You don’t have to own a Playstation or Xbox to be a console fan — there are other choices on the market too! One of the best ones is undoubtedly Nintendo Switch! Oh, and if you’re worried that Microsoft and Sony got exclusive rights to all of your favorite horror games, you’re wrong; there are hundreds of different horror titles you can enjoy on Nintendo’s console too!
Whether you’re a fan of AAA horror games or prefer indie developers, there are titles for you out there. But we don’t expect your to take our word for it; see for yourselves! That is why we compiled this list of the five best Nintendo Switch horror games for all fans of the genre. Whether you’re looking for an action-packed or a survival horror game, this list’s got you covered!
5 Nintendo Switch Horror Games Fans of the Genre Are Going to Love
Here are our choices for the five best Nintendo Switch horror games on the market. Regardless of your preferred genre, you’re sure to find one to your liking!
1. Inside
Inside is a dark horror puzzle platformer that might fool players into a false sense of security at first glance with its cute art style at first glance. However, you should by no means take this game lightly!
Players take on the role of a young boy who wanders around a dark, limbo-like world and comes across various surreal sights, vicious monsters, and grotesque creatures. Although the game is primarily a puzzle platformer, it has many intense scenes and sequences that will keep players at the edge of their seats. Whether you end up getting chased by a giant, hulking spider or come across a sea of hanged people, you’ll come across plenty of terrifying encounters while playing Inside.
The game’s narrative is a bit convoluted, but those willing to put in extra effort and explore the world will find a rewarding story behind it! If you enjoy horror games that take their time to ramp up the scares and have beautiful atmospheres and visuals, Inside is the perfect choice for you! It is an all-out better version of its predecessor, Limbo!
2. Five Nights at Freddy’s
There is no fan of horror games that hasn’t heard of the infamous indie title Five Nights at Freddy’s. This game is not only one of the scariest Nintendo Switch horror games but also one of the most terrifying horror experiences across all devices.
The game’s core principle is simple — you play as a security guard working the night shift at a restaurant filled with animatronics that come to life after the sun sets. You sit in your office, and all you can do is look at security cameras to track the animatronics’ movements and lock your doors as long as you have enough power. Sounds straightforward, right?
It is, but it’s surprisingly terryfing! Considering that each night becomes exponentially harder to beat, you’ll quickly find yourself low on power later in the week and will have to manage it better to survive. If you run out of power, you’re a sitting duck, and you’d better be ready for a horrifying jumpscare!
Five Nights at Freddy’s is a testament to how effective and popular even the simplest of horror games can be. This game not only grew into a massive franchise with over ten titles under its belt by now but has also far surpassed its indie game status. Nowadays, Five Nights at Freddy’s is a pop culture phenomenon!
If you haven’t tried this game yet, there’s no better place to do it than on your Nintendo Switch!
3. Dead by Daylight
Dead by Daylight is the perfect choice for those looking for an action-packed multiplayer horror game to play alone or with friends! This game has it all — co-op elements, fast-paced matches, and even lets you go on a murder spree as a killer if that’s more your cup of tea.
If you choose to be a survivor, you will play as a team of four, who will have to try their best to fix several generators and escape one of more than a dozen maps Dead by Daylight has to offer. Alternately, the player choosing to be the killer will try to murder as many of the survivors as possible before they escape. So depending on what you’re looking for from this horror game, you are sure to find it!
The sheer variety of playable characters for both the killer and the survivors gives Dead by Daylight tons of replayability. When combined with the character leveling and progression systems, that means you’ll have dozens if not hundreds of hours of playtime in this game.
So if this kind of horror title sounds like something you’d enjoy, it’s undoubtedly a surefire investment!
4. Slender: The Arrival
If you’ve been on the internet for a while, you undoubtedly saw or heard of the king of online horror games — Slenderman. Well, Slender: The Arrival is one of the scariest horror games on Nintendo Switch built around that mythos, and for a good reason!
Although this game had a mixed reception since it came out at the peak of the Slenderman craze, it’s one of the first ones with a fully-fledged story. Despite having a short campaign, Slender: The Arrival is terrifying, which more than makes up for it.
While most Slenderman games follow the pattern of throwing players into a small world and unleashing the monster on them, Slender: The Arrival has gamers follow a linear story. Players follow in the footsteps of Lauren, a girl who goes looking for her missing friend Kate. However, it doesn’t take long for Lauren to realize that something sinister had happened. Soon after, Slenderman starts shadowing her every move.
Will Lauren find her friend Kate, or will she perish at the hands of Slenderman? Try this game for yourselves and find out!
5. Alien: Isolation
The last game on our list is none other than the recent horror masterpiece Alien: Isolation! If you wish to spend dozens of hours screaming in terror with a quality Nintendo Switch horror game, this title is perfect for you!
Every fan of sci-fi and horror knows just how horrifying the infamous Xenomorph can be, so it should need no further introduction. However, Alien: Isolation takes the experience to a whole new level!
Gamers will play as Ellen Ripley’s daughter, Amanda, as she explores the Sevastopol space station, searching for clues about her mother’s disappearance. Unfortunately for her, a Xenomorph infiltrates the station, and all hell breaks loose.
Alien: Isolation gives an entirely new meaning to the phrase “playing cat and mouse,” as unarmed players will have to carefully sneak around the station to avoid getting impaled by the Xenomorph. And that will be no walk in the park!
The Xenomorph’s AI is one of the most advanced in any horror game to date; it will learn from the player’s actions and adjust its behavior accordingly. Combined with the sheer size of the station and the game’s captivating storyline, these elements make Alien: Isolation one of the most thrilling horror games of the last decade.
Whether you’re a fan of the Alien movie franchise or just want to play a quality AAA horror game, Alien: Isolation will not leave you wanting. Make sure to give it a whirl if you haven’t already!
What did you think about these five Nintendo Switch horror games? Are there any other titles you’d like to add? Which of the above games was your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments below; we’d love to hear from you!