Best Switch FPS Games

The Nintendo Switch has a reputation for hosting some of the best platformers, JRPGs, and simulation games in recent years. The system isn't known for its vast library of first-person shooters, primarily because the technical limitations of the platform prevent it from running some of the newest FPS games.

However, that is not to say that Switch owners don't have a wide variety of shooters to choose from. Quite the contrary -- one can find lots of great FPS titles that have been ported to the platform, with slight changes to accommodate Switch's older hardware. Some of these games are technical marvels in their own right, with their developers going to great lengths to make them playable on Nintendo's hybrid system. What are the best Switch shooter games?

Updated June 11, 2024 by Mark Sammut: April and May 2024 did not produce all that many major Switch FPS games, a trend that seems set to continue for the rest of the system's existence. Still, the console has grown into a very solid indie machine for the genre, something showcased in recent months. PO'ed: Definitive Edition is a remaster nobody asked for but is nice to have; meanwhile, Wrath: Aeon of Ruin could hit the mark with Quake fans. Railbreak is also launching on June 14, 2024, bringing another zombie-themed option to the Switch library. Finally, a unique take on '90s shooters made its way to the Nintendo ecosystem in April 2024. Scroll down to the 20th entry in this article to read about this new addition.

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1 Metroid Prime: Remastered

Metascore: 94

Metroid Prime is considered to be the best game of the GameCube era, as well as one of the best games of all time. The much anticipated remaster of the very first 3D Metroid game was released without any prior promotional activity during a Nintendo Direct event in January 2023, and turned out to be just as good as the original, if not better.

Aside from updated graphics, Metroid Prime: Remastered has introduced some quality-of-life improvements to the classic game, such as gyroscopic aiming, a modern control scheme, and a variety of other customization options. Players who never got the chance to experience the original should definitely consider giving this one a shot.

2 Dusk

Metascore: 88

Another retro boomer shooter, Dusk would have fallen through the cracks if it was not absolutely incredible. Dusk is the best FPS game on the Switch since it plays very well on the console and does not come with an obvious downgrade. Beyond performance, there is just a lot to adore in this package, and a nostalgic love for Blood is not required to appreciate this modern gem.

Utilizing a horror aesthetic, Dusk is split into three episodes, all of which craft unique atmospheres that make them exciting in their own right. The gunplay is fast-paced, responsive, and gratifying, and it has just enough nuance to introduce a learning curve. If someone can only pick up one Switch FPS, Dusk should be it.

3 Neon White

Metascore: 88

A fast-paced shooter that is perfect for speedruns, Neon White provides a creative and addictive twist on the FPS genre. As "White," players are competing in a contest to demonstrate they are the top dog when it comes to eliminating demons, and efficiency is the name of the game here. Most levels are very short, barely lasting more than a minute or two, and they are designed to be replayed since victory requires the elimination of every enemy. As such, missions are essentially puzzles that must be solved to find the quickest and most effective route.

Neon White's best mechanic is its card system, which determines the actions players can take. Souls Cards act as either weapons or movement options, with the latter activating by discarding a card. Consequently, players need to make split-second decisions to determine whether they should be holding on to a card or letting it go to utilize its traversal feature. Neon White is a fantastic and frantic game that runs well on the Switch, one that regularly challenges players to think outside the box and use a holistic view to approach missions.

4 Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster

Metacritic: 79 (PC)

NightDive seems to have become the de facto developer for remasters, particularly when it comes to shooters. The company revived the Turok trilogy in fairly great fashion, and their resume also includes Quake 2 and Doom 64. When it comes to FPS remasters, NightDive is the definition of reliable, and Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster demonstrates that reputation's legitimacy. The 1995 original is a cult classic that is an easy recommendation for long-time fans of George Lucas's influential sci-fi franchise, but the game naturally shows its age after all these years. The remaster exists to make Dark Forces more accessible to a contemporary audience, delivering a package that pays respect to the initial version while implementing just enough notable changes to justify the price tag.

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Even with the improved visuals and tweaked gunplay, this is still ultimately the same Dark Forces, which was quite genre-pushing when it debuted. All things considered, the game has aged shockingly well, particularly the minute-to-minute gameplay. While certainly taking a few pages from the traditional Doom formula, Dark Forces emphasizes puzzles more so than its contemporaries, and they are preserved in all their frustrating glory by the remaster. As fun as it is, this title is primarily for die-hard Star Wars fans or people fond of the original. That's not to say Dark Forces has nothing to offer newcomers, just that there are better modern shooters on the Switch.

5 Call Of Juarez: Gunslinger

Metascore: 72

Originally released in 2013, Call of Juarez: Gunslinger is a Western-themed shooter framed around a bounty hunter's stories as he recounts his missions to take down some of history's most infamous outlaws. Despite being roughly a decade old, Techland's game has aged rather well thanks to its stylized visuals and simple but effective gameplay. Although not featuring an especially huge arsenal of weapons, Gunslinger's chosen guns generally feel good to use, particularly the sawed-off shotgun and quickshooter.

The gunplay has an arcade feel to it, with the campaign guiding players down a fixed path akin to a shooting gallery. While this gets repetitive on occasion, Gunslinger makes up for it by maintaining a very quick pace. Quite a few of the chapters also end with Mexican standoffs, some of which are genuinely intense.

6 Superhot

Metascore: 84

The 2010s produced plenty of brilliant first-person shooters, and picking the best one comes down to personal preference; however, an argument could be made that Superhot was the genre's most inspired and innovative release of the last decade. It is also fantastic and an easy recommendation on any system, including the Nintendo Switch. On the surface, this game appears to be a fairly standard experience with a clean, stripped-back aesthetic akin to something like Mirror's Edge, but that perception will be wiped away after a second of gameplay. Superhot's hook is time.

While never completely stopping, enemies only move normally when the player takes action. Otherwise, the world is basically in suspended animation, albeit with very slight forward momentum to put some pressure on the player. This mechanic changes Superhot from a traditional shooter into something closer to a turn-based strategy game, one that requires constant analysis of situations to figure out the ideal step to take. FPS projects tend to lean into reflex-based combat, which is not a criticism, but Superhot is refreshingly different.

7 Metro: Last Light

Metascore: 86

The Metro series has established itself as one of the best single-player franchises in the first-person shooter genre. As opposed to its successor, Metro: Exodus, Metro: Last Light is a linear experience that follows Artyom, the main character, on his journey across post-apocalyptic Moscow. It's a direct follow-up to Metro 2033, the first game in the series, which is also available on the Nintendo eShop.

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Contrary to the first entry in the franchise, which largely consisted of navigating the dark tunnels and stations of Moscow's sprawling metro system, Last Light switches things up a bit by giving players more opportunities to explore the surface of nuclear war-ridden Moscow. Gameplay-wise, the title is a regular FPS experience with added survival horror elements and a morality system that affects the ending. In a departure from the genre's tried-and-true formula, the game does away with most of the HUD, with players having to pay attention to visual and sound cues to monitor Artyom's health and ammo.

8 Postal: Brain Damaged

Metascore: 71 (PC)

To describe Postal as an acquired taste would be an understatement. Each entry in Running with Scissors' franchise is divisive, and they are different enough from each other that an appreciation for one game might not transfer to another. 1997's Postal is a top-down isometric shooter that prioritizes shock value, although its actual gameplay is nothing too special. Still, it is serviceable. Postal 2 is generally regarded as the license's high point, and the FPS game is a fairly easy recommendation for anyone fond of grotesque humor, unapologetic violence, and a sandbox structure. Honestly, Postal 2 is a lot of fun, which is more than can be said for Postal 3 and, to a lesser extent, Postal 4: No Regrets.

Finally, that leaves Postal: Brain Damaged, a spin-off that harbors back to the glory days of boomer shooters. While not completely ditching the open-level design of Postal 2, the campaign generally guides players through linear stages while equipping them with a decently varied assortment of weapons that they must use to kill all sorts of wacky enemies. An argument could be made that Brain Damaged is the most polished Postal game ever, and it is also one of the most accessible. Except for requiring a tolerance for a unique brand of humor, this 2022 release largely plays out like a standard first-person shooter, and an above-average one at that. The indie scene has produced better modern boomer shooters, but Brain Damaged is a solid FPS Switch game.

9 BioShock: The Collection

Metascore: 84

Containing all the BioShock games and expansions, this collection offers great value for money, especially for newcomers who never experienced this trilogy. 2007's BioShock is rightfully regarded as one of the best games of the 2000s, garnering widespread praise for its brilliant world-building, complex philosophical themes, and setting. Even all these years later, Rapture still impresses, both in its environmental storytelling and sheer atmosphere. Combat-wise, BioShock is nothing too amazing, but it does not detract from the experience either.

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Its sequels, BioShock 2 and Infinite, are more polarizing, but their positives outweigh their negatives. Infinite's story is probably its strongest component, especially its handling of Elizabeth as a supporting character. As a setting, Columbia is a nice change from Rapture, especially since the latter was reused in BioShock 2. Although generally overshadowed by its predecessor and successor, BioShock 2 arguably has the strongest gunplay in the trilogy.

10 Quake Remastered

Metascore: 87

Id Software followed up Doom with another genre-defining project in Quake, and the game's brilliance has not faded at all over the last 25 years. The Switch remaster is a great package that comes with the original game's DLC, a new expansion, and other bonus content; however, at its heart, this is still the same game that dropped in 1996. In this case, that is a positive since Quake's gunplay, level design, and atmosphere are timeless, despite the fact they scream "1990s."

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Although nostalgia can sweeten the experience, Quake Remastered holds up beautifully even when someone does not have a pre-installed love for the property. The multiplayer is fantastic, and the same can be said for Quake's single-player campaign. The latter is enough to justify picking up this Switch FPS.