The Nintendo Switch is a console practically built for the retro gaming community. From the NES-inspired joycon to Nintendo Online's growing collection of NES and SNES titles, there are more than a few reasons for fans of gaming's past to pick up this ingenious device. Although the system is home to many vintage titles, there are plenty of ways to scratch that retro itch.
The Nintendo eShop is home to some of the most incredible modern games with a retro flair. Whether that comes in the form of bit-inspired graphics, familiar gameplay, or a new coat of paint on an old series, fans of classic arcade action are sure to find something special.
10 The Mummy: Demastered
Although the film was a complete bomb, it did inspire quite a fun action platformer in the form of The Mummy: Demastered. This title truly encapsulates the word "Metroidvania" as it feels like a Castlevania title with Metroid's weapons cache. As a Prodigium agent, players will explore ruins, graveyards, and the London underground on their mission to destroy Princess Amenet and her army of the dead. Perfect for when Samus is unavailable.
9 Volgarr The Viking
Volgarr the Viking is almost literally a modern version of Rygar, but with much cleaner graphics and a little bit of gore for good measure. Fans of arcade cabinets and NES level difficulty will certainly get a kick out of this Viking adventure as they hack and slash their way through various enemies, traps, and other perils. Player beware, this title Sports a serious difficulty curve and holds no hands along the journey.
8 Project Warlock
Project Warlock is an interesting hybrid of a video game that absolutely appeals to the retro aesthetic. It's a roguelike, it's a Doom-clone, it's an FPS, it's a dungeon crawler, it's all that and so much more. Players pick up the role of the titular Warlock and plunge themselves into a bit-art-inspired world full of monsters, mazes, and weapons. If variety is the spice of life, this game is particularly well-seasoned.
7 Fight'N Rage
There are two genres of games that never go out of style when it comes to the retro scene, Metroidvanias and side-scrolling beat-em-ups. While there's no shortage of either genre, Fight'N Rage is simply a must-own for anyone with a taste for some bit-styled brawling.
Fans of the Streets of Rage, Final Fight, and even the Scott Pilgrim games will freak for this title. There are more than a few elements from each of those that players will instantly recognize.
6 Streets Of Rage 4
Think of this as an honorable mention, but it would be a crime not to include Streets of Rage 4. This sequel to the beloved beat-em-up series from Sega puts a new coat of paint on an old favorite. All of the classic characters are back, along with some new faces and super moves to keep the game interesting. The anime-inspired aesthetic pared with the familiar arcade action should be more than enough to get gamers' attention.
5 Hammerwatch
Although this game might be an acquired taste to some, retro gamers will find fewer dungeon crawlers reminiscent of the days of Gauntlet better than Hammerwatch.
The graphics might be a touch basic for some, but if players are willing to overlook that feature, they'll find a fun yet challenging fantasy adventure waiting deep in the dungeons for them. With plenty of characters to choose from and more than enough monsters and traps, they'll be entertained for a good while.
4 Hyperlight Drifter
Hyperlight Drifter is a rather strange and unusual title, but one fans of top-down adventure games like the Zelda series will thoroughly enjoy, provided they can interpret the insanely vague narrative. This cyberpunk-inspired fantasy has plenty of dungeons and hack-and-slash action to go around, but the story is anybody's guess. It does very little to guide the player, even at the start of the game. Harkening back to adventure games of old, this title will certainly satisfy one's questing urges. Simply go forth and explore
3 Timespinner
Simply put, Timespinner is a beautiful game. It's classified as a Metroidvania, but that doesn't truly feel like an appropriate descriptor. In fact, it feels like the game takes more from Chrono Trigger than it does anything else.
Although there are elements from Symphony of the Night, the time travel fantasy elements are what genuinely suck gamers into this epic tale. There's a strange sort of comfortable nostalgia to the presentation, and yet it still plays like a completely original title.
2 Swords Of Ditto
If The Legend of Zelda, Studio Ghibli, and Adventure Time were all thrown in some magical blender, the result would be Swords of Ditto. This top-down Adventure might play like a Zelda game, but that's only half the equation. There are plenty of dungeons and fortresses full of puzzles and monsters, but at the same time, there's a definite original style and story going on all around the hero. Cute, quirky, and addictive, are just a few ways to describe this magical quest.
1 Shovel Knight
Players will be severely challenged to find a title so in love with the games of yesterday to even compare with Yacht Club's fun and colorful platformer. Taking elements from games like Super Mario 3, Mega Man 2, and DuckTales, this tale of chivalry and shovelry has everything a retro gamer could want. From its 8-bit visuals, chiptune soundtrack, and bouncy gameplay, this feels like it could have existed in the days of the NES or SNES already.
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