Best Nintendo Switch Games For Casual Gamers

Nintendo has always been a good friend to the casual gamer, offering a wide range of titles like Mario and The Legend of Zelda that don’t have competitive play and often let players go at their own speed. The Nintendo Switch has become an immensely popular and successful console, with hundreds of games available in its store.

The Switch has a massive number of non-Nintendo games featured on its platform, which has been great for the casual gaming scene. It has allowed smaller developers to be seen by more people, and the Switch’s TV link abilities have given a boost to local co-op games. Whether casual gamers are looking for peaceful environments, easy controls, or low-stakes puzzle-solving, the Nintendo Switch has the perfect solution.

Updated April 16, 2024, by Alexandra O’Leary: Nintendo is no stranger to the casual gaming scene. As one of the first console companies to successfully make gaming a family-wide activity, Nintendo has been catering to a broad audience for decades. From the Wii, to the DS, to the Switch, there’s a game for everyone. Some casual gamers look for good vibes and minimal gameplay, while others prefer more lighthearted and whimsical titles. Not every game needs to be gritty and challenging, and not every gamer has to spend hours grinding away to make any progress. For those who like to pick up a game in their spare time and jump straight into the fun, the Nintendo Switch has endless choices.

19 Dave the Diver

Dave the Diver came swimming onto the indie gaming scene out of nowhere, and became a huge hit with all kinds of gamers. It combines exploration and adventure with management and simulation, resulting in a genre-defying, unbelievably fun game.

By day, go diving in the sparkling blue sea of the Blue Hole. By night, serve imaginative sushi to an array of customers. There’s little more to ask for in this idyllic, entertaining game. Even several hours into the game, players will still be unlocking new content and mini-games to keep them entertained. Ultimately, players will be able to manage their sushi restaurant, grow their own crops, farm fish, explore multiple different areas of the sea, participate in festivals and cooking shows — all while restoring an ancient race of sea people. For those who love mellow, charming games with a little bit of challenge here and there, Dave the Diver is a must-play.

18 WarioWare: Move It!

Kooky, Chaotic Party Games

WarioWare: Move It! is the second WarioWare game released for the Nintendo Switch, and the eleventh in this fan-favorite party game series. Known for its ridiculous, nonsensical mini-games that are bound to leave players laughing, WarioWare has become immensely popular as a go-to choice for parties and groups.

While it’s not always the best option for single-player, the fast-paced and frantic nature makes for oodles of fun in a group setting. The mini-games (or microgames, as WarioWare calls them) are highly entertaining. With low stakes and minimal challenge, it’s a super accessible choice for those who only dip into the video game world occasionally, and is great for all kinds of people.

17 Princess Peach Showtime

Fanciful Fun and Easy Gameplay

Princess Peach: Showtime! is the long-awaited, second-ever Princess Peach fronted Nintendo game. After several long years, players finally have another chance to play as Peach, who is front and center for all the action. Showtime definitely has a different energy from other Mario spin-offs. While Wario found his stride with wacky party games, Peach’s niche is switching up her outfits and becoming a jack-of-all-trades.

Princess Peach: Showtime! is reminiscent of the Paper Mario series, with a similar style of villain and a more theatrical plot. It’s not as challenging as many other Mario games, which makes it an easy choice for the casual gamer. Still full of fun and creativity, it’s an easy way in to the franchise for gamers who don’t go for platformers and would prefer some action-adventure.

16 Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley

A Cozy, Cute Adventure

• Released: 2024
• Developer: Hyper Games
• Genre: Adventure

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a cozy adventure game based on the longstanding world of Moomin. Surrounded by the whimsical and Nordic Moominvalley, players explore the map as Snufkin searches for Moomintroll, who has mysteriously gone missing after winter.

This adorable game is brimming with heart and beauty. At its core is a lesson about respecting the Earth and spreading kindness, and the atmosphere, puzzles, and art-style all perfectly capture that message. While it might not be the most challenging or stressful game, those who want a fun and fanciful jaunt with their favorite childhood characters will absolutely adore Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley.

15 Fall Guys

Colorful and Casual Battle Royale

Fall Guys was initially released in 2020 with sweeping success. Its massive multiplayer battle-royale style made it a perfect option for gamers during lockdown, and its diverse, fun games have kept it popular since. The game was acquired by Epic Games in 2022 and was ported to most major platforms. Fall Guys is a great, casual battle royale with silly skins and game show mini-games like obstacle courses and last-person-standing levels.

Each round will eliminate a certain number of players until one person is finally victorious, making it competitive but relatively low-stakes – although players might find themselves wanting that crown after a few losses. In-game, players can interact with each other by grabbing or knocking one another over in order to stunt progress. There are multiplayer options that allow groups of friends to play together, as well as team rounds for ultimate hilarity. It’s by far the best battle-royale game for cozy or casual gamers, thanks to its adorable art and limited PvP.

14 Mario Party Superstars

Virtual Board Game with Fun, Easy Mechanics

Mario Party Superstars is the latest installment in the Mario Party franchise and features the best of the best in terms of boards and mini-games. It’s essentially a virtual board game where players roll dice and move around a map, interacting with various spaces and competing in relatively simple mini-games. These mini-games can range anywhere from jumping in front of a camera to counting goombas as they run by.

Mario Party Superstars compiles several remastered boards from the first three N64 games as well as most of the mini-games from previous Mario Party titles. Any gamers familiar with the original games will feel nostalgic and right at home with the classic but updated boards, and new players will get to experience all the fun for the first time. This franchise has always been popular with families and casual gamers thanks to its easy-to-understand premise and player-friendly system.

13 Palia

Cozy Introduction to MMOs

Palia is a cozy MMO (massively multiplayer online) game that combines the life simulation of games like Animal Crossing with the social interactivity of games like Runescape. With multiple NPC villagers to meet and befriend – each with their own backstories and roles, players can customize their living space and learn to live off the land.

It’s a friendly introduction to MMO games, one that appears a lot less intimidating than a lot of other classic games in the genre. The servers aren’t quite as vast as some, so if players feel unsure about the MMO aspect – they aren’t likely to run into too many people and can easily plan to play with friends. One of the biggest draws for any newer gamers is that it’s free to play, making it a great choice to try out this style of game.

12 Overcooked 2

Hilarious Co-op Cooking

Overcooked 2 is a crazy, hectic co-op cooking game that sets up players as chefs in a busy kitchen. The game uses simple controls (essentially pick up, throw, slice, and cook) that are easy to learn, which makes it accessible to almost anyone. At its core, it’s a creatively fun cooking game with adorable customization options and wacky levels.

The challenge in Overcooked 2 comes from the timer and bustling environments – players can find themselves floating above the world in a hot air balloon or running across busy roads holding boiled rice. Anything goes in Overcooked 2, and that’s part of what makes it so fun. The game has local and online co-op, so gamers can play with their friends anywhere in the world.

11 Nintendo Switch Sports

Fun Sports Simulator with Classic Mechanics

Nintendo Switch Sports might look familiar to some Nintendo gamers, and although it doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as Wii Sports, it has all the fun. Nintendo Switch Sports combines some classic games from the series, like bowling and tennis, with a few new ones, including soccer and volleyball.

Using the Nintendo Switch joycons, players can physically take part in a variety of sports and compete against others to win. Anybody who was a fan of the original series will love the Switch adaptation, which lets gamers compete with dozens of others all around the world. It’s also a great game to play with friends, both locally and online – once again proving itself a great way to finally get good at sports.

10 Disney Dreamlight Valley

Magical Adventure Game with Familiar Faces

Disney Dreamlight Valley is a life simulation and adventure game, combining the best of Disney’s storytelling with the ability to have a vivid player character in the middle of the magical world. It’s another great choice for cozy gamers who want a more calm and exploration-based gaming experience. The game takes place in real-time, so whenever players decide to hop on, they’ll find the in-game time the same – which can be great for immersion.

Disney Dreamlight Valley is a fantastic game for casual games since it features the familiar faces of beloved Disney and Pixar characters, and although it’s non-linear, it has a great selection of adventures for players to go on. The world is so fun to experience, with characters taking up fitting roles throughout Dreamlight Valley and providing Disney at its most immersive level so far.

9 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Easy Controls and a Variety of Games Modes

It’s no surprise that Mario Kart has made its way onto this list. The spin-off game featuring beloved Mario characters has been incredibly successful ever since its first iteration on the SNES and has now expanded to feature familiar faces from The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, Splatoon, and more.

This classic title is the perfect choice for players looking for a fun game with easy controls and different modes. Solo gamers can rise through the ranks by playing Grand Prix style or find out who’s the best racer by playing with friends. If players get tired of classic mode, they can always try their luck with Battles that offer new stakes and tactics. Similarly to the Wii, the Switch is a fantastic console for local multiplayer, and Mario Kart is the perfect party game.

8 Inside

Forgiving, Linear Game with Simple Gameplay

This may seem like a strange choice; after all, Inside is – to some degree – a horror game. It’s true that there are stakes to Inside —its monochromatic appearance and minimal sound make it very easy for players to become overwhelmingly protective of the main character, a young boy clearly on the run from something.

However, Inside is forgiving of mistakes and will respawn players at the most recent checkpoint if they happen to die during their journey. The game is predominantly puzzle-driven, and the controls are relatively simple, which makes it accessible to most gamers. Although some might not find the dark essence of the game appealing, it would be a shame to miss out on such a creative indie game. Inside is also a fantastic game to watch and can easily become a shared immersive experience.

7 Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Friendly and Accessible Social Sim

Animal Crossing is renowned for being a friendly, comforting game. Its release at the very beginning of the pandemic was monumental for its sales. As a social simulation game, it provided players with much-needed interaction – especially since it allows players to visit friends’ islands.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is an adorably pleasant game that asks players to help Tom Nook and Isabelle build a brand-new village on a luscious island. Players can build their own cute avatar and run around the island collecting resources, chatting with various anthropomorphic villagers, and deciding everything from the location of homes to the style of pathways. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is an easy choice for any casual gamer looking for a peaceful game with low stakes since it allows players to go completely at their own pace.

6 Stardew Valley

Peaceful Farming Sim with No Time Limits

Stardew Valley is perhaps one of the most successful independent games of all time, initially developed entirely by ConcernedApe (Eric Barone). Not dissimilar to Animal Crossing, although very aesthetically different, Stardew Valley is a farming simulation RPG that allows players to experience the tranquility of village life while completing various daily chores.

Stardew Valley has very simple controls, arguably even easier on the Switch, and does not require fast-paced responses unless players are specifically in combat. As they work to rebuild the derelict town center, players can farm, forage, fish, and mine their way to a perfect life. The enemies in the game can be found in the mines, where players can defeat relatively un-threatening monsters to gain resources. However, the easy-to-use co-op mode is perfect for splitting up tasks, meaning players who prefer to fish quietly can do so while their partners scurry down the mines in search of battle.

5 Snipperclips

Silly Co-op Puzzle Solving

Snipperclips is a co-op puzzle launch title for the Switch. It involves two pieces of paper – Snip and Clip – running around a paper world and cutting themselves into various shapes in order to complete puzzles. The co-op element is that Snip and Clip can only cut each other out, meaning players will have to communicate well in order to progress.

Snipperclips does a great job of introducing its mechanics to players and is increasingly creative with its puzzles and solutions. This is the perfect game for two people looking for a simple, fun game and hoping for some laughs. It may occasionally stump players, but the game is nonetheless endearing enough to keep interest. The only stakes in this game are the ones players place upon themselves, otherwise creating the perfect environment for a casual gamer.

4 Untitled Goose Game

Chaotic Gameplay with Simple Controls

Untitled Goose Game is likely wildly different from any other game players may have encountered before. This peculiar game puts players in the position of a pesky goose, intent on wreaking havoc everywhere it goes. With both single-player and multiplayer options, this game is hilarious and charming.

Untitled Goose Game requires players to walk, run, quack, and grab, meaning the controls are simple and easy to master. Therefore, players can focus on waddling around various environments and completing the list of tasks assigned, which will be crossed off as and when they are achieved. Any players looking for a silly, incredibly fun, and satisfying game will absolutely adore Untitled Goose Game.

3 Pikmin 4

Adorable Puzzle Solving with Pikmin

Pikmin is another of Nintendo’s long-standing, recognizable titles. Although it isn’t a household name quite to the extent that Mario might be, it is nevertheless an adorably fun and unique game filled with charming details. Released ten years after its last main installment on the Wii-U, Pikmin 4 puts players in charge of a whole horde of Pikmin and must use them to cleverly complete puzzles.

Pikmin 4 focuses on a vibrant and charming world and therefore places minimal pressure on players to execute tasks perfectly. Although it is a real-time puzzle game, Pikmin 4 does a wonderful job of introducing players to creative problem-solving and mainly requires them to choose carefully between the types of Pikmin – who have individual skills based on their color. An added perk of this edition is that players can create their own Pikmin to play as, only adding to the fun and imaginative world.

2 Unravel Two

Endearing Platformer with Friendly Co-op

Unravel Two is a platform puzzle game designed to be single-player or local multiplayer. It follows two endearing bundles of yarn – Yarnys – on a big quest. The game takes place in the foreground of a story that predominantly happens around the Yarnys and takes some darker turns at certain points.

The game has relatively simple controls, and its stunning art is enough to win most gamers’ hearts. It’s the perfect game to play with a friend and has a great combination of story and gameplay. Like Inside, Unravel Two is just as fun to watch, and the endearing Yarnys will have players invested in no time.

1 Sea of Stars

Nostalgic RPG with No Time Pressure

Sea of Stars is a turn-based combat, retro RPG with carefully created, nostalgic art that will appeal to all gamers. With charming art, music, and characters, Sea of Stars is an overwhelmingly appealing game that evokes genuine joy. Players can make their way through this delightful world wielding elemental powers and foraging for resources in order to make tasty snacks.

The turn-based element of this game makes it perfect for casual gamers since it doesn’t require quick reflexes or stressful combat encounters. Players can take their time while in battle and can otherwise happily explore the charming world to find new friends and adventures. The game offers side-quests, endearing dialogue, and puzzles, perfect for any gamer looking for an enjoyable addition to their collection.