The best indie games on Nintendo Switch

By Jesse Lennox Updated March 20, 2025

When most of us think of the best Switch games, they are probably AAA titles. These can be single-player games or multiplayer games, but the system has also become known as an indie machine to many people. The portability of the Switch and Switch Lite makes them ideal for some of the best indie games, and dozens of small developers seem to love releasing their games on the hybrid console.

Better yet, plenty of free games on the Switch are indies that have become massive hits. It’s become a win-win for developers and Switch owners. Nintendo Switch gamers will always have an array of game options available to them, plus, upcoming Switch games launch all the time, making the platform even more dynamic.

If you’re not burnt out on roguelikes just yet, you owe it to yourself to give Rogue Legacy 2 a shot. This was one of the pioneers of the genre’s popularity boom, and the sequel is just as addictive as the first. Taking on the role of a family of warriors, each descendant having their own class, skills, abilities, and possible quirks, is just one of the ways that each run feels fresh and fun. The upgrade system means that, even if it takes you a while, you are constantly improving and will be able to turn the tides in your favor. Of course, if it remains too hard, the House Rules allow you to tweak the game to be most comfortable to you.

Made by just three indie developers at InnerSloth, Among Us took the world by storm as a way to remotely connect with (and murder) your friends while stuck indoors. The gameplay is simple but endlessly repeatable. In each game, crewmates complete mini-games to fix malfunctioning ship or base parts while randomly chosen imposters disguised as crewmates pick off the good guys one by one. If a body is found, people accuse one another, and supposed imposters are booted out of the airlock. You can play with strangers or in a party of friends, but it’s especially fun to interrogate your friends over voice chat or study their faces on video calls, trying to guess who is lying about their alibis. Or, as the imposter, you’ll have to improvise on the fly to come up with excuses and fake tasks that hide your true murderous actions.

The latest trend in indie games is reviving the old PS1-era graphics and gameplay styles. Because of the unsettling nature these models can give off, horror games are a very popular genre to utilize them in. Crow Country feels like a lost Resident Evil game from that era in all the best ways. You need to manage resources, slowly explore an old amusement park that gradually opens up as you solve puzzles and collect items, and a sinister plot filled with off-kilter characters. It is tight, terrifying, and knows how to play with your expectations as fans of the genre.

No doubt this is the strangest indie game on the list, but it’s also one you won’t want to go without playing. The hilarious 2D adventure game sees you guiding Turnip Boy as he — well, commits tax evasion. Beyond that unforgivable crime, you’ll also solve a variety of puzzles, fight giant rabbits, dismantle “the system,” and tear up plenty of legal paperwork along the way. No matter how you cut it, it’s a quirky game, but there’s not another indie game available that’ll have you laughing as much as Turnip Boy. From its incredible writing to its adorable art style, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is one of the best indie games you’ll play this year.

If you just want to chill out with a creative, lightly-Zelda-inspired game about a cute dog bringing color back to the world, that’s oddly specific, but also exactly what Chicory: A Colorful Tale provides. You explore this blank coloring book world, solving puzzles and interacting with the fun and charismatic NPCs around while coloring in as much, or as little, of the world around you as you want. This game is a complete zen experience if you want it to be, with no pressure to go fast, do everything, or even fight very challenging enemies. It’s just a great, relaxing time from beginning to end that players of all ages can enjoy.