The Top 10 Must-Play Survival and Adventure Games on Nintendo Switch in 2023

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The Nintendo Switch has quickly become a go-to platform for gamers who love immersive, challenging survival and adventure games. With its unique hybrid design that allows for both TV and handheld play, the Switch is the perfect console for getting lost in expansive game worlds for hours on end.

Whether you‘re a seasoned survivalist or new to the genre, the Switch has an excellent selection of titles that will test your skills, resourcefulness, and ability to persevere in the face of danger. In this article, we‘ll count down the top 10 survival and adventure games that every Switch owner should experience.

But first, let‘s define what we mean by "survival" and "adventure" games. Survival games typically challenge the player to stay alive in a hostile open-world environment by managing their health, hunger, and resources. Adventure games tend to be story-driven experiences with an emphasis on exploration, puzzle-solving, and character interactions.

Many games blur the line between these two genres, and the Switch library has a diverse array of titles that cater to fans of both styles of gameplay. So, without further ado, here are our picks for the top 10 survival and adventure games on Nintendo Switch:

10. Subnautica

Subnautica is a mesmerizing underwater survival game set on an alien ocean planet. As the sole survivor of a crashed spaceship, you‘ll have to scavenge resources, craft equipment, and build shelter to stay alive while exploring the depths of the sea and uncovering the planet‘s mysteries.

The Switch version looks and runs great whether played docked or in handheld mode. The game does an excellent job of evoking a sense of wonder and discovery as you gradually upgrade your ability to venture deeper into the ocean. While some technical issues are present, Subnautica is a one-of-a-kind adventure that‘s easy to lose yourself in for dozens of hours.

9. The Long Dark

Set in the frigid Canadian wilderness in the aftermath of a geomagnetic disaster, The Long Dark is a slow-paced but nail-bitingly tense survival experience. You play as a bush pilot stranded in the Northern Canadian backcountry after a mysterious global calamity.

With nothing but your wits and a few basic tools, you‘ll have to battle hunger, thirst, illness, and the elements as you explore the stunningly rendered frozen landscape. Survival mode offers a highly customizable sandbox experience, while the story mode features a gripping narrative told through in-game journals and environmental storytelling.

While The Long Dark can feel a bit cumbersome to control at times, especially when played with Joy-Cons, it‘s a unique and unforgettable survival game that‘s perfectly suited for quiet evenings spent curled up with your Switch in bed or on the couch.

8. Terraria

At first glance, Terraria might look like just another 2D Minecraft clone, but spend some time with it and you‘ll discover a massively deep and rewarding crafting and exploration game.

You start by foraging for resources to build a small shelter, but before you know it you‘re spelunking through underground caverns, building complex automatons, and taking on screen-filling boss monsters. Combat can be clunky and frustrating at times, but the sheer freedom you have to gather materials and create your own goals makes Terraria dangerously addictive.

It‘s also a fantastic multiplayer game, supporting up to 8-player online co-op (and local wireless play). There‘s nothing quite as satisfying as working together with friends to build your dream home or take down a challenging boss.

7. Starbound

Another 2D crafting adventure, Starbound shifts the action into a charming sci-fi universe brimming with unique alien vistas to explore and bizarre weapons and equipment to discover. After your homeworld is destroyed, you must voyage across the stars to find a new home for your people, visiting procedurally-generated planets and battling alien threats along the way.

The super cute pixel art style belies a remarkably deep crafting and progression system that will keep you engaged for potentially hundreds of hours. You can build and customize your own spaceship, establish colonies, capture alien creatures as pets, and experiment with an array of eccentric weapons and gadgets. It‘s the perfect pick-up-and-play game for busy gamers, with short play sessions just as viable as marathon all-night sessions.

6. Minecraft

I would be remiss not to include Minecraft on this list. Despite being over a decade old, Mojang‘s iconic block-building game remains an endlessly engrossing sandbox that continues to see significant new content updates on a regular basis.

The Switch version stacks up well against other console editions, with the expected graphical downgrades being much less noticeable on the Switch‘s modest 720p screen. Split-screen local multiplayer makes it easy to build and explore with a buddy, while cross-platform online play ensures you‘ll never have a shortage of players to craft with.

Minecraft continues to be one of the best games to get lost in on long plane rides or lazy Sunday afternoons. Whether you‘re an aspiring architect, a hardcore survivalist, or just looking for a relaxing creative outlet, Minecraft has near infinite potential.

5. Dragon Quest Builders 2

Dragon Quest Builders 2 marries the questing and town-building of Dragon Quest with the blocky landscapes and freeform construction of Minecraft. It‘s a more structured take on sandbox crafting and construction, with discrete story chapters and objectives to complete.

The whimsical writing and colorful characters are sure to delight Dragon Quest fans, while the intuitive building controls make it easy to put together your dream village. A stunning orchestrated soundtrack and gorgeous cartoonish visuals round out an impressively polished and satisfying package.

Once you complete the roughly 60-hour story campaign, you can put your construction skills to the test in the included creative mode, or share your creations with friends over online multiplayer. It‘s the perfect game for Dragon Quest devotees and sandbox gaming enthusiasts alike.

4. Don‘t Starve

Don‘t Starve is an uncompromising wilderness survival game oozing with Gothic charm. You play as gentleman scientist Wilson (or one of several other unlockable characters), who awakens in a mysterious wilderness and must gather resources and craft to survive as long as possible.

Death comes swiftly and often in Don‘t Starve, but each failure makes you a little better equipped for your next attempt. The haunting hand-drawn art style masterfully evokes feelings of isolation and dread, and the stripped-down UI and absence of tutorials create a palpably tense atmosphere.

If you enjoy difficult, unforgiving games that challenge you to think on your feet, you can‘t go wrong with Don‘t Starve. The Complete Edition on Switch includes all previously released DLC packs, providing dozens of hours of morbidly entertaining content.

3. Stardew Valley

On its surface, Stardew Valley looks like a simple farming sim, but underneath the cheery retro-styled graphics lies a deceptively deep and endlessly charming game. You‘ve inherited your grandfather‘s run-down farm, and must work to restore it to its former glory while befriending the colorful inhabitants of the nearby village.

The core gameplay loop of planting crops, fishing, mining, and wooing villagers is immensely compelling, with tantalizing new upgrades and areas to explore constantly dangling in front of you. It‘s the kind of game that‘s so easy to get sucked into that you often don‘t realize how much time has passed until you see the sun peeking through your curtains.

In addition to solo play, Stardew Valley also supports online co-op for up to 4 players, making it a fantastic game to tackle with friends or loved ones. And at only $15, it‘s an absolute steal for the potential hundreds of hours of gameplay it offers.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

While it may not be a survival game in the strictest sense, Breath of the Wild‘s massive open world and emergent gameplay systems make it a must-play for any fan of the genre.

You‘re thrown into the vast kingdom of Hyrule with nothing but some rusted weapons and gear, and must learn to hunt, cook, and fend for yourself in an untamed wilderness. The sheer sense of freedom and discovery the game exudes is remarkable, with surprises and rewards waiting to be uncovered around every corner.

On top of the enrapturing exploration, Breath of the Wild features dozens of cleverly designed puzzle shrines to conquer and some of the most intense and memorable boss fights in Zelda history. It‘s an ambitious reinvention of the Zelda formula that feels positively momentous in its scope and execution. If you own a Switch, you owe it to yourself to see Link‘s latest sprawling adventure through to its epic conclusion.

1. Hades

Hades isn‘t just the best roguelike on Switch, it‘s one of the greatest action games ever made. This is the rare game that somehow exceeds its astronomical levels of hype, delivering an exquisitely crafted, obscenely stylish romp through the underworld that plays as good as it looks.

You control Zagreus, the son of Hades, as he attempts to escape the underworld and reach the surface. Death is a constant companion in Hades, but instead of feeling frustrating, each failed escape attempt makes you a bit stronger and reveals new story beats that keep you hungry for just one more run.

The combat is elegant in its simplicity but endless in its depth, with dozens of unique weapon and ability combinations to experiment with. Hades also boasts one of the finest soundtracks in recent memory and some of the best art direction you‘ll ever see in a video game.

It‘s a masterpiece of the roguelike genre that‘s an absolute must-play for any Switch owner. With the ability to play on the go or on your TV, it‘s never been easier to lose yourself in Supergiant‘s impeccable underworld.

Honorable Mentions and Upcoming Games

While these 10 games represent the cream of the crop when it comes to survival and adventure games on Switch, there are a few other excellent titles worth mentioning. Honorable mentions go to Hollow Knight for its haunting 2D Metroidvania exploration, Slay the Spire for its deep and endlessly replayable deck-building, and Undertale for its quirky characters and genre-defying gameplay.

Looking ahead, there are several exciting survival games in the works for Nintendo Switch. Void Terrarium, a roguelike dungeon crawler set in a post-apocalyptic world, is set to launch this summer. Later this year, DayZ, the monumentally popular zombie survival sim, will shamble its way onto Switch, letting players engage in tense multiplayer showdowns on the go.

Tips For Survival Game Newcomers

If you‘re new to survival games, the genre‘s typical lack of guidance and brutal difficulty can be intimidating. Here are a few tips to help you stay alive in your first few attempts:

  1. Don‘t be afraid to experiment. Survival games often give you multiple ways to approach problems, so try out different strategies to find what works best for you.

  2. Learn to prioritize. Time and resources are precious, so focus on securing essentials like food, water, and shelter before worrying about less critical concerns.

  3. Stay on the move. Lingering in one place for too long can deplete the resources in that area and potentially attract unwanted attention. Keep exploring to find new materials and opportunities.

  4. Save often. Survival games can be unforgiving, so make frequent use of the Save option if it‘s available to minimize lost progress.

Above all else, try to stay calm and don‘t get too frustrated by failure. Survival games have a steep learning curve, but with persistence and a little luck, you‘ll be conquering the wilderness in no time.

Conclusion

Well, there you have it — the top 10 survival and adventure games you should be playing on your Nintendo Switch in 2023. The Switch‘s exclusive titles and ports represent the best the survival genre has to offer, with a little something for everyone whether you prefer methodical resource management, white-knuckle action, or laid back crafting.

With its pick-up-and-play portability and support for same-system multiplayer, the Switch is a fantastic way to experience these expansive, immersive games both at home and on the go. So what are you waiting for? Grab your Switch and dive headfirst into your next grand gaming adventure.

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