The Nintendo Switch‘s ability to go from on your TV to your backpack is something that is unmatched in today’s gaming space, so it’s come to no surprise that our favorite hybrid console has a fair share of both online and offline games. On this list, we’ll be looking at some of the 7 Best Offline Games the Nintendo Switch has to offer.
We’ll be providing different genres of offline games in order to cover most bases when it comes to different players.
A small disclaimer to some of these games, some of them do have some online elements to them, but it does not restrict us from playing it offline.
Table of Contents
1. Metroid Dread
The first Metroid game to make it onto the Nintendo Switch, Dread easily become the best-selling Metroid game ever, and it definitely lived up to its expectations. Arguably the best Metroid game to get into if this was your first Metroid game, Dread was just easy enough for newcomers to play, but hard enough to give you a good challenge.
Just like all 2D Metroid games, you explore multiple areas, beating bosses per area with a few mini-bosses, and some puzzles to solve. Unlike the other 2D games however is the addition of the E.M.M.I., a powerful robot that was made to destroy Samus. Each E.M.M.I. is different from the other, as they have different abilities and quirks that make it even more difficult to run away from.
In addition, 2 new difficulty modes have been added to the game in a recent update. Rookie Mode, which makes the game significantly easier; and Dread mode, which is the complete opposite of Rookie Mode, wherein one shot from a single enemy is instant death.
Metroid Dread is a full 59.99 USD on the US Nintendo eShop, with a demo included, if you want to try things out first.
2. Pokémon Legends Arceus
In only one year, we’ll be seeing a total of 3 Pokémon games released. With Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl released last November, and Scarlet and Violet this November. In January of 2022 however, we saw the release of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, giving Pokémon games a new taste of what their games could be, and it did not disappoint.
Being able to walk around a semi-open world area, and see the Pokémon, that could also attack you, around those areas was a breath of fresh air to Pokémon fans. You’re placed in the Hisui region and are hired by Team Galactic in order to further the knowledge and research of Pokémon. In Legends: Arceus we’re introduced to crafting, Alpha Pokémon, different “battle” styles, and Mass Outbreaks.
There are tons of things you can do in this game, and even some that we’ve done before (shiny-hunting) comes to mind. One can only hope that this sets the standard for Pokémon games to come.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus is 59.99 USD on the Nintendo eShop.
3. Xenoblade Chronicles Games
One of the best JRPG games out there, the Xenoblade Chronicles series provides players with hundreds of hours combined. With no need of an internet connection, being able to play these masterpiece of games has never been easier. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, the first installment of the series, runs pretty much flawlessly on handheld mode.
The same cannot be said for Xenoblade Chronicles 2, as its handheld mode leaves a bit too much to be desired, but it’s definitely playable. The third installment is set to release in a couple of days, and it’s supposed to be the biggest game so far, so let’s see how that performs.
In terms of player order, the first and second don’t need to be played chronologically, but Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is said to tie the 2 games together, so it’s best you play the first 2 installments first. All three games are 59.99 USD each, with Xenoblade Chronicles 2 also having a DLC worth 39.99 USD on the US eShop.
4. Neon White
The most recent game to release on this list, Neon White is a first-person shooter platformer, with some card aspects to it. In this game you’ve died and is sent to hell, but god has picked you in order to destroy some demons. You play as Neon White, someone who has lost his memory because of his death.
The game is pretty linear as you beat levels one at a time, as fast as possible. And that’s what hooks you in. You are rewarded medals after each level depending how fast you can finish, essentially rewarding you for how fast your speed run is. I’ve played levels over 10 times just to get the highest rank. If you do have the ability to go online, you’re able to see global leaderboards and your friends’ scores, to give you that extra motivation.
Neon White is 24.99 USD to the US eShop, and is not available physically.
5. The Warriors Games
In the last 2 years or so, we’ve seen a resurgence of Warriors games. With the release of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity in 2020, and Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes in June of this year, and even the previous games before that all available to play, your taste of Warriors games is pretty much set.
For those not familiar with the Warriors games, you pretty much go around certain areas eliminating hundreds of waves of enemies in your way while trying to complete the objectives given to you. What makes Age of Calamity and Three Hopes pretty special are the tie ins to their original games Breath of the Wild, and Three Houses respectively. Adding even more to the lore of those games.
Both Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity and Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes are 59.99 on the eShop
6. Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King
A callback to games such as The Legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening and a Link to the Past, Blossom tales brings back the top down adventure style we all know and love. Explore this charming “open world” as Lily, the Knight of the Rose. Battle monsters, solve puzzles, collect unique weapons and armor all while trying to save the Kingdom of Blossom from eternal darkness.
With over 15 hours of gameplay, 5 challenging dungeons, and overall great story-telling, it would be no surprise that this game would hook you in. And with a sequel on the way, expect more and more hours of exploring the Kingdom of Blossom.
Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King is 14.99 USD on the US Nintendo eShop, but can go as low as 4.99 USD when on sale.
7. Kirby and the Forgotten Land
It’s about time we got a 3D Kirby game, and when Kirby and the Forgotten Land was released, gamers were more than satisfied. Much like Mario games, the story isn’t the main draw of the game, but more of the gameplay.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a 3D platformer, think of it as an easier Mario Odyssey, where in you traverse different levels, each level may have a boss to beat, and a few puzzles to solve.
What does make the game different however are Kirby’s abilities, well more of Kirby absorbing others’ abilities. Whether it be an enemy holding a sword, eating a whole car, and even a vending machine, each ability gives players different ways to finish a level. The game can be pretty easy though, so one thing players like to do is to do a “one-hit” challenge, wherein if you’re hit even once by an enemy, or take damage in general, you force yourself to start the entire game over.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land is 59.99 USD on the US eShop, with a demo available to play.
