Nintendo has always been a good friend to the casual gamer, offering a wide range of easygoing titles like Mario and The Legend of Zelda that allow players to progress at their own pace. The Nintendo Switch has cemented its status as a highly popular and successful console, boasting a vast library of games available in its store.

The Switch has become a haven for non-Nintendo games, which has been a boon for the casual gaming scene, providing smaller developers with greater visibility. The Switch's TV link capabilities have propelled local co-op games, catering to the casual gamer's preferences for serene environments, straightforward controls, and low-stakes puzzle-solving challenges.

Updated on January 3, 2024, by Alexandra O'Leary: The Nintendo Switch is a very versatile console with the capacity for serious, challenging games as well as more fun, light-hearted ones. Luckily, as the medium of video games becomes even bigger and more widely popular, there has been a serious rise in casual games. This doesn't always mean the games don't have varying levels of difficulty or typical game mechanics, but usually, there are lower stakes and an emphasis on fun or cooperative play. The Nintendo Switch is the perfect choice for people looking to get into gaming, and its game catalog is packed full of great games for casual games.

15 Fall Guys

Colorful and Casual Battle Royale

Fall Guys was initially released in 2020, boasting a massive multiplayer battle-royale style ideal for gamers seeking lighthearted entertainment during lockdown. The game's varied, enjoyable challenges have sustained its popularity. Acquired by Epic Games in 2022, Fall Guys has been adapted for most major platforms, offering a delightful, casual battle royale experience with amusing skins and game show mini-games.

Each round eliminates a set number of players, culminating in a single victor, combining competitiveness with relatively low stakes. While maintaining a multiplayer element where players can interact by impeding each other's progress, Fall Guys provides group and team options for uproarious gaming sessions. It stands out as a top battle-royale game for casual gamers, featuring charming visuals and limited player versus player encounters.

14 Mario Party Superstars

Virtual Board Game with Fun, Easy Mechanics

Mario Party Superstars is the latest addition to the Mario Party franchise, offering a collection of classic boards and mini-games. It's essentially a virtual board game, where players roll dice and traverse a map, engaging in relatively straightforward mini-games. These mini-games range from simple tasks like jumping in front of a camera to counting running goombas.

Mario Party Superstars compiles remastered boards from the first three N64 games and most mini-games from previous Mario Party titles. Established gamers will relish the nostalgia and familiarity of the revamped boards, while newcomers can partake in the fun for the first time. This series has long been favored by families and casual gamers due to its easy-to-grasp concept and user-friendly mechanics.

13 Palia

Cozy Introduction to MMOs

Palia presents a serene MMO (massively multiplayer online) game intertwining the life simulation of titles like Animal Crossing and the communal interactivity of games such as Runescape. Featuring multiple NPC villagers with individual backstories and roles, players can personalize their living space and acclimate to the pastoral lifestyle.

Providing a gentle initiation to MMO games, Palia appears notably less daunting than many classic titles in the genre. The servers are not as expansive, reducing the likelihood of encountering numerous players for those feeling apprehensive about the MMO aspect. As a free-to-play option, it's an ideal choice for novices to explore this genre of gaming.

12 Overcooked 2

Hilarious Co-op Cooking

Overcooked 2 is a frenetic co-op cooking game, placing players in the roles of chefs in bustling kitchens. The game employs straightforward controls, including actions such as picking up, throwing, slicing, and cooking, making it accessible to almost anyone. Featuring imaginative, customizable elements and chaotic levels, Overcooked 2 delivers an entertaining cooking experience.

The game's challenge emanates from time constraints and bustling environments, with scenarios like floating above the world in a hot air balloon or dashing across busy roads with boiled rice. Embracing local and online co-op, Overcooked 2 allows gamers to engage with friends across the globe, ensuring delightful cooperative play.

11 Nintendo Switch Sports

Fun Sports Simulator with Classic Mechanics

Nintendo Switch Sports may evoke familiarity for some Nintendo enthusiasts, and although it lacks the nostalgia of Wii Sports, it embodies the same levels of entertainment. Combining classic games like bowling and tennis with new additions such as soccer and volleyball, it engages players through physical participation using the Nintendo Switch joy-cons.

Enabling individuals to compete with numerous players globally, it is a delightful title to relish with friends, showcasing the console's ability to foster camaraderie and skill development. It stands out as an excellent choice for local and online gameplay, cementing its status as an enjoyable gateway to sports gaming.

10 Disney Dreamlight Valley

Magical Adventure Game with Familiar Faces

Disney Dreamlight Valley intertwines life simulation and adventure, melding Disney's storytelling with an immersive player character in a magical setting. Offering an enchanting experience, the game appeals to casual gamers seeking to explore and engage in tranquil gameplay. Progressing in real-time, players can relish a captivating world populated by beloved Disney and Pixar characters, offering an immersive and charming adventure.

Disney Dreamlight Valley stands as an exemplary choice for relaxed gaming, featuring renowned characters and a non-linear format, furnishing an array of engaging adventures for players to savor. The world emanates an aura of joy, with the characters assuming fitting roles throughout Dreamlight Valley, leading to a captivating and immersive experience.

9 Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Easy Controls and a Variety of Games Modes

The inclusion of Mario Kart on this list should come as no surprise. This spin-off featuring beloved Mario characters has maintained remarkable popularity since its debut on the SNES, now expanded to encompass familiar faces from The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, Splatoon, and more.

This classic title serves as an ideal choice for players seeking an entertaining game with easy controls and diverse modes. Whether ascending the ranks through Grand Prix-style play or engaging in spirited competitions with friends, solo gamers and social circles alike can revel in the game's engaging options. Remarkably well-suited for local multiplayer, Mario Kart emerges as the ultimate party game.

8 Inside

Forgiving, Linear Game with Simple Gameplay

Inside presents an intriguing choice; although it holds elements of horror, it offers leniency in the face of failure, respawning players at the most recent checkpoint. Primarily revolving around puzzles, the game boasts straightforward controls, rendering it accessible to a wide range of gamers. While the game's darker undertones may not appeal to everyone, it stands as a captivating indie creation, offering an immersive, shared experience.

Inside emerges as an enthralling proposition, providing an engrossing visual spectacle and delivering a shared immersive experience for players and observers alike.

7 Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Friendly and Accessible Social Sim

Animal Crossing is renowned for its welcoming and comforting nature. Its release at the onset of the pandemic marked a significant milestone, providing players with much-needed social interaction and escapism, especially through the feature enabling visits to friends' islands.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons encapsulates an endearing game, tasking players with aiding Tom Nook and Isabelle in building a new village on a lush island. Players can craft their avatar and engage in a range of activities, from gathering resources and conversing with anthropomorphic inhabitants to shaping the island's layout. The game's serene pace and low-stakes nature make it an ideal choice for casual gamers seeking a tranquil experience.

6 Stardew Valley

Peaceful Farming Sim with No Time Limits

Stardew Valley ranks among the most successful independent games, developed entirely by ConcernedApe (Eric Barone). Resonating with the tranquility of village life, the game offers a farming simulation RPG with simple controls, particularly user-friendly on the Switch. Devoid of time constraints unless players engage in combat, the game's activities include farming, foraging, fishing, and mining, promoting a relaxing existence.

Requiring minimal input, the game's co-op mode provides a splendid means of distributing tasks, enabling players to tailor their experience to their preferences. The game's serene nature makes it a perfect fit for individuals seeking a calming pastime.

5 Snipperclips

Silly Co-op Puzzle Solving

Snipperclips constitutes a co-op puzzle launch title for the Switch, featuring two paper characters - Snip and Clip - maneuvering through a paper world and altering their forms to solve puzzles. The game's cooperative premise necessitates effective communication and presents inventive challenges, fostering an enjoyable and engaging experience.

Exhibiting endearing qualities and a knack for creativity, Snipperclips makes for an ideal choice for two players seeking straightforward yet entertaining gameplay, offering a lighthearted ambiance and an opportunity for shared amusement.

4 Untitled Goose Game

Chaotic Gameplay with Simple Controls

Untitled Goose Game presents a delightfully unique premise, placing players in the role of a mischievous goose causing mayhem everywhere it ventures. Offering both single-player and multiplayer options, the game exudes charm and hilarity.

Untitled Goose Game is blessed with straightforward controls, allowing players to focus on navigating different environments and completing tasks, all while reveling in the whimsical and gratifying gameplay. Ideal for players seeking a light-hearted and satisfying gameplay experience, Untitled Goose Game stands as a distinctive and enjoyable choice.

3 Pikmin 4

Adorable Puzzle Solving with Pikmin

Pikmin stands as one of Nintendo's recognizable titles, offering an endearing and distinctive game filled with charming details. Released a decade after its last main installment on the Wii-U, Pikmin 4 tasks players with effectively employing a multitude of Pikmin to solve puzzles creatively.

Boasting a vibrant and charming world, Pikmin 4 places minimal pressure on players, urging creative problem-solving and emphasizing the discerning selection of Pikmin types, each possessing distinct attributes based on their color. Enabling players to create their own Pikmin to partake in the adventure, the game further accentuates a charming and imaginative experience.

2 Unravel Two

Endearing Platformer with Friendly Co-op

Unravel Two presents a platform puzzle game featuring a captivating story that unfolds around two endearing bundles of yarn - Yarnys - embarking on an extensive quest. Conducive to single-player and local multiplayer, the game unfolds a tale brimming with emotional depth and captivating gameplay.

Boasting accessible controls and compelling visuals, Unravel Two invites players to partake in an adventure that resonates with heartwarming storytelling, making it a delightful choice for shared gaming experiences. Engaging and immersive, the game offers a balanced blend of narrative and gameplay, appealing to a wide audience.

1 Sea of Stars

Nostalgic RPG with No Time Pressure

Sea of Stars presents a retro RPG with turn-based combat, featuring nostalgic art that holds universal appeal. Boasting a captivating world with enchanting visuals, music, and characters, the game fosters a blissful gaming experience, allowing players to forge a wondrous path through a delightful realm.

Exhibiting turn-based gameplay, the game caters to casual gamers, ensuring that encounters are not characterized by frantic action. Enabling players to savor the rich tapestry of side-quests, endearing dialogues, and charming puzzles, Sea of Stars carries a strong allure for those seeking a pleasurable addition to their gaming collection.