When all is said and done, 2020 will probably not go down as a banner year for the Nintendo Switch. Although the hybrid system welcomed its share of noteworthy first-party titles, a couple of which rank among the best games of 2020, they were peppered very sporadically throughout the year.
Conversely, third-party support for the console was constant, with plenty of memorable AAA and indie games joining the system’s library. Even in Nintendo’s quieter months, Switch owners still had their share of exciting titles to pick from. From January to December, these games were the best releases on the Switch in their respective months.
12 January: Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition
It is tough to properly summarize Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition. While it could be described as a point-and-click adventure, the game is far more story and dialogue-driven than most traditional entries in the genre.
The narrative follows a truck driver tasked with delivering a package to a place that does not seem to exist, at least not on any map. However, that description only hints at the surreal strangeness that permeates throughout this multi-chapter story. Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition is unlike anything else on the market.
11 February: Two Point Hospital
February saw various indie games, ports, and re-releases arrive on the Switch, including Devil May Cry 3: Special Edition and Under Night In-Birth Exe:Late[cl-r]. One such title was Two Point Hospital, which originally debuted on PCs in 2018.
The business sim places users in charge of managing a hospital, although this is one game that prioritizes humor over realism. Anyone fond of management games should find something to enjoy in Two Point Hospital, while newcomers looking to try the genre could do much worse than this fun title.
10 March: Animal Crossing: New Horizons
In terms of popularity, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was undoubtedly the Nintendo Switch’s game of 2020. The latest entry in the life simulation series lets people play around with their own island, as they seek to bring in new villagers and experience everything this universe has to offer.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the type of game meant to be played for a few minutes a day, as it crafts an addictive daily grind that is oddly satisfying.
9 April: Streets of Rage 4
It might have taken more than 25 years, but there is finally a sequel to Streets of Rage 3. A juggernaut in the beat-’em-up sphere, the license returned to form in a big way in 2020. For the most part, Streets of Rage 4 preserves the tried and tested formula established by its predecessors, although it does add new moves and combos to ensure this sidescroller has depth.
Streets of Rage 4 is difficult, visually pleasing, nostalgic, and also somehow fresh.
8 May: Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
Remasters and re-releases have become commonplace in the current gaming culture, a trend the Nintendo Switch benefitted greatly from in 2020. Originally released on the Wii, Xenoblade Chronicles tells a mature tale set in a striking open-world where battles favor tacticians.
Putting aside an epilogue that is decent but nothing more, the Definitive Edition does not introduce too many changes to the base game. While the crisper visuals and the slight tweaks to the UI are appreciated, ultimately, Xenoblade Chronicles’ largely unchanged story and gameplay are the main reasons to play this fantastic JRPG.
7 June: The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III
The Switch has become a reliable JRPG machine, even if certain games take a bit longer to arrive on Nintendo’s system. As The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III directly builds upon its two predecessors’ characters and world-building, it is not a great entry point into the series; however, the third chapter in this engrossing political saga maintains the high level of excellence that has come to be expected from the franchise.
Along with one of the best stories in modern gaming, Trails of Cold Steel’s turn-based combat system is also splendid.
6 July: Paper Mario: The Origami King
Permitting someone does not go in expecting an RPG similar to Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, The Origami King is a charming new entry in Nintendo’s long-running series. King Olly has turned many of the Mushroom Kingdom’s inhabitants into origami, prompting Mario to embark on a lighthearted quest to save the day.
An adventure game with RPG and puzzle elements, The Origami King combines consistently strong and witty writing with a world brimming with life and secrets.
5 August: A Short Hike
On paper, a game about reaching the top of a mountain in search of a cell signal sounds uninteresting, but A Short Hike does wonders with this simple premise. As Claire, an anthropomorphic bird, makes her way towards Hawk Peak’s summit, she runs across other travelers requiring assistance, collects feathers to improve her abilities, and gets to embrace the tranquil beauty of nature.
A Short Hike allows Claire to move at her own pace, clearing the way for a journey that is deeply personal and relaxing.
4 September: Hades
Supergiant Games’ Hades is a rogue-lite with a genuinely engaging storyline, hardly an easy feat considering this is a genre that generally reacts to death by hitting the reset button. Inspired by Greek mythology, Hades follows its titular deity’s son, Zagreus, as he seeks to escape the Underworld.
This quest will naturally result in plenty of failures, but Hades allows its protagonist to grow between runs. The game backs up its memorable characters and impressive visuals with a fast-paced combat system that is a blast, especially once a few different weapons are unlocked.
3 October: Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
Occasionally, Nintendo releases something that just speaks to that inner child in everyone. Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit brings the popular racing series to a living room near you, permitting customers to set checkpoints in their homes to create unique tracks.
Once done, the Switch then transforms that room into a Mario Kart course, setting the stage for you to guide a toy car across the terrain against other players or AI opponents. Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is the most “Nintendo” game of 2020.
2 November: Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
With Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town, Rune Factory 4 Special, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons all coming out in 2020, it was certainly a busy year for the simulation genre. While not as high-profile as some other releases, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin nevertheless stands out as one of the more enticing entries in the genre, particularly for those who want to divide their time between farming rice and slaying demons.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin’s farming sections stick quite close to the real thing, although the game moves its seasons and story along at a relatively quick rate. While the 2.5D action-platformer levels can get a touch repetitive, the combat system opens up a fair bit once Sakuna expands her moveset.
1 December: Doom Eternal
The fact Doom Eternal runs at a stable 30 fps on the Switch serves as a testament to Panic Button’s skills. Id Software’s frantic FPS debuted earlier in 2020 on other platforms, and although a Switch port was announced from the start, it remained to be seen whether the hybrid console would be able to handle the game.
Even though Doom Eternal does not look anywhere near as good on the Switch as it does on the PS4 or Xbox One, this version manages to preserve the glorious insanity of the other iterations. More importantly, it can be played on the go.
NEXT: 10 Hidden Gems On Nintendo Switch Everyone Missed in 2020
