The video game industry is filled with games of all shapes, sizes, and budgets. While many tend to focus on the biggest releases from veteran developers, there is a lot to be appreciated by releases from smaller studios.
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WhileAAA gamesreleased bygiants of the industryare typically associated with standard $60.00 price tags, smaller-scale AA titles are often cheaper while still being able to offer great content. As it is quite common for many AA titles to not get nearly as much attention as larger releases, today we’re going to shine a light on several great AA titles that are available on the Nintendo Switch!
10Streets Of Rage 4
Released in 2020,Streets of Rage 4is a return to the classic 90s beat-em-up franchise,Streets of Rage. Featuring highly stylized hand-drawn visuals, the game features several playable characters that each utilize their own distinct fighting styles.
Featuring great co-op that allows up to four players to fight through hordes of enemies in style,Streets of Rage 4is one of the best beat em' ups of recent memory.
9River City Girls
Another revival of a classic 90s franchise,River City Girlsis a fun spin on theRiver City Ransomseries. With beautiful animation,RIver City Girlsfeatures several memorable boss fights and a cast of characters that are brimming with personality.
In addition to possessing great core gameplay, the game features several RPG-like elements, allowing players to pursue side quests and gain additional abilities.
8Wargroove
Released by Chucklefish in 2019,Wargrooveis a highly underrated tactics game with similarities to games such asAdvance WarsandFire Emblem. In addition to a solid single-player experience that takes players through a simple albeit charming story, the game features multiplayer, allowing for up to four players to face off at once.
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The game even puts some of the developers' tools in the players' hands, featuring a robust map builder that allows maps to be shared online and even used for multiplayer games.
7Cris Tales
Released earlier this year,Cris Talesis a unique and visually stunning turn-based RPG that focuses on the concept of time and the effects of various actions.
In addition to featuring a distinct and eye-catching art direction, the game splits the player’s perspective into three parts, allowing them to simultaneously view the past, present, and future, seeing the impacts of their actions in real-time. The game also utilizes time in interesting ways within its combat, rewarding precise timing and implementing time-based effects.
6Cuphead
By and large one of the most well-known entries on this list,Cupheadis a traditional run-and-gun platformer that features an outstanding art direction, using traditional animation methods to create an end product that resembles rubber-hose animated cartoons of the 1920’s and 1930s.
In addition to being a visual marvel, the game is a masterclass of its genre, featuring a slew of difficult yet rewarding boss fights against beautifully animated characters.
5Skullgirls
A criminally underrated fighting game, whileSkullgirlswas originally released back in 2012, the game is still receiving new content such as the recently added character, Annie. LikeCuphead, the game features traditionally animated hand-drawn animation, also featuring a dark-deco-inspired art direction.
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The game features fast-paced 2D combat reminiscent of theMarvel Vs. Capcomseries, even allowing players to play one to three characters at once, distributing health based on how many characters are in a player’s team.
4Children Of Morta
An action RPG with semi-randomized rogue-like elements,Children of Mortawas released in 2019 by Studio Dead Mage. The game has players to assume the roles of various members of a family, each of which has their own strengths and attributes, effectively functioning as different character classes.
As players progress through the game, they will be given access to various upgrades and items, improving their characters through customizable skill trees. Additionally, the game features impressive sprite-based visuals and can be played in its near-entirety in co-op with a friend.
3Stardew Valley
Easily the most mellow entry on this list,Stardew Valleywas released in 2016 and blends elements of farming simulator games like Harvest Moon with elements of action RPGs.
Allowing players to go at their own pace as they manage their crops, players can spend their time as they see fit, befriending the game’s memorable NPCs or delving into the mines, an expansive dungeon overrun with monsters.
2Ori And The Blind Forest
Ori and the Blind Forestis yet another visually impressive entry on our list, and is a platforming Metroidvania released in 2015, and ported to the Switch in 2019.
Featuring great lighting and sound design, whileOri and the Blind Forestmay not be the most grueling or difficult Metroidvania on the market, the game’s progression and exploration are incredibly rewarding. Additionally, the game features some of the tightest controls in the genre, making maneuvering through dungeons an absolute blast.
1Divinity: Original Sin II
Released in 2017,Divinity: Original Sin IIis an RPG with a great deal to appreciate. Allowing players to create their own unique characters, the game can either be experienced as a single-player adventure or in multi-player, with each player maintaining control over their own characters.
Much like tabletop RPGs,Divinity: Original Sin IIprovides players with a lot of choices and freedom, allowing the game to be played how players want, whether it be through customizing one’s character with the game’s skill crafting system, enjoying PVP, or completing side-quests.
