IRL

15 indie games on Nintendo Switch that deserve your attention

Don’t miss these hidden gems!

Photo of Jaime Carrillo

Jaime Carrillo

nintendo switch indie games

If you’re bored with Mario and Zelda, you can now take full advantage of the Nintendo Switch indie games library, which grows more impressive by the day.

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Not only are these games massively fun, but they come at a fraction of the price of a retail game. Many are available exclusively through the eShop. You can nab as much eShop cash as you want on Amazon, which delivers you codes to redeem the second you purchase. Load up your eShop wallet and prepare your body for these hidden gems.

1) Battle Chef Brigade

This action puzzle game is perfect for gamers and foodies alike. Hunt monsters and gather ingredients to use in countless delicious dishes using innovative puzzle mechanics. As gorgeous as it is entertaining.

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Price on eShop: $19.99

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2) Golf Story

Someone finally blended golf into an RPG: a hybrid you didn’t know you wanted. It’s an odd blend, but it works. Adventure across countless country clubs, stare down enemies, and shoot birdies to become a golfing champion.

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Price on eShop: $14.99

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3) Mighty Gunvolt Burst

Mighty No. 9 was a colossal failure, to be sure. Mighty Gunvolt Burst is the game we actually deserved. This crossover stars Gunvolt (Azure Striker Gunvolt) and Beck (Mighty No. 9) in a classic Mega Man style platformer packed with customization and retro flair. There’s plenty of awesome DLC characters too!

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Price on eShop: $9.99

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4) Stardew Valley

To but it bluntly, Stardew Valley is the best Harvest Moon game you’ve ever played. Build a farm from the ground up into a foodstuffs wonderland. Save a small town from corporate interlopers, plant countless crops, fall in love, and raise all manner of precious animals. Get back to nature without going outside.

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Price on eShop $14.99

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5) Owlboy

Some games are all style and no substance. Owlboy is not only a love letter to pixel art, it’s also just as addictive as Super Metroid. Fall in love with the charming characters, explore large dungeons and prepare to get your heart strings plucked.

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Price on eShop: $24.99

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6) Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King

Remember Link to the Past? Blossom Tales looks and feels a lot like one of the best action RPGs of all time. It even stars a female protagonist, should you wish to get a whole new generation into the genre.

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Price on eShop: $14.99

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7) Axiom Verge

Whether you’re a fan of sci-fi or classic Metroids, Axiom Verge will scratch your itch. From the lo-fi design to the challenging difficulty, everything about Axiom Verge screams retro, in the best way possible, of course.

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Price on eShop: $19.99

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8) Steamworld Dig 2

Yet another Metroidvania, built for people sick of Metroidvanias. As a plucky young robot, you must uncover secrets and treasure in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Upgrade gear, fight rabid humans and maybe even save the world in the process.

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Price on eShop: $19.99

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9) Celeste 

Move over Super Meat Boy, there’s a new challenging platformer in town. In this narrative-driven adventure, conquer 600+ screens of hardcore platforming full of devious secrets. There’s even brutal B-side chapters to unlock, if you’re truly a glutton for pain.

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Price on eShop: $19.99

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10) Enter the Gungeon

If you could condense every corny action movie into a video game, it would look and play similar to Enter the Gungeon. Survive an onslaught of bullets, collect tons of amazing gun and of course, do some amazing Die Hard style dives. Great alone, glorious with friends.

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Price on eShop: $11 (regularly $14.99)

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11) Thimbleweed Park

If they ever made a Twin Peaks video game, it would look very much like Thimbleweed Park. Explore a small town with an abandoned circus, a burnt-out pillow factory and more eerie locations. Solve the secrets behind a weird murder in this retro mystery title.

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Price on eShop: $19.99

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12) Snipperclips – Cut it Out Together

Remember cutting out every manner of shape in kindergarten? Now you can put those skills to the test and solve a myriad of action-puzzles. Cut cute heroes into the right shapes to solve physics puzzles in a game that will make you laugh out loud while you flex your brain muscles.

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Price on eShop: $19.99

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13) Fast RMX

It’s safe (and unfortunate) to say that we’re not getting a new F-Zero game. It stings for sure, but not all is lost. Fast RMX does its best to replicate the high-octane races and space-age cars just like Captain Falcon’s flagship series. For an indie game, it also pushes the Switch to its limits as far as graphics are concerned.

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Price on eShop: $19.99

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14) Furi

When you play Zelda or Metroid, do you live strictly for the boss battles? Furi is a godsend for you. This games consists of nothing but boss fights. Armed with a cool sword, challenge countless baddies to duel. Slash, shoot, parry, and dash skillfully away to win the day.

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Price on eShop: $19.99

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15) Shovel Knight

Perhaps the most darling indie game in recent years, Shovel Knight feels oh so natural on the Switch. It’s tough as nails just like retro titles and twice as charming. This version contains the celebrated game plus all its add-on content including Plague of Shadows and Specter of Torment DLC.

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Price on eShop: $24.99

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