Best Games To Explore The Darkness On Nintendo Switch

Various games on Nintendo Switch have several annoying enemies to face, and among the more classic ones is simply darkness itself. It’s so strong that it forces the players to find a source of light to continue progress. Many games that involve exploring dark areas require players to use a light source to continue progression.

The most challenging aspect of darkness is what comes out of it. Some would have traps and enemies hidden to test the player’s reaction and adaption. Many have puzzles or significant items for story progression. The stress of the unknown doesn’t just affect the player, but sometimes the protagonists as well, which can lead to problems like hallucinations, loss of control, insanity, or death.

11 Outlast Bundle of Terror

Nightmarish, Insane Collection

Modern-day proves little need for traditional flashlights since tech provides such convenience as in Outlast Bundle of Terror. The protagonists use night-vision scopes on their cameras to see in the dark while recording the nightmarish, inhuman scenes in asylums or villages. This feature helps to visualize and avoid any hostiles without alerting them with a bright flash.

This convenience doesn’t make the journeys easy, as the horrific mysteries are hidden in the dark. Mental humans and inhuman species still roam their territories, acting aggressively on anyone for any reason. Very few people can be trusted as sanity is drained from all, including the protagonists. No one can escape the same again once the journey ends, but it is necessary to bring what was recorded to light.

10 White Night

Haunting Noir Mystery

White Night is designed in a noir-style world to make the scenario bleak and suspenseful. It begins in the early 1900s when the unnamed protagonist stumbles out from a car accident. He looks for some help and shelter before finding an ominous mansion. When he enters, his way out gets locked, leaving him secluded with the dark shadows.

The protagonist has to explore his surroundings with limited resources. Since everything is so dark, the protagonist uses matches to light his path. That’s the only resource he can use, giving him little protection from the ghosts that haunt the halls. He has no choice but to flee from hostile apparitions and solve puzzles to uncover the sinister secrets. There are hidden documents that clarify the suspenseful mystery within the decrepit building.

9 Darkest Dungeon

Stressful Resolve In The Dark

Very little mercy is given to anyone who searches in the Darkest Dungeon. Light isn’t only for vision, but for the team’s survival. The adventure is filled with hostile abnormal beings and obstacles, which is important to prepare the right items for each expedition.

Torchlight does provide benefits depending on its brightness during exploration. Exploring in the bright light is much safer for the team’s sanity, which can also prepare them against enemy ambushes. Finding decent items in the light is more common than treasure. Exploring in dimmer light is more risky and taxing for the team’s stress, making them more vulnerable to enemy attacks and hindering accuracy. The risky choice may be worth finding rarer treasures concealed only in the darkest of dungeons.

8 Bulb Boy

Bright Head At Night

• Genre: Adventure, Horror
• Developer: Bulbware
• Publisher: Bulbware
• Released: October 15, 2015

Many games require players to equip a flashlight, but Bulb Boy twists the idea. The young Bulb Boy uses his head as a light source to explore his family house overwhelmed by darkness. He’s the last hope to save Bulbhouse from the monsters lurking in the dark.

The terrifying creatures show no restraint to anyone, including the young innocent protagonist. Being so small and young makes him unfit to face the monsters head-on; he has to figure out other ways to challenge them while proceeding deeper into the darkest of horrors. He can use his head for different solutions, such as traveling between chandeliers to avoid monsters or rolling himself into smaller spaces that his whole body couldn’t.

7 Curse Of The Dead Gods

Corrupted Ancient Entry

The protagonist in Curse Of The Dead Gods is the bravest explorer for challenging the cursed, Lost Temple for treasure. His greedy desires encourage him to fight against several obstacles, including harpies, elemental traps, ancient mages, bugs, warrior champions, and more. Each attempt differs as the ancient building shifts its layout, changing hostile beings and trap placements. The explorer’s greed does come at a cost once he explores deeper into the ever-changing temple, corrupting him with different curses.

Light is his only reliable ally to reveal a safe path, especially for traps hidden well in the dark. Any damage taken in the dark does more than getting hit in the light. There’s no need to worry about his torch’s strength, though inventory management is always a concern. He can fight with three weapons and a torch, but can’t hold all four simultaneously. He has to choose between defending himself or lighting the darkness.

6 Luigi Mansion 3

Darkest Of Hotels

Mario deals with numerous adventures, though his more courageous brother accomplishes the more haunting tasks up to Luigi Mansion 3. He’s the most reliable solution for hostile ghosts roaming in dark areas like mansions and hotels. He ventures through the darkness with E Gadd’s handy dandy Poltergust.

It handles a wide utility with exploration and combat, especially with the flashlight mechanic. It doesn’t just reveal hidden treasure and secrets but can stun ghosts with the flashing strobulb, making ghost capture easier. It can also be used to activate mechanisms for puzzle-solving. Another upgraded flashlight feature is the Dark Light Device, which uncovers secrets and enemies in darker magic. Some materials and beings are more hidden by the naked eye but can extinguish the illusion with Dark Light.

5 Guayota

Darkness Drive To Insanity

• Genre: Adventure, Puzzle
• Developer: Team Delusion
• Publisher: Dear Villagers
• Released: August 13, 2024

Guayota provides a unique experience of exploring a mythical island named St. Brendan’s Isle. Despite the ominous dense mist, it’s a rumored paradise with mountainous terrain and vegetation. More about the place seems to be hidden in its ancient temples, being protective of its secrets.

The dark ruins are more resenting when compared to the island’s outside lands, hiding historical knowledge behind locked rooms and traps. Any curious explorer who ventured into the ancient grounds was trapped in the mind-bending darkness, draining their sanity until death.

The protagonist has to use light to activate different mechanisms simultaneously to open the way for the island’s truth, being inspired by Guache myths. Glowing artifacts can assist with opening the right path when placed at the proper angle to unlock doors. The puzzles get more complicated when exploring deeper in the temples, though the torch must stay bright for the protagonist’s sanity or else he’ll be trapped insane permanently.

4 Lamentum

2D Horrifying Nightmare

• Genre: Survival Horror
• Developer: Obscure Tales
• Publisher: Neon Doctrine
• Released: August 27, 2021

Lamentum focuses on Victor Hartwell’s quest to find a cure for his deathly ill wife, Alissa. His search leads to the unwelcoming Grau Hill Mansion, rumored to be a place of dark science and experimentation. Since Victor has few options and time, he pursues the dark mansion, hoping to find the right cure for his wife.

Since it takes place in the 19th century, the most common light sources are old-fashioned, like candles and lanterns. Victor can’t attack and hold the lantern simultaneously, making him switch between his items at the right moment. Gruesome traps and monsters rest within the dark mansion, designed with similar vibes to Resident Evil and Silent Hill. It’s up to Victor to follow the right path instead of falling into the old building’s grasp.

3 Doom 3

Demonic Hunt In Dark

The demons prove little against the Doomguy across multiple entries, though they tried a different tactic in Doom 3. They tried to catch him off guard with a horror surprise by overwhelming the facility and hiding in dark areas to ambush him. Despite their demonic influence hallucinating his mind, that doesn’t slow him down from obliterating their existence.

His adventure takes him all over the facility on Mars and Hell itself. Since everything is dark, he’s forced to use his flashlight to aim and hunt the hellish invaders hidden from sight. They can appear from any dark corner or hidden room to attack up close with claws or shoot long-range projectiles, forcing him to be aware.

2 Fatal Frame: Maiden of the Black Water

Haunting Spiritual Journey

Fatal Frame Maiden of the Black Water takes place in Mt. Hikami visualized as a religious spiritual place. What was seen with respect turns into suspicion and fear as rumored disappearances occur on its territory. The spiritual place soon gathers three protagonists on its grounds for different reasons.

The protagonists have a flashlight and Camera Obscura to explore the dark, haunting Mt. Hikami. The camera can be used to see things that the normal human eye can’t. It can also exorcise ghosts by taking clear pictures of them within range, even up close with the fatal frame. The flashlight can help reveal certain documents and items scattered around. It’s necessary to find camera film and parts to upgrade the Camera Obscura for whatever Mt. Hikami hides.