This article contains affiliate links, which means we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases and registrations made through our site.
The Nintendo Switch is the perfect console to bring literally anywhere.
Whether you’re going on a trip or want to pass the time on transportation, the Switch is a sure pick.
Recommended Read: Best Building Games for the Nintendo Switch
On the go, you will sometimes find yourself without internet, and this is where single-player games come in handy. These games can be played anywhere, even if you don’t have wifi.
Also, sometimes you just feel like diving into a nice immersive world that you can enjoy without having to deal with others.
No matter your needs, we’ve got some of the best single-player games to play on the Nintendo Switch in this guide!
Table of contents
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Pokemon Sword & Shield
- Hollow Knight
- Dark Souls Remastered
- Super Mario Odyssey
- Astral Chain
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Whenever a new Zelda title comes out, many hardcore fans do two things. First off, pre-order it if possible, and secondly, experience a moment of terror, wondering if this Zelda adventure is going to be the first one to disappoint us.
We’re happy to report that, as always, the magic of Hyrule is still going on strong!
The Zelda series and Nintendo overall have always been creative, and this time, they’ve managed to bring an open world to Zelda without sacrificing the adventure and the type of epic story you expect from one of these titles.
In Breath of the wild, Link has awoken from a lengthy slumber of 100 years, waking up in a very-changed little corner of Hyrule. The full world isn’t unlocked immediately.
Link must hunt, trade, fish, cook, and more to learn the gaming basics and to get the tools that he is going to need to defeat Calamity Ganon.
The main story hasn’t changed, of course. Link must save the kingdom, but when you unlock the full world and start seeing the possibilities of what you can do with your tools and your skills, then you get freedom that no previous Zelda game has really had before.
Explore at your own pace and look in every nook and cranny. Try using your tools in new and different ways. Buy a house to make a home base while you explore.
You’ve got time in Breath of the Wild to really enjoy this future Hyrule and the magic that persists there.
Somehow, it’s never boring – this is one title that you don’t want to miss out on!
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Back in 96, we were given Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall, which raised our standards by providing a playing field approximately the size of Great Britain and the option to do just about anything that we wanted in this 3D environment.
Fast-forward to the modern-day, and things have gotten so much better.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim on the Switch takes the experience that was only previously available on a fully-loaded PC and makes it playable anywhere. This alone is worth the experience.
All the DLC that Bethesda has for Skyrim is available on the Nintendo Switch version, and you can even scan Amiibo figures if you fancy gearing up your character with Zelda gear and more!
For those who have never played it, you craft up a character who is prophesied to be the slayer of a massive and horrific dragon who is terrorizing the 15 square miles of the beautifully rendered world that you’ll be exploring. The possibilities are almost endless.
Like the original, all the freedom and size are there. You can still pickpocket people and sneak into places you aren’t supposed to be in if you have the skill.
Fighting, casting spells, and all kinds of other skills are there for you to choose from so that your character is completely unique.
For veteran players, it’s much the same as the Skyrim that you know, but you can play this in bed or in the subway, and that somehow manages to make it feel fresh all over again.
If you want a single-player adventure that can keep your attention for months, Skyrim was and is still one of the best and well-worth getting for your Nintendo Switch.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geralt is back in an adventure that will last you more than 150 hours’ worth of action and exploration.
This time, the Witcher is searching for his daughter, who is being chased by a supernatural collective called the ‘Wild Hunt’.
The scenery is still marvelous on the Switch, just like on the PC, making exploration a treat, and the combat experience keeps you riveted.
Dancing with the monsters while alternating heavy attacks with a touch of magic is a definite rush!
If you don’t play docked, the smaller screen means that you need to think on your feet, so veteran players and newbies alike would do well to keep an eye out for enemies that are easier to spot on a wide-open screen.
That said, it doesn’t detract from the game but rather gives it a rapid heartbeat that will keep you captivated throughout the progression of this epic story.
If you are new to the series or simply feel like enjoying a favorite on its new home console, the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is wild indeed and well worth your while!
Pokémon Sword & Shield
Pokemon games never fail to entertain. There’s a reason why the series hits the top-selling list every time a new title is released.
The concept and goal of Pokemon Sword & Shield are like the previous games, but, like with every new generation, they’ve added new features, new mechanics, and, of course, a whole new dex of pokemon.
If you’ve never played a Pokemon title before, in short, your job is to collect pokemon around the world that you’re exploring, train them, and use them to beat other teams of Pokemon.
It’s not just a good Pokemon game. It’s a good RPG and one of the best we’ve played in a while.
An enormous part of the fun factor is the Dynamax energy, which is something that you’ll collect from ‘Wishing Star’ stones that have fallen from the sky.
When you decide to use that energy in combat, you’d better prepare yourself, as the pokemon is going to become boulder-sized and incredibly powerful. Dynamaxed pokemon have new abilities and skills to match their super-sized state too.
Beware, though, as there are also kaiju-sized wild pokemon out there waiting to stomp you!
The storyline is around 25 hours of gameplay for the average player, but it’s fresh and fun, so that you’ll get a lot of play out of it.
If you want an RPG to dazzle and delight, Pokemon Sword and Shield definitely delivers.
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight is a Metroidvania treat! It’s got style in spades and if you don’t believe us, search for ‘Hollow Knight’ fan art, and you’ll see what we mean.
Hollow Knight is a fun and addictive adventure where you play a silent bug-knight in an insect kingdom called Hallownest, a place where the world has gone mad!
Armed with your mighty needle, your knight must acquire and learn to use seemingly-simple skills in impressive and out-of-the-box combinations to fight their way through bosses and other creatures in your way.
Don’t get hurt, however, or you might have to go back to pick up pieces that you’ve lost.
Somehow this game has taken a 2-dimensional world and, by means of extensive, detailed textures, given it a 3D and stylistic view that is all its own.
Despite those moments where you have to pick up the pieces, the constant action and swift, clever movements keep your heart racing, and the content seems fresh.
We won’t spoil it for you, as this is really something that you’ll want to experience firsthand.
With about a 30-40 hour gameplay time, this will keep you interested and well-occupied without the fear of it ever getting old.
Play Hollow Knight and see for yourself – you’ll be happy that you did.
Dark Souls Remastered
The hardcore classic Dark Souls has been remastered to the Switch, and it’s definitely the hack-and-slash nightmare that we all know and love.
For those unfamiliar, Dark Souls is not a game for the faint of heart.
Cursed by undeath and trapped in an asylum, you meet a mysterious stranger who tells you that there may be a way to end your curse. From there on out, things get absolutely horrifying.
To play this game, be prepared to dive into the combat system and experience the full intent of the game, which is violent and gives full immersion into the dangerous environment!
In Dark Souls, death fragments you rather than stops you, and you must rush back to collect the pieces of your humanity that you still can.
It’s brutal and frustrating yet exciting, and while the Nintendo Switch version doesn’t really add new features, they’ve captured the original PC title enough that holding it in the palm of your hand is nothing short of awesome.
If you want a challenge that will make you fight every inch of the way to prove who is best, then look no further.
Dark Souls Remastered is the true test of your skills. Are you up for it?
Super Mario Odyssey
Like the Zelda series, there’s never a dull moment when it comes to Mario. The iconic plumber with his green-garbed brother Luigi has earned their place in our hearts, and Super Mario Odyssey is no exception.
The main quest takes a little over 24 hours because, out of the kindness of their hearts, the creators of Super Mario Odyssey won’t make you start all over. They’ll just take your hard-earned coins!
The plot is the classic of all Mario games, where Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach and is dead-set on marrying her, forcing Mario to travel through numerous strange and stylish kingdoms by means of a weird, hat-shaped ship.
Hey, it’s not Mario without that addictive goofy style, after all!
The creatures are especially fun, and while we won’t spoil it, we’ll tell you that you can expect things like Woodpeckers that peck their way up walls and a very satisfying use for sunglasses.
You’ve gotta see this Mario title for yourself. Even though most Mario games follow the same theme, both story and gameplay-wise, they’ve really outdone themselves with this one.
So, why don’t you go and see what your old friend, Mario, has been up to? As usual, you won’t be disappointed.
Astral Chain
PlatinumGames, the folks that brought you titles like Bayonetta and World 101, are showing off again in the story-rich wonder-of-a-title called Astral Chain.
This anime-style adventure is set in 2078, where a race called the Chimera uses extradimensional portals to jump from the astral plane, spreading a mysterious disease with the goal of corrupting humanity.
You play a member of the Neuron Police, a special task force that has captured and tamed Chimera of their own who are tasked with fighting these extradimensional foes and defending the floating city of Ark.
These creatures are connected to you by the namesake of this game, an ‘astral chain’, giving this title combat mechanics that are quite satisfying and unique.
There’s a definite learning curve, but as you get a feel for the combat system and gain abilities by rising into different Legions, you’ll find that Astral Chain is, above all, an amazing world to explore.
It has an epic story, devilish puzzles, and memorable characters to go with a combat system that’s all its own.
That’s all we’re going to tell you about it, though.
Anything short of actually experiencing it would cheapen the magic that you’ll find in Astral Chain, and you owe it to yourself to see what it can offer firsthand.
Those are our picks for the best single-player games on the Nintendo Switch!
Know of any other great single-player titles for the Switch? let us know in the comment section below.
