Summary
- The Switch leverages its popularity with family-friendly games to embrace the horror genre successfully, offering a diverse selection of terrifying experiences.
- Titles like Resident Evil: Revelations 2 and Alien: Isolation shine on the Switch, proving that captivating horror doesn't rely solely on graphics.
- From thought-provoking journeys like Detention to truly chilling experiences like Tormented Souls, the Switch library offers a range of horror delights.
The Nintendo Switch is the third-best-selling video game console of all time (*at the time of writing) and has thousands of games in its library. It has successfully followed Nintendo's tried-and-tested formula of using family-friendly, multiplayer, and co-op games in its seven-year lifespan. The immense popularity of games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, and The Legend of Zelda: BoTW, just to name a few, has shown fans that the Switch has matched up to the console giants of the past, and some would say it has even surpassed them.
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The horror game genre has also experienced a recent surge in popularity. Games that were previously available only on PC are now increasingly being released across console platforms due to popular demand. Amnesia: The Dark Descent, for example, was released in 2010 for the PC, and the PS4 and Xbox versions were released in 2016 and 2018 respectively. Nintendo has caught onto this trend and is now harnessing the genre to its full potential. In fact, the form factor, convenience, and functionality of the Switch has demonstrated to horror players that games don't need the best graphics and hardware to be a captivating and frightening experience.
8 Resident Evil: Revelations 2 (2017)
An Often Overlooked Horror Gem In The RE Universe
Resident Evil: Revelations 2
Resident Evil: Revelations 2 is an episodic survival horror game set between the events of Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6, and is a direct sequel to Resident Evil: Revelations and Resident Evil 5. It follows Claire Redfield and her co-workers, who are kidnapped and taken away to a deserted island.
It has a fully realized co-op experience, which is perfect for the Switch, and also includes a couch, local, and online co-op mode. The 'Raid Mode' has been well received by fans and adds tons of addictive gameplay. Overall, this game is a great package for the Switch.
7 Detention (2018)
A Unique Game With Thought-Provoking Religious Elements
Detention
Detention is a side-scrolling game set in a school in Taiwan in the 1960s, developed by Red Candle Games. While not a pure horror game, it relies on filling the player with a sense of dread and filling the world with ghosts and spirits to emulate the protagonist descending into madness as the game goes on.
It has an eerie atmosphere, a chilling soundtrack, and is a brooding horror title that is a great fit for the Switch library.
6 Alien: Isolation (2019)
Arguably The Best Videogame Tied To A Movie Franchise
Alien: Isolation
A critically acclaimed survival horror game , Alien: Isolation invites players to step into Amanda Ripley's shoes aboard the USCSS Nostromo. It was one of the best-looking games on the previous generation of consoles, and the Switch version is no different. In fact, Digital Foundry reported that the image quality on the Switch was better than that of the PS4!
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Having cemented its spot as one of the scariest games of all time upon its release, Alien: Isolation is one of the best games available on the Nintendo Switch right now.
5 Infliction: Extended Cut (2020)
An Homage To One Of The Greatest Horror Games Of All Time
Infliction
- Released
- October 18, 2018
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, Xbox One, PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Developer
- Caustic Reality
Infliction is an indie horror game that was heavily inspired by P.T., the playable teaser for the Silent Hills game by Konami and Hideo Kojima that was ultimately shelved. Developed by Caustic Reality and originally released in 2018, the Extended Cut brings this psychological horror experience to the Switch.
Playing as a man trying to find out what happened to his family, it is a horrifying game with an oppressive atmosphere, and uses a variety of scare tactics, coupled with impressive sound design, to make the player feel extremely uneasy.
4 Little Nightmares 2 (2021)
Fever Dreams Brought To Life In A Great Puzzle-Platformer
Little Nightmares 2
- Released
- February 10, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Tarsier Studios, Supermassive Games
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Puzzle, Action
The sequel to the popular Little Nightmares, Little Nightmares 2 follows the same formula: puzzle-platform horror adventure, with strange fantasy elements straight out of an absurd and nightmarish Roald Dahl book. It follows Mono, who works with Six, the protagonist from the first game, to escape the dangers of the Pale City in which they are entrapped.
The game is challenging and satisfying, with well-thought-out puzzles, captivating horror sequences, and treacherous obstacles. The addition of a teamwork element makes it a great game for the Switch.
3 Tormented Souls (2022)
A Classic Return To The Survival Horror Genre
Tormented Souls
- Released
- August 27, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Dual Effect Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Horror
Tormented Souls is a throwback to the classics of the genre, like Silent Hill and Resident Evil. A mystery thriller set in a haunted mansion, the player controls Caroline, who explores the mansion to try to find two missing girls and escape with them.
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The story is sad and disturbing, the atmosphere is intense, and the gameplay includes a mixture of puzzles, exploration, and combat. For players who want to remember what the horror games of the 1990s felt like, this homage is the perfect game to do that.
2 World of Horror (2023)
A Unique Art Style With Deeply Unsettling Imagery
World of Horror
A point-and-click adventure roguelike, World of Horror has the player solve mysteries to save the world from a god. It is a one-of-a-kind game, with a 1-bit art style inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft and Junji Ito. Created by Polish developer Pawel Kozminski and published by Ysbryd Games, it has stunning visuals, fantastic exploration, and different endings because of its many branching paths.
There is a lot of replayability in this game, due to the number of events and the impact on the player upon experiencing them. This fusion of Japanese and Lovecraftian horror feels right at home on a Nintendo console and is one of the more unique games to be featured on the Switch.
1 Dreadout 2 (2024)
A Sequel To The Cult Hit Original
DreadOut 2
- Released
- February 21, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Digital Happiness
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Dreadout 2 is a solid indie horror game that draws inspiration from Indonesian folktales and urban legends. It features a comprehensive melee combat system combined with puzzle exploration mechanics. The player controls Linda, a student who has the ability to see ghosts.
A unique take on third-person action-adventure, Dreadout 2 hits all the right horror notes with fun gameplay, grainy imagery, an eerie atmosphere, and unsettling enemies.
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