While Nintendo prides itself on being a family-friendly console, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any games for adults to enjoy. If you’re looking for more mature games, why not try some Switch games?
Regardless of what genre you like, you’ll hopefully find a Switch game that will work for you here.
1. Bayonetta
If you like action-adventure games targeting a more mature audience, you’ll probably like Bayonetta. Initially introduced in 2009, the third game is a Nintendo Switch exclusive.
The first of the series was from Hideki Kamiya, who created the Devil May Cry series, so if you already know you’re a fan of Devil May Cry, you might want to give Bayonetta a go. You can get the first two games now, with the third out in October 2022.
Bayonetta is about a shapeshifting witch who fights her enemies with her hair and various firearms. As a single-player game, it’s focused on story, and if you enjoy third-person hack and slash games, Bayonetta is the perfect time killer.
Over the years, Bayonetta’s got a positive reception from critics, with the character of Bayonetta even included in the Smash roster.
2. No More Heroes
No More Heroes was originally released on the Wii in 2007 and targeted a more mature audience. The No More Heroes franchise has spawned four titles, with the most recent being No More Heroes III, released in 2021.
As an open-ended game, you can have a lot of fun in the free-roaming world as you play as Travis Touchdown, an assassin who is out to beat the top assassins in the world.
No More Heroes is a tongue-in-cheek game with numerous anime and game references. It’s another single player hack and slash game that’s easy to jump into.
3. Catherine: Full Body
Catherine: Full Body is a re-release of Catherine and was another of Atlus’s forays into re-releasing its games for the Nintendo Switch. If you enjoy dark and weird puzzle games, then it’s likely that you’ll love Catherine: Full Body.
What sets it apart from some of the other puzzle games is that it’s split between a social sim where you play as Vincent Brooks and the platforms and puzzles at night time.
Catherine was developed to target a more mature audience than its other games. However, it was noted to be quite a challenging game when it was first released, but they’ve included an easier mode to make it more accessible to other players.
You’ll find that there are different endings that you can get from Catherine: Full Body, which makes it a game you can play more than once.
Of course, if this list is too mature for your preference, you can instead check out our picks for the 11 Most Amazing Switch Games.
4. Shin Megami Tensei V
If you’re a fan of RPGs, then you’ll most likely enjoy Shin Megami Tensei V, the most recent entry into the Shin Megami Tensei series.
Both the fifth and third games have been released on the Nintendo Switch, and you may recognize some of the monsters from the Persona series. Of course, you shouldn’t expect Shin Megami Tensei V to be just like the Persona series.
Shin Megami Tensei is darker and has a different vibe from its spin-off series.
Atlus developed Shin Megami Tensei V, and it has been in development since 2017, up to its release in 2021.
It was the first Shin Megami Tensei game ever designed for Nintendo Switch, with most other games in the series being found on PlayStation. If you enjoy dark RPGs where you’re transported to another world, then you’ll love Shin Megami Tensei V.
5. Metroid Dread
Metroid Dread is a sequel to Metroid Fusion, where you play as the bounty hunter Samus Aran as she investigates a transmission from the planet ZDR.
Metroid Dread is the first 2D side-scroller that Nintendo released in 19 years, and many fans hoped for it for years.
However, what sets it apart from other Metroid games is the stealth elements that were included to allow Samus to hide and conceal herself from enemies.
If you’ve ever played the Metroid games before, then this is a great way to re-enter the series or even a new way to enjoy the franchise. New and old fans alike can enjoy Metroid Dread.
It’s a modern take on a classic formula that will bring older fans back to their childhood and might make you want to return to the franchise for the first time in years.
6. Skyrim
While Skyrim originally came out in 2011, it’s a testament to how good the Elder Scrolls game is that it’s still maintained such a strong following. It has been steadily released on most consoles, including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.
But how can you not love it? It’s still being released today, even on modern consoles, and while you’re waiting for a new Elder Scrolls game, you can always be transported back to your teenage years with Skyrim.
As an open-world RPG, you can explore the land of Skyrim and try not to get killed by the dragons that are traveling around. You can customize your own character, and you can easily get lost in side quests, so go on. You know you want to play it on Switch.
7. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Released in 2015 originally, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an open-world RPG that follows a distinct storyline as you travel the world as Geralt of Rivia.
Based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s books and developed by CD Projekt Red, The Witcher 3 is generally considered one of the best games of all time.
With an immersive world, a great storyline, and interesting characters, there’s no doubt that you can easily lose yourself in The Witcher 3 for hours.
If you’ve never played it before, the Switch version of the game works just as well as the PlayStation, Xbox, and PC versions of the game. So if you’re looking to kill some time, you can always do some side quests or perhaps a game of Gwent.
8. Night In The Woods
Don’t let the cute artwork confuse you because Night in the Woods is definitely not targeted at children. Released in 2017, Night in the Woods follows Mae Borowski, who has dropped out of college to return to her hometown.
I’ve included this on the list because Night in the Woods is relatable to any adult who has returned home to find everything has changed.
The soundtrack is brilliant, and there are numerous mature themes. However, I can’t delve into these too much, or else I’ll spoil the game for you. The storyline is easy to get lost in, and the characters are all well-written.
You’ll find that there’s always something new to discover with each playthrough, and even if you’ve played it all, it’s still a great game to lose yourself in for a few hours.
9. Stardew Valley
If you’ve ever played Harvest Moon, you may love Stardew Valley. If you’re stressed, you can find an escape in playing Stardew Valley, where you’ve inherited your late grandfather’s old farm.
Explore the town of Stardew, where you can play the game however you like. It has open-ended gameplay, so there’s no linear progression there.
It’s a welcome release from day-to-day life, and you’ll find that Stardew may relax you. You just need to run the farm. You can get married, have kids, and even hunt monsters in the mines.
So if you want a more relaxing adult game to escape stress, then this may be the game for you.
10. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
While Animal Crossing isn’t strictly for adults, neither is Stardew Valley. Both of these games are targeted to most ages, but there’s something appealing about both of these games for adults as well as children.
If you’ve ever played Animal Crossing before, you know that you move to a new town or city, or in this case, a new island. Unlike previous versions of the game, New Horizons is more of a building game than some of its previous iterations.
If you want to sit back and relax, you can easily settle into your island and decorate it however you like. It’s a great way to relieve stress and an enjoyable game to escape the harsh realities of everyday life.
There’s always something new happening each day, so you can choose to play it for a few hours or a few minutes, depending on what you want to do. But you don’t have to just decorate. You can catch some bugs and fish too!
Final Thoughts
There you have it. These are 10 of the best games that adults can enjoy on the Switch. It’s important to note that not all of these games are for an adult-only audience but can be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys Nintendo games.
Whether you’re looking for something new to play or as a way to relax after a long day of work, there should be something on this list for everyone. If you want more examples of what to play, check out our other recommendations!
