2020 was not the best year for Nintendo and many Switch fans were disappointed by the lack of game releases compared to previous years. 2021 sought to fix things by producing a lot of releases, includingSwitch Gamesdeveloped by Nintendo and others published by third-party companies.
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As not all of the upcoming titles are popular, there are many that seem to have fallen under everyone’s radar. These are some2021 Switch gamesthat players may have forgotten about but don’t want to miss out on.
Updated June 29, 2025 by Mark Sammut:2021 is almost at an end. It has been a decent year for the Nintendo Switch, with the console welcoming its share of big titles and indie games. Along with massive and well-known successes such asSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury,Metroid Dread,and Monster Hunter Rise, the console also had a few surprises likeThe House in Fata Morgana - Dreams of the Revenants Edition -, Bustafellows, UnderMine, and DUSK. While there might not seem like there is too much to get excited about for the rest of the year, there are still a couple of noteworthy2021 Nintendo Switch gamesset to come out.
Note:Some titles are “planned” for a 2021 release but have yet to confirm a date. At this point, it seems likely that they will be pushed back to 2022; however, that has yet to officially happen.
Back in 1996, players living in Japan would line up at arcades all over the country just to get a shot at mindlessly throwing away their hard-earned quarters onThe House of the Dead. Less than a year later, international audiences would get a chance to enjoy the arcade shooter that would help usher in some solid on-the-rails FPS experiences.The House of the Deadis one of the best examples of what an arcade shooter should feel like, even if the story can be a little bit convoluted.
These games were so popular that they began to port to a variety of systems (complete with Light Gun controllers) and were especially prominent on Nintendo consoles that featured motion controls. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a new release in the franchise but soon players will have the opportunity to play the “original” in all its glory.The title will feature heavily updated graphics, multiple endings, smoother gameplay, and Co-Op.
8Outer Wilds
Those locked to a Nintendo Switch for all their gaming needs will finally be able to get their hands onOuter Wilds, an Indie release that captivated fans when it first dropped in 2019. The beautifully designed first-person adventure featuresMyst-like elements and a curious time-loop feature that creates a sense of urgency while also allowing players to explore their surroundings thoroughly.
Gamers will need to solve puzzles, uncover mysteries, and re-live their previous playthroughs (which loop back every 22 minutes) to prevent the nearby sun from going Supernova. It’s an incredibly imaginative release with some entertaining gameplay, a great storyline, and a stellar soundtrack. This is one Indie adventure that every player should experience at least once.
7Temtem
When it was first announced, many players were skeptical about the world ofTemtem, which looked rather “familiar” toPokemonfans. What was once regarded as apossible rip-offof a beloved franchise was released to critical acclaim, with Steam players praisingTemtem’s gameplay mechanics and imaginative world. Fast forward to 2021 and the title is set to bring its unique brand of monster-collecting-and-battling to the Nintendo Switch (and Xbox Series X/S).
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Temtemfeatures its own unique story that takes place around six floating islands. There are 12 different types of Temtem to collect, with 133 creatures available at the time of writing. There are even Luma Temtem, a special occurrence that only happens around 1 in 10,000 encounters, featuring incredibly rare variants that showcase new particle effects, glows, and colors (similar to the Shiny mechanic inPokemon). The rich battle system and massively multiplayer feel ofTemtemmake it an experience capable of standing on its own.
6Ruined King: A League Of Legends Story
League of Legendsis one of the most successful MOBAs ever made. Unfortunately, it has never been released on consoles and a lot of gamers have missed out on such a great title. However, a spin-off calledRuined King: A League of Legends Storyis going to come out on the Switch. Unlike the original game, this will be an RPG and players will be on their own as it is a single-player experience.
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The game will featuresix championsand a story that revolves around the Black Mist. According to the available information,Ruined Kingwill take place in Bilgewater and Shadow Isles.
5Hextech Mayhem: A League Of Legends Story
While fans wait forRuined King: A League of Legends Story’s release date, they can get their hands on another spin-off. Randomly announced just a few days prior to its debut,Hextech Mayhem: A League of Legends Storyis quite a departure for the series as it is a rhythm runner. The cute trailer comes packed with explosions and chaos, along with some neat backgrounds.
TheSwitch version costs $9.99, soHextech Mayhem: A League of Legends Storyis very much a budget title. Newcomers to Riot’s license probably won’t find much to enjoy here, permitting they aren’t huge fans of endless runners, but fans of the franchise might appreciate this change of pace.
4BloodRayne: ReVamped & BloodRayne 2: ReVamped
TheBloodRaynegames are very much of their era, but they do hold a special place in the hearts of many people. Unfortunately, the series struggled to remain relevant following the early 2000s, with the third entry – 2011’sBloodRayne: Betrayal –opting to go down the sidescrolling route.
For those who have longed to jump back into this universe but find the original games difficult to revisit,BloodRayne: ReVampedand its sequelmight be just the ticket. Remasters of the first two games, these titles update the visuals and effects so that Rayne’s blood-soaked spree looks better than ever.Each game costs $19.99.
3Danganronpa Decadence
Murder mystery fans should prepare to be spoiled come December 2021 becauseDanganronpa Decadencewill be joining the Switch’s library. This collection includes the remasters ofDanganronpa:Trigger Happy Havoc,Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, andDanganronpa V3: Killing Harmony. If that wasn’t enough,Danganronpa Decadencewill also include an expanded version of the Ultimate Talent Development Plan minigame fromDanganronpa V3calledDanganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp.
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To sweeten the pot, the games will be sold separately on the Nintendo Store, so people can pick and choose what they would like to play. Here are the prices for each entry:
2Disney Magical World 2: Enchanted Edition
Originally released on the Nintendo 3DS,Disney Magical World 2: Enchanted Edition’s announcementcame as something of a surprise. The original game was by no means poorly received – it has a respectable Metascore of 73 – but it didn’t seem like the most obvious 3DS candidate for a remaster.
Outside of updated visuals that tend to come with remasters, Nintendo hasn’t revealed much about theEnchanted Edition’s changes. While generally sold as a life sim,Disney Magical World 2does dip its toes into other genres such as rhythm games and even RPGs. For huge fans of Mickey Mouse and company, this game is worth looking into.Disney Magical World 2: Enchanted Editioncosts $49.99.
1Monster Rancher & 2 DX
Koei Tecmo has announced plans to re-releaseMonster Rancherand its sequel for modern audiences. This will be the franchise’s first console release since 2010’sMonster Rancher DS, although a few mobile and PC titles have been produced since then.
The PS1Monster Ranchergames are respected titles in their own right. While they slot into the monster-taming subgenre dominated byPokemon,Monster Rancherprioritizes the raising and training aspectof the relationship more than Game Freak’s license. Don’t worry though, eventually the player’s monsters will head into battle! The collection’s price has yet to be revealed.
Every upcoming Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, And PC game
Interested in checking out what other games will be coming out over the next days, months, and years? Then check out these articles:
