Best Indie Games for Nintendo Switch in 2021

Videogames can sometimes be hectic, difficult, and time-consuming, so why not take a trip to Stardew Valley? Build your farm and meet the locales, all while playing at your pace. The farming game has continued to grow with consistent updates from its developer and is now better than ever.

Another roguelike bursting with hours upon hours of gameplay, Dead Cells is a difficult 2D platformer that's perfect for quick, action-packed sessions. It looks and runs great on the Switch.

Creature in the Well is a top-down, pinball-inspired, hack and slash dungeon crawler. That combination might sound insane on paper (and it is), but it makes for a wildly creative game.

One of the best looking games on the Xbox and PC has appeared on the Switch, looking as dapper as ever. It's a tough as nails run and gun platformer with art and animation ripped straight from the 1930s. Fans of challenging games will find a lot to love here.

My Friend Pedro is about a man, a talking banana, and lots of bullet time. Jump, shoot, and slow downtime in this satisfyingly ridiculous action game.

Stylish and challenging, Katana Zero follows a samurai through a noir-like thrill ride with plenty of twists and turns. The action and puzzles are fun, but the story is fantastic.

Horace is a game that shouldn't be as good as it is, and yet it is SO good. Play as Horace as you guide him adventure like none other. The game is difficult, but the titular character is incredibly endearing from their humble beginnings to their bittersweet end.

Enter the Gungeon has enjoyed massive success on the Nintendo Switch and can be credited for bringing so many roguelikes to the system. Combining dungeon crawling with twin-stick shooter gameplay, Enter the Gungeon will keep you shooting for a long time.

Downwell proves that you don't need a complicated story, difficult game mechanics, or even color. Downwell is about a man falling down a well. Your goal? Just make it to the bottom.

A beautiful soundtrack and fantastic animations make up Hyper Light Drifter, an action game that pays homage to the 8 and 16-bit games of yesteryear.

Hollow Knight is a gorgeous Metroidvania game that brilliantly blends exploration with combat. You'll need more than just your wits to survive these difficult boss encounters.

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is quite literally a treasure trove of content. Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove brings 4 campaigns and a multiplayer mode to make the ultimate Shovel Knight package. Grab your mighty shovel and seize the day.

Celeste is a deeply moving platformer that deals with the difficulties of crippling anxiety and self-doubt. The difficulties of those illnesses are a couple with a challenging platformer. You'll feel relief along with Madeline as you conquer each challenge and climb to the top of Celeste Mountain.

Technology has reached its peak. You are a goose set loose upon an unexpecting populace to do goose things. Honk your heart out and cause mischief.

Undertale is a strange RPG that is delightfully strange and witty, undercut by a creeping sadness throughout. Its simple graphics and gameplay make room for some excellent storytelling.

A call back to adventure games of the early 90s, Night in the Woods is a simple game about coming home after being gone for a really long time. The angst is strong with this one, and that's what makes it so good.

A goofy game that is part RPG, part golf simulator, and does a pretty good job at being both. Prove yourself to be more than just a guy without a job in this very funny Switch exclusive.

Carrion flips the roles of a traditional horror game. You are not fleeing from a monster — you are the monster. Stalk through levels and consume any who stand in your way to freedom.

Baba is You asks fundamental questions, and the answers to these questions are rarely direct. Baba is You offers 200 logic puzzles that range from simple to impossible. Don't overthink it!

Overcooked! 2 is the sequel to the party game Overcooked!, and builds upon that game's chaos in wonderful ways. Work with up to three friends to prepare food and avoid obstacles for a high score.

Into the Breach is a turn-based strategy game with an emphasis on survival. Who lives and who dies relies solely on you in this fantastic strategy game.

If you've ever found yourself pining over Nintendo's long-dormant Advance Wars series, then Wargroove is for you. The strategy game is colorful, and most importantly, very fun. It's a deep tactics game with lots of content to sift through.

In a nutshell, Rocket League is a game in which you play soccer with cars, and it is amazing. A bumping soundtrack and crossplay/cross-progression are the cherry on top of this now free to play gem.

Good Job! is a puzzle game where you must experiment with your environment to solve puzzles. A minimalist aesthetic and physics-based puzzles add humor to the already absurd indie game.

Overcome heartbreak and start anew in this dreamy arcade shooter with a fantastic pop soundtrack.

Star Renegades is a procedurally generated mission-based campaign with a tactical turn-based battle system. Each playthrough is challenging, unique, and never the same.