The Nintendo Switch has tons of great games, and sometimes you just want a solid, focused adventure without too many distractions and side activities. Linear games can be a real treat in this regard, offering tightly crafted experiences with some great storytelling.
With a slew of both first-party and third-party titles, the Nintendo Switch is loaded in this aspect. Here are eight great games, both short and long, that focus on a linear journey that’s fun from start to finish.
Super Mario Odyssey is a platformer that follows Mario on his quest to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. The game takes you through a bunch of colorful and unique worlds, each with its vibe. There’s a fun new gameplay mechanic, Cappy, to take control of enemies and objects, which keeps things fresh.
What’s great about this game in the Super Mario franchise is how creative and charming everything feels, even more so than past entries. The New York City level is a huge highlight, being a surprisingly strong showcase of the Nintendo Switch’s capabilities with the right developer and optimization.
Metroid Prime Remastered brings the classic first-person adventure back. You play as Samus Aran, exploring the alien planet of Tallon IV. The game mixes exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat in a way that feels super smooth.
The remastered version is, thankfully, just a remaster and not a remake. This gives the visuals an improved look and tweaks the controls to make them more modern and responsive but doesn’t mess up anything that made the original so good, namely the alien atmosphere. It’s also a pretty good reminder of how much this game influenced the first-person genre.
Although the original game was released in the West in 2017, the Nintendo Switch port, alongside the PS5 and Series X versions, was released in 2022. Persona 5 Royal is probably the most refined version of the Persona formula. The game has youbalancing school life, building relationships with all the various characters that you meet, and going through antagonist-focused dungeons called Palaces.
The art style is unique, and every single music track is catchy, with a lot of them being truly unforgettable in how they set the vibe for the game. The game just feels like it belongs on the Switch, thanks to its charm. The Switch port is great, and it’s a solid way to experience what is likely everyone’s favorite Persona game.
PlatinumGames' Bayonetta 2 is a stylish action-packed game where you play asthe witch Bayonetta. She battles angels and demons with a mix of melee combat, gunplay, and special moves. The gameplay is fast and fluid, with a focus on pulling off combos and dodging attacks, much like other hack ‘n’ slash games. The game was originally released in 2014 for the Wii U, with a remastered version for the Switch in 2018.
The first game was also released on multiple platforms, but the series has now become a Nintendo-exclusive Bayonetta 2 onwards. The story is pretty wild but doesn’t take itself too seriously, thankfully, which adds to the fun.
This is another game that was originally a Wii U offering but received an enhanced version to go with the Nintendo Switch. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most complete version ofa Mario Kart Game, and the most expansive too, thanks to the Booster Course Pass, which added a whopping 48 more tracks on top of the base 48 tracks. You get to pick from a really big roster of Mario and Nintendo characters and customize your karts for efficiency.
The game feels really polished, and each of the 96 tracks present here is well-designed with great artwork. The gameplay loop never gets boring. Despite there not being a new Mario Kart game for more than ten years, this one fills the void well enough.
Astral Chain is an action game where you play as a cop in a futuristic city, using a creature called a Legion to fight off interdimensional monsters. There are also investigative elements involved where you gather clues. The combat is rather unique, as you control both your character and the Legion, and this also opens up a lot of strategic gameplay opportunities.
It’s a bummer that this game never got a sequel because the world it created is super interesting. The lore feels deep, and there’s so much potential for more stories in this universe, which has an interesting feel to it.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 lets you play as Luigi as he explores a haunted hotel, capturing ghosts with his vacuum. The various floors of the hotel are based on different themes and gimmicks, which keeps the game fresh throughout, without any of the sections overstaying their welcome.
These levels also bring their own slightly different gameplay mechanics and challenges. The game might not reach the heights of a main Mario title, but it’s perfectly good on its own. It’s a great pick if you want a fun and focused adventure that isn’t too long or something more kid-friendly.
Final Fantasy 10 is easily one of the most beloved entries in the franchise. It tells the story of Tidus and Yuna as they travel through the world of Spira to defeat a giant whale-like monster called Sin. The game features a memorable cast of characters, and what it might sometimes lack in gameplay, it makes up for a really strong story.
There are both beautiful and tragic moments in the game, and the music adds a lot to the fantasy vibe and perfectly complements these moments. While newer entries in the series offer far more flexibility with their open-ended design and controls, this is still a solid, linear adventure that holds up well. It’s a must-play for JRPG fans.
