There’s nothing better than good old fashioned escapism, especially in these extremely trying and testing times. What better way to escape than by immersing yourself in a fantasy world, temporarily detached from what’s happening outside the confines of your game?
Whilst most of the world has now come to a halt, we can all be immensely thankful that our favorite video game developers were hard at work in the months leading to the lockdown, working tirelessly to get some of the most anticipated games ready for release.
As a result we’re now able to enjoy a number of fantastic new titles with zero distractions as we all stay at home and do our bit to make the world a safer place once more.
If you’ve been glued to your Nintendo Switch over the past few months and are looking for something new to play, sit back, relax and enjoy our comprehensive list of the very best Switch games that’ll keep you occupied this May.
Streets of Rage 4
We’re absolutely delighted to see Streets of Rage make a triumphant return to consoles, nearly 20 years since the original was released for the Sega Mega Drive back in 1991.
This wonderfully retro beat’em up retains all of the features of the classic game that helped make it so popular back then, including iconic characters Axel and Blaze, who are this time joined by a whole bunch of new friends who help them punch and kick their way through hordes of bad guys as the story unfolds.
It’s an easy enough game to pick up and play, even if you’re not familiar with the way these classic beat’em ups are played. Design-wise it looks great, it looks a hell of a lot smoother than previous entries in the series, which is admittedly quite a departure… But it works!
If you’re looking for an injection of nostalgia with a modern twist then pick up Streets of Rage 4 and enjoy some classic backstreet brawling goodness, just like you remembered as a kid.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Easily the most iconic Nintendo Switch release of all time, Breath of the Wild is a stunning open world game that’s really helped breath life into the Zelda franchise (pun intended!).
The choreographed, linear style of the original Zelda games have been bodly replaced by a gorgeous, vast open world that’s rife for exploration and filled with hidden secrets.
The sheer scale and size of the game can be a little intimidating at first, it’s a lot to take in, especially for those of us who have truly gotten used to the old-style format of Zelda games.
That said getting lost amongst the chaos in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is truly a joy to behold, the world is stunning, there’s so much to see and do and you can never truly get bored of wandering around and stumbling into new challenges.
We thoroughly enjoyed this masterpiece of a game, regardless of whether we were solving complex puzzles or going head-to-head with bosses, we were having fun. If you’re looking for a meaty AAA title to sink your teeth into then this could well be the one.
The Witcher 3
Whilst not a Switch exclusive, having been around for some years on PlayStation and Xbox, The Witcher 3 is one of the best roleplaying games ever created. It truly is a special game.
CD Projekt Red’s huge open world fantasy RPG originally came out way back in 2015, introducing millions of players to the intricate fantasy world inhabited by Geralt of Rivia, who has become somewhat household name recently thanks to the much loved Netflix series based on the books and video game that was released on the streaming platform last year.
No doubt buoyed by the success of the show, the Switch port will have been on the radar of many players upon its release. Admittedly, it’s not quite the same as playing it on a 1080p or 4K display but the game still retains all of its charm and excitement on the smaller screen of the Nintendo Switch.
If you love the thrill of hack and slash roleplaying games and the freedom to take gameplay at your own pace, in which you can quest and explore as and when you wish, investing in the Witcher 3 is a no brainer. It’s an older title, but one that’s truly stood the test of time.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
Let’s be honest, our guy Luigi doesn’t get the love and respect he deserves sometimes. Often seen as the lesser brother of Mario, the ‘other’ sibling finally gets his well deserved big moment front and centre in Luigi’s Mansion 3.
This charmingly spooktacular game sees Luigi work his way through a haunted hotel filled with various themed floors in an attempt to save his brother and friends whilst sucking up ghosts with his Poltergust G-00 vacuum.
This quirky puzzle game is a vast improvement on the original GameCube classic and its successor Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon and is filled to the brim with entertaining quips and beautiful animations. It’ll genuinely keep you entertained for hours and hours and you’ll still find yourself with plenty left to do.
Monopoly for Nintendo Switch
If you’re a fan of classic board game Monopoly, but don’t have the time or patience to get a group of your friends or family around the table for a proper game, then Monopoly for Nintendo Switch could be your next purchase.
The game allows you and up to five other friends to play an exact replica of the original game in all its glory. However, if you want to mix it up a little you can play on their ‘living boards’ which are themed versions of Monopoly which feature exciting new designs, offering board game enthusiasts something a little different.
Many video game developers have tried to crack the formula and successfully port this classic onto consoles, however no one has recreated Monopoly quite as well as casino game developers, who seem to have perfected the art.
Evolution Gaming are famed for making augmented reality hit Monopoly Live whilst a whole host of developers have also managed to roll out a number of creative Monopoly themed online slots that have proven to be insanely popular with casino enthusiasts.
As well as others have done it, Ubisoft deserves some credit for doing such a fantastic job of bringing this family favourite to Nintendo Switch. If you’re feeling like rolling the dice and gearing up for a family argument over monopoly money then buy this game.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
We were always going to include Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on this list, because any Mario Kart game on any Nintendo console is always going to be an instant hit… And this game is certainly no exception.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe takes all the features and tracks from the previous games in the popular series and rolls them into one wonderful feature rich experience.
Some will say that it’s just a scaled up version of the Wii U version, which if we’re being honest, is absolutely true. However, that’s not to say this game isn’t one of the very best games available on the Nintendo Switch right now.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is absolutely loaded with content with the latest iteration of this popular franchise boasting a mammoth 48 tracks and 42 playable characters, this game really can entertain for hours upon end.
As we’re sure you’re aware this game truly comes into its own when you’re playing with friends, however, even in lockdown this game’s brilliant online mode means you’ll always have someone to go up against.
The only real downside about this game is that it’s lumbered with quite a hefty price tag for a remastered game, however when you remember this truly is the best party game ever made, maybe it’s worth splashing the cash.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
It goes without saying that Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been the most hotly anticipated Nintendo game of the last decade, which says a lot when it’s had to compete with mega-titles such as Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Fans have been desperately asking for a sequel to the Nintendo DS classic New Leaf for 8 years, and when it finally arrived people just went MAD for it. Upon release New Horizons broke worldwide sales records selling over 5 million digital copies in the month of March.
The calming game sees players arrive on a deserted island with the single goal of turning this empty, wild plot of land into a beautiful and desirable village for a small selection of just under 400 eccentric and memorable animal characters to peacefully reside in.
There’s no real pressure to get anything done within a certain time frame, which is what makes this series SO popular. Everything you do in New Horizons is at your own pace. If you want to play on your own, you can do so. If you want to play with up to eight friends and visit their islands, you can do that instead.
If you’re after a gentle game that has been described as the perfect self-isolation past time then we’d highly recommend buying Animal Crossing: New Horizons. We highly suspect this game could well be the coveted Game of the Year.
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DC Fanboy! Superman is the greatest comic book character of all time. Favorite movies are Man of Steel, Goonies, Back To the Future
