The Best Hidden Gems on Nintendo Switch in 2021 – SwitchArcade Special
This year has been fantastic for all platforms and I’ve struggled to search out enough time to play most video games I’ve been thinking about testing. With so many games releasing each month, some go under the radar. This also means we can’t cowl each single Switch recreation in a well timed manner because of release schedules, entry, and extra. I needed to spotlight some games that might have gone under the radar for most people in 2021. These embrace some that we have reviewed earlier than and others that I’ve been taking half in over the earlier few months that released earlier in the 12 months.
($24.99)
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights was an enormous shock when I performed it on PS5 and Nintendo Switch round release. It looked attractive in the trailers, but I wasn’t prepared for just how wonderful the atmosphere is in-game. Ender Lilies is amongst the best metroidvanias I’ve performed regardless of the issue spikes. It also deserves to be checked out for its remarkable soundtrack. There is not any scarcity of games within the style on Switch proper now, but Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights is price your time. If the aesthetic appeals to you, I’d recommend grabbing Ender Lilies when you possibly can. It isn’t a revolutionary take on the style, however continues to be price playing. Ender Lilies was already great at launch, but the builders have continued to usher in further content through free patches making it a a lot nicer expertise right now. I hope gets a physical launch in the future.
($24.99)
There was plenty of buzz around Gnosia when it launched on PS Vita in Japan for getting perfect evaluation scores. When it lastly hit Nintendo Switch, I got to strive it by way of the localized launch and was impressed with the genre-blending expertise despite some repetition. It is structured like the celebration sport Werewolf or Mafia and is ready on a drifting spaceship where people are trying to do away with the Gnosia. The cast is well-written and while the true endings take some annoying RNG to get through as you loop to make progress, Gnosia has a narrative I’m glad I could experience. It is a social deduction RPG I’d advocate to anybody on the lookout for memorable tales.
($24.99)
($8.99)
($14.99)
Sumire is a well-paced journey recreation about making essentially the most out of restricted time. It has brilliant visuals and an excellent soundtrack. You play as a girl named Sumire longing to satisfy her grandmother who appeared in a dream after passing away. Sumire’s grandmother seems in a dream and that is where the story begins. This includes your old friends, townspeople, varied magical creatures, and more via a very emotional story. As an journey game, you do some gentle puzzles that often contain bringing a selected merchandise to a selected individual or interacting in a specific way to transfer forward. This isn’t an experience you buy for simply the gameplay. You’re right here for an emotional narrative and if you take pleasure in those, Sumire is value your time.
($15.99)
Just like Sumire, The Kids We Were is a story-driven adventure game. You play as a kid named Minato who has slightly sister affected by a terminal illness and parents who’re divorced. Minato is visiting a city known as Kagami together with his mom and sister. This town is where your father lives and Minato aims to see if he can meet his father within the hope of serving to his sister. This voxel aesthetic journey has a beautiful story about time travel where you meet old and new pals and try to repair your future. There are some beautiful collectibles as well throughout the town. The Kids We Were on Switch (and PC) includes a further episode not discovered within the cell model that could presumably be a nice conclusion to at least one specific part of the narrative as nicely.
($39.99)
I hadn’t actually followed Fuga: Melodies of Steel earlier than it launched on literally all current and last-generation platforms earlier this 12 months. CyberConnect2 is most identified for nice anime games and Fuga is an interesting change of pace from what I was used to from the developer. This flip based mostly strategy RPG has you controlling kids who are driving a huge tank on a journey to search out their parents and family members. It has a really charming aesthetic and I want I had performed it sooner. Over the previous couple of weeks, I’ve lastly managed putting in an excellent period of time enjoying Fuga on Switch and ended up appreciating the construction, team formation elements, and animation on display. If the aesthetic appeals to you, that is an RPG value your time for certain. I hope CyberConnect2 does more with the model in the future.
($59.99)
Japanese developer Experience Inc is mostly recognized for quality first particular person dungeon crawlers among followers of the style. We’ve had many Experience Inc releases come to Nintendo Switch as well via Aksys Games and NIS America, but the developer’s newest release is certainly one of its finest. Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi seems like a fruits of all of the developer’s video games thus far with high quality of life enhancements and a memorable story as well. Undernauts is an accessible and well-designed first particular person dungeon RPG with an attention-grabbing Yomi flower mechanic. It has striking artwork and nice music which are both to be anticipated from a high quality Experience Inc sport. If you’ve by no means played a game within the style or are a fan of Wizardry-style video games, that is value checking out. It also may be very nice in handheld on Nintendo Switch.
($19.99)
($59.99)
Blue Reflection: Second Light is the second recreation in Koei Tecmo and Gust’s Blue Reflection brand. Blue Reflection: Second Light is a slice of life JRPG with a lot of heart. It builds on the unique and is a superb entry point to anybody seeking to play a more laid-back RPG on Switch with great visuals and an amazing soundtrack. While Koei Tecmo’s warriors video games and Atelier games are more popular, you’d be doing a disservice to your self should you don’t at least check out the Blue Reflection: Second Light free demo as a JRPG fan. My solely complaint is the shoehorned stealth mechanic. If you benefit from the Atelier video games or are new to Gust, this can be a great entry point as well with an excellent Switch port.
Hopefully you discover something you take pleasure in from this record of games. I’ve enjoyed playing all of them. If you could have a sport you think flew beneath the radar, let us know within the comments. I’d love to search out something I missed as properly from 2021. Thanks for reading and pleased holidays.