2024 was once again an excellent year for gaming. A lot of exciting games have been released on Nintendo Switch in particular, not just big exclusive titles, but also many small onescreative and high-class insider tips,which can be easily overlooked.
In case you missed a few hits this year, we have them here in our annual reviewten big and small Switch highlights from 2024put together and explain to you why it's worth catching up on them during your Christmas vacation:
Super Mario Party Jamboree
With Super Mario Party Jamboree, the biggest Mario Party of all time was released this year.An impressive 110 mini-gamesare offered to you, including some that rely on the motion control of the Joy-Con controllers. In addition, you willseven different game boardsoffered, five of which are completely new and offer some unusual ideas, such as the Gumba Lagoon, which constantly changes due to ebb and flow and volcanic eruptions.
Super Mario Party Jamboree im Nintendo eShop
There are also new modes, such as the Bowserathlon online mode, which is available for the first timeUp to twenty people compete against each other in a racecan. The goal is reached first by whoever collects the most points in mini-games. Of course it still existsklassicModus,in which up to four people fight for victory on a game board and, depending on which field the luck of the dice lands on, have to overcome a variety of challenges.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Echoes of Wisdom is an exceptional Zelda game in two ways. On the one handThis time you play Princess Zelda herself,who has to defend her empire single-handedly after Link disappears. On the other hand, you are offered a completely new gameplay idea: With the help of the so-called Trirod, Zelda cancreate copies of items and monsters,that you have encountered previously in the game, which is useful in both puzzles and battles.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom im Nintendo eShop
With the new mechanics you canSolve problems in creative ways.For example, you can have monsters fight in your place or throw copied rocks at your enemies. If you want to climb a cliff, you can stack water blocks and swim up in them. Otherwise, Echoes of Wisdom again offers the tried and tested mixAction, exploration and puzzles in dungeons,that you can expect from a real Zelda game.
Animal Well
Animal Well is a2D-Pixel-Platformerwith a dark pixel art style and Metroidvania level design. As a small, round creature you explore the labyrinthine world of a huge fountain and, with the help of candles, bring light and safety into the mysterious darkness little by little. You will often come across creatures that...are many times larger than youhimself.Many of them are dangerous, but some are also friendly and helpful.
Correctly assessing the risk is part of the game, which has few other rules for you and youlook for your own pathlets. As you progress through the game, you will come across valuable items and upgrades that give you completely new abilities. This can make it worthwhile to return later to places you have already visitedPuzzle,Fightsand challenges,that were previously too difficult for you to tackle again in a completely different way.
Balatro
Balatro is one of the big surprise hits of 2024 and, according to critics, one of the best games of the year. At OpenCritic, the indie game has an international rating average ofan impressive 91 points.Although the card game is superficially reminiscent of poker, it is a sophisticated oneRoguelike-Deckbuilder.In each round you have to beat a certain score by placing poker hands from pair to royal flush.
What makes the whole thing interesting is that150 different jokers,which give you bonuses for playing certain cards. If you combine these jokers cleverly and develop an efficient strategy, you will soon be pleased to see how your score makes a huge jump. Through successes you earn in-game currency, which you can use to buy more jokersfurther improve your deck of cardsand adapt it to your playing style.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership
The latest part of the series, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, was only released in NovemberRole-playing seriesreleased on the Game Boy Advance over 20 years ago. As in the predecessors, you control here againMario and Luigi at the same time,Each player has their own button for jumping, dodging and attacking. In battles, the two can combine their unique skills to create powerful combo attacks.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership im Nintendo eShop
This time the brothers end up in the country of Konektania, which has broken into many small islands and needs to be reunited. They explore the open sea with oneMixture of huge ship and floating island. Mario and Luigi meet on the diverse islands of Konektania, which offer bubbling lava as well as vast ice landscapesold friends like Peach and Bowser,But you also get to know many new characters and also come across numerous puzzles and mini-games.
Unicorn Overlord
Unicorn Overlord is captivating at first glancemagical look,which combines 3D graphics with two-dimensional pixel figures and shines with elaborately animated anime characters in the separate battle screens. But the real highlight is the gameplay: you don't just move around with a small group of heroes, you canentire armiesLead humans, elves, angels and other creatures.
Unicorn Overlord im Nintendo eShop
Your goal is to conquer the kingdom and take your rightful place on the throneapproximately 50 to 100 hours of playwill probably be busy for a long time. You can freely explore the open game world. In the fights, you don't control your characters directly; they attack independently. Thetactical depthcomes from the correct composition and determining the behavior of your troops.
Paper Mario: The Legend of the Aeon Gate
Paper Mario: The Legend of the Aeon Gate for Switch is a new edition of the GameCube classicgreatly improved graphicsoffers, but of course retains the cute paper figure look that is the trademark of the series. The role-playing game sends you on a search for the missing Princess Peach, who in turn has been tracking down a legendary treasure. This one in turn seems to have oneancient, lost cityto be connected.
Paper Mario: The Legend of the Aeon Gate on Nintendo eShop
The fighting is ongoingturn-based in the classic JRPG stylebut also offer an action element because you can strengthen your attacks through good timing. Mario is always accompanied by one of hismany different companionswho help him with a variety of special skills. In addition to the fights, you explore the fascinating game world and solve puzzles using Paper Mario's paper skills, including transforming into a paper airplane.
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes
Do you want to play something that is completely different from all the games you know? Then you’ve come to the right place at Lorelei and the Laser Eyes! Thedüstere Mystery-Adventureis something special because of its unique graphic style in white, red and black. You take on the role of a woman who was lured into a mysterious hotel and is now in onesurreal, nightmarish environmentfrom which there seems to be no escape.
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes im Nintendo eShop
To find out what's going on, you'll need to search your surroundings for clues such as books, letters, and other documents, as well assolve over 150 puzzles,some of which follow a bizarre but nevertheless consistent logic. Unusual camera perspectives are often used. Plus, you're not the only person in the hotel, you'll learn a lot along the waybizarre charactersknow, but their existence usually raises further questions.
Little Kitty, Big City
If you have a heart for cats or just like cute, heartwarming games in general, you should definitely check out Little Kitty, Big City. Here you try aslittle black kittenTo find your way home, you can instead boldly venture out on an exploration tour through the streets of the big city. TheOpen Worldhas a lot of secrets and surprises in store for you.
Little Kitty, Big City im Nintendo eShop
That's how you canencounter many other animals,Befriend them and complete tasks for them. But you can also cause chaos and frustration among people by knocking over flowers and paint pots or even stealing their smartphones. The game also offers you numerous options, yourto make kittens even cuter,by putting different hats on it or decorating it with rabbit ears.
Princess Peach: Showtime!
With Princess Peach: Showtime! The famous princess from the Mario universe has her this yearfirst ownsSwitch gamereceive. Peach slips in to save a theater performance that has been hijacked by villainsten different disguises,This means that not only their appearance, but also the gameplay changes completely over and over again. If you appear as a sword master or a kung fu peach, the action is clearly in the foreground.
Princess Peach: Showtime! im Nintendo eShop
As a ninja or master thief, however, you need to act quietly and secretly, while as a detective you solve cases and as Patissière Peach you demonstrate your baking talent. Princess Peach: Showtime! is therefore one of themost varied Switch games ever,especially since spectacular boss fights await you in the over 30 levels. By the way, you can find one in the Nintendo eShopfree demo,if you want to try it out first.
This article is a sponsored story that was created on behalf of one of Webedia's advertising partners. It was created by a freelance author who is not a member of the GamePro editorial team. The offers listed contain so-called affiliate links.
