Running out of space on your Nintendo Switch or have a slow download speed? Fear not, there are plenty of super small Switch games you can pick up (and often for small prices).
Nintendo Switch small-size games – top 3
The best Nintendo Switch games with a small file size (under 500MB) are:
- Into the Breach
- Katana Zero
- Collection of Mana
Best small file size Switch games (under 500MB)
Big doesn’t always mean better. Downwell is the smallest Switch game at just 98MB – and its better than most!
Sticking to these small file size games should help you avoid filling up your Switch’s limited storage space. Great news if you (like a lot of us) are confused about the difference between archive and delete on Switch as you won’t have to think about doing either.
Another advantage of these types of games is the minimal stress they put on the console’s hardware, which can only be a positive thing for your Switch’s lifespan. What’s not to like about small-size Switch games?!
Into the Breach – 464MB
I can’t say enough good things about tiny turn-based strategy title Into the Breach.
It’s deservedly chalked up 9’s and 10’s across dozens of reviews, with the Switch version earning an impressive metascore of 89 on Metacritic.
Players take charge of futuristic mechs to help save the world from an alien threat. Nothing too original about that, but the premise doesn’t have to be original when the gameplay is so good.
The replayability meter is off the charts thanks to customizable mechs and randomly generated levels. It’s fun, it’s quick to learn (which is great for more casual turn-based strategy game players), and – warning – it’s addictive.
A deserving winner of the Best Strategy Game award at the 2018 Game Awards.
Katana Zero – 359MB
Katana Zero is so cool.
This is one of the best indie games on Switch you might not know about yet. It’s a 2D action-platformer full of stylish slashing and dashing through impressively atmospheric levels.
The background story is charming and clever and the one-hit-kill mechanic is given some neat context through the main character’s ability to control time (the slow-mo effect is particularly awesome).
The visuals obviously don’t put any strain on the Switch’s custom NVIDIA Tegra processor but that’s kind of the point – you don’t have to have the most powerful hardware to deliver a memorable gaming experience.
Collection of Mana – 356MB
I’m a sucker for the Mana series so Collection of Mana was an insta-buy for me.
It’s also the first time that Trials of Mana has been officially made available outside of Japan.
The high fantasy RPG action in the three bundled games – Final Fantasy Adventure, Secret of Mana, and Trials of Mana – is utterly timeless and it feels great on the Switch – especially in handheld mode.
One of the neat functions in this Switch update is the ability to quick-save at any point in the games (just like how save states work on emulators like Retroarch).
I’m glad it’s OK to play Switch while charging because playing for hours at a time in handheld mode while curled up on the sofa is the ultimate way to experience Collection of Mana.
Baba Is You – 228MB
Baba Is You is one of my most enjoyable puzzle game experiences in years.
You control Baba, a cute little white… thing and you push words around to form sentences in order to complete each level.
The ability to jump back one move at any point gives you a little bit of space to experiment with different ideas.
Some of the levels feel fiendishly difficult but once the solution is apparent, it’s extremely satisfying (even if you end up kicking yourself as I did).
Sonic Mania – 390MB
There isn’t much about Sonic Mania that I can say that hasn’t already been said.
Sonic is one of the most successful video game franchises of all time for a reason and this all-new adventure strips everything back to the winning 2D high-speed side-scrolling formula.
Sega, as usual, delivers a phenomenal soundtrack and the visuals are equally high quality.
There are new zones as well as classic levels reimagined, and you can play as Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles. Honestly, what’s not to like?
Undertale – 220MB
Undertale earned international plaudits following its 2015 release on OS X and Windows, and it finally arrived on Switch in 2018. Not a moment too soon. It’s one of 16 titles on Metacritics top 100 Switch games of all time that take up less than 500GB of space.
The strong writing really lifts the experience and helps you feel like there’s plenty at stake for each puzzle or mini-game that you encounter.
Undertale’s rather unique combination of classic RPG with bullet-hell elements is refreshing and rewarding.
The visual style, which is, to be honest, rough and ugly, does have its own charm and is absolutely worth sticking with.
Enter the Gungeon – 443MB
Enter the Gungeon is a 2016 bullet-hell dungeon crawler from the same publishers who recently brought us the critically acclaimed Cult of the Lamb.
The roguelike market has been pretty crowded for several years now but Enter the Gungeon still stands out for its addictive gameplay, numerous characters, and even more numerous guns.
There’s so much content to discover in this game, you could easily put over 100 hours in and not play the same scenario twice.
It’s a shame that you can’t get custom characters on Switch – PC players can pick from any number of unofficial mods to add custom sprites into the game.
There is a truly stupendous range of weapons to pick from – guns that shoot bullets, guns that shoot lasers, guns that shoot smaller guns that shoot their own bullets, and even a gun called ‘the microtransaction gun’ (hilariously only available via DLC).
Kamiko – 117MB
At first glance, you might be mistaken for thinking Kamiko is a clone of the early 2D Legend of Zelda games. It looks sort of similar, but the gameplay isn’t that close to classic Zelda (don’t worry, it’s still great).
The aim is to explore the four levels to find shrines in each of them. Once you’ve found the four shrines, you’ll unlock the boss.
A single playthrough can be completed in as little as 30 minutes but, with three shrine maidens to pick from (each with their own playstyle), Kamiko has plenty of replay value.
Nintendo Switch games can be expensive but, at just $4.99 on the Nintendo Store, Kamiko is proof that you can get a great bang for your buck on the Switch if you know where to look.
Mini Metro – 211MB
In Mini Metro, players take on the role of city planners to devise the best subway map design for a growing city.
The minimalist visual design and warming soundscape make Mini Metro a relaxing real-time strategy experience (though it could equally be described as a resource-management survival horror game).
It’s a game that generally resolves much more quickly than other strategy games for the PC, but you can nevertheless manage to maintain your subway system for well over an hour once you know what you’re doing.
Behold the Kickmen – 491MB
Behold the Kickmen is a firmly tongue-in-cheek title that really goes all-in on ripping the traditional soccer sim genre a new one.
The gameplay takes place on oval (rather than rectangular) soccer pitches and you get more points for scoring goals from further away. It’s just nuts.
There’s a ridiculous story mode to get stuck into where you can earn and spend money on upgrading your team and if that wasn’t enough, a full-on separate ‘Dystopian Future Bloodsport’ mode.
One big drawback is the lack of any multiplayer options (local or online) which is a shame, but this is still one of my favorite soccer games on Switch.
Bonus: Nintendo Switch small-size games (500MB – 1GB)
If you have a little extra space to play with, the following five games are definitely worth checking out. They are all so good that I felt like I had to give them a little mention:
- Northgard (776MB) – Probably the best RTS game on Switch
- Broforce (690MB) – Hilarious, over-the-top side-scrolling action
- Overcooked! (990MB) – Great for Switch couples & couch co-op sessions
- Slay the Spire (540MB) – Deck-building roguelike mashup
- Coffee Talk (967MB) – Fascinating slice-of-life experience
Small size Switch games – conclusion
Into the Breach, Katana Zero, and Collection of Mana are some of the best small-size Switch games. However, there are plenty more excellent small Switch games on the Nintendo Store – any of the games featured in this article deliver plenty of top-tier gameplay.
