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29 Best Nintendo Switch Puzzle Games To Exercise The Brain

Put on your thinking caps!

#29 Mario vs Donkey Kong

#28 super mario rpg, #27 hogwarts legacy, #26 pikmin 4, #25 unpacking, #24 far changing tides, #23 the gardens between, #22 the room series, #21 gorogoa, #20 bridge constructor portal, #19 unravel two, #18 the trine series, #17 baba is you, #16 the talos principle, #15 snipperclips: cut it out, together, #14 relicta, #12 little nightmares 2, #11 captain toad: treasure tracker, #10 12 minutes, #8 world of goo, #7 return of the obra dinn, #6 keep talking and nobody explodes, #5 the sexy brutale, #4 portal series, #3 puyo puyo tetris, #2 thimbleweed park, #1 tetris 99.

If you’ve been enjoying the Nintendo Switch, you’ll know that there are all sorts of genres for you to play on the system in great number. And if you like puzzles? Yeah, they got hat in droves as these games will show you.

Platform: Switch Release Date: February 16, 2024

If you never got the chance to play  Mario vs Donkey Kong  on the Nintendo DS, you’re in luck, as the game has been remade for the Nintendo Switch!

The game will put you in over 100 levels filled with challenges, all so you can get back the Mini-Mario toys that Donkey Kong has stolen! But it won’t be as easy as simply finding all the toys. You’ll need to work your way through various challenges to reach them, and then, you’ll need to get them to safety! Sometimes, you’ll even need to guide whole scores of Mini-Marios to the exit!

With new levels and challenges, now is the perfect time to jump in!

Platform: November 17, 2023 Release Date: Switch

You might not think that  Super Mario RPG  is a “puzzle game,” and it’s not in the overall, but there are puzzles in the world to solve.

Not to mention, you have to worry about the “puzzles” that await you in combat! The game will maintain its classic turn-based combat but will also feature plenty of challenges within it that’ll test your timing and skill in figuring out how to exploit the enemies within!

So, while it may be an RPG, that doesn’t mean you can’t put your puzzle brain to the test by playing it! After all, it’s a remake of a classic title. What’s not to love?

Platform: PC PS5 XSX|S – February 10, 2023 | PS4 Xbox One – May 05, 2023 Release Date: Switch November 14, 2023

Steam | PlayStation | Xbox | Nintendo

Many people would say that the most important thing about being a witch or wizard is being able to use powerful spells and curses. But the wise ones among you will state that it’s about how you use those spells and whether you can use them to your advantage in multiple scenarios.

As you travel throughout the world of Hogwarts Legacy, you’ll have to face trials, not dangerous in nature but puzzling. So think like the educated student you are and use spells to move objects or erase obstacles from your path.

The more puzzles you solve, the further you’ll get to explore!

Platform: Switch Release Date: July 21, 2023

It’s easy to picture the Pikmin as just tools to use or beings to throw at foes to get them out of your way. But as  Pikmin 4  reminds you, you’ll need to use them and other entities wisely if you wish to get around the alien world you’ve crash landed upon.

At first, you’ll be restricted to certain areas, and you’ll need to use the Pikmin to open new paths, collect “treasures” to fix your ship, and fight off against familiar figures in Dandori battles to rescue your lost squad mates.

So don’t think of Pikmin as expendable. Instead, think of them as your most useful tool for getting out alive!

As the name suggests, this unique puzzle game tasks players with helping to unpack a person’s belongings after a move. Beginning in 1997, Unpacking follows the same person across several moves and many different years. From childhood to college to relationships, players will gain clues about the person’s life and experiences by looking at their belongings. Play casually to enjoy the story or search for all the hidden achievements for an added challenge.

A sequel of sorts to Far Lone Sails , Far Changing Tides puts you on a large boat, where a young man is trying to sail it in order to get to a new place for him to live in a world that has been nearly flooded.

The puzzles here lie in both the world around you, as you’ll need to activate certain things to open paths to get your boat through, as well as your ship itself. Dive deep into the vessel to figure out what it is all about, how to operate it correctly, and more.

It’s you and your ship against the world, and you’ll find that this adventure will take you to highs and lows while also giving you a unique atmospheric experience.

For a more lighthearted adventure, you might want to try out The Gardens Between . Because this single player title puts you in a story that focuses on “time, memory and friendship.”

You play as Arina and Frendt, two friends who fall into a “dream world”, and that world just so happens to be filled with relics from their time together as friends. Now, you’ll control the two friends and work together to solve puzzles to figure out more about their friendship, what they really mean to one another, and more.

It’s a very unique title that delves deep into its narrative, so you might just want to play it to see where the “bittersweet” story goes…and ends.

The Room Series is for those who like a deep approach to their puzzle titles while also twisting the perceptions of what those games can be. Because in the game, and the many that follow, you’ll be a person locked in a room, or dimensional space, and you’ll be left with nothing but puzzle boxes and clues as to what you need to do.

With each puzzle you solve, your “world” grows a little bigger, but then again, so does the mystery. You’ll learn about various sciences and dark practices and wonder how it’ll all going to end. More than likely…you won’t be able to guess…

With multiple games in the series, you’ll be able to try them on Switch and have plenty to do for a while.

There has long been an argument about whether “games are art”, and the answer is very obviously, “yes”. But if you want a game that very much proves that feeling, you need to look no further than Gorogoa .

Because in this game, you’ll be solving puzzles within a very special narrative, the twist is that these puzzles are tied to illustrations (thousands of them) that were made by a singular man: Jason Roberts. How you use these illustrations/art pieces will depend on the puzzle and what you’re trying to do.

The visual style here is truly unique, as is how you use it all gameplay-wise. So if you want a truly visual yet deep puzzle experience, here you go!

Combining elements from both the Portal universe and the Bridge Constructor series, Bridge Constructor Portal is an engineering puzzle game. As the name implies, players must construct bridges to transport trucks around Aperture Laboratories. Any bridge that withstands one truck passing over it will solve the challenge, but for a higher rating, all the trucks in the convoy must successfully cross. In addition, the cost of building each bridge is calculated, and players are challenged to keep their costs as low as possible.

After a shipwreck, two Yarnys (creatures whose bodies are made of wound-up yarn) connect their loose yarn ends. This binds the two together and creates a magical spark, which the players must chase. Using the yarn of their characters to climb, swing, and pull objects, players solve puzzles across the game’s island setting while uncovering a surprisingly dark story about children fleeing from abusive adults.

Set in a fantasy world, the Trine games focuses on a set of heroes who use an object known as the Trine in order to solve puzzles and fight evil. All so that they can save the kingdom they’re in.

The twist here is that unlike typical fantasy games, the combat and other elements are all tied to physics based puzzles. Each of the main characters for examples have skills that will affect things in a way that can solve puzzles or send objects at enemies to bust them up.

Because of the freedom and the skills of your characters, there are multiple ways to solve puzzles in the series. Plus, since there are 4 different games in the series, that’s a lot of puzzles to go and solve.

As an evil man once said, “True power is warping reality around you,” and that is a perfect lead-in to the title Baba Is You . Because in this game, every level you play you can change the rules of the game and the reality you play in.

That’s because the “rules” are displayed in blocks, if you change them, everything changes with it. And that means that anything and everything can happen depending on how you want to play things.

Plus, with 200+ levels for you to “bend the rules in”, that’s a lot of potential and possibility for chaos! In the fun way, of course.

So jump into Baba Is You and see just how you can change the world!

Sometimes the best puzzle games are the ones that make you ask the questions of all that is going on. In The Talos Principle , you are an entity in a world of ancient ruins…but also modern technology. The one who built you put you on a “mission” to solve over 120 puzzles scattered throughout the place.

But the question becomes…will you do it as your master wants? Or, will you try and solve the puzzles to learn more about yourself and then seek a way to escape?

The Talos Principle has a deep and twisting story that will ask a lot of big questions, all the while having you enjoy the puzzle-solving experience.

In this co-op puzzle game, players will snip and clip the paper bodies of their co-op partners to create different shapes to solve puzzles (for example, cutting a pointed shape to pop balloons). The game’s World mode allows one or two players, while the Blitz and Party modes allow up to four players. Party mode features puzzle challenges designed for more players. Blitz mode ups the ante with snipping deathmatches alongside games like basketball and hockey.

In this M-rated, first-person puzzle game, players will use magnetism and gravity to solve physics-based challenges. After being stranded on a moon base, a top-level physicist searches for her daughter while also confronting the truth behind her own research. Players can simply solve the puzzles or take their time exploring, fleshing out the story of this 22nd-century world and perhaps changing the destiny of humanity itself.

Arguably one of the best puzzle games ever made, Fez puts you in the role of Gomez, who is a 2D creature…that all of a sudden gets “revealed” the third dimension. Curious about what is going on, Gomez sets out on a journey to figure out the truth, leading to a large puzzle adventure you’ll enjoy.

Unlike many on this list, Fez doesn’t need “over the top” or even ‘super realistic” graphics to get things done. The visual style is simple for a reason, and it lends to the deep world that the game is trying to portray in its own way.

Trust me, the game is deeper than you realize, and so if you haven’t check this game out yet…you should.

There are some rather dark titles on this list as you’ve seen so far, and Little Nightmares 2 is another example of that.

In this sequel, you’ll play as Mono, who ends up in a nightmare world full of distortions and monsters. The reason for this is a signal tower, and it’s up to you and another named Six to reach the tower and figure out what is going on.

You’ll have to get the two characters to work together to not just solve puzzles, but fight off the various creatures that inhabit the dark and mysterious areas you’ll travel to.

This is definitely a title for those who prefer a very spooky element to their games. So try out Little Nightmares 2 is that fits your style.

It took us a while, but here indeed is a 1st-party puzzle game. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker was first released on the Wii U, but ported to the Switch (like so many games before it…and after it…) so that more people could try it out. And you should absolutely do so.

You’ll play as…who else? Captain Toad! And in each level you’ll need to use all the camera angles and perspectives to figure out how to get from one spot to the next, get all the treasure, and avoid enemies and traps!

You can even play in co-op to have someone help you out with those enemies! It’s a lighthearted and simple title, but at times…isn’t that what we really need?

This top-down game boasts the voice talents of James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe. A husband and wife are celebrating the news that she is expecting their first child when a man claiming to be a cop arrives at the apartment. The man accuses the wife of murdering her father, and in the ensuing struggle, both the husband and wife are killed. The husband then wakes up moments before the man’s arrival. As the husband, players must use the time loop to save their wife and determine the truth about the death of the wife’s father.

It’s honestly hard to describe a game like Inside without diving deep into spoilers, so I’ll try and keep it light.

In this game, from the creative team of PlayDead, who made the equally dark and praised title Limbo , you’ll find yourself as a young boy who is drawn to a certain building where a “dark project” is being done.

What exactly is going on here? That’s for you to figure out in this narrative-driven puzzle title. You’ll have to make it through the confines of the building, solve puzzles, avoid detection, and learn the truth. But as these games like to show…sometimes it’s best if the truth…isn’t revealed at all.

Here’s another classic that was eventually brought over to the Switch. World of Goo puts you in control of living glob entities that you can both get and then place in order to build various things. Like what? Bridges, buildings, slingshots, and more. As long as you have the right structure, and amount of goo, you can make it.

Why do you need to do it? Because the game’s levels are all meant to do something specific, and you have to get your goo creatures to build the right kind of structure to complete the task.

It might sound simple, but it’s not. Each level is special, and can even have dangers for your goo creatures. So use them wisely, and get to the next challenge!

In 1803, the Obra Dinn set sail around the Cape of Good Hope with 60 people on board, but the ship never arrived at its destination. Five years later, it has mysteriously washed up at the port with all its passengers and crew either dead or missing. In this “1-bit” gorgeously-stylized, first-person game, players assume the role of an investigator and search the ship to try to determine what happened to the Obra Dinn . They are aided by the Memento Mortem, a device that lets them go back in time to witness a person’s final moments.

In this multiplayer puzzle game, communication is key. While one player (the Defuser) attempts to disarm a bomb, the others (the Experts) must read the instruction manual and convey the proper procedures for doing so. Neither party can see the other’s screen, so players are forced to rely on each other to disarm the bomb as a team. And if the bomb’s timer reaches zero, everyone explodes.

A party in a mansion has gone horribly wrong. All the party-goers are dead except for Lafcadio Boone, a preacher. Boone is stuck in a time loop, reliving the party over and over again, looking for a way to prevent the deaths of the party goers. In this single-player puzzle game, players must explore the mansion, gain new abilities, and decipher how to save the party guests. Along the way, they’ll uncover the truth about the guests, Boone, and the party itself.

…so, who wants some cake?

The Portal Series is indeed on Switch, and Switch players are lucky to have this title as it’s one of the most important puzzle franchises ever made.

In it, you are stuck in Aperture Labs, and an evil robotic entity known as GLaDOS is “guiding you” through the place in order to complete various tests. You won’t have a weapon in the game to help you though, all you have…is your portal gun.

The puzzles, creativity, and feel of this series is S-tier in every way, and that’s part of what makes it so great to play over and over again. And now that you can play it on the go…you have even more reason to try it out on Switch.

I’ll admit that I’m a little bias with this game because it’s something I found really fun even though I didn’t know what Puyo Puyo was.

Basically, this game is a fusion of two worlds of puzzle games complete with adorable and hilarious characters that interact with one another to try and save the universe! And naturally, you’ll save it by playing Puyo or Tetris against other characters and even against one another.

There’s a lot of depth in this game believe it or not, and that makes it all the more enjoyable to play not just the story modes, but all the other game modes.

There’s two games in the series on Switch, so don’t miss out!

Developed by Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, this point-n-click puzzle game is a spiritual successor to Maniac Mansion and The Secret of Monkey Island . A pair of FBI agents arrive in the town of Thimbleweed Park to investigate a murder, but not all is as it seems in Thimbleweed Park. Using commands like “pick up” and “talk to,” players navigate the town while collecting evidence and interviewing suspects to uncover the truth behind the murder and the town itself.

There are a lot of reasons why I’m putting Tetris 99 on top despite it not being a “typical puzzle game”. But in point of fact, Tetris as a whole IS a puzzle game. You’re trying to fit the pieces together (like a puzzle) in order to get points and keep going.

In Tetris 99 , the difficulty is ramped up because you’re going to be facing off against 98 other players who are trying to not just beat you, but bury you in Tetris blocks.

So you’ll have to play fast AND play smart so you can trip them up before they do it to you, as well as get out of any sticky situations you find yourself in.

Do well enough, and you’ll be No.1!

About Todd Black

Pocket-lint

Best puzzle games on switch: get thinking with these clever games.

These games are the very best that the Switch has to offer if you're after clever puzzles.

The Nintendo Switch is a superb console for many reasons, not the least of which is that it plays host to a huge range of genres and types of game. If you're looking for a new title for the Switch and fancy a bit of a puzzle, this is the list for you.

We've gathered the very best options for the Switch if you want to have to think plenty before making a move, whether it's a pure puzzler or a devious adventure game. These are the top puzzles games on Switch.

Return of the Obra Dinn

The case of the golden idol, paradise killer, the excavation of hob's barrow, captain toad: treasure tracker, storyteller.

Incredibly inventive and mind-boggling to figure out to its full extent, this is a puzzling masteropiece.

• Beautiful visual style
• Incredible sense of discovery
• Leaves it all to you
• Seriously tough nut to crack

Return of the Obra Dinn is one of the most challenging games we've ever had to wrap our heads around, but that challenge is entirely cerebral. You play an insurance inspector making your way through a ship that lost all its hands on a long voyage, piecing together exactly what happened.

Your main tool is a timepiece that lets you view a snapshot of the death of any corpse you come across, and this turns into a marvellously complex operation that will have you following obscure threads to uncover a range of interesting twists in a patchwork story.

A brilliant puzzle game that leaves you to figure out what's going on, and tells a wickedly dark tale in the process.

• Doesn't hold your hand
• Smart hint system
• Very quickly gets super complex

The Case of the Golden Idol follows the story of a stolen treasure passed down through devious generations, each twist uncovered as you explore a frozen tableau figuring out who's there, who's died, and how.

If that sounds straightforward, it quickly becomes anything but, and you'll soon be flipping between rooms, comparing notes and scrambling to remember seemingly inconsequential details from prior scenes, all with the aim of figuring the next out.

Paradise Killer is a really fun look at how a detective game could work with multiple possible outcomes depending on how you build different cases.

• Loads of fun dialogue
• Game adapts to your conclusions
• Zippy, fun soundtrack
• Somewhat clunky controls

Paradise Killer is a really chilled-out exploration game that divvies up its puzzles into two main camps - talking to people, and exploring its huge island. You play a detective called in to figure out a bizarre supernatural crime in the titular paradisal island, with a baker's dozen of suspects to sift through.

Interrogations are sprightly and well-written, the game has loads of nooks and crannies to explore that yield further secrets, and all of its adapts to offer multiple satisfying endings, making for a really well-rounded but relaxed detective experience.

Hob's Barrow is a wonderful homage to a classic genre of games, and will have you puzzling your way to a truly memorable ending.

• Great story
• Terrific voice acting
• Lovely art style
• Some clunky controls
• Occasionally obtuse

If you've a hankering for a truly old-school adventure game (and the puzzles that automatically come with that territory), then you can't do much better than the superb Hob's Barrow, a creepy and folksy tale of dark secrets.

With a gorgeous art style and a tone that clearly pays homage to the likes of The Wicker Man, Hob's Barrow sees players guiding Thomasina Bateman through her attempts to excavate a rural gravesite - and it's just as eerie as that sounds.

A delightful puzzle game that makes amazing use of 3D spaces to create levels that beg to be rotated and explored.

• Lovely tone and style
• Family-friendly
• Great levels late on
• Pretty easy in early stages

Nintendo doesn't just leave puzzle games to indie studios, though - it also makes some of its own, and an early star of the Switch generation was Captain Toad's Treasure Tracker, a Wii U re-release that shines on newer hardware.

It lets you move Toad carefully through 3D diorama levels that hide clever secrets and loads of treasure, and is a perfect puzzle game for families and younger players.

This delightful puzzler is simple but makes the most of its short runtime with excellent, inventive applications of its clever premise.

• Good central premise
• Nice funny art
• Doesn't outstay its welcome
• Could still be longer

It took absolutely ages to make, and it might not be the longest game ever despite that, but Storyteller is a real treat that uses a simple system of swappable cards to create delightful conundrums.

It's all illustrated by fun cartoony art, and shows how simple formulae can make for satisfying puzzles even when you're familiar with how they all should work.

How we picked the best puzzle games on Switch

There's only one real way to figure out the best puzzle games for Switch, and that's to play a whole bunch of puzzle games on the Switch, which is exactly what we've done.

This has taken us through a bunch of sub-genres that you'll find reflected above, from point-and-click adventure games to first-person explorers and more, but all of them share the core facet that they make you stop and think about what you're meant to be doing next, or what you conclusions you can draw from what you've seen so far.

Each is an excellent game in its own right, but as a whole they make up a smorgasbord of puzzle choices for Switch gamers.

• Console Gaming
• Nintendo Switch

The 16 Best Puzzle Games on Nintendo Switch, Ranked

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As a hybrid gaming console, the Nintendo Switch is perfect for pretty much every type of video game—especially puzzle games, when played in handheld mode.

If you've ever had a Game Boy, you know how many hours you can sink into a game like Tetris when you're on the couch, in the car, or wherever else. But there are hundreds of puzzle games of varying quality available for the Nintendo Switch!

So, which ones are worth your time? If you aren't sure where to start, here are my picks for the best Nintendo Switch puzzle games that are pretty great and worth checking out.

16. Watermelon Party

Watermelon Party is a pretty simple game, but it's also pretty cheap—significantly so if you can grab it on sale—and it's fun to break out every so often as a quick filler game between bigger ones.

The goal is to be the first to pick up all your watermelon slices, which you do by placing tiles on the ground. Your character will automatically move along the path you set, so the trick is to build the most effective road as quickly as you can.

It's definitely not your typical puzzle game, but that uniqueness helps set this one apart and make it worth trying.

15. Pack Master

You know how packing luggage into a case can feel like a puzzle? That's basically what Pack Master is, except this game is a lot more relaxing than shoving actual clothes and gadgets into a carry-on!

Every level in Pack Master is basically a set of objects of varying sizes and shapes, along with a case where they need to be fitted into. You'll need to rotate the objects and place them with precision if you want to get them all inside properly.

The solo mode is very relaxing and a great way to kill time—especially in handheld mode—but the versus mode is also fun as you rush to pack your case before anyone else can.

14. Tumblestone

Tumblestone is an action-puzzle game that's perfect for when you want a simple game that exercises both problem-solving skills and dexterity challenges. The quicker you are, the bigger the advantage!

In Tumblestone , each level is a set of colored blocks and your goal is to clear the blocks by removing one at a time. The catch? You can only pick from the blocks closest to you, and you always have to clear three of the same colored blocks at a time.

The campaign mode is a full-on take-your-time puzzle challenge, but the endless mode and versus mode both have you racing to see how quickly you can clear everything.

13. Lumines Remastered

The PlayStation Portable didn't make much of a dent in the sales of Nintendo's handhelds, but it did have its share of fantastic games, one of which was the mesmerizing Lumines .

This remastered take on that game is every bit as addictive as the original title was, and it's a must-play for Switch owners even remotely interested in puzzle games.

It's just a shame that there is no online multiplayer to let you face off with other players from around the globe.

12. Slayaway Camp: Butcher's Cut

Have you ever wondered what it would look like if you tried to make a puzzle game out of a slasher horror movie franchise?

Slayaway Camp: Butcher's Cut is the answer to that question. While it starts relatively stacked in favor of the player character, Skullface, you'll eventually face tougher levels that feature SWAT teams and other challenges to your reign of terror.

11. Art of Balance

Art of Balance is a physics-based puzzle game where you're given a set of strangely-shaped pieces and tasked with stacking them in such a way that they don't topple over.

Of course, the game becomes deeper in later levels, especially when other types of objects are introduced—such as glass blocks that can only withstand a certain amount of weight on top—which force you to think on multiple levels for a solution.

While Art of Balance is a fine game for solo play, it shines with friends. You can play it cooperatively (taking turns placing blocks) or competitively (in a race to see who can finish first).

10. BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL!

The titular characters in BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL! can create boxes, hence their names. You, in turn, use these boxes to make your way around whatever obstacles the game throws at you.

Of course, it's never actually this simple. It's what you do with the boxes that matters, and this is where the complexity lies.

9. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2

As the name implies, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is a mash-up of the gameplay styles of the Puyo Puyo and Tetris franchises. You can play either game standalone, but the modes that combine them both are the reason to play this game or its sequel.

Pode is a brilliant, lovely, artistic, soft experience that's ultimately about two strangers—an orb of fire and a block of stone—who fall in love and must work together to navigate puzzle-laden levels.

On top of the solid puzzle gameplay, Pode stands out for its ambience and environmental storytelling that makes for a relaxing puzzle experience. You don't need much action-dexterity and you don't need to be a genius. You just need to work together!

7. Mr. Driller DrillLand

At it's core, the gameplay of Mr. Driller DrillLand is simple: drill downward through colored blocks, line up color combos, and make sure none of the falling blocks from above land on you.

That said, the balance of tension and action make this one of the more gripping puzzle games you'll find. This is a great one for puzzle fans looking for some twitch action.

6. What the Golf?

What the Golf? originally debuted on Apple Arcade, one of the few games that made the service feel worthwhile.

On the Switch the game is just as fun, and it doesn't feel like a mobile game carelessly ported to the Switch, it feels like this was the target system for the game all along.

5. Tricky Towers

Take Tetris , but take away the part where the blocks always align perfectly, and that's Tricky Towers in a nutshell. Building taller and taller towers in this game feels like a combination of Tetris and a 2D Jenga , and it's just as fun as that sounds.

4. Death Squared

Death Squared is a phenomenal cooperative puzzle game where players take on the roles of four different colored cubes, navigating through levels where each player can only interact with certain objects.

This means everyone needs to work together to solve the puzzle of each level, all while dodging and overcoming hazards (especially in the later levels). The 3D stage geometry leads to some really interesting solutions that force you to think outside the box.

While Death Squared is best played with friends, you can play it solo. It's a different experience, but still a solid one worth having.

3. Puzzle Bobble Everybubble!

Puzzle Bobble is far from the only old-school puzzle game on the Nintendo Switch, but a list of puzzle games wouldn't be complete without a bubble shooter like this one.

You know this game: you shoot bubbles and cluster them together to pop them, which drops everything that was clinging to them. The whole experience is surprisingly relaxing and satisfying.

Modern gamers will want to opt for Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! , a remake that takes the original gameplay and wraps it up in a co-op adventure that supports up to four players.

And when you're done with the story mode, you can keep playing in multiplayer mode, from 1v1 up to 2v2.

2. Picross S8

Nintendo handhelds and Picross have a long history together, and there are already plenty of games of this kind on the Nintendo Switch.

You can pick up and play any one of them and have fun, but this is the latest entry in the series, so it's as good a place to start as any other game in the series.

1. Tetris 99

Here's an idea: take Tetris and make it a battle royale. That may sound pretty terrible on paper, but for some reason it works...

...and the cherry on top is the fact that this game is free as long as you subscribe to Nintendo's Switch Online service.

There are optional paid add-ons, but you can have plenty of fun without paying an extra dime.

Top 20 best puzzle games on Nintendo Switch

Updated by Ivan Spasojevic on December 22, 2023  - swapped 1 game. We have made a list of the top 20 best Switch puzzle games that you can get right now on the popular handheld console!

But, first things first, we need to answer this question: What exactly is considered to be a puzzle? It seems like the term 'puzzle game', is used to describe titles from different genres. From first-person adventures to platformers, simulations, and  Switch board games . The list goes on and on.

Well, the truth is, that puzzle games make up a very broad category, and they include various subgenres. So, in order to avoid getting too technical about this, let's just consider any title that has some puzzle-solving as a core mechanic to be a puzzler.

Picking the top 20 Switch puzzle games was harder than you think

1 baba is you.

Baba Is You is a single-player title with unique gameplay that allows players to change the rules of the game. By manipulating blocks, you can change the level mechanics, transform your character or even change the goal that you need to reach.

The trailer below illustrates the game's mechanics beautifully. When "wall is stop," a wall stops you from the level's goal. But what happens when you remove the "stop" from that statement? You change the world, and the wall fails to stop you. If the rule is "key is you" then you are no longer controlling Baba, but you're controlling the key. Simply "walk" into the door to complete the level. It's all up to you and the decisions that you are going to make! If you're looking for more detailed info, we have a Baba Is You review for Nintendo Switch .

2 Return of the Obra Dinn

Return of the Obra Dinn is a first-person adventure that blends mystery and puzzle elements together. Take on the role of an insurance investigator who's working for the East India Company. Your objective is to figure out what in the world happened to the merchant ship Obra Dinn that suddenly drifted into London's port, five years after it was declared lost at sea. Use a mysterious pocket watch to turn back time and view each person's last moments.

Return of the Obra Dinn features an utterly unique art style that looks both retro and fresh, it uses a black-and-white "dithering" technique to create high-resolution visuals using one bit per pixel. Don't underestimate it though, because Return of the Obra Dinn is visually gorgeous.

3 Good Job!

Good Job! is an action Switch puzzle game that supports up to 2 players and offline gameplay. If you want to climb the corporate ladder, you better be prepared to do whatever it takes! Your job duties will vary from fixing the office's internet connection to cleaning up the weird goo. With every puzzle you solve, you come one step closer to the executive suite!

Every puzzle is a hilarious exercise in "just how much chaos can I cause." Why carefully water the plants when you can flood the office? Why wheel the copier into a new room when you can risk lives by constructing a catapult with zero regard for doors, walls, and basic safety? It's brilliant, laugh-out-loud fun matched by a cartoony art style and slapstick humour.

4 Untitled Goose Game

Untitled Goose Game is another puzzle game for Switch that supports up to two players co-op in offline gameplay. You play as a loose goose that is about to bring chaos to a whole town. Steal hats, set up pranks, honk a lot, and do pretty much anything that you can to be super annoying and ruin everyone's day.

Following the quest objectives is only part of the fun. Sure, you can steal slippers, trap a terrified kid in a phone booth and drop garden tools in the pond ("rake in the lake" is our favourite quest objective ever) but part of the fun here is in experimentation and generally being horrible. It's great in single-player, but couch co-op makes puzzle-solving and chaos-worshipping even better. Therefore, we highly recommend you try this funny gameplay together with a friend. All hail the honk.

5 Catherine: Full Body

Vincent's love life is... complicated... to say the least. On top of that, he's starting to have weird nightmares that force him to climb for his life. Catherine: Full Body is a mature action-adventure puzzle with an intriguing storyline and challenging puzzles. Gorgeously animated in anime style, you'll alternate between daytime segments where you'll navigate Vincent's relationships with various girlfriends, and nightmare segments climbing a tower made of blocks that must be arranged to facilitate your escape.

Aside from the great story, daytime segments also allow you to purchase drinks which will help in the nightmare segments... but have too many drinks, and you'll make your escape that much harder. If you're looking for a more mature puzzler, this is for you.

INSIDE is an award-winning puzzle platformer by Playdead. It is known for its art style, a combination of dark visuals and audio that creates a cold, dystopian world. In its 2.5D monochromatic environment, you control a young boy without a name who has to solve a series of puzzles in order to stay alive. This clearly isn't the one for younger audiences.

INSIDE is atmospherically heavy and creepy, leaving the story open to your own interpretation as you sneak through its haunting halls and otherworldly environments. If you liked Playdead's previous game, Limbo , you'll love this.

7 Little Nightmares 2

Little Nightmares 2 is a single-player, 2.5D puzzle platformer. The story precedes the events of the original Little Nightmares. You play as Mono, a boy who's trapped in a distorted world, caused by a humming transmission coming from a tower far away. A girl named Six will be his guide as he sets out to explore the Signal Tower and uncover its secrets.

It's atmospheric, grotesque, and foreboding at every turn. A game with such a cute art style shouldn't be this scary, should it? If you are up for a horror adventure that has a lot of mind-bugging puzzles, Little Nightmares 2 is a must-try. If you have already played it, and looking for something similar, here we have a list of the best mobile games like Little Nightmares .

8 The Talos Principle

The Talos Principle is a single-player, puzzle adventure. You play as a robot, tasked by its creator to solve a series of increasingly complex puzzles in an ancient-looking world. Here you will find 120+ puzzles with different levels of complexity, so it actually might take quite a while to beat the game.

It's best to go into The Talos Principle knowing as little as possible about its story and its world, but excellent puzzle-solving experience, combined with a unique storyline, make this title a must-have for the fans of the genre. It'll stay with you for a long time after the final credits roll. Sounds interesting, right? To learn more about this exciting title, feel free to read our The Talos Principle review .

9 Machinarium

There are all sorts of Switch puzzle games. Block-based puzzlers, platformers, first-person, strategy, and the list goes on. Machinarium is a single-player, point-and-click adventure puzzler that was originally released for PC back in 2009. Prepare to solve a series of puzzles and brain-teasers.

The story follows Josef, a little robot who's trying to get back to the city and reconnect with his girlfriend after he was dumped in a scrapyard. Games are often criticised for being too "brown," but Machinarium has a unique, sketch-like art style and brown-toned colour wash that only adds to the impression of a cold, surreal robotic world. In case you want to know more about the title, feel free to read our Machinarium review for some additional information.

10 Human: Fall Flat

Human: Fall Flat is an excellent puzzle game with lots of challenging puzzles and entertaining gameplay. You will have to complete levels full of various obstacles, find items and figure out how to use them properly in order to beat the level. The very first task here is to learn how to control your character because it is pretty complicated.

Human: Fall Flat also has a multiplayer mode, therefore, we recommend you play it with friends because solving puzzles together with someone is even more exciting here than in any other similar title. It is definitely worth your attention, but if you are still having doubts about it, feel free to read our Human: Fall Flat review to learn more about this exciting game.

11 Snipperclips - Cut it out, together!

Snipperclips - Cut it out, together! is a unique action-puzzle game. If you are looking for a title to play with friends or family, then you should give this one a try. Snip and Clip must cut each other up in order to overcome tricky obstacles and match the outlined shapes. Or just for fun. Too tall? Take a little off the top. Even though the puzzles are easy at the start, they get increasingly more complex as you progress.

It's surprisingly pretty, too, with the characters reacting to each snip and cut with joy and laughter. If you have enough controllers, you can even play with four people on the one Switch, making this a fun, light-hearted party title. If you're not convinced yet, and looking to learn even more about it, we have a Snipperclips review !

12 Human Resource Machine

Another type of Switch puzzle game that blends strategy and simulation elements together is Human Resource Machine, a delight for 'expert' nerds. At every level, you have to program little office workers, to automate a task given to you by your boss. If you succeed, and you make your boss happy, well, you get promoted to the next stage.

At the start of the HRM, you can only use 2 commands to program your workers, but as you advance new commands become available, making it more complex. You don't need to know programming, either. You'll be automating the workplace in no time! An exciting title, isn't it?

Gorogoa is a narrative-driven puzzle game. Arrange and combine a series of beautifully illustrated panels in order to solve the puzzles. It may be short and might only take you less than two hours to complete. But, its absolutely amazing art style and unique gameplay make for a great gaming experience. It is a cute story about a young boy that makes you relax and enjoy the adventure.

What makes this more impressive is that it was created by one person, developer Jason Roberts, hand-drawn and written over a period of six years. Without a doubt, such efforts truly deserve admiration, and the title itself is so beautiful you cannot just skip it. If you want to know our detailed opinion about it, make sure to read our Gorogoa review , where we explain in detail why this puzzler is a masterpiece.

14 The Gardens Between

The Gardens Between is a single-player puzzle adventure about two friends reliving their fond memories together. The game's time manipulation mechanics offer an interesting take on the indie puzzle genre, allowing you to reassemble parts of the environment that were previously impossible. It is a pretty short title, you can complete it in a few hours.

The island environments are bursting with detail, too; from flood-soaked rocks to falling autumnal leaves, the visuals are vibrant, beautiful, and storybook-like. With simple controls and a calm, ambient soundtrack, this is a world you'll love to get lost in.

15 Tetris 99

How do you make Tetris even better? You make it super competitive.

In this version of Tetris, you are not just competing against yourself, but you go up against 98 other players. That's right, it's Tetris meets Fortnite. Who knew the puzzle genre could work as a battle royale? You take part in large-scale online battles and defeat your opponents one by one in order to be the last player standing!

On top of being very entertaining, it's also totally free for Nintendo Switch Online members, making it a fantastic reason to join the service (in addition to everything else it offers, of course). If that was not enough to convince you to try the game, feel free to read our Tetris 99 review , and after that, destroy your opponents on Tetris battlefield!

16 Death Squared

Most puzzle games are single-player, but not Death Squared. This is a co-op puzzler, and even though it can be played solo, it was clearly made to be played by a group of people. Each player takes control of a robot, which they need to guide to a colour-coded goal. But, there's a catch. The path is full of deadly traps and hazards. For a team to survive, close observation and communication are key.

This is great to play at parties, but just don't blame us if you lose a few friendships or relationships along the way. Also, we're totally not advocating for sabotaging your friends. You won't clear the level that way... but it'll be really, really funny. And before you move to the next game on the list, make sure to check out our Death Squared review for more detailed information.

17 World of Goo

World of Goo is a physics-based puzzler where the player must use balls of goo to create bridges and various other large structures, in order to help other goo balls reach the endpoint of each stage.

You will have to overcome not only gravity but also various types of terrain. The challenge is to use as few balls as possible each time. Its strange, surreal levels and quirky designs just make this one even better. Indeed, the level design here is pretty interesting and unique, and on top of that, World of Goo has a simple but, at the same time, beautiful art style. Throughout the game, you will find many new goo balls that have various abilities that you should use wisely to beat the level. For detailed info, check out our review for World of Goo .

18 Super Bomberman R 2

Older players remember Super Bomberman as one of the first battle royale games, even before the genre existed officially. It was just known as a PVP game. Well, many years later, you can rejoice, as Bomberman 2 is out!

The essence of the game is rather simple, you have a limited ring where you need to blow up all other players in order to win. The gameplay is incredibly frenetic, as each player needs to destroy as many obstacles as possible and collect as many boosts as possible before going into a fight with another player. It's a combo between puzzle solving and quick reflexes, and it's fun as hell! Bomberman 2 brought a new Castle mode, where a player will have to defend his treasure against the rest of the team. We still think that the original gameplay is much more fun, as it will bring so much laughter.

19 Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is an enhanced port of the action-puzzle game that was released for the Nintendo Wii U originally, and then ported to Nintendo Switch. Toad has never quite been the star of his own game quite like this. Take control of Toad and try to safely navigate through various obstacles to reach the endpoint of each level, rotating the levels to reveal hidden paths and avoid enemies. Even better, this port includes additional extra levels, and it also supports multiplayer gameplay.

We have a pretty detailed Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker review for those who want to learn more about the title.

20 Lumines Remastered

Lumines Remastered might initially look like a Tetris clone, but make no mistake: this title is its own addictive beast. Lumines has you dropping square blocks consisting of four smaller blocks and (often) two different colours. Match as many colours as possible before the timeline bar sweeps across the screen from left to right. When the bar touches your matched blocks, the combination will be counted and you'll be awarded your score. Then, rinse and repeat.

It's simple to explain, but fiendishly addictive in its execution. Couple that with the game's sleek design, colourful visuals, and pumping electronic tunes by Mondo Grosso, Lumines is hard to put down. When the song changes, the stage changes. You'll be returning to this one again, and again, tapping your foot to the rhythm of the bass.

The Best Problem-solving Games for Nintendo Switch

• Fortress Building Puzzle - Galaxy Cube Tower Simulator Game
• Release date: New first
• Review score: Best first
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qomp2 (2024)

An artful reimagining of Pong. Control a Pong ball aching to break free of its life stuck between two paddles. Explore a dangerous, minimalist world, armed with simple two button controls.

• problem-solving
• experimental
• exploration

Fortress Building Puzzle - Galaxy Cube Tower Simulator Game (2023)

Fortress Building Puzzle is a puzzle game where you need to strategically remove all the cubes to bring your castle to the ground. You must carefully consider which cubes to remove and in what order, as the structure must maintain its balance or else it will topple over prematurely.

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15 best puzzle games on nintendo switch.

Puzzle video games like Donut County and Pikuniku provide tons of whimsical family fun. What are the best games available on the Nintendo Switch?

The puzzle genre has adapted incredibly well to the Nintendo Switch as a platform. Because of its unique gameplay mechanics, industry-changing controller, and impressive capabilities, the console has become home to a wide range of puzzle games. Titles like Puyo Puyo, Moving Out, or Carto flip the genre on its head and provide whimsical family fun.

These titles all approach the puzzle genre itself cleverly. Playing off of well-known Nintendo characters, morphing what audiences have come to know about the traditional side-scroller, and even introducing battle royale modes to famous games like Tetris ; the Nintendo console has certainly made waves in this gaming category. There are many alternative puzzling adventures on offer on Switch.

15 LEGO Titles

TT Games and Warner Bros. Entertainment Interactive have worked with some of the biggest titles and franchises in the world to create LEGO games on the Switch. All the releases from this line have been extraordinary, with brilliant animation, gameplay mechanics, and excellent comedy moments. While they might be adventure titles, often with open worlds, LEGO-style puzzle-solving is a huge aspect of these games. Ultimately, they are more fun when played in co-op, meaning players can work together, as a number of familiar characters, to solve some of the riddles and physical challenges.

14 Moving Out (2020)

Moving Out from SMG Studio, Devm Games, and Team17 is a modern classic within the puzzle genre. Co-op play is available on the Nintendo Switch, as the players team up to try and move all the items out of a designated house. It's not as easy as it sounds though, with other challenges popping up to complete.

The fun cartoon nature of the visuals adds something to this hyperactive puzzle experience, which can turn chaotic extremely quickly. What's so tricky about the game is that players will have to work out the best route for larger objects, how to pick up heavy items, and how to dodge the many challenging obstacles. Moving Out makes chores fun on the Nintendo Switch.

Related: Moving Out Review: Three Cheers for Chores!

13 Picross S6 (2021)

Sometimes a puzzle game needs to take it back to basics, and that's exactly what the Picross series has been doing since its initial release in 2007. Always popular, Jupiter Corporation might have put out the best variation of this title yet on Switch. It's incredibly simple in its concept, with a grid-like design and number puzzles forming the basis of the idea. However, it's highly addictive and satisfying to complete, with an intuitive interface and perfect sound design. There's something very calming about the title.

12 Snipperclips Plus (2017)

From SFB Games and Nintendo comes the absolutely ridiculous puzzle game, Snipperclips Plus which builds on the Snipperclips brand by adding additional levels and lots more fun. The stationary-themed title is packed full of humor-filled situations to unravel. As a hilarious couch co-op, it really has thought of it all, crafting puzzles that involve interactivity above everything else. It's whimsical and fast-paced, with the worlds that the player travels through showcasing all of their imaginative detail. It's never too frustrating either.

11 Yoshi's Crafted World (2019)

Good-Feel and Nintendo went to work on one of the most unique Mario world titles, Yoshi's Crafted World. The beautifully designed levels take players across multiple different settings, as they hunt down the gems that have been stolen. In the process, they go along a platformer style of game with a difference. While it might feel a bit like a traditional side-scroller, this isn't a simple beat-em-up. Instead, players can work together or independently, to solve the different physical puzzles that await Yoshi in his cardboard-crafted world while collecting all the hidden coins and daisies along the way.

10 Untitled Goose Game (2019)

The Untitled Goose Game really took the industry by storm. As an independent title with a strange premise, it was always possible that the game could have lived in obscurity. But developer House House ensured it would be memorable, challenging, fun, and visually stimulating despite its length.

Available on other consoles, there's nothing like picking up the Switch to try and solve some of these complex puzzles. Figuring out how to attempt to carry a bell across the entirety of a town, breaking into a pub, and tricking the neighbors into thinking the goose is a statue are all fun experiences. There are so many activities to tick off on this seemingly never-ending list of tasks in Untitled Goose Game .

9 Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy (2017)

The Professor Layton franchise has been a staple of Nintendo for some time, but the Switch has continued to reinvent the title for old and new fans alike. The game series has often been the measuring stick of the puzzle genre, with players acting as detectives trying to solve many complicated mysteries. From mini-games to wordplay, riddles, and physical challenges, one of the games, Layton's Mystery Journey , focuses on the Professor's daughter and sees players interact with all of these sorts of puzzles. Level-5 made a smart move in making Katrielle the protagonist for the seventh installment.

8 Human Fall Flat (2017)

Human Fall Flat is an independent title, developed by No Brakes Games and Codeglue. Its gameplay is certainly unique enough to make for some hilarious moments and because of this, it is one of the most light-hearted additions to the genre and acts as one of the best co-op games . Players have to solve a number of tricky puzzles to try and get their character to the next level, but the problem is that the protagonists of Human Fall Flat are incredibly difficult to control and move. It's available on a variety of platforms, from consoles like the Xbox One to mobile devices and of course, the Nintendo Switch.

7 Tetris 99 (2019)/Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 (2020)

Tetris is an absolutely classic title, so those who want to experience the arcade puzzle game in some of its original glory will likely enjoy Tetris 99, which feels like a real throwback brought to modern consoles. However, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is also worth a mention. A modern take on the puzzle game, it combines a couple of different Nintendo brands, with appearances from even the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog. It's fast-paced and exciting, and while it might not appeal to Tetris purists, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 on Nintendo Switch is certainly a welcome step for the franchise.

6 Pokémon Café Mix (2020)

The Pokémon franchise has stepped into a variety of genres. Inspired partially by mobile platform puzzle games, Pokémon Café Mix is compatible with smartphone devices as well. In this fun little game, players build their own café where they can expand and customize their space, and bring in new Pokémon staff and customers while solving unique puzzles that play into the franchise's strengths.

5 Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (2018)

Available on both the Nintendo Switch and the 3DS, this video game takes the classic Mario franchise characters and pits them against a variety of unique challenges and puzzles. Searching for that "hidden treasure," players get to interact with the 3D gameplay capabilities of the Switch like never before. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker initially presents almost like a traditional side-scroller, before morphing into a much wider game. It combines some of the elements of what may be expected from a Mario series and turns them on their head, making this a truly unique title.

4 Carto (2020)

Humble Games and Sunhead have created a whimsical adventure for the whole family to enjoy. Young Carto is torn away from her family and has to search for a way back home, solving a variety of physical riddles to unlock her path. While not a Switch exclusive, Carto takes full advantage of Switch as a platform. Players use pieces of a map almost like a jigsaw, to build Carto's path so that she can journey forward. Carto offers a unique and incredibly charming, peaceful game to experience as a contrast to some of the chaotic titles available on the console.

Related: Carto Review: Unique, But Not For Long

3 Pikuniku (2019)

Pikuniku is a charming game, although short . Bright, colorful, and incredibly wacky, from the charming dialogue to the witty puzzles, there's really a golden nugget in every aspect of this game. The animation is based upon simplistic 2D shapes, which means a lot of attention has gone into the sorts of puzzles that players will have to solve to continue on their quest. Pikuniku isn't a Switch exclusive as it's also available on Microsoft Store and Epic Games, yet the retro feel of the title makes it feel right at home on the Nintendo Switch. The handheld option for the Switch is perhaps the best choice for this Sectordub and Devolver Digital title.

2 Donut County (2018)

Designed for optimized play on Nintendo Switch, Donut County had been enjoying success on other platforms, but the indie title developed by Ben Esposito and published by Annapurna Interactive certainly feels at home on this platform. Players control a large hole that they can use to swallow up buildings, objects, and people. The many ways that the players can use this donut hole will ultimately become the key to solving the puzzles set out. Putting out fires, operating machinery, and destroying civilizations are just some of the ways this hole can be utilized in the endearing game of Donut County .

1 Good Job! (2020)

There are plenty of titles that seem to capitalize on this recent trend in co-op-style gameplay based on real-life jobs. From Moving Out to Overcooked , Good Job! seems to be very much in the same vein as these puzzle-solving experiences. With players thrown into an office, they must undertake a series of tasks that seem mundane on the surface. Developed by Paladin Studios and published on Nintendo Switch as an exclusive, this is a title that players need to get their hands on to find all sorts of creative solutions for the most boring of jobs.

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The 10 best puzzle games on Nintendo Switch

With the essential feature of handheld gameplay, the Nintendo Switch is a fitting platform to casually play puzzle games on. And the Switch has plenty to offer across a number of different puzzle subgenres, from falling block puzzle games, mysteries to solve, cooperative problem solving , and other general brainteasers. There are some obvious Nintendo-published standouts in the larger genre, including Snipperclips and Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, but there are plenty of third-party gems to explore as well. These are 10 of just some of the best puzzle games for Nintendo Switch, in alphabetical order.

Baba Is You

Puzzle games are nothing without a sense of accomplishment and triumph once you solve them at the end, and Baba Is You is full of complicated puzzles that will make you feel like the smartest person around for cracking them. Starring a bunny-like creature named Baba, this indie game will have you moving around tiles that act as conditionals, changing the properties of objects on the field to get you into a winning state. It’s almost like a visual representation of programming, and like programming, it will surely lead to frustrating dead ends. The rules are yours to manipulate — you just have to know how to bend them.

BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL!

The latest entry of the BoxBoy series adds a second player, with both Qbby and Qucy forming strings of boxes together to traverse levels. They’ll help each other out by creating platforms and bridges, all with a limited number of boxes that can be used at once for each stage. Even with a minimalist mostly black-and-white and square art style, the titular BoxBoy and BoxGirl elevate the charm of this puzzle platformer from Kirby developer HAL Laboratory.

The Gardens Between

Adventure game The Gardens Between is single player and has a focus on story, following the young duo of Arina and Frendt. The journey they take through a dreamlike garden is both an examination and a metaphor for their friendship, as they manipulate time, relive memories, and unlock secrets. With vibrant colors, lively animations, and a heartfelt story, The Gardens Between stands out for its hybrid of emotion and surrealism.

Originally a standout at the launch of Apple Arcade, Grindstone is a puzzle-battler game with over 200 levels and a distinct cartoon aesthetic. You’ll be slashing through monsters on a grid, using color matching and strategic movements to pull off combos. There are plenty of bosses to fight, resources to loot, and attempt to conquer leaderboards.

Lumines Remastered

Long before designer Tetsuya Mizuguchi fulfilled a career dream by producing Tetris Effect, Lumines was the music-based falling block puzzle game that he made, lacking the Tetris license at the time. But as its own original puzzle game, Lumines made a strong impression when it debuted on the PSP — Lumines requires you to create squares of the same color from 2×2 pieces, all with stunning visuals and addicting electronic music in the background. Lumines Remastered ended up being a perfect fit on the handheld Switch, with improved visual effects and even HD Rumble feedback to the rhythm of the music.

Anyone with an appreciation for both puzzle games and especially public transit systems will certainly take an interest in Mini Metro from Dinosaur Polo Club. The premise is simple, but Mini Metro certainly presents a challenge, as players create transit maps in real time and attempt to juggle the needs of commuters. The levels are loosely based on real cities, but the stations and passengers themselves, represented by shapes, are procedurally generated. The Switch version features an exclusive multiplayer mode, for transportation enthusiasts who want to try their hand at handling the needs of simulated metro communities.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2

Following up from Sega’s hybrid of Tetris and their tile-matching Puyo Puyo series is Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, a sequel that expands on the original in several ways. Players can face off against each other, regardless of which falling block puzzle game they’re playing, or even compete in a combination Fusion mode that challenges everything they know about either game. Like the first game, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 has a fully voice acted single player story mode, with quirky characters and dialogue helping to justify the unexpected marriage of these two game modes. Skill Battles add an unexpected RPG element to the game, with characters offering skills for players to use on the board. And Sega being Sega, Sonic the Hedgehog himself is playable as a character after a post-launch update.

Return of the Obra Dinn

Papers, Please developer Lucas Pope eventually brought Return of the Obra Dinn to Nintendo Switch — this mystery game is one based entirely on observation and deduction. You play as an insurance agent investigating the reappearance of an abandoned ship, and using a special pocket watch called the Memento Mortem, you are able to observe the deaths of the crew members and passengers at a limited capacity. The devil is in the details, and you’ll use the limited dialogue and frozen images in time to determine the identity of all on board, who (or what) killed them, and what everyone’s final fate was. Return of the Obra Dinn sports a monochromatic Macintosh art style, and is rounded out by its excellent audio design.

Tangle Tower

Snipperclips developers SFB Games brought back a legacy character of theirs, Detective Grimoire, for this cartoony murder mystery. Grimoire and his assistant Sally are on the case of Freya Fellow, a young girl found seemingly murdered while painting. Players will observe rooms to search for clues and evidence, and they will have to uncover the secrets of Tangle Tower by solving Professor Layton-like puzzles. Additionally, you as Grimoire will interrogate the eccentric family members at this tower, putting pieces of evidence together to come up with some far-fetched answers behind this bizarre killing.

Tricky Towers

In this twisted fantasy take on Tetris, Tricky Towers has players stacking up falling blocks, but not to clear lines — instead, players are competing to build the tallest and most stable towers. Players can also cast spells on each other to alter the situation to their advantage, with powers either helping yourself or hindering others by altering physics. At some point, Tricky Towers looks less like Tetris and more like Jenga.

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The Best Nintendo Switch Puzzle Games

Now that Nintendo Switch is here, it's time to get an early start on ranking the best Nintendo Switch puzzle games. Some of the puzzle games for Switch on this list are releasing on launch day, while others have tentative release dates or are slated to hit the console later in 2017.

So what are some good puzzle games for Nintendo Switch? Snipperclips , Puyo Puyo Tetris , and Project Mekuru are some of the most notable, but there are plenty of others to stimulate your brain as well. Snipperclips in particular is looking like not only one of the best puzzles games for Nintendo Switch, but one of the most fun games of the year period. Vote up the games on this list that you've played and love, or the ones that aren't out yet that you desperately want to play.

Tetris Effect

• # 104 of 242 on Every Major Nintendo Switch Game
• # 36 of 66 on The Best Xbox One Games For Girls
• # 35 of 64 on The Best Xbox One Puzzle Games

Little Inferno

Release Date: March 3rd, 2017

Tormented Souls

• # 228 of 242 on Every Major Nintendo Switch Game
• # 81 of 215 on The Best PlayStation 5 Games Released So Far
• # 45 of 132 on The Best Nintendo Switch Adventure Games

World of Goo

Human Resource Machine

Puyo Puyo Tetris

Release Date: April 25th, 2017

A Boy and His Blob

• # 173 of 242 on Every Major Nintendo Switch Game
• # 30 of 64 on The Best Xbox One Puzzle Games
• # 53 of 79 on The Best PlayStation 4 Puzzle Games

• # 60 of 86 on The Greatest Survival Horror Games Of All Time
• # 200 of 215 on The Best PlayStation 5 Games Released So Far
• # 53 of 62 on The Best Survival Games of All Time

Doctor Who: The Edge of Reality

• # 38 of 180 on The Best New PS4 & PS5 Games Of 2021
• # 90 of 149 on The Best New Switch Games Of 2021
• # 218 of 242 on The Best Current Nintendo Switch Games You Can Play Right Now

Bit Boy! Arcade Deluxe

Release Date: TBD 2017

Super Bomberman R

Soldam: Blooming Declaration

Release Date: TBA

The Unlikely Legend of Rusty Pup

Project Mekuru

Snipperclips

Murder Mystery Machine

Ever Forward

No Man's Sky

Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium

• # 234 of 259 on The Best PS4 Games Of All Time, Ranked
• # 204 of 242 on Every Major Nintendo Switch Game
• # 64 of 66 on The Best Xbox One Games For Girls

Endling - Extinction Is Forever

• # 203 of 259 on The Best PS4 Games Of All Time, Ranked
• # 35 of 66 on The Best Xbox One Games For Girls
• # 29 of 130 on The Best Xbox One Adventure Games

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

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21 Best Nintendo Switch Puzzle Games

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T he Nintendo Switch’s success paved the way for developers to enhance its library with some amazing titles covering all genres. The Switch offers a wide variety of puzzle games, from classic favorites to new innovative titles there is something to enjoy here for all kinds of gamers.

Today we are here to offer you a list of the best Puzzle games on the system, whether you’re looking for a relaxing game to pass the time or some hardcore challenge, we got you covered. From the deep and complex to the light and cheerful, the Switch has it all. 

L umines Remastered brings back a classic title to modern consoles with enhanced visuals and audio. The game offers a classic block-based puzzle where the goal is to match colored blocks of different shapes. The player must line up four or more blocks of the same color to clear them from the board. Players must use their strategy and skill to create combos and earn points. 

The game also offers a wide selection of unique music tracks that match the challenge and atmosphere of the game. The visuals also feature classic Lumines art and designs, as well as all-new designs. Additionally, the game features competitive and cooperative modes, as well as Challenge and Skin modes, which allow players to customize the look and feel of the game. Overall, the game is an addicting experience, and owning it on the Switch is a big plus since you can play it on the go anywhere.

C aptain Toad: Treasure Track was originally a mini-game on the well-known Super Mario 3D World game, developers took the idea and expanded it to a full-blown action puzzle-platformer video game. The game follows the tale of Toad and his companion Toadette, together they venture into the mushroom kingdom looking for Power Stars.

The game put a huge emphasis on the 3D perspective, manipulating the camera will help the player to solve the puzzles and move around the environment. Players must guide Captain Toad and Toadette through various levels, collecting Power Stars to progress. Along the way, they must avoid enemies and traps, and solve puzzles to reach their destination. Overall, this is a fun puzzle platformer for all age, the game offer hours of fun gameplay and some additional content and DLC exclusively on the Nintendo Switch port.

P uyo Puyo Tetris offers a well-balanced mix of classic Tetris and unique Puyo Puyo puzzle elements. Aside from the classic arcade elements the game features a full-blown story mode. The story follows the adventure of O and her friends as they travel to a different world in search of the mysterious Tetra.

The objective of Puyo Puyo Tetris is to score as many points as possible by forming chains of Puyos or clearing lines of tetrominoes. The player can choose from various game modes including Versus, Swap, Fusion, and Big Bang. Versus mode is a traditional head-to-head match, while Swap mode requires players to switch between Puyo and tetrominoes every few seconds. Fusion mode combines both Puyos and tetrominoes, while Big Bang is a race to clear the board as quickly as possible.

W orld of Goo is an outstanding puzzle game that features creative gameplay and a well-put mix of challenge and humor. The game takes place in a surreal world inhabited by the mysterious Goo creatures. These unique creatures have the ability to build structures out of their own bodies. The player is tasked to guide these creatures in order to construct different architectures to reach the exit on each level.

While this might sound simple there is a lot of depth to the idea. For example, each level requires a certain amount of Goo to be able to succeed, reaching the exit while not meeting the minimum requirement of Goo will result in failure. Also, every shape you build is heavily based on physics so you need to be careful when constructing anything on the level. Further up in the game developers made sure to spice things up with more challenges and many new elements including different Goo species with unique abilities. Overall, this is an amazing little gem that might have gone under the radar of many gamers, whether you enjoy puzzle games or you like some short gaming sessions this is definitely worth a try.

T he Gardens Between is another unique indie puzzle game, the game combines gorgeous visuals with an amazing story and even greater gameplay. The game offers a story-driven adventure game that takes players on a journey through time. Players take control of two best friends, Arina and Frendt, as they traverse a mysterious garden, solving puzzles and unlocking memories from the past. 

Each level offers a memory fragment from the past, the goal of each level is to manipulate time to reach a portal at the center of each one. The main gimmick of the game is that you don’t really control your characters, instead, you maintain the world around you while manipulating time. The player must focus on every detail on the level and every change when moving time back and forth to be able to solve the puzzles. The game also features a unique and charming art style, with a vibrant and colorful world that is full of life.

G orogoa is another outstanding puzzle game on this list, I mean I can’t praise this enough. The game follows the story of a young boy as he travels through a mysterious world. Players must use their puzzle-solving skills to progress through the game and uncover its secrets. The main goal of each puzzle is to arrange and combine several hand-drawn panels to create interactions that progress the story. The game’s visuals are stunning, with hand-painted artwork and animations that bring the mysterious world to life. 

S nipperclips Cut it out, together is a casual puzzle game with a huge emphasis on co-op multiplayer. The game was a Nintendo Switch launch title acting as a tech demo of the unique Switch hardware and gimmicks. The game has two main characters, Snip and Clip, who are paper-like figures that must work together to solve puzzles.

While the game can be played solo controlling both characters at the same time, the co-op mode is where this game shines. Each level offers a task to be done, for example, moving an object to a specific area or even activating a switch. This task can be done by tagging with the other players to cut each other into the right shape to complete the chore. The game features 45 different puzzles that range from easy to difficult and are a great way to enjoy a fun and challenging experience with friends or family.

C atherine: Full Body is an enhanced port of the successful 2011 puzzle video game, the new port offers new characters and additional gameplay elements with enhanced controls and graphics. The game follows the story of Vincent, a man in his mid-30s, who is struggling with the decision between his current girlfriend Catherine, and a new love interest, Katherine.

Players must solve puzzles while navigating Vincent’s relationships and making decisions that will affect the game’s outcome. The gameplay offers some unique stages where the player must push and interact with blocks in order to climb a wall of blocks all while avoiding traps and hazards. While this might be on the simple side developers made sure to pick up the pace and challenge once the player gets a hold of the puzzle mechanics. Overall, the game is well worth it for what it is, offering a good mix of puzzle and visual novel elements all while adding new content and endings for players who have already experienced the original game.

L ayton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaire’s Conspiracy is a follow-up to the famous Layton series, the game put you in the shoes of the daughter of Professor Layton as she investigates a new conspiracy. The game’s story follows Katrielle as she investigates a series of mysterious cases, each of which is connected to a group of seven millionaires who are known as the Millionaire’s Conspiracy.

Just like the previous games in the series, the player must solve a series of logical puzzle mini-games in order to progress through the story. The puzzle range from casual to challenging ones depending on how far you got into the game. The player must use all the clues and information they uncover in order to solve the mystery at hand. The Switch deluxe edition was revamped to use the unique console hardware while upgrading the visuals to crisp HD  visuals.

U ntitled Goose Game is a unique laugh-out-loud sandbox puzzle game. The player controls a goose who has been let into a small village, the goal is to cause as much chaos as possible bullying residents and causing havoc.

Players must use trickery and strategy to complete objectives. They must avoid being caught by the villagers, steal items, and generally cause as much chaos as possible. While many tasks are stealth-based, many others are puzzle based and require some logical thinking to complete. Visually developers choose a cartoonish look that fits perfectly with the humourous approach of the game offering a colorful whimsical world.

R eturn of the Obra Dinn is an outstanding puzzle adventure game offering some hardcore mystery and a unique yet beautiful art style. The player takes the role of an insurance adjuster as he investigates the mystery of the Obra Dinn disappearance. The game is played from a first-person perspective where the player must look for clues and hints to solve the ship’s mystery.

The gameplay revolves around using a pocket watch to freeze time and examine the final moments of the crew members before the ship’s mysterious disappearance. As the player explores the ship, they are presented with a series of clues and must use critical thinking to piece the clues together leading to a new scene and so forth. The game also offers a unique art style combining pixel art with 3D and adding a unique color palette similar to the original Game Boy.

B aba is You is another unique indie puzzle game. The game’s main mechanic is the manipulation of words, the player can manipulate the level by pushing written words to form new sentences changing the whole level. For example, if the player places the blocks “baba” and “push” next to each other, Baba can now push objects in the level. Of course, the game starts off simple to let the player get a hold of the gameplay mechanics and picks up later with more challenges and head-scratching puzzles.

U nravel Two continue the legacy of the first game with new gameplay elements and a new co-op mode for couples and friends. The game’s story focuses on two Yarnys, who are connected by a single strand of yarn. The player can control both Yarnies or add a new player and work together to overcome many of the game’s obstacles.

The game is a hardcore side-scrolling puzzle platformer putting a huge emphasis on physics and environments. Players must use the abilities of both characters to progress through levels, complete puzzles, and traverse obstacles. The Yarnys can interact with the environment by swinging, grappling, and climbing. Players must carefully consider their actions as the thread connecting the two Yarnys is limited and needs to be managed carefully. The visuals are cute and cartoony offering a casual and warm feel despite the challenging gameplay.

I nside is a dark puzzle platformer that combines a gritty atmosphere with challenging puzzles. The game follows a mysterious nameless boy as he ventures into a dystopian world. The player must use the environment and the game’s simple mechanics to solve various puzzles and progress through the game. Along the way, the player must navigate a variety of enemies, as well as outsmart the game’s many traps and obstacles. The Switch version is well worth it since it’s the only official way to experience the game on the go.

C arto is a unique adventure puzzle game, the game follows the tale of Carto, a young girl who ventures into a vast world looking for her late grandmother. As she travels through a strange world, she must use her ability to rearrange the land and its pieces to progress forward.

The game is played from a top-down perspective, with the player controlling Carto as she moves around the world. The main objective is to rearrange the pieces of the map by placing them on top of one another in order to progress. Carto must complete various puzzles and challenges in order to progress, such as collecting items, solving puzzles, and navigating traps. The visuals are stunning offering a 2d hand-drawn graphic style inspired by classic Japanese animation like studio ghibli’s work and such.

S uperliminal throws you into a weird dream world where you must solve puzzles paying attention to every detail in your environment. The game is set in a surreal dream world where players must solve puzzles by manipulating objects and the environment around them, using perspective and optical illusions to progress. Players must solve puzzles by manipulating the size and scale of objects in their environment, as well as creating illusions to progress.

D onut County is a witty physics-based puzzle game with a huge yet interesting cast and a cutesy and casual art style. The game is set in a fictional village called Donut County, the main game protagonist a raccoon finds a magical phone app that allows him to create holes in the city swallowing everything that comes in the way.

During each level, the player controls a hole in the ground, which grows larger as it swallows objects. As the hole grows, it can swallow larger and more complex objects, eventually leading to the total destruction of Donut County. In addition to the captivating art style, the game offers a funny story with witty dialogue and a loveable cast.

T he last Campfire offers a touching story about hope, loss, and meaning while adding some amazing puzzle elements to the formula. The game is set in a mysterious world filled with lost souls. Your goal is to guide these souls by completing various objectives and solving numerous puzzles.

Gameplay in The Last Campfire focuses on solving puzzles, exploring the world, and uncovering secrets. Players use Ember’s torch and singing voice to solve puzzles, traverse the environment, and light up dark areas. Ember can also interact with various creatures, build objects, and collect items to help them on their journey. The switch offers a solid port with crisp visuals a decent framerate and the choice to enjoy the game on the go.

M anifold Garden is a unique and captivating exploration game that combines challenging puzzles with outstanding and surreal art style. The game is set in a mysterious world filled with geometric shapes that form a repeating pattern. The player takes control of a nameless hero who must bring balance back to this mysterious world.  Mostly the goal is to manipulate the environment to reach specific areas and move forward to the next part. Reaching these areas requires manipulating gravity, space, and time. Overall, the game offers a unique experience with a trippy art style and some challenging puzzles for veteran players.

S hovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is a spin-off of the well-known action platformer Shovel Knight. The game brilliantly combines elements of match puzzling, action RPG and rogue-like, offering some fun gameplay and an interesting side story. The player controls Shovel Knight on an 8×8 grid defeating monsters that fall on the screen eventually just like any classic puzzle game.

In addition, to the simple puzzle elements, the game adds more to the mix with rogue-like elements, an HP bar for the playable character as well as the enemies, and the ability to use items and potions. While this might seem a bit complicated and it is, the game gives the player full time to learn the gimmicks and main gameplay mechanics before throwing some real challenges. Overall, the Switch port is almost identical to the consoles and PC offering solid visuals and framerate and of course, exclusive portability.

G rindstone is a fun and challenging action puzzle game, players take on the role of a warrior who must battle monsters to collect grindstones. The goal of the game is to collect as many grindstones as possible while completing various objectives.

The game offers gameplay similar to your typical match-three puzzle games. The player has a square board where monsters fill the space in a row, the goal is to connect a string of the same monster types together in order to kill them in one swing. While the gameplay might be on the simple side, the challenge picks up later with more powerful monsters that can and will attack you. As players progress in the game, they can upgrade their weapons and armor and gain new abilities. The game also features a variety of bosses and secret areas.

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49 of the Best Puzzle Games on Nintendo Switch (June 2020)

Alex Harding

We all love a good puzzle game from time to time. But what with the Nintendo Switch having so many games released each and every week, it can be hard to find the true gems amongst the crowd. That’s why we’ve put together this list!

Update: This list has been updated as of June 26, 2020. If there are other puzzle games on Nintendo Switch that you believe deserve a place on this list, let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

Developed By Hermes Interactive Published By Team17 Rating E Players 1 Automachef is a puzzle simulator game that has you working alongside a not so subtle robot who is bent on world (fast food) domination. But running a fast food restaurant is hard work, which is why you need to automate the process by programming machines to do the job. Place these machines in the correct order whilst using as little energy and ingredients as possible.

Baba Is You

Developed By Hempuli Published By Hempuli Rating E Players 1 Baba Is You is a grid-based 2D puzzle game developed by Arvi “Hempuli” Teikari as an expansion of his award-winning entry in the 2017 Nordic Game Jam. Manoeuvre text tiles around to form different sentences that inherently change the rules of the game (it’s hard to hard… watch the trailer). With an ingenious central premise free of unnecessary aesthetic fluff, this is a dense, challenging game that can rely on the quality of its own design to keep the player invested.

Battle Chef Brigade

Developed By Trinket Studios Published By Adult Swim Games Rating E10+ Players 1 Battle Chef Brigade is a beat ‘em up puzzle game set in the fantasy world of Victusia. Battle monsters, collect ingredients and bring them back to cook up a storm in order to best your opponents. Battle Chef Brigade is truly a unique gaming experience that (to my knowledge) has never been created before.

BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL!

Developed By HAL Laboratory Published By Nintendo Rating E Players 1 – 2

The newest instalment of the BOXBOY series has landed on Nintendo Switch and this time, in HD. Play familiar levels filled with box puzzles and team up with a friend for some co-op fun. Once you’ve done them, you’ll also be introduced to Qudy, a rectangle shaped character that puts a whole new perspective on the series.

Developed By The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild Published By The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild Rating E Players 1

The Bridge is a beautifully modest game that contains beautiful black and white shading aesthetics. This award winning indie darling has you manipulating the environments to have you guide the main character through them. The tone and presentation often says a lot about a game, and this cannot be more true than with The Bridge.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Developed By Nintendo Published By Nintendo Rating E Players 1 – 2

In this bright and colourful puzzle game, Captain Toad must venture through rubik’s-cubelike levels to collect gems and get to the star at the end. As the captain’s backpack is a little too heavy for him, he is unable to jump, so use your wits and spin the camera around to find the best possible solution. The Nintendo Switch version of the game also features levels inspired from Super Mario Odyssey, as well as paid DLC that adds 18 new challenges for $5.99.

Developed By Cypronia / Large Animal Published By Cypronia Rating E Players 1

Color Zen is a relaxing little puzzle game that requires you to moves shapes around in order to match the colours. The challenge, however, comes in needing to end the level with the same colour as the border, which becomes quite challenging as the game progresses. The game is free to download, containing 120 levels, with each additional pack only costing 99c each. So to unlock every level (which there are 460 in total), it would only cost you $2.97. Not bad…

Donut County

Developed By Ben Esposito Published By Annapurna Interactive Rating E Players 1

Donut County is certainly a unique gaming experience. Mischievous raccoons are stealing trash with remote controlled holes which get bigger and bigger. The hole won’t give up until it has swallowed all of Donut County, and the residents demand to know why.

Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training

Developed By Nintendo Published By Nintendo Rating E Players 1 – 2 Dr Kawashima has returned with brand new braining training challenges on the Nintendo Switch. Test your self-control, short-term memory and processing speed in order to determine your brain age, compete against friends in some brand new multiplayer modes or relax with some Sudoku and the Dr Mario styled Germ Buster. As old as this series may be, the Nintendo Switch iteration has given this series a whole new lease on life.

Developed By Ben Esposito Published By Annapurna Interactive Rating E Players 1 Etherborn is a 3D puzzle platformer with many twists and turns… literally. The laws of gravity shifts as you continue to traverse it, with mind-bending puzzles and platforming challenges. Do this whilst questioning ones own existence, constantly making your way up The Endless Tree and following the faceless voice that beckons you.

The Forgotten Land

Developed By Rokaplay Published By Rokaplay Rating E Players 1 There’s a wealth of games that take the classic  Bejeweled  format and run with it, and many of them get lost in the crowd as generic clones with little on offer;  The Forgotten Land  is not amongst them, with its charming rustic aesthetic and engaging progression system keeping things fresh.

Fractured Minds

Developed By Emily M Games Published By Wired Productions Rating E Players 1 Mental illness, in all its various shapes, is a topic that is becoming more openly discussed today and with  Fractured Minds , the message continues. Developed single-handedly by 17 year old Emily Mitchell,  Fractured Minds  delves into the dread and anguish that one with  General Anxiety Disorder  may experience in their daily lives. It’s a confronting tale, but it’s one that needs to be shared more often.

The Gardens Between

Developed By The Voxel Agents Published By The Voxel Agents Rating E Players 1

The Gardens Between is a puzzle game that allows you to manipulate time. The aim is to work with the two characters, bringing the lantern with the light inside up spiral mountains to the end goal. You don’t actually control the characters, rather you fast forward and rewind the scenario, interacting with objects in order to alter their path.

Developed By Afterburn Published By 7Levels Rating E Players 1

Golf Peaks takes a unique puzzle spin on the mini golf genre. The idea of getting the ball into the whole is very much the same, but Golf Peaks requires you to choose from a set of numbered cards to strategically move around a square-based course.

Developed By Buried Signal Published By Annapurna Interactive Rating E Players 1

Gorogoa is an artistic puzzle game that is laid out on a square with four images. The player must delve deeper into each image to find connections with each other. Guide the young boy across various religious and spiritual themes in a 20th century European setting.

Developed By Rainbow Train Published By Rainbow Train Rating E Players 1 Hook is a very simple puzzle game that requires you to retract all of the lines to complete a level. However, this is easier said than done. The lines must be retracted in specific orders as one line’s path may be blocked by another. The game starts off easy, but quickly becomes a head-scratching brain-twister as the levels become more complex.

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Human: Fall Flat

Developed By No Brakes Games Published By Curve Digital Rating E Players 1 – 2

Human Fall Flat is a physics-based 3D puzzle platformer that has you battling against real world physics in order to solve puzzles. Use what’s around you to your advantage and remember that there is no limit but your imagination. Human: Fall Flat can also be played in co-op, but beware that an extra set of hands may become a hindrance.

Human Resource Machine

Developed By Tomorrow Corporation Published By Tomorrow Corporation Rating E10+ Players 1

Human Resource Machine is a curious little puzzle game set in an office building. Solve puzzles using simple programming that may teach you a thing or two. The wit and charm of this game, coupled with its unique premise, makes it one that certainly stands out among the rest.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

Developed By Steel Crate Games Published By Steel Crate Games Rating E10+ Players 1 – 4

Got some friends, a Switch and some time to kill? Well, why not disarm a bomb together? One player holds the Switch in handheld mode and describes the bomb whilst others help them to disarm via the instruction manual that can be accessed on any phone, tablet or laptop. But be quick, that timer won’t stop ticking!

Developed By Gwen Frey Published By Chump Squad Rating E Players 1

KINE is a game about big dreams and bigger puzzles getting in your way. Play as Euler, Quat and Roo on a mission to form a band and make their names known across this wacky world. Each character takes the shape of a cube and your job is to roll them around each level and make it to the end. Trust me, it’s not as easy as it sounds.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Developed By Nintendo Published By Nintendo Rating E10+ Players 1

Now yes, Breath of the Wild is commonly seen as an action/adventure game, but the Legend of Zelda series is also widely renowned for its puzzles. There are a total of 120 shrines that contain physics-based puzzles and over 900 Korok Seeds to collect by solving small tasks (or lifting a rock). Couple all that with a sprawling open world and 97 on Metacritic making this one a no-brainer.

Little Inferno

Developed By Tomorrow Corporation Published By Tomorrow Corporation Rating T Players 1

This critically-acclaimed puzzle game has you setting fire to anything you can get your hands on. Taking place almost exclusively in front of a fireplace, burn objects, collect money and use that money to buy stuff. It may sound basic, but Little Inferno packs more into it than you’d initially expect. The best way to understand it is to play it.

The Low Road

Developed By XGen Studios Published By XGen Studios Rating E10+ Players 1

Spy agencies in the 1970s were filled with danger and mystery, but when Noomi Kovaks is fresh out of spy school and lands a job at a spy agency that won’t let her out to the field, she takes matters into her own hands. Featuring over 32,000 words of fully voice-acted dialogue, The Low Road is filled with interesting characters and fantastic plot development. Use your wit to solve some branching dialogue puzzles in order to get the truth out of some wacky characters.

LUMINES REMASTERED

Developed By Resonair Published By Enhance Rating E Players 1 – 2

LUMINES REMASTERED is a classic indie that has been remastered for the Nintendo Switch. The blocks contain two separate colours and you want to align your next block so that you can match them up in order to score big combos. Sounds easy? Well, don’t get ahead of yourself! LUMINES REMASTERED offers challenging but addictive gameplay, perfect for any puzzle fans or anyone just needing to kill ten minutes on the train.

Mars Power Industries

Developed By 7A Games Published By SONKA Rating E Players 1 Mars Power Industries is described as a feel good resource management game. Humans are beginning to colonise on Mars and your job is to set up power plants in order to bring power and resources to thrive and survive. With calm and minimalist music to lay on top, Mars Power Industries may well be the perfect way to relax after a long day on the ol’ mine.

Mimpi Dreams

Developed By Dreadlocks Published By Dreadlocks Rating E Players 1 Mimpi is a lazy dog. He likes to sleep a lot but in his dreams, he can be whatever he wants to be and go wherever he wants to go. In his dreams, Mimpi can be the star of the show, the hero of the narrative, collecting dog bones and solving puzzles. Where does this lead to you might ask? Well back to his own bed, of course!

Minesweeper Genius

Developed By Level 77 Published By Blowfish Studios Rating E Players 1 Minesweeper Genius is the next evolution for Minesweeping. While the gameplay is similar enough that Minesweeper veterans will ease into it, it provides difficult, calculating puzzles that are satisfying to complete. If you’re looking for a simple puzzle game that caters bitesized play sessions, Minesweeper Genius may be for you.

Mom Hid My Game!

Developed By Kemco Published By Kemco Rating E Players 1

But mooooooom! Did your mom every hide your game when you were suppose to be doing homework? Mine did… and I always got in trouble for trying to find it (which I never did). But now, I can , and so can you!

Murder by Numbers

Developed By Mediatonic Published By The Irregular Corporation Rating T Players 1

What do you get when you combine Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney with Picross ? One heck of a puzzle game, that’s what! Set in 1996 LA, play as Honor Mizrahi, an actor currently down on her luck, as she teams up with a sentient Robot named SCOUT in order to clear her name and solve the murder of her recently ex-boss. On top of that, the music is also composed by former Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney composer Masakazu Sugimori, so you know you’re in good hands!

Developed By Spelkraft Published By Circle Rating E10+ Players 1 PAN-PAN is a little indie game developed by Spelkraft and released on the Nintendo Eshop late in 2017. The game is a top down puzzle / adventure where the player solves a variety of different and clever environmental puzzles in the aim of building a broken spaceship. What makes this game so great is all the subtle things that add to the player’s experience. Not only that but the game has some top notch puzzles which are very well designed and a joy to solve.

Picross S/S2/S3/S4

Published By Jupiter Corporation Rating E Players 1-2

Everybody loves Picross! If you’ve never heard of Picross before, then it’s time you sell that rock you’ve been living under and use that money to buy Picross S and/or Picross S2! This numbered puzzle game is perfect for quick play sessions on the go and when you win, you reveal a pixelated picture that will make you squint just so you can make out what it is.

Piczle Lines DX

Developed By Score Studios Published By Rainy Frog Rating E Players 1

Piczle Lines DX is a cute little puzzle game that has you connecting number together by all sorts of means. Play in docked mode with a controller or utilise the touch screen to suit your preferences. Start drawing those lines in Story Mode, which contains over 100 levels, and continue playing in Puzzle Mode with over 200 puzzles. And if you want MORE, you can buy Piczle Lines DX 500 More Puzzles for just $9.99 which contains, well… you get the idea. That’s a lot of puzzles!

Developed By Sectordub Published By Devolver Digital Rating E Players 1 – 2

Pikuniku is a physics-based puzzle-platformer that takes place in a happy world riddled with sinister plots. As a red blob with legs, talk to interesting characters, undertake strange requests and explore a colourful world full of charm and personality.

Pix the Cat

Developed By Playdigious Published By Playdigious Rating E Players 1 – 4 You may be able to argue that Pix the Cat is more of an arcade game and whilst I wouldn’t disagree, it certainly contains some puzzle elements – especially in its Laboratory and Nostalgia modes. Pix the Cat is an arcade puzzle game akin to classics of the genre. Manoeuvre Pix the Cat through top-down levels to collect eggs and guide the hatched ducklings to safety. However, there are many obstacles and hazards to overcome, including your own conga-line of ducklings behind you. Think Snake meets Pac-Man.

Puyo Puyo Tetris

Developed By SEGA Published By SEGA Rating E10+ Players 1 – 4

Two of the most recognisable puzzle games have joined forces to give an experience like no other. Puyo Puyo Tetris is complete with a story mode in addition to many multiplayer modes, so it is perfect for any situation. You always know you’re going to have a good time when Tetris is involved.

Robots Under Attack!

Developed By Dmytro Derybas Published By Dmytro Derybas Rating E Players 1 Robots Under Attack! is an arrow shooting puzzle game that gives you only a small amount of ammunition in order to shoot them, crush them, blow them up and more. With a variety of different arrows to choose from, each with their own unique properties, there’s never a dull moment when robots are under attack. Packed with 100 levels, Robots Under Attack! is designed for quick pickup and play, making it a perfect fit on Nintendo Switch.

She Remembered Caterpillars

Developed By Jumpsuit Entertainment Published By Ysbryd Games Rating E Players 1

She Remembered Caterpillars is a colour matching puzzle game set in a post-apocalyptic world. The gameplay is through provoking and the aesthetics are mesmerising, bringing forth a charm that will leave you in awe.

Snipperclips Plus: Cut it Out, Together!

Developed By SFB Games Published By Nintendo Rating E Players 1 – 4

When Snipperclips was announced to launch alongside the Nintendo Switch, media and fans instantly fell in love with its concept. Play with friends and family to cut each other into various shapes to solve physics-based puzzles, or let out your frustration on one another in the dojo. This game is fun for everyone.

Squidgies Takeover

Developed By GiantMargarita Published By GiantMargarita Rating E Players 1 Squidgies Takeover is a physics-based puzzle game where you’re tasked with guiding cute little blobs to warp holes so that they can escape their Momma’s tentacles and find new planets to inhabit. Use seven different power-ups to transform Squidgies in order to guide the others to freedom and unlock more levels. However don’t get too attached, not every Squidgy will have a fairy tale ending.

Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido

Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido takes color-matching gameplay and throws it into a world that is still recovering from the effects of the Sushi War. In addition to its stellar gameplay, Sushi Striker boasts a high production value that will initially surprise you. It’s a shame that this game doesn’t get as much recognition as it deserves.

The Talos Principle: Deluxe Edition

Developed By Croteam Published By Devolver Digital Rating T Players 1 The Talos Principle is a first-person puzzle game that has you play as a robot tasked with solving complex puzzles in simulated worlds that have been brought to ruin. It is an ingenious masterpiece that simply must be played by any puzzle game enthusiast. Learn more about the civilisations that came before you and progress by using your mind to look at puzzles in a way that you may never have before.

Developed By ARIKA Published By Nintendo Rating E Players 1

Have you ever played a battle royale game and thought to yourself, “I wonder what else they could do with this formula”? Well, someone did; enter: Tetris 99! This game remains tried and true to the classic Tetris formula whilst pitting you against 98 opponents, performing combos and throwing garbage at each other in order to be the last player standing. You won’t realise how good/bad you are at Tetris until you play it like this.

Treasure Stack

Developed By PIXELAKES Published By PIXELAKES Rating E Players 1 – 4 Treasure Stack is a columns-like puzzle game that borrows mechanics from classics like Wario’s Woods. Complete with special abilities, colourful pixelated graphics and fantastic personality.

Tumblestone

Developed By The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild Published By The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild Rating E Players 1 – 4

Tumblestone is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a single purchase PACKED full of content. Match up colours in an extensive story mode that is full of personality or compete with friends in local and online multiplayer.

Untitled Goose Game

Developed By House House Published By Panic Rating E Players 1 Ever wanted to be a mischievous goose and just be annoying? No? Well, now you can! From Australian developers House House, Untitled Goose Game is a wacky adventure of a goose that is simply out to cause as much mayhem as possible. It’s a simple concept, but it’s one that has resonated with fans and now we get to see whether the game speaks (honks) for itself.

When Ski Lifts Go Wrong

Developed By Hugecalf Studios Published By Curve Digital Rating T Players 1

When Ski Lifts Go Wrong is a bridge building physics-based puzzle game that requires you to keep skiers and riders alive (unless you want a good laugh). Nintendo highlighted When Ski Lifts Go Wrong in a Nindies Showcase and for good reason.

The World Next Door

Developed By Rose City Games Published By VIZ Media Rating T Players 1

The World Next Door combines fast-paced puzzle action with visual novel storytelling. Trapped in a parallel world, this indie has a personality all to its own, with adrenaline-pumping gameplay to match. Announced during a Nindies Showcase, The World Next Door is definitely not one to scroll past.

World of Goo

Developed By 2D Boy Published By Tomorrow Corporation Rating E Players 1 – 2

World of Goo is another prime example of the genius that comes from Tomorrow Corporation. Use many blobs of goo to construct bridges and many other structures in order to complete a slew of creative levels.

Yono and the Celestial Elephants

Developed By Neckbolt Published By Plug In Digital Rating E Players 1

Yono and the Celestial Elephants is an adorable puzzle/adventure game with loveable characters and charming visuals. In this world, elephants are divine creatures that are born from the stars once per millennium to protect the world. Yono has been sent down in order to bring peace to the land, solving one puzzle at a time with the use of your trunk.

What are your favourite puzzle games on Nintendo Switch? Let us know in the Comments section below. Also remember that if there are other puzzle games on Nintendo Switch that you believe deserve a place on this list, let us know by emailing us at [email protected].

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Best Switch Puzzle Games

It's time to leave the crossword and word search books at home. Playing brain-teasing puzzle games on the go, has never been more stimulatingly fun and addicting.

From falling block and adventure puzzles, to challenging physics-based and cooperative problem solving puzzles, these games are the perfect brain teasers for a handheld console. Here's a list of some of the best Switch puzzle games.

Mario's Super Picross

What would a list of Nintendo games be without a Super Mario Bros. cameo? This puzzle game of logic is like a cross between the games, Paint by Numbers and Crossword. Players must use a rock-hammer and chisel to dig up and reveal pictures. Uncovered pictures reveal number clues to show the amount of squares that should go in each column or row. Mario's Super Picross draws players in slowly with its simplicity , then ultimately challenges them, as each level progresses and grows more complex .

Tricky Towers

Tricky Towers feels like a tricky take on Tetris and Jenga. Stack up falling blocks to build the tallest and strongest tower, while competing against others. Players can cast spells on their opponents, or on themselves ; by choosing to use these powers to either hinder their enemies or to help change the physics of each round and alter the game in their favor. Tricky Towers is great to play with friends, and can become a very competitive and addicting game!

Boxboy! + Boxgirl!

This cute and charming strategy puzzle game allows players to create platforms and bridges with Qbby and Qucy, by forming strings of boxes in order to traverse levels. Boxboy! + Boxgirl! is a puzzle game with a minimalist square-art style feel, that's just perfect for passing time.

Related: Best Switch Exclusives

Lumines Remastered

Made by the creator of Tetris, before Tetris; Lumines Remastered is new and improved, making it a perfect fit for the Switch . Create squares with the falling blocks of the same color, from 2x2 pieces. With stunning visuals and HD rumble feedback to the rhythm of some very addicting music, Lumines Remastered is a great puzzle game, that's easy for players to get lost in while playing.

The Gardens Between

The Gardens Between is an adventure puzzle game , with a metaphoric take on friendship, that's teeming with surreal heartfelt emotion. Players will journey as Arina and Frendt through a surreal dreamlike garden; unlocking secrets, reliving past memories, and manipulating time to solve puzzles . This single player puzzle game tests logic and observation , with lively animations and strikingly vibrant color visuals.

Think classic Tetris , with a Battle Royale twist . Somehow, it just works. Tetris 99 requires problem solving , concentration, and training in order to defeat 98 players in its multiplayer battle mode. The tetriminos cleared by players will transfer to their opponents at random, or players can manually select which enemy will get their left overs. Tetris 99 also has a variety of solo challenges , reviving this classic puzzle game to its ultimate potential.

World of Goo

World of Goo is a multi award winning, physics-based , puzzle/ construction game. As millions of delicious Goo Balls curiously explore, completely oblivious to the fact that they are in a video game; players must drag and drop these lively globs of goo to build structures , bridges, cannonballs, and giant tongues. Each level is dangerously enchanting and introduces new areas and puzzle challenges to overcome. World of Goo oozes a fairytale of love, conspiracy, and discovery of dangerous beauty in the third dimension.

Related: Nintendo Switch Error Codes List — And How to Fix Them

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Filled with a series of charmingly smart puzzles and brilliantly designed mazes , this adventure puzzle game allows players to cheerfully hunt for treasures as Toad and Toadette. Waddle through traditional 3D Super Mario Bros. themed levels to collect the golden star and discover buried objects, hidden inside dense challenging mazes along the way. With more than 70 aesthetically themed levels , that establish their own unique schemes overtime; Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is perfect some classic Super Mario Bros. fun, with a brain-teasing twist.

Snipperclips: Cut It Out Together!

One of the best strategy puzzle games on the Switch, is Snipperclips . Cut the paper characters, Snip and Clip into the correct shapes, in order to solve compelling puzzles in colorful challenges. Explore a variety of activities in an addicting world, full of creativity and imagination. This simple, yet artful puzzle game was designed with a strikingly balanced visual approach, that is meant to be experienced socially . Requiring two or more players, Snipperclips is the ultimate puzzler to play with friends.

Puyo Puyo 2

Sega's crossbreed of its Puyo Puyo series, and Tetris; a falling block puzzle game containing skill battles, that gives a Role Playing feel to the fun. Compete against other players, no matter which falling block game they are currently playing. This not only challenge the players knowledge of the block game they are playing, but it will test the knowledge of the block games their opponents are playing . Puyo Puyo 2 is another classic puzzle game, successfully revived and transformed for the new age gamers.

Need more Switch games to play and connect with friends on? Take a look at this list of the Best Switch Multiplayer Games.

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14 Best Educational Games for Nintendo Switch

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As we all know, education is not exclusive to the classroom. We spend our lives learning new skills and acquiring more information until we gather enough wisdom to be as intelligent as the smartest people on the plane — Mom and Dad.

Gone are the days when video games were seen as corrupting our youth; now, they can teach us valuable math, sports, problem-solving and social skills. No other console promotes these types of games more than the Nintendo Switch . With their bright, colorful, fun releases, they have given us games that educate and entertain.

It’s crucial that screen time is used productively; that’s why these games are perfect for players of all ages. Most of the time, players don’t even realize they are learning.

So whatever educational game you’re looking for, you should be able to find it here.

The Top 3 Educational Games for Nintendo Switch

Those are my top three picks, but check out the rest of the list to find the perfect educational game for yourself or as a gift.

1. Best for Creativity: Minecraft

If you like your creativity mixed in with some action, we have the perfect educational game for you. Minecraft became an instant hit when it was released in 2011 and has solidified itself as a classic in the gaming world. Combining fun characters and vast worlds to build and explore, Minecraft’s longevity, creativity and educational value know no bounds.

What We Love:

❤️ You can build pretty much anything you want ❤️ You have to protect your environment from enemies ❤️ Building your own community with other players

What We Don’t Love:

💔 Building can take a while to get used to

2. Best for Problem-Solving: Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain

When it comes to problem-solving, I believe it’s a lot more fun to battle against others, brain vs. brain. With this academic accolade, up to four players can pit their brain power against each other, testing memory, math and motor skills in various games involving speed and accuracy. 

Developing and training memory skills are essential in childhood as they lead to other skills they will learn. Studies have shown that a good memory takes you back to previous experiences and allows kids to retain information such as language, follow directions, learn routines and solve problems. It also has a big part in developing imaginative play. 

❤️ Each player can set their own difficulty level  ❤️ You can test yourself against scores from other players around the world ❤️ The use of split-screen mode when connected to a monitor

💔 It’s more fun in multiplayer mode than solo play

3. Best for Sports Education: Nintendo Switch Sports

Following on from the success of Wii Sports , Switch Sports features new games and some of the classics of its predecessor. Grow your skills while staying active as you play Soccer, Volleyball, Bowling, Tennis, Badminton, Chambara and (my favorite) Golf. You navigate your character by swinging, kicking, spiking and putting your way to victory and maybe, if you’re successful, take those skills to the field in real life.

Taking part in sporting activities is not solely about fitness and fun; it can also promote academic success in children . Team sports can teach social skills, teamwork, discipline and leadership capabilities.

❤️ You can play against people at home or across the world online  ❤️ Includes a leg strap for soccer ❤️ Adjust the difficulty as your skills develop

💔 You need plenty of room to play

4. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Not all education is about arithmetic and spelling; humans must also learn about the community. One of the best games to promote social skills on the Switch is Animal Crossing, which focuses on building your home, decorating it and creating a community with other players. You can fish, hunt for fossils and plant your own garden, but most importantly, you must learn how to exist peacefully in your society.

There are plenty of activities in Animal Crossing that promote social-emotional learning that can develop skills such as personal responsibility, decision-making, generosity, money management and altruism — all critical life skills that, when taught at a young age, can benefit a person significantly.

❤️ The colors and animations are very child friendly ❤️ There is a vast land to explore ❤️ The seasons change over time

💔 Can become addictive, so you may need to limit screen time

5. My Friend Peppa Pig Complete Edition

This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed at home, but this little Peppa Piggy has taken the world by storm with books, movies, theme parks and now, her very own video game. A new friend has come to play with Peppa, a character you have created. Explore the landscape, tidy up the home and sing songs with your new best friend as you learn and play.

Peppa Pig is bright, colorful, fun, and offers great educational value to younger kids. Peppa, as a character, is kind, thoughtful, polite and friendly, teaching social-emotional learning like learning to share, giving thanks, compassion and making new friends.

❤️ It’s fun to see your creation interact with Peppa ❤️ It’s incredibly bright and colorful ❤️ Learn new activities and songs

💔 It is more story than gameplay

6. Super Mario Maker 2

Have you ever imagined designing your very own video game? With Super Mario Maker 2 you can start by making custom Mario levels of your design. You can choose which blocks go where, add enemies to your liking and plot out brand new courses for Mario to navigate through.

We all know how important creativity is in a child’s development. Dr. Sandra Russ , a creativity and play expert, described creativity as “the ability to come up with original ideas; to put ideas or images or experiences together in new ways.” Super Mario Maker 2 promotes creativity and helps build valuable STEM skills as kids better understand basic video game coding .

❤️ You can choose which era in the Mario Saga you want to design ❤️ Learn which designs work and which don’t ❤️ The possibilities are endless

💔 It takes a lot of patience to design a level

7. My Universe – Pet Clinic: Cats & Dogs

Another important lesson is how to look after those around us, including our pets. This game allows you to run your own pet clinic, where you must learn how to care for animals and nurse them back to health. First comes the diagnosis; when you know what is wrong with each animal, you can treat them to make them better.

Although much is still to be learned about the educational values of simulation games, studies have shown that these types of games off great real-world experiences for children in a risk-free environment. Pet Clinic, in particular, teaches kids valuable lessons in compassion and empathy and developing their business skills.

❤️ Make a diagnosis by solving the puzzle of their symptoms ❤️ As you progress, you can upgrade your clinic ❤️ Treatments include; x-rays, bandages and preparing medicine

💔 You need a good grasp of reading to play

8. Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics

What better way to spend some downtime than to play a classic game with your friends/family? This release includes 51 classic games all in one place for you to develop your problem-solving and strategy skills and learn that important lesson; how to win and lose graciously. Including Chess, Checkers, Dominos, Darts, Bowling, Backgammon and solitaire, there is tons of fun to be had.

Problem-solving games such as these are a great tool in a child’s education. They encourage critical thinking, promote collaboration and competitiveness and provide opportunities to apply concepts they’ve already learned and learn new ones.

❤️ It’s ideal for long journeys ❤️ You can connect several Switchs’ together for multiplayer games ❤️ You can change difficulty settings

💔 You have to learn the rules for 51 games

9. Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training

If there’s any game in this list that exemplifies the expansion of your brain, it’s this. Test your existing skills and grow your brain power with this set of classic and new exercises. You can play alone or train with friends or family in the same room or online.

It may sound obvious, but studies show that brain training games can play a major role in improving cognitive functions in both children and adults. Benefits from these types of games can include; improved memory and recognition, increased attention span and enhanced cognition.

❤️ You can use the touchscreen or the controllers ❤️ It comes with a stylus  ❤️ Improves your memory

💔 If you’ve played the DS version, you may already know most of the puzzles

10. Snipper Clips Plus: Cut it out Together!

Snipper Clips Plus is pretty out there when it comes to solving puzzles in video games, but that’s what makes it so fun. Most of the time, you don’t realize that you are developing your problem-solving skills when playing. You don’t win “Family Game of the Year” at the 21st Annual D.I.C.E. Awards for being boring.

The benefits of these types of games are well-studied, and evidence shows how much of an asset they can be to our educational growth and development. As well as improving motor skills and promoting creativity, recent studies have shown that kids who play puzzle-solving video games show higher brain activity associated with memory and attention.

❤️ The main characters are adorable ❤️ Up to four players for co-op play ❤️ Each level is a different challenge

💔 The harder puzzles can get frustrating to solve

11. Game Builder Garage

Computer programming may seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be with Game Builder Garage. Take your first steps into a new world by building your own video game using the step-by-step lessons. Not only will you learn new skills, but you can also let your imagination run wild with different designs.

No matter how you feel about computers, they’re here to stay, so learning coding early can have enormous benefits to a child’s development. The University of Texas states that learning coding at a young age can boost problem-solving skills, advance computational thinking and digital literacy, encourage persistence and improve confidence and communication skills.

❤️ You can test your skills between each lesson ❤️ You can share your games with others online  ❤️ You can play games created by others

💔 You need plenty of patience

12. Professor Rubik’s Brain Fitness

The Rubik’s cube has puzzled us for 50 years, flipping the colors around to make them match up. With this brain fitness video game, you test your speed, memory and logic skills in its twelve mini-games involving the famous cube.

The Rubik’s Cube is the ultimate brain teaser, but sticking with it (and not throwing it out the window in frustration) can lead to great benefits in our development. Enhancing problem-solving skills is the most obvious asset, but it also boosts cognitive power, improves memory, enhances brain-hand-eye coordination and instills confidence.

❤️ It tracks your activity to show your progress  ❤️ The difficulty heightens as you progress ❤️ It’s challenging and stimulating

💔 It encourages you to play everyday

13. Taiko No Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun! Bundle

They say music is the food of love, but it’s also food for your brain. This Drum ‘n’ Fun bundle keeps your mind active by memorizing patterns and following rhythms to over seventy iconic video game songs. Playing video games that involve rhythm and music can be an excellent way for kids to dance, sing and have fun, but they can also promote some key developmental skills.

The prestigious Kaufman Music Center in New York states that music training can strengthen a child’s decision-making network, encourage the ability to take instructions and improve focus and concentration.

❤️ Connect your Switch consoles together for multiplayer mode ❤️ Play as characters from the Nintendo universe like Kirby and Splatoon 2’s Squid ❤️ The drum is a fun accessory

💔 Banging the drum can be loud

14. Colors Live

One of my favorite classes in school was Art, so I had to include this colorful, creative title in our list. Colors Live lets your imagination run free with realistic painting and design. It features a pressure-sensitive painting to give it a real-life feel and lets you record your process to see how it all came together.

Art and creativity are an integral part of our social and emotional development . As well as the satisfaction and pride you get from creating something, it allows us to share our perspectives and learn to express ourselves. What makes art so special is that it can be used as an expression of our imaginations and feelings or as a fun activity to enjoy as a group.

❤️ Complete challenges to advance your skill ❤️ You can display your work online for all to see  ❤️ Comes with a Sonar Pen to draw and paint with

💔 The lessons are more for beginners

Frequently Asked Questions About Educational Games for Nintendo Switch

🤔 are educational switch games good for kids’ development.

Simple answer. Yes.

Video games are a fantastic way to carry on a child’s education outside the classroom. As we see it, they will want to play video games anyway, so why not sneak in some lessons to screen time while they do?

Nintendo has an MO of releasing bright, colorful, fun games for all the family, making their latest handheld console, the Switch, the ideal platform to bring educational games into the hands of younger players.

With so many titles on offer, the key is to find a suitable game that kids will engage with to get the most out of the lessons they’re learning while having fun.

🤔 How can video games contribute to kids’ education?  

Gaming has become a huge part of our society, and while some games are mindless fun, others can stimulate and expand key learning skills in a child’s development. 

Don’t just take my word for it; check out the results of this study into Children’s Motivations for Video Game Play in the Context of Normal Development from Harvard student Cheryl K. Olson.

The right educational video game can:

• Teach problem-solving skills
• Inspire interest in history and culture
• Develop social and competition skills
• Encourage exercise
• Spark creativity

So… What Educational Game Should I Get?

The great thing about kids is that they all have various interests, but sometimes they find it hard to engage with anything other than what they enjoy. The surefire way to find the right game is to discover their interests and what kind of games they enjoy playing.

If they’re big into sports, then Nintendo Switch Sports is the obvious choice. If they are a budding artist, you can’t go wrong with Colors Live . And for the academics out there, you can nurture their thirst for problem-solving with Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain .

If you’ve seen a Switch game that I haven’t included in this list and you think it should be, PLEASE send me a message so I can update and include it.

More from TheToyZone

Ranking The Best Puzzle Games On Nintendo Switch

• Uploaded: 24/08/2022
• Updated: 02/01/2023

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Get ready to work those little grey cells as we check out the best puzzle games on Nintendo Switch!

Sometimes, there’s nothing better than kicking back with a puzzle game and patting yourself on the back for completing a really hard challenge.

Who am I kidding; I live for this stuff. It’s why I’ve always been obsessed with the best Zelda games , after all.

Now that the DS is no longer in production, the Switch is the perfect handheld for players to get their puzzle fix on the go.

And when you’re back home, you can continue the action on your TV.

From famous series that dropped on the DS through to new and exciting titles to the Switch, here’s 10 of the best puzzle games in 2022 for you to work your brain muscles and give yourself a better IQ.

That last sentence isn’t guaranteed, but it sounds pretty convincing, right?

Table of Contents

1. Gorogoa (2017)

We’ve puzzled our way to Number 1, and Gorogoa is officially the best puzzle game for the Nintendo Switch!

Seriously, this game is beautiful. That word isn’t used enough to describe video games, but it’s well and truly meant here.

All the artwork in this title is hand drawn by an artist called Jason Roberts. It’s truly unique and utterly original, combining tricky puzzles that will make your brain hurt with stunning visuals that will fill you with wonder.

What a review, eh!

Just look at those stills above! It’s like flicking through an actual picture book, utilising incredible illustrations to drive the narrative forward and keep the action flowing.

I think as a fan of fantasy novels with a huge imagination swimming around my massive head, this game appeals to me on so many levels.

Puzzles galore with a wholly original way of looking at a computer game, all perfectly packaged on the Nintendo Switch.

What more could a person want?

2. The Gardens Between (2018)

The Gardens Between takes the 2nd spot in our list of the best puzzle games on Nintendo Switch!

Looking and feeling like a cross between Brothers and The Curse Of Monkey Island, this game sees two characters moving through beautiful garden islands.

The weird thing about this game that makes it instantly shoot to second place, however, is the fact that the players don’t control the characters.

They manipulate time!

I love the direction of this game and how different it is from others in the genre. It’s both a testament to the power of friendship and also a game that makes you think about the effects that time has on all of us.

Mess with memories Harry Potter-style and contend with worlds where time flows in all directions.

Each puzzle you solve contributes to an interesting and immersive plot line that will have you well and truly hooked. It’s a game with many levels and branches, one that’s a true work of art.

3. World Of Goo (2017)

World of Goo might not have received a physical release on the Wii, but you can grab a copy of it for the Switch and stick it on your shelf with pride.

This is one of the most addictive games I’ve ever played. It’s like one of those iPhone games that did the rounds back in the day like Flappy Bird or Cut the Rope, except it’s actually stood the test of time.

And the best but is that it’s not only cleverly made but also really eye-catching too!

Some of the best Indie games on Switch are just as good as the main titles from the major developers, and while World of Goo isn’t ever going to beat BotW in good looks, it’s definitely a title that everyone needs to play.

So what is all the fuss about?

Well, players need to build blob structures over chasms and create towers to reach heights. You need to head to the goo pipe at one point in the level so your little guys can escape.

The fewer blobs you use, the more points you get. If you need a game to keep your brain healthy, then give this one a go!

4. Tetris Effect: Connected (2021)

Tetris Effect: Connected reimagines Tetris in a whole new way. Gone are the blocky visuals of the NES days (though it’s still about blocks) or the slow-building wonders of the N64 title.

If you’ve ever played Lumines or Rez, then it won’t come as a surprise to know that the same developers made this game.

With epic tunes and special effects, it’s like Tetris fell into a rave and never wanted to come out!

The iconic tumbling puzzler now feels like an audio-visual sensory experience that messes with and enriches the mind in equal measure.

Everything moves in time with how you’re playing, making all the stages wholly unique every time you play.

It’s Tetris at the core with tonnes of bells and whistles, a nice change for anyone looking to up their game from the DMG days.

5. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (2018)

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker takes the 5th spot in this list of the best puzzle games on Nintendo Switch!

It’s the first game where Toad has been put in the limelight and not as a supporting character, and he makes a real good job of it too!

Searching for treasure, this little ‘fun-guy’ works his way through a Yoshi’s story-style comic book while solving treasure and uncovering gold.

Exploration and puzzle-solving are perfectly combined in this game. Find collectables, defeat enemies, and find the golden star normally saved for Mario to collect.

That backpack of Toads has a lot of exciting weapons and items in it too; he’s not messing about!

The Wii U made this game look super swish, but it’s even more impressive on the Switch. Kicking back with my OLED Switch while collecting mushrooms and dodging bad guys never fails to make me smile.

Does Toad eating mushrooms make him a cannibal? Is he eating his own family members?

6. Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy (2019)

Professor Layton is one of the best detectives of our time. But when he goes missing in Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy, his daughter has to solve the mystery of his disappearance.

Don’t worry though; Katrielle is just as sharp as her dad and more than capable of cracking the case.

If you miss the days of clicking for puzzle coins on the DS, then playing this game in handheld mode will definitely scratch your puzzle itch.

Or, see all the action on the big screen with the Switch docked and use the Joycon motion controls to help uncover clues and complete puzzles.

This looks and feels like Professor Layton 2.0. If you enjoyed the Curious Village, then this mind-bending puzzlefest will keep you smiling for days on end.

7. Sushi Striker: The Way Of The Sushido (2018)

Sushi Striker: The Way Of The Sushido takes the 7th spot on our list of the best puzzle games on Nintendo Switch!

Any game that has the tagline ‘Eat to Defeat’ is always going to be a winner in my book. That’s even more so when Sushi is involved too.

Control a character with an appetite as big as their bravery as you defend your land from an evil empire.

Oh, and it takes place in a time period called ‘The Sushi Struggles’… how cool is that!

If you’ve ever played the mini games in Mario Party, then you’ll be all over this plate-matching game.

I know I’m used to eating sushi, but it’s also used as a weapon here.

Maybe the fish is a little off?

Build the biggest plate stack and finish off your opponent in true Sushido-style!

8. Mr. Driller: DrillLand (2020)

Want to travel to a secret amusement park under the ground? Mr. Driller: DrillLand can take you there in a heartbeat!

With 5 attractions to drill your way through, there’s plenty for Mr Driller fans to sink their teeth into in this game.

And of course, there are tough bosses to beat along the way too. Because no attraction is complete without a gnarly enemy to destroy!

This is the very first Mr Driller game on the console too. This is one of the games that I usually only play handheld too; I don’t know why, but it feels like a feet-up, close-up type of game to me!

Play with up to four friends once you do get off the sofa and dock your Switch, or just dig to your heart’s content in the Easy mode.

That’s definitely the best thing to do on a lazy Sunday.

9. Snipperclips Plus (2017)

Snipperclips Plus is one of the niftiest games on the planet. It’s so simple to play and a real cute title to have a bash at with a friend or partner.

But don’t be fooled by its colourful graphics. This is a real tough cookie to crack at times and requires a lot of brain power.

It’s also easy to just be super annoying destroy your partner’s little character… which I’ve done a lot!

The main premise behind Snipperclips is working together to reach a certain goal or make a specific shape.

You’ll need to carefully snip your partners character in the right way, often combining together to create weird and wacky shaped or push objects towards a goal.

If you’re looking for a game that isn’t high-octane and easy to play no matter what your gaming level, then give Snipperclips Plus a go!

10. Art Of Balance (2018)

Art Of Balance finished off our list of the best puzzle games on Nintendo Switch, bringing 200 levels of addictive goodness to Nintendo’s handheld hero.

A game where you build a stack of shapes might not sound that addictive, but trust me… it is!

Any fans of the tension created while playing Wario Ware on the GameCube will instantly connect with this. Watch out for shapes breaking and some pieces even reversing gravity!

Online play is a nice touch in this game, but the local split screen will always be my favourite. Nothing says stress like having your friends poking and goading you while trying to stack objects.

If it wasn’t for the tranquil sounds of this game and amazing music, then I think I might have pulled my beard out a long time ago.

This is one that people of any gaming ability can play easily. Practice makes perfect, and you will find it incredibly tough to put down!

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The 10 Best Educational Switch Games

Em is an RPG fanatic from the UK with a love for all things cute, witchy, and spooky. Their favorite games include World of Warcraft, Animal Crossing, and Pokémon.

Video games might not be everyone’s first thought when it comes to educational tools, but they can be a great way to help people learn about new concepts and push themselves.

They’re not just for kids, either.

If you’re looking to learn about a new topic or concept, picking up an educational game could be a great move, especially if you’re someone who’s no longer in the education system.

To help you sort through the massive amount of games available on the Nintendo Switch store, I’ve handpicked the 10 best educational Switch games for you to download and try today. I’ve picked a wide range, to suit multiple age groups and subjects.

Game Builder Garage

If you have any younger family members that are looking to get into game development and coding, this is a fantastic game to pick up for them.

Game Builder Garage is a brilliant addition to the world of educational games on the Switch. In this game, you can work your way through a handful of lessons to make structured games and projects, or play through in a free play mode to make your own projects.

This is a game that’s geared towards younger players, so it’s great to see that it’s been made accessible and easy to engage with. There’s clear and consistent guidance throughout the lessons, a log to help keep people on track, and no penalties for making any mistakes.

It’s also very colorful and visually engaging.

Game Builder Garage plays well on the Switch, with a pleasant user interface and decent controls. There’s the option to use a USB mouse and keyboard, too. There are no performance issues to note, and the audio pairs well with the visual style.

While some elements of this game could have done with a little fleshing out (like the ability to browse other people’s creations or change the theme of your game drastically), this is still a superb entry into the world of game development.

It’s unique, fun, and a great way to help younger gamers learn a new skill.

Big Brain Academy: Brain vs Brain

Big Brain Academy: Brain vs Brain is a fun game with an educational theme that’s suitable for players of all experience levels and ages.

This game offers both a single player and a multiplayer mode, with single player consisting of 5 different disciplines to train your brain in. Each discipline has a series of mini games, and you can progress through them in ascending difficulty using the league system in the game.

The single player mode is a lot of fun and genuinely challenging in places, but multiplayer mode is where this game truly shines.

There’s a great local multiplayer option for up to four players at a time, making for an excellent quiz-style party game , and an online mode where you can go against the ghost data of other players from around the world.

This game is a budget-friendly gem and it offers plenty of value for money. It might not be the most complex educational game on the Nintendo Switch, but it certainly is interesting and there’s a handful of accessibility tools to make it suitable for players of all levels.

Trancelation

If you’re working on learning a language at the moment, Trancelation is a fun game that could be a great supporting tool for your studies. It’s not the most complex language learning game or app on the market, but it is a great way to brush up on basic vocabulary and sentences.

This game has an arcade style of play where you have to match up words from your chosen languages and complete objectives like matching a few words successfully in a row. It’s a dazzling, neon-soaked game, complete with techno music in the background.

There are modes available in Trancelation, including some wicked challenge modes. The game is simple to pick up, and it plays well on the Nintendo Switch too. The music is fun and matches the neon vibe nicely, and I could not find any issues to report.

While you’re almost certainly not going to learn a new language just by playing Trancelation alone, you may be able to boost your skills and get in some practice in a new, exciting way by checking it out. It’s a fun and unique language tool, and it stands out from lots of the other educational games on the Nintendo Switch.

While True: Learn ()

As noted in the introduction, educational games on the Switch aren’t just for kids.

‘While True: Learn ()’ is one of the most interesting puzzle games on the Switch , and it’s also one of the most effective tools for helping people to learn about coding.

The general premise in this game is that you’re a fairly mediocre programmer with a cat who happens to be a programming genius. Your character sets out on an adventure to translate cat-speak into English, and the game unfolds from there.

The story is very entertaining and it’s packed full of great coding puzzles to solve. They ramp up in difficulty steadily, giving you a chance to learn the mechanics in time but still pushing you to try your best and develop your skills.

There are a few technical quirks in this game when it comes to screen size and lag, but there’s nothing game-breaking. The game looks good and combines entertainment with education nicely.

If you can look past a few hiccups with regards to performance, you’re sure to get a lot out of this game. It’s creative and offers a lot of intriguing content.

This game is an educational, science-themed title aimed at helping younger players learn more about the human body. It’s simplistic and easy to pick up, and packed full of content to help young people expand their knowledge in a fun and laid back way.

In BodyQuest, you play as a medical team trying to combat an evil virus that has stolen a nanobot and infected one of your patients. You’ll need to shrink down to the same size and pursue the virus in order to save the patient. The game gets you to chase the virus, while doing quizzes throughout the body in order to repair each part.

The gameplay and quiz elements are well balanced, making for a fun and educational experience. The quiz difficulty ramps up steadily and fairly, and the controls are easy to get to grips with. It looks great on the Switch, and there are no performance issues to report.

Something that I was not happy to see in this game was a spelling mistake in one of the quizzes. It’s a small thing for sure, but disappointing nonetheless.

BodyQuest is a fun, informative game for kids that helps to break down topics like the nervous system and human anatomy in digestible chunks. It has a decent amount of content in it, including collectibles to hunt down, and it’s worth having a look at.

7 Billion Humans

7 Billion Humans is a game that’s ideal for gamers who are looking to learn more about coding. In a similar fashion to While True: Learn (), this game uses an interesting story and aesthetic to help people learn more about coding basics.

The general premise here is that you’re an office manager working with robots and data cubes. You’ll have to use coding exercises and techniques to solve the puzzles and carry out office tasks, using your robotic colleagues as vessels for your programming genius. There are over 60 puzzles to work through, each ascending in difficulty.

The writing here is fantastic, and it’s admirable to see how the developers have managed to remove a lot of the frustration from learning a new skill without losing any of the challenge. The controls work without a hitch on the Switch and the overall art style looks amazing too.

7 Billion Humans is a brilliant addition to the roster of educational games on the Nintendo Switch and I highly recommend checking out. It’s an approachable and enjoyable title, packed full of equal measures education and entertainment.

Little Mouse’s Encyclopedia

Little Mouse’s Encyclopedia is a beautiful game that helps to teach people about different kinds of plants and creatures in the world. It’s more of an interactive tool than a game admittedly, but it’s absolutely worth including on this list for the value and style alone.

In this game, you control a watercolor mouse as she explores the world around her. You’ll be able to check out different areas of the world and learn about the different plants and fauna that you come across as you go by accessing their Encyclopedia entries.

The art style for this game is stunning and it feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch. The game itself plays well, with no performance issues to note. The mechanics are very simple to pick up, and they work with both the touchscreen and regular controls.

Little Mouse’s Encyclopedia is a great educational Switch game for younger players to look through with an older sibling or parent. There aren’t too many gameplay elements to it, but it’s educational and has plenty of content to keep people busy.

MathLand is a simple, colorful platformer game with an isometric style that aims to help younger gamers get to grips with math.

In MathLand, you’ll need to work your way through colorful platformer levels and collect telescopes to be able to progress to later stages. Collecting telescopes is simply a case of solving math problems, which are all scaled appropriately to suit the player’s age.

MathLand has a very child-friendly aesthetic and it looks decent on the Switch. It plays well, with no technical issues to note.

The controls and user interface are simple, although much younger players may struggle a little with the isometric style of play instead of a standard 2D platformer.

If you’re on the hunt for a Switch game to teach younger people in your life about math and how to solve problems, MathLand could be the perfect pick for you. It may not be the most enthralling for older gamers but the simplistic setup and scaled difficulty for the problems makes this one of the best educational games on the Switch.

Scribblenauts Mega Pack

Searching for an educational Switch game to help with problem solving and spelling? Scribblenauts Mega Pack combines two great games (Scribblenauts Unlimited and Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure) and offers up one handy collection.

Both Scribblenauts games are puzzle games which follow the character Maxwell and his magical notebook. His sister, Lily, has an equally magical globe and tags along for a lot of the adventures. Players will need to help Maxwell and Lily solve various puzzles using the notebook to scribble things into existence and the globe to travel.

There’s not just one solution for a puzzle in Scribblenauts, either. The game encourages you to try out different strategies for the puzzles, and pushes you to solve problems creatively. There is a hint system in place for younger players if they get stuck, though.

Visually, this game is a gem. The cartoonish art style is charming and fits the console well, and there are no performance issues to note. The controls are easy enough to pick up and there’s touchscreen support in place.

This game offers great value for money and it’s a great way for younger gamers to improve their spelling and problem solving skills without feeling like they’re under too much pressure.

Letter Quest Remastered

Letter Quest Remastered is a combination of an educational spelling themed game and a fun, fantasy oriented RPG. It’s a unique addition to the world of educational games on the Nintendo Switch, and it’s worth checking out.

In this game, players will need to battle opponents and traverse dungeons, using their spelling skills to deal damage to their foes. It’s a fun and whimsical take on a spelling game, and there’s plenty of variety to the levels and enemies on offer. There’s multiple game modes to work through too, offering plenty of content to tackle.

The game looks great on the Switch, and you can pick between two different soundtracks to use during the game too. There are no technical issues or quirks to note, other than a few minor issues with button sensitivity. Nothing game breaking, but worth noting regardless.

Letter Quest Remastered is a stylish addition to the educational genre on the Switch, and it’s suitable for learners of all ages and skill levels too.

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The 21 Best Mystery Games For The Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch is home to plenty of great games, some of which deliver a thrilling sense of mystery.

The Nintendo Switch is a fantastic console for all sorts of gaming sessions, including action games, lengthy RPGs, and even first-person shooters. Being such a portable device, it's a versatile console built for many experiences. Given the success of the Switch, it's no surprise that the system offers a variety of games for fans of mystery and puzzle games.

The Best Nintendo Switch Games Of All Time

These games span a variety of subjects, themes, and tones, but they all have one thing in common: getting to the bottom of a twisting mystery. Here are some of the best mystery games available on the Switch, ideal for curling up with and immersing yourself in.

Updated January 16, 2024 by Jacqueline Zalace: Playing through mystery games can be quite a rewarding experience, especially when all the pieces begin to click into place. We've updated this guide with a few more mystery games on the Nintendo Switch for you to sink your teeth in to.

21 AI: The Somnium Files

AI: The Somnium Files is a mystery visual novel that's also a point-and-click adventure game with branching paths and great characters. In the game, you control Kaname Date, a detective with a unique power tasked with solving a series of grueling murders.

If you are a fan of this game, be sure to check out the sequel AI: The Somnium Files - Nirvana Initiative .

This game features great music and excellent writing, with fully voiced dialogue and cutscenes, making it an immersive experience. There's also a flow chart in the menu that lets you jump back in time to complete story paths that you haven't seen yet, making it easier to reach the game's multiple endings.

20 Famicom Detective Club

The Famicom Detective Club series is actually a set of two games, both available on the Nintendo Switch. These were originally launched on Nintendo's older systems, the Famicom Disk System and the SNES, as well as the Game Boy Advance. Remade and given a modernized look for the Switch, this was also the first time these detective games were available worldwide.

In these games, you control a young man who solves mysteries by scouring for clues and asking characters various questions. They offer splendid soundtracks and Japanese voice acting, as well as mysteries loaded with twists and turns at every corner.

19 Steins;Gate Series

This is not all of the Steins;Gate games out there, just a sampling to show how much content each one includes!

The Steins;Gate franchise has spawned visual novels, anime adaptations, movies, comics, and more. It's a franchise loved by many, and the games are available on the Switch for anyone curious or looking for a mystery to sink their teeth into.

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Steins;Gate is a visual novel with branching paths and a science fiction backdrop, following eccentric college student Okabe and his friends as they acquire the means to travel through time and change the past. You can alter the course of the story using Okabe's cell phone in-game, along with various decisions you'll be forced to make.

Bursting with stylish designs and color, Gnosia is a unique mystery visual novel game where you interact with NPCs aboard a spaceship. In Gnosia, you must find out which of the crew is an alien, known as the Gnosia, that will kill the rest of them.

Gnosia uses a unique time-loop structure that shakes up who the Gnosia is in each iteration. You can also become the Gnosia and work to keep suspicion off of yourself. As the rounds go on, you learn more and more about the characters involved and their backstories.

17 L.A. Noire

Coming from legendary publisher Rockstar Games, L.A. Noire is a detective game set in Los Angeles during the 1940s. You can explore this game's unique and vast open world by walking around in it or even driving to get places.

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The story of L.A. Noire takes place over multiple chapters throughout which you control Detective Cole, looking for evidence and following leads to uncover a twisting conspiracy. The game also features a branching storyline, adding to its replay value.

16 Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy

When it comes to mystery games, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is one of those series that many people have heard of. The first three games of the series are available on multiple platforms, including the Switch, as a combined collection. These titles combine elements of mystery-solving with logic puzzles, visual novel elements, and point-and-click adventure games.

Each game in the Ace Attorney Trilogy offers around five cases to solve. These games are loved for their over-the-top antics, quirky characters, and hilarious writing. Despite the comedy, however, they offer somber moments when the plot calls for it.

15 Thimbleweed Park

Inspired by the adventure games that came before it, Thimbleweed Park is a point-and-click adventure that lets you play as five characters to uncover some bizarre mysteries within the park.

Aside from collecting evidence and key items, you also get to interact with various suspects and key players in the crime, uncovering clues as you put the truth together.

14 Layton's Mystery Journey

The Professor Layton series is well known for its charming stories, interesting characters, and fantastic puzzles. Professor Layton's adventures span many titles . However, Layton's Mystery Journey is a bit different in that it follows the adventures of Layton's daughter, Katrielle Layton.

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In this game, you will solve mysteries and puzzles in order to find Katrielle's father, who has gone missing. This game is distinct from the Professor Layton games in part because instead of having a continuous story, the game features twelve cases that you must work through, similar to chapters.

13 Return of the Obra Dinn

If you haven't heard of Return of the Obra Dinn , then you may have heard of Papers, Please , which was developed by the same person. This game follows the story of a ship, the Obra Dinn, that went missing for five years and has suddenly reappeared. You are tasked with investigating the ghost ship to piece together the mystery of its disappearance.

The game offers a unique style with its monochromatic color scheme, reminiscent of older, classic video games. You're also given a unique item that lets you witness the moments before a passenger's death, aiding you in your journey to crack the case.

12 The Darkside Detective

Another fantastic point-and-click adventure game, The Darkside Detective takes place in a city with a supernatural twist. The city has a reflection of itself, called the Darkside, where ghosts reside. In the game, you control a detective in charge of investigating the Darkside, and must solve the mysterious cases linked to it.

Aside from being a great mystery game, The Darkside Detective is full of pop culture references and sharp, hilarious writing. It offers thrilling mysteries to sink your teeth into while keeping you laughing with its fantastic humor.

11 Danganronpa Series

Danganronpa is an iconic series involving murder and trials. There are three games in this series, following three different groups of students who must face each other in a murderous game. The game is separated by trials, where you must decide exactly who the killer is, as well as how they did it.

This isn't a typical detective mystery, but each trial will leave you thinking hard about what is going on. In addition to the mystery of each trial, you will need to uncover the mystery behind the murder game that you are playing.

10 Disco Elysium

Disco Elysium is an RPG that places you in the shoes of a detective who has no memory of who he is. Over the course of the game, you will need to figure out your own identity, while solving a case with your partner, Kim Kitsuragi.

This game does not follow a linear path like other mystery games. You will be able to explore and encounter a wide variety of characters that you can talk with. There are complex dialogue trees that make each playthrough a unique experience.

9 Paradise Killer

Don't let the colorful graphics of Paradise Killer fool you, this is a complex game involving an island that 'regenerates every few millennia'.

The game focuses on a murder that took place, and as Lady Love Dies, you will need to gather evidence and figure out what is going on. Paradise Island is vast, and the open-world gameplay lets you explore to your heart's content.

8 Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo

Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo is quite a mouthful, but it's well worth it. Published by Square Enix , Paranormasight is a visual novel that tasks you with learning the mystery behind 'curses' that afflict people in Tokyo.

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Like many other mystery visual novels, Paranormasight involves a branching timeline with different actions resulting in new paths to take. You aren't the only person trying to get to the root of the mystery though, so who will get the truth first?

7 Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is a bit on the scarier side. If you can handle the fright, then Fatal Frame is an excellent mystery game that requires you to use your photography skills.

While exploring Rougetsu Island, you will need to take images of ghosts. This essentially deals damage, sealing them away. As this is a remake of a 2008 game, you can expect to see improved graphics, as well as unique costumes.

6 Life Is Strange Series

Life is Strange is an incredibly popular mystery adventure game series, with tons of content to play through. In each game, you will play from a third-person perspective, exploring the world around you, completing quests, and solving puzzles.

The original Life is Strange game was split into five different episodes, but you can purchase the Life is Strange Arcadia Bay Collection to get access to them all. Don't forget to also check out Life is Strange 2 and Life is Strange: True Colors .

5 Detective Pikachu

Detective Pikachu and Detective Pikachu Returns are two adorable mystery games where you play as Tim Goodman along with your partner Pikachu. Together, of course, the two of you must solve crime!

These games are a bit more lighthearted than the others on our list. While there is no brutal murder, the story is still quite captivating. Although these games originally started as a spin-off of mainline Pokemon games, they definitely stand by themselves, making them a great addition to your Switch library.

4 Master Detective Archives: Rain Code

If Master Detective Archives: Rain Code looks familiar to you, it's for a good reason. This game was created by many who worked on Danganronpa. As such, you can see a similar art style, as well as mechanics that are reminiscent of Danganronpa's class trials.

As with Danganronpa, Rain Code takes place over several chapters, with six in total. Playing as Yuma (naturally, an amnesiac detective), your ultimate goal is to solve mysteries within the Kanai Ward, and 'conquer the Mystery Labyrinth'.

3 The Sinking City

The Sinking City combines the mystery genre with Lovecraftian horror. Set in the 1920s, you play as a PI in a city that is literally sinking into the water. In this watery city, you will need to solve what is going on with the citizens, as it seems their minds are being corrupted.

This is a story-heavy game, so you can expect to see some fantastic dialogue, as well as a great interpretation of Lovecraftian lore. The game isn't too in-your-face with its fright, but the mood and atmosphere create a mysterious world that begs to you keep exploring.

2 What Remains of Edith Finch

What Remains of Edith Finch is essentially a walking simulator anthology. In the game, you play as Edith, exploring her ancestral home to learn the mysterious secrets of her family.

This game is rather short, but the story feels well put together with good pacing. Overall, What Remains of Edith Finch feels like a movie, especially since the average time players take to finish is around two hours. If this game captures your heart, be sure to check out The Unfinished Swan, which was developed by the same studio (Giant Sparrow).

Great Nintendo Switch Games For Casual Gamers

Gaming doesn't always have to be hardcore to be fun. These Nintendo Switch titles are perfect for players with limited time and energy for gaming.

Nintendo has always been a good friend to the casual gamer, offering a wide range of titles like Mario and The Legend of Zelda that don't have competitive play and often let players go at their own speed. The Nintendo Switch has become an immensely popular and successful console, with hundreds of games available in its store.

The Switch has a massive number of non-Nintendo games featured on its platform, which has been great for the casual gaming scene. It has allowed smaller developers to be seen by more people, and the Switch’s TV link abilities have given a boost to local co-op games . Whether casual gamers are looking for peaceful environments, easy controls, or low-stakes puzzle-solving, the Nintendo Switch has the perfect solution.

Updated April 16, 2024, by Alexandra O'Leary: Nintendo is no stranger to the casual gaming scene. As one of the first console companies to successfully make gaming a family-wide activity, Nintendo has been catering to a broad audience for decades. From the Wii, to the DS, to the Switch, there's a game for everyone. Some casual gamers look for good vibes and minimal gameplay, while others prefer more lighthearted and whimsical titles. Not every game needs to be gritty and challenging, and not every gamer has to spend hours grinding away to make any progress. For those who like to pick up a game in their spare time and jump straight into the fun, the Nintendo Switch has endless choices.

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19 dave the diver, diver by day, sushi chef extraordinaire by night, dave the diver.

Dave the Diver came swimming onto the indie gaming scene out of nowhere, and became a huge hit with all kinds of gamers. It combines exploration and adventure with management and simulation, resulting in a genre-defying, unbelievably fun game.

By day, go diving in the sparkling blue sea of the Blue Hole. By night, serve imaginative sushi to an array of customers. There's little more to ask for in this idyllic, entertaining game. Even several hours into the game, players will still be unlocking new content and mini-games to keep them entertained. Ultimately, players will be able to manage their sushi restaurant, grow their own crops, farm fish, explore multiple different areas of the sea, participate in festivals and cooking shows — all while restoring an ancient race of sea people. For those who love mellow, charming games with a little bit of challenge here and there, Dave the Diver is a must-play.

18 WarioWare: Move It!

Kooky, chaotic party games, warioware: move it.

WarioWare: Move It! is the second WarioWare game released for the Nintendo Switch, and the eleventh in this fan-favorite party game series. Known for its ridiculous, nonsensical mini-games that are bound to leave players laughing, WarioWare has become immensely popular as a go-to choice for parties and groups.

While it's not always the best option for single-player, the fast-paced and frantic nature makes for oodles of fun in a group setting. The mini-games (or microgames, as WarioWare calls them) are highly entertaining. With low stakes and minimal challenge, it's a super accessible choice for those who only dip into the video game world occasionally, and is great for all kinds of people.

17 Princess Peach Showtime

Fanciful fun and easy gameplay, princess peach: showtime.

Princess Peach: Showtime! is the long-awaited, second-ever Princess Peach fronted Nintendo game. After several long years, players finally have another chance to play as Peach , who is front and center for all the action. Showtime definitely has a different energy from other Mario spin-offs. While Wario found his stride with wacky party games, Peach's niche is switching up her outfits and becoming a jack-of-all-trades.

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Princess Peach: Showtime! is reminiscent of the Paper Mario series, with a similar style of villain and a more theatrical plot. It's not as challenging as many other Mario games, which makes it an easy choice for the casual gamer. Still full of fun and creativity, it's an easy way in to the franchise for gamers who don't go for platformers and would prefer some action-adventure.

16 Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley

A cozy, cute adventure.

• Released: 2024
• Developer: Hyper Games
• Genre: Adventure

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a cozy adventure game based on the longstanding world of Moomin . Surrounded by the whimsical and Nordic Moominvalley, players explore the map as Snufkin searches for Moomintroll, who has mysteriously gone missing after winter.

This adorable game is brimming with heart and beauty. At its core is a lesson about respecting the Earth and spreading kindness, and the atmosphere, puzzles, and art-style all perfectly capture that message. While it might not be the most challenging or stressful game, those who want a fun and fanciful jaunt with their favorite childhood characters will absolutely adore Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley.

15 Fall Guys

Colorful and casual battle royale.

Fall Guys was initially released in 2020 with sweeping success. Its massive multiplayer battle-royale style made it a perfect option for gamers during lockdown, and its diverse, fun games have kept it popular since. The game was acquired by Epic Games in 2022 and was ported to most major platforms. Fall Guys is a great, casual battle royale with silly skins and game show mini-games like obstacle courses and last-person-standing levels.

Each round will eliminate a certain number of players until one person is finally victorious, making it competitive but relatively low-stakes - although players might find themselves wanting that crown after a few losses. In-game, players can interact with each other by grabbing or knocking one another over in order to stunt progress. There are multiplayer options that allow groups of friends to play together, as well as team rounds for ultimate hilarity. It's by far the best battle-royale game for cozy or casual gamers, thanks to its adorable art and limited PvP.

14 Mario Party Superstars

Virtual board game with fun, easy mechanics, mario party superstars.

Mario Party Superstars is the latest installment in the Mario Party franchise and features the best of the best in terms of boards and mini-games. It's essentially a virtual board game where players roll dice and move around a map, interacting with various spaces and competing in relatively simple mini-games. These mini-games can range anywhere from jumping in front of a camera to counting goombas as they run by.

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Mario Party Superstars compiles several remastered boards from the first three N64 games as well as most of the mini-games from previous Mario Party titles. Any gamers familiar with the original games will feel nostalgic and right at home with the classic but updated boards, and new players will get to experience all the fun for the first time. This franchise has always been popular with families and casual gamers thanks to its easy-to-understand premise and player-friendly system.

Cozy Introduction to MMOs

Palia is a cozy MMO (massively multiplayer online) game that combines the life simulation of games like Animal Crossing with the social interactivity of games like Runescape . With multiple NPC villagers to meet and befriend - each with their own backstories and roles, players can customize their living space and learn to live off the land.

It's a friendly introduction to MMO games, one that appears a lot less intimidating than a lot of other classic games in the genre. The servers aren't quite as vast as some, so if players feel unsure about the MMO aspect - they aren't likely to run into too many people and can easily plan to play with friends. One of the biggest draws for any newer gamers is that it's free to play, making it a great choice to try out this style of game.

12 Overcooked 2

Hilarious co-op cooking, overcooked 2.

Overcooked 2 is a crazy, hectic co-op cooking game that sets up players as chefs in a busy kitchen. The game uses simple controls (essentially pick up, throw, slice, and cook) that are easy to learn, which makes it accessible to almost anyone. At its core, it's a creatively fun cooking game with adorable customization options and wacky levels.

The challenge in Overcooked 2 comes from the timer and bustling environments - players can find themselves floating above the world in a hot air balloon or running across busy roads holding boiled rice. Anything goes in Overcooked 2 , and that's part of what makes it so fun. The game has local and online co-op, so gamers can play with their friends anywhere in the world.

11 Nintendo Switch Sports

Fun sports simulator with classic mechanics, nintendo switch sports.

Nintendo Switch Sports might look familiar to some Nintendo gamers, and although it doesn't quite have the same ring to it as Wii Sports , it has all the fun. Nintendo Switch Sports combines some classic games from the series, like bowling and tennis, with a few new ones, including soccer and volleyball.

Using the Nintendo Switch joycons, players can physically take part in a variety of sports and compete against others to win. Anybody who was a fan of the original series will love the Switch adaptation, which lets gamers compete with dozens of others all around the world. It's also a great game to play with friends, both locally and online - once again proving itself a great way to finally get good at sports.

10 Disney Dreamlight Valley

Magical adventure game with familiar faces, disney dreamlight valley.

Disney Dreamlight Valley is a life simulation and adventure game, combining the best of Disney's storytelling with the ability to have a vivid player character in the middle of the magical world. It's another great choice for cozy gamers who want a more calm and exploration-based gaming experience. The game takes place in real-time, so whenever players decide to hop on, they'll find the in-game time the same - which can be great for immersion.

Disney Dreamlight Valley is a fantastic game for casual games since it features the familiar faces of beloved Disney and Pixar characters, and although it's non-linear, it has a great selection of adventures for players to go on. The world is so fun to experience, with characters taking up fitting roles throughout Dreamlight Valley and providing Disney at its most immersive level so far.

9 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Easy controls and a variety of games modes, mario kart 8 deluxe.

It's no surprise that Mario Kart has made its way onto this list. The spin-off game featuring beloved Mario characters has been incredibly successful ever since its first iteration on the SNES and has now expanded to feature familiar faces from The Legend of Zelda , Animal Crossing, Splatoon, and more.

This classic title is the perfect choice for players looking for a fun game with easy controls and different modes. Solo gamers can rise through the ranks by playing Grand Prix style or find out who's the best racer by playing with friends. If players get tired of classic mode, they can always try their luck with Battles that offer new stakes and tactics. Similarly to the Wii, the Switch is a fantastic console for local multiplayer, and Mario Kart is the perfect party game.

Forgiving, Linear Game with Simple Gameplay

This may seem like a strange choice; after all, Inside is - to some degree - a horror game. It's true that there are stakes to Inside —its monochromatic appearance and minimal sound make it very easy for players to become overwhelmingly protective of the main character, a young boy clearly on the run from something.

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However, Inside is forgiving of mistakes and will respawn players at the most recent checkpoint if they happen to die during their journey. The game is predominantly puzzle-driven, and the controls are relatively simple, which makes it accessible to most gamers. Although some might not find the dark essence of the game appealing, it would be a shame to miss out on such a creative indie game . Inside is also a fantastic game to watch and can easily become a shared immersive experience.

7 Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Friendly and accessible social sim, animal crossing: new horizons.

Animal Crossing is renowned for being a friendly, comforting game. Its release at the very beginning of the pandemic was monumental for its sales. As a social simulation game, it provided players with much-needed interaction - especially since it allows players to visit friends' islands.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is an adorably pleasant game that asks players to help Tom Nook and Isabelle build a brand-new village on a luscious island. Players can build their own cute avatar and run around the island collecting resources, chatting with various anthropomorphic villagers , and deciding everything from the location of homes to the style of pathways. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is an easy choice for any casual gamer looking for a peaceful game with low stakes since it allows players to go completely at their own pace.

6 Stardew Valley

Peaceful farming sim with no time limits, stardew valley.

Stardew Valley is perhaps one of the most successful independent games of all time, initially developed entirely by ConcernedApe (Eric Barone). Not dissimilar to Animal Crossing , although very aesthetically different, Stardew Valley is a farming simulation RPG that allows players to experience the tranquility of village life while completing various daily chores.

Stardew Valley has very simple controls, arguably even easier on the Switch, and does not require fast-paced responses unless players are specifically in combat. As they work to rebuild the derelict town center, players can farm, forage, fish, and mine their way to a perfect life. The enemies in the game can be found in the mines, where players can defeat relatively un-threatening monsters to gain resources. However, the easy-to-use co-op mode is perfect for splitting up tasks, meaning players who prefer to fish quietly can do so while their partners scurry down the mines in search of battle.

5 Snipperclips

Silly co-op puzzle solving, snipperclips: cut it out together.

Snipperclips is a co-op puzzle launch title for the Switch. It involves two pieces of paper - Snip and Clip - running around a paper world and cutting themselves into various shapes in order to complete puzzles. The co-op element is that Snip and Clip can only cut each other out, meaning players will have to communicate well in order to progress.

Snipperclips does a great job of introducing its mechanics to players and is increasingly creative with its puzzles and solutions. This is the perfect game for two people looking for a simple, fun game and hoping for some laughs. It may occasionally stump players, but the game is nonetheless endearing enough to keep interest. The only stakes in this game are the ones players place upon themselves, otherwise creating the perfect environment for a casual gamer.

4 Untitled Goose Game

Chaotic gameplay with simple controls, untitled goose game.

Untitled Goose Game is likely wildly different from any other game players may have encountered before. This peculiar game puts players in the position of a pesky goose , intent on wreaking havoc everywhere it goes. With both single-player and multiplayer options, this game is hilarious and charming.

Untitled Goose Game requires players to walk, run, quack, and grab, meaning the controls are simple and easy to master. Therefore, players can focus on waddling around various environments and completing the list of tasks assigned, which will be crossed off as and when they are achieved. Any players looking for a silly, incredibly fun, and satisfying game will absolutely adore Untitled Goose Game.

Adorable Puzzle Solving with Pikmin

Pikmin is another of Nintendo's long-standing, recognizable titles. Although it isn't a household name quite to the extent that Mario might be, it is nevertheless an adorably fun and unique game filled with charming details. Released ten years after its last main installment on the Wii-U, Pikmin 4 puts players in charge of a whole horde of Pikmin and must use them to cleverly complete puzzles.

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Pikmin 4 focuses on a vibrant and charming world and therefore places minimal pressure on players to execute tasks perfectly. Although it is a real-time puzzle game, Pikmin 4 does a wonderful job of introducing players to creative problem-solving and mainly requires them to choose carefully between the types of Pikmin - who have individual skills based on their color. An added perk of this edition is that players can create their own Pikmin to play as, only adding to the fun and imaginative world.

2 Unravel Two

Endearing platformer with friendly co-op, unravel two.

Unravel Two is a platform puzzle game designed to be single-player or local multiplayer. It follows two endearing bundles of yarn - Yarnys - on a big quest. The game takes place in the foreground of a story that predominantly happens around the Yarnys and takes some darker turns at certain points.

The game has relatively simple controls, and its stunning art is enough to win most gamers' hearts. It's the perfect game to play with a friend and has a great combination of story and gameplay. Like Inside , Unravel Two is just as fun to watch, and the endearing Yarnys will have players invested in no time.

1 Sea of Stars

Nostalgic rpg with no time pressure, sea of stars.

Sea of Stars is a turn-based combat, retro RPG with carefully created, nostalgic art that will appeal to all gamers. With charming art, music, and characters, Sea of Stars is an overwhelmingly appealing game that evokes genuine joy. Players can make their way through this delightful world wielding elemental powers and foraging for resources in order to make tasty snacks.

The turn-based element of this game makes it perfect for casual gamers since it doesn't require quick reflexes or stressful combat encounters. Players can take their time while in battle and can otherwise happily explore the charming world to find new friends and adventures. The game offers side-quests, endearing dialogue, and puzzles, perfect for any gamer looking for an enjoyable addition to their collection.

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All upcoming Switch games: 2024 and beyond

The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular consoles Nintendo has ever produced, with a wide variety of games to choose from and plenty of unique features. We’ve already gotten to play new entries across the Zelda , Super Mario , and Pokémon series on Nintendo Switch, but there are still plenty of great games on the way for the hybrid console. These include exclusive games developed internally by Nintendo, as well as third-party titles and ports of games that are also available on other platforms.

Upcoming Switch games 2024

Upcoming switch games 2025, switch games with no release window.

Here’s our list of the best upcoming Nintendo Switch games for 2024 and beyond. Of course, some titles without release windows could skip the Switch entirely and wind up on Nintendo Switch 2 (or whatever it ends up being called) And if you’re looking at future releases on multiple consoles, don’t forget to check out what’s upcoming on PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X , and PC this year.

The games listed below either have 100% confirmed release dates or solid release windows that we expect them to hit this year. Anything that’s up in the air due to more vague launch predictions or previous delays will be listed below confirmed launches.

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Endless Ocean: Luminous

Paper mario: the thousand-year door, star wars: hunters, super monkey ball: banana rumble, luigi's mansion 2 hd, rift of the necrodancer.

Brace Yourself Games is one of the premier rhythm game developers thanks to titles like Crypt of the Necrodancer and Cadence of Hyrule , and it announced a new game during Nintendo’s April Indie World Showcase . Titled Rift of the Necrodancer , this is a lane-based game where players rhythmically attack the monsters that come down each lane. The game also features minigames that more closely resemble the Rhythm Heaven series.

Machi Koro With Everyone

The hit board game Machi Koro is finally getting a video game adapatation. This fast-paced game tasks players with developing the city of Machi Koro on their own terms and completing the construction of all landmarks faster than their rivals.

Football Story

World of goo 2, expected 2024 releases without set release dates.

These titles  might be coming out in 2024. Some have launch windows without set dates, others have been in development for a while and it’s expected that more news will be released soon. We’ll be updating this list every month as new info comes out.

Epic Mickey: Rebrushed - 2024

An impressive remaster of 2010’s Epic Mickey, Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is set to be a worthwhile revisiting of the Wii classic. As Mickey, the player is propelled into Wasteland, an alternate world made up of Disney’s forgotten creative efforts. The player is given the power to wield paint and paint thinner to dynamically change the world, which will determine Mickey’s path to becoming an epic hero.

The Plucky Squire - TBD 2024

Embark on a magical journey with The Plucky Squire , an enchanting Zelda -like adventure that unfolds beyond the confines of a storybook. Join Jot, a brave squire, and his friends as they discover a three-dimensional world outside the pages of their book, only to encounter the sinister Humgrump, who seeks to rewrite their destiny. Jot must overcome unprecedented challenges to rescue his friends from the clutches of Humgrump’s dark forces and restore the book’s once-happy ending. Prepare for an immersive adventure where courage and friendship prevail against all odds.

Hollow Knight: Silksong — TBD 2024

These games are set to launch in 2025. Of course, these titles might have something to do with the Nintendo Switch 2 .

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

All we know about the games listed below is that they’re in development. Most of them are probably a few years away from launch.

Project Bloom - 2026

Metroid prime 4 - tba, haunted chocolatier, editors' recommendations.

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Who would've thought the post-apocalypse could be such a fun time? The Fallout franchise has taken the idea of a Mad Max-like future and not only made it into a wildly popular game franchise but also a hit TV series. The core franchise has been around since the late '90s, and yet we've had only a handful of mainline entries in the series since it was revived by Bethesda with Fallout 3. With Starfield in the rearview mirror and the next Elder Scrolls title currently being the dev team's focus, it could be close to another decade before we can set foot in the wasteland ourselves once again. What better time, then, to look back at the franchise and rank all the games from best to worst?

Fallout: New Vegas

The Sims 4 is proving to be quite the popular life simulator, and a great addition to the long-running Sims series. But when you’re always running out of money, or can’t get that item you’ve been dying to utilize, inputting a cheat code or two can make things a little easier, and much more fun (especially if you’ve been struggling). Fortunately, EA — the game’s developer — realizes how fun using cheat codes can be, and has triumphantly stood behind these Sims 4 modifications. 

Whether you’re playing the game on a PC, PlayStation 5, or other console, we’ve rounded up all the cheats you’ll need to know for The Sims 4. We’ll be sure to update this post as new codes are added.  How to enable cheats in The Sims 4

In a world where so many games send you on missions with tense action and high stakes, sometimes it's nice to just sit back and relax a bit. That's where the cozy genre comes in with calming exploration, crafting, and decorating that give you a sense of purpose without all of the stress that comes from more action-oriented games. If that's what you're after, look no further, as we've compiled a list of what we consider to be the best cozy games you can play right now.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

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Destiny 2’s the final shape and the ‘avengers endgame’ problem.

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The Final Shape

There have been a million rumors about all aspects of the MCU as of late, with one recent one being reports about the Avengers reassembling, meant to include the likes of Sam Wilson Captain America, Hulk, She-Hulk, Shang-Chi, even Moon Knight. But the idea is pervaisive, that despite some good moments, things have never been quite the same with the MCU since Avengers Endgame wrapped up essentially a decade-long story.

The Marvels, Eternals, Black Widow, Quantumania and Shang-Chi all rank in the bottom of Marvel’s box office totals compared to past installments. There are a few exceptions, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 did well. Wakanda Forever. Multiverse of Madness. A huge standout is Spider-Man: No Way Home. But between a lot of underperforming entries and the huge shift to often-not-widely-watched Disney Plus series, it’s been a different era entirely.

Quantumania

Destiny 2. I imagine you know where I’m going with this. Destiny 2 is about to wrap up its ten year Light and Darkness saga in The Final Shape, which will represent a final showdown between The Witness and The Traveler with player Guardians making the difference in the fight.

We know that immediately after that finale, Bungie will launch into Destiny 2’s first “episode” of 2024, which is what the series is moving to. These are three disconnected stories that will take place in the aftermath of The Final Shape, but after that, there is no clear picture of where Destiny goes from here, even if we have been promised it is continuing on in some form.

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The issue here is that for many players, this may feel like a hard “Avengers assemble” ending for the series, something they may return to in order to see the end of, but after that, they drift away. The problem? Bungie is not Marvel, and they badly need player retention to consistently generate live revenue and build bridges to their future projects like Marathon.

The issue is simply the nature of the release itself. The Final Shape can be great, and I worry they may not be able to avoid this problem anyway. Bungie has been making great content for most of the past year in particular, building incredible new activities, story beats and wild new things like an entirely new enemy race and an element-bending subclass just to give people more of a reason to buy The Final Shape. It’s really excellent.

But Bungie has to avoid the narrative that this is a true finale. Granted they couldn’t extend the Light and Darkness storyline forever, but I’m not sure if moving to disconnected episodes rather than starting a firm new storyline is the play.

It’s a challenge, both narratively and for a playercount and revenue perspective when we know Bungie has found themselves in hot water in that department this past year despite overwhelmingly good content (once Lightfall ended, anyway).

We will know more about the future of series right after The Final Shape, I imagine, but it’s going to be a tough hill to climb, that’s for sure. However, Marvel has the Fantastic Four and the X-Men coming, and I wonder what might be Destiny’s equivalent of that...

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Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy .

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