Summary
The Nintendo Switch is thethird-best-selling video game consoleof all time (*at the time of writing) and has thousands of games in its library. It has successfully followed Nintendo’s tried-and-tested formula of using family-friendly, multiplayer, and co-op games in its seven-year lifespan. The immense popularity of games likeMario Kart 8 Deluxe,Super Smash Bros Ultimate,andThe Legend of Zelda: BoTW, just to name a few, has shown fans that the Switch has matched up to the console giants of the past, and some would say it has even surpassed them.
The horror game genrehas also experienced a recent surge in popularity. Games that were previously available only on PC are now increasingly being released across console platforms due to popular demand.Amnesia: The Dark Descent,for example, was released in 2010 for the PC, and the PS4 and Xbox versions were released in 2016 and 2018 respectively. Nintendo has caught onto this trend and is now harnessing the genre to its full potential. In fact, the form factor, convenience, and functionality of the Switch has demonstrated to horror players that games don’t need the best graphics and hardware to be a captivating and frightening experience.
Resident Evil: Revelations 2is an episodic survival horror game set between the events ofResident Evil 5andResident Evil 6, and is a direct sequel toResident Evil: RevelationsandResident Evil 5.It follows Claire Redfield and her co-workers, who are kidnapped and taken away to a deserted island.
It has afully realized co-op experience, which is perfect for the Switch, and also includes a couch, local, and online co-op mode. The ‘Raid Mode’ has been well received by fans and adds tons of addictive gameplay. Overall, this game is a great package for the Switch.
Detentionis aside-scrolling gameset in a school in Taiwan in the 1960s, developed by Red Candle Games. While not a pure horror game, it relies on filling the player with a sense of dread and filling the world with ghosts and spirits to emulate the protagonist descending into madness as the game goes on.
It has an eerie atmosphere, a chilling soundtrack, and is a brooding horror title that is a great fit for the Switch library.
A critically acclaimed survival horror game, Alien: Isolationinvites players to step into Amanda Ripley’s shoes aboard theUSCSS Nostromo.It was one of the best-looking games on the previous generation of consoles, and the Switch version is no different. In fact,Digital Foundry reportedthat the image quality on the Switch was better than that of the PS4!
Having cemented its spot as one of the scariest games of all time upon its release, Alien: Isolation is one of the best games available on the Nintendo Switch right now.
Inflictionis an indie horror game that was heavily inspired byP.T., the playable teaser for theSilent Hillsgame by Konami and Hideo Kojima that was ultimately shelved. Developed by Caustic Reality and originally released in 2018, theExtended Cutbrings this psychological horror experience to the Switch.
Playing as a man trying to find out what happened to his family, it isa horrifying gamewith an oppressive atmosphere, and uses a variety of scare tactics, coupled with impressive sound design, to make the player feel extremely uneasy.
The sequel to the popularLittle Nightmares,Little Nightmares 2follows the same formula: puzzle-platform horror adventure, with strange fantasy elements straight out of an absurd and nightmarish Roald Dahl book. It follows Mono,who works with Six, the protagonist from the first game, to escape the dangers of the Pale City in which they are entrapped.
The game is challenging and satisfying, with well-thought-out puzzles, captivating horror sequences, and treacherous obstacles. The addition of a teamwork element makes it a great game for the Switch.
Tormented Soulsis a throwback to the classics of the genre, like Silent Hill and Resident Evil. A mystery thriller set in a haunted mansion, the player controls Caroline, who explores the mansion to attempt to find two missing girls and escape with them.
The story is sad and disturbing, the atmosphere is intense, and the gameplay includes a mixture of puzzles, exploration, and combat. For players who want to remember what thehorror games of the 1990s felt like, this homage is the perfect game to do that.
A point-and-click adventure roguelike,World of Horrorhas the player solve mysteries to save the world from a god. It is a one-of-a-kind game, with a 1-bit art style inspired by the worksof H.P. Lovecraftand Junji Ito. Created by Polish developer Pawel Kozminski and published by Ysbryd Games, it has stunning visuals, fantastic exploration, and different endings because of its many branching paths.
There is a lot of replayability in this game, due to the number of events and the impact on the player upon experiencing them. This fusion of Japanese and Lovecraftian horror feels right at home on a Nintendo console and is one of the more unique games to be featured on the Switch.
Dreadout 2is a solid indie horror game that draws inspiration from Indonesian folktales and urban legends. It features a comprehensive melee combat system combined with puzzle exploration mechanics. The player controls Linda, a student who has the ability to see ghosts.
A unique take on third-person action-adventure,Dreadout 2hits all the right horror notes with fun gameplay, grainy imagery, an eerie atmosphere, and unsettling enemies.
