The Nintendo Switch has come a long way from the days of gamers calling it another gimmicky Nintendo console or bashing it for its lack of third-party support. The Switch has not only addressed both those complaints, but it has also changed the world of gaming as a whole.
Instead of hunkering down in a basement and losing all concept of time, gamers can now play some of the best games ever created anytime, anywhere. It’s truly mind-boggling what third-party companies and Nintendo have been able to do but apparently, some aren’t just late to the party; it seems like they skipped it altogether. Here are 10 big titles we want to see get ported to the Nintendo Switch.
10 Grand Theft Auto & Red Dead Redemption
Rockstar’s two poster-boys were smashed into one entry since they’re very similar and hail from the same company. That being said, porting Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption would be no small feat since their latest iterations take up an estimated minimum of 60GB and 88GB, respectively.
But crazier things have happened on the Switch, with equally massive games like CD Projekt Red’s The Witcher 3 and Bethesda’s Doom Eternal being hard proof of that. So why not bring in Rockstar’s blockbuster open world franchises? It wouldn’t be too shabby to receive older iterations of GTA and Red Dead either, and those are sure to be easier to port!
9 Fallout
This one still baffles gamers of all stripes. Bethesda was head-over-heels for the Switch at launch, but has played a much more laid-back role since then. Previously, Bethesda showcased Skyrim in portable mode. While it was eye-rolling to some as it was yet another iteration of the now ubiquitous game, the thought of playing the acclaimed RPG and any other Bethesda game anywhere (especially on the toilet) blew gamers away.
So why isn’t the Fallout franchise on the Switch? It seems like the perfect fit, but apparently Bethesda and Nintendo think otherwise. To add insult to injury, the micro-transaction hungry Fallout Shelter is currently the only Fallout title on the console. Let gamers trek the Capital Wasteland on their toilets!
8 Rare Replay
It’s always fun to see third-party characters show up in Smash because it gets Nintendo fans salivating at the possibility of these characters’ respective series being shipped over as well. Unfortunately, things aren’t always as peachy as they seem. As it turns out, it’s a lot easier to get a character represented in Smash than to get their entire series sent to the Switch.
Does it make sense? Heck no! But there must be some behind-the-scenes politics preventing Banjo, Kazooie, and all the iconic Rare characters found in Rare Replay - a compilation of Rare’s 30 most beloved and well-known games - from making it the Switch.
7 Life Is Strange
It’s always amazing to see mature games make it over to the Switch. Nintendo is most associated with cartoony plumbers, wide-eyed critters and sassy princesses. Now, the company can be associated with the chainsaw-induced gore of Doom or the heart-stomping glory of Mortal Kombat as well. Oh, how the times have changed!
But violence isn’t the only path to maturity, since titles like Night in The Woods, Undertale and Hollow Knight can hit heavier than any Mortal Kombat fatality. Square Enix’s massively popular interactive drama Life is Strange is one such game, and it’s another story-driven game that would fit perfectly in the Switch’s growing adult-oriented library.
6 Metroid Prime
This list is mostly composed of third-party games except this one. Unlike the other titles, Nintendo itself created Metroid Prime but believe it or not, there’s no new Metroid game on the Switch!
It’s simply baffling, as the trailer for Metroid Prime 4 was released back in 2017 and nobody’s heard a thing about it since then. But it’s also strange because Metroid is one of Nintendo’s flagships and the genre it created (MetroidVanias) is so big right now, thanks to indie games like Hollow Knight. Fans would be right to think that Nintendo would give Samus another go on their latest console, but apparently that’s not the case.
Wake up and smell the coffee Nintendo - let’s get some Metroid up in here!
5 Call Of Duty
Is Call of Duty the game that gamers are beating at the door for Activision to bring to Switch? No, not really. Would it still be pretty cool to see the series make its way to the best portable console ever made? Yes, very much. It would also be very interesting to see the way that Activision would go about porting COD to the Switch.
While the newer games are still selling like hotcakes, many older fans would certainly love to see a collection of some sort be shipped to the Switch. Just imagine quickscopping noobs in Modern Warfare 2 or fighting the Nazi Zombie tyranny in World at War just like old times, only now from the comforts of your toliet. Yes, please, and thank you.
4 Persona
Hey it’s more games that are represented in Smash but for some reason haven’t made it to the Switch yet! Persona is so tailor-made for the Switch that it’s surprising that the series didn’t start exclusively on Nintendo systems in the first place.
Older fans know and miss the glorious days of Brawl when the Smash devs gave little trials of each game that a series represented. For now, all Persona fans can do is keep their fingers crossed that the Persona series (especially Persona 5) makes its way to the Switch’s lineup.
3 Metal Gear Solid
Apparently, the story goes that Solid Snake wasn’t easy to get into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, making it even more questionable if Snake and his legendary games will ever see the light of day on the Switch.
Thankfully, if it were to happen, the Metal Gear Solid games aren’t exactly system-breaking in terms of their graphics (with the exception of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain). Porting them over shouldn’t be too much trouble for Konami and the team. Plus, the addition of the saga of Solid Snake, the Patriots, boxes, and everything between would incite Smash levels of hype.
2 Dead Space
When it comes to EA’s golden years, most fans are going to point to Mass Effect as the representative to migrate to the Switch. Sure, yes, why not - it would be amazing to play that iconic trilogy on the go. But while the Switch has Resident Evil 4, Outlast and Alien: Isolation, it could still use a little more help in the horror genre. So why not bring in Dead Space?
The games were made in that perfect point in time when their graphics weren’t too evolved that it’d take an army of programmers to re-work it for The Switch while still looking pretty good by today’s standards. Plus, the series has taken an unfortunate back seat for the longest time. It deserves a much-needed resurrection that, hopefully, won’t use the Black Marker.
1 Half-Life & Portal
When it comes to Valve games, it’s impossible to pick one. Without exaggeration, Valve has created some of the best games ever made. From the unforgettable Portal to the flagship franchise Half-Life and more, there’s just something about Valve’s games that has that coveted video game magic; that feeling of nostalgia with the excitement of exploring something completely unknown.
Nintendo is a master of making magic and maybe that’s why Valve has stayed away from the company for the most part. Both are geniuses in their craft and perhaps it’s better to see them push each other to keep on creating masterpieces rather than collaborating. At least for now. With that in mind, Valve porting its titles to the Switch probably won’t happen any time soon, but here’s to hoping.
NEXT: 10 Great Nintendo Switch Games For Killing Time
