Levelhead (Switch eShop)
Levelhead will live or die on the commitment of its community, but even without the creation aspect it would still be an enjoyable platformer. Smart design in every department - challenge, creation and curation - means that Levelhead is a surefire winner, and we hope it catches on. After all, there's more to the 'maker' genre than just Super Mario.
Huntdown (Switch eShop)
Huntdown is a delightfully detailed and expertly crafted throwback to old-school run 'n' gun arcade shooters. The 16-bit graphical style is immaculately recreated whilst adding lots of modern bells and whistles to proceedings, including a fantastic soundtrack and audio design, optional CRT filter and an arsenal of heavy-duty weapons that chew scenery and enemies to pieces as your bounty hunter makes their way from boss fight to excellent boss fight. The flow of levels may be quite repetitive but the moment-to-moment gameplay, overall sense of fun that comes from the level of carnage you can dish out, surprising amount of hammy spoken dialogue and constant pop-culture references all combine to make this one an easy recommendation, and another excellent addition to the Switch's action catalogue.
Liberated (Switch eShop)
Available now in an updated 'Enhanced' version, Liberated tells a rollicking tale with plenty of style. It doesn't run as well as it should do, and it's far from lacking in clichés (some of the "people would rather take selfies than open their eyes" stuff is a little eye-rolling) but it's a fantastic take on a dystopian platformer that avoids the major pitfalls that such games often fall into. With responsive controls, enjoyable shooting and strong level design, Liberated is an atmospheric, absorbing treat and far more than the sum of its parts.
Check out our interview with developers for a look at what went into making this comic book/video game hybrid.
Hypnospace Outlaw (Switch eShop)
Hypnospace Outlaw really is like nothing else out there; at once an excellent puzzle game, razor-sharp satire and meticulously crafted slice of early-internet nostalgia that you can spend hours absolutely lost in. It's frequently hilarious stuff that's impeccably well-written across the board, managing to successfully bring the crazy, lawless, early rush of creativity that formed the pre-Y2K era of the internet convincingly back to life. It delivers a truly extraordinary recreation of the GeoCities era of the internet that absolutely nails its '90s aesthetic to present a living, breathing world that's a joy to spend time browsing around, soaking up the atmosphere and reliving the anarchic early days of the internet as you slowly untangle the puzzles at the heart of its narrative.
Invisible, Inc. Nintendo Switch Edition (Switch eShop)
Invisible, Inc. is a brilliant little tactics game which snuck onto Switch this year to relatively little fanfare. It's right up there with Into the Breach and XCOM – if not even better. The bite-sized structure belies a deceptively complex and meaningful game, where all your decisions ultimately mean something significant for that final desperate attack. If you enjoy stealth or tactics games – or you're simply looking for a way into either genre – then Invisible, Inc. deserves your attention.
The Eternal Castle [Remastered] (Switch eShop)
The Eternal Castle [REMASTERED] is a neo-retro masterpiece. Even if you play the game from start to finish just once in a single sitting and never come back to it, this minimalist post-apocalyptic epic will stay with you for years to come. Obviously, if you're not a fan of classic 'cinematic' platformers like Another World and Flashback and their prioritising of look-and-feel over control responsiveness, then you may want to approach with caution. If you're looking for the next true evolution of that genre, though, look no further. They just don’t make them like this any more… and we found ourselves wondering 'why not?'.
Dungreed (Switch eShop)
Dungreed is a fairly typical roguelite game with a few well-chosen additions to the design that make it stand out as something special. It may not be genre-defining and it's certainly not game-changing, but it draws from other roguelite designs to come up with something that's polished, smart, and extremely satisfying.
Alwa's Legacy (Switch eShop)
Alwa’s Legacy is an excellent example of how to do a proper sequel; it takes everything that Alwa's Awakening did well and builds on it, adds in a few new ideas of its own, and corrects the issues that were previously present. It may be a little on the short side, but Alwa’s Legacy is the special sort of game that only comes around once in a great while, reminding you of the kind of quality that’s possible when a dedicated crew puts in the time to make a polished and tightly designed final product.
Knights and Bikes (Switch eShop)
From stem to stern, Knights and Bikes is a delight to behold and a testament to the creative power of the talent at Foam Sword. Demelza and Nessa’s story is a compelling one that hits all the right emotional and comical beats, while the laid-back gameplay proves to be varied and interesting as the narrative continues. All of this is tied together by some stellar presentation to make for a couch co-op experience that you won't want to miss out on. We’d give Knights and Bikes a strong recommendation whatever way you choose to play it, though bear in mind that you’ll be getting the best and most fulfilling experience if you play it through with a friend.
For more info, check out our interview with the Media Molecule veterans behind the game.
Part Time UFO (Switch eShop)
The mobile version of Part Time UFO already had the charm of a Kirby game, the physics-based chaos of World of Goo and the compelling claw machine mechanics of Nintendo Badge Arcade. This new Switch port builds on top of that already impressive stack by adding a co-op mode that betters Snipperclips and chucks in an infinite mode that provides the sort of quick-fix joy that hasn't been seen since Paper Plane on DSiWare. It may be a game about picking things up, but the real challenge will come when you try to put it down.
A fine bunch of games, all of which scored an 8, 9 or 10/10 from Nintendo Life. Let us know which ones you've played — or any other 2020 games you feel deserve some more time in the spotlight — with a comment below.
Comments 69
CrossCode should be on this list.
Monke for president because I’m first
I literally just bought Horace last week on sale because of all the positive reactions here on NL!
Can’t go wrong for € 1,49.
But didn’t see the 5GB download coming haha.
Haven’t played it yet, but it’s very appealing!
Horace has been absolutely fantastic so far. I do love the Corrie and Emlyn Hughes International Soccer references too.
A great hidden gem and Switch exclusive I discovered recently is Sniper Hunt Scope. I got it free with another game and initially it played like arse but after switching to Joycon control on TV (as opposed to undocked or Switch Pro) and downloading a far superior gun (it cost me £3.50 and also comes with new zombie levels) it transformed into an incredibly fun virtua cop style light gun shooter! I love it. I might even get the joycon gun accessory.
@Ewaldus I was surprised by the size too but apparently it's really long!
MO:Astray comes to mind. Brilliant little platformer that nobody seems to talk about and it got a 9/10 here so would be a good fit for the list.
If ever there was a hidden/overlooked gem, it has to Murder By Numbers. The soundtrack alone is worth the price of admission.
I only have 3 games from the list: Knights and Bikes, Stories Untold and Horace (but it a couple of days ago, but haven't played it yet). I've been keeping an eye on To the Moon and Bug Fables for some time, and I'm gonna take a closer look at some other games in the list, too
I'll be downloading Bug Fables soon enough
@nessisonett Loved it when one of them called him Mr Chip! All the British humour makes it feel like a Rareware game in a way.
Lair Of The Clockwork God should be on this list, funniest game I've played this year and competes with Horace in the Britishness stakes.
Thanks for the list i updated my wishlist.
Horace is hilarious and moving too, really brightened my days playing it and currently on sale for less than a quid.
Part Time UFO is wonderful too, I wonder why HAL didnt have Nintendo publish it.
Horace is a great platformer with a funny and original story. It makes me mad however that I cannot get past one of the bosses.
In Other Waters is a different story, however. The positive review in NL encouraged me to buy it but I couldn't really get into the game. The game does not provide any instructions and the UI is based on blurry icons, so it's really difficult to make out what the hell it is all about. After a couple of tries I gave it up, eventually.
I feel like half of this list has been in my steam backlog for ten years.
@hadrian Nintendo did publish the Switch version of Part Time UFO. I don't know why Nintendo doesn't better promote these small games they publish like this, Good Job and The Stretchers... Some demos? A Tetris 99 theme? Shout outs on their social media? Anything? 🤔
Not sure if they are hidden gems or not, but I picked up Dicey Dungeons, and Grindstone. Two very fun pick up and play games that don't require a lot of time investment to enjoy.
I personally couldn't really get into Horace, i really like platformers but the physics and flow really didn't click with me well and certain obstacles also seemed a bit copy and pasted,
the art style and partly licensed/stock music didn't really vibe with me well either, I mean i like Erik Satie but that overworld tune got stale FAST xD
Sakuna needs to be on this list.
I feel bad that I don't like Horace.
Four of my favourite games on this list : Lonely Mountains, Invisible Inc, Good Job and Afterparty
Horace is $2 and change on the NA eShop, so I can’t pass it up! Will be getting A Short Hike also.
I’d heard of most of these, but one or two definitely passed me by - The Eternal Castle I missed entirely! Hidden Gem is a hard category to judge - anyone who follows this site will be perfectly aware of Horace, but someone googling for Switch hidden gems might never have heard of it. Where does something like CrossCode fit in? A critically acclaimed PC game but still only an indie - and yet it is also one which got banged slightly on release for Switch, as the reviews were done before the game got patched.
Good list, though. And I look forward to reading the comments for more tips!
@Vsaxo27 plus one vote for Dicey Dungeons, absolutely loving it, and I'm someone with very little patience. From this list I got Good Job which was great for co-op with the missus!! Fantastic fun.
I know they're better known, but I'll say it again and again: Trials of Mana, Paper Mario TOK, Ori and the Will of Wisps and Inmortals Fenyx Rising are trully amazing games, and they haven't got the recognition they deserve among Switch owners (for different reasons). Don't pass on them, guys!
They are almost all on my wish list , bought Horace yesterday like most of you, but haven't tried it, I'm in Immortals Fenyx rising and I don't wan't to stop playing it, very good game by the way a funny greek mythos a la breath of the wild with assassin's creed sauce.
Bought Horace last week because I've heard good things about it haven't played it yet though , I'll have to check out stories untold sounds like something I would enjoy
CrossCode ??????????????? Are you serious nintendolife??????
Horace seems good so far.
I have an issue with the zooming in of the pixels. It weirdly gives me an uncomfortable feeling which takes me out of the game.
Waited for YEARS for HUNTDOWN (my gaze is now fixed on you, TREASURENAUTS!!). I really had thought it was cancelled and then it just dropped. It lives up to all of my expectations. This and SofR4 fulfilled all of my 2020 retro needs.
Huntdown best Cyperpunk 2D on Nintendo Switch
Just downloaded the Wunderling demo after reading this and it's a joy! Best one button game since Kirby's Air Ride?
Interested in a few games like Horace and Wunderling, already played through the excellent Bug Fables, just picked up Part Time UFO
Edit: bought Horace with Gold Points after a family member recommended it
Juiced!???? Anyone?!
Got Horace on sale a couple weeks back for just over a £1, have yet to start it but i look forward too.
@XBontendo I cant get into it either except I dont really feel bad. Something better happen soon in that game cuz im bored. The dry humor is not doing it for me..
20XX is underappreciated
@Justaguest at least it's not just me, I guess. I assumed it was one of those things where I just found myself on the wrong side of opinions
Okami
Earthbound
Horace
Dragon Quest V (it's the worst one in the whole series, I just don't get it)
My GOTY 2020 hidden gem, Pretty Princess Party. 😆
Horace blew me away. There some moments that hit very hard. At times it's quirky, heartfelt, crushing but always charming. Not to mention the buttery smooth platforming is a blast and while it's certainly challenging and very occasionally frustrating death is hardly even a slap on the wrist. With enough patience anyone will persevere.
I can't recommend it enough, it really surprised me.
In Other Waters is my game of the year. And Horace is crazy, crazy cheap at the moment!
@XBontendo i just recently started playing Okami. I had to make myself play it for few hours and now im finaly enjoying it. It took me a while though. Its one of those games I have to push through to enjoy in the end. Earthbound was kinda meh..stopped playing it. Dunno about the other games cuz I havent played them but my overhyped list is:
Shantae Pirates Curse (You gotta play each level like 5 times. Thats boring)
Wonderboy
Pokemin sun/moon (a huge step back in pkmn series)
Zelda minish cap
Mario Galaxy(not a bad game but way too easy even for Mario. I guess visuals won everyone over)
Bravely Second
New super mario bros ds (flavorless imo)
Never played Dragon quest 5 but have you ever played Dragon quest 9? Its one of the best games Ive ever played I think.
@PurpleSquirrel64 I had the same issues. Game felt like a mish mash of cliche concepts that were poorly done. I eventually gave up after 8 hours... haven’t thought of Horace since.
I think risk of rain is a good one maybe not hidden, but it is a great game, don't let the rivew Scare you off its really outdated, Most of the problems you read about is fixed and if your not sure about how the aiming is there is motion and aim assest to help you with shooting with that joycon, I'm really loving it so far.
@HobbesPrime Yes!! The soundtrack was made by the same guy who composed Phoenix Wright and Ghost Trick, and his osts are ALWAYS a bop.
Crosscode is great and Huntdown, wow, hail Satan, Huntdown is cooler than yeti poop.
@Justaguest of the ones I've played (minish & galaxy) I agree completely. Minish feels more linear than even skyward sword, where can't progress unless you talk to juat the right person for no good reason. Galaxy I could never get into, and is somehow my least favourite 3D Mario.
3 cheers for making me feel less alone in my wrong opinions
Where is Moonlighter? That game is great fun and nobody played it. it made me enjoy a Rogelite!
One thing I love about Horace is that the snes controller works like a dream . So glad I picked this up for 2 bucks. One of the best games on switch, period.
Hot sausage, this article has been a rich sauce of titles for my wishlist. Genuinely surprised how many I've kinda glossed over that deserve a purchase when the price is right.
@PineappleLake Juiced! looks fun, thanks. Hadn't heard of it but it's on my list now.
A short hike was a very great indie
@Chlocean I couldn't agree more if I wanted to.
Just shapes and beats
Dont starve is excellent too
One indie game that cries play me is tangle tower
@HobbesPrime Holy BAJOLI the Murder by Numbers intro sequence will be stuck in my head for decades.
I'll personally never understand the high praise given by NLife to In Other Waters. Total disappointment and MASSIVE bore of a game. No saving graces to be found there whatsoever, in my opinion.
Unless of course your idea of "discovering strange new worlds and exotic and beautiful oceans" is looking at blips and arrows on a monochrome radar/sonar screen...
As for hidden gems: some of the best and funniest point & click adventures in my opinion are the Deponia games. There's three of them in total. All available for ridiculously low prices right now.
Another hidden gem in regards to adventures is Silence. Entertaining game, good story. And it looks good, too.
I own most of the games on this list and am ashamed to admit that I've played very few of them to date. It feels like for every dozen "instant indie classics" I buy, there's a AAA game that distracts me from playing more than a couple of them, and so the backlog grows. Good to know some of them are loved because quite a few of these were bought and then subsequently deleted from my Switch and forgotten about. Nice to have the reminder.
Ended up getting Horace for free because of my gold coins and it was on sale. I look forward to giving it a shot since people generally seem warm towards it.
From what I've tried, Horace and Knights and Bikes exceeded my expectations, Bug Fables and Levelhead met my expectations, and Dungreed was too basic and a little boring, with Rogue Legacy (and Dead Cells, to a degree) having bested its formula years ago.
@Bizaster I would have to disagree with you on Bug Tales. I beat the game and it was good, but the new Paper Mario game has been more enjoyable for me with excellent writing and interesting locales. Everyone gets hung up on the battles, but that's just one part of the Paper Mario package. As a whole, it's still solid. Back to Bug Tales, I liked the characters and story, but the environments were pretty ugly overall. Ironically, I also got tired of the classic Paper Mario battle style and having to grind for healing items before each mission (I played on hard mode).
I thought To the Moon was an awful game - I urge anyone to look up some negative reviews before wasting their time on it. Even at only 4 hours, it was a slog to get through. The unlikeable characters weren't a good start. The controls were clunky, the puzzles terrible, story disappointing (a couple of nice moments towards the end didn't save it), with some bizarre attempts at action. I will revisit the soundtrack once I get over the bad memories of the game!
On the plus side, there are a few games in this list I didn't know before but like the look of. I'm only just getting around to trying out games from https://www.nintendolife.com/guides/feature-hidden-gems-on-nintendo-switch-eshop with Full Metal Furies being a major highlight so far.
@Guitario
Felt exactly the same and meant that I could only play docked; annoying for an indie platformer.
Loving these 2020 lists---great work Nintendolife.
Might i suggest, a quarterly (or at least bi-annual) list of the "hidden gems" we miss? These are an invaluable service to readers and the devs.
My backlog of games is ridiculous, but I'm totally happy with that, it'll be great for when I... finally... finally....... get traveling with work again. Lots of them are what you might consider overlooked or underrated.
A short hike
Wandersong
Ambition of the slimes
Blazing Chrome
Quarantine circular and subsurface circular
Underhero
Manticore
Horace
Thumper
Downwell
Xeodrifter
Wulverblade
Silence
198X
Aggelos
Rive
Crossing Souls
Gunman Clive
Bloodroots
Ni no kuni
Gonner
99 vidas
Swordbreaker
Valiant hearts
Steamworld dig and steamworld heist
Donut county
Project warlock
Pinstripe
Racedierun
Yoku's Island Express
Darkest Dungeon
I follow a couple of good channels on YouTube that regularly do hidden gem videos, Switch Corner and Switch Up. They're really good for keeping me in the know.
@XBontendo haha, high five!
@XBontendo You were right about Okami. That game sucked in the end, haha
@Justaguest Haha, to answer a question I never answered before Dragon Quest IX is my favourite in the whole series. Unbelievably under-rated. I assume people just didnt like it as well since they pushed a numbered entry to handheld
@XBontendo What a shame. That game was amazing. It got me into Etrian Odyssey series and made me realize how much I love deep character customization games.
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