Despite stiff competition from Valve’s handheld, the Steam Deck, as well as the recently-announced Asus ROG Ally, the Nintendo Switch is still very much in the fight. Its ailing technology was already fairly dated when the console was first released, but as a platform for playing less technically demanding indie games (as well as Nintendo first-party releases), the Switch remains unparalleled. May 2023 represents another excellent month for Switch games, with one flagship release in particular presenting a worthy reason to get excited. Here are the best Nintendo Switch games for May 2023.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (May 12th)
This Breath of the Wild sequel has been more than six years in the making, but judging by the gameplay we’ve seen so far, the wait will have been worth it. Link returns to a Hyrule that’s significantly changed since he last explored it; you can now explore Hyrule’s skies as well as its landmass, and there are lots of new things to find. Luckily, you have new powers with which to navigate the world, including the ability to pass through ceilings and a power that lets you manipulate objects and fuse them together.
Trinity Trigger (May 15th)
If you’re a fan of 90s RPGs, with particular reference to games like Secret of Mana, then you’ll almost certainly like Trinity Trigger. You play as Cyan, a young man who sets out on a quest to battle the Warrior of Order. Together with his companions Zantis and Elise, Cyan will explore the breadth of the world of Trinitia, seeking out its mysteries and adventuring his way to the truth. Although Trinity Trigger was inspired by classic RPGs, its developers say it will also have “accessible and rewarding gameplay” with “modern flourishes”.
Lego 2K Drive (May 19th)
For the most part, Travellers’ Tales has been the studio responsible for Lego games, and although the developer does good work, it’s hard to argue that its games aren’t fairly formulaic. Lego 2K Drive represents something of a deviation from the standard formula; rather than being an action-adventure game revolving around collectibles, it’s an open-world racer with an emphasis on building whatever weird and wacky vehicles your mind can conjure up.
Glitch Busters: Stuck on You (May 23rd)
Are you a fan of co-op shooters with a cartoony aesthetic? If you are – and you’ve already worn out your copy of Splatoon 3 – then you should definitely put Glitch Busters: Stuck on You on your radar. This shooter tasks you and your fellow Glitch Busters with hunting down rogue viruses that threaten “the net”, as developer Toylogic puts it. You must use your inventive co-op abilities to seek out viruses and put them down wherever you find them, restoring safety to the world of the net.
Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! (May 23rd)
You’re almost certainly already familiar with the Puzzle Bobble series, but if you’re not, it’s a fiendishly addictive franchise in which the goal is to pop bubbles across a series of increasingly challenging levels. It’s a sort of cross between Puyo Puyo and Breakout, and a new instalment, Puzzle Bobble Everybubble!, is headed to Switch in May. You can enjoy this one either in single-player or alongside your friends, and it promises to be just as compelling and unputdownable (if that’s a word) as the previous games.
Do Not Feed the Monkeys 2099 (May 25th)
Your goal in Do Not Feed the Monkeys 2099 is to spy on your neighbours. If you can’t say the thought of doing so has ever given you a slightly illicit thrill, then you might not be the target audience for this game, although perhaps you’ll find a cautionary tale hidden within the gossipy delights to be found in Fictiorama’s “digital voyeur simulator” (or should that be “simiulator”? No, probably not). If you like Orwell, Beholder, or even Lucas Pope’s games, then this could be the one for you.
WrestleQuest (May, TBA)
At the moment, a tentative “May” release window is pencilled in for WrestleQuest, the irreverent wrestling adventure inspired by the glorious golden age of over-the-top pay-per-view wrestling. Unlike the WWE 2K series, WrestleQuest isn’t really aiming for realism; rather, it aims to celebrate the careers of icons like “Macho Man” Randy Savage and Jake “The Snake” Roberts, allowing you to walk in their footsteps through classic RPG combat and tongue-in-cheek dialogue.
Decarnation (May, TBA)
We’re in the middle of something of a golden age for indie horror, and Decarnation represents another exciting game to look forward to as part of that golden age. You’ll face “twisted puzzles, threatening creatures, Lovecraftian environments, and metaphorical minigames”, according to the devs. Decarnation takes inspiration from the works of David Lynch and Satoshi Kon, as well as pixel-art horror games like Ib and Corpse Party, so it’s one to watch if those are among your favourites as well.
It’s a solid month indeed for Nintendo Switch games. Admittedly, the month is rather dominated by Zelda, but given how much of a tentpole franchise that is for Nintendo, it’s hard to imagine any other big Switch game wanting to share space with Link’s newest adventure.
Still, there’s plenty to play on Switch in the month of May, and June promises even more treats, with games like We Love Katamari Reroll and Master Detective Archives: Rain Code to look forward to. It’s a great time to be a Switch owner!
