
The Nintendo Switch is achieving a status rarely mentioned in gaming; a console with a very comprehensive library. For all the available games on other platforms, it's hard to imagine anything surpassing the Switch's richly historic library. You can play titles like Skyrim and Borderlands on the go, you can rewind cloud games, and it runs both new Doom titles. You may begin to wonder, "What isn't on the Switch?"
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Great question! These games aren't, even though they're very good. Here are a few cult classics, overlooked gems, or otherwise great games that we really want to see on Nintendo's console.
9 Jet Set Radio
Jet Grind Radio and Jet Set Radio Future are games that are very much of their time, but in positive ways. In addition to their unique concepts and gameplay, the series learned from the extreme sports titles of the period, embracing the controversial act of tagging graffiti as a central gameplay mechanic.
The creators embraced the anti-establishment sentiments of the time, as well as influences from late 90s Japanese hip hop. These elements went into the game's story and world, creating something altogether unique, memorable, and quintessentially Y2K. It was also among the first games to successfully use cel-shaded graphics to create a rich, unforgettable aesthetic. Although it has arguably never felt out of date, the franchise itself still faded over time, and deserves another spin.
8 Golden Sun
In the early days of GBA, Golden Sun was the RPG trailblazer. It somersaulted the gap between the 8-bit Game Boy RPGs and the 32-bit Advance. Its visual style and design were the perfect showcase of the GBA's graphics capabilities, and the game had a unique combat system with a variety of puzzles. It was followed by an equally beloved sequel; Golden Sun: The Lost Age, which had been a second half during development. Many years later, the series received a third entry on the DS.
Such a beloved and long-dormant franchise could stand to get the remake treatment like Advance Wars did, preferably including both GBA titles and keeping the full original story intact.
7 Skies of Arcadia
The years have treated Skies of Arcadia kindly, as it’s now a full-fledged cult classic and widely considered one of the heavy hitters of the underappreciated RPG realm. Its Gamecube re-release, Skies of Arcadia: Legends added new content, and both versions are still beloved today. Like many other cult classic RPGs, you could probably pay the rent with a sealed copy of either version. That alone is reason enough for a re-release, but there are several more.
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The game's overworld exploration, unique and varied styles of combat, and the engrossing world make it a historic must-play for fans of turn-based RPGs. Whether it could be remastered is anyone's guess, but if it can be, it's worth it for fans and newcomers alike.
6 Pokemon Colosseum
People have been asking for Pokemon Colosseum HD for years. The successor to the Pokemon Stadium games on Gamecube took the winning Stadium formula and gave it a much more robust single-player campaign, setting up years of demand for the first full-sized home console Pokemon game.
We got there, we just had to wait for the handheld and the home console to become the same device.
5 House of the Dead: Overkill
Now that the original has been remade, this is a good time to also let us play Overkill, House of the Dead’s late-franchise tone shift into a very Grind house-y direction to inject something unique into the franchise - aside from typing; they did that with Overkill, too, on PC.
Sega found a way to keep the arcade-dominated series alive via the Nintendo Wii and its ability to move light gun games into the next generation. The Switch has move controls for home console mode and a touch screen for portable mode. Need I say more?
4 Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
via 9to5ToysThe real appeal of the Switch is how it seamlessly hops the canyon between home console and handheld gaming, so the most exciting Switch ports are those that haven’t been conceivable as handheld games. This makes games like Skyrim, Borderlands, The Witcher, and Grand Theft Auto especially appealing on the Switch.
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Rockstar’s unique DS entry, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, has gotten re-released on PSP and mobile devices, but is worthy of a modern update. Chinatown Wars has a unique design, appeal, style, and a wide variety of clever and original gameplay mechanics available to adapt to the Switch. With the PSP and Mobile re-releases, what hurdles could be left? A Chinatown Wars port to Switch could just be money in the bank.
3 Star Fox Adventures
Star Fox Adventures is a unique game in terms of its history and reception. Graphically, it was aligned with Wind Waker in terms of quality, but was also such a steep contradiction to what the series was known for at the time, many fans found it to be jarring. Thankfully, classic Starfox Gameplay was used between locations.
Whether time has been kind to Star Fox Adventures is up for debate, but it’s widely considered a pretty great game. It has a strong fan base, and honestly, it deserves a re-release because of what it represents in the medium’s history: One of the last home runs from one of gaming’s greatest developers, Rare.
2 Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem
Released the same year as Resident Evil’s iconic remake, Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem was a worthy competitor, thanks to its original story and daring gameplay elements. The game’s lead character is a vessel through which the player experiences a dozen characters’ stories across history. Its most notable feature was the Sanity Meter, and the bizarre effects it could have on the game, sometimes shattering the fourth wall in the process.
While the game is certainly influential and has always been a cult classic, the game’s legendary sanity effects haven’t been explored elsewhere. It’s one of the greatest horror games ever made and has never been ported ever, so any time is the right time. Nintendo, if you can’t find a way to publish this on Switch, at least get rolling on a Gamecube selection for Nintendo Switch Online and make this one of the first releases.
1 Persona Origins Collection
It's undeniable that life sim elements have made the Persona franchise what it is, but there is still plenty to love about the classics. Persona, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment were originally released for the PlayStation. Persona was released as Revelations: Persona in the west. The games have done reasonably well, and their unique tone and gameplay styles, like the Rumor System, make them worthy of experiencing on their own.
Right now, the Switch is arguably the best console for Persona fans, and the PSP remasters of Persona, Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment deserve a fresh new release. The games make perfect sense packaged together, especially since Persona 2 was a duology. The original three games have a unique feel, depth, and maturity that makes them special and worthy of packing into one single collection. They could even add Jack Bros!
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