For Nintendo Switch players who like games that focus on narrative rather than combat, it may seem like there are few options. The most marketed games are easy to spot when they come out on Switch, and the eShop is full of games, but it’s hard to find the right ones when you’re looking for something that will impact you deeply. You’re in the right place to find the best story-driven games for Switch in 2024.
The best narrative games on Nintendo Switch in 2024
Now, these are not new releases. I’ve focused on 2019-2024 for these games, so they’re all recent (more or less), but there still haven’t been too many narrative-driven Nintendo Switch games this year. Some will be released, like The Garden Path and other cozy games coming to PC and Switch this year. Anyway, let’s take a quick look back and look at some of the best indie and story-rich games on the Switch.
10. Life is Strange: True Colors (2021)
Alex Chen moves to the small town of Haven Springs to reunite with his long-lost brother Gabe and start a new life. Shortly after his arrival, Gabe dies in a mysterious accident while they were on a little adventure together. Alex has the power to experience the emotions of others and, during this tragedy, he can no longer help but suppress his power.
As Alex begins to ask questions about what happened to Gabe, she discovers more of the town’s secrets and makes friends with some of the locals along the way. As the player controlling Alex, you will face her grief with her and be influenced by the story in your actions towards other townspeople. It’s very easy to make others experience what Alex is going through… Or you can decide to focus and unravel this mystery before another catastrophe occurs.
9. Spiritual Traveler (2020)
The trailer alone almost made me cry. Above all, Spiritfarer is a game where you learn to say goodbye. You play as Stella, a young girl who has a faithful kitten companion named Daffodil. Together, you will do your best to help the local spirits with their problems until they are ready to travel to the afterlife. When the time comes, you accompany them on your magical ship and they become one with the stars.
Each of the spirits you interact with will have their own stories and final wishes. No two are alike, and you will come to see them as friends when you need to help them cross paths. Although it sounds a bit depressing, Spiritfarer has similar themes of loss and grief that you’ll find in Life is Strange: True Colors, but without the imminent danger you experience as Alex Chen. It’s a beautiful game and I can’t recommend it enough to those looking for one of the best cozy games on the Nintendo Switch.
8. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (2019)
For a game with such a sad start, the sheer abruptness of the ‘No.’ by Oliver. catches me every time. In Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, you play Oliver on his journey to become a wizard and save his mother’s double in the Otherworld. Oliver’s mother dies quite abruptly after saving him from drowning in the river because she has a weak heart that couldn’t handle the stress of what happened.
Oliver, desperate to find a way to bring his mother back to life, listens with some skepticism as Drippy, a fairy born from Oliver’s tears falling on a doll his mother made for him, tells him all about parallel worlds. Drippy, Lord High Lord of the Fairies (not a typo), goes on to tell Oliver that has to be the ‘pure of heart’ and that your job is to save your world. No pressure.
A little manipulation later, and you’re off to the Otherworld to find and rescue someone who looks like your mother in the hopes of bringing your real mother back to life. Good luck.
7. Along the edge (2020)
Along the Edge is an interactive graphic novel where your choices affect both the personality and appearance of the main character. You play as Daphné, who is lost in her life and is preparing to move into her ancestral home with everything she owns.
Shortly after arriving at the camp, you’ll realize that the locals have some pretty strong opinions about Daphné’s family and their presence in the village is reviving some old issues. Daphné will have to try to navigate her way through this new web of secrets while she tries to be nice to her neighbors, who are not all happy that she has moved there.
It’s up to you to make Daphné’s decisions for her and decide what parts of herself she embraces.
6. Elysée Nightclub (2019)
Disco Elysium is one of the more obscure games on this list, but it fits in well with the next two entries. It has a really gritty feel to it that took me back to my Shadowrun days, without the threat of combat hiding around every corner.
You wake up in a room with no memory of who you are, how you got there, or what you’re doing. It doesn’t take you long to realize that you’re a detective who’s supposed to be uncovering the story behind the man hanging from a tree. Fortunately, you have a partner and although he is incredibly rigid and correct, he will keep you on your feet and walking in the right direction.
During character creation, you can choose one of the four traits to reside above the others. As you level up throughout the game, you’ll begin to hear the “voices” of your traits, trying to propel you down one path or another as you interact with the residents of Revachol to get to the bottom of the murder behind. Cafeteria. Instead of having established dialogue options that are good, neutral, and bad, your traits try to influence you to say one thing or another. It’s a pretty unique mechanic!
5. What Remains of Edith Finch (2019)
What Remains of Edith Finch, a horror game that came to Switch in 2019 after being released on other platforms, is the story of a lone survivor who outlived the rest of her family. As 17-year-old Edith, you’ll spend time exploring Finch’s ancestral home while delving into the final memories of your family members.
Every time you discover a story in the house or in the surrounding forest, you experience the last day of that family member: the day they died. Edith’s goal is to discover why she is the last living Finch, which she attempts to accomplish by playing with each person’s memory. Instead of looking back at memories, you can experience them first-hand as that family member experiences her last day on earth.
Will you find out why Edith is the last remaining Finch?
4. The Disappearance of Ethan Carter (2019))
You arrive too late to save Ethan Carter, who disappears in the middle of a murder after writing to you and asking for your help. As Detective Paul Prospero, you begin asking questions around town only to discover that this isn’t the only local murder that catches your attention. Enjoy communicating with the dead to discover the truth of the events in Red Creek Valley and try to discover where Ethan has gone.
Throughout the investigation, you will traverse the eerie landscapes of the valley, gathering clues and solving puzzles to unravel the secrets hidden within its depths. As you continue searching for Ethan and solving other local mysteries, you’ll encounter many other characters who have their own stories and motives. Discover the disturbing legacy of the Carter family, but remember that not everyone is what they seem.
3. A Song of the Highlands (2023)
You are running away. Through Highland trails, climbing cliffs and taking shortcuts you’ve never seen before, you’ll embark on a journey and no one will stop you. As 15-year-old Moira, you try to reach your uncle’s lighthouse, but the Highlands are dangerous and vast. You’re lost? You may not find your way back. Experience the weather changes that affect your control over Moira’s body, listen to the songs of the Highlands as you cross them, and avoid the dangers hidden in the hills.
As you race across the rugged terrain, you’ll encounter challenges that will test your skills and survival instincts. From climbing peaks to exploring caves, every step you take brings you closer to discovering the secrets of the Highlands. Along the way, you’ll collect map fragments to unlock faster routes and learn the stories and myths woven into the landscape. Will you make it to your uncle’s house in time?
2. Open roads (2024)
Tess and her mother embark on a road trip after finding a treasure trove of letters and notes hidden in the attic of their house. Together, they will explore long-forgotten family properties, discover ruins filled with memories, and recover family secrets that Tess’s mother had long hoped to bury.
As they travel down winding roads, Tess and her mother will delve into the mysteries of their past, piecing together the truth about their family while navigating their own relationship.
There are miles to go before they can sleep.
1. Endling: Extinction is Forever (2022)
In a desolate world, you play as the last surviving mother fox. You must care for your kits, teach them what they need to know, and ensure their survival as you traverse several lands that have been ruined beyond all hope. As you play, the world around you changes and you face more challenges as you try to keep your kits alive.
You will witness firsthand the effects of human actions on the natural world as you play Endling: Extinction Is Forever. Pollution, deforestation and habitat destruction have left the land barren, posing constant threats to her family’s survival. You will quickly take on a very real role in your children’s lives, doing everything you can to protect them against the things that your own kind have wrought.
Looking for more great game lists from MyFullGames? Try our guide to the best MMORPGs of 2024 [Current and Upcoming] and the best current and upcoming Gacha games of 2024.