79 Switch 1 & 2 Games You Should Check Out In The eShop 'Blockbuster Sale' (Europe)

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance (Switch)

£24.74 / 26,99€ (-50%)

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a stellar example of an enhanced re-release done right - which is fortunate, as the original version was delisted when this launched.

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. Though we were disappointed by the lack of any performance gains here, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is still an extremely easy recommendation.

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Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (Switch eShop)

£17.99 / 19,99€ (-50%)

Shovel Knight was excellent in vanilla form, but 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!

Shovel fans will find Dig and Pocket Dungeon discounted, too.

Signalis (Switch eShop)

£11.19 / 13,99€ (-30%)

Signalis came out of nowhere to provide survival horror fans a near-perfect love letter to the long-running genre.

It is at its best 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)

£6.79 / 8,49€ (-66%)

Slay the Spire is an endlessly addictive roguelike card-battler that’s a perfect fit for Switch; a beautifully balanced game that arrived on Nintendo's system with all the benefits of an extended period of Early Access on PC. 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.

Sure, you’ll eventually see every enemy and chance encounter, and yes, there are a few frame rate niggles here and there, but overall this is one dungeon crawler that will live long in our system memories.

Sonic Mania (Switch eShop)

£6.39 / 7,99€ (-60%)

Sonic Mania was 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 best 2D platformers in recent memory.

Sonic X Shadow Generations (Switch 2)

£26.99 / 32,49€ (-40%)

Whether you should take a punt on Sonic X Shadow Generations for the Switch 2 will depend on whether you already own it on Switch 1 or not. If you don’t, it's perhaps Sonic's best 3D game, and with 60fps this is undoubtedly the best way to play it on Nintendo systems.

If you do, however, think twice about double-dipping. It’s already a splendid game on Switch 1, and with no upgrade path or new content, you're missing out on very little if you skip it.

Subnautica (Switch eShop)

£12.49 / 14,99€ (-50%)

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.

Super Mario Maker 2 (Switch)

£37.49 / 44,99€ (-25%)

Super Mario Maker 2 took everything you loved about Super Mario Maker and turned it up to 11.

It added more of everything: the Super Mario 3D World style, enemies, gizmos, power-ups, vertical levels, the Story Mode having an actual story, multiplayer, and more (including slopes, of course). The list of additions is truly massive.

There are a few small issues here and there, but they're overwhelmingly dwarfed by the sheer joy and unbridled freedom on offer. Free updates and tweaks to the formula evolved the experience over time, much like the original, with Ninji Speedruns and various new elements — like the ability to create world maps — added to this expansive, essential Mario toybox.

Tetris Effect: Connected (Switch eShop)

£17.99 / 19,99€ (-50%)

Tetris Effect: Connected is perhaps the best iteration of the classic puzzler yet.

While this Switch port doesn't offer a great deal over existing versions in terms of features, it delivers the one key ingredient that its rivals cannot: portability. Sure, some will argue that Tetris Effect: Connected's unique brand of synesthesia only really comes alive when played on PSVR or an Oculus Quest headset, but we'd argue passionately that this game benefits far more from the ability to pick it up and play whenever, wherever.

Just as the Game Boy and Tetris combined to create an irresistible, world-conquering fusion back in 1989, Tetris Effect: Connected found the hardware that allowed it to truly shine, making this an utterly essential purchase for all Nintendo Switch owners. Don't forget those headphones.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure (Switch)

£25.19 / 27,99€ (-30%)

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure takes everything that’s excellent about Zero and runs a marathon with it. It’s one of the best-paced games in the series, with some of the best characters, best music, and easily the best setting.

The Crossbell Arc is a hugely compelling two-parter that captures everything that makes the Trails series what it is perfectly, and Azure in particular deftly balances high-stakes drama, political intrigue, and poignant character moments.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Switch)

£37.49 / 44,99€ (-25%)

This beautiful Switch remake of the classic Game Boy entry rebuilt everything from the ground up. On top of the beautiful new art style, it added modern conveniences, a dungeon creator, amiibo support, and lots of little quality-of-life improvements whilst infusing every single square inch of Koholint with a level of detail and depth that totally reinvigorated both its timeless story and classic Zelda gameplay for a new generation.

If there's anything holding The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening back, frame drops may distract you from the otherwise absorbing gameplay, especially in docked mode. It's a little thing — and something smoothed out on Switch 2, thankfully — but with the heritage of technical wizardry behind the Game Boy original, imperfect performance is a dent in this game's otherwise glistening armour.

The Talos Principle: Deluxe Edition (Switch eShop)

£3.77 / 3,99€ (-86%)

Croteam, the creator of The Talos Principle, was previously known primarily for their silly (but fun) Serious Sam titles. The Talos Principle shows a remarkable maturity and depth of scope that's perhaps surprising, but in a very good way.

It poses interesting questions, allows the player to progress at their own pace — mostly in a non-linear fashion — and is a hugely satisfying piece of game design. Utterly entrancing and highly recommended.

The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season (Switch eShop)

£4.54 / 5,24€ (-65%)

Whether you played this back in 2012 or are completely new to the series, Telltale's The Walking Dead: Season One is a masterpiece of video game storytelling.

It features some of the best voice-over performances you’ll find on any gaming platform and sets the stage for a grand, multi-season odyssey of tragic proportions. However, this is also a satisfying and poignant collection even if you never play the subsequent episodes.

Even if you lost patience with Rick Grimes and TV series adaptation of the comic books, this remains an incredible interactive adaptation of Robert Kirkman's world of walkers.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition (Switch)

£12.49 / 14,99€ (-75%)

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt remains a masterpiece, and being able to take such a grand and engrossing adventure on the go is something well worth celebrating.

The Switch's Complete Edition is a truly impressive achievement, and although performance isn't perfect, it's still an incredible and impactful role-playing experience.

CD Projekt Red set the bar for modern RPGs back in 2015, and this port is a startling reminder that it has arguably yet to be bettered. One of the most impressive ports on the system.

Thumper (Switch eShop)

£4.79 / 5,99€ (-70%)

Thumper is a fantastic video game, an extravagant rhythm experience that's also a brutal assault on the senses. It's extremely difficult — painfully so at times — yet we feel the need to persevere, retrying tough stages over and over again. Even when that's done, the drive for better ranks remains simply because the game compels us to play on.

The only real flaw of Thumper is that it offers so little respite and no 'easy' mode. Some may scoff at that, saying it's a game designed to be tough, but the downside is that without that optional concession, the game will be inaccessible and impenetrable for some. That's a pity, as for those up for the challenge, it's a wonderful, albeit gruelling gaming experience.

(Check out the recent edition of My Perfect Console with Brian Gibson if you'd like to hear Thumper's co-designer discussing his life and career, too.)

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 (Switch)

£23.99 / 26,99€ (-40%)

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 on Nintendo Switch is a rock-solid port of a pair of genuinely fantastic remakes.

These really are two of the very best arcade sports titles of all time, revamped, reworked and re-imagined for modern audiences with all the graphical bells and whistles, collectables and game modes we've come to expect in this day and age.

Unicorn Overlord (Switch)

£21.99 / 23,99€ (-60%)

Even amidst a huge strategy-RPG boom, Unicorn Overlord stands out. It’s a smorgasbord of visual delights, intricate systems, and addictive gameplay loops that all come together to create a delightfully thrilling and deep tactical RPG. It’s so easy to get absorbed into everything the game offers, and we lapped it all up.

Vanillaware has long been known for creating beautiful-looking games with unique twists on genres, but with 13 Sentinels and now Unicorn Overlord, this developer should be on absolutely everyone’s radar.

Unpacking (Switch eShop)

£25.19 / 27,99€ (-30%)

Unpacking manages to do several things very well, all at the same time. It’s a touching story told through interaction, it provides the creative play space of a great dollhouse game, and it deftly applies established game design ideas from completely different genres.

Its only real shortcoming is the repetition that is a necessary byproduct of landing its message. Effort has gone into making the controls satisfying on Switch, and the visual and sound design are delightful throughout, making Unpacking, like any sane person’s cutlery, absolutely top-drawer.

UNSIGHTED (Switch eShop)

£7.19 / 7,99€ (-60%)

Unsighted combines some very familiar ideas: it’s a top-down, roguelite, sci-fi Metroidvania with a strong 16-bit aesthetic. Its time-is-ticking, post-apocalyptic scenario is brought to life by the enchanting palettes of its pixel art, making a world you want to explore, full of characters you want to know.

Far from punishing, it leans more on the 'lite' than the 'rogue', letting fun prevail – as it will, thanks to the addictive rhythm of the controls, backed by punchy sounds. The cooperative multiplayer is icing on top of an already well-iced cake.

Combining flavours of Super Nintendo classics with modern playability, Unsighted is the game 1995 desperately wanted to make but just didn’t know how.

Vampire Survivors (Switch eShop)

£2.99 / 3,74€ (-25%)

Vampire Survivors skyrocketed in popularity in 2022 for good reason. It's one of the best roguelites in recent memory thanks to its gripping gameplay loop and metagame that hijacks your mind.

The Switch port only adds more to love with local co-op and updated content. It's so easy to slip into a blissful sense of flow in Vampire Survivors' Castlevania-inspired, comically named levels as its ripping soundtrack and satisfying sound design propel you into the horde that you'll surely lose track of time playing it.

It's a good thing that rounds don't usually last more than half an hour. With the addition of free Adventures and a host of DLC, including the excellent Ode to Castlevania (also on sale with 20% off), this undead master is teeming with life.

Wandersong (Switch eShop)

£4.49 / 4,99€ (-75%)

If you’re after a unique experience, Wandersong completely has you covered. The singing mechanic employed works perfectly, and while it may feel a bit too easy at times, the combination of the visuals, writing, and various gameplay objectives across a generous seven-act structure make for an incredibly compelling platforming experience.

What The Golf? (Switch eShop)

£7.19 / 7,99€ (-60%)

What the Golf? is a sterling effort for Switch that has clearly had enormous amounts of love poured into it. Its aesthetic is a little bit indie-by-numbers, but there's so much to see and do here that'll have you (and a friend) laughing out loud. It may not be the most difficult game in the world, but it's damn good fun, even if you don't like golf.

Especially if you don't like golf, in fact.

World of Goo (Switch eShop)

£5.99 / 7,49€ (-50%)

World of Goo is a true classic, and it's revered for good reason. 2D Boy's game is instantly accessible but with plenty of depth; it's paced out perfectly, with a steady stream of new tricks and techniques to learn, and its puzzles can be solved with forward-thinking, quick reflexes or a mixture of both. Wrapped up in a unique, pleasantly apocalyptic presentation, with co-op support and a harder 'OCD' mode for added replay value, this is a complete puzzle package.

If you've played it previously, the Switch incarnation might be worth a second go for its portable pointer controls and on-the-go co-op, but if it's your first time in the World of Goo, it's absolutely a must-play.

There's a few quid off its excellent sequel, too.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Switch)

£33.29 / 39,99€ (-33%)

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a massive, sprawling JRPG built by Monolith Soft, who developed the Baten Kaitos games on GameCube. The team also helped Nintendo design the world of Breath of the Wild, so there's no doubting the pedigree.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 also has a massive standalone DLC, Torna: The Golden Country (available in the also-discounted Expansion Pass), that's well worth playing. It serves as a prequel to the events of 2, so you can play it before or after. Larvely.

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana (Switch)

£17.99 / 19,99€ (-50%)

With fun, fast-paced combat, likeable characters, and an enjoyable story that takes full advantage of its beautiful shipwrecked setting, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is a top-shelf action RPG.

Exploring the Isle of Seiren is as rewarding as mastering the character-swapping and hack-and-slash battle system, and both fit into an addictive feedback loop of adventuring that keeps everything moving at a quick clip.

The inconsistent image quality in handheld mode is a small blemish on an otherwise polished production, but this is a fantastic way to play Ys VIII, one of the very best action RPGs on the Switch and a true gem.

Only 79 this time? Pah, easy - you've probably got most of them already. To wrap up, here's a personal pick...

And for Gavin's Personal Pick...

Just Shapes & Beats is in the list above, so what to choose...

Let's go formative. Atari 50 was already great at launch, but with the updates and DLC it's received since 2022, it really has become an indispensable repository for anybody remotely interested in the foundations of video games as a medium. Get it downloaded.

As for something I haven't played, The Exit 8 on Switch 2 is discounted, although that's modestly priced already. The other Switch (2) games I'm interested in (Civ 7, Tony Hawk's 3 + 4) aren't technically part of this sale, although they are discounted at the time of writing.