Without a doubt, one thing to love about the Nintendo Switch is the convenience of being able to easily pack up the console and keep playing a game wherever life takes you. But one thing we don’t love so much is the often-high price of a new game. Just because you’re looking for something new to play doesn’t mean you’re down to pay a fortune for it. That’s why we put together a list of the best Switch games under $20 that provide a worthy gaming experience for a relatively low price.
The games on this list were specifically chosen not just because they cost less than $20, but because they’re truly worth the price for the hours of fun you get from the game. If you’re on a budget and looking for a story-rich indie classic, an action-packed RPG, or a calm game to de-stress after work, you’ll want to check out the best Switch games under $20 that you can find on the eShop.
The Best Switch Games Under $20
10. Loop Hero
Developer: Four Quarters
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Price: $14.99
First up on the list is Loop Hero, a post-apocalyptic roguelike deck-builder that’s totally unique. After an evil lich destroys the entire world and its inhabitants, an unlikely hero awakens to try to rebuild reality from whatever is left. But that’s only the beginning of this original yet retro-styled adventure.
Rather than playing as the game’s main character, Loop Hero requires that players take on a caretaker type of role and work to ensure his survival in the chaotic world by securing his environment and taking care of enemies along the path. In this way, Loop Hero forces the player to relinquish the control over the game that we’re so used to having and makes you think outside the box.
9. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition
Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Price: $14.99
In a crazy turn of events, Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Game was updated and re-released for Switch in early 2021, 5 years after being taken off the market and 10 years after its original release. The game’s Complete Edition is a seriously awesome beat ‘em up and at just under $15, it’s one of the best Switch games under $20 that you can buy right now.
In the Complete Edition, you get to choose from six playable characters from the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels and take to the streets of Toronto to defeat seven side-scrolling levels of Ramona’s evil exes. The game’s pixel art style really pops and adds to the comic vibe, while the catchy soundtrack by chiptune rock band Anamanaguchi brings everything together in a hype atmosphere.
8. A Short Hike
Developer: Adamgryu
Publisher: Adamgryu, Whippoorwill Limited
Price: $7.99
As the name suggests, A Short Hike is not a particularly long game, but it is a meaningful and enjoyable experience every step of the way. Best played if you’re in search of a relaxing experience with a lot of character, A Short Hike lets you meander your way around an island community and just see where life takes you.
You play as a little bird named Claire who’s trying to figure out what to do with her time now that she finds herself without phone service. The game’s art style is charmingly minimalist and its melodic soundtrack perfectly adapts to the environment depending on where you are at the moment. For those gamers who appreciate the little things, you can’t go wrong with A Short Hike.
7. Unpacking
Developer: Witch Beam
Publisher: Humble Bundle
Price: $19.99
You could say that Unpacking is the style of game that a system like the Switch was made for. It’s a zen puzzle game that has the power to help you pass the time while keeping totally chill no matter where you may find yourself. And Unpacking manages to strike a perfect balance that allows it to be extremely satisfying to do something as tedious as unpacking boxes.
The typical stress factors of a puzzle game, like timers and success measurements, are nowhere to be found in Unpacking. The joy of this game is simply in the act of creating a pleasant living environment, rather than in being the fastest or highest scoring. And on a deeper level, unpacking a person’s possessions allows you insight into their lives and backstories. If anything, Unpacking is just a touch too short and left us wanting even more.
6. Death’s Door
Developer: Acid Nerve
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Price: $19.99
Belonging to the best games of 2021 on any system is the hack-and-slash adventure RPG Death’s Door. Distinctly reminiscent of greats like Legend of Zelda and Dark Souls, Death’s Door also puts its own style on characters, combat, and the soundtrack. While it doesn’t do anything overtly original, it does nearly everything that’s already been done exactly right.
You play as a less-than-intimidating crow with the interesting job of a corporate Reaper, who travels between worlds to bring souls to the afterlife. Although Reapers are immortal, they temporarily become mortal upon entering another world, and this is where things get complicated. Death’s Door is one of the best Switch games under $20 because it’s a near-perfect execution of a tried-and-true gameplay style, with a beautifully desolate vibe that stays with you after it’s over.
5. Hollow Knight
Developer: Team Cherry
Publisher: Team Cherry
Price: $14.99
The masterful Metroidvania Hollow Knight is among the most beloved indie action games of the last five years, and it’s easy to see why. For starters, the world seems endless with many different paths to take and different corners of the map to explore. No matter which direction you take, you’re guaranteed to find something to do. Also, Hollow Knight’s hand-drawn 2D art style is remarkably unique and it succeeds in giving each stage its own distinct ambiance.
Playing as a nameless warrior, you meet tons of both cute and creepy insect characters in the world of Hollow Knight, and you fight dozens of intimidating bosses along the way. $15 is a small price to pay for an iconic game like Hollow Knight that is still considered an indie must-play.
4. Oxenfree
Developer: Night School Studio
Publisher: Night School Studio
Price: $9.99
Supernatural narrative adventure Oxenfree starts out much like the ‘teen scream’ horror movies we’ve seen done over and over since the 80s. A group of teenagers are partying unsupervised on a spooky island when they start telling ghost stories about paranormal events in the area. But the cliches pretty much end there.
Oxenfree’s gameplay utilizes a unique ‘walk and talk’ mechanic to tell the story, without the use of cutscenes to move the story along, which works wonderfully on Switch. Of the many things Oxenfree gets right, its soundtrack really stands out as equally haunting and mesmerizing. To get the best experience out of this teen thriller, make sure to bring your headphones and plug in to become fully immersed in one of the best value Switch games that you can play.
3. Cuphead
Developer: Studio MDHR
Publisher: Studio MDHR
Price: $19.99
The next game on the list is visually gorgeous and captivating in the unique style of its environment and character design. Although Cuphead may have the appearance of a whacky, 1930s cartoon, don’t let that fool you. With its challenging running and gunning gameplay and seemingly endless bosses, Cuphead might be the hardest game on this list.
But Cuphead is renowned for its level of challenge and that’s actually something that players love the most about this game. While Brothers Cuphead and Mugman embark on a quest after making a deal with the devil, they have to collect new items and weapons if they want any chance of survival against the game’s barrage of bosses. Even as you die hundreds of times in Cuphead, it’s one of the most frustratingly fun times you can have on the Switch, especially for under 20 bucks.
2. Celeste
Developer: Extremely OK Games
Publisher: Extremely OK Games
Price: $19.99
While it may be known as a speed-running favorite, Celeste also pushes the boundaries of how deep and meaningful a platformer can really be. Named for Mount Celeste in Canada, the developers call Celeste “a game about climbing a mountain”, which sounds oversimplified until you realize that it can be interpreted both literally and figuratively.
Having a very similar name to writer, designer, and director Maddy Thorson, main character Madeline embarks on a journey of self-discovery as she climbs the titular mountain. Thorson revealed in 2020 that Madeline was canonically transgender and that the story of Celeste is inspired by Thorson’s own experience in overcoming the hardships of being a trans woman. With such a powerful and personal story being told by a platformer that’s as dynamic as it is challenging, it secures itself a high spot on our list for the best Switch games under $20.
1. Stardew Valley
Developer: ConcernedApe
Publisher: ConcernedApe
Price: $14.99
To own Stardew Valley for Switch is to have an escape from reality that you can turn to anytime, anywhere. If that makes this game sound like a vice, that’s because it kind of is, in the most wholesome way possible. Stardew Valley is undoubtedly the best Switch game under $20 because it gives more hours of addictively enjoyable gameplay than any other title on this list.
For starters, there’s always something to do on your farm, in the mines, or in the quirky community of Pelican Town. Your work is never done. Whether you’re trying to charm your future spouse or just turn a profit on this season’s crops, Stardew Valley will have you saying “just one more day” for hours on end.
Also, you can bring your friends. Stardew Valley is an amazing co-op game, allowing you to explore and play with up to three other players, each sharing a corner of a giant farm. With its multitude of different gameplay aspects, Stardew Valley is anything but just a farming simulator and it holds an unmistakable allure for gamers of all kinds.
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