The Best Switch Games of 2021
It turns out that 2021 was another great year for Switch owners. The company’s combination of first party classics, and options to play most indie greats remain intact. There were huge announcements, surprise releases, and sequels we didn’t think we would ever see. Here are the COGconnected team’s choices for Best Switch Games of 2021.
10. UnderMine
Sometimes you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. UnderMine is a synthesis of all the elements that have made the roguelike genre as popular as it is today. Its goal was to deliver a top-quality adventure of everything players have come to hope for, from the genre. It was too hard to leave a game this addicting off a Best Switch Games list, which is why there’s a tie for out tenth spot.
10. DUSK
DUSK is a Lovecraftian homage to the OG first person shooters of the mid-late 1990s. In this throwback, the player is tasked with olde-timey challenges such as shooting demons, gathering keys, and unlocking doors. All of the game’s aspects, from the heavy metal soundtrack, to the faux-DOS loading screen, ooze with love. DUSK is stripped-down, addicting, retro gameplay at its finest.
9. The House in Fata Morgana: Dreams of the Revenants Edition
The House in Fata Morgana was one of the Switch’s unexpected critical darlings, with a Metacritic score of 100 for the better part of the year. While, the visual novel genre isn’t for everyone, it was hard for the world to ignore The House in Fata Morgana’s compelling, dark story. If one can last through its anime trope-heavy first few hours, they will experience one of 2021’s strongest game narratives.
8. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is a change from the usual story-lite, real time combat focused Monster Hunter games. That game is Monster Hunter Rise, while this release is a narrative-focused, turn-based JRPG. Monster Hunter Stories 2’s story stands on its own, so players don’t need to let the “2” in its title turn them away. JRPG fans, who are unfamiliar with the Monster Hunter games, might want to use Monster Hunter 2 as an entrypoint.
7. NEO: The World Ends with You
The World Ends with You is the second original IP from Kingdom Hearts creator Tetsuya Nomura. While there are many Kingdom Hearts sequels and side games, it took 14 years for The World Ends with You to get just one. NEO: The World Ends with You skipped the 3DS generation, and gave Switch owners a sequel that was worth the wait.
6. Eastward
Eastward came out of nowhere and gave Switch owners a game similar to 2D Legend of Zelda titles, with gorgeous, stylized visuals. There have been few games made in the wake of the Legend of Zelda series that have managed to capture their same level of precision gameplay, and rich world-building. Eastward captures those elements very well, and was a perfect release for a Nintendo console.