Nintendo Switch games for the casual gamer
July 1, 2022 11:25 AM Subscribe
I just got a Nintendo Switch. What games, besides Animal Crossing and Mario Cart (which I already have and enjoy<) should I try?
I was an enthusiastic gamer as a kid, but now I am old and my reflexes stink. I would like to know what games might work for me as a casual gamer. I'm currently trying the demo for Pikmin 3, and while I like some of the gameplay, I also find it frustrating because I keep doing things like flinging the pikmin when I mean to whistle for them, or whatever. I also wonder if I will get lost, because I don't want to bother having to memorize maps or multi-step processes. (I watched three pikmin get eaten! because I couldn't figure out how to get them to safety.)
I tried Stardew Valley and it was ok but didn't hook me with the demo - maybe I need to go further with it. I also didn't love the look of it.
What should I try next?
I was an enthusiastic gamer as a kid, but now I am old and my reflexes stink. I would like to know what games might work for me as a casual gamer. I'm currently trying the demo for Pikmin 3, and while I like some of the gameplay, I also find it frustrating because I keep doing things like flinging the pikmin when I mean to whistle for them, or whatever. I also wonder if I will get lost, because I don't want to bother having to memorize maps or multi-step processes. (I watched three pikmin get eaten! because I couldn't figure out how to get them to safety.)
I tried Stardew Valley and it was ok but didn't hook me with the demo - maybe I need to go further with it. I also didn't love the look of it.
What should I try next?
I am terrible at gaming (at keeping track of where I am, which button is which, etc.) and Pikmin 3 is my favorite game. It did take me 2 or 3 play sessions to get used to the controls (including the map that you can call up onscreen), but you do get used to it.
My son recommends Spiritfarer and Slime Rancher as "the chill games."
What I look for in a game is not having a lot of time sensitive stuff that requires fast reflexes or keeping track of what's going on at all times. That gives me room to learn it at my own pace.
posted by gideonfrog at 11:33 AM on July 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
My son recommends Spiritfarer and Slime Rancher as "the chill games."
What I look for in a game is not having a lot of time sensitive stuff that requires fast reflexes or keeping track of what's going on at all times. That gives me room to learn it at my own pace.
posted by gideonfrog at 11:33 AM on July 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
I LOVED Spiritfarer, and if you like Spiritfarer and Animal Crossing you may also like Cozy Grove.
posted by babelfish at 11:36 AM on July 1, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by babelfish at 11:36 AM on July 1, 2022 [3 favorites]
Highly recommend Animal Crossing New Horizons, Yoshi's Crafted World, Luigi's Mansion 3, and Super Mario Odyssey! The first one is the least reflex-intensive, in my opinion. I've also heard great things about- and watched playthroughs of- the new Kirby game.
posted by Jangatroo at 11:43 AM on July 1, 2022
posted by Jangatroo at 11:43 AM on July 1, 2022
Breath of the Wild! I am the most casual of gamers, as in: this is the only game I play. I mash buttons to kill monsters, I refuse to ride the horses, I have no idea how to dodge attacks, and it's all just fine. You can mostly play as a simple mushroom-gatherer who occasionally has to kill a bad guy who's in your way.
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:49 AM on July 1, 2022 [7 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:49 AM on July 1, 2022 [7 favorites]
I will second that Breath of the Wild is quite forgiving to casual gamers, but will note that I spent an embarrassing amount of time getting lost on the way to Kakariko Village, which is pretty early in the game. I didn't mind this too much, because honestly the BotW world is really fun to explore, I'm just pointing it out in case that's a dealbreaker for you. The world map is very large, and it will take some effort to unlock the towers that will reveal the whole map.
posted by yasaman at 11:57 AM on July 1, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by yasaman at 11:57 AM on July 1, 2022 [4 favorites]
Spiritfarer for sure.
Pikmin can be really hard! Especially if you are uncomfortable letting droves of pikmin perish. For some people it clicks and for others it doesn’t.
My favorite rec for games that feel epic but are quite forgiving is Dragon Quest Builders 2. You can get super into the weeds with your builds and collecting things and the story is really wild, but the combat is pretty simple and forgiving and the mechanics of building are taught to you a bit at a time. Also there are seventy billion tutorials and walkthroughs online if you ever get stuck.
posted by Mizu at 11:58 AM on July 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
Pikmin can be really hard! Especially if you are uncomfortable letting droves of pikmin perish. For some people it clicks and for others it doesn’t.
My favorite rec for games that feel epic but are quite forgiving is Dragon Quest Builders 2. You can get super into the weeds with your builds and collecting things and the story is really wild, but the combat is pretty simple and forgiving and the mechanics of building are taught to you a bit at a time. Also there are seventy billion tutorials and walkthroughs online if you ever get stuck.
posted by Mizu at 11:58 AM on July 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
I adored Hades (but hated Breath of the Wild)
posted by corvine at 12:00 PM on July 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by corvine at 12:00 PM on July 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
If you don't already have the Happy Home Paradise expansion for ACNH, I highly recommend it.
posted by neushoorn at 12:02 PM on July 1, 2022
posted by neushoorn at 12:02 PM on July 1, 2022
I thought Immortals: Fenyx Rising was a less serious but possibly more relaxed and fun clone of Breath of the Wild. It goes on sale regularly, and there's a demo available.
The Portal Collection just came out - if you missed all the Portal games when they first came out, they are very well made first-person physics puzzle games.
Slay the Spire is a really great turn-based deckbuilder / dungeon crawler game.
Into the Breach is a great puzzle game that looks like a strategy game.
posted by meowzilla at 12:41 PM on July 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
The Portal Collection just came out - if you missed all the Portal games when they first came out, they are very well made first-person physics puzzle games.
Slay the Spire is a really great turn-based deckbuilder / dungeon crawler game.
Into the Breach is a great puzzle game that looks like a strategy game.
posted by meowzilla at 12:41 PM on July 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
I got Super Mario Odyssey to get better at video games. There's an assist mode that makes it so you don't die and points arrows where the game wants you to go (you can also ignore them and check out things outside the main plot line if you want. I also like that there are lots of ways to get the things you need to unlock the next level, so I avoid the ones that require reflexes and do the ones where you explore and find stuff.
posted by momus_window at 12:56 PM on July 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by momus_window at 12:56 PM on July 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
Captain Toad’s Treasure Tracker! Really fun, accessible game.
posted by ordinary_magnet at 1:36 PM on July 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by ordinary_magnet at 1:36 PM on July 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
> I spent an embarrassing amount of time getting lost on the way to Kakariko Village, which is pretty early in the game.
It took me a very long time to figure out how to interact with a shrine. I think mrzarquon actually had to walk me through it. But I was having fun anyway, being incompetent and looking at the views.
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:16 PM on July 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
It took me a very long time to figure out how to interact with a shrine. I think mrzarquon actually had to walk me through it. But I was having fun anyway, being incompetent and looking at the views.
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:16 PM on July 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
Splatoon II
Mario Kart 8
There's also an app in the store where you can play all the classic Nintendo games.
posted by luckynerd at 2:34 PM on July 1, 2022
Mario Kart 8
There's also an app in the store where you can play all the classic Nintendo games.
posted by luckynerd at 2:34 PM on July 1, 2022
baba is you is a cute puzzler, albeit a bit of a noodle bake sometimes.
posted by bruceo at 2:42 PM on July 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by bruceo at 2:42 PM on July 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
I'm an avid gamer (I own all three current systems) and like more casual games. Specifically for the Switch I suggest What the Golf? which isn't about golf and Mario and Rabbids.
posted by tacodave at 6:39 PM on July 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by tacodave at 6:39 PM on July 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
Unpacking is very chill and requires almost no reflexes.
posted by PaulaSchultz at 6:45 PM on July 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by PaulaSchultz at 6:45 PM on July 1, 2022 [1 favorite]
I would give stardew another go if you like Animal Crossing. Early stardew game play is surprisingly limited. But once you start unlocking different interactions and the community center it's pretty motivating. I think you need to get to Spring day 10 before you see a lot of what the game has to offer.
posted by edbles at 1:26 AM on July 2, 2022
posted by edbles at 1:26 AM on July 2, 2022
If you're looking for appealing games as a casual gamer, I'm going to second the recommendation for Slay the Spire. It's a turn based strategy deckbuilder, as well as a rogue-like, which means every time you fail and start over, you can look forward to a whole new random batch of variables. It's fun and has tons of replayability; also, given the fact that it's turn based, it's easy to play it while doing other things- you can set it down between turns, unlike some non-turned based games that require long stretches of attention.
posted by nightrecordings at 6:02 AM on July 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by nightrecordings at 6:02 AM on July 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
Nthing Splatoon, untitled goose game, and Mario Kart. The goose game has a few tasks that were hard to do because you really have to be an assh013 g00se to get there. You can solo that or have a pal play too.
posted by drowsy at 11:13 PM on July 2, 2022
posted by drowsy at 11:13 PM on July 2, 2022
Katamari Damacy Reroll! It's a pitch-perfect port of one of the greatest games of all time, featuring one of the best soundtracks of all time, a simple and incredibly satisfying gameplay loop, and an aesthetic design that radiates wonder and joy.
posted by Rhaomi at 9:49 PM on July 3, 2022
posted by Rhaomi at 9:49 PM on July 3, 2022
Boomerang Fu is a riot! Especially if you have a couple people over.
posted by getawaysticks at 3:04 PM on July 4, 2022
posted by getawaysticks at 3:04 PM on July 4, 2022
Response by poster: Thanks, everyone! Lots of fun suggestions here. I picked up Slay the Spire because a friend also likes it and it was inexpensive, but I haven't tried it yet. But now I have a list of stuff to check out.
posted by PussKillian at 7:35 AM on July 5, 2022
posted by PussKillian at 7:35 AM on July 5, 2022
I've been playing and enjoying Donut County, with super cute graphics and music, and puzzles that ramp up in difficulty verrrrry slowly. On the other hand, if the game ends as soon as I think it's gonna end, it was totally worth the $4 I paid for it on sale, but I probably wouldn't buy it for the $13 regular price.
posted by moonmilk at 10:37 AM on July 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by moonmilk at 10:37 AM on July 10, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by buxtonbluecat at 11:30 AM on July 1, 2022 [5 favorites]