon

Another hidden gem is only buried among the titles available for the Nintendo Switch. Drawngeon, which appeals to some players in a sweet niche, is retro in both its graphics and gameplay. The graphic direction is unmistakably distinctive, showing a dungeon crawler with pen-and-paper images – yet another example of how games can look well on a shoestring budget.

The HUD is clean and uncomplicated; it resembles a character sheet from a Dungeons & Dragons game. While the straightforward design is sufficient for everyone to begin the game without difficulty, the creativity and small surprises are enough to keep you coming back for more.

That’s all for today’s article on the Underrated Nintendo switch games.  Do check out all the sections and know you should know which one is the best for you. Till then, stay safe and follow us for more upcoming gaming coverage.

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