If you’re looking for that perfect Switch game to pick up and play while traveling, we’ve got you covered.
Whether you want something you can quickly jump in and out of, or would rather have a long-form Metroidvania to keep you entertained on a long flight, we’ve compiled a list of five Switch games that are great options when traveling.
This list aims to take into account battery life as well, ensuring you shouldn’t run out of juice right away, like with some other great but demanding Switch titles.
These titles aim to support around 5 hours of battery life with the lowest brightness setting and airplane mode enabled, although some of these titles will be more generous than others.
Picross S3
S3 is the latest entry into the Picross series, and you may be familiar with the riveting puzzle titles on the Nintendo DS and 3DS. It may not look super interesting off the bat, but Picross has an addictive formula where players end up sinking tons of hours into this simple and affordable game.
Picross’ gameplay takes place within a grid, and is somewhat of a ‘color by numbers’ game, as the player uses numbers located at the left and top of a typically 10 x 10 grid to figure out which squares of the grid should be filled in to create the final image.
The numbers around the grid show how many of the squares in a row/column should be filled, and in what pattern, but leaves out the specifics, which is where you come in.
Picross gives you these clues, but it’s up to you to figure out the exact locations of each filled square, with the quantity shown at the side only acting as a starting point. Picross can get really challenging as the levels progress, with grid sizes increasing as well as the vagueness of the image.
S3 will be pretty easy on your battery life, which is essential if you don’t own a power bank and are traveling. The game is ideal for a flight or waiting around in the airport, and is sure to bring you hours of fun gameplay once you’re hooked.
Dead Cells
Dead Cells is a roguelike action-platformer in which you play as a cell which has taken over a lifeless corpse, using it to traverse and escape the prison.
Dead Cells treats death as a necessity, with death enabling the player to navigate different areas and develop their skills and weapons.
There are no checkpoints, making permadeath feel like a real and common threat, meaning you’ll need to start your run over again. Despite the high stakes, playing offensively is really fun, fluid, and exciting, and repeating runs is sure to keep you busy when traveling.
Levels may be procedurally generated, but that does not take away from their clever and beautiful design which manages to blow players away again and again. Every run is also different regarding item locations, and you don’t have to always focus on getting to the final boss in every run.
Earning new abilities is a familiar Metroidvania trope and is really well done, making you feel a lot stronger at the end of your journey than when you started.
It’s important for most players to spend runs dedicated to upgrading skills and locating items in preparation for those final boss runs to avoid aimlessly dying over and over.
The game also has a souls-like vibe, partially due to its difficulty level and dreary yet vibrant art style. Overall, Dead Cells is stunning and has an interesting design while not being hard on your Switch’s battery life – perfect for long flights.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is a perfect fit if you’re looking for something relaxing yet compelling. This simulation RPG has you start out on a farm your grandfather gifted to you, and sees you grow your farm from a barren, messy patch of land into whatever you want to make it.
The story is about growing tired of working in a corporate office and escaping to the countryside to pursue a more simple life.
Players go through typical farm life on a day-to-day basis, planting and tending to crops and upgrading their farm with more automated systems and better aesthetic appeal.
However, there’s more to it than just the farm, as players can also fish and mine to bring in extra income and complete the community center – a central part of the fantastical story.
Traveling can be really, really stressful, but hopefully less so if you can transport yourself to a nice breezy summer day on your own beloved farm.
On top of this, Stardew performs really well in handheld and works perfectly for quick bursts of gameplay, or if you’re like me, you’ll be telling yourself “one more day” into the early hours of the morning.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a visual novel adventure game that takes place mostly within a courtroom, following the trials of Pheonix Wright as he tries to save his innocent clients and debunk the arguments of his enemies.
Phoenix Wright is an iconic character who may have flown under your radar, and he provides captivating courtroom drama and comedy throughout with his classic one-liners and awful puns. Phoenix also has strong backing from fans to be added in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate due to his strong wit and character.
The only downside of playing this game while traveling via public transport would be the social implications of yelling “Objection!” passionately while playing, something you can do as much as you like at home.
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight packs a surprising amount of content into its dark, expansive, Metroidvania world.
Initially, it’s very easy to get lost in Hollow Knight’s spiraling caverns and underground forests, but Hollow Knight has a knack for hiding the next exciting boss or charm just within reach, making the temptation to keep playing much stronger.
There are multiple different ways to explore in no particular order, unless the area is blocked by an ability requirement, but there are usually multiple entry points to an area if you’re missing something – or you can just come back later with little inconvenience in doing so.
Hollow Knight is home to a variety of different bugs to interact with and fight, some which are adorable and lovable and others which are grotesque and daunting.
Exploring and boss battles reward the player with primarily geo (the in-game currency) and charms, which can be equipped while resting at a bench (a save area which restores health).
Charms are limited to notches, which the player obtains more of as they progress. Collecting charms and experimenting with their arrangements to find combinations that give increased stat boosts or effects is really enjoyable and essential when progressing to more difficult areas.
Hollow Knight is especially great for travel thanks to its lack of strain on battery life and generally abundant save points in the form of benches to drop in and out of.
These games should keep you busy on that trip you have coming up, but if you aren’t heading anywhere, there’s no harm in playing them at home as they all provide a fun experience and are among some of the best games on the Switch.
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