Get ready to work those little grey cells as we check out the best puzzle games on Nintendo Switch!
Sometimes, there’s nothing better than kicking back with a puzzle game and patting yourself on the back for completing a really hard challenge.
Who am I kidding; I live for this stuff. It’s why I’ve always been obsessed with the best Zelda games, after all.
Now that the DS is no longer in production, the Switch is the perfect handheld for players to get their puzzle fix on the go.
And when you’re back home, you can continue the action on your TV.
From famous series that dropped on the DS through to new and exciting titles to the Switch, here’s 10 of the best puzzle games in 2022 for you to work your brain muscles and give yourself a better IQ.
That last sentence isn’t guaranteed, but it sounds pretty convincing, right?
Table of Contents
1. Gorogoa (2017)
We’ve puzzled our way to Number 1, and Gorogoa is officially the best puzzle game for the Nintendo Switch!
Seriously, this game is beautiful. That word isn’t used enough to describe video games, but it’s well and truly meant here.
All the artwork in this title is hand drawn by an artist called Jason Roberts. It’s truly unique and utterly original, combining tricky puzzles that will make your brain hurt with stunning visuals that will fill you with wonder.
What a review, eh!
Just look at those stills above! It’s like flicking through an actual picture book, utilising incredible illustrations to drive the narrative forward and keep the action flowing.
I think as a fan of fantasy novels with a huge imagination swimming around my massive head, this game appeals to me on so many levels.
Puzzles galore with a wholly original way of looking at a computer game, all perfectly packaged on the Nintendo Switch.
What more could a person want?
2. The Gardens Between (2018)
The Gardens Between takes the 2nd spot in our list of the best puzzle games on Nintendo Switch!
Looking and feeling like a cross between Brothers and The Curse Of Monkey Island, this game sees two characters moving through beautiful garden islands.
The weird thing about this game that makes it instantly shoot to second place, however, is the fact that the players don’t control the characters.
They manipulate time!
I love the direction of this game and how different it is from others in the genre. It’s both a testament to the power of friendship and also a game that makes you think about the effects that time has on all of us.
Mess with memories Harry Potter-style and contend with worlds where time flows in all directions.
Each puzzle you solve contributes to an interesting and immersive plot line that will have you well and truly hooked. It’s a game with many levels and branches, one that’s a true work of art.
3. World Of Goo (2017)
World of Goo might not have received a physical release on the Wii, but you can grab a copy of it for the Switch and stick it on your shelf with pride.
This is one of the most addictive games I’ve ever played. It’s like one of those iPhone games that did the rounds back in the day like Flappy Bird or Cut the Rope, except it’s actually stood the test of time.
And the best but is that it’s not only cleverly made but also really eye-catching too!
Some of the best Indie games on Switch are just as good as the main titles from the major developers, and while World of Goo isn’t ever going to beat BotW in good looks, it’s definitely a title that everyone needs to play.
So what is all the fuss about?
Well, players need to build blob structures over chasms and create towers to reach heights. You need to head to the goo pipe at one point in the level so your little guys can escape.
The fewer blobs you use, the more points you get. If you need a game to keep your brain healthy, then give this one a go!
4. Tetris Effect: Connected (2021)
Tetris Effect: Connected reimagines Tetris in a whole new way. Gone are the blocky visuals of the NES days (though it’s still about blocks) or the slow-building wonders of the N64 title.
If you’ve ever played Lumines or Rez, then it won’t come as a surprise to know that the same developers made this game.
With epic tunes and special effects, it’s like Tetris fell into a rave and never wanted to come out!
The iconic tumbling puzzler now feels like an audio-visual sensory experience that messes with and enriches the mind in equal measure.
Everything moves in time with how you’re playing, making all the stages wholly unique every time you play.
It’s Tetris at the core with tonnes of bells and whistles, a nice change for anyone looking to up their game from the DMG days.
5. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (2018)
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker takes the 5th spot in this list of the best puzzle games on Nintendo Switch!
It’s the first game where Toad has been put in the limelight and not as a supporting character, and he makes a real good job of it too!
Searching for treasure, this little ‘fun-guy’ works his way through a Yoshi’s story-style comic book while solving treasure and uncovering gold.
Exploration and puzzle-solving are perfectly combined in this game. Find collectables, defeat enemies, and find the golden star normally saved for Mario to collect.
That backpack of Toads has a lot of exciting weapons and items in it too; he’s not messing about!
The Wii U made this game look super swish, but it’s even more impressive on the Switch. Kicking back with my OLED Switch while collecting mushrooms and dodging bad guys never fails to make me smile.
Does Toad eating mushrooms make him a cannibal? Is he eating his own family members?
6. Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy (2019)
Professor Layton is one of the best detectives of our time. But when he goes missing in Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires’ Conspiracy, his daughter has to solve the mystery of his disappearance.
Don’t worry though; Katrielle is just as sharp as her dad and more than capable of cracking the case.
If you miss the days of clicking for puzzle coins on the DS, then playing this game in handheld mode will definitely scratch your puzzle itch.
Or, see all the action on the big screen with the Switch docked and use the Joycon motion controls to help uncover clues and complete puzzles.
This looks and feels like Professor Layton 2.0. If you enjoyed the Curious Village, then this mind-bending puzzlefest will keep you smiling for days on end.
7. Sushi Striker: The Way Of The Sushido (2018)
Sushi Striker: The Way Of The Sushido takes the 7th spot on our list of the best puzzle games on Nintendo Switch!
Any game that has the tagline ‘Eat to Defeat’ is always going to be a winner in my book. That’s even more so when Sushi is involved too.
Control a character with an appetite as big as their bravery as you defend your land from an evil empire.
Oh, and it takes place in a time period called ‘The Sushi Struggles’… how cool is that!
If you’ve ever played the mini games in Mario Party, then you’ll be all over this plate-matching game.
I know I’m used to eating sushi, but it’s also used as a weapon here.
Maybe the fish is a little off?
Build the biggest plate stack and finish off your opponent in true Sushido-style!
8. Mr. Driller: DrillLand (2020)
Want to travel to a secret amusement park under the ground? Mr. Driller: DrillLand can take you there in a heartbeat!
With 5 attractions to drill your way through, there’s plenty for Mr Driller fans to sink their teeth into in this game.
And of course, there are tough bosses to beat along the way too. Because no attraction is complete without a gnarly enemy to destroy!
This is the very first Mr Driller game on the console too. This is one of the games that I usually only play handheld too; I don’t know why, but it feels like a feet-up, close-up type of game to me!
Play with up to four friends once you do get off the sofa and dock your Switch, or just dig to your heart’s content in the Easy mode.
That’s definitely the best thing to do on a lazy Sunday.
9. Snipperclips Plus (2017)
Snipperclips Plus is one of the niftiest games on the planet. It’s so simple to play and a real cute title to have a bash at with a friend or partner.
But don’t be fooled by its colourful graphics. This is a real tough cookie to crack at times and requires a lot of brain power.
It’s also easy to just be super annoying destroy your partner’s little character… which I’ve done a lot!
The main premise behind Snipperclips is working together to reach a certain goal or make a specific shape.
You’ll need to carefully snip your partners character in the right way, often combining together to create weird and wacky shaped or push objects towards a goal.
If you’re looking for a game that isn’t high-octane and easy to play no matter what your gaming level, then give Snipperclips Plus a go!
10. Art Of Balance (2018)
Art Of Balance finished off our list of the best puzzle games on Nintendo Switch, bringing 200 levels of addictive goodness to Nintendo’s handheld hero.
A game where you build a stack of shapes might not sound that addictive, but trust me… it is!
Any fans of the tension created while playing Wario Ware on the GameCube will instantly connect with this. Watch out for shapes breaking and some pieces even reversing gravity!
Online play is a nice touch in this game, but the local split screen will always be my favourite. Nothing says stress like having your friends poking and goading you while trying to stack objects.
If it wasn’t for the tranquil sounds of this game and amazing music, then I think I might have pulled my beard out a long time ago.
This is one that people of any gaming ability can play easily. Practice makes perfect, and you will find it incredibly tough to put down!
