Looking For Your Next Adventure? Here Are The Best Nintendo Switch Adventure Games
Summary
- Nintendo Switch offers a variety of adventurous games like The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario for on-the-go play or at home.
- New adventures like The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Neva, and The Plucky Squire offer unique gameplay experiences.
- Popular options like Ori and the Blind Forest, A Short Hike, and Super Mario Odyssey provide diverse and engaging adventures.
There’s nothing quite like setting off on an adventure in a video game, whether your quest is so grand that the world is at stake, or your adventure takes place a little closer to home. The Nintendo Switch’s library is many games like this, allowing you to adventure at home or even on the go.
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PostsPlenty of classic Nintendo series like Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda fit into this, allowing you to escape into other worlds and step into the role of a hero. Alongside these fan favorites, there are plenty more adventures for you to go on — if you’re just ready to take the first step.
Updated on March 30, 2025 by Rebecca Phillips: If you're looking for another adventure to play on Switch before Switch 2 launches, check out the excellent sci-fi RPG we've added.
20 Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
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RPG Action Systems Released March 20, 2025 ESRB Teen // Animated Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence Developer(s) Monolith Soft Publisher(s) Nintendo Multiplayer Online Co-Op Franchise Xenoblade Chronicles Number of Players 1 (Single-Player), 1-32 (Multiplayer) Nintendo Switch Release Date March 20, 2025WHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALAll the Xenoblade Chronicles games have an excellent sense of adventure, but none moreso than Xenoblade Chronciles X, and the Definitive Edition has finally made it to Nintendo Switch. Playing as a customizable character, you find yourself on the planet Mira, where humans have taken refuge after an attack on Earth. You'll spend a lot of time adventuring across the planet on foot and in your Skell, exploring each nook and cranny.
Exploration and adventure in Xenoblade Chronicles is intensely satsifying, as you're rewarded with XP and unique monsters for going off the beaten path. This is a great pick if you're looking for a sci-fi adventure.
19 The Legend Of Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom
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Adventure Systems 4.0/5 9.7/10 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 85/100 Critics Rec: 93% Released September 26, 2024 ESRB E10+ For Everyone 10+ Developer(s) Nintendo, Grezzo Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine HavokWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALLink is a great protagonist, but it's about time that Zelda got to go on her own adventure. In The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Link is pulled into a Rift, leaving Princess Zelda in charge of saving Hyrule. Zelda uses the Tri Rod to produce Echoes of monsters and items, which allows you to fight enemies and explore the overworld and dungeons.
Echoes of Wisdom is an excellent top-down Zelda game that uses the best of classic and modern Zelda. Similar to Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, you can get creative when solving puzzles, but it has much better dungeons, reminiscent of the earlier games.
18 Neva
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Adventure Platformer Puzzle Systems Released October 15, 2024 ESRB Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence Developer(s) Nomada Studio Publisher(s) Devolver Digital Engine Unity Number of Players 1 Steam Deck Compatibility VerifiedWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALIf the art style of Neva seems familiar, that's because it's made by Nomada Studio, the same developers who made Gris. In Neva, you play as a young woman named Alba. You aren't alone, as a magical wolf cub is your constant companion and you must make your way through the dangerous world together.
Similar to Gris, Neva is light on challenge and heavy on emotional themes. Your adventure will be focused on forging your bond with the wolf cub and growing together on your journey, and it definitely makes for a more touching and heartfelt experience.
17 The Plucky Squire
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Platformer Systems 4.0/5 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 82/100 Critics Rec: 85% Released September 17, 2024 ESRB E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence Developer(s) All Possible Futures Publisher(s) Devolver Digital Engine Unreal Engine 4WHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTIONYou can't get much closer to a traditional adventure than The Plucky Squire. You play as a storybook character named Jot, who discovers that there's more than just the book he's in - there's actually an entire 3D world just outside its pages. Jot is booted out of the book by the evil Humgrump and sets out on an adventure between 2D and 3D worlds to restore peace.
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PostsThe Plucky Squire is filled to the brim with charm and is a great lighthearted adventure to dive into. While the combat is pretty simple, there's plenty of puzzles to test you and fun challenges throughout.
16 It Takes Two
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Action Adventure Systems 8.0/10 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 88/100 Critics Rec: 93% Released March 26, 2021 ESRB T for Teen: Animated Blood, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Language Developer(s) Hazelight Studios Publisher(s) Electronic Arts Engine Unreal Engine 4WHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTIONIt Takes Two is an excellent co-op adventure game to play with a friend or partner. Parents Cody and May are on the brink of divorce when they find themselves turned into their daughter's dolls and must work together to figure out a way to return to their human selves. Each chapter of It Takes Two is a completely different experience, taking you through the garden, space, a snow globe, and much more.
While the game mostly focuses on puzzles and platforming, you'll experience lots of different types of gameplay on your adventure, too. If you're looking for a light-hearted adventure you can complete in a few sessions, check out It Takes Two.
15 Tunic
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Adventure Systems 4.0/5 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 85/100 Critics Rec: 93% Released March 16, 2022 ESRB e Developer(s) Andrew Shouldice Publisher(s) Finji Engine UnityWHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTIONTunic wears its Zelda inspiration on its sleeve, and that's a good thing. Playing as an adventurous fox, you set out with the goal of freeing a fox spirit from a crystal. Your adventure sees you exploring a beautiful fantasy world and using your sword to fight the numerous creatures that will do their best to stop you.
It's a fairly simple adventure, but one you'll easily enjoy to its fullest as you solve puzzles in dungeons, improve your skills as a sword fighter, and just take in the classic fairytale atmosphere.
14 Celeste
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Platformer Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 92/100 Critics Rec: 99% Released January 25, 2018 ESRB E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language Developer(s) Extremely OK Games Publisher(s) Extremely OK Games Engine microsoft xna Steam Deck Compatibility VerifiedWHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTIONCeleste is more than just a physical adventure — it's a mental and emotional one, too. As Madeline climbs up Celeste Mountain, she faces the deeper parts of herself and learns to accept herself the way that she is. On the way, she meets new faces who become an important part of her journey.
Be prepared, though, as Celeste is a tricky platformer, with difficult sequences you'll probably need a fair few tries to make it through. That's what makes it all the more satisfying, though, when you finally make it all the way to the top of the mountain and finish your adventure.
13 Okami HD
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Action Adventure Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 87/100 Critics Rec: 95% Released September 19, 2006 ESRB T For Teen due to Blood and Gore, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco Developer(s) Capcom, Clover Studio Publisher(s) Capcom Engine Proprietary EngineWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALUsing Japanese folklore as its basis, Okami was a fantastic game when it launched in 2006, and the HD version on Nintendo Switch is the perfect way to experience it. Playing as the Sun Goddess, Amaterasu, in her wolf form, your goal on this adventure is to free the land of Nippon from the curse of Orochi.
The Switch's touchscreen takes the game to even higher heights, as you can use this to control the Celestial Brush, which is used for battles and other in-game events. If you're looking for a tried-and-true adventure, give Okami a go.
12 Kirby And The Forgotten Land
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Platformer Systems 4.0/5 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 85/100 Critics Rec: 94% Released March 25, 2022 ESRB E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence Developer(s) HAL Laboratory Publisher(s) Nintendo Engine unityWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALKirby and the Forgotten Land is Kirby's first fully 3D adventure, and it's a great one. After being sucked into a vortex, Kirby lands in a deserted place known as the New World. Unfortunately, lots of Waddle Dees from his home planet, Planet Popstar, have been kidnapped by the Beast Pack, so it's up to Kirby to save them all.
This game is a pure, good-hearted adventure — while you're wandering the mysterious New World, you'll also get to use Kirby's infamous Copy Abilities, including a variety of new ones introduced in this title.
11 Hollow Knight
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Metroidvania Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 90/100 Critics Rec: 99% Released February 24, 2017 ESRB E10+ for Everyone 10+: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood Developer(s) Team Cherry Publisher(s) Team Cherry Engine Unity Franchise Hollow KnightWHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTIONIf you're looking for a challenging adventure, Hollow Knight will be right up your street. Taking inspiration from the Souls games and classic Metroidvanias, Hollow Knight sees you exploring the world of Hallownest. It's full of tough (and we mean tough) boss fights to take on, as well as tricky platforming areas that you'll need skill and patience to complete.
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PostsDespite the difficulty you'll likely face on your adventure, the land of Hallownest is beautiful, if hauntingly so. It's a joy to wander every nook and cranny of the forgotten kingdom, discovering more and more about its forgotten past as you do so.
