It's not uncommon to think the Nintendo Switch is a system specifically designed with families in mind. That's not necessarily untrue, but it’s wrong to assume the console doesn't feature incredible games adults of all ages can enjoy. That's why we're ranking the best Switch games made for adults. How many have you played? Believe it or not, you can head over to Mars and go to war with the denizens of Hell as they try to take over the planet in Doom, a remake/sequel of the classic first-person shooter from the '90s. If you're not partial to wasting demons, you can always fire up The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which is the latest title in the Legend of Zelda franchise available exclusively on the Switch and Nintendo Wii. The game features an immersive quest on a massive landscape you can explore for hours - or months - on end. Other titles like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus are, in no way, appropriate for kids, but that doesn't mean adult can't find hours of enjoyment playing them! Vote up the best Switch games for adults.
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From the get-go, this game breaks barriers in the story department by waking our hero, Link, with no memories in a dystopian Hyrule. Its open-world gameplay allows players to roam freely and tackle challenges in any order with their own unique strategies. Considered a game-changer, Breath of the Wild reinvents the Zelda franchise with its innovative mechanics and a new level of freedom, setting a high bar for future open world RPGs.
Landing players smack dab in the middle of a civil war while an ancient dragon god threatens the world, Skyrim offers an intricate plot set in a massive and immersive world. With the freedom to slay dragons, complete quests, craft, and join guilds at your own pace, no two experiences are the same. Skyrim’s far-reaching influence on RPGs has seen it remain massively popular even a decade after its initial release.
This gritty fantasy epic thrusts Geralt of Rivia, a witcher a.k.a. monster hunter, into ever-deepening layers of politics, prejudice, and personal drama. Its open-world masterpiece juggles player-driven storytelling with visceral, tactical combat that fits perfectly with the dark and mature narrative. The Witcher 3’s phenomenal world-building and complex moral choices have left a lasting footprint in the gaming community, earning it numerous accolades.
Don the infamous power armor as Samus Aran and journey through a remote alien planet dogged by relentless foes. A tight blend of smooth platforming and exploration-based gameplay makes Dread a gem in the Metroidvania genre. A shakeup from its series, Metroid Dread made waves for its successful return to 2D gameplay after nearly 20 years.
In this non-stop action-packed thriller, you’re a lone space marine, battling hellish demons to save humanity. Gloriously gory, Doom speedily mixes first-person shooting with frenzied melee combat. As a reboot of the classic franchise, Doom carried the torch for arcade-style shooters with its huge impact, revitalizing a genre.
Descend into the underwater city of Rapture, a failed utopia fraught with mutants, megalomaniacs, and moral quandaries. Its deep narrative merges with a flexible combat system, featuring powerful abilities and an arsenal of weapon mods. BioShock makes a splash in the gaming landscape with its poignant storytelling, setting a standard for atmospheric, narrative-driven shooters.
As rising star detective Cole Phelps, solve a series of grisly cases inspired by real-world events in post-WWII L.A. It uniquely integrates interrogation and clue-finding mechanics with traditional action gameplay and open-world exploration. The game’s focus on narrative and period authenticity sets it apart as a golden example of interactive storytelling.
Traversing through heaven and hell to battle the ultimate evil, Diablo III wraps you up in a tale of angels, demons, and the mortal heroes caught in between. With its addictive loot grinding, class leveling, and co-op gameplay, it's a class act in the action RPG spookshow. Its impact has echoed through the decade, with it's hack-n-slash mechanics being replicated in countless titles.
It greets you with myths and prophecies, then plunges you into the deep end of a hauntingly beautiful nightmare world. Its punishing difficulty and rewarding exploration challenge players at every step. Dark Souls' intricate world design, deep lore and unyielding difficulty have solidified its legendary status in the gaming world.
Starting salty sea dog Edward Kenway, it unfurls a tale of piracy during the Golden Age while adding a dash of Assassin-Templar drama. Its gameplay combines stealth, parkour, and naval combat, providing a thrilling open-sea adventure. Black Flag’s sea-faring mechanics were such a hit they become a staple in the Assassin's Creed franchise and even inspired a standalone game, Skull & Bones.
Step into the battle-worn boots of the titular character, a witch hellbent on saving her friend from Inferno. The game juggles strategic combat with fluid movement for an ecstatic action-packed romp. Bayonetta 2's impact on hack-and-slash games is significant and undoubted, raising the bar for combat mechanics.
As Leon Kennedy, safeguard the President's daughter from a rural European cult infected by a horrific parasite. Its acclaimed over-the-shoulder perspective revolutionizes third-person shooters, meshing tense survival horror with white-knuckle action. Pivotal in gaming history, Resident Evil 4's influence is seen in numerous successful games that followed.
Embark on an adventurous quest for an alien vault as one of the Mercenaries on the lawless and desolate planet of Pandora. With explosive first-person shooting, unique RPG progression, and a blistering sense of humor, Borderlands leave no stone unturned. The game’s hallmark blend of gunplay and comedy, and its infectious co-op mechanics, made it a household name and sparked a genre of its own - the looter-shooter.
You're an android in a post-apocalyptic world, grappling with existential crises amid a war against alien machines, setting a remarkable tone for this genre-blending title. It seamlessly amalgamates RPG, overhead shooter, and beat-em-up gameplay with an emotional, thought-provoking portfolio. Nier: Automata has been heaped with praise for both it's touching narrative and it's infectious and eclectic design.
As a sleeper passenger suddenly awoken amidst a corporate power struggle, The Outer Worlds whisks you into a head-spinning blend of RPG elements and dystopian narrative. It's sink or swim in this Fallout-in-space-like adventure where every action, dialogue, or combat choice shapes the ever-evolving gameplay rhythm. It's a knockout blow in the world of RPGs, forcing every game post it's release to step up their immersion game.
Delving into a wacky take on superhero culture through the lens of South Park's good-natured satire, The Fractured but Whole has you laughing and strategizing in equal measure. Gameplay centers around a robust RPG engine complete with turn-based combat, letting you control the downright hilarious narrative actively. This quirky gem of an RPG catapults itself into cult-classic territory, holding a mirror up to society while keeping the laughs coming.
Become B.J. Blazkowicz in a Nazi-ruled America and champion the rebellious fight for freedom. With audacious dual-wielding gunplay and resilient enemies, it makes every battle hard-won. The high-stakes narrative and bombastic gameplay of Wolfenstein II have elevated the series to new heights and redefined the shooter genre.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords sends you on incredible space opera odysseys, painting the galaxy with shades of morality and force. With its gripping RPG systems, branching narrative, and deep combat mechanics, it's the complete Star Wars package with a side of lightsabers. It remains an iconic milestone, raising the bar for future Star Wars games.
Survive the perilous day and the terrifying night in Dying Light, where the undead rule the post-apocalyptic city of Harran. With freerunning-inspired movement and ammunition-strapped combat, it brings action, horror, and survival to a climactic convergence. Dying Light flips the script on zombie games, transforming them from simple hack-n-slash experiences to multi-faceted open world adventures.
Back in the dark, eerie world of Resident Evil: Revelations, you're trapped on an abandoned cruise ship filled with grotesque bio-organic weapons and haunting puzzles. Every corner turned could either bring progress or peril, creating a tense, nerve-wracking atmosphere. It's the lynchpin that reaffirms that survival-horror games still have plenty of tricks up their sleeves.
Civilization VI is your canvas to paint the history of a nation on, starting from a humble tribe to a bustling world-superpower. The turn-based strategy keeps you on your toes, making every decision feel crucial to the grand story of your civilization. It's the steady drip that made the grand ocean of modern strategy games, refining and redefining the genre with every iteration.
Slinging blood, gore, and brutal Fatalities, Mortal Kombat 11 is a time-warping entry in this long-running fighting franchise. It offers a robust roster and gameplay improvements keeping each punch, kick, and combo drop-dead satisfying. It's made waves in the FGC (Fighting Game Community) for its exciting storytelling and intricate fighting mechanics.
Spin a tale of war-torn nations via complex narratives and strategic battles in this brand new tactical RPG. Gameplay emphasizes team strategy and field manipulation, yet every choice can shift the balance of your story. Although new, Triangle Strategy promises a fresh experience, binding narrative to gameplay like few have attempted before.
Dead Cells is a heady blend of Metroidvania exploration and rogue-like progression, with death forming a crucial part of the haunting story. Its fast-paced combat and constant evolution with every character death makes it a gripping gameplay experience. The game single-handedly revived the rogue-like genre, by finding a way to marry dying and progressing seamlessly.
Return to the birth of the legendary saga in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, where iconic characters and lands first began to take shape. Traditional puzzle-solving and combat meet motion-controlled gameplay to create an engaging link between player and character. Its impact is palpable, shaping the motion control genre and standing out as a timeless beacon in Zelda's lineage.
Venture into the chilling depths of space in Alien: Isolation, where constant fear of a murderous Alien forms the crux of the story. Stealth and resource management takes center stage, as you traverse the dimly lit corridors of Sevastopol Space Station, always on high alert. Its lasting impact asserts that less is indeed more in horror games, using sparing but intense Alien appearances to maintain terror levels.
Romance is tricky in Catherine: Full Body, a game where every nocturnal nightmare and daytime decision could bring about your doom. The game blends dating-sim elements with challenging block puzzles, wrapping players in its twisted yet endearing story. It's a breath of fresh air in a market of run-of-the-mill games, paving the way for narrative-driven puzzle games.
In the terrifying realm of Outlast, you're merely a reporter armed with a night-vision camera, trapped inside a horrifying asylum. Outlast's hide-and-seek mechanics and gripping narrative immerse the player in an unending sense of dread. This groundbreaking horror-survival game doesn't pull any punches, etching its name into the annals of the genre's history.
No monsters, no magic, just the raw, horrifying suspense of Outlast 2 has you questioning the darkness lurking within humanity. With a dim camera as your only guide, every rustle, shadow, and silence fuels the formidable feeling of fear. Its gameplay creates more chills and scares than you can shake a stick at, setting the tone for modern psychological horror games.
Inside weaves an eerie, dystopian tale where a child's struggle for survival leads players through a monochromatic, perilous world. Its intuitive puzzle-solving and platforming gameplay merge seamlessly with the atmospheric narrative, leaving players on the edge of their seats. Inside's impact paints a broad stroke, inspiring a slew of indie developers to push boundaries in storytelling.
Beyond just stacking blocks, Tetris Effect encapsulates you in spellbinding visuals and soundscapes, narrating an ethereal sensory experience. The gameplay ebbs and flows with the music, creating a rhythm that is both challenging and soothing. Proving it's more than a one-trick pony, Tetris Effect revolutionizes the classic game by adding layers of poignant complexity, effectively changing how we perceive puzzle games.
Saints Row: The Third gives "gunning for the top" a new perspective, thrusting you into a world of organized chaos, with a surreal sense of humor. The gameplay is centered around wild, over-the-top missions, demanding keen resource management and strategic planning. With its delightful absurdity and energetic design, Saints Row: The Third hit the nail on the head, leaving a profound mark on the open-world genre.
In Batman: The Telltale Series, you grapple with being Bruce Wayne in the day and the Bat at night while juggling relationships and Gotham's crime. The interactive storytelling and consequential decision-making keep players thoroughly engaged throughout this narrative-driven gameplay experience. It's a game-changer, taking the popular Arkham series's raw action and veering towards a more psychological, consequential path.
Dive back into the ominous universe of Diablo II, where you're tasked to burst through the forces of Hell once again, in an exhilarating remaster of a beloved classic. Engage in visceral hack-and-slash gameplay that's as addictive as it is fulfilling, leaving you hankering for more. This nostalgic adventure not only shakes up the dust from our old Diablo memories but righteously places itself as a shining beacon in the realm of terrific remasters.
The Binding of Isaac offers a demented twist on Biblical tales, portraying a toddler's nightmarish basement journey to escape his homicidal mother. Combining roguelike elements with frantic twin-stick shooting, it's a real "sink or swim" situation. It's an eternally replayable, grotesque masterpiece that helped propel indie games into mainstream consciousness.
Life Is Strange: Remastered Collection is a time-altering, breathtaking narrative that resonates within your core, depicting the bonds of friendship and destiny. It’s a choice-heavy, episodic-adventure game that requires gripping decision-making and puzzle-solving, pushing boundaries with its impact on storytelling in video games. From a whirlwind of emotive narratives to its detailed, atmospheric environments, your heart is bound to skip a beat.
Take a detour from Darksider's usual affair with Genesis, a game that does a deep-dive into the story of the horsemen before the apocalypse. It's all hands on deck with its top-down hack-and-slash gameplay, providing a different perspective on the Darksiders universe. Darksiders Genesis ushers in a new wave of action-adventure games, proving that prequels can pack the same punch as their originals.
Straddle the line between humanity and monstrosity in Vampyr, as you embody a conflicted doctor turned vampire, navigating a plague-ridden London. Every dialogue and combat choice directly feeds into the consequences of the story, leading to a deeply immersive experience. Vampyr creates a definitive statement for morally grey narratives, leaving a significant mark on the RPG landscape.
Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening is a brooding ballet of devastation, narrating the heart-pounding tale of Dante's quest to stop his brother from opening the gates of the underworld. Known for its tight, stylish combat mechanics and challenging difficulty, the game quite literally "takes no prisoners". Dante's Awakening marked a defining point for the franchise and continues to bewitch the action genre two decades on.
Star Ocean, a beloved JRPG, takes you into an extraordinary blend of deep-space exploration and high-fantasy world. Integrating a fast-paced, real-time combat system with deep character customization, it's a sight for sore eyes for any RPG fan. Star Ocean's unique juxtaposition of sci-fi and fantasy elements has left an indelible mark on the RPG genre.
Payday 2 is a frenetic co-op shooter that invites players to thread the fine line of law and disorder, putting together epic heists and making off with a pretty penny. Its gameplay centers on engaging elements of strategy and quick-thinking while landing you right into the adrenaline-fuelled turbulence of a heist-gone-wrong. Payday 2's impact stems from its unmatched co-op heist experience that keeps you coming back for one last job.
Road 96 embarks you on a gripping runaway tale where each choice shapes the overarching narrative and your destiny. Blend of diverse gameplay mechanics, including puzzle-solving, quick-time events, and dialogue options, makes it an unpredictable joyride. Road 96 stands tall among narrative-driven games with its inventive approach to branching storytelling and memorable characters.
Night in the Woods is a poignant tale painted in a palette of small-town life and supernatural horrors. Its gameplay, a medley of exploration, dialogues, and minigames, emphasizes on soaking up the atmospheric narrative. This indie gem's heartfelt storytelling and relatable topics have made lasting ripples in the gaming community.
Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing In Disguise meshes together a murder mystery narrative within a seasoning of mind-boggling bizarreness. The game serves a combo platter of open-world exploration, investigative gameplay, and campy horror. Its Lynchian charm and eccentricity absolutely knock it out of the park, making it a cult classic in gaming history.
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