Summer is here! Well, in the northern hemisphere. Almost.
Look, it might not technically be summer at the time of writing, but the summer sale Nintendo is currently running on the European Switch eShops runs past June 21st, with a second wave of titles coming on June 25th. So for Switch owners in the market for a bargain, the sun is shining.
With over 1,500 games included in the Switch sale at the time of writing, it’s hard to know where to start. That’s exactly why we’ve put together this exhaustive list of great Switch games on sale on the eShop that we here at Nintendo Life have rated at least 9/10.
We will potentially change this list when the second wave arrives on June 25th. And readers in North America can rest easy – there’s a similar ‘Hyper Max’ sale across the pond, and we’ll be putting together another regional roundup to that effect in the coming days.
And before we go, turn it on quickly! You can also get an additional 5% discount on these prices by topping up your account with eShop credit from our store. Simply enter the code LIFE 5 at checkout to save even more on all those quality video games.
Please note that some external links on this site are affiliate links, which means that if you click on them and make a purchase, we may receive a small percentage of the sale. For more information, read our FTC Statement.
Prices are quoted in GBP below, but matching savings are also available in the lovely Eurozone. To enjoy!
Publisher: Improve games / Programmer: Resonair
£35.99 £17.99
Tetris is one of the best video games of all time, and Tetris Effect: Connected is perhaps the best iteration of the classic puzzle yet. While this Switch port doesn’t offer much over existing versions in terms of features, it does bring one key ingredient that its competitors can’t: portability. Of course, some will argue that Tetris Effect: Connected is a unique brand of synesthesia really
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive / Programmer: Mountains
£4.99 £1.79
Florence is an evocation of the beauty, sadness, and hope that comes from every human connection we make in our lives, whether with art, nature, or another person. It’s a concise and incredibly successful exploration of moments you’ll recognize from your own life, and the way it reflects thoughts and feelings through small gameplay mechanics makes it one of the most memorable experiences we’ve enjoyed on Switch or any other platform.
Publisher: Mixtvision / Programmer: Omotive
£13.49 2.69 pounds
Without saying a word, FAR: Lone Sails delivers a heartwarming story of hope and perseverance, masterfully balancing style with substance for an experience that’s as sublime as it looks. Sure, you might grumble about its relative brevity, occasionally obtuse puzzles, and very, very minor control issues, but those issues disappear once you’re invested in the journey. We highly recommend you try this.
Publisher: Supergiant games / Programmer: Supergiant games
£22.49 £11.24
Hades is a sublime blend of satisfyingly crisp and flexible combat, a beautifully vivid art style, and a genuinely fun and engaging story. Supergiant Games has a great track record with games like Bastion and Transistor, but this really feels like the best moment, an incredible rampage through the underworld that has arrived here on Switch in a near-perfect port. Even if you have yet to be swayed by the admittedly repetitive ebb and flow of roguelikes, we passionately encourage you to at least give this roguelite a try; for fans of the genre or anyone even remotely interested, this is one heavenly vision of hell that we highly recommend you sacrifice yourself to.
Publisher: Asymmetric / Programmer: Asymmetric
£11.00 £5.50
West of Loathing is not your average RPG; in fact, we’d go so far as to say you’ve probably never played anything like it in your life. His combat won’t blow your mind, but don’t be lulled into believing that’s what this game is about because the whole thing is really an adventure of exploration and interaction with a bit of combat. It can be a little hard to decipher at times, but the satisfaction you feel after solving a problem completely makes up for it. The humor is beautifully dry like the desert you’re driving through and the text is some of the best you’ll find on the Switch. Unless you have humor in your body, this is an RPG you can’t risk skipping.
Publisher: UFO Interactive / Programmer: MOSS
£29.99 £11.99
Yes, Raiden IV isn’t your typical dud by today’s standards, and it won’t be for everyone. Equally, all these modes were available in some form elsewhere. But as a single package, Raiden IV x Mikado Remix offers the Switch one of its best shooter releases to date – and that’s saying something for a console that has emerged as the unexpected star of the genre.
Publisher: Motion Twin / Programmer: Motion Twin
£22.49 £11.24
Dead Cells is a masterclass in exquisite roguelite design, blending non-stop intense action sequences, beautiful vistas, and an addictive loop of unlocks and rewards into a beautiful experience that no Switch owner will want to go without. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of hours of content available here, and while a feeling of repetition can creep in at times, it’s amazing how Dead Cells can stay fresh through all those hours. This game is fantastic to play, full of visual splendor and packed with things to do; don’t miss this, you have to buy it.
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive / Programmer: Simogo
£10.99 £6.49
Sayonara Wild Hearts is the video game equivalent of Prince: it’s extremely short and her journey may end a little sooner than you’d hoped, but in her short life she packs so many diverse and beautiful ideas and masters so many different styles that while there’s a real disappointment that it’s so quickly past, what it gave you will stay with you for an extremely long time. A true creative masterpiece.
Publisher: Subset games / Programmer: Subset games
£11.39 £5.69
Into The Breach is a brutal, uncompromising game of making tough decisions and living with your mistakes, but the short length of battles and the endless variety of gameplay make for an extremely addictive experience. While the graphics aren’t anything special, the gameplay is some of the best you’ll find in the strategy genre on the Switch, and we can easily recommend it to anyone looking for a deep, thought-provoking game. Into The Breach feels right at home on the Switch, and whether you play more at home or on the go, you’ll more than likely get a lot of value out of this release.
Publisher: Image and form / Programmer: Image and form
£14.99 £2.24
SteamWorld Heist: Ultimate Edition is a fantastic port of a fantastic game and is a perfect fit for the Switch. Deep, engaging gameplay and elegant presentation combine to make this one of the standout indie releases of the year; this is a great example of a well-composed title. If you’re even a fan of strategy games or just looking for some fun to pass the time for a few weeks, pick this up. It’s a real twist on standard turn-based strategy gameplay and is another fantastic entry in the SteamWorld series.
Publisher: Whippoorwill / Programmer: Adam Robinson-Yu
£6.29 4.08 pounds
The short hike is a fat-free experience from top to bottom – or should we say bottom to top? It’s the kind of game that makes us just sigh with happiness when we think back on our time with it, and even after playing it to its apparent end multiple times, we know for sure that there’s still stuff to see and do on that mountain. What we have here is something of an apotheosis – a turning point in indie games similar to Cave Story, or Spelunky. The best bits of multiple game genres, stripped of all padding and bloat, perfectly blended into a delicious video game stew that gets richer and richer the more you play. An exploration in every sense of the word, A Short Walk is endearing but not boring, challenging but not unpleasant, and emotional but not boring. A great game for all ages. Don’t miss this one.
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive / Programmer: Angel matrix
£19.99 £13.99
From the excellent text, music and presentation to the intense and satisfying core gameplay, Neon White is one of the most exciting things we’ve played all year, and it’s a game we can’t imagine putting down for a long time as we try to improve on our previous times. It successfully blends elements from seemingly disparate genres in new and exciting ways and looks poised to become the next big speedrunning title. This is one action game fans and Switch owners in general won’t want to miss.
Publisher: Drool / Programmer: Drool
£15.99 £4.79
Thumper is a fantastic video game, an extravagant rhythm experience that is also a brutal assault on the senses. It is extremely difficult – sometimes painful – but we feel the need to persevere, trying the difficult stages again and again. Even when this is done, the desire for higher ranks remains simply because the game forces us to keep playing. The only real downside to Thumper, really, is that it offers so little respite and no ‘easy’ mode for players. Some might scoff at this, saying it’s a game designed to be difficult, but the downside is that without that optional concession, the game will be inaccessible and impenetrable for some players. It’s a shame, because for those up for the challenge, it’s a wonderful — if exhausting — gaming experience.
