Summary
- There's a lot of variety on the Nintendo Switch in terms of Open-World games.
- There are games that cater to all ages and skill levels.
- Aside from mainline Nintendo titles, there are numerous Indies worth checking out as well.
Overall Open-world games are a dime a dozen in modern gaming, and the Nintendo Switch has some of the finest examples in the genre. From modern-day classics to reimaginings of classic Nintendo franchises, the Switch is host to a plentiful bounty of open-world adventures.
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PostsSwitch gamers have access to some of the best open worlds in gaming in, quite literally, the palm of their hand. The novelty of having access to console-scale worlds on a handheld device hasn't quite rubbed off yet, here are the best open-world games on the Nintendo Switch.
Updated March 17, 2025 By Matthew Mckeown: The Nintendo Switch and open world games are really going hand-in-hand these days. The plucky little console is chugging away happily as it chews into bigger and bigger NPC filled sandpits, and it’s always a great way to kill time.
You’re pretty spoiled for choice with these kinds of games, and there’s something covering every type of setting that it’s easy to find something that will suit your particular tastes. If you’re in the market for another big time sink of a sandpit, then check out our updated look at the best open world games on the Nintendo Switch.
A Short Hike
Summiting Is Not The End
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Like Follow FollowedA Short Hike
Adventure Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 87/100 Critics Rec: 100% Released April 5, 2019 ESRB E For Everyone Developer(s) Adam Robinson-Yu Publisher(s) Adam Robinson-Yu Engine UnityWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALA chill walk in the woods is always worthwhile and A Short HIke by Adamgryu puts you in the shoes of a little adorable bird that’s exploring the mountainous trails of Hawk Peak Provincial Park. It’s a wide spanning landscape that you can climb, swim and fly through.
Explore at your own pace, meet other hikers along the way who will sometimes join you or help out. There’s also plenty of hidden treasures to hunt down as you make your way all the way up to the summit of the mountain. It’s a very peaceful, serene and adorably cosy game that encourages you to go oft the beaten path as often as you can.
Rebel Galaxy Outlaw
Survive In Space Your Way
In a lawless galaxy it’s dog eat dog, and Rebel Galaxy Outlway from Double Damage Games, you’ll need to show you’re the toughest pirate out there. Playing as Juno Markev, you’re another interstellar scallywag trying to get by. But with a killer on your tail, and a huge debt to pay off, it’s going to be a little tricky.
Tucked inside your cozy cockpit you’ll get to experience exciting first-person combat from the pilot chair of one of many ships you can call your own. Combat is tense and exciting, plus quests can sometimes require a bit of bribery at the local bar to get the information you need. It’s a huge and wide open galaxy out there, so strap in and set off.
Red Dead Redemption
A Wild West Classic
5 Images 5 Images Credits: Rockstar Games CloseYour Rating
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LikeRed Dead Redemption
Open-World Adventure Systems 10.0/10 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 79/100 Critics Rec: 72% Released May 18, 2010 ESRB M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs Developer(s) Rockstar San Diego Publisher(s) Rockstar Games Engine rockstar advanced game engineWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALA now-iconic open world western, Red Dead Redemption is just one of many in a now long-running, and sadly under utilized, Rockstar Games franchise. This time around you’re taking the reigns of John Marsten, an ex-outlaw being forced to hunt down his old gang and gain himself some redemption for his old ways.
What follows is a period piece filled with all sorts of typical Rockstar twists and turns in a world filled with tons of side-quests, unforgettable NPC’s, and some genuinely gorgeous vistas. The sequel took what made the first game great and expanded upon it substantially, but it’s always worth revisiting where it all began. Plus, the recent rework of Red Dead Redemption brought it forward to next-gen where it belongs.
Worth noting is that the multiplayer in Red Dead Redemption is no longer supported.
Stranded Deep
Thallasophibics Need Not Apply
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Like Follow FollowedStranded Deep
Survival Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 64/100 Critics Rec: 21% Released April 21, 2020 ESRB T For Teen due to Blood, Crude Humor, Mild Violence Developer(s) Beam Team Games Publisher(s) Beam Team Games Engine Unity Multiplayer Online MultiplayerWHERE TO PLAY
SUBSCRIPTIONA little rough around the edges, but once you get into the groove Stranded Deep is a solid open world survival game. After a plane crashes in a big open archipelago, it’s up to you to survive, explore and escape. But it’s not going to be easy as the sun is very hot, the islands are sparse, and the ocean is full to the brim with sharks.
There’s a lot of moving parts to get to grips with in Stranded Deep, but thankfully there is co-op avilable. Plus, you’ll find yourself diving into the wiki on more than one occasion. But the big beast boss fights more than make up for it. A game you take on at your own pace, Stranded Deep promises an island getaway, but delivers a solid open world survival experience.
The Tale Of Bistun
More Dangerous Than The Murderhorn
The massive intimidating Mount Bistun lays before you, an amnesiac Stone Carver is under your control, and a there’s a long journey up the slope ahead of you. The path is not easy though as it’s filled with monsters that you’ll have to batter apart in melee combat or with powerful magical moves.
The gorgeous realm is full of mystery and in some spots, missing memories that need to be recovered. There’s plenty of quests to complete in this retelling of a Persian classic tale of love and loss, and those huge hordes you’ll encounter on those missions are massive. Reach the peak, carve your tale upon its rock face, and don’t fall along the way as you race to conquer Mount Bistun.
Isolation Instinct
Scandenavian Style Survival
A cel-shaded adventure into the harsh unknown, Isolation Instinct tasks you with taming the wilderness and carving a path back to civilization through the forest. Danger lurks around every corner, and you’ll need to manage your resources well if you want your little safe haven to survive the night.
It’s an open-world game that you’ll gleefully lose hours in as you hit all those classic points of crafting, hunting, fishing, and so on. To keep things interesting, Isolation Instinct also tosses in four distinct regions to wander around, a deep crafting system, unlockable skills and plenty of little meta mechanics to mess around with as you build the perfect home for yourself in the wilds. A challenging experience for fans of open-world survival games, Isolation Instinct is worth checking out.
Fishing Valley
Every Fishermans Fantasy
A calm experience out on the open waves, Fishing Valley is every Anglers dream game as it lets you coast out on your boat with nothing but the water and your rod for company. Start your journey off as a beginner fisherman before scaling up to bigger boats and better gear in this wonderful open-world game.
But it’s not just all about angling for a bite as there’s also a story about this particular valley that you can get invested in. There’s small ports to explore, plenty of fishing missions to complete, items to unlock and a whole wealth of fisherman gear and features to get lost in. With word coming of future updates that will add more things to catch, it’s worth jumping into the deep waters of Fishing Valley with both feet as soon as you can.
Brothers In Hell
Back From The Dead To Cause Trouble
A blocky hellscape that two unfortunate souls call home, Brothers In Hell is a story of vengeance after you’re brought back from the dead on a quest for revenge. Seems a sinister cult called the Apocalypse Bringers have ravaged the land, and only one undying person can stop them. Armed with your trusty bow and arrow, it’s a surprisingly solid mix of stealth and action that can get out of hand quite quickly.
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PostsYour goal is to liberate village after village, beating the boss inside to restore peace to that particular location. But those big brutes won’t go down easy as each one is unique and has their own attacks that will wipe the floor with you if you’re not paying attention. It’s an immersive little tale that will take you a few hours to blow through, but you’ll be on edge the entire time.
The Pathless
An Awesome Archery Adventure
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Like Follow FollowedThe Pathless
Adventure Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 78/100 Critics Rec: 78% Released November 12, 2020 ESRB E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence Developer(s) Giant Squid Publisher(s) Annapurna Interactive Engine Unreal Engine 4WHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALAn absolutely gorgeous game from the talented team that brought us ABZU, The Pathless from Giant Squid is a mystical adventure into the wilds. Playing as a Master Archer, your goal is take down the darkness that’s blighted the land. With just a bow and your trained Eagle companion to aid you, it’s a bold and big adventure just waiting to burst forth onto your screen.
Overall The Pathless is an enjoyable and genuinely beautiful experience at times as you’re wandering around its vast open map. With big Breath Of The Wild energy, it treads similar yet new ground to provide an experience that’s thrilling and always has something new just around the corner. A recommended pick if you’re looking for something familiar yet new.
Ylands
A Wild World Of Wandering Around
For those looking for a grand adventure then check out Ylands from Bohemia Interactive. Surprising many with this title, Bohemia have certainly made something unique whilst taking a lot of good notes from other games.
Build everything from huge castles and manors, to armored covered house boats and whatever else your imagination can come up with. To keep you occupied there are tons of dungeons to clear out, islands to discover and new sights to see. It’s very relaxing sailing around on your own, plus when you bring in a group the anarchy and enjoyment only increases. Genuinely good from top to bottom and worth a recommendation, Ylands is an Open-World game that will sit well on your Nintendo Switch.
