Nintendo Switch: The 10 Most Exciting Indie Games Releasing In 2022

The range of indie games available on the Nintendo Switch continues to grow, with smaller studios sharing their innovative concepts to a wider audience, diversifying the gaming experience on the console.

Whether it’s a new entry in a series, a release new to the Switch console, or an altogether unreleased game, the indie game lineup for the Switch this year is vast and exciting and promises to deliver all year round. From established company releases to studio debuts, new stories await players in an assortment of genres.

The Company Man – January 21st, 2022

Joining a range of excellent platformers on the Nintendo Switch this January is The Company Man, a 2D action-adventure game where gamers play as salaryman Jim, armed with a weaponized keyboard.

The storyline follows Jim struggling to keep his job, and players must fight their way through departments on their quest to ascend the corporate ladder and become CEO. Full of wry insights into the office working environment, this side-scrolling platformer from Forust Studio has a delightful art style and dynamic animations.

OlliOlli World – February 8th, 2022

The third entry in the OlliOlli series, OlliOlli World is a skateboarding action-platformer set in the world of Radlandia, in which players venture through meeting new friends and working on their combos.

With missions and challenges to undertake, and loads of landscapes to keep players exploring, OlliOlli World is advertised as allowing gamers to play at a level that suits them, while also having a wide array of customization options in order to perfect the skater look.

Sea Of Stars – Winter 2022

A perfect game for retro RPG fans, Sea of Stars follows two Children of the Solstice, Valere and Zale, who can combine their sun and moon powers to use powerful Eclipse Magic in order to fight off monstrous evil.

The turn-based RPG is inspired by great ’90s games of the genre, offering not only a rich storyline but also the opportunity for players to take a break from their quest, engaging in activities like cooking, fishing, or sailing to keep gameplay fresh and rewarding.

Aliisha: The Oblivion Of The Twin Goddesses – Spring 2022

Aliisha: The Oblivion of the Twin Goddesses, set for release in the spring, is a 3D fantasy adventure game in which twins Lisha and Aisha must explore a mystery-filled ancient temple.

Designed with the specific perks of the Nintendo Switch’s controller options in mind, the twins each have unique characteristics that can be explored using different controller configurations in co-op play, helping to solve puzzles and uncover more of the temple’s secrets.

Endling – Extinction Is Forever – Spring 2022

The environmentally-conscious Endling – Extinction is Forever is a 3D side-scroller set in a world decimated by humans, in which players are the last mother fox, ushering and defending her three cubs.

Illustrating the effects of human pollution on the natural world, Endling puts the survival of the fox cubs in a player’s hands, tasking them with feeding and protecting the young ones and watching them grow while journeying to find a place where they are safe from humankind.

Loco Motive – Summer 2022

Loco Motive is the first full game from Robust Games, a comedic murder-mystery adventure set on a train in the 1930s, where players can embody three playable characters.

The best puzzle games on the Nintendo Switch balance their difficulty with their sense of satisfaction, and Loco Motive‘s promise of intrigue mixed with slapstick suggests this has been taken into consideration. Its pixel animation is full of details, enriching its storytelling and setting.

GRIME – Summer 2022

GRIME is a Metroidvania game that was released on PC in 2021. Players crush foes and absorb their powers using living weapons that mutate during combat.

The game’s range of 3D monsters are threatening and massive, the surreal environments expansive, and in this alien world players must survive, choosing the skills they find most useful to develop as they journey deeper into this terrain full of madness-crazed opponents.

Bear And Breakfast – 2022

Bear & Breakfast is a management game that sees players take on the role of Hank, a bear building up and running their own bed and breakfast deep in the woods.

As is the case for some of the best simulation games for the Nintendo Switch, Bear & Breakfast lets players highly customize their establishment as they interact with all manner of other animals, improve their hosting skills, complete quests, and uncover mysteries in the forest. Described as a laid-back game, it seems well suited to both casual and avid gamers alike.

Card Shark – 2022

Set in 18th century France, Card Shark is a game of deception in which players must hone their card game trickery in order to progress through the ranks of society.

From small towns to the King’s table, Card Shark spans all circles of influence, as players must master new tricks and avoid getting caught. Its rich visuals and full original score contribute to the game’s atmosphere, and while it does not yet have a definitive release date, it’s a title to look out for.

Mineko’s Night Market – 2022

Both an adventure with a focus on the narrative and a merchant simulation, Mineko’s Night Market follows the titular Mineko, a young girl exploring the superstitions of her new home as she goes about her day-to-day activities.

The Japanese-inspired setting is rich in lore, and the story focuses on myths held around the locals’ god, the Sun Cat Abe. Players undertake jobs, craft wares for selling at the market, and encounter a whole host of cats as they settle into their new home and discover more about the town.

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