Since its launch in 2017, the Nintendo Switch has proven to be a runaway success. After lackluster sales for the Wii U, the console-handheld hybrid nature of the Switch struck a chord with the gaming community and has sold over 92 million units as of this writing. Alongside a bevy of stellar first-party games like Super Mario Odyssey and Metroid Dread, the platform has received third-party support from many other publishers in the industry.
In the early days of the Nintendo Switch, there was concern that the platform wouldn't be able to handle some of the biggest games on the market. After all, the console is no bigger than a standard tablet, and it was created on technology awkwardly sandwiched between the eighth and ninth generations of gaming. Despite these concerns and the Switch being technically inferior to its competitions, developers have performed some technical wizardry over the years to port some of the biggest games to the smallest platform on the market right now.
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim
There are a multitude of choices for fans of open-world action on the Switch. The console even launched with one of the most critically acclaimed titles in the genre, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. During initial preview videos for the Switch, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim was often shown on the tiny handheld. At the time, the concept of bringing such a sprawling, dense open-world adventure on the go seemed like a pipe dream. However, the Bethesda blockbuster runs smoothly on Nintendo's platform, with few sacrifices made in the process.
Doom and Doom: Eternal
The 2016 franchise reboot Doom being ported to the Switch also seemed impossible at one time, but Panic Button proved to be up to the task. The game is noticeably not as pretty as other versions, but considering a game with this much carnage functions at all on such a tiny device is outstanding. Doom: Eternal cranks up the insanity of its predecessor, yet also runs just fine on the Switch, allowing gamers to rip and tear wherever they please.
Alien: Isolation
While most Nintendo Switch ports clearly needed to make changes to get the game running on weaker hardware, Alien: Isolation seems to be the exact same game without any alterations. In fact, the port has been analyzed by publications such as Digital Foundry, and the findings are truly surprising. The Nintendo Switch version of Alien: Isolation may actually look better than its PS4/Xbox One counterparts, which is an unbelievable achievement considering how graphically impressive the game is.
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
Ninja Theory's 2017 breakout hit Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice made waves for its visual splendor. It's important to note that it was considered a graphical showpiece on PC and consoles like the PS4 and Xbox One, so for it to be running on the Nintendo Switch is a miracle. The texture work, animations, and particle effects all largely remain intact, and the experience as a whole still looks top-notch. Port or not, Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice could easily rank among the prettiest games on the Nintendo Switch.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Similar to Skyrim, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was often considered to be an impossible game to get running on the Nintendo Switch. Its world is huge and the level of content is staggering. Still, somehow CD Projekt Red's ambitious open-world RPG was brought to the Switch in 2019 and is a perfectly competent version of the game. Moreso than any aforementioned Nintendo Switch title, obvious graphical downgrades have been made to get everything running. However, on the plus side, the entire adventure as well as its DLC are packed onto the base game card.