Survival games address a very special need in gamers and entice with the special thrill of having barely survived once again. MeinMMO presents the best survival games for the Nintendo Switch.
What kind of games are these? In our list, you will find games for the Nintendo Switch where your main goal is to survive. Through mechanics like hunger, thirst, and sleep, you must withstand dangers and navigate the world.
The list includes games from all possible genres – from sandbox games to dramas to horror scenarios. In the overview of the games, you will find a short description, a classification of the difficulty, and the implementation for playing on the go.
How we selected: For this list, we made a pre-selection based on the general ratings of the games on other platforms. Accordingly, many titles align with our best survival games for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Subsequently, the author selected the 5 best games from the selection, so this is a personal list.
However, one particularly important factor was that the feature of the Switch should work, allowing you to play games on the go. Therefore, we chose games that also look good on a small screen.
Survival games that particularly impress with their visuals and details are better suited for the docked mode of the Switch. However, in the list, we focus on games that also look good on the go without losing quality. Games that did not make it into the list for this reason include:
- Subnautica
- Green Hell
- The Long Dark
If you mainly play in docked mode on the Switch, it’s also worth taking a look at these three titles.
His most played modern survival titles include Fallout 76 and Conan Exiles, in which he has probably invested around 600 hours together. He also enjoys trying out new titles and indie games in the genre to scout for hidden gems and insider tips. He places particular value on a beautiful environment that is worth exploring and a well-designed crafting system.
Minecraft
Developer/Publisher: Mojang | Genre: Sandbox | Release: November 18, 2011 (May 11, 2017 for Switch) | Players: Up to 8 in co-op | Shop: Minecraft in the Nintendo Store
What kind of game is it? Minecraft is considered by many fans to be the epitome of a sandbox game. Almost the entire world can be mined to build new structures or craft items from the resources found.
The visuals are simple and are inspired by retro pixel style, with gameplay at the forefront. By combining resources, which you need to arrange correctly while crafting, you gradually create your own world.
Particularly among younger players, Minecraft is especially popular, but it also appeals to an adult audience. With endless possibilities for creative expression and creating your own world, Minecraft offers enormous replay value.
How hard is survival? Apart from the free creative mode, Minecraft also offers a survival mode. This mode is relatively easy, and you only need to pay attention to your food and health points.
As you explore the world further, you encounter increasingly difficult enemies. You even travel to something like other worlds and face gigantic dragons there. Good gear helps you survive, making crafting a key aspect.
During the day, the world is largely peaceful, at least on the surface. Most villains burn in the sunlight. However, it becomes more dangerous at night, and skeletons can attack around your village.
For those seeking an additional challenge, you can play in hardcore mode. Here, there’s a permadeath function. The character and the world are permanently deleted if you die.
How does it play on the go? Thanks to the simple graphics, Minecraft also looks good on a small screen. Since the control elements do not require complex actions, it can be comfortably played on the go.
The performance should be as good in handheld mode as in docked mode; however, some players report issues with visibility. Additionally, Minecraft puts significant pressure on the Switch’s hardware. Compared to the PC version, the world in the Switch version is smaller.
Terraria
Developer/Publisher: Pipeworks/505 Games | Genre: Sandbox | Release: May 16, 2011 (June 19, 2019 for Switch) | Players: Up to 8 players in co-op | Shop: Terraria in the Nintendo Store
What kind of game is it? Similar to Minecraft, in Terraria you have many opportunities to express yourself. However, you only play in a 2D world in the style of old side-scrollers. Terraria utilizes a retro pixel style.
In various biomes, you will find resources to build your home or craft weapons and armor. You need these to defend yourself against the continuously incoming enemies and even bosses.
Compared to Minecraft, Terraria offers significantly more action. You will probably encounter larger quantities of enemies and engage in frequent combat.
How hard is survival? Terraria does not offer classic survival mechanics like eating and drinking. Instead, the game is more focused on horde gameplay and tower-defense strategies. Every night, monsters spawn that you must fend off.
There is regularly a “blood moon” event. Here, the enemies become even stronger, and the difficulty significantly increases. However, if you die too often, bosses simply disappear. While you won’t get loot that way, they also do not block progress.
For an even greater challenge, there is a permadeath mode. Here, your session ends with your first death, so you need to be much more careful about which areas you venture into and which bosses you take on.
How does it play on the go? Like Minecraft, Terraria does not have a very high visual depth, making it also look good graphically on a smaller display. However, the controls are well-received by many players.
Terraria also uses the touchscreen options on the Switch, allowing for some zooming. This enhances the gameplay experience and makes it a solid option for playing on the go. In docked mode, Terraria should play exactly like the versions for PlayStation and Xbox with a Pro Controller.
