Introduction
Indie games are a niche area of the gaming culture around the world and, for this reason, are an independent experience that otherwise characterizes them as different from what is generally offered mainstream.
So, if you happen to have one of those Nintendo Switches then trying to decide what to play seems almost impossible when the options are infinite numbers of such indie wonders.
For this article, we take a personal approach: for every reader’s benefit, we’re going to lay out how one can acquire the perfect indie game on which to spend their Nintendo Switch time through personal experience and insight following below:
Understanding Indie Games
What Are Indie Games?
Short for independent games, indie games are usually produced by an indie studio or a single independent developer that is not backed by any large publisher.
Indie games thrive on innovation and creativity and have a chance to be nothing but the same thing from a AAA title, which high budget lacks creative storytelling, artistic value, and innovative gameplay.
Why Indie Games Are Attractive
Most of the indie games have innovation in freshness in the mechanics. It is a platformer where it describes issues with mental health. Names like “Stared Valley” give one the opportunity to enter the coziness of the world of farming life.
This is the allure of being drawn into a world and emotional storytelling by the player themselves.
Considerations When Picking An Indie Game
Depending upon your interest and the nature and style of play as well as a storyline that has been involved, it can be a turn. Some characteristics are as under:
Table of Contents
1. Genre of Interest
This is the favorite genre to get drowned in.
Do you need a platformer, an RPG game, puzzle-based, or a plot-based game that is mainly dependent on narration? If there are some desires to do much platforming, then for sure they would get quite stuck with “Hollow Knight” or even with “Celeste” — they’re pretty tough, but quite rewarding.
Experience
And again, I remember playing it “for the first time” during “Celeste.” By the way, I really can’t stand platformers in general. I tried when there was a lot of chattering around me that could not stop talking about what a great game it is. Immediately there were gorgeous pixel graphics and a touching story.
Then, I got caught up in the game playing while really feeling the experience, through this game of just how anxious a protagonist would feel if that guy is unable to do it just in order to get through some impossibly hard levels.
2. Art style and aesthetics
Graphics is what kept you playing for this kind of game. Everything in this independent game usually has this unique art form that, I don’t know why, doesn’t look mainstream stuff.
So there would be this “Undertale” kind of pixel beauty or even the painted scenery in “Gris.” So gaming taste wouldn’t feel incomplete with what your eyes might see through those graphics.
3. Game Mechanics
Indie games vary also on what gameplay is accessible. Take a minute to think which one you might get more excited about. Combat, exploration, puzzle solving, or crafting perhaps?
For example, “Hades” has all of action mixed with its roguelike fast-paced combat. “Firewitch,” on the other hand, is almost entirely exploration and storytelling.
4. Story and Themes
Many indie games focus upon the depth of the storyline and the resonance in their themes. So, if one of you is looking for an interestingly complex or emotive story in a game, then “What Remains of Edith Finch” or “Spirit farer” might be good for you.
You might even look up reviews that might explain why you’ll like a certain game to play.
Personal Experience:
I sat there pondering how a game can be so profoundly deep into the story by exploring only, and every room in the house of Finch slowly is unveiling the history of the family while the gaming and emotional narration seemed to go hand-in-hand-even after sitting with me sitting long after the controller lay down on the table.
5. Community and Reviews
It will make it the best place you can be when gaming. Most probably, there would be discussion over this sort of lowly indie game at forums like Reddit, Discord, and many more countless casual gaming forums/forums.
In addition, one can analyze the review both at Steam or at review at the Nintendo shop much to prepare for the knowledge of what’s waiting ahead.
6. Price Point and Sales
The difference is that indie games are not as expensive as AAA, but everything depends on other factors and sometimes you get something very sweet in seasonal sales or even in bundles.
You get much more games at greatly reduced costs. Humble Bundle, Steam, and the like usually offer some discount on indie games as well.
Best Indie Games for Nintendo Switch
And so, here is your early list of some absolute brilliant noteworthiest indie games from the Switch, complete with a small description about what makes them great.
1. Hades
Action RPG + Roguelike
Why Play?: Hades brings together supremely intense combat with just incredible storytelling.
It’s a game that looks downright stunning, maintains a handsomely populated cast of characters, and has phenomenal play loops that’ll keep the player coming back again and again.
2. Hollow Knight
Genre: Metroid Vania
Why Play?: This game is a hard game to play and visually hand-drawn. Hollow Knight really lets the player be in an intricately crafted world of lore and secrets.
3. Celeste
Genre: Platformer
Why Play?: Celeste is an extremely challenging game with platforming, and has a wonderful story about mental health. Controls are very tight, and there is always something new challenging about each level.
4. Spirit farer
Genre: Management, Adventure
Why Play?: This game takes the management systems and ties it into an emotional storyline over death and letting go. It makes players a ferry aster for souls, hence having an experience that is warm-hearted and profound.
5. A Short Hike
Genre: Exploration
Why Play?: A Short Hike is a discovery game, and it makes the players wander around in a really soothing place at their own sweet pace.
It is an entirely excellent game that can actually be played in a most extremely laid-back gaming session with a very relaxed mood and lovely graphics.
6. Cuphea
Run-and-gun, Platformer
Why Play?: This is all about great cartoon art style and some very radical boss battles, this game holds some rad pieces of platforming. Graphics alone will have a feast to the eyes.
7. Untitled Goose Game
Genre: Puzzle, Stealth
Why Play?: It’s actually quite a funny game where you control a nuisance goose causing a bit of chaos in its pretty small little village.
The humor and such simplistic game mechanics go a long way towards having such a great appeal as being one of those light-weight games players look out for as a break to enjoy in something not taxing on the system or the head.
Personal Experience with Indie Games
I have basically played almost all indie games out there. And all of them teach me something about myself or about the world around me.
For instance, I believe that towards the end of “Spirit farer,” a break has been had from the action to reflect on all those themes: loss, acceptance, and just how this whole journey served for the guidance of souls across into the afterlife which gives my associating some emotional value with the personal experience learned when understanding just how to make the most out of the moment with those I love.
Hades, on the other hand, taught me perseverance in that every time I died and respawned, I learned that failures come with growth.
It is this game’s narrative that lets a player accept challenges that life brings while reminding a gamer that this is the moment wherein what happens after really goes beyond playing and lives on in real life as well.
How to Find Your Great Indie Game
1. Recommendations
Ask around and dig up the best indie games in town. Ask your friends what their favorite indie title is. Many sites publish list pieces about must-play indie titles, like Polygon or IGN.
2. Demo-hopping
Most of the independent game developers offer free demos for all their games. There you get a very minute feel for the gameplay as well as even story art direction of the game. You then decide to either want it or not afterwards.
3. Communities that are interested
Join interest-based communities. For instance on Reddit, you will find discussion threads discussing independent games, there where you will meet fellow players who will share and discuss their favorite diamond with you.
4. Look for Nintendo shop
You can find that mostly indie titles are available on shop-they either tend to go on sale, or are bundled in with another game. Browse through genres and check user ratings – they will pop up there.
5. Follow Independent Game Developers
Most indie developers, however, keep you updated to what’s new and about. Find that one particular right indie game that shall accompany your Nintendo Switch by getting an interest in its game, discovering your genre, and finding your next home. Enjoy exploring it.
Here you may find unique stories and innovative gameplay, which mass-market titles cannot. Here in this great independent games world, you might find the next favorite game not only to entertain but inspire you; many of these indie titles inspired me so.