Best Retro Throwback Nintendo Switch Games – Modern Games With Old-School Style

Ah, nostalgia — it’s a tricksy thing. How many times have we gone back to revisit a treasured classic only to find that modern games have spoiled it for us? For all the brilliant aspects of retro games, the mod cons and performance we’re used to now are pretty fantastic, too, and sometimes going back can be tough. Was this slowdown always here? I don’t remember it looking this fuzzy. You mean I have to start again… at the beginning?!

Fortunately, alongside all the remasters, repackages and retro compilations which sand the rough edges off gaming classics and polish them up for the busy 21st-century gamer, there’s a huge number of modern releases paying tribute to retro games. Taking a core mechanic or two from the past, these homages take advantage of decades’ worth of tech advancements and knowledge to recreate classic gameplay with a modern twist.

Below you’ll find some of our favourite neo-nostalgia trips available on Switch. They’re not in any particular order and most of the games on this list have multiple muses, so the noted inspirations may be the only tip of the iceberg.

Of course, Switch’s list of retro-inspired pixel-graphic games is as long as your arm, and there are plenty more we could mention than you’ll find below, but the titles here are our absolute favourites – games which give us the feels we remember experiencing when we first played the 8- and 16-bit classics they were inspired by.

So, let’s take a look at our very favourite modern games with an undeniably retro vibe…

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (Switch eShop)

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Yacht Club Games / Developer: Yacht Club Games

Release Date: 3rd Mar 2017 (USA) / 3rd Mar 2017 (UK/EU)
198X (Switch eShop)

198X (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Hi-Bit Studios / Developer: Hi-Bit Studios

Release Date: 23rd Jan 2020 (USA) / 23rd Jan 2020 (UK/EU)
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (Switch eShop)

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Inti Creates / Developer: Inti Creates

Release Date: 24th May 2018 (USA) / 24th May 2018 (UK/EU)
Horizon Chase Turbo (Switch eShop)

Horizon Chase Turbo (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Aquiris / Developer: Aquiris

Release Date: 28th Nov 2018 (USA) / 28th Nov 2018 (UK/EU)
Mega Man 11 (Switch)

Mega Man 11 (Switch)

Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom

Release Date: 2nd Oct 2018 (USA) / 2nd Oct 2018 (UK/EU)
The Messenger (Switch eShop)

The Messenger (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Devolver Digital / Developer: Sabotage

Release Date: 30th Aug 2018 (USA) / 30th Aug 2018 (UK/EU)
Sonic Mania Plus (Switch)

Sonic Mania Plus (Switch)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Christian Whitehead

Release Date: 17th Jul 2018 (USA) / 17th Jul 2018 (UK/EU)
Blaster Master Zero 2 (Switch eShop)

Blaster Master Zero 2 (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Inti Creates / Developer: Inti Creates

Release Date: 20th Mar 2019 (USA) / 20th Mar 2019 (UK/EU)
Stardew Valley (Switch eShop)

Stardew Valley (Switch eShop)

Publisher: ConcernedApe / Developer: ConcernedApe

Release Date: 5th Oct 2017 (USA) / 5th Oct 2017 (UK/EU)
Axiom Verge (Switch eShop)

Axiom Verge (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Thomas Happ Games / Developer: Thomas Happ Games

Release Date: 5th Oct 2017 (USA) / 5th Oct 2017 (UK/EU)
Cuphead (Switch eShop)

Cuphead (Switch eShop)

Publisher: StudioMDHR / Developer: StudioMDHR

Release Date: 18th Apr 2019 (USA) / 18th Apr 2019 (UK/EU)

Ah, nostalgia — it’s a tricksy thing. How many times have we gone back to revisit a treasured classic only to find that modern games have spoiled it for us? For all the brilliant aspects of retro games, the mod cons and performance we’re used to now are pretty fantastic, too, and sometimes going back can be tough. Was this slowdown always here? I don’t remember it looking this fuzzy. You mean I have to start again… at the beginning?!

Fortunately, alongside all the remasters, repackages and retro compilations which sand the rough edges off gaming classics and polish them up for the busy 21st-century gamer, there’s a huge number of modern releases paying tribute to retro games. Taking a core mechanic or two from the past, these homages take advantage of decades’ worth of tech advancements and knowledge to recreate classic gameplay with a modern twist.

Below you’ll find some of our favourite neo-nostalgia trips available on Switch. They’re not in any particular order and most of the games on this list have multiple muses, so the noted inspirations may be the only tip of the iceberg.

Of course, Switch’s list of retro-inspired pixel-graphic games is as long as your arm, and there are plenty more we could mention than you’ll find below, but the titles here are our absolute favourites – games which give us the feels we remember experiencing when we first played the 8- and 16-bit classics they were inspired by.

So, let’s take a look at our very favourite modern games with an undeniably retro vibe…

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (Switch eShop)

Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Yacht Club Games / Developer: Yacht Club Games

Release Date: 3rd Mar 2017 (USA) / 3rd Mar 2017 (UK/EU)
198X (Switch eShop)

198X (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Hi-Bit Studios / Developer: Hi-Bit Studios

Release Date: 23rd Jan 2020 (USA) / 23rd Jan 2020 (UK/EU)
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (Switch eShop)

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Inti Creates / Developer: Inti Creates

Release Date: 24th May 2018 (USA) / 24th May 2018 (UK/EU)
Horizon Chase Turbo (Switch eShop)

Horizon Chase Turbo (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Aquiris / Developer: Aquiris

Release Date: 28th Nov 2018 (USA) / 28th Nov 2018 (UK/EU)
Mega Man 11 (Switch)

Mega Man 11 (Switch)

Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom

Release Date: 2nd Oct 2018 (USA) / 2nd Oct 2018 (UK/EU)
The Messenger (Switch eShop)

The Messenger (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Devolver Digital / Developer: Sabotage

Release Date: 30th Aug 2018 (USA) / 30th Aug 2018 (UK/EU)
Sonic Mania Plus (Switch)

Sonic Mania Plus (Switch)

Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Christian Whitehead

Release Date: 17th Jul 2018 (USA) / 17th Jul 2018 (UK/EU)
Blaster Master Zero 2 (Switch eShop)

Blaster Master Zero 2 (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Inti Creates / Developer: Inti Creates

Release Date: 20th Mar 2019 (USA) / 20th Mar 2019 (UK/EU)
Stardew Valley (Switch eShop)

Stardew Valley (Switch eShop)

Publisher: ConcernedApe / Developer: ConcernedApe

Release Date: 5th Oct 2017 (USA) / 5th Oct 2017 (UK/EU)
Axiom Verge (Switch eShop)

Axiom Verge (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Thomas Happ Games / Developer: Thomas Happ Games

Release Date: 5th Oct 2017 (USA) / 5th Oct 2017 (UK/EU)
Cuphead (Switch eShop)

Cuphead (Switch eShop)

Publisher: StudioMDHR / Developer: StudioMDHR

Release Date: 18th Apr 2019 (USA) / 18th Apr 2019 (UK/EU)

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