The 15 Best Nintendo Switch Indie Games

One of the best things about the Nintendo Switch is that it is a hybrid console, meaning that it is possible to play on the go in portable mode rather than just stick with using it with a television. Of course, that was also a big selling point when the system was first announced and many people were sold on the idea of being able to take blockbuster games like "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" and "Skyrim" with them wherever they went.

However, Nintendo's console has also become a hotbed for independent developers as well, with some of the best titles on the system being indie games. Lacking the massive marketing budgets of AAA releases, these indie projects are more prone to flying under the radar — so it's entirely possible that you might have missed some of them. If that's the case, you might want to fire up your Switch and try out these amazing indie games right now.

"Untitled Goose Game" became one of the surprise hits of 2019 when it initially launched on the Nintendo Switch and PC. Developed by the four-man team of House House, it sees players take control of a goose whose only goal is to cause as much mischief as possible in the local village. The obnoxious bird seems to have no particular motive for what it is doing but certainly has a passion for making everyone's life a pain.

If that sounds like the perfect premise for a fun game then you'd be right. Stepping into the shoes of the naughty goose as it goes around stealing valuables, destroying items, and causing general havoc is just as enjoyable as you'd imagine. The strange mix of puzzle elements and stealth gameplay gives "Untitled Goose Game" a surprising amount of depth, while the simple visuals and basic controls make it accessible to a wide audience.

Critics were equally as impressed as players, with the game receiving almost universal praise and achieving a Metacritic score of 81. IGN pinpointed what made it so good, saying the game "is a brief but endlessly charming adventure that had me laughing, smiling, and eagerly honking the whole way through."

A popular genre for indie games is the platformer, with independent developers often inspired by retro 2D side-scrolling platform games such as "Super Mario Bros." and "Rayman." Created by Spanish developer Nomada Studio, "Gris" was originally released on the Nintendo Switch and PC in 2018 before making its way to other platforms. The game follows a young girl called Gris who finds herself in a strange land after experiencing a terrible event that has left her grief-stricken. Journeying through this world she begins to deal with her emotions and come to terms with what has happened.

A minimalist experience, "Gris" features little text and a story that is told entirely through exploration and discovering hidden memories. Similarly, the gameplay is equally as thoughtful with clever puzzles, challenging platform sequences, and challenges that will test a variety of skills. Meanwhile, the beautiful and stylish visuals help to tell what is a deeply emotional story in an appealing way. Receiving acclaim from the vast majority of reviewers, "Gris" has proved a financial hit, selling more than 1 million copies in total and winning praise for the way it manages to innovate new ways of telling stories (via Game Developer).

"Dead Cells" is a cross between a roguelike and a Metroidvania game, developed and published by French studio Motion Twin. Available across a range of platforms, including the Switch, it sees players take on the role of the Prisoner, a strange creature that is able to possess the corpses of humans and use them to travel across a mysterious island on their quest to kill the king. Using weapons such as swords, bows, and shields, this amorphous character slowly moves through different areas, encountering a wide variety of enemies.

Like "Dark Souls," fighting the elite boss enemies requires careful timing and memorizing patterns to discover openings for when you can attack. Meanwhile, as the Prisoner progresses through the world, the truth behind what has happened to the inhabitants is revealed, providing a frightening insight into this ruthless world.

Like many roguelike titles, "Dead Cells" is punishing and can sometimes be frustrating. However, the satisfaction that comes from unlocking new areas and beating a boss that has killed you countless times is worth all of the time and effort. Its stylish visuals and flowing combat keep you wanting to come back and there's enough replay value here to make "Dead Cells" an experience that will keep even the most skilled gamers occupied for some time.

Supergiant Games has developed a reputation for producing quality indie titles. The studio previously released critically acclaimed games such as "Bastion," "Pyre," and "Transistor." The company's latest project is the 2020 roguelike game "Hades." Assuming the role of Zagreus, the son of Hades, players have to try and escape the confines of the Underworld and try to reach Mount Olympus to join the rest of the Greek gods in their home. This task forces Zagreus to battle a collection of mythical creatures and figures from the Greek pantheon.

"Hades" has many elements that make it a standout experience. The hack-and-slash gameplay is satisfying and intuitive so that it is easy to pick up but still has a lot of depth for those who spend more time with the game. The story has plenty of compelling characters to encounter, all of whom are engaging and brilliantly voiced by the actors behind them. Yet, the best part is slowly getting stronger and more powerful as you make it further through the Underworld, finding new weapons and developing your attributes using resources collected in previous runs.

The roguelike has seen almost perfect review scores on every platform it has released on and took home several key awards, including five BAFTAs. Critics were impressed with the RPG elements, the fast-paced combat, and the beautiful character and environment designs.

"Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove" is the ideal game for anyone who is a fan of classic platform games that were famous for their intense difficulty and unforgiving gameplay. Developed by Yacht Club Games, this enhanced version of the game includes three additional campaigns and has been available on the Nintendo Switch since 2017.

As you may have guessed from the name, "Shovel Knight" tells the story of a blue knight who wields a shovel and fights against an evil group known as the Order of No Quarter. Using his trusty tool, he can dig up treasure and jump on any enemy that opposes him. Other campaigns follow characters from the original campaign, telling stories from their own perspective and revealing their motivations.

The game is the full package and easily one of the best side-scrolling platformers of the modern era. With an endearing pixel art style, pulsating soundtrack, and expertly crafted gameplay and level design, there's little wrong with "Shovel Knight" — at least, that's what the vast majority of critics believed anyway as the game sits pretty on Metacritic with a rating of 91.

"Spelunky" was one of the first major indie hits when it launched in 2008, setting a new standard for side-scrolling roguelikes that has since been emulated in dozens of other successful platformers. A long-awaited sequel finally arrived in 2020 and became available on the Nintendo Switch the following year. With the same basic premise of its predecessor, "Spelunky 2" forces players to explore dangerous caves filled with traps, enemies, and treasure.

"Spelunky 2" features no progression in the traditional sense, meaning that for each run, the player starts in the same position as when they first started playing. The only thing they gain by completing further runs is more knowledge and experience of how the world works, from enemy patterns to what items do. That makes it an exceedingly tough game to play but also all the more satisfying when you do manage to make it to a new area or beat a boss.

The game currently sits with a Metacritic rating of 92, suggesting widespread critical acclaim. Meanwhile, IGN's Mitchell Saltzman claimed that the sequel took everything from the original release and improved it, from the enhanced visuals to the sheer amount of extra content that is available.

A timed console exclusive for the Nintendo Switch, "Neon White" was developed by Angel Matrix and published by Annapurna Interactive in June 2022. The first-person shooter is based on a group known as Neons, sinners allowed to leave Hell and enter Heaven to kill demons in a yearly competition. The winner, determined by how quickly and efficiently they take down the demons, is then given the opportunity to stay in Heaven rather than return to Hell.

The overarching story is far more complex than it initially appears and follows a conspiracy in Heaven against God. However, despite being pretty interesting, the narrative takes a back seat to the action. Players progress through a series of small levels, using parkour and special abilities and weapons picked up as cards to speedily navigate the arena and take out any demons. With a focus on fast times, "Neon White" tasks players with constantly trying to better their previous attempt and climb up the leaderboard.

Its initial release on the Switch makes sense given that the game is designed to be played in short bursts. Gamers can quickly squeeze in a few runs while on the go without having to worry about losing progress, something noted by Game Informer in the site's review.