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The Nintendo Switch Is The Best Console For Horror Games

With so many terrifying options to choose from, we thought it’d be fun to share our thoughts on why the Nintendo Switch is one of the best consoles for horror games. 

The Nintendo Switch Is The Best Console For Horror Games

Next week, Five Nights at Freddy’s and Alien: Isolation will be available for the very first time on Nintendo Switch, and they’re not alone. Other horror classics like Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Outlast have already been ported to Switch, with more added on a regular basis.

With so many terrifying options to choose from, we thought it’d be fun to share our thoughts on why the Nintendo Switch is one of the best consoles for horror games. 

Portability

First, let’s talk portability. If you aren’t looking to carry a hefty gaming laptop and all its accessories around wherever you go, the lightweight nature of the Nintendo Switch will likely appeal to you. 

The ease of taking the Switch out of docked mode and putting it into handheld mode is also a huge plus. If you want a cinematic experience while playing Alien: Isolation, you can dock your Switch and play with a Pro Controller. If you want to dial up the intensity, “switch” over to handheld mode.

With a wealth of carrying cases available that will keep everything in one place, you’ll be prepared whenever you feel brave enough to put another hour into the latest addition to your library of horror.

Fear on a Personal Level

You may find that horror games feel scarier when played in handheld mode thanks to conveniences like the Switch’s built-in headphone jack. With a solid pair of headphones plugged in, the Nintendo Switch is able to deliver a uniquely personal experience. 


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The rumble of the Joy-Cons is another noteworthy touch, lending a tactile sensation to a game’s audio and visual cues. With these features, you can focus all of your attention on the task at hand, such as staying alive in a game like Five Nights at Freddy’s. 

Seriously, it’s hard not to love turning off the lights and getting cozy with the Nintendo Switch under a nice, warm blanket. It’s peaceful… until Freddy Fazbear throws himself at your face. 

Huge Library

Even if Five Nights at Freddy’s isn’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of other indie horror games to choose from. Ones that almost feel as though they were made for a console like the Nintendo Switch.

For example, there’s Little Nightmares, a game where you guide a tiny character in a yellow coat through a mysterious location while seeking escape. Your main job is to work your way past giant, terrifying creatures undetected, though there are plenty of area puzzles to stump you up. 

Having the ability to sit down in a quiet space and think your next move through can make the game feel a lot more enjoyable. It also intensifies the feeling of panic when you’re fleeing from the grabbing hands of a hungry pursuer.

Other horror games available on the Nintendo Switch include Friday the 13th: The Game, Darkwood, Detention, Layers of Fear, and Death Mark to name just a few. 

Not Just a Zelda Machine

Millions of people already own a Switch, but if you’re holding out and are a fan of horror, take our world for it… there’s more to the Switch than The Legend of Zelda. The days when Nintendo used to be considered a “kid’s console manufacturer” are over because now you can grab some seriously brutal games on the Switch, like Outlast or Darkwood.

As previously mentioned, more horror titles are being added all the time, with Five Nights at Freddy’s and Alien: Isolation available this week. If you don’t see a particular horror game in the eShop, chances are it’ll be added in the near future. In short, you can’t go wrong with a Switch if you’re looking for a system that places horror games right in the palm of your hands.

The only thing we recommend keeping in mind is that your Switch will break if you yeet it out fear. When playing horror on the Switch, always remember to play responsibly!