10 Great Games That Are Better On Switch (According To Metacritic)
Some games require an awful lot of processing power in order to look their absolute best, while others rely heavily on a solid online service to provide an unparalleled multiplayer experience. The Nintendo Switch may not be able to offer either of these things quite as well as its competitors, but that's not to say that it doesn't still have one or two tricks hidden up its sleeve.
As well as its wonderful selection of first-party titles, the Switch also serves as a home console / handheld hybrid which allows it to offer something that PlayStation and Microsoft simply cannot; Portability. While not all games benefit from this, there are plenty that really do; making them and the Switch a real match made in heaven.
10 Alien: Isolation
Given how underpowered the Switch is when compared even to the last-gen offerings from Sony and Microsoft, that Alien: Isolation feels quite so at home on the console is a bit of a surprise. Of course, it certainly helps that the game was already more than four years old by the time it released for the device, but that doesn't change the fact that it's a wonderful port.
The game looks every bit as good as it does on other systems and runs incredibly smoothly as well. Being able to take the game anywhere is definitely an advantage too, although this is perhaps a game that's best played in a dimly-lit room rather than on the train or at a mall. Either way, the Switch release currently holds an 83 rating on Metacritic; four more than the average of the PC, PS4 and Xbox One versions.
9 Disgaea 5
The Disgaea series never quite had the same impact in the west as some of the other big JRPG franchises, but that's not to say that it hasn't at least left a mark. Having traditionally been a Sony system series though, the slow death of the PS Vita has seen the Switch become the de facto home of recent handheld Disgaea games.
Thanks to the franchise's simplistic visuals, the Switch version of Disgaea 5 is more than capable of holding its own against both the PC and the PS4 versions in the performance department. With the former also offering the ability to play the game while on the go, it just edges out the competition on Metacritic by a single point.
8 Ori And The Will Of The Wisps
Despite having started life as Xbox exclusives, both of the Ori games are arguably a much better fit for the Nintendo Switch. Those who really squint may be able to detect the slightest of drops in visual fidelity, but this is arguably a small price to pay for being able to play these excellent games while out and about.
Just as the Definitive Edition of Ori and the Blind Forest for the Switch is the highest rated version of the game on Metacritic, so too is the Switch release of Ori and the Will of the Wisps; with the latter boasting an incredibly impressive 93 Metascore. There really isn't too much in it, but the Switch definitely seems to have a slight edge here.
7 Cuphead
Cuphead is another game that started life on Microsoft platforms before later finding a second home elsewhere. The 2019 Switch port just edges out both the Xbox One version and the subsequent PS4 release on Metacritic, arguably making it the best way to play the game on console.
Renowned for its challenging difficulty, Cuphead provides a great alternative to the plethora of Mario games on the system and allows the machine to cater to a slightly different demographic. With a DLC add-on adventure expected a little later on this year, it can only get better as well.
6 Bayonetta 2
In many ways, Bayonetta is the exact opposite of Cuphead and the Ori games. Rather than starting life as a console exclusive and making its way to other devices over time, Bayonetta instead walked that path in reverse; beginning as a multi-platform series before later becoming a Nintendo exclusive of sorts.
As a result, Bayonetta 2 only released for the Switch and the Wii U and, perhaps unsurprisingly, it's the former that proves to be the superior version if Metacritic is to be believed. This is pretty much in keeping with other games that are available for both systems as well; with Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 and Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze also following this trend.
5 Diablo III: Eternal Collection
The visuals in Diablo III: Eternal Collection might not have aged too well, but the gameplay is just as enjoyable as ever. What's more, the low running requirements make the collection a great fit for the Switch's library; allowing the port to perform just as strongly as those on other systems are able to.
The PS4 and Xbox One versions don't actually have any Metacritic ratings to compare with the Switch port's impressive 88 average. The latter's user score towers over those of its rivals though, suggesting that it really is the best way to play the game on console.
4 Warframe
It's very rare for a Switch port to outperform other versions quite as much as Warframe. It currently holds an 86 Metascore, while the PC, PS4 and Xbox One versions are all in the sixties with an average of 65. The recently released PS5 version does manage to get a little closer, but still falls a few points short of the superb Switch release.
When it comes to free to play shooters, they really don't get much better than Warframe and the ridiculous amount of content that it has to offer should be enough to keep players busy for days. The controls are tight, the visuals are solid and the ability to play the game anywhere and at any time makes it a great addition to the Switch's ever-expanding library.
3 Metro: Last Light Redux
4A Games' hugely popular Metro series started life on the Xbox 360 and PC before eventually making its way to PlayStation consoles. It would not be until 2020 that Switch players would be able to enjoy the first two games though, but it was arguably well worth the wait.
The Redux versions of Metro: Last Light and Metro: 2033 for Switch are each more highly rated on Metacritic than both their PlayStation and Xbox One counterparts; with only the PC version of Metro: 2033 achieving a better Metascore. Sadly though, those hoping to play Metro: Exodus on Switch are out of luck, as there's currently no word on if or when the game will be ported to the system.
2 Hades
To many, Hades is the biggest surprise to come out of 2020. The roguelike action RPG is fairly simple in its design, but manages to look great and play fantastically without requiring too much processing power. As a result, the Switch port is more than capable of competing with its Windows counterpart in the visual fidelity department.
Over on Metacritic, the two versions are pretty much neck and neck; with the only thing separating them being their player ratings. Both have impressively high 93 Metascores, but the Switch port just edges out the PC version by virtue of a 0.1 difference in their average User Scores.
1 Shovel Knight
Shovel Knight was already a fantastic game even before Yacht Club Games added new campaigns and game modes. With the Treasure Trove edition, however, it has to at least be involved in the conversation when it comes to the best indie games ever made. As for the best place to play it though, things are a little more cut and dry.
Given the game's design, it's perhaps not too surprising that the three highest rated versions of it on Metacritic are all on handheld systems. With the Vita and 3DS all but dead, that kind of leaves the Switch as the victor by default. It is a worthy winner though; as evidenced by its impressive 91 Metascore.
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