The Nintendo Switch (our review) has been all the rage lately. Indeed, it's still pretty hard to find the console in stock.
If you're lucky enough to have snagged one, then you may already have the two biggest game titles available so far: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (our thoughts). Maybe you also grabbed Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition or Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers.
But what if you're craving more gaming action on your new toy? Fortunately, there have been some awesome new game releases on the Switch since the initial launch that should satisfy everyone. Here are some must-haves.
Snipperclips
When you have a Nintendo Switch, you're going to want to show it off to your friends. With that in mind, Snipperclips is an excellent title to have when you and your friends want to play something together. Snipperclips is an action-puzzle game where players take control of two pals, Snip and Clip. They must work together in order to overcome obstacles. Snip and Clip cut each other up (literally) into the correct shapes in order to interact with the objects and environment around them.
What makes Snipperclips stand out among other games in the genre is that the only limit is your imagination. Each puzzle looks simple enough, but there are endless ways to solve them. And it all takes teamwork.
If you're itching for more competitive play, Snipperclips features a battling Blitz mode, where you can see who is the best. The Party mode lets you team up with up to three other players to solve more complex puzzles. No matter how you want to play or show off your Nintendo Switch, Snipperclips is a riot that's worth checking out for social gatherings.
Fast RMX
Fans of F-Zero have been waiting a long time for a new game. But if you are seeking futuristic, high-tech racing action right now, then Fast RMX should scratch the itch.
Fast RMX puts players in the driver's seat of an anti-gravity vehicle and then puts their racing skills to the test. You can take place in adrenaline-pumping competitions against the AI, or go splitscreen with up to three people. For a greater challenge, try facing against up to seven players online from all over the world.
Fast RMX takes place in the future, and that's quite apparent with the gorgeous city stages. But there are also less high-tech environments, such as abandoned mines deep in the Earth, lush jungles, vast and dry deserts, and more. You'll find 30 total tracks to race through, so you're bound to see it all. And if the normal races are not enough, players can unlock the Hero Mode for new rules and challenges to conquer.
Fast RMX may not be a proper F-Zero title, but it's close enough.
VOEZ
For fans of rhythm games, VOEZ is a must, especially for those who love Japanese pop-style music. VOEZ is part music game and part interactive story. The game takes place in the fictional setting of Lan Kong Town and tells the tale of six high school students who form a band. Eventually, they reach international fame.
Players have access to over 100 songs in the library from the get-go, and with three difficulty levels available, there's plenty of replay value in VOEZ. Like other music games, your main goal is to touch the vertically-falling notes on the screen as they hit the bottom bar, but there's a twist.
Depending on what song and difficulty level, the lanes for each note can increase and shift from side-to-side, creating the illusion that the screen is dancing along to the music. On top of having a great selection of tunes, VOEZ looks stunningly gorgeous as well, from the song selection screen to the background clips for each individual song.
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
When you're in the mood for a retro action-adventure platformer, Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is just the game you need in your collection. The original Shovel Knight was a homage to the gameplay and graphics of classic platformer games on the Nintendo Entertainment System, and received high critical acclaim and awards. And now Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove packs all of the Shovel Knight goodness into one amazing collection.
Treasure Trove packs three campaigns in one. Even if you played the original Shovel Knight, there's a new cooperative mode that is worth sinking your teeth into. With Treasure Trove, you'll get the original game -- Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope -- as well as the expansion, Plague of Shadows. And the best part of Treasure Trove is that it comes with the brand new prequel campaign, Specter of Torment. Here, you take control of Specter Knight and slash your foes into pieces with brand-new game mechanics.
Shovel Knight has become a classic action-adventure platformer in its own right, and it's one of the best indie releases in recent years. If you have an itch for some vintage action platformer adventures, don't miss Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove.
Puyo Puyo Tetris
In the mood for a tile-matching frenzy? Puyo Puyo Tetris is just what the doctor ordered. Tetris and Puyo Puyo (which SEGA owns) are both puzzle game juggernauts in their own right. In this game, they're combined to create one fast-paced party puzzle game for up to four players.
With Puyo Puyo Tetris, players get the best of both worlds. While everyone's familiar with the concept of Tetris, Puyo Puyo games work in a similar way. The game pieces are adorable slimes (called Puyo) and come in pairs, triplets, or tetrads. The Puyos can be moved, dropped, and rotated, just like tetrominoes, and they fall in from the top of the screen. To get rid of Puyos, you must match four or more of one color either horizontally or vertically, but not diagonally.
Puyo Puyo Tetris packs in plenty of different game modes that include Single Player Adventure, Multiplayer Arcade, Online, and even the Solo Arcade. The Adventure includes 10 different acts that have 10 stages in each, complete with characters from the Puyo Puyo franchise and unique challenges for players to accomplish.
Multiplayer Arcade has a breadth of game types that bring out anyone's competitive nature. These include traditional Versus, the hybrid Fusion (combining both Puyo Puyo and Tetris in one grid), and more. Online allows players to track their rankings worldwide, and Solo Arcade comes with everything in Multiplayer, as well as a few extras like Endurance.
Anyone who loves Puyo Puyo, Tetris, or just wants frantic tile-matching fun needs to grab this one.
Snake Pass
Have you ever wondered what it's like to slither around as a snake? If you answered yes, then Snake Pass could be a dream come true. It makes you think like a snake, because you are a snake.
Snake Pass is an original physics-based puzzle platformer game. In Snake Pass, players meet Noodle, an adorable snake, and Doodle, his hummingbird friend. The unlikely pair collect and reunite the missing Keystones with their magic gates to restore peace to the tranquil Haven Tor.
There are no enemies, but plenty of collectibles, obstacles, and tricky platforming. And due to the distinctive slithering movement of a snake, you'll have to approach everything in an unconventional fashion. This means slithering through grass, coiling Noodle around objects, climbing and swinging past deadly spikes, and much more. The controls do take some time to get used to, but the pure joy and satisfaction you get when overcoming a difficult challenge makes it all worth it.
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+
Roguelikes have risen in popularity in recent years, and one of the most iconic is definitely The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+. In this roguelike dungeon-crawler shoot-em-up, players take control of a young boy named Isaac as he tries to escape the wrath of his mom who has been brainwashed into thinking that her son must die. The game has some grotesque characters and themes, but it's what makes The Binding of Isaac so great.
Since The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ is a roguelike, that means that players need to start over on a new run if they die. However, everything is randomly generated, so it's a new experience each time you play. There are more than 11,000 unique room configurations, so the possibilities are nearly endless. This means that enemies and boss fights will always be different, the items and power-ups you find won't be the same each time, and there are even multiple endings to discover. In addition to Isaac, 13 distinctive playable characters each have their own special abilities to add more variety.
If you have not yet discovered the greatness of The Binding of Isaac, then Afterbirth+ on the Switch is the best time to jump in. This edition includes all previously-released DLC.
Graceful Explosion Machine
Feel like some side-scrolling cave shooter action? Then look no further than the beautiful and vibrant Graceful Explosion Machine. This indie title has proven to be quite a gem in the eShop.
In Graceful Explosion Machine, players take control of the GEM. This fighter ship is equipped with four powerful weapons, including a personal favorite: the energy sword. In this frantic and explosive shooter, players must make their way through several waves of enemies on each stage, all while keeping an eye on the ship's engines. Extended use of any one weapon will cause the GEM to overheat. When you combine resource management with hectic shooting action, there's a real challenge.
While Graceful Explosion Machine has a pretty simple concept, the game can be rather difficult. You are graded on your performance after completing a level successfully. There's also the Score Attack mode that adds to the longevity of the game. There are over 30 levels spread out across four different worlds. Combine that with the overall difficulty level, and there is plenty of reason to come back.
Personally, I don't think there's a better way to pass the time than by cutting down enemy ships, blowing them up with sniper lasers and homing missiles, or just blasting them into oblivion.
Disgaea 5 Complete
When you yearn for a strategy RPG that can provide hundreds of hours of gameplay and infinite possibilities, then you want Disgaea 5 Complete. Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance originally came out on the PlayStation 4 in 2015. The Switch release includes the original core game as well as all of the DLC. This means you get all eight bonus scenarios, four fan-favorite characters from previous Disgaea games, and three character classes that were previously only available as DLC in Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance.
Disgaea 5 Complete is a great installment for both fans of the series and newbies alike. The game is packed with a ton of over-the-top dialogue and humor, challenging tactical gameplay, and plenty of RPG-style character customization in terms of equipment, class types, and skills.
On top of it all, like previous Disgaea games, Disgaea 5 Complete allows players to level up their characters to 9999. So if you strive for high replay value and perfection, this title will keep you busy for literally hundreds of hours. And with Disgaea 5 Complete on the Switch, this is the first time a Disgaea game has been on a portable console. This is hands-down the best way to play.
What eShop Games Do You Enjoy?
The Nintendo Switch is still relatively new, so new titles are showing up on the eShop every week. You'll also find Nintendo's first-party behemoths available for download. These games are just a sample of the best that the Nintendo Switch eShop has to offer, and there's definitely something here for everyone.
If you're a new owner, check out how to take your Switch gaming to the next level with our top tips and tricks.
What are you currently playing on your Nintendo Switch? Did I miss your current favorite? What upcoming big-name or indie titles are you looking forward to on the Switch? Let us know in the comments!
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