Animal Crossing: New Horizons was released on the Nintendo Switch and it got a whole lot of people hooked on the game as soon as it was released. From people that have been long-time fans of the Animal Crossing franchise to people that just bought a Switch in order to play the game, New Horizons has everyone living their best island lives.
While there’s a ton to do in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, the fact that the game runs in real-time means that there’s often downtime when the player has done everything their island needs for the day, meaning they’re left with no more resources to collect. And if they’re tired of fishing and bug hunting, many people will put the game down for the night. Luckily, the Nintendo Switch has a ton of other games that fans of the series can play then! To see 10 indie games on the Switch for fans of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, keep reading!
10 Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a game that was released on multiple platforms, including the Nintendo Switch. This game’s plot follows the player’s character as they move from the big city to a farm just outside of Pelican Town. The farm is one they inherited from their late grandfather, and it’s up to the player to fix it up and build relationships with the people of Pelican Town.
This game’s emphasis on collecting resources, making money, and building relationships is definitely something that will be familiar to fans of Animal Crossing.
9 Night In The Woods
Night in the Woods is an exploration-based adventure game that was released on multiple platforms in 2017. This game follows Mae, a college dropout who recently came back to her hometown after leaving college, hoping to reconnect with the friends she left behind.
The game follows as Mae rediscovers her hometown and sees the way that things have changed here. But there’s more going on in the town of Possum Springs and the woods just beyond the city limits than Mae could have ever expected.
8 Terraria
Terraria was released in 2011, and although this sandbox game is a favorite for many casual gamers, it’s still definitely one that has flown under the radar for many people. This game allows players to build a home, craft items and decorations, and seek out a wide variety of enemies that become stronger and stronger as the game goes on.
Being a sandbox game, Terraria can be played any way the player sees fit and there is no “right” way to explore this open-world game.
7 Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight was released in 2017 and has become a super popular indie game since its release. This game is a Metroidvania-style platformer game with some really unique graphics and a fun storyline to play through.
In the game, the player controls a nameless knight who lives in the ancient kingdom of Hallownest. The player has to travel through Hallownest in order to find and defeat various enemies and save the kingdom.
6 Untitled Goose Game
Untitled Goose Game is a sandbox-style game in which the player controls a goose whose only goal in life is to cause mayhem and mischief for everyone it meets. In this game, the player is given a list of objectives and they have to figure out a creative way to complete each one in order to move onto the next area.
This game is a clever and quirky one that will have players thinking outside the box about how they can make each thing on the goose’s list happen, and will have them laughing the entire time. Although it’s definitely different than Animal Crossing with its super friendly animal neighbors, it’s still one fans of that game will love.
5 Sparklite
Sparklite is an action-adventure game set in a quirky land where things are always changing and there’s always something to do. This game has a fun and unique art style and a top-down view, giving it a really retro gaming feel even though it was released in 2019.
The game’s landscape changes periodically and the player has to solve different puzzles and create various gadgets in order to take on the enemies that they meet, meaning that people have to think quickly and creatively to progress through this indie game.
4 Celeste
Celeste was released in 2018 and follows a girl named Madeline as she journeys to the top of Celeste Mountain. This game has a unique art style that definitely got it a lot of attention in the gaming world, but its difficult yet addictive platforming is what has people coming back to play again and again.
The game has unique graphics, an excellent soundtrack, and a storyline that will keep players interested. The platforming is difficult, but in a way that will definitely have people determined to try again and get each jump just right.
3 Hyper Light Drifter
Hyper Light Drifter is a 2D adventure game with a really unique pixel art style that will draw in anyone’s eye, but it’s the gameplay and storyline that will have anyone with a Nintendo Switch coming back for more whenever they’ve finished playing New Horizons for the day.
In this action RPG, players explore a unique and dangerous land in order to try to find the cure for a deadly disease. The land has treasure everywhere for the player to collect, but they have to be careful not to fall victim to one of the many dangers that lurk around every corner.
2 Overcooked 2
Overcooked 2 is a game that’s great to play with other people, either through couch co-op or by playing online with up to three other people. In this game, the players have to work together in order to cook and then serve meals, but they’re constantly challenged by a variety of unusual obstacles that make this incredibly difficult.
This game is fun for fans of the first Overcooked or for people that are just looking for a fun game on the Nintendo Switch that the whole family will enjoy.
1 Into The Breach
Into the Breach is a sci-fi RPG that is definitely a little different from Animal Crossing: New Horizons with its turn-based combat, but for people that are looking for a game that’s a little different while still being engaging, this game is definitely one to check out.
In this game, human civilization has found itself under a major threat from unusual monsters that come from beneath the Earth. It’s up to the player, through the use of powerful robots, to put a stop to them and save humanity.
