Cross-Platform Games You Should Play On Nintendo Switch

Summary

• The Nintendo Switch offers convenience for playing games docked or handheld, making it a top choice.
• Okami HD’s touch controls on Switch enhance gameplay, despite better graphics elsewhere.
• Nintendo Switch is ideal for narrative-driven games like Night in the Woods for relaxed gameplay.

When it comes to buying games available on multiple platforms, you might make your decision based on the graphical power of the platform. After all, we all know the Nintendo Switch can’t keep up with the PS5 and PCs when it comes to graphical prowess.

However, the Nintendo Switch excels in other ways those platforms can’t. It’s a convenient platform for easily switching between playing docked and handheld depending on your mood or needs. These are the best games to get on Switch, even if they’re available somewhere else.

10

Hello Kitty Island Adventure

After being freed from being a mobile-exclusive, Hello Kitty Island Adventure is available on consoles and PC. It’s similar to Animal Crossing, in that a number of activities are locked to the current day.

It’s the type of game where you dip in and out, playing for a little bit every day to build up your friendship with the Sanrio characters and explore more of the island. As it’s more of a casual experience, it’s much easier to pick up and play on Switch for 30 minutes compared to getting settled with your PC, for example.

9

Okami HD

The best way to play Okami HD is on the Nintendo Switch, hands down. The main mechanic of the game, using the Celestial Brush techniques, is enhanced by the Switch’s touch screen, as you can draw on the screen as if you’re actually using the brush.

Sure, the graphics might shine more on PC or on PlayStation and Xbox, but using the touch controls adds a new layer to the gameplay that makes it even more enjoyable than it already is.

8

Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries Of Honjo

Playing Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo on Nintendo Switch is like cosying up on the couch with a crime novel. The anime-like art style pops on the Switch’s screen (even more so if you have an OLED).

The game is primarily a visual novel, but it also implements puzzle gameplay as you figure out the truth behind the titular Seven Mysteries of Honjo and the curses connected to them. Thanks to the game’s timeline feature, you can easily make different choices to see how things play out and advance further in specific storylines.

7

Dragon Quest 11 S: Echoes Of An Elusive Age – Definitive Edition

Dragon Quest 11 has everything that makes turn-based RPGs so great distilled into one excellent game. The Definitive Edition on Switch looks great, showcasing Akira Toriyama’s art style through its characters.

The story and gameplay are fairly straightforward RPG fanfare, but clearly show that the developers are masters of the genre. You can even play the game entirely in 2D with pixel graphics if you so choose, which looks great on the Switch’s handheld screen.

6

NEO: The World Ends With You

Sequel to the Square Enix’s underrated The World Ends With You, NEO: The World Ends With You picks up where the 2007 game left off, following new protagonist Rindo Kanade as he and a group of fellow teams are pulled into the Reapers’ Game.

Rather than the original DS games’ touchscreen controls, you use almost every button on the Joy-Con to control pins in battle and sync with your party members. It feels much more natural to do this in handheld mode instead of with a controller, and it makes the Switch feel like the true successor to the DS’ innovative mechanics.

5

Night In The Woods

Night in the Woods follows the story of Mae, a college drop-out who returns to her hometown for a mental health break. Oh, and she’s also a black cat, and everyone else in the game is an anthropomorphic animal of some sort.

With a heavy focus on its narrative and characters, Night in the Woods doesn’t have any combat, so it’s ideal to play when relaxing instead of on a PC or console set-up. Playing on Switch is the perfect way to immerse yourself in its world and understand what the characters are going through.

4

Overcooked & Overcooked 2

The Overcooked games are excellent co-op titles that will test your communication skills with whoever you’re playing with as you attempt to run a restaurant. If you play them on PC, PlayStation, or Xbox, you’re going to need to get your hands on another controller to play together, but on Switch, you just need one set of Joy-Con.

You can also choose to play in docked mode on a TV if you’re at home, or set up the handheld screen to play wherever you want, which makes it perfect for parties and even travelling.

3

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is the ultimate cosy farming game, and the Switch is the best place to play said cosy games, so this is a match made in heaven. If you’ve not heard of Stardew Valley by now, the game involves running and expanding your farm and getting to know the local folks in Pelican Town.

Unlike some other farming titles ported to Switch, the UI and controls are very easy and intuitive and have been perfectly adapted to the console. The only downside is that any content updates take a bit longer to come to console compared to PC.

If you want to play Stardew Valley with mods, you’ll have to do so on PC.

2

Kingdom Hearts: Melody Of Memory

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is the only game in the series available on Nintendo Switch natively rather than through Cloud versions, and it’s the only one we’d recommend buying on Switch in the first place because of this.

Melody of Memory is a rhythm game with iconic music from throughout the Kingdom Hearts series and it’s a lot of fun to revisit fan-favorite moments and locations from the games too. If you’re a fan of KH’s music, the best place to play this entry is on Switch.

1

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy

The Ace Attorney games were made to be played in handheld mode. The majority of the time, you’re reading a lot of dialogue as Phoenix questions witnesses and battles in the courtroom, so you’ll want to be as comfortable as possible while playing these games.

When you play the Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy, whether it’s your first time or your tenth, there’s no better feeling than getting cosy in bed or on the sofa to play, and the Switch is the best option for doing so.