Here I am, thinking about buying Skyrim again on Switch. Yes, Skyrim. A game I’ve played for 197 hours on Steam in addition to God knows how many on console.
I’ve already made the case for why the Switch is so good for playing old games. Look no further than the impressive number of hours I’ve put into Minecraft and Cave Story in 2017. While there are lots of Nintendo’s own classic games I’d play (or play again) on Switch, it’s a safe bet that they’ll march to their own drummer when it comes to bringing those up.
Games released by third-party publishers, however... well, it’s just a matter of who wants to make more money on their old games first. So. What other games might I buy again on Nintendo’s handheld? Let’s see.
The Orange Box
Are you kidding me? There was a time when I played Half-Life 2 about once a year. Those times could return, if I could do it on the bus. Maybe at the end of Episode 2, they can have the Switch web browser automatically load up Epistle 3.
Mass Effect Trilogy
How is this not a thing? This should be a thing. Can you imagine? Of course you can. BioWare: please do this. Throw in Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire while you’re at it.
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
I mean really, we could do all of the Assassin’s Creed games, but this is the one I’d most like to play on the go. Ubisoft clearly has a taste for the Switch after the success of Mario + Rabbids, so maybe this will actually come to pass.
Resident Evil 4
I like Resident Evil Revelations on Switch and everything, but I want to play RE4 so much more. I missed out on the Wii port, and the Switch Joy-Con do a passable Wiimote imitation. I feel like this one is likely.
Metal Gear Solid 3
This one, also, seems like a sure thing. I’ve still never finished MGS3, and think the Switch might finally be the platform for me to finish the whole game. I already own it on like five different systems, what’s a sixth? Take a break from Pachinko for five minutes and port it over, Konami.
All Three Zero Escape Games
I’ve wanted to play all three Zero Escape games (999, Virtue’s Last Reward, Zero Time Dilemma) for ages, but despite having them across several different systems (3DS, Vita, Steam), I never really have. I would if they came to Switch, which is likely just a matter of time. (Similar deal for all the old Phoenix Wright games, which I actually probably wouldn’t play again but would still love to see come to Switch.)
Fallout: New Vegas
I would also play Fallout 3 again on Switch, but what I really want to play is New Vegas. I never finished that game, if there is such a thing as “finishing” a Bethesda game, but I bet I would if it came to Switch. Right after I finish Skyrim again.
Dark Souls
Yep. Yes. Make this happen, From. Make it happen! Come on! What do I have to do??
Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons
Here’s an interesting indie game that I bet a lot of people still haven’t played, and it’d be good as heck on the Switch. You could pop the Joy-Con off of the console and feel even more like you’re playing a co-op game with yourself. Let’s just use this entry as a stand-in for all the good last-gen indies like Braid and Bastion and the rest. They can all come to Switch, and I will play them.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
I guess they’ll probably port the whole Return to Arkham collection to Switch, but I mostly just want to replay the first game. Though I actually never got very far in that side-scrolling Metroidvania one (Arkham Origins: Blackgate) so hopefully they’ll port that over, too.
Dead Space 2
Another one that’ll probably turn up in some sort of Dead Space collection, but really the only one I’d want to replay. Maybe they could add Resident Evil-style motion aiming, the better to CUT OFF THEIR LIMBS.
Far Cry 3
I like Far Cry 2 better than its sequel, but for some reason Far Cry 3’s colorful, violence vacation vibe would work better for me on a handheld. I would play the hell out of either one on Switch.
BioShock Collection
Yep, would definitely play these again on Switch. Especially BioShock 2, the weird and underrated one that I only played once and don’t remember that well.
There are probably a hundred more old games that I would definitely buy again on Switch, but those are a start. Would I finish them? Probably not. Would I look back in a few years, see how little I played most of them, and regret my purchase? Maybe. Do I still hope they come to Switch, just so I can have the possibility of playing them all on the go? I do.