It's true that many of the best Nintendo Switch games can cost a pretty penny for you to play them. But there are also dozens of low-cost titles for people of all ages to enjoy. Whether you're on a budget or are simply looking for some fun titles to play, you can find games that won't break your wallet, if you just look carefully. Here are the best Nintendo Switch games for $30 and under.
Minecraft
Minecraft is one of the most iconic games in the world, for good reason. You can go it alone in the survival mode, fighting Creepers and other mobs, you can design your own unique world or you can do it with friends. There's a never-ending amount of options, with developer Mojang continuing to update the game with new materials and more.
This is basically a digital LEGO adventure where players can harvest and craft items before building structures and creating their own worlds. It's a major hit among people of all ages and will keep you entertained for hours.
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm
Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm is perfect for anyone looking for a game similar in spirit to the Zelda titles. It's a classic fight against the forces of evil as you undergo an epic quest.
Oceanhorn and the sequel both provide wonderful Zelda-esque adventures for solo players to enjoy. Break pots to earn money, go up against fearsome foes, and embrace your role in the battle against good and evil.
Carnival Games
Maybe you're looking for not just one big game, but a lot of smaller games? Then Carnival Games is perfect. You can have competitions between yourself and friends or family across 20 traditional carnival-themed mini-games.
This fun collection of 20 mini-games allows friends and families to compete against each other while playing traditional carnival games. There bowling, shooting hoops, shooting targets, and more.
Terraria
If you're looking for another sandbox game that'll let you build to your heart's delight, but in 2D side-scrolling fashion, Terraria is the game for you. Like any popular survival game, you can go alone or play together with some friends in multiplayer.
This sandbox adventure allows you to explore and build up your own settlements. There are over 20 dangerous bosses to defeat and more than 3,500 items to find and craft. Get going and see what you discover.
SnipperClips Plus
If you're looking for a truly unique puzzle game, SnipperClips Plus is a solid choice. Up to four players work together to "snip" each other, altering their characters' shapes as needed. It's a different way of solving puzzles that takes full advantage of the Joy-Con controllers.
You and a friend work together to complete various puzzles and challenges. The goal is to snip each other into various shapes to complete different tasks. Need to pop a balloon? Clip your friend into a long sharp point. Need to catch a basketball? Have your friend carve out a cup in your head.
Overcooked! All You Can Eat
Overcooked! All You Can Eat edition combines the first two games into one fun package. It's everything you could want, with more chefs and more recipes, which means more cooking in zany situations. Up to four players can work together and attempt to cook under stressful conditions.
Up to four players take on the role of cooks in a whacky kitchen. The timer is counting down, and you all need to work together to get out as many orders as possible with as few mistakes as possible. This is sure to get everyone laughing and hooting.
Dead Cells
Brutal roguelikes more to your speed? Look no further on the Nintendo Switch than Dead Cells. Every time you die, you'll need to restart. It's a relentless, stylish adventure in escaping a locked-down prison. To make it even more complicated, every run means the map changes.
This is a demanding action platformer not meant for the casual player. You'll explore an ever-changing map as you try to take on foes and make your way around each area. Be careful, there are no checkpoints, and if you die, you will lose all items and have to start over.
Ori and the Blind Forest
Ready to cry and leap for joy, then cry again at one of the most beautiful games on the Nintendo Switch? Then Ori and the Blind Forest is the game for you. This platformer sees young light spirit Ori attempt to save the forest of Nibel while battling forces of darkness.
The forest of Nibel is dying, and it's up to Ori to try and save it. This intense platformer is as gorgeous as it is brutal. You'll need to make split-second decisions and avoid taking damage in these beautifully crafted locations.
Resident Evil 4
Resident Evil 4 is one of the most beloved horror games of all time, and for good reason. This game helped solidify third-person horror as a viable option, eschewing the series' prior tank controls. Thanks to the Nintendo Switch, it's an iconic experience that you can take on the go.
This horror game starring Leon S. Kennedy first made its debut on the GameCube back in 2005, but now new and veteran fans can enjoy it on Nintendo Switch. He's been tasked with saving the president's daughter, but he's going to have to go up against some creepy cult members to make that possible.
Little Nightmares
Little Nightmares is a horror game that uses perspective to make you feel truly tiny in an unnerving, uncomfortable world. As you make your way across a strange ship, you'll uncover all sorts of terrifying things, so be careful, as the monsters could be anywhere.
This creepy platformer has you playing as a little child who must make her way through various puzzles and challenges to avoid being eaten or killed by monsters. Its dark content and creepy designs give it a Grimm's fairytale kind of feel.
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is perfect for anyone who enjoys the formula of LEGO games but wants to play with a ton of different classic Marvel heroes. There are tons of characters to unlock and puzzles to solve.
Play as your favorite Marvel superheroes in this hilarious LEGO world. Each character has their own abilities and attacks that will help you defeat enemies or solve puzzles as you make your way through the story. You can also pass a controller to a friend and play together.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
What happens when Mario meets the Rabbids franchise, and that combination meets turn-based strategy? An absolutely excellent-XCOM-like title, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is great regardless of whether you're a seasoned strategy veteran or new to the genre.
In this zany Mario and Rabbid's crossover, Ubisoft has created a hilarious, turn-based strategy game. You'll unlock players like Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, and their silly Rabbid look-alikes as you work to save the Mushroom Kingdom from being torn apart by a mysterious vortex.
Just Dance 2022
If you're ready to have fun and get some exercise in at the same time, it's time to play Just Dance 2022. You can go it alone or in a group with tons of the latest songs.
With Just Dance 2022, get rocking to the latest beats. Get your family and friends up off the couch with this heart-pumping dance game. There are over 40 songs to jive to and several different moves to learn. See who can score the best as you hold your own dance-offs in your home.
The best Nintendo Switch games for $30 or less
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There are so many good Nintendo Switch games selling for $30 and under. Whether you're looking for fun multiplayer games or something a solo player can sink their teeth into, our list has you covered.
The game we recommend the very most is Minecraft. It encourages creativity by allowing players to unlock new materials and build giant structures. You can get sucked in and create your own personal world.
I also love Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm. It's the perfect fix for Zelda lovers while not costing nearly as much. Plus, it throws in its own mechanics and art style to give you a fun new world to explore.
Finally, if you're looking for a good multiplayer game, I highly recommend getting Overcooked! All You Can Eat. Whenever I play it, my friends and I always laugh and scream at each other. Work together to complete orders in time while running around ridiculous kitchen setups.