This holiday season is the swan song for the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo told us as much when it said the long-awaited Switch successor would be announced by April 2025. But thankfully, Nintendo hasn’t suffered a case of seniorityitis as it looks to graduate to a Switch sequel, as 2024 has had a string of excellent titles come to The console is almost eight years old. So we’re taking a quick look at some of our favorite Switch games of 2024. One of the great things about this year’s showcase of Switch titles is that they should all work on Switch follow-ups – since Nintendo has confirmed that next-gen will be backwards compatible. (And hopefully any performance issues with games on the current Switch will be resolved when played on the next model, if we’re very lucky.)
We’ll all have to be patient as we continue to wait for the Switch’s successor, but these games are undoubtedly worth playing during Nintendo’s current console’s final months in the spotlight.
I know there are a bunch of us on staff working toward this Balatro It was our personal game of the year, and I don’t think any of us are gamblers or big poker fans. That’s the beauty of this indie roguelike; You don’t have to be a fan of card games or know anything about poker to enjoy this unique dopamine rush. From music and sound effects to lo-fi visuals, Balatro It hits all the right notes to sink in its hooks and trap you. You’ll probably find yourself muttering “just one more round” several times. Next thing you know, it’s 3 a.m. and baby will be up in a few hours — or maybe that last part is just me.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Princess Zelda is finally getting her own game, allowing you to play full-time Legend of The real Zelda. It may not be perfect in its execution, but it is a worthwhile adventure as Zelda solves puzzles and defeats villains by summoning previously defeated enemies and everyday objects.
There is an air of mystery about Animal well It may tempt or confuse you directly. If you’re the type of person who likes to abandon any clues and figure everything out on your own, there’s a really good chance you’ll love this 2D platformer. Mix a little MarioJump-like puzzles with a Metroidvania feel of open-ended exploration and adventure – with some mystical vibes.
Photo: Fellow Games Traveler
1000x resistance The film takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity is pushed underground due to the arrival of an alien race. You play as the Watcher, one of many clones of a young girl who is somehow immune to the mass disease brought by the alien occupiers. Of course, not everything is as it seems. It’s sci-fi Capital-S, Capital-F for sure.
Mario and Luigi: Brothers
It’s been a great extra year for Mario RPG. But after the new edition of Super Mario RPG And remaster of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Mario and Luigi: Brothers It shows us that our favorite plumbing duo can still keep things fresh in the role-playing space. Brotherhood It has a fun and entertaining story, fun turn-based combat, and a great art style. You can sum up how magical this game is with a unique gameplay mechanic made up of two words: Luigi Logic.
Be prepared to feel the emotions. Neva It is the latest indie game from the developer GraceIn addition to being a gorgeous work of visual art, it tells a story about caring for a little fox that is sure to make some people cry (especially if you’re a parent).
“I want to take you for a ride.” And what a ride this collection of classic fighting games has been, featuring various 2D Marvel and Capcom crossover fighters and even including… Punisher Beat-’em-up that started the long-term collaboration. This top-of-the-line compilation is worth the price of admission just to finally get it Marvel vs. Capcom 2 On modern consoles, complete with online play.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown It was the first gem of 2024, and came out in January. Fast forward to October, and Ubisoft has unfortunately disbanded its development team. but The lost crown The side-scrolling Metroidvania/Soulslike game remains amazing with some challenging (but very fun) combat and platforming. Although the game world is very large, with plenty to explore, the game respects the player’s time by offering useful in-game tools – such as pinning screenshots to the map.
Pepper mill It is a unique 2D platform game that allows you to traverse its world full of ghosts using a drilling tool and diving with dolphins from the ground and up. The main mechanic of the game feels frantic and extremely rewarding as you expertly traverse the world’s obstacles through the brutal path of your training and fallen enemies. He later ups the ante by adding a grappling hook. Be still my beating heart. (No, actually, fast movement raises your heart rate sometimes — in a fun way, not an anxiety-inducing way.)
Image: Annapurna Interactive
Lorelei and laser eyes
If you’ve ever enjoyed an escape room, you’ll probably dig it Lorelei and laser eyes. Its bright black, white and red art style and exotic setting fill the game with a sense of mystery, and its challenging puzzles are sure to tickle your mind. Just be prepared to take notes, so you don’t feel overwhelmed when the game makes you think outside the box – or do basic math.
