It’s no secret that the Nintendo Switch is considered one of the best portable consoles of all time, but as its library grows and memory cards continue to fill it’s time to look at the smaller titles the system offers. Games that will only run you a few megabytes tops, yet still pack a ton of fun that the larger titles have.
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Now that we’ve entered an age where mobile games like Monument Valley and Florence can compete with console gaming’s best, there’s just no better time to save your storage space with smaller titles. Here are a few of the smallest ones we’ve found.
Updated November 16, 2024 by Jacqueline Zalace: Managing space on the Nintendo Switch can be quite tricky, especially since some games are absolutely massive. Thankfully, we’ve updated this list with a few more of the smallest games in terms of file size that you can play on the Nintendo Switch.
1
Wild West Crops (39 MB)
With a title like Wild West Crops, you would be forgiven for expecting the game to be another cutesy farming simulator geared at those with an affinity for Harvest Moon. But what we have instead is a retro-styled Metroidvania where you play as a cat.
Set in the Old West, the game has your cat protagonist fighting against the various mutant crops that have taken over Meowtown after they gain sentience through a radioactive meteorite. The game is just as bonkers as it sounds and the best part is you won’t need more than 39 MB of available space on your Nintendo Switch to try it out.
2
Retro City Rampage DX (51 MB)
Retro City Rampage seems like a retro arcade game, right? You’d be surprised to learn that this game first launched in 2012, serving as a parody of retro games from the ’80s and ’90s. Additionally, you’ll find elements from the Grand Theft Auto franchise in Retro City Rampage.
As such, you will play as “The Player” in a crime-ridden city who travels through time alongside Doc Choc, who is based on Doc Brown from Back To The Future. Interestingly, this game is available physically, but only on a floppy disk.
3
Arcade Archives Pac-Land (75 MB)
Originally released in 1984, Pac-Land is a side-scrolling action game developed by Namco. It was the first platformer to debut in the Pac-Man series of games and it is often considered a precursor to other 80s side-scrollers like Super Mario Bros. and Wonder Boy.
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In the game, you control Pac-Man on a mission to rescue the various fairies of Fairyland. The game had proven very successful in US arcades, earning a spot on the list of the top five highest-grossing arcade games of 1985.
4
Zombie Gold Rush (106 MB)
Zombie Gold Rush certainly isn’t going to be taking home any Game of The Year awards anytime soon, but it is a cute little time-waster that will only run you $5 USD. You take control of a car and have to fight through hordes of zombies while you collect gold to further upgrade your whip.
It’s comparable to those games you used to play in computer class while you pretended to be typing away to appease your teacher. There’s a lot of content packed in for its meager price, but most critics seem to complain about the game’s overall repetitiveness.
5
Sparkle 2 (110 MB)
Many people won’t know what Sparkle 2 is, but you might know its one-time popular counterpart – Zuma. Both games are marble shooters where the objective is to stop the wide variety of colored balls coming your way while racking up the most amount points that you can.
It’s a small and very entertaining game that is complemented by its gorgeous soundtrack and a laundry list of unique levels. If you like Zuma, there really isn’t much difference – besides the loss of that once iconic ancient frog – so this game may be right up your alley if you enjoyed that.
6
Pico Park (111 MB)
Pico Park
- Released
-
May 7, 2021
- Developer(s)
-
Tecopark
- Publisher(s)
-
Tecopark
- ESRB
-
e
Although it’s slightly bigger (282 MB), you can also play Pico Park 2.
Pico Park is a multiplayer game meant for two or more people. As a bite-sized multiplayer game that’s quite cheap, Pico Park makes for an excellent party game.
In Pico Park, your goal is to make it to the end of a level, with 48 levels in total. This isn’t as simple as it seems though; you will need to deal with new mechanics and gimmicks, as well as the frustrating task of helping your friends succeed.
7
Squareboy Vs Bullies: Arena Edition (114 MB)
Squareboy vs Bullies: Arena Edition is as primitive of a 2D brawler as you’re going to get. The game starts off with the scene above as you witness Squareboy get a sizable beating from the local bullies. This prompts our protagonist to take up martial arts training to learn how to defend himself in future bully encounters.
But Squareboy gets quite proactive when he goes about town walloping bullies left and right — becoming quite of a bully himself if we’re being honest. Regardless, it’s another $5 USD game that gets quite addictive in the first hour of play and falls off towards the end.
8
Aca NeoGeo Fatal Fury Special (114 MB)
Fatal Fury
- Released
-
March 4, 1992
- Developer
-
SNK Corporation, Takara, Aspect Co., Ltd., System Prisma, Magical
- Publisher
-
SNK Corporation, Hamster Corporation, Takara, Magical Company, Hudson Soft
- Engine
-
Unreal Engine
- ESRB
-
m
With Terry’s inclusion in Smash Bros., there’s no better time to jump into the acclaimed fighting series Fatal Fury. The edition on the Switch is Fatal Fury Special which takes Fatal Fury 2 and adds a few combat tweaks and expands the original roster of characters – very Smash and Capcom-esque.
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Fatal Fury 2 is often considered one of the greatest fighting games ever created, delivering on both tight controls and combat as well as a unique roster of characters. The Special Edition just further tightens everything that made that game, well, special for lack of a better term.
9
Kamiko (117 MB)
Kamiko is a beautifully stylized overhead action game that sees you play as a priestess battling her way through four distinct worlds. Along the way, you’ll solve a host of puzzles and battle against waves of demons that get progressively more difficult.
You can choose from three unique characters including the archer Uzume, sword-wielding Yamato, or the mixed-bag Hinome, who fights with a boomerang and dagger. The game is a little weak on the narrative as it focuses more on gameplay and its stunning array of colorful graphics.
10
Othello (123 MB)
Othello is a board game that is quite simple to learn – but incredibly hard to master. It originated in England in the late 1800s and the objective of the game is to have more colored circle pieces than your opponent by the end of the game.
You accomplish this task by “outflanking” your opponent’s color by surrounding it with one of your pieces making it yours. As you get better at the game it becomes a speedier game of chess as you try to outwit your opponent with strategy – a fun game all in all.
11
Townscaper (129 MB)
If you like city-building games, but don’t like the stressful management aspect, then Townscaper is worth checking out. In this cozy game, you can place buildings in any way you choose, making grand towns floating in the water.
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Buildings can vary in color, and certain shapes interact with each other in different ways. In the image above, you can see a variety of building types depending on the surroundings. Overall, this is a great game to play while relaxing.
12
PAN-PAN A Tiny Big Adventure (145 MB)
Pan-Pan is one of the best games on this list and is definitely up your alley if you’re into puzzle games. Like Kamiko, the game has a fantastic color pallet and has some of the kookiest graphics you’ll ever see. Throughout you take on a series of puzzles with the goal of collecting enough pieces to rebuild your aircraft.
Like any good puzzle game, the initial puzzles are easy enough but progress into monsters that leave you with a great deal of satisfaction after you solve them. Its gorgeous score crafted by composer Simon Viklund mixed with the engaging gameplay makes for a game you don’t want to miss out on.
13
Balatro (156 MB)
If you’re a fan of poker and roguelike games, then Balatro will seem like a match made in heaven. Releasing earlier in 2024, Balatro is a deckbuilding game that will most likely have you playing for hours at a time.
Interestingly, the developer behind Balatro is just one person, with the game serving as their only launch. Despite the small team (of one), Balatro became incredibly popular, with well over 45,000 reviews that are overwhelmingly popular on Steam.
14
Doom 64 (158 MB)
Doom 64 was first launched in 1997 for the Nintendo 64. Since then, it’s spread to several other platforms, with a Switch version launching in 2020. This version has been remastered, but it keeps the classic Doom feel that we love.
Interestingly, this is one of the longer games on our list, coming in at around seven hours. For a low price of $5 USD, this is definitely worth the time and money. In total, you can progress through over 30 levels, giving you plenty of demons to kill.
- Released
-
April 19, 1996
- Engine
-
unity
- ESRB
-
t
Metal Slug is a 2D action side-scrolling classic and may continue to hold up for the rest of time. The game has a brutal pace as you run and gun through war zone environments playing from a cast of characters that mirrors the testosterone-fueled heroes of 80’s action flicks.
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It’s like Super Mario Brothers on steroids and instead of being set in the Mushroom Kingdom, it’s set in a Schwarzenegger film. It feels like it was an indie game that was made today, and it certainly inspired modern classics like Broforce and Shovel Knight.
16
Jump Rope Challenge (163 MB)
Jump Rope Challenge is a bit different from other games on our list. This exercise game launched at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, encouraging people to stay moving while remaining at home. Interestingly, this was supposed to be a limited-time game, but you can still get it today.
There is no true ‘how long to beat’ time, as you can play every day, pretty much indefinitely. For a free and small game though, this is worth downloading, especially if you want to move a little while looking at a cute bunny at the same time.
17
Event Horizon (174 MB)
While you may be familiar with the 1997 Event Horizon, have you heard of the Nintendo Switch game with no relation? The term ‘event horizon’ is in reference to a boundary where events cannot affect you, such as the edge of a black hole. The version on the Nintendo Switch focuses on a space fleet exploring the galaxy.
Overall, this is a simple arcade game, so the small file size makes sense. While playing though, you’ll be able to explore new stars, modify tons of ships, and conquer the galaxy!
18
Risk Of Rain (175 MB)
Risk of Rain is an incredibly popular roguelike game that received a sequel in 2018 – Risk of Rain 2. Both games deliver us a wide cast of characters to play, as you make your way through harsh worlds and encounter swarms of monsters.
For just 175 MB, you can play the original Risk of Rain game on your Switch, which is quite a steal considering the second game is 3.2 GB. This isn’t too big for a game, but it’s quite larger compared to the original.
19
Waku Waku 7 (187 MB)
Waku Waku 7 is a 1996 Japanese fighting game that only recently was ported to the Western world. It’s the perfect 2D fighting game for those who have become bored with the traditional Street Fighting or King of Fighter games.
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Unfortunately, the roster is much smaller than those games, the few characters are extremely weird and a lot of fun to play. The entire game seems to echo a charm and weirdness that only Japanese game developers could come up with.
20
Undertale (220 MB)
At this point, Undertale is a classic game. In this RPG, you will essentially need to travel through the Underground and make your way back to the surface. Interestingly, there is a grand total of 93 different endings that you can obtain, split between three main routes.
Needless to say, this is a lot of content for 220 MB. Overall, Undertale has made a big impact on the gaming community, and it continues to have one of the best storylines in a video game!