Developers id Software and Bethesda studios seem to be going full throttle when it comes to their prized, iconic FPS property, Doom, cranking out a slew of software for the Switch, both old and new. The Switch will be seeing the return of Doom 64, partly to get gamers hyped for the arrival of Doom Eternal next year, after already receiving a port of the 2006 revamp, and another popular FPS franchise, Wolfenstein. For the RPG crowd, there's also the epic classic that is Skyrim.
This got us thinking - just what other titles from this renowned maker of shooters, RPG, and action romps would make for great Switch ports, remasters, or sequels? Given the motion control, touch screen, and portable capabilities of the console, there are quite a few contenders that would make a solid fit. Let's take a look at 10 of these top contenders now. We'll focus on a combination of in-house games developed by Bethesda Game Studios, along with some published by Bethesda Softworks.
10 Brink
For the massive variety of diverse games that populate the Switch library, there is still a notable lack of FPS experiences, particularly team-based romps. This immersive first-person-shooter makes for a robust, well-rounded experience, given its cinematic campaign and its emphasis on both co-op and competitive multiplayer.
It could certainly give fans of the recently-released Overwatch on the console another avenue to turn to, as Brink's squad-based combat, which leans on upgrades/customizations, holds some similarities to that hit shooter.
9 Hunted: The Demon's Forge
Surely fans of exciting hack 'n' slash romps like Hyrule Warriors would find much to enjoy with Hunted: The Demon's Forge; a game that melds button-mashing insanity with the fantasy atmosphere of Skyrim.
The game could perhaps take the Zelda: Breath of the Wild approach by allowing the player to aim and shoot their bows by using the refined gyroscopic tech embedded into the Switch's joy-cons. The fast-paced action and relatively basic gameplay definitely lends itself to quick plane/train commute the Switch is often used for, and its emphasis on co-op also fits the console's multiplayer-friendly nature.
8 The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Considering we already have the sleeker, more technologically demanding Skyrim on the Switch, which manages to run quite well, surely it would make even more sense to add its predecessor, Oblivion, into the mix. Not only could the Switch easily run this early gen 7 game, but it could also make for one epic and gorgeous looking remaster, making those awkward facial animations a bit more believable in the process.
For good measure, Bethesda could add some Nintendo-exclusive content like themed skins, motion control support, in addition to including all of the DLC. Imagine actually getting the famed horse armor for free this time!
7 Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners Of The Earth
A semi-realistic Lovecraftian horror adventure may seem like an odd fit for Nintendo's more family-friendly Switch, though this is precisely why it would make for a great remaster or sequel! Despite the myriad of software that's starting to flood the Switch library, a first-person psychological thriller is certainly a cool little niche that could be carved with this game.
And Nintendo fans who had previously gobbled up similar horror gems like Resident Evil, Eternal Darkness, and House of the Dead: Overkill could certainly use a new experience that fulfills this role. Considering this late Xbox release is well over a decade old, it not only could be ported with relative ease but spruced up for Nintendo's machine, which would only enhance Call of Cthulhu's cinematic experience.
6 Quake III Arena
Speaking of underrepresented genres on the platform, how about a multiplayer-centric FPS? After all, Doom can only carry so much of the burden, and Quake III could act as a cool, more mature arena-shooter counterpart to the likes of Splatoon 2.
Surely there are still quite a few Goldeneye fans on Nintendo's latest console looking for both a solid FPS and a nostalgic trip back into the golden shooter days of the late 90s. This competitive arena FPS could certainly entice more than a few fans to invest in Nintendo's online service.
5 The Evil Within
Given how well-represented Resident Evil has become on the Switch (the hardware-intensive RE7 notwithstanding), it would make sense to see The Evil Within, a similar thriller by RE creator Shinji Mikami, on the console.
The nuance and tactility of the HD rumble and motion-laced joy-cons could inject more immersion to this already creepy, atmospheric thriller, which features beastly weapons and things that go bump in the night. Being several years old now, the Switch should be able to handle this game with ease and look ghoulishly dazzling in the process.
4 Prey
You know the drill - we've got another FPS, which sits a few years in the rearview mirror meaning it's doable for Switch's more meager tech and could benefit from the tactility of both the touch screen and 3D pointer controls.
Arkane Studio's flashy sci-fi FPS epic could serve to give fans of Doom on the console somewhere else to go while waiting for the anticipated release of Eternal. At the same time, the semi-open-world environments, crazy weapons, and more nuanced objectives can offer a more dynamic shooter which the Switch isn't exactly brimming with.
3 Rage
Since this innovative and flashy sequel to this car-combat-meets-FPS turned out to be a bit of a letdown, why not remind fans of the more awesome origins of the first Rage? As it's a release that dates back to 2010, Switch could provide a glossier, more refined remaster which could offer the Wasteland Sewers, Anarchy Edition, and Scorchers DLC packs to round out a truly epic FPS package.
The slick, late-7th-generation graphics would seem to be right in Switch's wheelhouse, and the atmospheric post-apocalyptic settings could be a stark contrast to the console's more colorful, light-hearted library.
2 The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
While these somewhat crude 3D graphics look a bit dated nowadays, there was a time when Morrowind was revolutionary and epic in its layered, complex gameplay and its vast, diverse landscapes. Even by today's standards, the sheer scope of the gameplay and richness crammed into this 2002 epic by Bethesda still holds up.
This is all the more reason why Morrowind could make for one memorable Switch remaster. A further polished Game of the Year Edition could be churned out at a fairly cheap price, while perhaps tossing in some Zelda-themed accouterments to further sweeten the deal. The game provides an epic aura without being over-the-top cinematic or heavy on voice acting, making it an ideal WRPG to enjoy while on the go in louder, busier settings.
1 Fallout 3
Pretty much as soon as Skyrim was announced on Switch, many fans of Bethesda's deep, open-world RPGs were quickly pondering the endlessly awesome potential for the Fallout series on Switch. 2015's Fallout 4 could likely make for a solid Switch port in its own right. Yet, the studio would perhaps be better served porting 3, as it stands as the pinnacle of this post-apocalyptic odyssey, while also allowing for a smoother, less demanding port.
Imagine utilizing the V.A.T.S. aiming system with pointer controls, of flipping through your cluttered inventory with the Switch's touch screen - all while playing on a real subway on your commute to work (which is hopefully ghoul-free).