Summary
While theNintendo Switchisn’t exactly known for its online multiplayer capabilities, fans of the hybrid console have plenty of outstanding battle royales to play solo or with friends. Many of the genre’s best cross-platform games are here and run smoothly in both docked and handheld mode. There are even some incredible Switch-exclusive titles to boot.
The battle royale genre is perfect for all skill levels, and thanks to the Switch’s diverse library, there’s something to play for newcomers and experienced gamers. The best part is that many of the best titles are available for free on the eShop.
8F-Zero 99
A Fast-Paced Futuristic Racer
Based on the iconic SNES game, F-Zero 99 is a fast-paced battle royale where you and 98 other players race through futuristic tracks at ridiculously high speeds. Matches are exhilarating fights for survival as you and your opponents attempt to run each other off the road and zoom into first place.
If you want to climb the leaderboard,F-Zero 99 offers plenty of room for strategy. Each car has a health bar, which you can sacrifice a piece of for a boost of speed. The more people you knock out, the more health you’re granted. Each race lasts only a couple of minutes, making it perfect for quick pick-up-and-play sessions.
Inspired by Splatoon, Ninjala is a free-for-all battle royale that centers around ninja-based melee combat. The goal is to get as many points as possible by knocking out your opponents before time runs out. You have an array of cartoonish weapons to choose from, including bubble gum that you may chew and spit at foes.
What makes Ninjala unique are its ninjutsu abilities. During combat, you can run up walls or disguise yourself as inanimate objects to blend into the environment. There’s a bit of a learning curve, but you’ll get the hang of it after a few rounds.
Set in the Titanfall universe,Apex Legendsis a sci-fi first-person shooter in which several teams must survive an intense fight to the death by hunting for guns, armor, and upgrades. Teamwork is key, since you can revive fallen allies and communicate with them through the in-game ping system.
The diverse catalog of maps is complemented by a series of slopes and zip lines that make traversal fast and convenient. Even better - there are plenty of powerful weapons that cater to different play styles, ranging from devastating shotguns to SMGs. As the cherry on top, it’sfree to play.
5Kirby’s Dream Buffet
An Adorable Racer With Fighting Game Elements
Kirby’s Dream Buffethas you rolling through colorful food-based levels to grab as many strawberries as possible. In between races, you enter a battle mode where you fight the other puffballs to steal their fruit. Stages are filled with copy abilities, providing plenty of hilariously over-the-top ways to eliminate the competition.
The gameplay is fast-paced yet accessible, making it ideal for newcomers and experienced gamers. Since the servers are a bit of a ghost town, the game is best played with a group of two or three friends locally or online.
Have you ever wanted to play as adorable, gun-wielding pets? You can in Super Animal Royale. It’s a top-down shooter where you’re dropped on a battlefield and must scavenge for weapons to annihilate your rivals. The more matches you win, the more creatures you can breed.
The weapons range from the usual types, such as a katana and a grenade, to more silly options, like a hamster ball and skunk gas. The gameplay is easy to learn, and the unique camera angle and comedic tone create a refreshing twist on the battle royale format.
Fall Guysis the perfect battle royale if you’re new to the genre. You play as a little jelly bean person who must race dozens of foes through colorful obstacle courses, survival missions, and many other minigames. The goal is to rank high enough to qualify for subsequent rounds until you’re the last one standing.
The gameplay always produces smiles and laughs as you watch hoards of clumsy jelly beans trip over each other as they dash for the finish line. The wide variety of alternative outfits only adds to the charm and humor, allowing you to wear everything from a narwhal onesie to a Sonic the Hedgehog costume.
InTetris 99, you play the iconic puzzle game against 98 opponents. The goal is to knock out the competition by clearing lines of tetrominoes, which sends garbage pieces to your foes. But be careful because they can do the same to you.
Thankfully, the game gets frequent updates, including crossover content with other Nintendo Switch games. These include backgrounds, sound effects, and sprites from Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Pokemon Legends: Arceus, and more. The best part is that it’s free if you have an NSO subscription.
As the most famous battle royale ever,Fortnitetook the world by storm when it launched in 2017. Luckily,it runs flawlessly on Nintendo Switch. It’s arguably best known for its standard mode, which drops up to 100 players into a continuously shrinking arena. Once there, you must find weapons, build forts for defense, and shoot any foes in sight.
In addition, Fortnite features several side modes that mix up the gameplay. These include the survival-based Lego Fortnite, and the tower defense mode Save the World. Fortunately, the servers are still bustling, and the game receives frequent content updates.
