4. The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+
I was surprised at the inclusion of The Binding of Isaac as a title on the Switch. The Binding of Isaac is a hugely popular game and its inclusion on the Switch is fantastic both for the game and console, but I feel like its appearance on the Switch is almost a gentle nod to gamers to let them know that Nintendo isn’t just for kids. Any time Nintendo has a port of a darker game, it seemed to just appear on the shelves without much notice, but having The Binding of Isaac as a launch title is a very forward move to let gamers know the Switch isn’t going to pull any punches. Players will take control of Isaac, a child whose mother hears the voice of God who demands Isaac be sacrificed. Isaac then runs to the basement where he is forced to fight various monsters for survival and, ultimately, defeat his mother. The Binding of Isaac offers multiple playable characters, dungeon crawling, and a fantastic Roguelike experience with gameplay similar to the older Legend of Zelda series. Afterbirth+ will include the original game as well as the DLC which provides a new playable character, dungeons, items, bosses, challenges and more. If you haven’t already played The Binding of Isaac, picking it up on the Switch would definitely be worth your while.
3. Skylanders: Imaginators
While the Toys to Life genre may be dwindling in popularity, the latest title in the Skylanders series has definitely been a huge improvement and it is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to have a nice comical adventure. Recently launched on current gen platforms, Spyro and his friends return to battle the evil Kaos in his latest plot to rule the Skylands. The big selling point for Imaginators of course is the ability to create and customize your own Skylander at any time. There are over 30 new Skylander masters to collected, each one unlocking new abilities and custom items to use, and every previous Skylander figure is playable in Imaginators. It’s a game that doesn’t take itself seriously in the slightest but provides solid combat, a story you want to see through to the end, and feeds that obsession to collect things. It also doesn’t hurt that the figures are highly detailed and fantastic to look at. Skylanders: Imaginators is a great supporting title for the Switch’s launch.
2. I Am Setsuna
Nintendo at it again, plucking the heart strings of nostalgia. Back in the day, the absolute greatest video games and stories came from Nintendo: Final Fantasy, Dragon Warrior, Chrono Trigger, these were games of epic scale and depth that could make you cry from the raw human emotion you felt as you read text bubbles about 8 bit characters’ feelings. I Am Setsuna is a love letter to these games, yet another title from Square Enix that can both caress and crush your heart at the same time, something Square Enix is notoriously good at. Players take the role of a mercenary whose job is to protect Setsuna as they guide her to a sacred shrine to be sacrificed and appease demons. Sadly, I Am Setsuna didn’t fully live up to its hype and expectations, but for those who remember the experience of 90’s RPGs this is going to be a huge win for the Switch as a compelling and deeply moving story.
Click on through to page 4 for the top game on our list…