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And now, aside from Breath of the Wild, Nintendo’s new star doesn’t just have Nintendo games. Thankfully, Nintendo’s partnership with various devs and publishers paved the way for new titles - both ports and new entries - to grace the Switch. Moreover, free titles actually roam around the Nintendo eShop without some gamers noticing. Which of these are the most underrated?
10 Realm Royale
Battle royale enthusiasts looking at Realm Royale might think Hi-Rez just made a Fortnite clone. However, despite similar art styles, this medieval battle royale title gives an RPG spin to the genre. Matches in Realm Royale begin like usual battle royale titles - 100 players get into a vast open-world that constantly shrinks. However, Realm Royale changes the game with two things: Classes and Forges.
For instance, Realm Royale offers players a choice of one of five classes (Warrior, Engineer, Assassin, Mage, and Hunter) in a match, each with their own talents and abilities. Lastly, with Forges, players can destroy items they find in order to make better equipment.
9 Warframe
Despite being a 2013 release, Warframe remains as one of the most immersive free-to-play titles out there. Warframe is a combination of RPG, stealth, and shooter games. In this game, players take on the role of Tenno, ancient warriors awoken only to find themselves in the middle of warring interplanetary factions.
Whereas other action titles rely on quick matches and the modern Battle Royale format, Warframe makes gameplay more personal. Its 2018 Switch port retains core Warframe features, including collecting Warframe units as well as customizable loadouts. Aside from fast-paced action involving numerous skills, weapons, and melee combat, a lot of fun in Warframe comes from collecting Warframe armor, as each has their own unique abilities.
8 Super Kirby Clash
Despite what the cover art might show, the Switch port of the Team Kirby Clash Deluxe for the Nintendo 3DS brings a remarkably in-depth RPG experience. In Super Kirby Clash, players not only “become” Kirby, but they also choose from four classes. Players can become a Beam Mage, Doctor Healmore, Hammer Lord, or Sword Hero. All of these classes have their unique abilities, equipment, and playstyles.
The game plays remarkably similar to Super Smash Bros, where players have to fight enemies in a side-scrolling environment. Yes, that’s right - players. Super Kirby Clash offers a multiplayer component where up to three friends can join matches or AI can fill in their roles!
7 Smite
Why settle for a Switch MOBA when there’s DoTA 2 or League, right? If players don’t want to play a Battle Royale game, perhaps a quick round of Smite might suit their fancy. In this mythology-based MOBA, players take on the role of Gods in a battleground that pins pantheon versus pantheon. It has traditional three-lane combat or other game modes for more fast-paced action.
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However, players might love Smite for the degree of control they get with their players. Matches take place in third-person view, with players able to move around and aim their attacks and skills. As such, players not only move fast, but they place their attacks precisely where they want. It’s like moving with their God, and it’s a refreshing feeling.
6 Tetris 99
Whoever thinks Tetris is “too chill” should try Tetris 99. The game still has the Zen feeling of playing Tetris during downtime… except when players realize they’re playing against 98 other opponents. That’s right, Tetris 99 is the Tetris version of a vicious battle royale.
Players in Tetris 99 play the game as usual, except this time they’re only allowed to attack weaker competitors. Moreover, the theme song gets much faster during the more intense moments in the game, making Tetris 99 easily one of the most exciting free games for the Switch where players don’t even have to move a character.
5 Fallout Shelter
Bethesda fans who want to skip the sprawling open world of Fallout 4 might want to try their hand in vault management with Fallout Shelter. In this simulation game, players are put in charge of building a vault for various residents as they survive Earth’s irradiated environment, scary monsters, and bandit attacks. Moreover, for a game that launched way back in 2015, Fallout Shelter doesn’t lose its appeal. After all, why would anyone refuse to manage a shelter?
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However, aside from being able to construct various kinds of rooms, players can also manage individual residents. Moreover, players have to balance electricity, food, and hunger while keeping the entire population happy and content.
4 Paladins
Players who want to try a hero shooter that’s not Overwatch can try Paladins, again from Hi-Rez Studios. Unlike Blizzard’s hero shooter, Paladins is a blend of science fiction and fantasy. As such, heroes include Champions that use not just guns, but also bows, crossbows, and other bladed weapons.
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Like other shooter games, Paladins also has a variety of modes. Aside from the primary Siege mode, there are area control-based Onslaught and King of the Hill modes, as well as the traditional Deathmatch. Players who want to take a break from shooting games but want something new for their trigger fingers might enjoy Paladins.
3 Dauntless
Players looking for a monster to hunt for awesome loot won’t have to wait for Monster Hunter: World in the Switch. In fact, Dauntless poises to be an alternative take to the monster-hunting game with its modernized setting and a more playful approach to gameplay.
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In this monster-hunting game, players take on the role of the remnants of humanity struggling to survive against monsters called Behemoths. Players, now Slayers, hunt these Behemoths with various weapons and equipment. Like in World, Dauntless gives players access to weapons such as Aether Strikers, Axes, Chain Blades, Swords, and War Pikes. Moreover, the game also gives a sleeker, more stylish look into armors, making them seem more slender and easy to move with.
2 Asphalt 9: Legends
Folks who have ever held a mobile phone would’ve heard of Gameloft. And that’s right, the mobile game dev isn’t out of the picture. In fact, Asphalt 9: Legends for the Switch proves Gameloft has come far in terms of developing games - and this time for handheld platforms. With Asphalt 9 having an initial mobile phone release, seeing the game ported to the Switch can give gamers a wonderful racer with stunning graphics.
However, aside from graphics, Asphalt 9: Legends offers quite a lot of things for a free game. Aside from a roster of 84 cars, each of these vehicles has a “class” that complements a player’s playstyle.
1 DC Universe Online
Superhero fans aching to live the dream as a hero or a villain can finally make this come true in DC Universe Online. In this free-to-play MMO, players take on the role of heroes and villains who use the same power sets as some of the most prolific members of the DC Universe. Aside from that, players can customize the way their character looks and fights with vast personalization options.
Thanks to its introduction in the Switch, players can take their heroes with them. Moreover, the game offers a unique story comprising of more than 30 “Episodes” that establishes the role of the player’s heroes in the self-contained universe of DCUO.
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