Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. Features

It’s secretly a killer month for the Nintendo Switch

Giovanni Colantonio
By

After three relentless months of gigantic new video game releases, April has seemed tame by comparison so far. The closest thing we’ve had to a big video game is Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, which isn’t exactly on the same scale as Elden Ring. As a result, gamers are getting a bit of a lull where they can catch up on games like Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands or Weird West.

But for Nintendo Switch owners, April might be the console’s strongest 2022 showing yet. While it hasn’t gotten any flashy, first-party releases, a slew of ports and cross-platform titles serve as a reminder of why Nintendo’s little hybrid that could still holds a special place in the current gaming landscape.

Related Videos

Ports galore

In terms of tentpole releases, the Switch only has one major title this month — though a quiet month makes it gaming’s biggest release by default. Nintendo Switch Sports lands on April 29, bringing Wii Sports nostalgia to 2022. Based on my hands-on time with it at a preview event, its shaping up to be a surprise hit that finally puts the Switch’s underutilized motion controls to good use.

Two sportsmates play badminton in Nintendo Switch Sports.

Even though that’s Nintendo’s only big game in April (and it’s certainly not a Kirby-sized one), the console’s library has gotten stronger every few days this month. Part of that comes from some strong cross-platform releases, which Nintendo was hurting for in 2022. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga and MLB The Show 22 both hit Switch on the same day, kicking off the month. The latter is especially notable considering it’s a Sony-published game that the MLB reportedly pushed to bring to Nintendo’s console.

While new releases are always the most exciting, a slew of strong port choices are really fueling the console this month. Indie hits like Don’t Starve Together and The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe are welcome additions to the eShop. PS5 launch title Bugsnax is coming to Switch alongside its new DLC, which feels like a perfect tonal match for the system. I’ve personally been playing Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition on my Switch, and while it’s a rough port, it’s still lovely to experience an RPG classic in a flexible way.

The Switch’s two best games this month are both ports that benefit from the unique nature of the Switch’s portable design. Former PS4 exclusive 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is now on Switch and it’s the definitive way to experience it. When I first played the mech visual novel, I remember wishing I could play it in the Switch’s tabletop mode so I could listen along while washing dishes or prepping dinner. Had I known it was coming to Switch earlier, I would have waited on it.

A high schooler looks at a mech in 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim.

The same is true for Nobody Saves the World. The cartoon dungeon crawler was already one of 2022’s best video games and it’s a harmonious fit for the Switch. The small-scale action game features several dungeons that can be completed in 10 minutes, making it a perfect portable “time to kill” game. Were I recommending it to someone, I’d suggest they pick it up on Switch, even if they could play it via an Xbox Game Pass subscription.

The Switch’s aging hardware may be dulling its shine, but portability remains its ace in the hole. Certain games just work better in bite-sized, “play anywhere” chunks and several releases feel more natural on the Switch as a result. For those who aren’t playing every new game the moment it releases the eShop has a bounty of new additions this month that’ll give you plenty of reasons to keep your Switch charged.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Best Buy is having a clearance sale on gaming laptops — from $580
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 2023 front view showing display and keyboard deck.

Best Buy is having a ton of great gaming laptop deals this weekend. Everything from budget HP laptops to high-end Alienware devices are getting big price cuts. We've picked out our favorites below. Don't expect these deals to stick around all weekend though -- grab them while they're still available.
HP Victus Gaming Laptop -- $580, was $800

The HP Victus gaming laptop appears in our list of the best gaming laptops as a great budget option, because you'll be able to play the best PC games with its 12th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, and 8GB of RAM -- though you may have to choose the lowest settings for some of the more demanding titles. The gaming laptop features a 15.6-inch screen with Full HD resolution and a 144Hz refresh rate, and a 512GB SSD with Windows 11 Home pre-installed.

Read more
Counter-Strike 2 could succeed where Overwatch 2 failed
Soldiers in Counter-Strike 2 key art.

In 2023's most surprising news so far, Counter-Strike 2 is coming. The competitive shooter isn't just a follow-up to the massively popular Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, but an upgrade to that game using the new Source 2 engine. A beta is already underway, with the full game scheduled to come sometime this summer. With how Valve is handling the project, I can't help but think of how Blizzard rolled out its own recent shooter sequel: Overwatch 2.

Both games are highly popular, competitive, and live-service style games with a heavy emphasis on cosmetics for monetization that have highly dedicated communities. The biggest similarity -- and also criticism in the case of Overwatch 2 -- is the fact that both sequels retroactively replace their predecessors, forcing everyone to upgrade to the sequel whether they want to or not. This is a relatively new concept in gaming, where older versions of online games become entirely inaccessible and Overwatch 2 didn't inspire a lot of confidence in it being a beneficial trend. That said, Counter-Strike 2 is already in a perfect position to succeed in all the ways Overwatch 2 failed.
If it ain't broke
In normal circumstances, a sequel is a developer's opportunity to iterate and make alterations to the core of the game that came before. Obviously, there's a limit to how big these changes should be -- a shooter shouldn't suddenly become a 2D fighting game -- but a combination of new features being added and old ones being removed is expected. That becomes a much trickier proposition in this new age of sequels where the new version is the only option. In the case of Overwatch 2 and Counter-Strike 2, players don't have the luxury of being able to keep playing the old version they loved.

Read more
As the 3DS eShop closes, devs reflect on a golden age of Nintendo indies
Best Nintendo 3DS games

The 3DS eShop is no longer allowing Nintendo fans to make new game purchases, marking the end of a long era of DS-branded handhelds. Not only that, but it's also sunsetting a vibrant indie community in the process. After helping smaller developers break through with WiiWare and DSiWare, the 3DS eShop was where indies really started to flourish on Nintendo consoles. Multiple games and developers built success stories on the platform, starting series that are still recognized in the eyes of Nintendo fans and stand as some of the 3DS’ most iconic games.

Within a year of the eShop's launch, WayForward's Mighty Switch Force provided one of the system's best 3D experiences, Renegade Kid's Mutant Mudd showed the potential of a platformer where players can hop between the foreground and background, and Hörberg Productions' Gunman Clive provided a short, sweet, and cheap throwback platformer experience with lots of styles. By 2014, Yacht Club Games' Shovel Knight had cemented itself as one of the best indie games of all time on the 3DS. Titles like that gave the 3DS a reputation as a haven for smaller developers. a platform where they could break out of a niche and connect with a larger audience.

Read more