Released in March 2017, the Nintendo Switch is designed for both docked and handheld play, allowing you to either connect it to your TV for a traditional console experience or take it with you to play on the go. The Switch’s versatility allows you to choose how you experience the plethora of games available on the system, depending on how you prefer to play.
A lot of Switch titles are definitely more suited to handheld mode, whether it’s because you want to play them wherever you go or because the game’s mechanics play better in this style. If you’re planning on going on a long trip, or simply prefer playing handheld, you’ll want to try these games.
10/10 Koholint, Refurbished – The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
Developed by Grezzo, who is also behind Ocarina of Time 3D and Majora’s Mask 3D, Link’s Awakening for the Switch is a complete remake of the Game Boy version, overhauling the graphics to give it a 3D, toy-like appearance while still maintaining the charm of the original.
Playing in handheld mode emulates the feeling of playing the original Game Boy version, except everything has a sparkled polish. On the Switch, Koholint Island has never looked more vibrant, so both new and returning fans can appreciate it.
9/10 The Strategy’s In Your Hands – Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Fire Emblem: Three Houses takes place in Fódlan, a continent rife with political unrest. In Three Houses, you play as Byleth, a mercenary who is tasked with teaching the students of Garreg Mach Monastery the strategies needed to succeed on the battlefield.
The game includes both life sim elements, as you must get to know your students, as well as turn-based gameplay, where you strategically lead your units to victory. This mixture of gameplay elements makes Three Houses the perfect game to play in handheld mode, allowing you to easily move your units around the battlefield and strengthen your bonds with the characters back at the monastery.
8/10 Choose Your Path – Undertale
Toby Fox’s indie game Undertale was released on Switch in 2018, making playing it in handheld mode much more accessible. This port was highly requested, and as this beloved RPG is teeming with personality, it’s easy to see why.
Undertale is a game that’s best played without having any knowledge of it prior to jumping in, but if you’re a fan, you’ll enjoy getting to experience it in a new way too. The game’s retro-style gameplay and design are also enjoyable in handheld mode, drawing you into the game’s colorful world and characters.
7/10 (Re)visit Kanto – Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu And Eevee
In Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee, you explore the Kanto region with your partner Pokemon, which is decided by the version of the game you own. Although the Kanto region will be familiar to fans of the Pokemon series, Let’s Go brought something new to the table, with polished 3D graphics and catching mechanics similar to Pokemon Go.
In Let’s Go, you can either play in docked mode, where you use motion controls to throw your Poke Balls, or play in handheld, where the controls are much easier and less finicky. Although swinging the Joy-Con to catch Pokemon is a fun gimmick, playing in handheld mode is an overall more intuitive experience.
6/10 Tune Into The Past – Oxenfree
Oxenfree is a supernatural story-based game that has you following Alex and a group of teenagers as they visit Edwards Island. Use Alex’s radio to tune in and find anomalies, unraveling the island’s secrets.
Throughout Oxenfree, you pick from various dialogue options and actions that determine the outcome of the story, including which of the game’s many endings you receive. As Oxenfree supports touchscreen controls, playing this game in handheld mode is the perfect way to immerse yourself into its mysterious world where the past isn’t as far away as it seems.
5/10 Nintendo DS Classic – The World Ends With You: Final Remix
A remake of the cult classic The World Ends With You that was released on the Nintendo DS, Final Remix has been adapted to suit the Nintendo Switch, bringing the dual screen’s gameplay into one screen. In the game, you play as Neku, a teenage boy, who wakes up in Shibuya without his memories and must team up with a partner in order to defeat the Noise and survive the Reapers’ Game.
Despite the Switch’s inability to replicate the dual-screen controls of the original game, this version cleverly adapts the mechanic by allowing you to play either using motion controls in docked mode or touch controls in handheld mode. Playing in handheld mode is as close as you can get to the original experience on the DS.
4/10 Nail The Combat – Hollow Knight
In Hollow Knight, you must journey through the abandoned kingdom of Hallownest, discovering more about its secrets in order to stave off the infection that has decimated the land.
As the game is a Metroidvania, it’s perfectly suited to playing in handheld mode, allowing you to explore the charming world at your own pace. The controls lend themselves well to Hollow Knight’s difficult yet rewarding combat, letting you time your blows perfectly and dodge incoming attacks with accuracy. Exploring Hallownest in handheld mode is also an excellent way to immerse yourself in the game’s hand-drawn environments.
3/10 Your Island, Anywhere – Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons has you setting out on a Deserted Island Getaway, as you decorate your island, attract prospective residents, and learn more about the island’s flora and fauna. New Horizons is enjoyable in both docked and handheld mode; however, because the game is in sync with real-time, taking the game with you and playing in handheld mode is the perfect way to ensure you stay up to date with your resident representative duties.
Because New Horizons brings you back again and again with new things to check on every day, playing in handheld mode allows you to check in with your islanders wherever you might be, whether you’re out traveling or cozy in bed.
2/10 Embrace The Farming Lifestyle – Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a farming simulator game that has you moving to Pelican Town after your grandfather passes away, escaping from your monotonous job in the city to help repair the dilapidated farm he left you in his will.
It’s easy to sink hundreds of hours into this game, performing tasks like growing crops, raising livestock, exploring the mines, and simply getting to know the townspeople. Although completing the Community Centre or getting married can feel like the end of the game, it doesn’t finish until you’re finished, as you’re able to play through the seasons endlessly. Playing Stardew Valley in handheld mode is the perfect way to experience this title, as you can pick up your Switch and tend to your farm while you’re on the go.
1/10 Release Your Inner Artist – Okami HD
An HD remaster of the PlayStation 2 game, Okami HD has you playing as the sun goddess Amaterasu in the form of a wolf, using the power of the Celestial Brush techniques to restore Nippon to its former glory, destroy Yami, and stop it from enveloping the world in darkness.
As the game requires you to use the Celestial Brush techniques to fight enemies and interact with the world, playing the game in handheld mode is a more intuitive experience, using the touch screen to master these sacred arts.
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