The Nintendo Switch has a become a fantastic system for fans of indie games old and new. Plenty of independent developers have had significant success putting their games on the system. It’s always great for Nintendo fans when games like Gris or Hollow Knight release on Switch as console exclusives (timed or otherwise), but it’s almost equally awesome when titles like Celeste or Wargroove come out alongside other platforms on day one. And even though it can be disappointing to have to wait, it’s nice to get some titles (like Limbo or Super Meat Boy) that skipped out on Switch or other Nintendo platforms on initial release. Better late than never!
However, there are certain indie games that have yet to come to any Nintendo platform, and, sadly, some of the most foundational and well-respected titles in the indie gaming revolution’s pantheon are included in this category. Several of these games seem tailor-made for Nintendo’s audience and the Switch’s particular strengths, and I think it’s about time some of them landed on this popular platform to find a welcoming new group of fans (and probably plenty of returning fans eager to revisit these gems).
Here’s my chronologically-ordered list of five indie classics that need to make their Nintendo hardware debuts on Switch. I’m limiting my selections to indie games released at least five years ago, so we can say with some certainty that they’ve stood the test of time.
Braid
Many cite the 2008 Xbox 360 release of Braid as the key watershed moment for console indie games. Its success certainly helped establish a template followed by many indies that came in its wake. But while Braid’s thoughtful and deliberate approach to the 2D puzzle platform genre helped inspire games like Limbo (a classic that did eventually come to Switch), it has a particularly masterful approach to establishing and cleverly iterating on well-defined core gameplay mechanics in a way that should feel familiar to astute fans of Nintendo’s design philosophy. Braid was designed by indie icon Jonathan Blow, and while he may be a divisive figure, he certainly infuses the game with a unique personality and mysterious, thoughtful aura.
Not to spoil the game (just in case), but let’s just say there are some direct allusions to Nintendo history in Braid, as well. Blow’s masterpiece has also never been available on a portable system, unlike some of the other games on this list, so a Switch release would have an exclusive feature built in by default.
Also, I’d feel remiss if I didn’t at least mention Blow’s other game, The Witness. It came out in 2016, so it’s technically not eligible for this list, but I had to sneak in a mention of it because it evolves and expands upon Blow’s design ethos in fascinating ways, and it would be a perfect fit on the Switch.
To the Moon
To the Moon first came to Windows PCs in 2011, carrying with it a nostalgic aesthetic that seems inspired by 16-bit console RPGs. However, it eschews many of the gameplay conventions such an art style would imply by jettisoning battle systems, inventory management, and other common elements to focus heavily on its emotionally gripping story.
To the Moon was an early example of how indie developers can deliver more intimate, personal stories while using their aesthetic choices and the particularities of the medium to complement their impact. Storytelling in games is an ever-evolving matter, but I think this game is a key touchstone in the indie game scene’s more individualized approach to the concept.
Several smaller narrative-focused titles have come to Switch, but we could always use a few more. To the Moon has already been ported to phones, but it’s never been on a console. The Switch would be a great place for it, but I’d also like to see it hit all the platforms eventually. Perhaps it could be bundled with its “minisode” companion, A Bird Story, and its sequel, Finding Paradise, to give players a more robust package of content.
Fez
2012’s Fez is a brilliant exploratory puzzle platformer with mysterious vibes, beautiful pixel art, clever puzzles, and a unique dimension-shifting gameplay mechanic. It took roughly five years to make, and its emotionally grueling development seems to have taken its toll on designer Phil Fish, who has apparently given up on game design entirely.
Fez is a true masterwork, though, so even if this is his only substantive contribution to gaming, Fish has accomplished more than enough in my eyes. Fez’s true greatness lies in its surprising depth, and I mean that in more ways than one. I don’t want to spoil anything for the uninitiated, but Fez is a fascinating journey that unfurls in novel and ever-intriguing ways.
Fez’s colorful visuals, Super Paper Mario-esque core mechanic, and retro-infused charm should hold great appeal for Nintendo fans. In fact, when you first start the game, you’ll see that main character Gomez has what appears to be a Legend of Zelda poster in his room. Clearly Phil Fish was inspired by Nintendo in various ways when making this game, but Fez has been on pretty much every other system (and phone) out there while skipping Wii U, 3DS (where it would have been nicely enhanced by stereoscopic 3D), and now Switch. I think it’s high time Nintendo fans get invited to the party.
Spelunky
You can’t throw a stone into the Switch eShop without hitting at least five roguelikes (or roguelike-likes, or roguelites, or games with roguelike elements, or… well, you get the idea). Much of modern gaming’s obsession with this genre can be traced back to 2012’s Spelunky. OK, technically Spelunky came out in 2008 for PC, but here I’m referring to the Xbox Live Arcade release of the game, which I believe is what brought it into the mainstream and is the iteration of the game most people think of when they’re thinking of Spelunky.
And people think of Spelunky a lot, because it’s one of the greatest games ever made and certainly one of indie gaming’s most influential. Its whimsical Indiana Jones-style adventure sees players journey into a progressively-generated trap-filled cave armed with only a whip, a handful of explosives, some straightforward jumping and climbing mechanics, and their wits. But the secret sauce of Spelunky’s success is found in the way the game’s hidden depths and systems reveal themselves to players over time.
Spelunky 2 is scheduled to come out this year, but so far there’s no word on a Switch release. Judging by the fact that it was announced during a PlayStation livestream, it may be PS4-exclusive for at least a while. What better way to soothe Nintendo fans’ souls than to release the original classic on the Switch? I’ve played a ton of the game on Vita, and I can vouch for the fact that it’s a nigh-perfect handheld experience. And who knows? If Spelunky works out, maybe creator Derek Yu can bring his other new project, UFO 50, to Switch as well. The more the merrier!
Hotline Miami
2012’s Hotline Miami is bursting with ’80s neon retro visuals, a psychedelically hazy soundtrack, bizarre surrealism, and over-the-top ultraviolence. At its core, the game is a top-down shooter with fairly bite-sized levels that are well-designed for both casual approaches and more serious score attack runs.
Hotline Miami is a great nod to arcade-style games of yore but is inevitably infused with the trappings of more contemporary influences like Grand Theft Auto. It feels like the sort of game that might have existed back in the day if only such subject matter had been socially acceptable in video games, and its stylish strangeness and “maturity” would likely be appealing to the Switch’s key 20- and 30-something demographic if they’re looking for something with a bit of edge.
This game was recently referenced directly by the Switch-exclusive Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, so maybe there are already plans in the pipeline and we’ll be able to cross Hotline Miami off the list soon. Preferably any release on Switch (or Xbox, which has also never seen Hotline Miami come to its platform) would be bundled with or released alongside the sequel, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number.
So that’s the end of the list. Even one of these classic Indies would be a boon to Switch owners, but with any luck, all these games will be announced during the next Nintendo Direct. If not, well… we will continue to dream (and maybe play a little Spelunky on Vita while we’re at it).