Stuffing your Nintendo Switch hard drive with bigger games can take its toll, especially when second and third big titles start to strain memory. Luckily, the biggest gaming console also boasts a variety of smaller games, some of which are perfect for saving storage space.
Of course, you could buy a microSD card to expand your Nintendo Switch storage and download titles over the Internet, but not every game is worth the extra download. So we’ve brought together a selection of smaller Nintendo Switch games that you can download directly to save download space and help you squeeze out some extra play time on shorter journeys, or just save space on the console itself.
Wild West Crops
Oh no, it’s the townsfolk again. This time, they’ve ventured out into the villainous Old West, donned themselves in mutant form, and become troublesome plants trying to attack you. There’s a very strange twist to this retro-styled Metroidvania, but an important one in explaining why you’re dodging bullets and using a lasso in a small village and dusty canyons instead of Bowser or Samus. See, instead of a human, you play as Cat, a warrior returning from their infamous adventures to find humans have been warped into giant crops bent on attacking them lest a bullet comes their way. So you shoot the crops, dodge bullets, and even use a lasso to bring your enemies in close for melee attacks on this wild west voyage.
It sounds absurd but somehow, Wild West Crops strikes a chord that’s as charming as its retro-style, with highly responsive gameplay, and a wide cast of characters. You also get to throw cats at stuff. What more could you want?
Retro City Rampage
We’ve seen a whole host of wacky retro-parody games arrive on Nintendo Switch in recent years, but none can challenge Retro City Rampage, Payback’s parody of retro games from the ’80s and ’90s, particularly the likes of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Legend of Zelda. It’s also got some stuff in there that feels like Grand Theft Auto, too, so if you’re looking for a sneaky, GTA-esque game you can pick this up quite easily. Payback sends you on an open-world, 80s-style adventure filled with guns, girls, gangs, explosions, and car chases. Funny and polished, Retro City Rampage is worth its small price.
Pac-Land
Pac-Land isn’t a small game that occupies a tiny corner of the Switch indie section; instead, it’s a retro-style side-scrolling action game that many consider a precursor to other 80s side-scrollers like Super Mario Bros. If you’re unfamiliar (but would like to be initiated into a wondrous world of cherries, mushrooms, and the occasional buzz saw), Pac-Man appears to the right with a continually growing tail that he needs to clear to get more points. Trouble is, several enemies are to stop him, like one particularly squidgy ghost that Pac-Man transforms into whenever he has eaten some power-ups.
As you merge with Pac-Man, you’ll notice a clear evolution of his game, enhanced with gorgeous 3D models and textures, as well as sound design. It’s oodles of fun, looks stunning (despite not having a fancy Nintendo Switch preset), and has enough of a challenge on the harder levels to keep you occupied for a long time.
Zombie Gold Rush
Zombie Gold Rush is a pretty cute time-waster, one where you chuck spears at zombies bent on stopping you from collecting gold. Sounds good so far, right? Well, in Zombie Gold Rush, you’re not just protecting the gold from afar. No, you’re actively going in there and getting stuck in with your spear. As you hack your way through a legion of undead, you can pick up bits of gold, as well as powerful auras that let you reap zombie brains with even more satisfying spear swings. It’s zany, colorful, and oddly addictive.
Squareboy vs Bullies: Arena Edition
Amidst the plethora of pixel-art indie games, Squareboy vs Bullies: Arena Edition stands out. A primitive 2D brawler where you fight through bullies in a corridor of a school, Squareboy vs Bullies: Arena Edition is a neat homage to ’90s era Sonic the Hedgehog and Donkey Kong Country games. It’s also a
