137 Switch 1 & 2 Games You Should Check Out In The 'Hits For The Holidays' Nintendo eShop Sale (US)

Persona 5 Tactica (Switch)

$14.99 (-75%)

Persona 5 Tactica is a thrillingly varied tactical RPG that fans of the Phantom Thieves and the genre should take note of. It's a little on the easy side, but the varied gameplay, excellent soundtrack, striking visuals, and lovable characters all make for a very easy recommendation.

If you really enjoyed Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle or like strategy RPGs in general, give this one ago. There's no better way to play games in this genre than on the Switch.

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Pizza Tower (Switch eShop)

$9.99 (-50%)

Pizza Tower is the rare sort of game that improves on its inspiration in nearly every way, building upon many of Nintendo’s Wario Land ideas with impressive results. This is an incredibly satisfying, creative, and addictive platformer that’ll keep you busy for a long time if you want to 100% it.

Anyone who loves the Wario Land games will adore this, as will anyone who’s looking for something new with a high skill ceiling and lots of technical depth. Pizza Tower has definitely got it where it counts - platformers don’t get much better than this.

Portal: Companion Collection (Switch eShop)

$4.99 (-75%)

It's hard to overstate our satisfaction with Portal: Companion Collection, especially at this bargain price. Portal and Portal 2 felt incredibly fresh when they first released, and the years have not diminished their immense impact. To have two of the most unique and mind-bending puzzle games on a Nintendo console, and on-the-go if you choose, is a pure joy.

The motion controls work like a dream, the games run at a near-rock-solid 60fps, you've got local co-op play available at the drop of a hat, and the writing remains as funny now as it did all those years ago. If you haven't played the Portal games before, this should be a no-brainer. If you have... well, just play them again.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Switch)

$11.99 (-60%)

We knew Ubisoft Montpellier was a pair of safe hands and the (now sadly disbanded) team didn't let us down; Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a slick return to the roots of this franchise that serves up clever 2.5D action wrapped up in a delightful art style and satisfying story.

There's a smart balance here between old-school levels of action and challenge, moreish combat, and neat puzzles, all mixed with accessibility options and fine-tuning that open things up to newcomers and casual players.

Prodeus (Switch)

$14.99 (-40%)

Prodeus is the kind of game that knows exactly what it wants to do and executes that vision flawlessly. It’s not complicated and it’s nothing you haven’t seen before, but every inch of this experience was clearly crafted with passion and talent. The intense firefights, expansive arsenal, metal music, and sprawling level designs all come together to make Prodeus feel like a game that’s just the right mix of retro and modern.

If you have ever been a fan of Doom, Quake, Wolfenstein, or any of the indie boomer shooters of the last few years, you owe it to yourself to give Prodeus a shot. Even if you haven’t much been into the genre before, we’d say this is an excellent place to jump in and see what it’s about.

qomp2 (Switch eShop)

$8.99 (-55%)

qomp 2 is an excellent and worthy reimaging of Pong that honours the classic arcade game's legacy while providing a unique experience for folks with no nostalgia for Atari's seminal masterpiece. It offers a consistently interesting and engaging means of traversal with a great variety of obstacles and puzzles to overcome throughout the 30 stages.

We would have liked a few more levels in the end, but this is really just an indication of the quality on display here. If you're into quirky action-focused puzzlers with a unique hook, then qomp 2 is definitely worth your attention.

Radiant Silvergun (Switch eShop)

$7.99 (-60%)

Despite its uncompromising nature, Radiant Silvergun remains deservedly celebrated. The game wears its hardcore credentials on its sleeve, and its depth in both technical and artistic terms is astonishing. As stimulating and rewarding as it is exhausting, it’s a labour that has transcended not only the genre but the medium to some degree.

Regardless of its difficulty — and in that difficulty, its lack of immediate connection — those who learn to fell the game proper can say they truly lived Radiant Silvergun. That’s an experience worth fighting for.

Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition (Switch)

$7.99 (-80%)

A regular during these sales, but we're going to recommend it every time anyway. Rayman Legends is one of the best plumber-free platformers ever made, and its budget price means if you haven’t played it before, the Switch version is the perfect opportunity to jump in.

While the only truly new features here are a complete character roster for the first time and a tournament mode for its football minigame, this is still one of Ubisoft's very best games. Get it, now.

Red Dead Redemption: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Switch 2)

$24.99 (-50%)

Now available on Switch 2, Red Dead Redemption comes with mouse controls for fine-aiming, and expected resolution and frame rate increases. Now this is the best way to play the game handheld. Remember the journey into Mexico, that magical bit with the music, the showstopping part? It's all the more magical when you can see the very dust in the air, the shimmering heat haze in the distance, now as clear as day thanks to pristine visuals. HDR helps things pop in comparison to the older port, that's for sure.

There's still no multiplayer, but it now feels as though the game is being presented on a Nintendo console in a manner befitting such an epic slice of gaming history. This is a gem that still feels modern, immediate, and relentlessly replayable on Switch 2.

Return to Monkey Island (Switch eShop)

$9.99 (-60%)

How is this still the only Monkey Island game on Switch? Anyway, Return to Monkey Island reaches into your heart, rips out your desire to know THE SECRET, and clenches it in front of your face. As hard as it would be to concede that The Secret of Monkey Island™ might always have been a MacGuffin, it’s agonising to contemplate that your 30-year longing for the Monkey Island 3 might be just the same.

Return presents to your transfixed gaze a phenomenal point-and-click adventure, bubbling with passion and fun. All the way through, you will hope, achingly, that the big reveal is coming – and then…

Rogue Legacy (Switch eShop)

$1.99 (-87%)

Rogue Legacy is a simple take on the tried-and-true roguelike formula, but it executes what it sets out to do exceptionally well, making for an endlessly replayable and enjoyable action adventure that no fan of the genre will want to miss out on.

A high difficulty level, funny writing, tight controls and rewarding RPG mechanics make this one an effortless recommendation; the design of the game makes it easy to play in short bursts or long sessions, which means it's — and the sequel, which is also cheap at $9.99 (-60%) — a perfect fit for the Switch.

Sea of Stars (Switch eShop)

$22.74 (-35%)

Sea of Stars is a sensational achievement for Sabotage. Following on from The Messenger, the studio is two for two in providing impressively designed and genuinely innovative takes on classic genres.

The deep and strategic combat, thoughtful level design, and fantastic visuals and music all combine to make this one of our favourite RPGs on the system. Even if you're not a fan of old-school RPGs, the execution and polish here are so good that we’d suggest you give it a try anyway - few games would be a better introduction and representation of what makes JRPGs great. There's even some free DLC you can play once you've rolled credits.

Regarding that other game from Sabotage, The Messenger is also currently $3.99 (-80%)

Shantae and the Seven Sirens (Switch eShop)

$14.99 (-50%)

Shantae and the Seven Sirens is still one of our favourite games in the series. It pulls some of the best elements from the titles that came before it – such as the dungeons and fast transformations – while adding in several cool new ones too, like the collectable cards and lovable new characters.

A short-but-sweet runtime, well-drawn visuals, a catchy soundtrack, and a well-designed map make this another fantastic Metroidvania on the hybrid system.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance (Switch)

$23.99 (-60%)

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a stellar example of an enhanced re-release done right. Vengeance's comprehensive approach to improving the story and various gameplay systems of the original release makes for an experience that’s even more engrossing.

Some may consider SMT to be “Persona without the heart,” but SMT V: Vengeance cleanly demonstrates that this old Atlus stalwart still has an abundance of fantastic gameplay and unique appeal. A wonderful game.

Shotgun Cop Man (Switch eShop)

$5.99 (-40%)

Recently featuring on our 2025 Hidden Gems list, Shotgun Cop Man can easily stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Super Meat Boy and Celeste in terms of raw, precise gameplay. Using your guns for both traversal and combat with a simple but effective twin-stick setup is a stroke of genius, and it makes for an effortlessly rewarding experience that you'll want to play again and again.

While not overly difficult in itself, nailing the optional objectives is key to achieving 100% completion, and it's here that you'll find challenge and satisfaction in equal measure. It's funny, it's violent, and it's polished – and we suspect it will go down as a cult classic.

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (Switch eShop)

$25.99 (-35%)

One of the earliest releases on the Switch, Treasure Trove includes absolutely everything that developer Yacht Club has created for the game since its Kickstarter success back in 2013. That includes the extra campaigns Plague of Shadows, Specter of Torment, and King of Cards, plus multiplayer brawler Showdown, which further increases the attractiveness of an already incredibly compelling package.

These games are fantastic odes to the glory days of 8-bit(+) platforming, and having the complete Shovel Knight experience in one spot makes this a must-have for Switch owners - especially those who have so far failed to dig into this game and its add-ons. Strike the earth!

Sid Meier's Civilization VI (Switch)

$27.99 (-60%) (Anthology)

If you think Civilization peaked at IV, the sixth entry won’t change your mind, but we envy anyone who’s never played the series, as Civilization VI on Switch is a brilliant introduction. Watching — and influencing — how the world unfolds is as addictive as ever, and the boon of portability makes this a great way to play.

The core game works fantastically well on the handheld and we had an absolute blast; take our advice and get stuck in.

Signalis (Switch eShop)

$13.99 (-30%)

Signalis came out of nowhere to provide survival horror fans a near-perfect love letter to the long-running genre. We still think it's one of the best in the genre, and it shines when you're darting between enemies, using stealth and patience rather than brute force.

While some of the combat encounters felt a little forced, the puzzles are just the right mix of challenging and approachable. The surreal imagery and unique storytelling structure add to the overall polish of a game that is the perfect length for what it is. There have been an awful lot of homages to classic survival horror, but Signalis stands as one of the best.

Slay the Spire (Switch eShop)

$8.49 (-75%)

Slay the Spire is an endlessly addictive roguelike card-battler that’s a perfect fit for Switch; a beautifully balanced game. Its combination of ferocious battles, entertaining chance encounters, and selection of three impressively different player characters make every run to the top a nerve-wracking and totally absorbing affair.

Massively inventive sets of cards combine majestically into hugely destructive combos and attack and defence options fuse perfectly together, enabling you to use the information provided by the brilliantly transparent Intent system to strategise endlessly against hordes of foul monstrosities. Sure, you’ll eventually see every enemy and chance encounter, but overall this is one dungeon crawler that will live long in our system memories.

Slime-san (Switch eShop)

$2.39 (-80%)

Slime-san is a brilliantly snappy, charismatic and challenging title that manages to deliver a satisfying core game with tonnes of bonus extras to play around with besides. The controls are spot-on, the environments are varied and engaging, and while other platformers may have tread similar ground before, Slime-san weaves together so many different elements into a finely-crafted experience that it deserves a place among the best in the genre.

That's not even mentioning a handful of arcade game modes, a suite of options for speedrunning, and a soundtrack that almost warrants the price of admission alone. It represents immense value for money, and if you're itching for something weird then the future is most certainly green (and who isn't nowadays?).

Sonic Mania (Switch eShop)

$7.99 (-60%)

Sonic Mania is still probably the best Sonic game ever, an is a true return for the mascot's 2D 'Classic' guise. It celebrates the glory days of the original games while also enhancing their qualities and taking on new ideas. From new areas, imaginative second acts, and some delightful boss encounters, the development team poured a lot of passion and talent into this retro-styled project.

With new characters and modes added in the 'Plus' retail version (also available as DLC), some neat tweaks iron out some of the kinks present in the original release. Regardless of the version you pick up, Mania is one of the very best 2D platformers you'll find out there.

For some 3D hedgehog action, Sonic X Shadow Generations on both Switch 1 and 2 is on sale for $24.99 (-50%) — get the Switch 2 version if you've never played it before.

Spelunky 2 (Switch eShop)

$9.99 (-50%)

Spelunky 2 is a masterclass in great roguelite game design, expertly combining crushing difficulty with a steady drip of new secrets and lessons to keep you coming back for more.

Some may be put off by the steep challenge—this is certainly a game you have to work for a bit—but putting in the effort is sure to reward you with plenty of thrilling memories.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R (Switch)

$24.99 (-50%)

Star Ocean: The Second Story R is comfortably the best entry in tri-Ace's series yet, and this is one of the very best RPG remakes we've ever played. This revival of a PlayStation classic does a thorough job of mixing modern game design and artistic elements with old-school sensibilities to make for one of the most impressive RPG releases of 2023.

A lengthy, player-driven story, thrilling combat system, gorgeous new visual style, and remixed soundtrack all come together to make this one of the easiest recommendations we can make to any RPG fan.

Streets of Rage 4 (Switch eShop)

$8.74 (-75%)

Streets of Rage 4 is the very best the series has ever been. Its hand-drawn graphics breathe new life into Wood Oak City and its inhabitants, the soundtrack is outstanding, and the combat feels better than ever.

Lizardcube, Guard Crush Games, and Dotemu managed to completely modernise the look and feel of Streets of Rage, expanding on the experience without losing sight of what made the original games so popular to begin with – and the handful of additions made to the action here serve only to enhance the classic core gameplay, resulting in one of the best side-scrolling beat 'em ups we've played in a long time.

And the Mr X Nightmare DLC is pretty tasty, too. A truly fantastic brawler.

Subnautica (Switch eShop)

$7.49 (-75%)

When Unknown Worlds announced they were bringing Subnautica to Switch, we were hugely excited — this is one of our all-time favourite games after all — but it was excitement tempered with a degree of scepticism as to how on earth they'd manage to cram the entire experience onto Switch in a properly playable manner.

As it turns out, we needn't have worried. This is a super solid port that, besides a few loading stutters here and there and some scenery pop-in that's present in every other version of the game, successfully delivers one of the very best open-world survival experiences on any platform to Nintendo's hybrid console.