A captivating single-player game can be great, but it’s tough to really appreciate it if you’ve only spent a handful of hours completing it, with little reason to return to its digital worlds. This is where, say, epic RPGs, rich solo campaigns, and addictive online romps can come in handy. Luckily, there’s no shortage of these more expansive and meaty games to be had on Switch.
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But just what are Switch’s deepest, most gripping games that can last you the longest without making you bored? Let’s take a look at 10 of the strongest examples below. We’ll be factoring the amount of content as well as general replayability.
10 Stardew Valley
Indie studio ConcernedApe’s Stardew Valley somewhat came out of nowhere when it burst onto the gaming scene in 2016, offering a lavish experience. Taking a page from the Harvest Moon and Rune Factory playbook, this dynamic adventure is brimming with endlessly fun sim content. Players found it easy to get lost in this colorful world for countless hours tending to their farms.
Not only this, but you can also venture out to gather craftable materials and slay monsters more in the vein of Minecraft and Terraria. Additionally, the game has a strong social element, as you can join up with friends to add even more depth.
9 Has-Been Heroes
Yes, this is a rather unorthodox pick, but it’s a worthy one.
Has-Been Heroes quietly launched on the heels of Breath of the Wild’s looming shadow, largely falling off the radar for many Switch owners. This is a shame, as the grindy roguelike gameplay in this tactical combat romp is feverishly addictive, even though players will likely meet their demise countless times.
Still, this just makes the endless skirmish with your mage heroes all the more enticing, as you battle away to unlock new items and characters for later use. The gameplay itself is pretty straightforward, so-to-speak. Yet, between the procedurally-generated gameplay, tons of playable fighter, and countless goods to collect, this indie can keep you busy for dozens of hours.
8 Terraria
It’s hard to find an example of a richer, more expansive game in the 2D realm than Re-Logic’s Terraria. Being part Metroidvania and part resource-gathering builder, Terraria has a wealth of enjoyable gameplay.
You can play in the more traditional style of a linear action game, fighting beasts and venturing underground to take out bosses. Or if you prefer, you can simply roam the randomly-generated wilderness aimlessly, crafting and building a thriving mansion or town. On top of this, the game offers seamless multiplayer that allows you and a friend to explore and play in this sandbox world together.
Despite the elaborate interface designed around the keyboard and mouse, the Switch version of Terraria is surprisingly intuitive, thanks to its touchscreen controls.
7 Mario Kart 8: Deluxe
Almost all of the many Mario Kart titles contain tons of replay value with their fun, exciting multiplayer options at your disposal. Heck, this writer has spent hours on end partaking in heated Battle showdowns in Mario Kart 64 even recently…
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Yet, this latest console version of Mario Kart is perhaps the best, most expansive rendition yet. On top of all the content carried over from the Wii U game, you also get all the previous DLC content, a refined Battle mode, and other additional features. The addictive online play is second to none, allowing you to jump right into a match with little sweat.
6 Splatoon 2
It’s hard to find a “fresher,” more feverishly fun online multiplayer romp for the Switch than Splatoon 2. Between the constantly-rotating game modes, timed events, and additions like the co-op Salmon Run, there’s always something to do in this mess-making ink shooter. Features like the ranking system and the slew of unlockable weapons and flair keep players coming back for more even today, despite its mid-2017 release.
Even the solo campaign, which most fans found lacking in the original, has been fleshed out and expanded upon in this sequel.
5 Diablo III: Eternal Collection
The 3rd rendition of Blizzard’s classic dungeon crawler has the benefit of years of seasoning under its belt. Not only has the game been vastly improved and refined following critiques, but new content has been added to the already massive experience.
Diablo III offers tons of thrilling gameplay to enjoy alone, online, or even with friends thanks to the Switch’s couch co-op functionality. The action-packed story mode is robust as is, but you’ve also got added post-game challenges, DLC, and various grueling difficulties which offer bonuses to entice you to keep playing. In fact, completionists can spend close to 200 hours to unearth and collect everything this package offers.
4 Xenoblade Chronicles 2
As far as single-player games go, it’s tough to find a larger, more replayable experience than Monolith Soft’s RPG epic, Xenoblade Chronicles 2. The amount of depth to the gameplay is impressive and arguably surpasses even the original Wii game.
Even disregarding the added DLC, players can spend well over 200 hours partaking in this odyssey and still find things to do or upgrades of some kind to tinker with. Thanks to the unique Blades system and slew of customizable options, you can spend countless hours decking out Rex and company, while playing with tons of tools at your disposal.
The combat is an innovative blend of action and strategy that manages never gets old, and will have you learning new tricks dozens of hours into your adventure.
3 Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition
Often viewed as the ultimate sandbox game, Minecraft makes it way onto the Switch in a major way, offering charming Nintendo flair and DLC from the Bedrock Edition and Legacy Console Editon. Even discounting the added perks, the foundational experience is still a marvel in terms of scope and endless fun content.
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Thanks to constant procedurally generated worlds, this blocky odyssey theoretically has no end, even if you’ve managed to slay the Enderdragon and make it through the Nether Fortress. You can always collect more riches, slay more beasts, or build your lavish palace ever-larger. A decade later, Minecraft has still rarely been topped in terms of its vastness and addictive gameplay.
2 Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Nintendo and Bandai Namco really pulled out all the stops for this party-fighter behemoth. You have the usual exciting, super-addictive multiplayer gameplay which has been acclaimed for its tightened and refined mechanics. But on top of this, you’ve got an absurd roster of close to 80 total fighters, over 100 colorful stages, and tons of gameplay modes to mix things up. This includes a smooth and robust online mode that always keeps the action going.
Even the single-player options, which are usually critiqued as a weakness of this franchise, has proven to be solid, with the dynamic World of Light.
1 The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Zelda games have typically been known for their deep, gripping gameplay and epic campaigns. Yet, Nintendo managed to outdo themselves with Link’s debut on the Switch in early 2017. Drawing influence from titles like Skyrim, the game blends traditional Zelda gameplay with more nuanced, free-flowing sandbox elements.
This allows the player to take center stage with its vast environment and malleable physics, while still offering a rich narrative to get lost in. There’s just so much to do here - from the vast areas to explore to the countless Shrines and massive Divine Beasts to work through.
You’ve also got the DLC with the grueling Master Mode, adding even more to the nearly 200 hours of content for completionists.
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