Of all the major consoles, Nintendo distinguished itself with its iconic characters, all of which are now cultural touchstones. From the heroic plumbers Mario and Luigi to the courageous princess Zelda and the enigmatic Link, these characters have captured players’ imaginations for nearly four decades.
With the launch of the Nintendo Switch, the company continued its legacy by delivering visually stunning games for its hybrid console. The Switch may not boast the highest specs compared to its competitors, but it offers a diverse library of titles that are both engaging and visually captivating, proving that beautiful graphics can thrive even on more modest hardware.
Because we love beauty in all of its forms, we put together this list to explore some of the Switch’s most eye-candy-filled games. These titles not only highlight impressive graphics and artistic direction but also create immersive worlds that invite players to explore and enjoy. From monumental landscapes to intricate character designs, these games demonstrate the lighthearted creativity and consistent innovation that Nintendo is known for.
READ: 16 of the Trippiest Music Videos Ever
Chill Switch Games to Keep Your Dome in the Zone
If you need a game to keep you level and loose, check out these to play—either while you’re tripping or just want to feel like you’re.
Gris
Titled after the French word for “gray,” Gris is a 2D platform-adventure game that explores the emotional journey of its protagonist through the stages of grief. Players navigate linear environments filled with movement-based challenges and puzzles, with gameplay designed to be accessible and (mostly) stress-free. Each stage represents a different emotion, gradually introducing vibrant colors to symbolize our hero’s healing process. The game’s visual design features a breathtaking watercolor aesthetic, where each frame resembles a piece of art, bolstering Gris’s narrative without relying heavily on text.
Also available on PC, iOS, PlayStation 4/5, Android, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S.
Subnautica
OK, so maybe this one isn’t one of the chillest games ever made, but it’s still fairly laid-back, despite its horror-ish overtones. Subnautica is an open-world survival game set on an alien planet mostly covered by water. Players control a marooned spaceship mechanic tasked with exploring the vast underwater world, gathering resources and crafting tools to survive. (But, there’s a catch: He can’t make conventional weapons, for reasons we’ll omit, so we don’t spoil the surprise.) The gameplay emphasizes exploration and discovery, allowing players to delve into various biomes, each with distinct ecosystems and mysterious creatures. The game also incorporates eerie environments and formidable sea creatures, heightening the tension and suspense as players uncover the planet’s secrets.
Visually, Subnautica is renowned for its jaw-dropping environmental design, which ranges from brightly lit coral reefs to dark, foreboding depths. The art style combines vivid colors with a touch of realism, creating a world that is both beautiful and unsettling. Throw in a haunting soundtrack and equally haunting audio cues, such as the distant calls of alien creatures or the creaking of underwater structures, and you’ve got one crazy underwater adventure to sweep you through the next trip.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Remember back in 2010, when Facebook blossomed into a giant Farmville machine? Nintendo’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a life simulation game that’s sort of like a fuzzier, more animal-friendly version of Farmville, minus all the annoying microtransactions and pop-up ads.
In Animal Crossing, players escape to a deserted island to build their own little paradise. The gameplay focuses on exploration, gathering resources and crafting items. Players can also engage in activities such as trading goods, fishing, bug catching, and decorating their homes, all while interacting with a charming cast of animal villagers. The game operates in real-time, with the time of day and seasons mirroring real life, offering a continuous and evolving experience without the pressure of combat or heavy conflict.
The visual aesthetics of Animal Crossing: New Horizons are characterized by a colorful and kid-friendly art style that pairs smashingly with its relaxing atmosphere. On top of all that, you get to hang out with Isabelle, an anthropomorphic dog who’s married to that trigger-happy guy from Doom. (Yes, really.)
Also available on GameCube, Wii, Wii U, iOS, Nintendo 64 and Android.
Competitive Switch Games with Cartoonish Levels of Violence
Maybe you’re looking for a game with more teeth than the ones above, but you don’t want to see buckets of gore, either. Hey, this is Nintendo we’re talking about here! Gore ain’t exactly on the menu, but benign mallets to the head? That’s a chef’s special on the Switch.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Pikachu vs. Mario? Princess Zelda vs. Princess Peach? Samus vs. Mega-Man?
How about all of the above, and then some? It’s all possible in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Nintendo’s 2D fighting game, where famous characters from multiple franchises – from Mario to Metroid to even Animal Crossing – collide! It’s also one of the only games where you’ll have just as much fun losing as you do winning.
Smash Bros.’s frenetic pacing and explosive visuals make every battle feel like a supernova in your living room. Finishing moves often trigger a salvo of bursting sparkles, which ought to be enough to hypnotize the average psychonaut for hours. Along with a ridiculous arsenal of special items ranging from banana guns to beam swords, each stage is a visual treat, providing a captivating backdrop for the intense action. There’s even a fun tie-in at the end of Smash Bros. with Animal Crossing and Doom!
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Got a need for speed before, during, or after peaking? Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a fast-paced racing game that offers players a thrilling experience with its diverse selection of tracks and characters. The gameplay is centered around racing against other players or AI-controlled characters, using a variety of karts and bikes. Players can collect items during races to either get ahead or smack an opponent sideways, adding an additional layer of strategy to the high-octane action. The game includes multiple modes, such as Grand Prix, Time Trials, and Battle Mode, accommodating both solo and multiplayer experiences, with options for local and online play.
Even if you’re prone to driving off cliffs (like me) in video games, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is worth playing just to cruise through the race tracks. Each stage is characterized by bright, colorful graphics and dynamic environments. Many tracks feature neon lights, glittering effects and nighttime cityscapes, creating a visually stimulating experience that captures the excitement of arcade racing in the comfort of your cozy trip den.
Mario Party (any of them)
Yep, just one final Mario title for the Switch list. If you’re lookin’ to get trippy with a group of friends (as you should), and you need a classic party game to keep the vibe going, then get Super Mario Party. It features a variety of modes and 80 new minigames that cater to a wide range of players. The core gameplay revolves around the traditional board game mode, where players compete to collect the most stars by rolling dice and, hopefully, avoiding any nasty surprises.
In addition to the main mode, players can enjoy Partner Party, a cooperative 2 vs 2 mode, and other innovative modes like River Survival and the rhythm-based Sound Stage, which offer fresh twists on the party genre.
Super Mario Party can host up to four players at a time. The game uses the Joy-Con Switch controllers, so if you already have two full Switch controllers, you have the Joy-Cons for four players.
However, some players may not enjoy gaming with the tiny Joy-Cons, especially players with bigger hands. In that case, we’d suggest trying another Mario Party title, Mario Party Superstars, which brings classic Mario Party boards to the modern-day Switch. Mario Party Superstars only uses the full Switch controllers, so bring extras if you don’t already have four.
Switch Games with Vividly Weird, Psychedelic Graphics
If you’re looking for competitive games but want the dial tuned down, we got a few here that should still tantalize the eyes.
Ovivo
Ovivo is a minimalist 2D platformer that offers a unique gameplay experience centered around the interplay of black and white. Players control a small ball-like character with the ability to switch between these two colors, which in turn reverses gravity, allowing the character to traverse the game’s stark and abstract landscapes. The objective: Navigate through various levels by timing these color switches to overcome obstacles and reach the end of each stage. The game is designed to be intuitive yet challenging, requiring players to think creatively and adapt to the shifting, oftentimes illusory environments.
Tetris Effect: Connected
Everyone remembers Tetris, the iconic block-stacking game where the goal is, ironically, to prevent the blocks from stacking.
Now, take Tetris and give it a few of your dankest caps. Voila, you’ve now got Tetris Effect: Connected. It’s basically the same ol’ beloved Tetris, with the addition of a banging soundtrack and dynamic, richly animated backgrounds with flowing patterns that react to the player’s actions. You can guess where this is going…
Superliminal
This first-person puzzle game uses perspective and optical illusions to make you question what’s real and what’s not. Certain objects can be manipulated in a way that can only be described as distinctly trippy: When you pick them up, you can move them closer or farther from yourself — also known as forced perspective — and once you set them back down, they scale to the size you viewed them at. This perspective play lets you solve puzzles that would otherwise be impossible.
But, okay, while all of that is good and trippy, the most psychedelic aspect of this game is the premise. Basically, you take on the role of a participant in a dream therapy program. As you progress, you find yourself trapped in a loop of recurring dreams, waking up within dreams themselves. And the only way to find a way out is to navigate the surreal landscape. Clearly, someone developed this game while watching The Matrix on acid.
Thumper
What if a rhythm game like Dance Dance Revolution or Rock Band had a baby with a lit-up tunnel runner? You’d get Thumper. Basically, you guide a beetle through tunnel-tracked space levels, hitting illuminated “notes” while leaping over spikes, ducking missiles and encountering a smorgasbord of route-eating aliens. This game is made for speed, so if you turn it on, buckle up and get ready to go faster than a happy hardcore set on ephedrine.
Also available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC, Android.
