Nintendo Switch is now one of the most popular consoles of its generation, selling over 153 million units worldwide. As the Switch 2 is released, the family continues to grow, providing gamers with even more reasons to invest in Nintendo’s hybrid console. However, hardware is important, but the real magic is the software. Any console without apps and games is an incomplete smartphone without internet.
The Switch does not only focus on blockbuster games like Super Smash Bros, Ultimate, or The Legend of Zelda. It also offers a lot of apps and unique programs that make it not only a gaming device. The Switch offers more than you can imagine, both in terms of streaming videos, making your own RPGs, or converting your workouts into enjoyable adventures.
Here are the most important apps and games that any Switch (and Switch 2) owner must add to their library.
Pokémon Home
The Pokémon franchise has been one of the main drivers of Nintendo, and Pokémon Home takes it to the next level. The app is developed as a universal storage tool for your Pokémon collection, where you can transfer your monsters across several games with ease. It gets rid of the previous frustrations of losing time in complex transfer activities, making it very easy to carry your favorite Pokémon between generations.
Beyond storage, Pokémon Home also has extra functions like trading with other players, getting special gifts, and viewing detailed 3D models of your Pokémon. While some advanced features require a subscription plan, the free version remains incredibly helpful to collectors.
Pokémon Home will make sure that you do not lose progress even when you have spent years building your dream teams. Whether it’s your prized shiny or a legendary catch, this app guarantees that your roster will be safe and available in future Pokémon games.
Sky: Children of the Light
From the creators of Journey, Sky: Children of the Light is a beautiful artistic journey that integrates exploration and social interaction. While it is technically an MMO, it focuses more on connection and creativity than traditional combat.
Players explore open skies, solve puzzles, and communicate with others through gestures and emotes rather than speaking to them. The result is a relaxing, meditative adventure that is refreshing and unique.
The game is free to play, with optional seasonal passes for added content. Regular updates keep players constantly entertained with new things to explore, making Sky one of the Switch’s most essential free experiences.
YouTube
A modern console is incomplete without video streaming, and the Switch is not an exception. On the Nintendo Switch, YouTube will have the same huge content library that you can find on other platforms, but with the option to play anywhere.
While the Switch does not have apps with such giants as Netflix, the void is partially covered by YouTube due to the unlimited source of free content. It makes your console a multi-purpose media device, with tutorials and game demos, music, and entertainment.
It is especially attractive to gamers, who like to mix play sessions with a video break. While a Wi-Fi connection is required, the big screen and portability make it a must-have for casual entertainment.
InkyPen
Reading is not dead, it is just changing. InkyPen is a Nintendo Switch digital comic book reader. It makes your console a portable library of graphic novels, manga, and comics: it is a unique app within the gaming ecosystem.
The app is free to download and contains a collection of content, but the subscription plan is the true value. For around $8 a month, you gain access to a vast collection of stories, ranging from indie comics to big-name publishers.
Like a superhero story, manga, or a graphic novel about the dark world, InkyPen is an ideal companion app to any Switch user who likes to read the visual story.
RPG Maker
RPG Maker is a great place to start for those people who would like to create their own video games. This pp makes game creation even more reachable and enjoyable, as it shows you how to create retro-style RPGs. You can use simple tools and pre-built assets to bring your creative ideas into reality without requiring deep coding skills.
Nintendo features multiple editions within Switch, including RPG Maker MV and RPG Maker WITH. While they cost about $50, the latter even has a free trial, so you can test it to be sure before investing. That makes it an excellent tool for beginners who want to experiment with game design.
While it only supported 2D RPGs, RPG Maker is one of the most engaging ways to dip a foot into game development. Game Builder Garage and FUZE4 give even greater freedom to players who wish to explore other genres.
Nintendo Classics (via Switch Online)
Nintendo Switch Online is not just an online gaming subscription. Its Nintendo Classics collection provides players with access to an ever-growing library of retro games in the history of Nintendo and Sega. From the NES to the SNES, Game Boy, and Nintendo 64, the Switch is a nostalgic experience among old-time gamers and an educational experience for beginners.
You can access more systems like the Game Boy Advance, Sega Genesis, and even GameCube titles on the Switch 2, depending on your subscription level. While not all the older games are available in the service, it still offers a solid mix of cult classics and other time-tested fan favorites.
For many players, this collection alone justifies the price of Switch Online. Games like F-Zero GX, Chibi-Robo!, and Soul Calibur II make the subscription a must-have for fans of classic gaming.
Ring Fit Adventure
Fitness and gaming rarely mix, but Nintendo has a history of making the impossible possible. Ring Fit Adventure gamifies workouts by making it a turn-based RPG game. With the special Ring-Con peripheral and Joy-Cons, you use the real exercises to fight enemies and progress through the story.
The game includes strength training, yoga poses, and cardio workouts, and offers an efficient workout. Although you will not build bodybuilder muscles, you will get endurance and get motivated because of its interactive nature.
The limitation is that it does not completely support Switch Lite or Switch 2 due to hardware compatibility. However, for Switch and Switch OLED users, it remains one of the most innovative and fun ways to stay active.
Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivors shows that simplicity may be addictive. The game is based on the concept of surviving 30 minutes of time, killing endless waves of enemies. Characters attack automatically, but the game moves forward through collecting items, leveling up, and unlocking new weapons.
Its short, replayable nature makes it ideal for handheld gaming. Every session is satisfying due to flashy lights, sound effects, and unending movement. It has one of the best price-value ratios on the Switch at only $4.99 (with optional low-cost DLC).
Vampire Survivors is a must-play game if you want an easy to learn but difficult-to-leave game.
