Our lovely members of the Nintendo Entertainment Podcast have watched the Nintendo Switch thrive for over seven years now, and it’s been an impressive ride. Said ride will be coming to an end soon, but we’re prepared for that. However, one unexpected thing during the Switch’s run was having NUMEROUS ports from the Wii U era come to the Switch and have not just great sales but sometimes exceptional sales. Just look at Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for proof of that. So, with the Switch successor likely going to be better graphically and processing-wise, what Switch titles stand out as ones that deserve an “upgrade” and could help sell units of the next system? We found ten that fit the bill.
NEP Note: There were a lot of games we could’ve put on this list, but to help refine the “search,” we decided to go for titles that were Switch exclusives (which we maintained outside of one title) and ones that weren’t “obvious” or, more accurately, “didn’t need the extra sales.” So, no Super Mario Odyssey, BOTW/TOTK, Pokemon Let’s Go, or something along those lines. Alright, with that said, off to the list!
#10 Shin Megami Tensei V – Skull Kid Scott
Shin Megami Tensei V was a very ambitious title on the Nintendo Switch that looked amazing and had a plethora of interesting landscapes and areas. The issue of the game arises, though, when it comes to its frame rate. It tried to have a frame cap of 30 fps; however, its bigger areas and larger-than-life cinematics chugged at less. In my time with the game, I even noted that a cinematic was less than 15 fps due to the amount of characters on screen. Having a bit of a bigger boost to its CPU would make the game look beautiful and run much more stable.
The repackaged version of Shin Megami Tensei V, Vengeance, is a perfect time to see how well it can be optimized on stronger consoles. I think the Nintendo Switch successor will have a fun bar to see improvement based on how well it can run a game as ambitious as Shin Megami Tensei V.
#9 Astral Chain – Tri-Force Todd
One of the things I really loved about the Nintendo Switch was that it gave 3rd parties the chance to really go “whole hog” with some ideas they had, and Astral Chain (as my review states) was one such example from PlatinumGames. They created a unique world that was very, VERY anime, as the intro song sequence will tell you, and mashed it with great gameplay mechanics and story.
Now, Platinum will say the game was a success and sold over a million units, and that’s great! But with the right upgrades and a little better processing power? I think they could do even better sales on the Switch 2 (or whatever it’s called.) Sometimes, timing is the best way to ensure sales. Plus, if they were to do a little epilogue story to tease a sequel…? That might bring people to the table!
#8 Super Mario 3D All-Stars – Wario Will
Three of Mario’s biggest adventures in 3D before Super Mario Odyssey. The N64, Gamecube and Wii. All part of Nintendo’s history. It is necessary to keep these three titles to remind future generations, no matter how dated, to understand why they were a pinnacle at that time. One that birthed the 3D genre for Nintendo, One being called the black sheep entry but still had an intriguing style. And the one that many claim to be the successor to Super Mario 64. All three titles should be experienced. And no limited window period sales. Just allow it to be on the market as much as it can.
If they can bring this to the next Nintendo System, it won’t be locked in the library of the Switch. The extra performance power can allow these three games to run even better. If Nintendo respects the mascot that made them who they are, they must bring this collection over and in the future.
#7 Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity – Skull Kid Scott
The Koei Tecmo games are notorious for the amount of soldiers and effects that are on screen all at the same time. Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity is one example of their love of large armies on screen. Age of Calamity is a game that looks and plays well on Nintendo Switch, yet, it still has its fair share of frame dips when too much is on the screen. Koei Tecmo has worked on mitigating this by having soldiers disappear when too much is happening.
This isn’t to say that the game suffers from Nintendo Switch hardware. Koei Tecmo’s help from some of the other Nintendo development teams helped shape the game’s look and play. A little more power to this title in both a visual and performance sense will make me excited to revisit it in the future.
#6 New Pokemon Snap – Wario Will
It feels almost a decade since the original Pokemon Snap on the Nintendo 64. Fans have wanted a sequel for so long. It felt like a dream when New Pokemon Snap was finally revealed. To take photos of Pokemon in their natural environment. The activities the Pokemon act and express. The wonder to experience them close up in first-person perspective. Both games are excellent experiences whether you are a casual or hardcore fan. So unless Nintendo is already planning the next Pokemon Snap game and not make us wait another decade, its best to have another chance for people to experience this game on Nintendo’s next platform.
While the game is beautiful already on the Switch, one can imagine what it could be with some upgrades. Imagine seeing the fur feathers on the Pokemon in better visual fidelity. You do not have to worry about frames dropping when the Wailord breaches the water and see all the splashes of that moment. Seeing the legendary Pokemon in better detail. I wouldn’t mind going back to see these moments again,
#5 Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope – Tri-Force Todd
Honestly? I’m putting this one on the list not just to make gamers happy but to shut Ubisoft the heck up! For those not in the know, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope was the follow-up to the hit 2017 title that brought the worlds of Mario and the Rabbids together. Both games were fun, but Ubisoft decided to say that the sequel “didn’t meet expectations” and thus refuses to give actual sales numbers. Even though its dev team said it sold really well!!!
Therefore, porting it to the Switch and bundling it with the rather expansive DLC might be a big benefit for the game and, by extension, shut up Ubisoft. Fans (like me, as my review proves) loved both titles, and there’s definitely room for more titles should the sales get even higher via a port. So, why not, right?
#4 Fire Emblem Three Houses – Tri-Force Todd
This one is a bit tricky because Fire Emblem Three Houses is the best-selling Fire Emblem title of all time, and many agree it’s a classic on the Switch. So…why does it need a port? Simply put, and like other titles on this list, the graphics were fine, but many pointed out that the landscape textures and certain other elements could use a facelift.
For me personally, as I pointed out in my review, I would love a little more time dedicated to the end of each storyline. They do the final boss and then just state, “Oh, yeah, this happened when everything was over,” with no real showing of how happy, or not, the world was at the end of the wars that went on. A few more cutscenes to go along with the visual upgrades would further solidify this as a must-have experience for any Fire Emblem fan and RPG fans in general. Plus, we don’t know when the next true mainline game is coming…so why not satisfy people with an upgraded port while we wait?
#3 Bayonetta Trilogy – Wario Will
PlatinumGames famed Umbra Witch. Like Astral Chain, you already know that the Bayonetta series is top-notch for its action and over-the-top set pieces. The original was a solid step as the spiritual successor to Devil May Cry. The sequel improved upon it and more but was locked in the library of the Wii U. Thankfully, it was ported to the Switch to allow more fans to experience it. In the third game, however, many fans were slightly taken aback by the performance of her recent entry. The Wii U was able to keep pace in Bayonetta 2, but the Switch had noticeable frame drops when trying to keep pace with Bayonetta 3. With action games, performance is a must.
If the next system can help Bayonetta 3 hit that 60FPS or near that, it would do her justice as the action game it serves to be. To get the smooth performance of the perfect dodges, the combos she can inflict on her enemies, the crazy moments that you expect of PlatinumGames. If only we had a bit more of an upgrade to help realize how this entry was meant to be. Hopefully, Nintendo gives her another shot to show what she can do as proof of Bayonetta 2 and that she is realized fully in both performance and visual prowess and not limited by the hardware.
#2 Xenoblade Chronicles 2 + 3 – Skull Kid Scott
Xenoblade Chronicles is a series that is expansive and dripping with content and love. There is also a ton of content for both games outside the base game in the way of DLC. It would be beneficial for gamers to have a cartridge (or whatever Nintendo aims to use next for the Switch successor.) that has the games and DLC for them all in one box. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and 3 both have very large and open areas that can, at times, make the games on Nintendo Switch look beautiful but can also still be pushed forward for an even more stable experience.
A console with more power can make something that already looks amazing burst with even more beauty and pizazz. If Nintendo released a compilation with both games and all its DLC, I would be down to spend another $100 on the series. This series is worth it in content, emotion, and gameplay. Plus I can imagine Monolith Soft would make the new console purr with how well they optimize games for the Nintendo Switch.
#1 Pokemon Legends Arceus – Tri-Force Todd
A controversial one to end with? Perhaps, but there’s a method to my madness. And yes, I know Pokemon Legends Arceus had great sales, but the reason this “port” is arguably highly needed is because the ONE THING that everyone (except for me in my review) complained about with this game…was the graphics.
And to be fair…the graphics weren’t the best, but they didn’t hold the game back, in my opinion. That said, there were times when you could tell Game Freak should’ve done better. So, with a new system that has at least PS4-esque graphics or better? The visuals could really pop, the world would be even more beautiful, and we could FINALLY truly recognize Pokemon Legends Arceus as one of, if not the greatest, Pokemon titles of all time. *mic drop*
