The Nintendo Switch has proven itself to be a pretty incredible console/handheld. The ability to play games at home and then take them with you as you go about your day is something that no other platform can give you and it’s a huge part of the Switch’s success. Nintendo’s incredible first-paty lineup of games is another.
Surprisingly, yet another key element for the success of the Switch are third-party ports. While the Switch isn’t as powerful as the PS4 or Xbox One, developers are cleverly finding ways to port games to the Switch. These ports might not be as visually impressive on Switch but the tradeoff is being able to play these games on the go.
Some of the best ports you can already get on Switch include Wolfenstein: The New Colossus, Doom, The Witcher 3 and Dark Souls Remastered. There are still plenty more ports to come though and these are our picks for the ones to be most excited about.
Upcoming Switch Ports
1. The Outer Worlds
Obsidian’s incredible, futuristic space RPG, The Outer Worlds is coming to Switch on June 5. Being ported by Virtuos (who is also porting BioShock and XCOM and previously ported Dark Souls and Spyro to Switch), The Outer Worlds arrives after a delay due to COVID-19.
Senior Producer Zhang Chengwei spoke to Nintendolife and said the developer uses the “Virtuos’ Solution” and Virtuos “proposes the best solutions for how to fully use the Switch’s best features and really make the game shine, not just as a game, but specifically as a Switch game.”
The Outer Worlds is very similar to Fallout and sees you exploring the Halcyon star system, unravelling mysteries, battling aliens and chatting up the residents.
2. XCOM 2
Also being ported by Virtuos, XCOM 2 comes to Switch as a complete package on May 29, 2020. It includes the base game, the War of the Chosen expansion and four DLC packs. That’s a huge amount of content for you to play through both at home and on the go (if you’re allowed to leave your house.)
XCOM 2 was originally released for PC, then later followed by PS4 and Xbox One. The Switch port cleverly makes use of the Switch’s tech and smaller memory to render the game unchanged. Virtuos “developed a clever general-purpose rendering library that allows XCOM 2 to be rendered directly on the Switch without changing the original rendering module from Unreal Engine 3.”
Playing turn-based strategy games on Switch is absolutely perfect and as XCOM 2 is one of the best in the genre, this is a no-brainer.
3. Doom Eternal
When the port of the first DOOM was announced for Switch, many people thought it was a joke. Surely the Switch wasn’t capable of running DOOM? While it didn’t run at 60fps or with an impressive resolution, DOOM did run on Switch and it was still exceptionally playable.
Now, DOOM Eternal is headed to Switch and you best believe we’re excited. DOOM Eternal is a phenomenal game and being able to play it on Switch, even in reduced quality is all kinds of exciting.
In development at Panic Button (who ported the first game), id Software’s Marty Stratton told US Gamer that he was stunned by the port in February of this year.
I am stunned. Our partner on that, Panic Button, I’ve referred to them many times as masters of the platform, and they’re proving it again. I really think it’s gonna surprise people[…] I see it all the time in the comments, when we release a video: ‘Can’t wait to play it on Switch, can’t wait to play it on Switch.’ I think people are going to love it.
DOOM Eternal comes to Switch this year.
4. Borderlands Legendary Collection
Borderlands on a Nintendo platform has been a long time coming. Bundling Borderlands, Borderlands 2 and Borderlands The Pre-Sequel, Borderlands Legendary Collection is giving Switch players an insane amount of content. Each of the games comes with all of the released DLC except the special Borderlands 3 lead-in content.
Borderlands is the original loot-shooter and is so popular for a reason; it’s really damn good. With this collection, you’ll have 3/4 of the Borderlands story and, who knows, if enough people play it, maybe Gearbox will port Borderlands 3.
We can hope.
5. Catherine Full Body
Catherine is a truly bizarre yet ultimately engaging puzzle game from Atlus. Playing as Vincent, you’ll need to navigate both the strange hellscape he falls into whilst asleep and his day to day life while cheating on his long term girlfriend Katherine, with Catherine, a girl he just met.
Equal parts dating-sim, JRPG and QBert, Catherine Full Body is a re-release of the original game with added extras, more story and extra content.
Catherine Full Body is yet another example of a perfect genre for the Switch and will almost certainly be a hit when it comes to the console.
6. BioShock The Collection
When it comes to games and series that redefined the way we look at and play video games, BioShock is right at the top of that list. From the ground-breaking, genre defining classic of BioShock through to the mind-bending BioShock Infinite, it’s a series that absolutely must be played by any self-respecting gamer.
While predominantly a first-person shooter, the digetic nature of the storytelling, thrill of discovery and exploration and ultimate resolution for each of the games makes this collection the ultimate for fans of story-driven gaming.
Coming to Switch on May 29, 2020, BioShock The Collection should be at the top of every Switch owners list.
