Most Experimental Nintendo Switch Exclusives

Nintendo has become known for pushing the boundaries of gaming into bold new spheres all the way back since its entry into the video game market in the 1970s. Arguably no company has done more for the now multi-billion dollar industry, helping establish both home console and handheld gaming with their innovative designs.

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These risky innovations haven’t always paid off, with notable missteps such as the Virtual Boy, the Power Glove and, more recently, the Wii U. Nintendo set themselves back on course in impressive fashion with the Nintendo Switch, but that didn’t mean they were done experimenting. These games, exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, stand out for their novelty, ingenuity, and experimental nature.

9

Tetris 99

Tetris Battle Royale

Systems

Released

February 13, 2019

Developer(s)

Arika

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Probably the most popular game on this list, Tetris 99 created quite a splash with puzzle fans when it launched on Nintendo Switch in 2019. The iconic game of Tetris is synonymous with Nintendo‘s success ever since being packaged with the original Game Boy back in 1984.

Still, the idea of reenvisioning it to chase the battle royale trend seemed like a pretty esoteric one, but the end result was greater than the sum of its parts. Nintendo has tried to recapture that formula with other popular classics, but none proved quite as good as Tetris 99.

8

BoxBoy! + BoxGirl!

Side Splitting Puzzle Platformer

Systems

Released

April 26, 2019

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

HAL Laboratory is one of Nintendo‘s most trusted development partners, being the team behind the Kirby series and the original Super Smash Bros. series. They have a few other less notable properties, the most significant being the DS-exclusive series BoxBoy!

The plucky puzzler made its leap to Switch like so many other handheld exclusives with BoxBoy! + BoxGirl! The game essentially involves the protagonists extending and dropping off parts of their cube-shaped bodies to solve a series of puzzles.

7

Endless Ocean Luminous

Deep Sea Exploration

Systems

Released

May 2, 2024

Developer(s)

Arika

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Another lesser-known Nintendo series, Endless Ocean Luminous targets a serene and relaxing experience. Players are meant to be drawn in with the promise of exploration, but the overall structure of the game is a lot more directionless than players are typically used to.

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The primary objective is to document all the wildlife in the ocean — similar to games like Pokemon Snap but without the fantastical elements. It’s a pretty zen endeavor, but it’s certainly not for everyone.

6

Little Friends: Cats & Dogs

Virtual Pets

Little Friends: Dogs and Cats

Systems

Released

December 6, 2018

Developer(s)

Imagineer

Publisher(s)

Sold Out

Most likely intended as the next evolution in the incredibly lucrative Nintendogs series, Little Friends: Cats & Dogs didn’t quite reach that lofty bar despite an improvement in graphics and gameplay features.

Like its inspiration, Little Friends: Cats & Dogs is a virtual pet simulator, with players able to design their ideal companion and then take care of them. Gameplay revolves around ensuring they have enough food and taking them for walks — and dressing them up in dapper outfits (of course).

5

Butto Bird

Animated Aerial Conflict

• Platform: Nintendo Switch
• Developer: Locobit
• Released: June 19, 2024
• Genre: Aircraft Combat Sim

The mechanics of Butto Bird aren’t especially experimental; it’s a fairly accessible dogfighting game, consisting of evasive flying maneuvers and firing weapons. Where the developers did take a bit of a punt on finding a target audience was in the outlandish theme and art style.

Players take control of a bird with a minigun strapped to its back to compete in the various PVP modes. Butto Bird certainly has a lot of flair and character beyond what is typical of the genre.

4

1-2-Switch / Everybody 1-2-Switch

Tech Demo

Systems

Released

March 3, 2017

Developer(s)

Nintendo

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

1-2-Switch was essentially designed as a tech demo to showcase all the features of the console and the innovative ways developers could use the Joy-Con controllers. Sadly, much like the Wii U, third-party developers ignored many of the quirky options, leaving it as nothing more than a bare-bones party experience.

The subsequent sequel, Everybody 1-2-Switch, attempted to capitalize on the trend of large multiplayer experiences and social media content to elevate the experience, but this ultimately fell flat as well.

3

Arms

Hand-To-Hand Hero Combat

Systems

Released

June 16, 2017

Developer(s)

Nintendo EPD

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Nintendo had such high hopes for Arms, releasing it very early on in the Switch‘s life-cycle, hoping to capture a dedicated player base to rival the likes of Splatoon or even Overwatch. It is a very innovative fighting game with a high-skill ceiling, but it ultimately failed to find enough of an audience.

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The fighting game community largely rejected the central game mechanics, which were built around the Switch‘s motion controls. Although it was one of the best implementations of motion controls, that ship had somewhat sailed with the Wii, and Arms was unfortunately doomed to be another failed experiment.

2

Battle Calculator

Time Attack Arithmetic

• Platform: Nintendo Switch
• Developer: Blacksmith DoubleCircle
• Released: August 5, 2021
• Genre: Puzzle

An obscure pull for sure, but how could it go without mention? Similar to the number round of classic British quiz show Countdown, Battle Calculator generates a random number that players must then race to input an equation that equals that number exactly.

There are two main modes: head-to-head, which supports up to four players, and a time attack mode in which solo players are put on a strict time limit. The calculator includes a host of advanced mathematical operations and integers, allowing adept players to input quick shortcuts to victory.

1

Nintendo Labo

Cardboard Constructions

Systems

Released

April 20, 2018

Developer(s)

Nintendo

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Nintendo Labo is not only the most ambitious experiment with Switch hardware; it’s the most disappointing that it didn’t find an audience either, as the possibilities were boundless. The Nintendo-designed sets included punchboards that could be assembled into a fishing rod, a camera, a fully functional piano — even a VR headset — and much more.

Fans didn’t take much to the aesthetic, but it was a truly impressive feat. What hurts the most is the untapped potential, with the usually protective Nintendo inviting fans to try out their own creations. The software allowed players to develop their own programs, and as the cardboard accessories proved, practically any periphery could be home designed to maximize the experience.

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