The Switch has swiftly established itself as our console of choice for indie games, muscling aside all competitors thanks to the convenience of playing on a bus, train, plane or quite frankly anywhere we please. Last year saw developers scramble to bring their older titles to the hybrid wonder, and while many of this year’s top contenders are also delayed ports, we’re also starting to see many excellent games have their initial releases on Switch too.
In fact there were so many superb indies released on Nintendo Switch in 2018 that we’ve had to split our list into two categories, one for older games that have made the jump, and the other for new releases this year. With that clarification out of the way, let’s get straight to business with our run-down of the best indie games to release on Switch in 2018.
The best new indie games on Switch in 2018
Celeste
Celeste offers a rare marvel in the world of gaming, combining satisfying, inventive platforming with a passionate story that grapples with the serious issues of depression and anxiety in a genuine and hopeful tale.
The core game is centered around protagonist Madeline’s mid-air dash, and scaling Celeste mountain uncovers a trove of creative platforming mechanics to rival the finest of Nintendo’s catalogue — and with a sight more difficulty too. Celeste challenges both skill and emotions, making it no surprise to see it nominated for Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2018.
Dead Cells
Dead Cells has been available in Early Access for several years on PC, and in that time it has evolved into a magnificent 2D hack ‘n’ slash roguelite. This is no Diablo-style monster grinder though, as even in the early stages Dead Cells’ combat requires precision, patience and planning.
Many have likened Dead Cells to Dark Souls, and while the world may take a grim inspiration, combat here plays out at a quicker pace. You can expect to die a lot, but procedurally generated stages and weapon drops keep each run feeling fresh as you uncover more of the overarching land and narrative.
The Messenger
At first glance The Messenger looks to be a throwback to a lost age of NES platformers, but a short session of play reveals something far smarter hiding below the surface. Starting as a stellar action-platformer, The Messenger’s main schtick is portals which flip the world between 8-bit and 16-bit variants, opening new paths through puzzles. Combine that with witty humor and the brilliantly utilized Cloud Step mechanic — the ability to chain mid-air attacks into jumps in what can only be described a speedrunner’s wet dream — and you’ve got a surefire hit on your hands.
Strangely, around the halfway mark The Messenger morphs genre entirely into a metroidvania with far too much backtracking. This second chapter fails to land as well as the first, but The Messenger is well worth investing in for the opening half alone.
Moonlighter
It feels almost redundant at this point to bring up an indie game’s gorgeous art-style given how impressive every game on this list looks, but Moonlighter’s charming visuals hold a special place in our hearts. Moonlighter splits your time between Zelda-esque dungeon-crawling for items at night, and restocking your shop with goods to satisfy customers during the day.
Neither side quite has the depth of a dedicated title, but the two combine into a superb overall package of exploration, upgrades and price-estimation. Since launch Digital Sun Games has even added a bunch of free updates to liven the experience including new gear and familiars. The combat and price-guessing process stales slightly by the time you arrive at the final dungeon, but the way the stellar soundtrack lifts as you open your shop for the day still puts a smile on our face and will stick with us for quite some time.
Into the Breach
Into the Breach’s Switch release was delayed by a few months relative to other platforms, but oh boy was it worth the way to play this turn-based tactical gem in handheld mode. The premise is simple enough: You’re a team of mechs sent back in time to save the planet from a scourge of subterranean bugs. Levels take place on a 6x6 grid, your only task to survive four turns while protecting the city as best you can.
The beauty of Into the Breach is that every single turn is a unique puzzle. Enemies move before you do, lining up attacks on buildings and your units. Your job to take them down or, more commonly, mitigate as much damage as possible. Contained yet brilliantly head-scratching strategy that all Switch owners should give a try. Did we mention the music is ace too?
The best Switch indie game ports in 2018
With how popular the Switch has proven, many developers are still playing catch up in bringing their games to the console. Much has been said about the titles below already, but if you’ve missed the chance to play them thus far, the Switch is absolutely the finest place to do so now.
Hollow Knight
Easily the finest metroidvania in recent memory, Hollow Knight's wonderfully simple visuals belie a rich and expansive world for you to uncover. It’s far from easy, but take the time to master both combat and platforming and you’ll be rewarded with a thrilling, evocative experience that’s up there with the best in the business.
Minit
An action-RPG in which you die every sixty seconds might sound like a pain in the rear, yet developer Vlambeer has somehow turned the concept into a game that makes every moment matter. There’s no time for messing around if you want to make progress in Minit, so each life feels like an intense work towards progressing your current puzzle or path of exploration. Give it a shot, it’ll only take a Minit.
Night in the Woods
Infinite Fall’s characterful coming of age tale finally made the jump to Switch this year and remains every bit as great thanks to sharp, relevant writing that mixes light, irreverent humor with darker, more serious themes. The inhabitants of Possum Springs are the real stars here, so if you’re after a character-driven experience then Night in the Woods will be right up your street.
Warframe
After much waiting, Digital Extremes’ multiplayer space-ninja shoot ‘n’ slicer has arrived on Nintendo Switch this month, and even if you’ve previously played on other platforms it’s possible to transfer your progress across rather than start anew. The sheer quantity of content added to the free-to-play title over the years is enough to keep you busy for countless hours, and the fact that there’s still a thriving community is testament to Warframe’s appeal.
Inside
From the creators of Limbo, Inside offers up a superior tale of tension and mystery that earned it the title of Best Independent Game at The Game Awards 2016, along with numerous BAFTA Games Awards in 2017. The less you know about Inside’s story, the better, so if you haven’t played it already then you really do need to grab it as soon as you can on Switch.
Owlboy
The retro-themed platformer is a clogged market these days, which makes it all the more special when a game establishes itself as a step above the rest. Owlboy was developed over the course of nine years, a timeline that would usually leave you worried when it comes to indie games. Fortunately its release in 2016 proved to be a happy ending, with Otus’ sky-soaring quest to earn the respect of his elders receiving widespread critical acclaim.
Mini Metro
If you’re after the perfect commuter game then you can’t go far wrong with Mini Metro. A fantastic puzzler, Mini Metro asks you to design efficient underground train networks for a range of city designs, many inspired by real locations. Think you can improve London’s circle line? Here’s your chance to give it a shot. A fantastically relaxing experience that’ll have
Undertale
If the recent release of Delatrune has caught your interest, you can now go back and revisit the cult hit Undertale on Switch. A game as much about talking to your enemies as fighting them, Toby Fox’s enduring hit surprises at each and every turn, and deals just as many laughs along the way. If you’ve somehow avoided its charm until now, the Switch release works just as well as the rest with the added bonus of the console’s flexibility.
We’re closing in on the end of the year and there are still more indie titles to look forward to on Switch such as the utterly gorgeous GRIS arriving Dec 13. Now if only Nintendo would make the eShop more manageable…
Did we miss any brilliant new titles to hit the Nintendo Switch this year? Let us know your favorite in the comments below.