The Nintendo Switch Lite is by far the best portable console around. Here are the best games for the Switch Lite, perfect for playing on the go.
Nintendo made a bold move with the Nintendo Switch and they hit a massive gold vein. The console is selling like hotcakes so the company decided to offer the second Switch version in the form of the Switch Lite.
More affordable, made for portable play but without the option of hooking it up to a TV, the Switch Lite is excellent but some games just aren’t made to be enjoyed on a small screen.
And that’s the problem when you get the Switch Lite; you might hear praises about a particular game but once you try it you realize it isn’t enjoyable on the small screen.
Another issue is that some games just aren’t suited for short playing sessions that take place outside. Titles such as Fortnite and Splatoon 2 are multiplayer titles and you won’t get stable Wi-Fi in many places, which is needed to enjoy them.
On the other hand, we have games like Octopath Traveler, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Astral Chain, or Bayonetta 2, games that are much more enjoyable when played in longer, one-hour-plus sessions.
Finally, some games require your complete attention and aren’t suited for portable playing sessions in busy places or when you simply cannot give them undivided attention. Think of games such as the aforementioned Bayonetta 2, Dead Cells, Dark Souls, or Hollow Knight.
And some games just aren’t made for playing solo or without a way to play with friends, like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Luckily, the Switch already has an amazing library of games with lots of titles made for portable play.
Related: 25 Best Android Games Under 20MB For Android Phones
15 Best Games For Your Nintendo Switch Lite
The games on this list are perfect companions for people who own the Switch Lite and who plan on playing their games on the go. Check out the 15 best games for the Nintendo Switch Lite.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
You might think what the hell Breath of the Wild does on our best games for the Switch Lite list? Well, while the game can mesmerize you into spending the whole afternoon exploring Hyrule, BotW is also great in bite-size pieces.
Almost every shrine can be finished in 10-15 minutes. You can also cook food and gather some wood in just a few minutes. Also, gathering specific resources takes no more than 10-20 minutes, perfect for when you’re waiting for a bus or commuting to work.
And the game’s also made in a way that even a short, couple-minute-long exploration feels incredibly satisfying. You can climb on top of the nearby hill and discover something new and cool in just a couple of minutes.
Or you can locate that shrine you looked for last night before going to sleep. And once you’re home you can lie on the couch and explore Hyrule for the whole day.
Pokemon Sword and Shield
Another title that’s great both when played outside and in the comfort of your home. While Sword and Shield features a massive world to explore the game can be enjoyed in short bursts.
You can catch a couple of Pokemon, get supplies in the nearby town, or battle a few trainers in the nearby gym.
Since Pokemon started as a portable title it’s in its DNA to be portable friendly and honestly, you won’t find lots of games that are better suited for portable play than Pokemon Sword and Shield.
Yes, the game had a slew of controversies before it launched but ultimately it ended up as another excellent Pokemon title.
And BTW, there’s another Pokemon title for the Switch and Switch Lite and it’s also awesome to play on the go. Pokemon let’s go Pikachu and Let’s Go Eevee is a remake of the first Pokemon game and it is a perfect title for playing on the go.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a perfect game for the Switch Lite. It’s a turn-based tactical game in the vein of X-Com which means relatively small battles fought on brightly colored maps that look amazing on the small Switch Lite screen.
Next, battles are relatively short. You can start and finish a mission in the time it takes for you to travel to a few subway stations.
Next, the turn-based nature of the game allows players to pause and exit the game whenever they want. You cannot really exit the game in the middle of a boss battle in Bayonetta 2 or Hollow Knight.
You’ll probably get killed once you continue playing. But pausing Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle between two turns won’t hurt you because you’ll have all the time in the world to see where are you and what should be done next when you return to the game.
Into the Breach
Into the Breach isn’t only great on the go, it’s a game that’s perfect for long trips. You see, Into the Breach can be finished in a couple of hours, if you’re lucky.
But since the game features a permadeath system and since it’s really tricky you’ll probably end up dead in less than one hour.
This is excellent for long flights since you can enjoy the whole game in one session, and often start a new playthrough (the game has a massive replay value) before your flight ends.
And since Into the Breach is another turn-based game, it’s superb for short bursts of free time. Each battle lasts for about a dozen minutes and if you don’t have time to finish it well, pause the game and continue whenever you want; you’ll have plenty of time to think about your next move.
SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech
SteamWorld games are incredible indie titles. Each one fits into a different genre and each one is an indie masterpiece. The thing is, the most recognizable series, SteamWorld Dig is a Metroidvania-like game that’s best when played at home when you have lots of free time. SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech, on the other hand, is a nice little portable title.
This deckbuilding game with a neat story is a turn-based game, like most other card games. You collect new cards and constantly improve your deck while battling various foes.
And those battles are bite-sized set pieces that are every commuter’s dream. Short and turn-based, perfect for finishing in a dozen minutes or so. Get this game for your Nintendo Switch Lite and you’ll have months worth of phenomenal turn-based card battles.
Stardew Valley
A fan-favorite sandbox game, Stardew Valley can be enjoyed for five minutes a day and you’ll still enjoy it more than most other video games available on the market.
You can care a bit about your farm, go to the town to finish a couple of errands, or just go on a short but sweet fishing trip and you’ll have a blast.
And then once you get home, it’s time for some serious work. Stardew Valley can be played for hours on end without realizing just how much time has passed. Maybe it’s better than to play it on the go because that way, at least you’ll have to quit eventually.
Playing Stardew Valley in your house means no social life, missing meals, and forget about having a life outside the sweet valley filled with joy and positive people.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Yes, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a definition of couch multiplayer but the fact is, this game is super enjoyable even when playing it solo. Sure, you’ll miss playing with friends on a large screen but the game has a ton of content to be enjoyable in portable mode.
A huge number of single-player races across a number of gradually harder and harder cups. Excellent online support with literally millions of players waiting for you to hit you with all kinds of powerups online.
And well, Mario Kart races are explosive and short events that end before you realize the guy behind you knocked you down with a red shell in the last corner.
Perfect for five-minute breaks or short commutes but also excellent for night-long multiplayer sessions against people from all around the world.
Slay the Spire
While SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamesh follows a story and has a moderate replay value Slay the Spire comes with nearly infinite replay value and an average playtime of about three hours.
That’s three hours in case you actually reach the infamous spire; in most cases, you’ll end the session in an hour or less since you’ll be killed during some nasty boss battle.
That’s perfect for long trips. As with Into the Breach, you can complete the game in one sitting and then get ready for more.
That’s because Slay the Spire comes with four characters, each with their unique playstyle and a selection of cards that get unlocked as you play the game. Next, each play session is different because the spire is randomly generated.
There are also numerous deck combinations, always calling you back to try out a new deadly deck. And battles are short. They last anywhere from 20 seconds to about five or 10 minutes, perfect for playing on the go.
Finally, the turn-based nature of the game allows players to stop playing at any moment and return to the game without suffering any penalty.
But the most important thing of them all, Slay the Spire is a masterpiece in game design that will hook you and keep you addicted for months, years even.
Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition
Rayman Legends is one of the best platformers around. Marvelous visuals, incredible level design, and spot-on gameplay are the best things about this game. Get it for your Switch Lite and you’ll have hours upon hours of impeccable platformer fun.
The game’s also excellent for short-burst gaming sessions. Levels aren’t too demanding and can be finished in 5-10 minutes; you won’t need lots of retries making it possible to finish a couple of levels each day while traveling to work; once you get home, it’s time to replay levels where you didn’t collect every single lum and to battle bosses, which can be a bit tricky.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker was a 3DS game before it came out for the Wii U and Switch. This means the game was built from the ground up for a portable console.
Levels are short and filled with puzzles that require players to spot small details that are visible even on the relatively small screen of the Switch Lite.
Graphics are colorful and perfectly suited for visibility even if you play at the park while the sun is shining directly at the screen. And the puzzle gameplay combined with short but sweet levels means you can stop playing at any moment and once you return to the game you won’t have to think for long what to do next.
Each level can be finished in just a few steps, which is great for people who have to take constant breaks.
Overall, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is one of the best games for the Nintendo Switch Lite. Excellently designed puzzles, beautiful presentation, and superb portable playability. It can’t get much better than this.
Celeste
Yes, Celeste is a super hard game that asks your undivided attention on each level. But, the game features short levels that can be finished in a minute, like the cult classic Super Meat Boy (another great game for the Switch Lite).
In case you die you restart immediately from the last checkpoint and the game doesn’t require the sound to be turned on.
Next, visuals are done in a simple pixel art style with pronounced colors, which is perfect when playing on a small screen. And since the game requires high precision the proper D-pad found the Switch Lite is much better than that poorly made excuse of a D-pad found on Joycons.
So yes, Celeste is a tough game that doesn’t forgive even a single mistake. But on the other hand, its levels are super short and you can retry a level dozens of times during a short commute or a lunch break.
Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Odyssey is the best platforming game for the Nintendo Switch Lite and a perfect companion for all portable gamers.
Nintendo nailed this one and made it, like Zelda: Breath of the Wild, an excellent title to play for five minutes of five hours. You can progress through the game at your own pace. Each level is massive but they are designed in a way for players to pick up from where they left off without wondering where the hell are they.
And once you have lots of time on your hands Super Mario Odyssey really becomes an odyssey that can be played for the whole day. And no, the game doesn’t suffer from being played on the small screen on the Switch Lite; it looks and plays perfectly.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
The second Zelda game for the Nintendo Switch Lite is a smaller title without a massive open world. And since this one’s a remake of the classic game for the original Game Boy it’s made for portable play in mind.
The world of Koholint Island is tiny compared to Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule but this tiny tropical paradise hides lots of secrets and lots of cool adventures.
Dungeons and most quests can be finished in a jiffy and exploration through bite-sized parts of the map doesn’t suffer during short playing sessions.
We recommend playing Link’s Awakening exclusively while you’re out and about because once you enter the game while at home, you’ll finish it in two afternoons and then feel sorry for burning through it in such a short time. This is probably the best game for the Nintendo Switch Lite.
SteamWorld Heist Ultimate Edition
Another turn-based title for the Switch Lite and another wondrous SteamWorld title. This time developers went the way of X-Com but in 2D and the result is striking.
The game looks gorgeous, battles are tactical while not feeling unfair, and the game features more than a solid story for an indie turn-based tactical action game. Along with Into the Breach and Slay the Spire, SteamWorld Heist is the best indie game for the Switch Lite.
Playing on the move is where the game excels since its 2D battles look amazing on the Nintendo Switch Lite screen and because it really doesn’t matter how much time you have to play it.
The game’s an excellent pickup-and-play title where even ten minutes of playtime a day feels enjoyable and rewarding. But once you get home you’re hooked. Get ready for marathon sessions that can stretch deep after midnight.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Tropical Freeze is one of the best Donkey Kong Country games of all time. Slick visuals, smooth controls, and lots of expertly designed levels look gorgeous on the Switch Lite’s humble screen.
The game features relatively short levels that can be finished in 10-15 minutes. Just be ready to try each level a couple of times since most are a bit challenging.
But don’t worry since each level features more than a couple of checkpoints so even if you only have five minutes to play the game you will make progress.
The only thing we recommend is playing Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze with the sound on because the music is excellent. Definitely one of the best games for the Nintendo Switch Lite.