Here is our Top 10 indie games for Nintendo Switch that we reviewed in 2020. The games aren’t in any specific order but we save our absolute favorites for the top 3 of the list. We tried to cover as many genres as possible, so there is something for everyone on this list. But of course, there will be some overlap in the genre because some games are just that great. If you want to know more about the games featured in this list, please read our fully fletched review by clicking the title link.
Number 10: Bug Fables The Everlasting Sapling
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling is a role-playing video game with heavy inspiration in both art and gameplay from the first two Paper Mario games. Bug Fables centers itself around three bugs, each with a distinct move set and personality—Vi the Bee, Kabbu the Beetle, and Leif the Moth. Join them on an epic quest, as they search the mythical land of Bugaria in pursuit of vast treasures and eternal life (in the form of an everlasting sapling). For those familiar with the Paper Mario series, the way Bug Fables is build-up will be a walk in the park. Find artifacts (CQ. Stars in Paper Mario), unlock a new part of the game…
When exploring the overworld, these characters can use their unique abilities to traverse the environment, solve puzzles, and find secrets, and as the game progresses, more abilities are unlocked. Combat is played in a turn-based format, which makes use of small minigames similar to Paper Mario, as the player must time button presses to maximize the efficacy of their moves, or to take less damage from enemy attacks. You can say it’s a spiritual successor to the original Paper Mario games and a great one for that matter.
Number 9: Grindstone
In Grindstone you play as Jorj, making his way up the mountain one puzzle at a time. To clear these boards Jorj must destroy creeps in a wonderfully cartoony (but surprisingly gory) fashion. He can only attack creeps of the same color in a row. He must find chains of the same type of critter until he has killed enough to open the door and proceed up the mountain. Destroying 10 creeps in a row unlocks the titular grindstones which fall on the map and can be used to switch colors mid-way through a sequence. Each level has a basic aim to be cleared (often destroying a set number of enemies), but there are bonus objectives as well, for instance, unlock a chest by killing the key-holding critter and then building up enough chains to open. The loop of 10-minute levels followed by upgrades, you unlock with your grindstones, urges that “one more puzzle” mentality, and while it can be played in short sessions it can also see the hours roll by.
Number 8: Gonner 2
In GONNER2, our altruistic and unexpected hero Ikk is back! And this time Death needs his help. Her lair has been taken over by a mysterious presence and she needs Ikk to take it down. Journey your way through deep dark chaotic places with sparks of unimaginable colour and crazy bosses, all while trying to literally keep your head!!
GONNER2 is a sequel to the IGF winning game GoNNER. Both of them are procedurally generated platformers with roguelike elements that will keep you on your toes. The main gist of the game is still the same as its predecessor. Where Gonner 2 differs from the original in its approach to the mechanics introduced in the first game. As a shooter game, it does take a while to perfect your skills and the second game is no different, still hard yet fun to play and it took everything from the first game and just expanded on that.
Number 7: What the Golf?
What the Golf? is an award-winning silly physics-based golf parody where every golf course offers a new surprise. Some courses were brilliant or hilarious, others so absurd they will make you go: WHAT THE GOLF?
To truly appreciate this game, you’ll have to throw away everything you know about golf and expect the unexpected. Sure, in most of the levels, you actually play golf. But in other levels, you race a sheep, go like super meat boy through a jungle of explosives, and much more. The kicker is that each level is a love letter to another game, genre, movie, or pop-cultural phenomena. The brilliance of this game is in the details. Each section is themed after a specific object, period, or country. The game is a short one, packing in around 8 hours for a 100% playthrough but will keep a smile on your face throughout.
Number 6: Evergate
In Evergate you play as a character named Ki, a childlike soul and together you will be exploring the world she once was part of from the afterlife. Learn more about Ki’s history by solving puzzles and unraveling mysteries. Reveal the memories of her previous life, moving through space and time to find the mysterious connection Ki has with another soul.
Evergate is a 2D puzzle-platformer. The game looks similar to other indie games like the Ori and Hollow Knight series. But don’t be fooled. The gameplay is totally different, no Hack ‘n’ Slash gameplay here. The gameplay is centered around the mechanic called Soulflame. The Soulflame needs to be fired through the Crystals, these are scattered around the world. But it also needs to connect with the Source, a white glowing surface, to cause different effects. Each level has you reach the gate but also has bonus objectives such as gathering all the petals and reaching the goal quickly.
Number 5: Good Job!
In Good Job!, you play as the child of the CEO of a big company. Instead of just giving you an easy job, your CEO’s dad thinks it’s better to let you go through the ranks of the corporate ladder the hard way. You start at the bottom and need to work your way up to the executive suite. It turns out you are quite the clumsy chap with no real work experience what-so-ever. There are 9 floors in total, each floor has a different theme which also means the rooms will demand different skills from you. On the logistics floor, you need to operate things like cranes and forklifts to succeed in your tasks. It’s up to you how you complete a task. The rooms start out pretty straightforward but ramp up in difficulty as you get further. While Good Job! is not being obvious about it being a puzzler, you’ll soon need to find inventive ways to solve the tasks at hand.
Number 4: Spiritfarer
Spiritfarer sees you embody Stella, along with her incredibly cute cat Daffodil, and take on the role of the titular Spiritfarer. Set on a Wind Waker-esque archipelago you must collect the souls of the departed and help them complete their unfinished business in this world before escorting them to the Everdoor. This gateway to whatever comes after this life sits at the center of the map as a reminder of the game’s end goal.
To help you on your way you have your trusty vessel which carries these souls and provides a base to complete your objectives. It is on this boat that you cook up food to keep the souls happy, build them houses, grow crops, smelt ore, etc. Spiritfarer is part action-platformer, as you explore islands and find the souls and one-part farming sim. To help the souls on with their journey you must collect and utilize resources from across the world.
Number 3: Faeria
Faeria is a deckbuilding game where you and your opponent face off against each other on a board filled with hexagons. At the start of each turn, you get “Faeria” which is used to summon the cards out of your hand. The creatures out of your hand need a place on the board before they can be summoned. You and your opponent both place lands on the board to pave a way across. Faeria uses the same concept that’s proven to work in most successful deckbuilding card games. Every card in Faeria can be earned by playing the game. Yep, that’s right… this is not a pay to win type of deckbuilding game to further empty your wallet. Play the game and get rewarded with new cards to experiment with all while getting better. There are a couple of game modes: missions, AI battles, and online battles to get more experience. Gathering enough experience lets you level up and earns you new cards and even new “deck formula’s” to make a balanced themed deck.
Number 2: Ori and the Will of the Wisps
From the creators of Ori and the Blind Forest comes the highly-anticipated sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Embark on an all-new adventure in a vast and exotic world where you’ll encounter towering enemies and challenging puzzles on your quest to discover Ori’s true destiny.
For those not familiar with Ori and the Blind Forest, Ori is an action-platformer, also known as Metroidvania. These types of games may normally not have the best storytelling, but Ori and the Will of the Wisps is definitely an exception to that rule. Both Ori games feature breathtaking visuals (although a bit less as the PC and Xbox versions) and soundtracks and run as smooth as butter on the Switch. Both games are available on Xbox One and PC and are available on the Switch as physical releases as well. If you want to know more about the best (action-)platformer of the year, please read our full fletched review.
Number 1: Hades
Defy the god of the dead as you hack and slash out of the Underworld in this rogue-like dungeon crawler from Supergiant Games creators of gems like Bastion and Transistor.
As the immortal Prince of the Underworld, you’ll wield the powers and mythic weapons of Olympus to break free from the clutches of the god of the dead himself, while growing stronger and unraveling more of the story with each unique escape attempt. Hades is an action rogue-lite game with a compelling story containing voice acting and stunning visuals. Hades is the winner of both indie game & action game of the year, so this is no push-over. If you want to know more about this award-winning game, please read our fully fletched review.
