Our listing of the most effective Swap video games of the 12 months highlights every of the Pocket Techniques crew’s favourite video games that they’ve spent many, many hours with over the previous 12 months. It proves that regardless of being on the cusp of a brand new console, Nintendo by no means slows down.
In the event you’re inquisitive about the most effective cellular video games of the 12 months, we’ve managed to pick eight of the most effective. Spoiler alert, it comprises absolute bangers filled with spooks, husbandos, and Greek gods.
Listed here are our picks for the most effective Nintendo Swap video games of 2024:
Golden Solar – Ruby’s decide, Editor
There have been a variety of nice new video games this 12 months, however the launch I performed greater than all the remainder was Golden Solar on the Nintendo Swap On-line + Growth Pack. There’s a cause the Recreation Boy Advance sport from manner again in 2001 earned the Metacritic Should-Play badge and sits at an impressive rating of 91, and it nonetheless holds up in the present day.
You tackle the position of a younger boy who should use highly effective weapons and psynergy to save lots of the world from dastardly villains. It seems like typical RPG happenings on the floor, however I like the way in which you should use various kinds of magic to unravel puzzles and defeat enemies, and the story is bound to drag you in proper from the beginning.
Sonic X Shadow Generations – Kayleigh’s decide, Deputy Editor
2024 was a strong 12 months for Nintendo Swap releases, with varied Mario video games, a brand new Zelda sport, and titles comparable to Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown (extra on that from my colleague), however for me, it really was the 12 months of Shadow. Sonic X Shadow Generations is every thing I needed and extra from a brand new Sonic sport. Not solely did it let me roll again the years with a Generations remaster, but it surely lastly gave me a model new Shadow the Hedgehog marketing campaign.
Shadow is my favourite Sonic character, and I’m an enormous advocate of his 2005 sport, so with the ability to go on one other journey with him is nothing wanting a pleasure. The degrees are implausible, the story is enthralling (and equally heartbreaking, poor Maria), and the gameplay is as fulfilling as ever. It fills me with hope for the way forward for the sequence; maybe a complete sport devoted to Shadow is within the pipeline. Or, on the very least, Sonic Crew is gearing as much as supply us much more experiences with different characters. Massive the Cat fishing sport when?
Little Kitty, Massive Metropolis – Tilly’s decide, Guides Editor
As an obsessive mother to a candy little black kitty, I used to be offered on Little Kitty, Massive Metropolis as quickly as I caught my first glimpse of it. This pleasant little platformer really seems like a playground filled with paw-sibilities, seeing you are taking management of the titular little kitty in a relatively huge metropolis as you try to search out your manner house.
Whereas it’s easy and never fully purr-fect, it oozes allure from whisker to tail, inviting you to embrace your internal mischievous feline as you befriend the native critters, accumulate shinies to trade for lovable hats, and extra. Paying homage to a laid-back PS2-era platformer, it’s a chill time appropriate for all audiences, from kittens to chill cats like us. In the event you’re not offered but, remember to take a look at our full Little Kitty, Massive Metropolis evaluate, and head over to our Little Kitty, Massive Metropolis interview to listen to all in regards to the sport’s inspirations, challenges, and the way my very own little kitty may’ve been the mastermind behind all of it.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Yr Door – Connor’s decide, {Hardware} Editor
I’d been ready for a Paper Mario: The Thousand-Yr Door Swap port since Nintendo’s handheld first arrived in 2017, and this 12 months, the gaming large lastly delivered. It’s every thing I hoped it might be, with all of the charming dialogue, gripping boss battles, and visible panache of the unique, plus just a few quality-of-life enhancements and a little bit of post-game content material thrown in for good measure. With that in thoughts, it’s no surprise I gave the sport a 9/10 in my Paper Mario: The Thousand-Yr Door evaluate.
There’s simply one thing about Paper Mario TTYD that stands out from the lengthy listing of Mario’s turn-based escapades. It’s a magic that Nintendo hasn’t been in a position to recapture since, regardless of its finest efforts, and has impressed numerous copycats within the years since. In the event you’re on the lookout for a sport to maintain your mind busy and your humorous bone tickled in 2025, it’s price spending a while with Paper Mario and his wafer-thin pals.
Mediterranea Inferno – Daz’s decide, Workers Author
We’re very strict about giving out good scores right here at Pocket Techniques, however one such sport that earned the ten/10 accolade is Mediterranea Inferno. I’ve by no means felt such visceral feelings from a videogame earlier than, which you’ll positively inform should you’ve learn our Mediterranea Inferno evaluate. This visible novel sport is not like something I’ve ever performed earlier than and I think about I received’t play something prefer it once more till the solo developer, Lorenzo Redaelli, releases a brand new sport.
The story follows three queer Italian males of their early twenties, assembly up once more for the primary time post-COVID and making an attempt to recollect how you can be pals once more. It’s a twisted narrative filled with morally gray characters dealing with exterior stress and insecurities, and making an attempt to navigate the European queer scene. This sport is an absolute must-play, particularly for these of us with related life experiences, because it actually forces you to look within the mirror and assess what actually issues in your life.
Yakuza Kiwami – Holly’s decide, Workers Author
2024 fulfilled a want I’ve had since 2017 – Yakuza on Nintendo Swap. Yakuza Kiwami graced the hand-held in the end and allows you to dive into Kamurocho as everybody’s favourite protagonist Kiryu wherever you might be, and uncover all of the secrets and techniques of the town’s underbelly.
On prime of beating up shmucks whereas carrying a snazzy swimsuit, you’ll be able to play hours of Pocket Circuit, win (and lose) on UFO claw machines, sing your coronary heart out at karaoke, rescue individuals in foolish aspect quests down each alley, and naturally – sq. off with Goro Majima any time and anywhere. For a full listing of actions, learn my glowing Yakuza Kiwami evaluate right here. Relaxation assured, this is a superb addition to the Swap’s library, and I implore everybody to pattern the sequence at the very least as soon as.
Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown
– Verna’s decide, Workers Author
Even going in opposition to the weighty grain of nostalgia, Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown is likely to be probably the greatest video games within the franchise. We get to return to Prince of Persia’s 2D platforming roots with a massively fulfilling Metroidvania and a brand-new protagonist, with stunning, colourful surroundings, an intriguing narrative, and fight that’s undeniably enjoyable. The Misplaced Crown has an expansive map with loads of environmental puzzles that check each the verticality of the sport and the brand new talents you decide up in your travels.
It performs splendidly on the Nintendo Swap, the extremely stylized visuals make every motion crisp and clear, even should you’re zipping by the air on a charged Athra Surge, and above all, Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown simply had me coming again for extra. It’s an excellent addition to a well-loved franchise, and it seems like Ubisoft lastly gave Prince of Persia the proper of consideration after so a few years of delicate to reasonable disappointment. Try our Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown evaluate for extra of our ideas.
Wild Bastards – Sam’s decide, Workers Author
A non secular successor to 2020’s Void Bastards, the brilliantly titled Wild Bastards doesn’t maintain again in relation to zany motion thrills, oddball characters, and eye-popping visuals. Navigating by Wild Bastards’ roguelike FPS sport journey is commonly laced with surroundings straight out of these cursed The Beatles animated motion pictures from again within the day, or what I occur to see after I’ve had too many cans of Monster.
Throughout the sport’s sprawling array of planets, encountering every of the 13 outlaws seems like I’m placing collectively my very own Guardians of the Galaxy, though every member of this ragtag squad most likely desires to depart my guts strewn throughout the deepest depths of the intergalactic frontier. Wild Bastards’ gunfights, attractive risk-reward gameplay, and love for the shooter style make it an absolute gem that any Nintendo Swap proprietor must personal.
That’s it for our picks of the most effective Nintendo Swap video games of 2024! Did your favourite make the listing? If not, perhaps you’ll discover it on our listing of the most effective Nintendo Swap video games total.
