Thank Goodness You're Here! (Switch eShop)
- Switch eShop Price: $19.99 / £15.99
- Lowest ever price: $13.99 / £11.19
Thank Goodness You’re Here! is a brief but oh-so-sweet romp into a world that simultaneously makes no sense and yet perfect sense to those familiar with British culture. Bursting with excellent humour, beautiful artwork, and fantastic animation, it’s a wonder the devs managed to pack as much as they did into its short runtime.
Performance may not be 100% perfect on Switch, and if you’ve no funny bone in your body, you’ll wonder what the point of it all is, but it’s still some of the best and most intense fun we’ve had in years. Our faces hurt from laughing so much, and we don’t think there’s much greater praise than that.
Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle (Switch eShop)
- Switch eShop Price: $19.99 / £15.99
- Lowest ever price: $9.99 / £7.99
The Capcom Beat 'Em Up Bundle illustrates perfectly why the humble side-scrolling fighter was the toast of video gaming in the late '80s and early '90s. Addictive, enjoyable, and — perhaps most important of all — bloody good fun when played co-operatively with friends, all of the titles in this seven-strong compendium are worth your time, and by adding robust local and multiplayer support, Capcom has done its utmost to ensure they find favour with a whole new generation of gamers.
If you're not a fan of the genre, then you may well be wondering what all the fuss is about, but for everyone else, this is a must-have download.
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Signalis (Switch eShop)
- Switch eShop Price: $19.99 / £15.99
- Lowest ever price: $13.99 / £11.19
Stalking down dimly-lit corridors while the sweat grows on your palms is what a great survival horror is all about, and while Signalis wears more than a little Resident Evil on its sleeve, it is all the better for it.
There is a great mix of puzzles and story in this title which is more about stealth than it is about bullets (though the number of bullets used will be a stat that you won't be able to shake) which sees you traversing planets, bunkers and ships while remaining painfully aware of every creak and footstep around you.
Fans of horror should come this way, and those who are a little more scaredy should give it a go too - just be sure to bring a pillow to hide behind at some points!
Sonic Mania (Switch eShop)
- Switch eShop Price: $19.99 / £15.99
- Lowest ever price: $7.19 / £6.39
Sonic Mania is a true return to form for the mascot, in his 2D 'Classic' guise at least, and celebrates the glory days of the original games while also enhancing their qualities and taking on new ideas. From new areas, imaginative second acts and some delightful boss encounters, the development team poured a lot of passion and talent into the project.
With new characters and modes added in the 'Plus' retail version (also available as DLC), some neat tweaks iron out some of the kinks present in the original release, but regardless of the version you pick up, it's one of the best 2D platformers in recent memory.
Celeste (Switch eShop)
- Switch eShop Price: $19.99 / £17.99
- Lowest ever price: $3.98 / £4.49
There are very few platformers that can live up to the rush of Celeste. One of the genre's biggest perks is that feeling of euphoria when you hit a perfectly executed aerial move, dodging attacks and getting from point A to B in style, and Celeste is full of them.
The mechanics feel familiar enough that you are never going to feel lost on your journey, but the visual style and storytelling are bound to keep you coming back for more. There is little to fault here, and for a very reasonable price, too.
Cuphead (Switch eShop)
- Switch eShop Price: $19.99 / £16.99
- Lowest ever price: $9.00 / £11.79
Cuphead was an absolute masterpiece when it originally launched on Xbox One and nothing has been sacrificed in its move to the Switch. A run-and-gun boss battler dressed up like a 1930s Fleischer or Disney animated short, it’s the same visually jaw-dropping, aurally delightful, knuckle-whiteningly difficult game it was on Microsoft’s console and the Switch’s library is all the better for its presence.
Its focus on intense boss battles won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into we can’t recommend it enough. Just look at it!
Unpacking (Switch eShop)
- Switch eShop Price: $19.99 / £17.99
- Lowest ever price: $9.00 / £8.99
Unpacking manages to do several things very well, all at the same time. It’s a touching story told through interaction, it provides the creative play space of a great dollhouse game, and it deftly applies established game design ideas from completely different genres. Its only real shortcoming is the repetition that is a necessary byproduct of landing its message.
Effort has gone into making the controls satisfying on Switch, and the visual and sound design are delightful throughout, making Unpacking, like any sane person’s cutlery, absolutely top-drawer.
Enter the Gungeon (Switch eShop)
- Switch eShop Price: $14.99 / £10.99
- Lowest ever price: $4.49 / £3.29
Enter The Gungeon is a brilliantly tactile, endlessly replayable twin-stick roguelike that sits right up there with the very best indie games on Nintendo Switch. With satisfying combat, random levels, and an endless supply of inventive weapons, items and secrets, it's always a total joy to play.
Yet another modern indie classic found a natural home on Nintendo's console.
Hyper Light Drifter: Special Edition (Switch eShop)
- Switch eShop Price: $19.99 / £17.99
- Lowest ever price: $4.99 / £4.49
Hyper Light Drifter: Special Edition puts Heart Machine’s obtuse yet engaging throwback where it belongs — in portable Nintendo form — and it makes for the definitive version.
With a handful of exclusive features, the game suddenly feels new and fresh. And with a silky smooth frame rate and every boss, secret and upgrade from the original here for you to experience, this is a wonderful addition to the Nintendo Switch’s bulging indie library.
Inside (Switch eShop)
- Switch eShop Price: $19.99 / £17.99
- Lowest ever price: $1.99 / £1.69
Inside is the spiritual successor to Limbo and it builds on its predecessor in every imaginable way. A grimly beautiful platform-puzzler that, while brief, is packed full of jaw-dropping highlights, its dark tone won't be for everyone, but it's been executed brilliantly, with gently taxing physics-based conundrums woven into a haunting wordless narrative.
It's a very similar game to its predecessor in many ways, with side-scrolling elements, a gorgeous, moody art style, and a vulnerable protagonist at the heart of it. Everything's just bigger, better, and more affecting.
The Touryst (Switch eShop)
- Switch eShop Price: $19.99 / £17.99
- Lowest ever price: $11.99 / £10.79
The Touryst is a joyous little adventure that sinks its blocky hooks into you and doesn't let go until it's done. It's got a perfect balance of atmospheric puzzling, leisurely exploring and minigame madness that'll keep you thoroughly entertained from start to finish, and its collection of tiny little voxel islands are a joy to discover, bursting with surprises to uncover and presented in a truly dazzling art-style that's achieved whilst performing flawlessly on Nintendo's console.
The puzzles might not be the most taxing you'll ever come across and you'll blow through the whole thing pretty quickly, but overall this is a top-notch – and perfectly priced – little gem.
Huntdown (Switch eShop)
- Switch eShop Price: $19.99 / £17.99
- Lowest ever price: $3.99 / £3.59
Huntdown is a delightfully detailed and expertly crafted throwback to old-school run 'n' gun arcade shooters. The 16-bit graphical style is immaculately recreated whilst adding lots of modern bells and whistles to proceedings, including a fantastic soundtrack and audio design, optional CRT filter and an arsenal of heavy-duty weapons that chew scenery and enemies to pieces as your bounty hunter makes their way from boss fight to excellent boss fight.
The flow of levels may be quite repetitive but the moment-to-moment gameplay, overall sense of fun that comes from the level of carnage you can dish out, surprising amount of hammy spoken dialogue and constant pop-culture references all combine to make this one an easy recommendation, and another excellent addition to the Switch's action catalogue.
Death's Door (Switch eShop)
- Switch eShop Price: $19.99 / £17.99
- Lowest ever price: $4.99 / £4.49
Death's Door is a modern classic, utilising old gameplay ideas in a new setting to make for a short and sweet experience you won’t want to miss. The snappy combat, rewarding exploration, and relaxing music will stick with you once you've finished, and while it may not have anything 'new' to offer, Death’s Door is so high quality that you’ll hardly have time to think about its lack of innovation.
We’d give this one a very high recommendation, especially to any fans of Zelda or Soulslike games — Acid Nerve has crafted an experience that’s absolutely worth your time and money.
The Messenger (Switch eShop)
- Switch eShop Price: $19.99 / £17.99
- Lowest ever price: $3.99 / £3.59
Tight level design and a good challenge for even the biggest fans of platformers, The Messenger is a prime example of borrowing from the classics while keeping it fresh.
This is a game packed with references to titles past (Ninja Gaiden much?) but what The Messenger does so well is that it never feels like you are doing the same thing over and over again. Instead, the developer, Sabotage, has put together a genre game in which you feel instantly at home but with enough challenge to keep those palms a-sweating.
Spelunky 2 (Switch eShop)
- Switch eShop Price: $19.99 / £17.99
- Lowest ever price: $7.99 / £7.19
Fans of roguelites, platformers and a hefty dose of challenge need look no further. Spelunky 2 might be one of the genre's more frustrating titles to get your head around, but the level of reward means that there is a good amount of payoff to be had here.
Much like its predecessor, Spelunky, there are lots of secrets to be found in the intricate level design which means that the replayability is a huge plus here. It might be at the higher end of our cheap games list, but this is still some top-notch value for money.
Persona 4 Golden (Switch eShop)
- Switch eShop Price: $19.99 / £17.99
- Lowest ever price: $11.99 / £8.99
Persona 4 Golden remains a thoroughly enjoyable and engrossing RPG that, for the most part, has stood the test of time.
Although its visuals might be a bit dated, the gameplay and story presented here do more than enough to justify the purchase, while all the tweaks and additions that came with this ‘Golden’ edition round out most of the rougher edges from the initial PS2 release.
If you're looking to give the Persona series a shot, Persona 5 Royal is a good place to start, but P4G is an excellent entry in the series and one that we would recommend you pick up when you can.
Those are our picks of the very best cheap games on Switch - the great-value, wishlist-worthy 'evergreens'.
Cheap Switch Games FAQ
Why are Nintendo games still $60?
Historically, Nintendo rarely discounts its first-party software, but many people still ask the question: Why are Switch games still so expensive?
Generally, Nintendo prefers to maintain the value of its products over the long term rather than tempting you with deep discounts. If a Nintendo game launches at $60, you can be confident that it will remain that price for a considerable length of time — you don't have to worry about seeing it 50% cheaper in a month or two.
However, periodically on Switch eShop, you can find many of the company's biggest Switch games discounted by up to 33% in sales throughout the year, including Black Friday, Christmas, and Summer sales.
Beyond that, you'll be lucky to find Nintendo games with a deep discount at retailers.
Are Switch games cheaper on the eShop?
Nintendo itself maintains price parity between its digital-only and physical releases, although the aforementioned 33% sales are generally more frequent on the eShop.
However, you'll find many other publishers that sell the Switch eShop version of the game at a much cheaper price than the physical cartridge. This is usually due to the increased costs associated with creating and distributing a physical product versus a digital download.
Are there any free Switch games?
There's a good selection of F2P (free-to-play) games on Switch, yes - check out our list of the best below:
Comments 46
It's wild seeing 7,000+ games available on the eShop now. Every passing day it becomes increasingly difficult to sort the gems from the trash.
A great selection there but surely there are more? I'm not sure of their price points otherwise I would have suggested some more I dare say, ha.
I have played the vast majority of those with I think 2 on my backlog. Also, only another 2 I don't own on there
A Short Hike is one of the best games I have played. From the list I also really enjoyed Sonic Mania.
Out Run is amazing. And obviously a lot of Arcade Archives - Green Beret being my favourite.
If you want a 3D platformer for around $20, I recommend Glyph. I picked it up on sale in December, and it's easily my best E-Shop purchase.
Obligatory snark incoming:
>Switch
>Cheap items
Choose one...
There's some really great games in there, I have the majority of them. Another few that deserve a place on the list
DUSK, Valfaris, Ys Origins, Alwa's Legacy, Record of Lodoss War...
I'll leave off the shmups as I'll be here all day otherwise.
Is that the same Terry Cavanaugh (sp) as the Author?
I feel like this article needs a big "The following article is paid advertisement brought to you by hypefame, the new code selling website you've never heard of before, and probably never will."
wow could NintendoLife plug their eshop card links anymore! What an overkill in this article.
A Short Hike is a short game and that makes it an expensive game for what it is.
@Z-Core wow thanks don't knows this Game Looks cool
@FatWormBlowsASparky
I absolutely love Green Beret since the first day I saw it in the arcades as a kid. Are you able to beat it on normal without adding extra credits? I keep on dying in stage 3 but I'll make it eventually, I hope.
The Takeover is a great 20$ arcade style side scrolling fighting/brawler game. I bought it 75% off in a sale a couple of days ago. Looks fantastic and plays really well too.
Appreciate the article (I'm fairly certain I own most of these already), but seriously with the constant spam of your own store on the page? It's nearly happening every single game mention, it's completely unwarranted and it's honestly turning me off from future articles with game recommendations if all they're going to be is "This is a game we like, and if you buy from our store you can play it too"
Added Touryst and Hyper Light to my wishlist, will probably pick them up if there's a decent sale.
Of these, the two I’ve played are Sonic Mania and Dicey Dungeons. Cannot recommend both of them enough. Sonic Mania has all the charm of the original games but makes QOL improvements to make them much less rage-inducing, and Dicey Dungeons is a really fun card/RPG/whatever game that I’m going to sink many hours into in the future.
Definitely going to pick up Cuphead and Golf Story at some point as well, and maybe Hollow Night once I finish Metroid Dread and I have more hunger for a Metroidvania.
Katana zero! Dead cells, death road to canada, enter the gungeon, guacamelee, lovers in dangerous spacetime (great local multiplayer), undertale, night in the woods, Celeste, moonlighter, scourgebringer, scott pilgram , Hades, Bastian, Iconoclasts, mark of the ninja remastered, are all games i would recommend!
@zool thats why its worth getting it on steam for like $4
@Magician i use dekudeals for all my switch eshopping, wishlisting, and tracking ..helps a bit with trash sorting...you can even turn off games you no longer wish to see
No ori and the blind forest. That is automatically in the top 3 on this list.
No Celeste? There's a few games missing from here...
Hollow Knight and Stardew are pretty hard to beat in terms of bang for your buck. I love Just Shapes & Beats, too, and can't believe how many more tracks they've kept piling on after launch. That being said, there are probably a couple hundred other games that could contend for a spot on this list. Keeping it to just the ones I've played that truly manage to set themselves apart in one way or another, I think Steamworld Dig 1+2, Transistor, Enter the Gungeon, Foregone, BOXBOY!+BOXGIRL!, ABZU, PAN-PAN, and Iconoclasts are all worthy entries.
May as well call it best $20 games cause they're all 20.
There are plenty of great games for less than that.
Also, if you use the wishlist feature and wait until they go on sale, some of these go for half off or even over 75 percent!
Edit: you know what, I take that first part back. Actually half of them are 15 or less so I'm wrong lol
A Short Hike is such a special game. It's really short but I absolutely loved every minute of it. It's a game that's constantly on my mind even after beating it months ago.
@Magician To be fair, it is not Nintendo's job to have preferential treatment on eShop, in fact games being on equal footing on there as opposed to other platforms where games that are not popular get buried is one of the reasons why smaller games thrive on Switch. There are other websites that help with discovering good titles. That said, I do think Nintendo could use a faster eShop and more sorting options.
That's a great list, but I just never hear anyone mention Blazing Beaks, it's really great and cheap, I bought it for just a couple bucks on sale a while ago. For that price, I assumed it was crap, but I couldn't have been more wrong. I still think Enter the Gungeon is the best twin-stick shooter on Switch, but I've played it so much that I just wanted to play something a little different, and Blazing Beaks is the same kind of twin-stick dodge rolling rogue-like action that I love, but it does it's own thing and has loads of charm of it's own. And also Neon Abyss is only $19.99 a fantastic game with tons and tons of unlockables and bosses, etc. it's a game that would take an incredibly long time to beat and unlock everything, and it runs much better on the Switch than it does on PC. I think it's one of the best games out there right now as long as you like 2d rogue-lite platform shooters.
The Messenger is also a very good platformer, it’s usually 20$ with free DLC, but I found it on sale for half off.
Also recommend Dust an Elysian Tail if you’re into hack n slash style of games, that one looks beautiful!
Dicey Dungeons was an unexpected delight. Endearing characters, great challenges and the different mechanics of each character keeps the game fresh among the playthroughs. A chance to learn how to deal with failure that are either your own or luck based.
I feel like this article's soul purpose is to promote Gift Card affiliate purchases.
@Bydlak
I played it on my Speccy all the time. My online score is 116270, I think third level as well. 😃
I confirm that the shop works fine. Thanks for the 10% off, Nintendo Life @ryancraddock
@Banjo- You're welcome, enjoy! 🙂
Where is don’t starve together?
I feel that Lunistice and Toree 3D deserve to be on this list. They are each under $5, and deliver incredible value.
I appreciate this list. Thank you Nintendo Life.
Also - "Generally, Nintendo prefers to maintain the value of its products over the long term rather than tempting you with deep discounts. If a Nintendo game launches at $60, you can be confident that it will remain that price for a considerable length of time — you don't have to worry about seeing it 50% cheaper in a month or two."
Very true. I don't care how much you want that SEGA game on Day 1. Don't. Just don't. It will be on sale in a month. Wait 2-3 and it will even be to an insulting degree. Looking at you Sonic X Shadow for 11.29. I don't think there is a company that is more 'F.U for supporting this on release' than Sega.
Wow, 50. Not 49. Not 51, just to be "edgy" like IGN's trend. Shocking.
@Mana_Knight Ubisoft the same right..! Prince of Persia Lost Crown is usually a a crazy low price, especially considering how quality a game it actually is!
@CJD87 Yes! Good advise. They are another one who it is good to be cautious about! I think I heard that it even harms their initial sales they have been getting such a reputation for it!
One of the greatest fps remasters of all time DOOM 1+2 is super cheap if you hadn't already own the re-release versions. If you own the re-release versions then both are free but if you hadn't it's only $10 to get both with all mods that came with them too.
I almost only play cheap indies. Feast your eyes on my list
dekudeals.com/collection/gqfhbr89g9
Glad to see a couple of the games I mentioned the last time I saw this list have since made it on. Of course, I've played plenty more since then and have a lot more I could recommend now, though many of the games I'd like to bring up are technically disqualified. Those all spend around half their time on sale for less than 20 and often less than 10 dollars, but still have an official full price that knocks them out of the running.
Though if there's one thing I've played recently that should absolutely be on here, it's FEZ. That game's simply brilliant by every metric I can think of.
Some cheap games I didn't see on the list that were totally worthy of my time and money were The Exit 8, Platform 8, Amanda The Adventurer (hopefully Amanda The Adventurer 2 comes to Switch as well, or Switch 2), Q Remastered, Q2 Humanity, Shape Suitable, Suika Game and Trombone Champ.
I can attest to the quality of SEGA AGES OutRun, my favorite of the SEGA AGES I own.
Also, I want to mention that SEGA AGES Fantasy Zone was once at 10 Mexican Pesos (about 60 cents) on the Mexican eShop back in August 2023. To this day I still don't know if it was intended to be a sale or if it was a mistake because it wasn't labeled as on sale and the 10 pesos price was listed as the regular one.
…the heck are the Mega Man Legacy Collections minus Zero-ZX and Battle Network?
All of the Picross games on the eShop are well with the money too, if these puzzles are too your liking. I always feel that I get my money's worth in Jupiter's Picross series.
Between the 50 games listed and all the comments I think almost everything is covered. I really don't have much to say except, Dave the Diver. Where in the world is Dave the Diver? 88 meta score, over 25 hours of fun, and it's been discounted up to 30% off bringing it from $20 to $13.99.
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