Despite being late in its lifecycle, the Switch had a fantastic 2023 thanks to a steady flow of superb first party releases and many third party titles across big and small developers. It is now time to look forward with 2024 still bringing loads of games to Switch that I’m excited to check out through exclusives and multi-platform releases. Here are the best upcoming Nintendo Switch games for 2024 that I want to play in no particular order.
The best upcoming Nintendo Switch games for 2024
SaGa Emerald Beyond
Why is SaGa in this list as well? I mean if you’ve read TouchArcade for a while now, you know we love SaGa, and will be making sure more folks try the series. After adoring SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions, we all want to play SaGa Emerald Beyond, and I likely will get it on Switch as well since it has a physical release there. I can’t wait to see what the developers have in store for us when SaGa Emerald Beyond launches on consoles, PC, and mobile in a few months.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Daybreak
While I’m not sure the Switch version of The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Daybreak will be the one I play to 100% completion, I will be playing it on Switch because I’ve played every Trails game on Switch. Trails into Daybreak is shaping up to be the best modern entry point into Falcom’s amazing series, and I’ve heard the soundtrack far too many times already. I hope NIS America announces a release date soon for Trails into Daybreak on Switch, PS5, PS4, and PC.
Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II
Experience Inc are masters of dungeon crawlers, but also fantastic at horror adventure games. Death Mark and NG were superb, and I have high hopes of Death Mark II from the Spirit Hunter series. The aesthetic has always been strong, and after two games, I have no doubt in Experience Inc. and Aksys Games delivering a brilliant suspense horror experience here.
Penny’s Big Breakaway
I rarely enjoy 3D platformers. Most of them just bore me, and I’ve not really gone back to replay any outside of Super Mario Odyssey. Evening Star (Sonic Mania) are releasing Penny’s Big Breakaway in 2024, and the upcoming 3D platformer is the first in the genre since Mario Odyssey that has me interested with its gorgeous aesthetic and awesome gameplay based on everything shown so far.
Another Code: Recollection
I love when Nintendo gives some of its smaller and older franchises a shot in the spotlight on Switch like we saw with Famicom Detective Club. While Another Code: Recollection has a demo on Switch, I’m looking forward to playing the full adventure game package in January when it releases bringing the DS and Wii game to Switch with redone visuals and more.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a game I’ve been told to play about a thousand times at least, and I’ve resisted in the hopes of a port or remake. We are finally getting one on Switch, and I’m excited to see what my friends say “feels made literally for me". I hope it ends up delivering and that Nintendo gives it the polish it seemingly deserves.
Unicorn Overlord
Vanillaware and Atlus are releasing a game I didn’t know existed until recently with Unicorn Overlord. The tactical RPG exploration game looks like another win for the developer, and after adoring 13 Sentinels, GrimGrimoire, Dragon’s Crown, and more from them, I’m excited to play this when it launches in a few months. I also enjoy playing Vanillaware games on a portable, and the Switch is the only portable version for this game.
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island
The combination of my love for Shiren 5 and Shaun’s preview of Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island has me hyped to play this when it launches in February in the West for Nintendo Switch. This has the potential to be one of the system’s best exclusives of the year.
Gunvolt Records Cychronicle
Inti Creates’ Gunvolt series has always been worth playing through its games and most of its spin-offs, but the music is always excellent. I didn’t think they’d do it, but we are now getting a Gunvolt rhythm game with Gunvolt Records Cychronicle, and I will be there no matter what to play it on Switch. I’m just a bit concerned about how the music packs and DLC will be handled.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake
I love Koei Tecmo’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms games so much that I bought the untranslated ones on Steam to try and play on Steam Deck. Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV with its expansion pack was awesome, and I never played Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 which many consider the best. I hope this remake delivers and is a good port on Switch when it launches later in 2024.
With my list done, I’m curious what you’re looking forward to playing on Switch in 2024. There are a few games I will be checking out, but I’ve not looked into them much like Princess Peach: Showtime!, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and more. 2024 is shaping up to be a great year with how many releases we are getting in the first half, but I’m curious about Nintendo’s remaining slate. If you think I missed something notable, let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!