Siliconera Selects: Nintendo Switch Game Guide

We go through a lot of games every year. Every system has a collection of notable titles. Once we get into the hundreds, titles can get lost in the shuffle and we might forget they are even there. We know there are standard game guides out there, recommending certain typical genres. For example, you can hear about recommended action games all the time. With this (and hopefully future) Siliconera Selects guides, we’re going to look at games on systems that might be really worth your time, but be overshadowed on more traditional game lists.

Nintendo Staples

• Top Pick: Fire Emblem: Three Houses – This is an incredible strategic-RPG. We have four storylines to go through. You can shape your class and team by poaching from other classes. You determine which skill sets people develop. It could have hundreds of hours of gameplay to enjoy. Plus, it’s one of the friendlier entry points in the series.
• Runners-up:
  • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
  • Super Mario Odyssey

New Takes on Nintendo Staples

• Top Pick: Cadence of Hyrule – Cadence of Hyrule gives people a roguelike that brings us an opportunity to keep to all sorts of iconic beats while helping Link, Zelda, and Cadence save Hyrule from another unfortunate situation. It is unconventional, but quite catchy! It also deserves a lot more love.
• Runners-Up:
  • Fire Emblem Warriors
  • Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! or Eevee

Shall We Date Virtual Characters:

• Top Pick: Worldend Syndrome – Worldend Syndrome is one of those visual novels that I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did. You have multiple heroines’ routes to pursue, all while also trying to discover the mystery behind a town’s urban legend and rumor that the dead return in regular intervals.  
• Runners-up:
  • Fire Emblem: Three Houses
  • Nightshade

Best Ports:

• Top Pick: Final Fantasy VII & Final Fantasy VIII Remastered – I’m going to cheat a little here and suggest the physical twin pack released in Asia. This gives people two major Final Fantasy games at once, with one of them being the recent remaster. It’s a great way to take an iconic classic on the go.
• Runners-up:
  • Collection of Mana
  • Every Sega Ages game released ever

Best Square Enix Games:

• Top Pick: Octopath Traveler – Square Enix’s first original IP for the Nintendo Switch gives people eight stories to explore. People can invest time building people up and bringing them together. Then, when folks are united, you can see how they all connect and face a greater foe.
• Runners-up:
  • Dragon Quest Builders 2
  • Dragon Quest XI S

Best Sega Games:

• Top Pick: Valkyria Chronicles 4 – The latest entry in this strategic endeavor does so many things right. It has challenging chapters filled with maps that make you think. It introduced an invaluable Grenadier class. It has characters you get to know and love through the main adventure and squad stories. It is an example of why people should get into Valkyria Chronicles.
• Runners-up:
  • Puyo Puyo Tetris
  • Sonic Mania Plus

Best Bandai Namco Games:

• Top Pick: Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition – The latest Digimon Story titles are both incredible. They had engaging stories, tons of Digimon to collect, and NPCs you probably started to care about. When they came to the Nintendo Switch, it was great, because now we had both games at once! It is a can’t miss compilation.
• Runners-up:
  • Dragon Ball FighterZ
  • Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch 

Great Japanese Rhythm Games:

• Top Pick: Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun – Taiko games can be so much fun. It doesn’t matter if you are going with traditional or motion controls or playing in a regular or party mode. It is going to be a good time and have a fantastic tracklist of songs from anime series, games, and other genres.
• Runners-up:
  • Groove Coaster: Wai Wai Party!!!
  • Voez

Most Intriguing Indies:

• Top Pick: Untitled Goose Game – Being a mischievous goose is hilarious. You are an agent of mayhem, albeit on a very small scale. Seeing how people react and what your actions can cause is an endless source of amusement. Plus, no one can resist a little innocent mayhem.
• Runners-Up:
  • Stardew Valley
  • Golf Story

Fun Fanservice Done Right:

• Top Pick: Mary Skelter 2 – There is so much game in this game. You get both the original game and the sequel. While the fanservice element does have you cleaning off characters’ bodies to prevent corruption, it handles it in a way where people who don’t want it could avoid it and those who do can enjoy it. Plus, it has a great storyline and some memorable characters.
• Runners-up:
  • Fate/Extella Link
  • Omega Labyrinth Life

Games That Somehow Got Localized:

• Top Pick: Doraemon Story of Seasons – This might have seen like a given, since it is a Story of Seasons title. However, Doraemon isn’t a household name outside of Japan. Not to mention, there could be concerns about licensing issues. Yet, it ended up appearing worldwide and bringing a pleasant, soothing farming sim to the Switch.
• Runners-up:
  • Billion Road
  • Umihara Kawase Fresh

If you have suggestions for future categories or game additions, please let us know in the comments. They could be included as the guide is updated.