With the first quarter of the year behind us, there have been so many amazing games hitting Switch with many more to come. Even seven years later, it continues to get great exclusives, ports, and new games. I’ve put together a list of the best Switch games of 2024 so far across a variety of genres from games Shaun and myself have played. As usual, this list is in no particular order, and I’ve included a mix of new releases and ports of older games that play amazing on Switch. Stay tuned for more Switch game coverage in the near future highlighting specific genres and also something special.

The Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2024 So Far

Unicorn Overlord

When I reviewed Unicorn Overlord, I mentioned how I felt it was too soon to say if it was my favorite strategy RPG, but it definitely is up there. I love the gameplay, music, visuals, and story. Vanillaware never misses and Unicorn Overlord feels superb on Nintendo Switch in handheld mode. This one is essential. Just get the demo if you aren’t sure it is for you. It is worth it.

Princess Peach: Showtime!

Princess Peach: Showtime!, like Bayonetta Origins, didn’t make the best first impression in its demo. It opens up and is more interesting than I expected with the usual Good-Feel style you’d expect. While it is definitely aimed at a younger audience, Princess Peach: Showtime! has good replay value and looks excellent on the OLED screen in handheld mode. I just hope it gets a few updates to improve performance in parts and also to skip some of the cut-scenes when revisiting plays. One other aspect I haven’t seen mentioned much is the game’s great soundtrack. Hopefully Nintendo releases it on disc or streaming in the future.

Pentiment

Pentiment is a magnificent experience from start to finish on Nintendo Switch with its gorgeous visuals on the OLED screen. If you skipped it before on PC and Xbox, now is the time to rectify your error and play one of the greatest games of the last few years. It might not be for everyone, but Obsidian’s historical narrative-driven game is an essential. Hopefully it gets touchscreen support in a future update because I have no complaints barring that.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

When it hit earlier this year on Switch, Shaun said Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was a stunning entry in both the Prince of Persia series and the Metroidvania genre. He also praised how good it felt throughout its lengthy runtime. I agree with him. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown feels superb to play and it might be my favorite newer game in the genre. Give the demo a shot if you aren’t sure. It feels super good on Switch.

Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II

Regardless of whether you’re new to the series or not, Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II is essential for horror and adventure game fans. It has a few small things holding it back from being perfect, but it is easily one of the best games of 2024 so far, and a perfect fit to play on Switch in handheld mode. I can’t wait to see what the team does next.

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island

My first taste of a Shiren the Wanderer game was on PS Vita years ago with the fifth entry. Since then, we saw ports, but finally had a brand-new entry in Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island that is currently exclusive to Nintendo Switch. Not only is Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island a fantastic game, but it has been incredible seeing how the series handles its own even in 2024 with this entry. Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is a superbly designed mystery dungeon game and RPG.

Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes

We don’t see too many fighting games hit Switch alongside other platforms, but UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes has been superlative in every way. Not only does its aesthetic feel right at home in handheld mode with its scaling and gorgeous colors on the OLED, but the gameplay constantly surprises me. UNI2 is the game that got me to use my leverless more on Switch as well, but I also have enjoyed playing it with my 8BitDo controllers. I adore just about everything UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes has to offer from its gameplay to online and music. This one is a winner.

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley managed to perfectly blend its varied cast, gorgeous visuals, amazing audio almost throughout its four hours or so runtime. Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley isn’t going to be for everyone, but I enjoyed the relaxed exploration and simple puzzles quite a bit. Even as someone mostly new to the brand, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley was a good relaxing experience to play as a break from the more-involved RPGs that have been releasing lately.

Balatro

I feel like I’ve written about Balatro more than anything else lately, but it is that damn good. If you’ve somehow missed my 5/5 Switch review, interview with LocalThunk, and this week’s Steam Deck feature including it, Balatro is pure bliss, but I should not be getting you addicted to it. Just don’t buy it. Trust me. Save yourself. I’m going back for one more run now while cooking dinner.

Mediterranea Inferno

A reductive way of describing Mediterranea Inferno would be an arthouse film told in the style of a Suda51 game. If that sounds appealing to you alongside the premise, you will not be disappointed. I love how Mediterranea Inferno blends horror, humor, desire, and other topics in a way that engrosses you from start to finish. The striking aesthetic is also a perfect fit for the Switch’s OLED screen. Hopefully it gets touchscreen support in the future.

Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story

The Making of Karateka saw Digital Eclipse set the bar supremely high, but Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story shows that the team is capable of overdelivering, and surpassing how good that original release was. Given the part of Jeff Minter’s career this ends at, I hope Digital Eclipse does a second release focusing on his later games including the mobile ones. Until then, Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story is an essential release in 2024 if you care about games history or like Jeff Minter’s games.

Bonus

Splatoon 3 Side Order

Since this is a part of a DLC bundle, I included it as a bonus. Splatoon 3: Expansion Pass Wave 2 – Side Order (quite a mouthful of a name) is a fantastic roguelite mode that made me get back to playing Splatoon 3 regularly after dropping it a while ago. While it may not hit the set-piece highs as past game expansions, this is exactly what I wanted to see from Splatoon as a series when it comes to DLC. I hope this mode is included in the next game as well. The team nailed everything here, and if it ever does get more added through free updates, it will be perfect. If you own Splatoon 3, this is absolutely worth getting.

That’s it for this feature on the best Switch games of 2024 so far. If you’ve not read the Steam Deck and mobile ones yet, check them out here and here. If you played something this year on Switch that you think I should’ve included or want us to try, please let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading.