Best Nintendo Switch Lite games: 12 top titles to take on the go
Here's what's best to play on the handheld-only version of the Nintendo Switch.
Harking back to its handheld division, which produced the Game Boy, DS and 3DS, Nintendo released the Switch Lite in 2019, and we've got our round-up of the 12 best Switch games to take on the go.
Nintendo – well known for its family-friendly titles - used to be split down the middle between its home and handheld consoles - but with the Switch, we got the best of both worlds.
The more affordable Switch Lite, however, cannot be plugged into a TV, making the system better suited to certain kinds of games.
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Some releases, such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, require bigger displays or even TVs for the full effect, so we won't be including them here.
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If you do find yourself gaming from the bus, in the back of a car or under the covers (past your bedtime) like you did as a young 'un, you'll definitely want to pick up a Nintendo Switch power bank to keep your battery topped up away from a plug, and a Micro SD card to store all your games.
If you're yet to pick one up, with the best Switch deals, we think the hybrid console is worth it – even though a next-gen Switch 2 is in the works.
But this article has been Lite on games so we'll dilly-dally no more, read on!
Best Nintendo Switch Lite games
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Just because Tears of the Kingdom isn't here doesn't mean we can't have Zelda on the go!
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a remake of the 1993 classic for the original Game Boy, and sees Link awakening (very clever, we know) upon the shores of Kokolint Island.
To return home to Hyrule, Link must awaken (we promise we'll stop) the slumbering Wind Fish by finding eight musical instruments that are located across the island, which require players to clear dungeons and battle monsters.
Buy now from Curry's for £49.99
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
Time to catch 'em all over again in the Sinnoh region as the long-awaited remakes, Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, have now arrived. And this return to Sinnoh has not disappointed.
Playing this is just as much fun as it was back in our youth, and we hope this is the start of the other older games in the franchise getting the same reboot treatment. For now, though, this is a great Switch Lite game that will allow you to catch critters on the go in style.
Buy now from Amazon for £39.99
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a game that is sure to put a smile on your face. The story focuses on the central character, a girl called Alba, who is visiting her grandparents' island home on her school holidays. During her stay, you will be exploring the gorgeous surroundings while trying your hand at being an environmentalist at the same time.
There's a lot to do here, and all of it sticks with the sweet tone that the game promised. It's a lovely little game, and one well worth playing on Switch Lite.
Buy from the Nintendo eShop for £11.71
Two Point Hospital
Do you love a good business simulation game? Well, you're in luck if so, as Two Point Hospital is here, and that's exactly what it is - a business sim set in the world of hospitals.
The game deals with diseases that threaten to break out which, given the era, may not appeal to all, but this is one of the better sims about, and it has been a huge success for a reason. And with the Switch Lite's ultra-light portability, you can take your hospitals with you wherever you want.
Buy now from Amazon for £22.99
Tetris 99
Tetris 99 is more from the world of Tetris - a game that is older than almost all others in the video game world, yet still remains as fun to play as it has ever been.
This version has 99 players all competing against each other, and the last player standing as the bricks fall is the winner. It's a simple concept that works really well, and this is the most fun we have had playing Tetris in a long time - highly recommended.
Buy now from Amazon for just £19.99
Sonic Mania
Yep, Sonic has a home with Nintendo now, and our '90s minds have been blown. Sonic Mania is an absolute triumph and one of the best games in this franchise since the original Sega Mega Drive days of the speedy blue hedgehog.
Starting out as a fan project before becoming an official game, Sonic Mania is the closest the franchise has felt to those classic games since Sonic and Knuckles - sorry, Sonic 4.
Buy now from Amazon for just £24.99
A Short Hike
A Short Hike is a tremendous indie game that also happens to be one the most relaxing titles we have had the pleasure to play.
You play as the pictured anthropomorphic bird, Claire, who flies over to Hawk Peak Provincial Park to spend time with her Aunt May (not that one), who works as a ranger. Claire needs to get phone signal, and the only place she can get it is at the highest point in the game - so that's where you have to go!
Buy now from the Nintendo eShop for £6.29
Check out the best games on each platform:
- The very best PS5 games
- The best Xbox Series X games
- The best Nintendo Switch games ever
- Best Switch games for kids
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was released on the Wii U and, mainly due to coming out on that console, it went largely under the radar - which is a lot less than this game deserves.
This is Donkey Kong back to his SNES days' best, as the formula that worked so well then remains just as successful years later. So, look forward to all the side-scrolling crazy fun that you know and love with Donkey Kong and then some with Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.
Buy now from Amazon for £39.95
Untitled Goose Game
Plenty of big blockbuster games run like a dream on the Switch Lite (see Super Mario Odyssey or Zelda: Breath of the Wild), but it's always worth remembering there is a massive library of indie games to enjoy on this platform, as well. And since these indie darlings often have charmingly simple visual styles, you don't lose out on anything by playing them on Switch Lite instead of the OLED or one of the other big consoles.
Untitled Goose Game, from the Australian developers at House House, is a prime example of a perfect Switch Lite game. Its graphics are adorably basic, but there is so much fun to be had! You play as a mischievous goose that has a laundry list of tasks to complete, each of which will wreak chaos on a sleepy little village, and that really is just as enjoyable as it sounds.
Buy now from Amazon for £19.95
Stardew Valley
Here's another top indie game to consider! Although the excellent blockbuster title Animal Crossing: New Horizons would run just fine on a Switch Lite, you could argue that the pixel-y visual style of Stardew Valley makes it a better game to match those retro Game Boy vibes that you get with this handheld-only console.
In a similar gameplay mechanic to Animal Crossing, in ConcernedApe's Stardew Valley you'll be trying your best to rejuvenate the local area and grow a thriving community that lives off the land. It's an ideal chilled game to take with you everywhere on Switch Lite.
Buy now from Amazon for £30.99
Katana Zero
Here's one more brilliant indie game that would be a fine addition to your collection on Nintendo Switch Lite. In Katana Zero, you play an assassin with the power to briefly pause time, and you'll have to use every skill in your arsenal to undertake a series of tricky missions.
It has the visual trappings of a 2D side-scroller, as well as an engaging story, some great music and a collection of memorable gameplay moments. It'll look great on your Switch Lite and will keep you busy for a good few hours. Or, if you're looking for something a bit more family-friendly, check out our list of the best Nintendo Switch games for kids.
Buy now from the Nintendo eShop for £13.49
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
We promised cozy gaming that's ideal for curling up in bed with, so we'll finish with perhaps the coziest of cozy. Released in the midst of the pandemic while we were surrounded with panic and uncertainty aplenty, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was a lifeline for many of us.
Local multiplayer isn't quite as easy as on the original Switch, though, because you'll need to sync up Joy-Cons or pro controllers without an extra console.
However, if you're on your own - commuting, travelling, in bed - and fancy the gaming equivalent of your favourite comfort book, then we couldn't recommend this quaint and cute social sim more.
Buy now from Amazon for £39.95
Read more on Nintendo:
- Nintendo Switch OLED review - handheld gaming levels up
- The very best Nintendo Switch games
- Nintendo Switch Pro release date - the latest rumours
- Best Nintendo Switch games for kids
- Best Nintendo Switch micro SD cards to buy
- How to charge Nintendo Switch controllers
- How to connect Nintendo Switch to TV
If you're looking for something else to play, check out our lists of the best PC games and best VR games to try in 2022.
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