Whatoplay presents the Top 25 Nintendo Switch open-world games so far. All arranged by
playscore. To check out our full list, visit our Best Nintendo Switch Open World game page.
25. L.A. Noire Opening our list is one of the first
third-party Triple-A titles that came out on the Switch when it was released. Rockstar’s
neo-noir open-world adventure surprisingly runs well on the hybrid console. Solving
problems and reading people’s faces has always been its strongest aspect. A playscore of 7.62.
24. Shakedown Hawaii Switch’s little Grand Theft Auto.
Well, at least, in a classic sense. Create your own ‘legal’ business empire and face off
against crime bosses in a 16-bit version of Hawaii.
Shake down these mobsters and rise up to the top. If you can make it. A playscore of 7.69.
23. Yooka-Laylee There’s a lot to expect from the creators
of the beloved Banjo and Kazooie. In Yooka-Laylee, there’s a whole new dynamic duo in town.
Together they explore a massive open-world and overcome a myriad of challenges.
Enjoy a vibrant platformer adventure that oozes nostalgia with a playscore of 7.70.
22. The Escapists 2
An unlikely open-world game. For a genre about player freedom, the Escapist’s simulated prison
cells may feel restrictive. It’s not. The wide variety of options to do in its isometric
rehabilitation center has a lot of things in store for the would-be escapee. A playscore of 7.75.
21. Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King An indie title for the Nintendo Switch. For some,
it may not be as impressive as the other titles on this list. Exploring this pixel-perfect realm
has its moments, and it encourages players to look at every corner and absorb its atmosphere.
It’s a simple game that’s developed by passionate creators and it gets a playscore of 7.84.
20. Portal Knights A chibified fantasy kingdom
awaits you in this 3D sandbox RPG from Keen Games. While it did start as a mobile game,
Portal Knights managed to port their entire little universe to the Nintendo Switch. Craft epic
weapons and forge your own destiny in its vibrant open-world. It receives a playscore of 7.92.
19. Cat Quest A game that’s all about
that feline fun. Cat Quest is what you expect it to be. Is it ambitious for an open-world game?
Well, for a game about adorable little creatures, of course it is.
It’s dubbed by many as a super-cute version of Skyrim, without the shouting. A playscore of 7.92.
18. Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition There’s no need for introductions here.
Everybody knows Minecraft and this Nintendo Switch Edition is your little sanctuary. Build your own
voxel-based world and let your creativity flow in this limitless universe. A playscore of 8.05.
17. A Hat In Time There’s so much to do
in this sandbox platformer from Gears for Breakfast. While it does play similarly to
Nintendo’s very own Super Mario Odyssey, it still has enough moments that give it its own identity.
It’s whimsical, colorful, and fun to play with a playscore of 8.08.
16. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen This western RPG made its way to the Switch and it
looks good. Dark Arisen is the complete Dragon’s Dogma experience, with all the DLCs included. It’s
a massive game with multiple ways to enjoy its medieval-fantasy elements. A playscore of 8.11.
15. Retro City Rampage DX
From the same creators as Shakedown Hawaii, Retro City Rampage DX is exactly what it sounds like.
Its 80s retro aesthetic makes for a great game to take a trip down memory lane. It’s pretty
much like Shakedown Hawaii, but it embraces more of its old-gen roots. A playscore of 8.13.
14. Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles
A nice little alternative if you enjoy open-world games like Breath of the Wild and Genshin Impact.
The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is a magical trip to a fantasy universe.
Seek the power of the Sprites and save this planet from impending doom. A playscore of 8.29.
13. Yoku’s Island Express
There’s a ton of unique games out there, but this one feels like it deserves its own genre.
It’s an open-world Metroidvania pinball. Yes, you heard that right. It's this weird
combination that makes Yoku’s Island Express unique. Use your trajectorial skills to flip,
bump, and ricochet Yoku through the hand-painted world. A playscore of 8.33.
12. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt - Complete Edition CDPR’s award-winning open-world RPG somehow
made its way to the Switch. This port may have sacrificed its visual fidelity for a
more stable portable experience, but for anyone missing out on Geralt of Rivia’s adventures, and
its two massive DLCs, this Complete Edition has everything in store for you. A playscore of 8.55.
11. Starlink: Battle for Atlas
Lead a ragtag group of pilots as you are making your way through the vastness of space.
Ubisoft gives Nintendo Switch players a glimpse of that No Man’s Sky experience, without the
procedural generation. It’s a collector’s dream and its toy-to-life mechanics bring
more room for transformable and moddable weapons for your in-game starships! A playscore of 8.61.
10. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 One of Nintendo’s best-selling triple A titles.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was a step in the right direction for Switch’s potential
for more growth with open-world titles. Lead your team of three party members and explore
its atmospheric living world full of monsters and mechanized titans. A playscore of 8.64.
9. Farming Simulator: Nintendo Switch Edition There’s a different kind of life for you in this
relaxing open-world simulation game from GIANTS Software. Farming may not be the kind of life
kids are accustomed to these days, but Farming Simulator for the Switch encourages and teaches
players to know the do’s and don’ts of one of the world’s most essential jobs. A playscore of 8.70.
8. Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered It’s time for some more controlled chaos in
this Remastered version of the beloved open-world science fiction game from Volition and KAIKO. If
you played the original 12 years ago, you’d be surprised to see everything reworked. The
destruction physics is still satisfying as hell, and now with more detail. A playscore of 8.85.
7. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Ah, Skyrim. Out on every console
known to man. Bethesda’s crowning jewel showcases their open-world prowess with
a shit ton of stuff to do. Do you want to reach that mountain in the distance?
Sure you can. Slay that dragon? Sure. Mod it to ridiculous lengths? Of course.
That’s Skyrim, and it’s not going away anytime soon. A playscore of 9.06.
6. LEGO City Undercover Join heroic Cop Chase McCain in his perpetual
quest to rid the world of crime... in classic LEGO fashion. Anyone familiar with the LEGO brand knows
that this involves goofy humor in a carefully crafted polygonal world. A playscore of 9.09.
5. Saints Row IV: Re-Elected
The closest thing the Switch could experience a Grand Theft Auto game. It’s the definitive Saints
Row IV experience with all the DLCs included, especially the insane Gat Out of Hell addition.
Enjoy the chaos and destruction in this limitless open-world action game. A playscore of 9.11.
4. Dragon Quest Builders 2 Nintendo’s competitor for Microsoft’s Minecraft
has a little bit of something for everyone with varied tastes in gaming. If you’re into the
dungeon-crawling adventures, Builders has a ton of content for thrill-seekers. For the creatives,
making an empire from dirt using voxel-based objects is also fun. A playscore of 8.89.
3. Immortals: Fenyx Rising The most recent open-world game on this list.
Ubisoft borrows notable elements from Nintendo’s award-winning Breath of the
Wild and injects it with the thing they love best: Greek Mythology.
Restore a broken world and seek aid from the Greek Pantheon. A playscore of 9.31.
2. Super Mario Odyssey There’s a lot to unpack
in this open-world platformer from Nintendo. The italian plumber goes on a globe-trotting
adventure to save the love of his life from Bowser’s fury. Solve a myriad of puzzles
and use those fast fingers to traverse challenging stages. A playscore of 9.37.
1. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Nintendo’s proudest achievement in recent memory.
Breath of the Wild is the open-world magnum opus they’ve been dreaming since their first
Zelda game. It’s a sandbox that encourages players to experiment and find every little detail
in its massive and gorgeous fantasy world. It receives a playscore of 9.51.