Unravel Two (Switch)
Unravel Two was already a wonderful little game, filled with heartfelt moments of poignant storytelling and challenging platforming puzzles, and then it found a fitting new home on Nintendo Switch. Even with a few downgrades to the visuals, Unravel Two is far from an inferior experience when played on Nintendo's hybrid system. Full of charm and character, it’s one of the best co-operative platformers you can play anywhere, and another robust Switch port that was well worth the wait.
Super Chariot (Switch)
Super Chariot is a fitting metaphor for life – you can journey alone and endure all hardships as you struggle to make your way to the end, or you can share the burden with another person and help each other reach new heights along the way. Brilliantly designed and beautifully crafted, it's not hard for us to recommend you embark on this co-op journey. May the King rest peacefully, for his chariot is made of sturdy stuff indeed.
Out of Line (Switch eShop)
Out of Line is a relatively recent arrival on Switch and perhaps a title that doesn't hit all of its marks. That said it's a visual stunner, and over its relatively short playtime it makes clever use of the spear mechanic, in which you use the tool / weapon in varied ways to make progress.
Unbound: Worlds Apart (Switch eShop)
With its unique use of portals, Unbound: Worlds Apart is a great platform title that throws extra exploration into the mix. Visually beautiful, it's not just about hopping about the screen through portals, but you also earn new abilities and there are clever impacts on the world as you move between worlds.
ibb & obb (Switch eShop)
Playing Ibb & Obb on your own is an absolute no-go; it just won't work. But get together with a friend – preferably via local play – and you'll have an absolute blast with this game. Some of the puzzles can be excruciatingly challenging at first, but it's immensely satisfying when you finally figure out how to beat it together. Maybe a good option for a Holiday season or a chilled out evening.
Shift Quantum (Switch eShop)
Shift Quantum is an impressive experience among the various dual colour/polarity themed games available on the Switch. Often crossing the line between art and entertainment, it is impossible not to be impressed by how it interactively tells you a dystopian story using nothing more than its minimalist aesthetics. While we are still not sure we found happiness at the end of our journey, we were certainly blissfully making our journey there.
Levelhead (Switch eShop)
Levelhead perhaps lives or dies on the commitment of its community, but even without the creation aspect it's still an enjoyable platformer. Smart design in every department - challenge, creation and curation - means that Levelhead is a surefire winner, and we hope it finds an audience, especially with user-created levels pushing our problem solving as well as our reflexes.
Semblance (Switch eShop)
Semblance offers an intriguingly fresh take on the age-old 2D platformer. Its story may be all visual and very much open to interpretation, but what it lacks in narrative density it more than makes up for with a generous helping of levels to explore where the platforming itself is a vital part of the puzzle to be solved.
Toodee and Topdee (Switch eShop)
Toodee and Topdee is fantastically imaginative puzzle game with exceptional variety wrung out of its core conceit. It struggles most when it asks for dynamic execution of puzzle solutions, but even then it’s pretty decent. This side-on / top-down puzzler is one that other games should look up to.
Pode (Switch eShop)
With its subtle, relaxing and appropriate musical score, gloriously soft visuals and a simple yet emotional story, Pode succeeds in offering a generous and humble cooperative experience, with around 8-10 hours of content that will shine brightly and keep you and your playing buddy engaged.
Some excellent puzzle platforming picks there, we're sure you agree, and there are plenty to choose from. Feel free to discuss your favourites below.
This article is one of our Switch Essentials guides which cover a wide variety of genres, including the Best Switch FPS Games, the Best Switch RPGs, the Best Switch Games For Kids, the Best Switch Couch Co-Op Games and the Best Switch Fitness and Exercise Games. We can also help out hunting down the Best Switch Horror Games, the Best Switch Racing Games, the Best Switch Action-RPGs, the Best Nintendo Switch Roguelikes, Roguelites and Run-Based Games, the Best Free Switch Games, the Best Remakes And Remasters, the Best Switch Music And Rhythm Games, Best Feel-Good Switch Games, Best Switch Open-World Games, Best Switch Soulslike Games, Best LGBTQ+ Switch Games, and even Games to Play After You've Finished Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Whatever your favourite genre, we've got you covered: Strategy Games, Metroidvanias, Puzzle Games, Party Games, Online Multiplayer Games, Local Wireless Multiplayer Games, Shmups, Twin-Stick Shooters, Visual Novels, Kart Racers, Fighting Games, Football Games, Funny Games, Golf Games, 'Walking Sims' And Narrative Games, Switch Games For Lovers And Lonely Hearts, Detective Games, Hidden Gems, 2D Platformers, 3D Platformers, Puzzle Platformers, Tabletop Mode Games, Run and Gun Games, LEGO Games, Sports Games, Survival Games, Beat 'Em Ups, Camera Games, Chill Games, Family Games, Retro-Inspired Games, Short Games, Card Games and Deck-Builders, and Life Sims And Farming Games.
Still hungry for more? Elsewhere we look at Wholesome Games, TATE Mode Games, Flight Sim and Space Combat, Point and Click Adventure Games, and the Best Switch Exclusives, as well as Every Arcade Archives Game, Every ACA Neo Geo Game, Every SEGA AGES Game On Switch, plus the Best Switch Ports, Best Wii U-To-Switch Ports, Best Switch Collections And Compilations, Best Cheap Switch Games, Best Switch Demos, Games That Are Better On Switch OLED, Switch Games Under $10, $20, $50, and Switch games with the Best Soundtracks and the Best Graphics. Phew!
If you're looking for the best Switch games regardless of genre, our reader-voted selection of the Best Nintendo Switch Games should help you out, and you can also find the Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. And finally, if you're interested in other Nintendo consoles and retro games, check out the Best Game Boy Games, Best GBC Games, Best GBA Games, Best Nintendo DS Games, Best Nintendo 3DS Games, Best NES Games, Best SNES Games, Best N64 Games, Best GameCube Games, and Best Wii Games, and Best Wii U Games, as well as Every Available Nintendo Switch Online Retro Game, and ranked lists of Every Nintendo Switch Online NES, SNES, N64 and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Game.
Comments (19)
I have a serious soft spot for this genre
@NinChocolate Same here. A lot of great games on this list, and a few of which I have sitting here waiting to be played.
It can be a bit of a platformer at times but the Talos Principle is my favourite first person puzzle game
Where mario at
This very site famously gave BoxBoy a less than glowing review at launch (they called it "boring"). I love the game but it is curious to find it on the "best puzzle platformer" list now.
I've got to get Treasure Tracker, Horace and Fezz at some point. I know it if very pretty, but tbh I found Gris quite boring.
Pretty good list. Little Nightmares could use a spot on it though, and I'd really recommend people start with Trine 1. 3/4 both feel a bit incomplete by comparison. There's also Giga Wrecker, my favorite of Game Freak's weird side projects, and Liar Princess and the Blind Prince, which is pretty basic on the gameplay side, but makes up for it with a fantastic art style.
There are so many great platformers, and they all play amazing in handheld. Switch is just perfect for this games.
One of my favourite genres in gaming and hence I have played and enjoyed the majority of these games. I will investigate the handful I haven't thanks to this feature! My fav is Captain Toad but the most played is Levelhead (partly thanks to the family who love it too). I would acknowledge the best as being Inside and Horace I think.
Captain Toad was such a surprisingly fun game for me. I really enjoyed it
"ibb & obb" is one of the greatest co-op experiences of my life... anyone with a friend who is into the genre should absolutely play it.
I tried Chariot on WiiU and it got very boring... never finished it... is Super Chariot any better?
Captain toad is excellent feels like a Nintendo game of old simple but so much fun to play, it’s charming too. I picked up Horace with 90% off great game I would have been happy paying full price for it really wanna try fez
I love this genre and have a fair amount of games off this list. Semblance I had never heard of but now kind of want. Captain Toad I had been hoping would be on Black Friday sale but unfortunately wasn't.
Gris and Level Head I don't really think of as puzzlers exactly but are good games. Gris is simple but absolutely beautiful and one of my favorite games. Level Head is fun but it's like Mario Maker--you can make or play any of many different platformer sub-genres including puzzles.
JUICED! anyone? Mostly a really cool retro platformer but also has some real brain teasers
Uhhhhhh… Celeste?
You know, I like this site, and I certainly understand that people have different opinions and all that, but I really, really do not understand why they like Horace so much. I hated my time with that game.
Other than that, cool list. Good combination of games I enjoyed and games I’ve been wanting to check out!
@Krambo42 We can't all have the same opinion. I never played Horace just because of the art style, but I also didn't like Fez even though I can understand why people do. I fully expected to like it, I just didn't enjoy it after the intro map.
@FishyS Oh totally agree and understand. That one baffles me more than others, though. Glad they liked it, and cool if anybody else does, but that game really didn’t work for me. Usually I can at least say “eh, not for me, but I get it”. Oh well.
This biggest miss here is MO Astray
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