Underappreciated Gems In The Switch eShop You Need To Play

The Nintendo Switch has only been out since 2017, but there are already truckloads of great games you can play on it. There are the Nintendo-published exclusives, of course, like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Super Mario Odyssey. There are major third-party releases worth checking out, too, such as ports of Doom, Sid Meier's Civilization 6, and Fortnite. And then there are the indies, which have overrun the Nintendo eShop to the point where some games are bound to fly under the radar.

Those titles are the ones we want to highlight here: the games that might not have gotten coverage on big video game websites but are still worth playing.

For every Celeste, there's an interesting and unique platformer that you probably haven't heard of. For every Undertale, there's another RPG that offers a fresh spin on the genre — yet hasn't gotten the credit it deserves. We get it: the eShop has a discoverability problem, and it can be difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff without a helping hand. So below, we'll aim to cover the best of the games that aren't being talked about.

Here are the underappreciated gems in the Switch eShop you need to play.

If you've forgotten the old adage "Don't judge a book by its cover," now's the time to remember it. Plenty of games these days borrow the art styles of yore, leaning into a retro look even though the graphical prowess of current-generation hardware can do far more. An older-looking game with today's game design ideas can still provide a fun and entertaining experience, and that's why we've really enjoyed a throwback to the past called Downwell.

And true to its name, Downwell is all about going down.

In Downwell, you play as an unnamed character who descends into the depths of a well, hoping to discover what's at the bottom. Each run is procedurally generated, so the game offers infinite playbility in that regard. And there are rogue-like aspects to Downwell, too, which means that you'll explore, collect items and likely die a few times, but each playthrough will make you an even more capable player, ready to take on the challenges that await the next time you enter the well.

Plus, the game can be played with your Switch turned on its side, giving you an even larger view. That's just cool.

Destructoid said that Downwell "feels as if it was designed from the ground up for the Nintendo Switch," despite being a port. And since it usually costs just a few bucks, there's no reason you should go on without at least giving it a try.

We're suckers for games with stunning artwork, and on the Switch, there is no shortage of them. You have to admit that the art inside a game like Hollow Knight really draws you into the game's world. And you have to admire something like Dead Cells that can successfully straddle the line and create a look that is somehow modern and retro at the same time.

There are a lot of reasons to like Flipping Death outside of its art. But that's likely the first thing you'll notice.

Flipping Death is a puzzle platformer about a girl named Penny who, rather unfortunately, finds herself dead and somehow in the shoes of the Grim Reaper himself. But it's not all bad: Penny discovers that she can exist in the worlds of the living and the dead by simply "flipping" between them. From there, she's tasked with moving about the world, solving puzzles and helping the dead find solace in the afterlife.

The characters in Flipping Death are 2D entities, almost as though they're paper cut-outs. Yet they exist in a space with dimensions and depth. The levels somehow feel like a pop-up book with moving parts, and when you combine that with the game's puzzle and platforming elements, you get a game that isn't easily compared to anything else.

IGN called Flipping Death "a delightfully absurd and funny adventure game in which things are never quite as they seem." Why not give it a shot?

We mentioned Guacamelee! earlier as a game that's made a name for itself in the world of Metroidvanias. But did you know that Drinkbox Studios, the developers behind that title, also released another game that isn't as well known? It was initially a Vita game, but eventually made its way over to the Wii U and 3DS. And now it's on the Nintendo Switch, feeling as great for that platform as it has for any of its previous homes.

It's called Severed, and believe us when we tell you the name is very fitting.

Severed fancies itself an RPG of sorts, but makes use of the Nintendo Switch's touchscreen more than you might've encountered in any other RPGs you played. Battles take place in real time, and you don't use buttons, but rather your fingers on the touchscreen to slash away at enemies, potentially severing their body parts in the process. Along with this unique control scheme, Severed has interesting bosses to battle, a variety of puzzles to solve, and a soundtrack that — like Guacamelee!'s — really brings the game to life.

Severed is worth the couple of bucks you might have lying around. Nintendo Life called it "a joy to behold from start to finish," so if it's not part of your collection yet, it's definitely something you should consider adding.

When it comes to criminally underrated platformers, the Shantae series stands out as one of the biggest. The franchise has diehard fans, sure, but it often gets overlooked in the grand scheme. We could get another original Shantae, with vibrant new worlds and new challenges to face, but what's that to a port of a Wii U Super Mario game, right? Criminal, we tell you. Criminal.

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse deserves your love.

To start, Pirate's Curse is just as much a Metroidvania as it is anything else. You might not get a sense of it at first glance, but this game rewards exploration and encourages you to skip all around the world map to revisit old areas and discover new secrets. On top of that, Shantae herself is constantly growing more powerful through upgrades, picking up gems throughout the campaign and trading them for better weapons and abilities. And she uses her hair as a weapon. How can you beat that?

Here's what Nintendo Life had to say: "We'd give this game a strong recommendation to anybody who hasn't played it yet and would still encourage veterans to consider double dipping." Yes, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a port. But if you haven't played it yet, it's new to you, right?

Are you on the lookout for a never-before-seen take on the RPG genre? What about a fairly decent golf game for your Nintendo Switch — would you like one of those, too? How about a game that somehow manages to smash the two of them together, creating something that sounds bizarre but ultimately nails it?

That is Golf Story in a nutshell. You're a golfer and a fighter — the best of both worlds.

Golf Story tells the tale of an underachieving golfer who is trying desperately to go pro. And there's some golf here, sure. You'll use your clubs to hit a ball with the eventual goal of putting that ball into a hole. But you'll also take on a range of enemies by putting your golf skills to work — anything and anyone from pesky rodents to rival golfers and lots of things in between. More importantly — over a game that spans eight areas and a plethora of golf courses — you'll keep chasing that dream. The game is quirky but it works.

Here's GameSpot's opinion: "Switch has had a swathe of indies hit its eShop recently, but if you're looking for something that'll give you satisfaction in terms of an interesting story and a rewarding mechanic, then Golf Story is certainly par for the course." Trade your sword in for a sand wedge and give this baby a go.