Sci-fi is a genre that combines fantastical scientific ideas with captivating entertainment. The possibilities in science fiction are infinite, from discovering new planets to experiencing cutting-edge technology developments.
Gaming is a great way to explore this genre if you’re looking for an immersive sci-fi experience. With the ongoing development of game technology, designers are able to build environments that take players to far-off galaxies and other realms.
This article highlights the 13 best sci-fi games on the Nintendo Switch. Each game on the list has its own great gameplay elements, gripping narratives, and thrilling settings that will certainly satiate your sci-fi itch.
The Artful Escape
The Artful Escape is a mix of 2D platforming and rhythm elements that showcases a vibrant and colorful design that matches the game’s glam rock soundtrack.
The game tackles a heartwarming self-discovery as you find the true meaning of being an artist through the use of music.
Artful Escape has a simple approach to the gameplay mechanics. Overall, the platform mechanics is nothing innovative. That said, the game’s most interesting aspect is the way the environment responds to your music.
Another game highlight is that you can have a jam session with the bosses on a rhythm segment, which is definitively a distinct aspect of this title.
Into the Breach
Into the Breach is certainly a remarkable mech game worth trying and is often recommended due to its unique combination of tactical battles and roguelike mechanics.
This game plays like a tactical turn-based RPG but adds new mechanics to make it perfectly fit its roguelike elements.
The story is quite straightforward. In this game, enormous creatures are about to put an end to humanity. The massive mechas from the future are the Earth’s only hope. You will fight with them to prevent the invaders from annihilating the entire planet.
In Into the Breach, the enemies signal how they are going to act, so you have to use your mechs the best way you can and adapt to the enemies’ actions in order to succeed.
If you are looking for a tactical mech game on your handheld console, not many games are as enjoyable as this one.
Gravitar: Recharged
In Gravitar: Recharged, you play as a pilot exploring across uncharted worlds and space stations teeming with dangerous monsters. Every solar system will need you to complete complex missions with changing gravity that will challenge your piloting prowess.
This game is a remake of Atari’s challenging arcade title published in 1982. The original game merged the gravity of Lunar Lander with the Asteroids and Space Duel gameplay features and was known for being extremely challenging.
While it did not become a commercial hit, it has since become a beloved classic among fans of the Atari brand.
The game’s new visual style takes the franchise in a fresh direction. The Gravitar certainly looks modernized with its stunningly painted environments and pastel hues.
The original soundtrack, composed by industry veteran Megan McDuffee, complements the art style perfectly, creating a sense of awe and wonder.
But the true heart of Gravitar: Recharged is its gameplay, which features an arcade mode that allows you to explore various planets, each with its own set of challenges.
With Megan McDuffee’s incredible score, Gravitar: Recharged is the perfect game for anyone looking for an immersive, challenging, and visually stunning space adventure.
Hyper Echelon
If you love some old-school space action, then Hyper Echelon is the game for you. This game is an indie space shooter that gives players a nostalgic feel because of its 16-bit retro design and soundtrack.
The game highlights fun gameplay as it embraces traditional vertical shooter mechanics that remind you of arcades back in the day. On top of that, the game also offers challenging boss fights and objectives to accomplish.
Echelon’s game progression has a unique approach to it. Instead of the old-school start-to-finish progression, the game allows you to travel to different planets as long as you finish certain objectives.
For instance, there are levels in the game where you need to save creatures from advancing to the next planet.
On top of being a great shooter, it’s also a game that is really fun to play with someone else. The fact this is a fun cooperative simple game makes it one of the best sci-fi games on Switch.
Void Bastards
Void Bastards is a roguelike first-person shooter that feels straight out of a sci-fi comic book due to its cell-shaded graphics. The game is a sure hit for players who love surprises and unexpected scenarios, as the game highlights challenging gameplay.
Although the game has adapted roguelike mechanics, dying is not that punishing since you can retain the items you looted from your previous run.
In Void Bastards, players take on the role of prisoners escaping from the Void Ark. Each prisoner has a unique set of skills and abilities, adding a layer of strategy to the game.
You’ll need to plan your escape carefully, as you only have a limited amount of food and oxygen to keep you alive. One of the most enjoyable aspects of Void Bastards is the witty writing and humor that runs throughout the game.
The game pokes fun at common sci-fi tropes and creates its own quirky characters and enemies. This unique approach to storytelling adds an extra layer of entertainment to an already engaging game.
The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds is a first-person Action RPG exhibiting an action-packed game splashed with scientific discoveries.
This is a game that, in many ways, feels like Fallout New Vegas, as both are developed by the same studio.
Unlike Fallout, The Outer Worlds lets you have companions to aid you in battle, similar to Mass Effect and Shepard’s crew. For instance, you can recruit NPCs in the game by talking with them or completing their quests, making your ship more populated and, honestly, more fun and interesting.
On top of that, you can also use the companion abilities when the fight gets more serious. Each companion’s diverse playstyle and abilities significantly affect the outcome of each battle.
Overall, the Outer World is considered by many to be a great game, and it certainly is one of the best sci-fi games on Nintendo Switch.
Hyper Light Drifter
The developers of Hyper Light Drifer combined elements from A Link to the Past and Diablo skillfully. The result was an interesting indie game with dungeon exploration, fun combat, and exciting loot.
The game’s graphics are pixelated and smooth, lending a nostalgic feeling to the overall experience. The synthesized soundtrack also contributes to the game’s serene atmosphere, creating a truly immersive player experience.
One of the game’s strengths is its exploration. Players can roam the world and discover its secrets while being exposed to this title’s marvelous environmental storytelling. The world-building and lore are also noteworthy, adding depth and complexity to the game’s story.
The combat in Hyper Light Drifter is another highlight. The devs embraced hack and slash elements, with both melee and ranged attacks, making battles fun and fast-paced. Upgrades to the protagonist’s stats and weapons add an extra layer of customization and strategy to the game, allowing players to deal massive damage to enemies.
Warframe
You can’t have a good list of sci-fi titles without space ninjas, which is why we are including Warframe. This free-to-play MMO Action RPG showcases fast-paced action and a smooth mobility system that is thrilling and addictive.
The game also offers a vast amount of content that sometimes feels overwhelming. There is a great variety of items and builds that can vastly change the gameplay. However, it is rewarding to finally get what you need to complement the playstyle, which also gives meaning to the grinding process.
Although Warframe’s core gameplay loop is a bit simple and repetitive, the game is still playable as it offers many modes for you to play and enjoy. The game embraced hack and slash and run-and-gun combat elements to bring a much quicker action performance.
Warframe is a spectacle. It presents players with dense lore, many planets, small and vast areas, and fantastic aesthetic choices that make it feel epic at every step of your journey.
This is the perfect combination of hack-and-slash, ninjas, sci-fi, and RPG. If it sounds appealing to you, make sure to try out Warframe.
Subnautica
Subnautica is an open-world survival game that is set in an underwater environment. Its world is teeming with perilous nautical monsters that lurk in the depths. The game’s first-person perspective makes for an immersive experience of being marooned in an unfamiliar place.
Moreover, Subnautica is a great open-world game that permits players to explore and survive in the abyss, putting their lives on the line against the lethal creatures of the sea.
Despite being a deep-sea diver simulation, it is surprisingly entertaining. There is a lot to explore, and a bunch of dangerous underwater creatures will be in your way.
As expected from games of the genre, players need to scavenge for valuable resources to survive in the aquatic world. It is imperative to collect raw materials such as copper and gold to fashion items for specific purposes.
Subnautica is not the only open-world survival game out there, but it’s an underwater sci-fi game. That alone makes it stand out among all the others.
Katana Zero
Katana Zero is a great indie 2D action platformer set in a dystopian future. In this game, you play as a Katana-wielding assassin named Zero.
The game’s visual design is an example of a modernish retro aesthetic that embraces vibrant pixel graphics, smooth sprite work, and a fantastic soundtrack. As a result, the game gives off an 80s sci-fi flick feel like the famous Blade Runner movies.
The game’s combat system embraced simple hack and slash elements which complement its complex platforming mechanics.
The best feature of the game’s combat is the precognition ability of Zero, which makes players learn from their mistakes by going back to the start after the moment they die. Also, you can use his time-slowing ability to avoid such traps and deflect projectiles.
Metroid Dread
Metroid Dread is the newest addition to the classic Metroid franchise. It is a Metroidvania game that follows a brand-new story and approach that captivates both old-timers and newcomers.
Dread features a new planet and new enemies but retains its classic gameplay mechanic full of discoveries and surprises seen in old Metroid titles.
What also shines the most is the game’s fluidity in combat and mobility. Samus’ moves are smoothly performed, and the controls all feel very responsive. In addition, the boss fights are magnificent and engaging since they are designed to be different from one another and increasingly complex.
If you are a fan of the old Metroid games, especially Super Metroid, you should know what to expect. This game takes the formula that made Samus famous in her first games and improves upon it.
As a result, you have one of the most enjoyable sci-fi experiences on the Switch and one of the best Metroid games ever made.
XCOM 2 Collection
Are you looking for tactical gameplay focused on fighting aliens? If so, then XCOM 2 Collection may be the game for you.
This game delivers the sci-fi genre by sending players to the strategic gaming field. XCOM 2 Collection is an award-winning game that includes the War of the Chosen expansion pack and 4 DLCs.
The game stands out due to its premise filled with action and badassery. Battling against or with aliens will surely bring out the sci-fi enthusiasm within you. XCOM 2 also allows for squad and character customization, giving you the ability to build your desired squad with recruits designed to complement each other’s playstyles.
The game’s turn-based tactical combat system is similar to its predecessor, but new features have been added. For example, the Concealment mechanic allows you to sneak behind enemies and initiate an ambush.
Overall, this sci-fi game for the Switch requires tactical thinking as you strategize your way through each mission.
Bioshock: The Collection
Bioshock: The Collection has the first three Bioshock games. These retro-futuristic First-Person Shooters are among some of the most immersive sci-fi games ever made.
These critically acclaimed games are famous for the captivating story of the fantastic cities that serve as the setting for these games. There is always some level of conspiracy and mystery involved in the plots that keep players curious and engaged.
The first Bioshock feels very much like a horror game, and the second one is like a twisted power fantasy. The third Bioshock goes from an underwater to a sky one, delivering the same kind of experience in an innovative setting.
All in all, Bioshock: The Collection is a thrill ride experience that offers an unbelievably memorable experience. Whether they are in Rapture or Columbia, players will find out that things are never how they seem.
And, if all you are looking for is fun gameplay in a sci-fi setting, these FPS games will provide that with a variety of guns and special abilities, such as shooting fire from your hands.
