The Best Open World Games On The Nintendo Switch

Key Takeaways

• There’s a lot of variety on the Nintendo Switch in terms of Open-World games.
• There are games that cater to all ages and skill levels.
• Aside from mainline Nintendo titles, there are numerous Indies worth checking out as well.

Overall Open-world games are a dime a dozen in modern gaming, and the Nintendo Switch has some of the finest examples in the genre. From modern-day classics to reimaginings of classic Nintendo franchises, the Switch is host to a plentiful bounty of open-world adventures.

Switch gamers have access to some of the best open worlds in gaming in, quite literally, the palm of their hand. The novelty of having access to console-scale worlds on a handheld device hasn’t quite rubbed off yet, here are the best open-world games on the Nintendo Switch.

Updated December 2, 2024 By Matthew McKeown: Nothing beats a vast untamed wilderness sprawling out before you with the only limitations being your own personal free time and the occasional invisible boundary wall. Open World games perfectly capture the raw feeling of adventure, and some do it very well.

Whilst there are tons of solo, indie and AAA devs doing their own open-world thing, Nintendo continue to do what Nintendo does best, make solid games. There’s been a plethora pumped out or ported over and it’s worth catching up on a few. So here’s an updated look at the best open-world games on the Nintendo Switch.

The Pathless

An Awesome Archery Adventure

An absolutely gorgeous game from the talented team that brought us ABZU, The Pathless from Giant Squid is a mystical adventure into the wilds. Playing as a Master Archer, your goal is take down the darkness that’s blighted the land. With just a bow and your trained Eagle companion to aid you, it’s a bold and big adventure just waiting to burst forth onto your screen.

Overall The Pathless is an enjoyable and genuinely beautiful experience at times as you’re wandering around its vast open map. With big Breath Of The Wild energy, it treads similar yet new ground to provide an experience that’s thrilling and always has something new just around the corner. A recommended pick if you’re looking for something familiar yet new.

Ylands

A Wild World Of Wandering Around

For those looking for a grand adventure then check out Ylands from Bohemia Interactive. Surprising many with this title, Bohemia have certainly made something unique whilst taking a lot of good notes from other games.

Build everything from huge castles and manors, to armored covered house boats and whatever else your imagination can come up with. To keep you occupied there are tons of dungeons to clear out, islands to discover and new sights to see. It’s very relaxing sailing around on your own, plus when you bring in a group the anarchy and enjoyment only increases. Genuinely good from top to bottom and worth a recommendation, Ylands is an Open-World game that will sit well on your Nintendo Switch.

Lego City Undercover

Saving The City One Block At A Time

A Lego game we haven’t quite seen the likes of since Lego City Undercover gave you a wide-open city to cause all sorts of brick-based chaos. You play as Chase McCain, a cop that’s been sent undercover to hunt down the notorious Rex Fury.

There’s a crime wave hitting the city in Rex’s wake and it’s up to Chase to calm things down and catch the bad guy in a classic crime caper adventure. Full of references, vehicles, collectibles, and comedy, Lego City Undercover is an entertaining classic that’ll scratch that chaotic itch.

Subnautica

Under The Sea!

Thallassaphobics prepare yourself as you’ll be spending a lot of time in the big dark blue ocean. After your ship crash lands on an ocean world, you wake up in your escape pod to find nothing but water filled with huge alien fish in every direction you look.

What follows is an extraordinarily good diving game where you’ll be balancing your resources, building a base, and probing deeper and deeper into the depths. But the further down you go, the bigger the monsters get. So you better be prepared.

Whilst Subnautica 2 provided a new ocean to swim around in and some new toys. The fanbase considers the first game the better of the two.

Core Keeper

Going Deep Down Below

After awakening in a long-lost cave system it’s up to you to crack apart those rocks, delve deeper, and uncover the secrets and treasures hidden below the earth in Core Keeper. This charming open-world survival game dumps you miles underground with a strange Core object.

It’s up to you to protect and upgrade this strange artifact as over time it will allow you to expand your base substantially. Strange biomes and huge bosses wait below, but you don’t have to take it on alone as there’s co-op multiplayer for up to eight people at once. If you enjoyed the free-roaming challenge of Terraria, then you’ll feel right at home here.

The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom

Zeldas Taking A Turn At The Wheel

Links taking a backseat this time around as it’s Princess Zelda’s time to shine. Whilst rescuing the princess from Ganon, Link and a substantial chunk of Hyrule falls into a dark rift and it’s up to Zelda to save the day, defend the kingdom, and banish the rifts once and for all.

It’s a very cute, simplistic, and cartoony world that we’re in and it’s just oozing in classic Nintendo charm. Harness new powers and abilities using the Tri Rod, her powers of Wisdom to create echoes, and her new friend the tiny fairy Tri. It all blends together to provide a creative and chaotic adventure that you won’t put down until you hit those end credits.

Whilst it may seem at first like you are being led around by the nose, the game does open up after the first area. So stick it out.

Cat Quest 3

The Purrfect Pirate Adventure

Avast you scurvy felines, there are doubloons out there with your name on it and if you don’t get your little pirate paws on them first, some other kitty might. The third installment in the long-running Cat Quest games from The Gentlebros, Cat Quest Three has you sailing the grand seas for adventure, treasure, and glory once more.

Based in the Purribean, your little privateer has a long road ahead of them and plenty of Pi-Rats to beat. Featuring a new combat system, new worlds, dungeons and co-op, Cat Quest 3 is the perfect penultimate paw-filled pirate adventure that you never knew you needed. Great for cat owners, or generally anyone looking for some low-stakes open-world wandering, grab this game, build your crew and set sail for adventure.

Try to soften up enemies on islands with attacks from your ship first before making landfall. It’s free damage after all.

Monster Hunter Stories

Monster Hunting And Pokemon Mashed Together

A family friendly installment of a classic creature hunting series, in Monster Hunter Stories instead of hunting and slicing apart creatures, you’re raising them. You play as a Rider, a group that raises and rides monster for a living whilst also living in a small and isolated village in the mountains.

But after a calamity known as the Black Blight begins to threaten the world, it’s up to you and your team of monsters to save the world. Gameplay is a mix of turn-based and RPG mechanics across a massive and epic in scale open-world. A huge time sink that’s recommended for MH fans, MH Stories deserves a spot on your Switch.

You don’t need to have played other MH games to play stories as the game is its own thing.

Divinity: Original Sin 2

D&D Adventures Made Easy

Unfortunately Baldur’s Gate 3 is a little chunky to run on the Switch, but you can still get your D&D fix with Divinity: Original Sin 2. Made by Larian Studios, the same team behind BG3, and is just as great.

Explored the vast and multi-layered world of Rivellon, gather a party of your choosing and follow a winding story that could potentially end with you becoming a god, or worse. Every adventure is unique, plus you can bring in your friends in local and online multiplayer. A fantastic D&D experience for those on a budget, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is highly recommended for turn-based fantasy fans.

It’s highly encouraged to play DOS 2 with a group or in split screen for added enjoyment.

Seed Of Life

Saving The Environment One Plant At A Time

A slightly janky, yet interesting and unique Indie adventure game about how persistent life can be, Seed Of Life tasks you with reviving a dying planet. You play as Cora, the last survivor on Lumia. The world is rotting, but it’s up to you to rekindle the sun, banish the darkness and revive the land.

The environment is filled with toxic plants and deadly monsters, but in this puzzle heavy action-adventure game you’re the only one that can save the day. Some of the vistas are absolutely gorgeous and despite it being a little rough around the edges, there’s plenty of charm to keep you pushing through to the end.

If you’re still not sold on Seed Of Life, there is a free demo you can try.

Sea Of Stars

Supremely Stellar Fantasy RPG

An absolutely gorgeous open-world RPG from top to bottom, Sea Of Stars from Sabotage Studio made some huge waves when it landed. An instant classic that follows the story of two magic wielding Children of Solstice that have to stop the evil Alchemist known as the Fleshmancer.

Form your party and take part in unique combat that requires acting in sync with certain attacks for big damage numbers. All the fights take place in the real world, so there’s no screen transitions and it works fantastically well to immerse you in the setting. An award winning game that deserves a place on your Switch, Sea Of Stars is a must-play.

Thank Goodness You’re Here

Explore The Oddities Of England

A game that’s oozing with absurd and bonkers British humor, Thank Goodness You’re Here from Coal Supper is a charming open-world adventure Indie game that’s absolutely stellar from top to bottom. You play as a traveling salesman that’s taking in the strange sights of a small town.

Interact with the locals, help them in their activities and get ready for abstract and out there jokes that will leave you on the floor in hysterics. Barnsworth is a very strange town and there’s always something weird just waiting right around the corner. It’s a must-play Switch game for those with a silly sense of humor and it can’t come more recommended. Play this if you can, or at least watch a Let’s Play.

Fans of Matt Berry will absolutely enjoy this game as he cameos as a couple of characters in his usual out-there and brash style.

Tchia

A Magical Mediterranean Mystery

A gorgeous tropical open-world game from Awaceb, Tchia is reminiscent of Breath of The Wild through a colorful Carribean filter. Set sail around the beautiful archipelagos and discover magical islands, explore new locales, and meet strange new people and creatures whilst customizing Tchia however you like.

Or just use your enchanted Ukulele to summon items or just jam out. There’s special gifts that let you take control of animals and objects to explore, look for treasure, or complete quests. Plus, there are just tons of activities to do around these pleasant little spots. Highly recommended if you’re looking for a low-stakes open-world game to mess around in for hours.

Downward

Parkour Across The Post-Apocalypse

Even though it launched in 2017, Downward from Caracal Games has returned once again with a brand new enhanced edition that’s worth checking out. For those familiar, Downward is a first-person open-world parkour game set on a post-apocalyptic Earth.

The environment has been rendered down into ruins and the game tasks you with exploring these wrecks to save what’s left of humanity. There are plenty of puzzles and parkour involved, deadly monsters and bosses as well as stat upgrades to improve your ability to clamber across objects like an adrenaline-fuelled monkey.

Fading Afternoon

Pixel Perfect Yakuza Punching

Things haven’t been going well for Seiji Maruyama in Fading Afternoon from Yeo. An ex-Yakuza and freshly released from prison, Seiji has to figure out how he’s going to fit back into society. Will he fall back on old habits, or forge a new path, it’s all up to you.

There are multiple endings, a wide open Japanese city filled with the classic tropes, tons of mini-games and some fun beat’em up gameplay sections to keep things exciting. Plus, don’t let its cutesy art style fool you, there are a lot of strong, dark themes dealt with in the story. If you loved the Sega Yakuza games, then you’ll enjoy Fading Afternoon.

Moonstone Island

A Cross Of Pokemon And Stardew Valley

An absolutely adorable open-world game that will look right at home on your Nintendo Switch. Moonstone Island from Studio Supersoft is a surprisingly in-depth creature collecting and life-sim game set against a backdrop of an absolutely gigantic world.

There are over 100 islands to explore, and on those strange locales are odd creatures and spirits that you’ll need to collect and tame through a unique deck-building combat system. Meet and marry NPCs, befriend over 70 spirits, and throw away your free time in the Infini Dungeon. Highly recommended and very well received, Moonstone Island is a must-play.

Pixelshire

Build Society Your Way

Build and grow your own town in Pixelshire from Kappa Bits. A quaint and cozy open-world RPG meets sim game, Pixelshire lets your imagination go wild on a large scale as you craft, build, and create your town how you like.

Master a trade, meet new neighbors, or go out and explore the wilderness of Arcadia to bring home better materials for your growing community. NPCs bring new skills to learn, so you’re encouraged to play nice and meet the needs of your new tenants and there’s a lot of personalization that you can put into each home. If you like something that lets you tinker with your very own town, then pick up Pixelshire.

Outward

Building An Adventure Your Way

An absolutely massive open land of Aurai awaits in Outward from Ninte Dots Studio. The game sells itself as an immersive RPG and it’s not wrong as it’s very easy to lose yourself in the environment and atmosphere as you’re bumbling around in a cave or taking long confident strides across the hills, dales, and fields of Aurai.

Forge your own path, spec your character how you want, and take on every hostile creature out there in any way you like. Whether that’s fist-to-face in combat or being sneaky and using hazards in the environment to your benefit. There are plenty of survivor stats to manage and lots of towns, cities, and tombs to ransack, explore, and strip for treasure. Trickier than you would think and more enjoyable than you would expect, Outward comes with a hearty recommendation.

Outward can be played solo or in co-op with friends if you prefer having a large party on your fantasy adventure.

Expeditions

Going Where No Trucker Has Gone Before

If you’re a fan of the in-depth off-roading experience of the Mudrunner and Snowrunner franchise from Saber Interactive then you’re going to feel right at home here. Expeditions is a slightly slimmed down but more action-oriented version of past games and if you like driving cars up big hills then it’s worth adding to your library.

The task this time around is to use a series of research vehicles to explore areas like a ruined Arizona or Carpathian mountains as you perform surveys, gather research materials, and perform other unique science tasks with high-tech tools. There are a ton of cars as usual, but the focus this time around is less haulage and more offroading with fancy gadgets. If you wanted more Mudrunner with less trucking, then this is the one worth checking out.

New cars and tech are still being routinely added to the game. So it’s worth regularly coming back to it to see if there’s anything new that’s been dumped.

Europa

A Little Androids Big Adventure

A low-stakes open-world game from a small group of Indie Devs, Europa carries a lot of Breath of The Wild energy for all the right reasons. You play as Zee, an android that’s stuck on the terraformed paradise on Europa as he tries to explore his new surroundings.

In the heart of a fallen civilization Zee will have secrets to uncover, puzzles to solve, and foes to fight as he learns the story of the last human being left alive on the planet. To help him get around Zee can glide and soar short distances through the air and there’s a lot of emphasis on momentum and using physics to get around or figure out tricky brain teasers. If you’re in the market for something that’s very pretty but has some relaxing low stakes, then check out Europa.