Six of the best games in the Switch sale

There’s a Switch sale running on the eShop right now, with a variety of games enjoying discounts of up to 75%. Since Nintendo proudly boasts that over a thousand games currently have reduced prices — and the eShop is already bulging at the seams with possibilities, not all of which are worth pursuing — we thought it might be prudent for us to pick out some of our favourite recommendations from the currently featured discounted titles.

And so it is that we proudly present six of the best games in that Switch sale that runs until October 2, 2022. If you’re reading this at some point after October 2, 2022, firstly, hello from the past — and secondly, these games are all still solid recommendations to add to your Switch library, even when they’re not discounted.

So let’s go!

Hades

As well as having one of the best male leads in recent memory, Hades is an excellent example of the modern action roguelike-type thing, or whatever you want to call it this week. Self-contained runs through the randomly generated isometric perspective underworld gradually unlock new possibilities for future runs, including new weapons, abilities and items to find — but if you’re particularly skilled it is indeed possible to beat the game on your first try.

It’s almost worth failing a few times, though, just to hear the vast amount of excellently voice acted dialogue throughout the game, with both protagonist Zagreus and the various secondary characters all responding to pretty much everything you do in the game in one way or another. It’s as much a game about exploring narrative and characterisation as it is about chopping up monsters, and for that reason it’s well worth adding to your library this Switch sale if you don’t already have it.

Hades is 40% off in the Switch sale.

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen

It may be a little long in the tooth now compared to more recent open-world RPGs, but for many people Capcom’s excellent Dragon’s Dogma is a hard game to beat. Featuring a huge world to explore, enjoyable action combat that is more than just hacking and slashing at enemies — the “grab” command gets lots of entertaining use — and the ability to create custom “Pawn” companions, this is a game that will keep you busy for some time.

Dragon’s Dogma originally released in 2012 on seventh-generation consoles, then Dark Arisen came along the following year, bringing a good 10-15 hours of additional questing on top of the already substantial original game. Even if you’re not usually a fan of the open-world RPG format, Dragon’s Dogma is worth giving a go, as it does things quite differently from the Elder Scrolls games of this world!

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is 67% off in the Switch sale.

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age

If you like the idea of open world, semi-real time Final Fantasy but don’t have the time or inclination to commit to Final Fantasy XIV, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is well worth your time. Long languishing in relative obscurity thanks to many players’ and critics’ stubborn assumption that Final Fantasy should always be turn-based (despite considerable evidence that the series reinvents itself considerably with every installment), Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age thankfully now tends to get the appreciation it deserves.

Featuring an excellent combat system that combines real-time movement, menu-driven actions and the excellent condition-driven “Gambit” mechanics, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a game that rewards continued engagement with deep character customisation, a vast world to explore and a fascinating story that forms part of the franchise’s “Ivalice” subseries. Plus, y’know, Fran.

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is half price in the Switch sale.

Dead or School

A superb action RPG platformer set in a post-apocalyptic world where a young woman who has been living underground her whole life wants to learn what “school” is. Despite the seemingly absurd concept, this is an extremely well-crafted game with an imaginative setting and narrative, great characters and immensely satisfying 2D combat.

Battle with vicious melee weapons, guns and launchers, and take on a wide variety of foes as you explore a huge world on your way to discover the truth behind why humanity had to leave the surface of the Earth behind. This may not be well-known game, but it’s a damn good one.

Dead or School is 70% off in the Switch sale.

Gal*Gun 2

Third in the Gal*Gun series — you know how bad Japanese devs are at numbering their games. This time around, your job is to help the angel Risu meet her work quota while fending off the mischievous devil Kurona — and perhaps finding love for yourself along the way.

Unfolding from a dynamic first-person perspective rather than taking the rail shooter approach of the previous two games, Gal*Gun 2 is an enjoyably immersive experience filled with charming characters and an enjoyable story sure to appeal to fans of comedic anime. Plus it has a great soundtrack, and an enormous cast of lovely ladies just waiting to tell you how much you mean to them. And we have a guide if you need it.

Gal*Gun 2 is 80% off in the Switch sale.

Doom Slayers Collection

If you’re in the mood for a little ultra-violence — and who could blame you after the last couple of years? — then the Doom Slayers Collection is sure to slake your thirst for blood. Including the original Doom, Doom II, Doom 3, Doom 64 and the 2016 reboot of Doom, this is an incredible value package — particularly when you consider that the versions of Doom and Doom II here also feature a number of additional free level packs you can download.

Doom is the antidote to the tedium of the modern first-person shooter, featuring fast-paced action, simple but intuitive controls and immensely satisfying gameplay. And you won’t beat it quickly, either — while you can romp through most levels in the early games within a couple of minutes, there’s about a bajillion of them to beat if you want to really call yourself a Doom master.

Doom Slayers Collection is 60% off in the Steam sale.

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