Mortal Kombat 11 (Switch)
Mortal Kombat 11 is the best Mortal Kombat since MK2, a bold and bombastic entry that boasts a fighting model that finally matches the slapstick theatrics of gory Fatalities. It's further proof that MK, much like Street Fighter, has just as much relevance in the 21st century as it did in the '90s thanks to the way it evolved while retaining its core identity. On Switch, it's a performance-first experience that nails 60fps, and boasts every mode and mechanic from other versions, only with a noticeable downgrade in the aesthetics department. The heavy-handed application of microtransactions aside, MK11 could be a contender for the best fighter on Nintendo Switch, and it's certainly better than the dire Switch port of its successor, Mortal Kombat 1.
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BioShock: The Collection (Switch)
BioShock: The Collection stands as yet another fantastic port in Switch’s ever-growing library, combining three excellent games and all their DLC into one convincing package. Stable performance, engrossing, politically-engaging narratives and themes, straight-up fun gameplay, and lots of content make this one an easy recommendation, even if these releases show their age from time to time.
No More Heroes (Switch eShop)
No More Heroes is something very rare – a game that’s actually better now than it was on its original bow, showing us just how little the gaming landscape has actually moved forward. It is certainly, avowedly not for everyone – and you get the impression that’s just how director Suda51 likes it. Artier than most art games, more thoughtful than most think pieces, and cruder than crude oil, No More Heroes uses its own repetition to decisive, impressive effect. Glorious, gore-ious, gorgeous, and gregarious, this madcap anime nightmare deserves your attention. If you missed it on Wii, buy it immediately. If you didn’t, you most likely already have.
Hotline Miami Collection (Switch eShop)
While the time since the first game's 2012 debut has somewhat diminished the freshness of Hotline Miami’s creative violence, both titles in this collection still offer some of the most addictive and rewarding experiences you can play. Sure, the Nintendo Switch versions don’t bring anything particularly new to the table (even the touchscreen aspects were present on PS Vita), but if you’re looking to experience these games for the first time (or again) on a portable platform, this is the place to do it. The pixel art visuals and synthwave soundtrack have aged incredibly well – especially in the original – and while the lack of a map editor stings to this day, its brutal story missions are as engaging as the day they were released.
Red Dead Redemption (Switch)
Red Dead Redemption on Switch is a straightforward port of 2010's masterpiece with no added bells or whistles for a rather high price tag at launch. If you can get over that, this is a game we highly recommend digging into, especially if you've yet to experience it. Rockstar's Western epic holds up surprisingly well, its story is as powerful as ever, its knockabout action still feels great, and it looks and plays perfectly well on Nintendo's console. Multiplayer has been cut, which is a sore but understandable excision, and we'd really have liked to see effort put into adding gyro controls or touching up the graphics a little, but it is what it is. This is a proper all-timer ported successfully to Switch and, if you can stump up the cash, you'll have a great time here regardless of the lack of TLC.
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! (Switch)
Don't discount Doki Doki Literature Club because it's cute, because it's pink, or because it's an anime dating game — this is one of the most unnerving, effective horror games on the Nintendo Switch. The extra content adds nicely to the creeping anxiety and the heartbreaking story, but the Switch version does end up feeling slightly inferior to the PC version, despite fantastic effort on the port. You won't lose anything by playing this version, though — if it's the one you want, go for it!
Catherine: Full Body (Switch)
Catherine: Full Body is a fantastic revamp of a bonafide cult classic. With an excellent new character and several new endings slickly inserted into an already highly entertaining narrative – not to mention a slew of fun new modes – this is the definitive version of an outstanding game. If you've never played Catherine before then you're in for an absolute treat, and if you have, we'd say there's enough new content here to make it worth diving in all over again.
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (Switch eShop)
Disco Elysium's narrative and dialogue, which was already wonderfully compelling in the base game, was given a massive boost thanks to the excellent voice acting introduced for the Final Cut. The gameplay features a host of branching paths for you to explore, and while the slow, methodical approach may turn a few people off, this is nevertheless one of the most well-told stories in any medium from the last few years. The performance issues at the time of our review slightly took the shine off things, but even with them present, Disco Elysium: The Final Cut was and is a triumph and stands as one of the best RPGs available on Switch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nintendo Switch good for the elderly?
Ah, the most adult adults of all! The wide range of games available on Switch caters to gamers of all ages and tastes, whether you're looking for titles with mature themes or not.
Games like Nintendo Switch Sports encourage active participation via motion controls in the same way as Wii Sports did back in 2006, and titles like Zelda: Breath of the Wild offer enormous open worlds to explore at the player's own pace — perfect for people of retirement age with plenty of time on their hands.
Older gamers who are experiencing reduced dexterity in their hands, for example, may also enjoy the varied genres outside action and sports tites, too. A visual novel with an emphasis less on quick inputs and more on narrative progression might appeal more than, say, a 3D platformer such as Super Mario Odyssey.
The range of gaming experiences on Switch is very broad, arguably the broadest on the market outside of the PC gaming space. So of all video game consoles available, Switch is a great option for elderly gamers.