Highlights

  • The Nintendo Switch offers both docked and handheld play, allowing players to choose how they prefer to experience games.
  • Some games are better suited for handheld mode, whether it's because of their mechanics or the use of the console's touchscreen.
  • Playing games in handheld mode can enhance the overall experience, making it more immersive and convenient for on-the-go gaming.

Launched in March 2017, the Nintendo Switch is designed for both docked and handheld play, allowing you to either connect it to your TV for a traditional console experience or take it with you to play on the go. The Switch’s versatility allows you to choose how you experience the plethora of games available on the system, depending on how you prefer to play.

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A lot of Switch titles are definitely more suited to handheld mode, whether it’s because you want to play them wherever you go or because the game’s mechanics play better in this style. If you’re planning on going on a long trip, or simply prefer playing handheld, you’ll want to try these games.

We've selected these Nintendo Switch games based on a variety of factors, like how the experience differs in handheld mode compared to docked mode and how the games make use of the console's handheld capabilities, such as the touchscreen.

Updated on November 11, 2023 by Casey Foot: With the Nintendo Switch, you can experience games in handheld or docked mode, though there are a few that are best experienced in handheld. This may be because of their use of the touchscreen, intended intimate experience, or overall cozy vibes. If handheld mode is your preferred way of playing, we’ve added a few more games for you to check out.

16 Gris

Gris - A Woman Closing Her Eyes While Lit With Red And Blue Lights

Nomada Studio’s platformer game Gris is a visually beautiful exploration of grief where its protagonist has to bring color back to the world. Its short narrative is mostly told through metaphor, using stunning watercolor and powerful music to tell an emotional story.

Though its platforming is relatively simple, it’s a relaxing experience to play it in handheld mode, especially when using headphones, as it makes the music and colors all the more immersive. It’s a game that will leave a lasting impact once you’ve finished it, and playing in handheld mode only enhances this.

15 Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries Of Honjo

Paranormasight The Seven Mysteries Of Honjo official cover art

The visual novel Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo centers around unraveling the mystery behind why multiple people have become cursed. Figuring out the truth behind the urban legend and how it connects to each of the people involved is the core of the game, so you’ll want to go in without knowing too much to enjoy its narrative.

The visual novel format makes it perfect for handheld mode, as you’ll spend most of your time investigating and discovering the truth behind the story. You can also use the Switch’s touchscreen when solving puzzles and searching for clues.

14 Night In The Woods

Night in the Woods - Mae And Gregg Riding A Bike During A Sunset
Night In The Woods

Released
February 21, 2017
Developer
Infinite Fall
Genre(s)
Adventure

Night in the Woods’ main character Mae Borowski, moves back home after dropping out of college to find that Possum Springs is in decline, with many of its citizens struggling to get by. On top of this, Mae’s childhood friend, Casey, is missing, and a mysterious group is operating in the town.

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You’ll spend most of your time hanging out with Mae’s friends Gregg, Bea, and Angus, as well as exploring Possum Springs. The game has a cozy and autumnal tone, especially if you play in handheld mode, but it doesn’t shy away from its focus on heavier themes either, such as mental health, anger, and navigating moving on from your childhood.

13 Ace Attorney Turnabout Collection

Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney Trilogy, Phoenix Wright Raising An Objection In The First Turnabout

The Ace Attorney Turnabout Collection contains the original Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy as well as The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles, which follow Phoenix Wright’s ancestor, Ryunosuke Naruhodo.

By collecting evidence and investigating witnesses, you help to prove the client’s innocence and see how the trials unfold by selecting the correct evidence at the right time. As the games are visual novels, Ace Attorney is perfect to play in handheld mode, especially as the games make use of the Switch’s touchscreen when collating and presenting evidence.

12 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

the legend of zelda: tears of the kingdom lon lon ranch ruins
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Released
May 12, 2023
Developer(s)
Nintendo
Genre(s)
Action-Adventure , RPG

A sequel to Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom takes place multiple years after the first title and introduces even more places to explore within the Depths and up in the sky. Tears of the Kingdom also introduced several quality-of-life improvements and new abilities, which make it a good place to jump in.

Surprisingly, the game’s performance is just as stable in handheld mode as it is in docked mode, meaning you can explore Hyrule in handheld mode too. Having its expansive world be accessible in handheld is quite a feat, and one worth experiencing.

11 Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Pizza standing in the middle of a half coloured in canvas in Chicory: A Colorful Tale

In Chicory: A Colorful Tale, the world is your canvas - you use a magic paintbrush to bring color back to the world, helping its citizens and solving puzzles along the way. It has a charming art style that’s inspired by coloring books, further playing into its theme of art.

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On Nintendo Switch, you can use the touchscreen to control the paintbrush, giving the impression that you’re actually painting. Being able to use the touchscreen to color the environments and complete the puzzles feels like how it was intended to be played.

Cover art of Link's Awakening on Nintendo Switch.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

Released
September 20, 2019
Developer(s)
Grezzo
Genre(s)
Adventure

Developed by Grezzo, who is also behind Ocarina of Time 3D and Majora’s Mask 3D, Link’s Awakening for the Switch is a complete remake of the Game Boy version, overhauling the graphics to give it a 3D, toy-like appearance while still maintaining the charm of the original.

Playing in handheld mode emulates the feeling of playing the original Game Boy version, except everything has a sparkled polish. On the Switch, Koholint Island has never looked more vibrant, so both new and returning fans can appreciate it.

9 Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Members of the Three Houses stand together on a stone path
Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Released
July 26, 2019
Developer(s)
Intelligent Systems
Genre(s)
Strategy , RPG

Fire Emblem: Three Houses takes place in Fódlan, a continent rife with political unrest. In Three Houses, you play as Byleth, a mercenary who is tasked with teaching the students of Garreg Mach Monastery the strategies needed to succeed on the battlefield.

The game includes both life sim elements, as you must get to know your students, as well as turn-based gameplay, where you strategically lead your units to victory. This mixture of gameplay elements makes Three Houses the perfect game to play in handheld mode, allowing you to easily move your units around the battlefield and strengthen your bonds with the characters back at the monastery.

8 Undertale

A screenshot the child standing in front of a snow-covered house in Undertale
Undertale

Released
September 15, 2015
Developer(s)
Toby Fox
Genre(s)
RPG

Toby Fox’s indie game Undertale launched on Switch in 2018, making playing it in handheld mode much more accessible. This port was highly requested, and as this beloved RPG is teeming with personality, it’s easy to see why.

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Undertale is a game that’s best played without having any knowledge of it prior to jumping in, but if you’re a fan, you’ll enjoy getting to experience it in a new way too. The game’s retro-style gameplay and design are also enjoyable in handheld mode, drawing you into the game’s colorful world and characters.

7 Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu & Eevee

Pokemon Let’s Go Eevee And Let’s Go Pikachu
Pokemon Let's Go

Released
November 16, 2018
Developer(s)
Game Freak
Genre(s)
RPG

In Pokemon Let’s Go Pikachu & Eevee, you explore the Kanto region with your partner Pokemon, which is decided by the version of the game you own. Although the Kanto region will be familiar to fans of the Pokemon series, Let’s Go brought something new to the table, with polished 3D graphics and catching mechanics similar to Pokemon Go.

In Let’s Go, you can either play in docked mode, where you use motion controls to throw your Poke Balls or play in handheld, where the controls are much easier and less finicky. Although swinging the Joy-Con to catch Pokemon is a fun gimmick, playing in handheld mode is an overall more intuitive experience.

6 Oxenfree

Alex looks at the transmitter outside a giant cave on the beach
Oxenfree

Released
January 15, 2015
Developer(s)
Night School Studio
Genre(s)
Adventure

Oxenfree is a supernatural story-based game that has you following Alex and a group of teenagers as they visit Edwards Island. Use Alex’s radio to tune in and find anomalies, unraveling the island’s secrets.

Throughout Oxenfree, you pick from various dialogue options and actions that determine the outcome of the story, including which of the game’s many endings you receive. As Oxenfree supports touchscreen controls, playing this game in handheld mode is the perfect way to immerse yourself into its mysterious world where the past isn’t as far away as it seems.

5 The World Ends With You: Final Remix

the world ends with you final remix battle

A remake of the cult classic The World Ends With You that launched on the Nintendo DS, Final Remix has been adapted to suit the Nintendo Switch, bringing the dual screen’s gameplay into one screen. In the game, you play as Neku, a teenage boy, who wakes up in Shibuya without his memories and must team up with a partner in order to defeat the Noise and survive the Reapers’ Game.

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Despite the Switch’s inability to replicate the dual-screen controls of the original game, this version cleverly adapts the mechanic by allowing you to play either using motion controls in docked mode or touch controls in handheld mode. Playing in handheld mode is as close as you can get to the original experience on the DS.

4 Hollow Knight

Boss fight in Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight

Released
February 24, 2017
Developer(s)
Team Cherry
Genre(s)
Metroidvania

In Hollow Knight, you must journey through the abandoned kingdom of Hallownest, discovering more about its secrets in order to stave off the infection that has decimated the land.

As the game is a Metroidvania, it’s perfectly suited to playing in handheld mode, allowing you to explore the charming world at your own pace. The controls lend themselves well to Hollow Knight’s difficult yet rewarding combat, letting you time your blows perfectly and dodge incoming attacks with accuracy.

Exploring Hallownest in handheld mode is also an excellent way to immerse yourself in the game’s hand-drawn environments.

3 Animal Crossing: New Horizons

A group of villagers in Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Released
March 20, 2020
Developer(s)
Nintendo EPD
Genre(s)
Simulation

Animal Crossing: New Horizons has you setting out on a Deserted Island Getaway, as you decorate your island, attract prospective residents, and learn more about the island’s flora and fauna. New Horizons is enjoyable in both docked and handheld mode; however, because the game is in sync with real-time, taking the game with you and playing in handheld mode is the perfect way to ensure you stay up to date with your resident representative duties.

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Because New Horizons brings you back again and again with new things to check on every day, playing in handheld mode allows you to check in with your islanders wherever you might be, whether you’re out traveling or cozy in bed.

2 Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley Farm With Crops And A House
Stardew Valley

Released
February 26, 2016
Developer(s)
ConcernedApe
Genre(s)
RPG , Simulation

Stardew Valley is a farming simulator game that has you moving to Pelican Town after your grandfather passes away, escaping from your monotonous job in the city to help repair the dilapidated farm he left you in his will.

It’s easy to sink hundreds of hours into this game, performing tasks like growing crops, raising livestock, exploring the mines, and simply getting to know the townspeople. Although completing the Community Centre or getting married can feel like the end of the game, it doesn’t finish until you’re finished, as you’re able to play through the seasons endlessly.

Playing Stardew Valley in handheld mode is the perfect way to experience this title, as you can pick up your Switch and tend to your farm while you’re on the go.

1 Okami HD

Amaterasu from Okami HD sitting in front of a cherry blossom tree

An HD remaster of the PlayStation 2 game, Okami HD has you playing as the sun goddess Amaterasu in the form of a wolf, using the power of the Celestial Brush techniques to restore Nippon to its former glory, destroy Yami, and stop it from enveloping the world in darkness.

As the game requires you to use the Celestial Brush techniques to fight enemies and interact with the world, playing the game in handheld mode is a more intuitive experience, using the touchscreen to master these sacred arts.

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