Exploration 2021 for Nintendo Switch — top best games in the Exploration genre

SnowRunner - a game in the Exploration genre

Racing, Simulation, Sandbox, Exploration, Open world, Online, Adventure

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 18 May 2021

Players: 7.9/10

Steam: 88/100

Metacritic: 80/100

The continuation of the off-road driving simulator Spintires: MudRunner. You can expect realistic control mechanics, a well-developed gameplay process, as well as...

Dreaming Sarah

Metroidvania, Puzzle, Platformer, Adventure, Side view, Mysticism / Supernatural, Exploration, Casual game

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 5 March 2021

Steam: 90/100

The girl Sarah got into an accident and is in a coma. You need to explore the dream world, collect objects and communicate with strange characters to help her wake...

Sky: Children of the Light

Arcade, Adventure, Platformer, Third-person view, Puzzle, Indie, Online, Open world, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 29 June 2021

Players: 9/10

Steam: 86/100

Metacritic: 82/100

Multiplayer adventure from the creators of Journey and Flower. Players take control of the Children of Light, who bring light from the heavens to where it is...

Slime Rancher

Arcade, Action, Shooter, First-person view, Exploration, Adventure, Open world

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 11 August 2021

Players: 8.4/10

Steam: 98/100

Metacritic: 81/100

A bright first-person adventure that combines elements of farming, exploration, and arcade shooting. The action takes place on a distant planet where humanity has...

Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom

Role-playing game, Third-person view, Anime / Manga, Fantasy, Japanese role-playing game, Adventure, Open world, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 17 September 2021

Players: 9.3/10

Steam: 82/100

Metacritic: 83/100

The plot tells the story of the young king Evan, in whose state a coup was carried out, and because of which he was forced to flee. Now, in the company of friends...

Airborne Kingdom

Business / Management, Strategy, Steampunk, Isometric, In real time, City Building, Exploration, Construction

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 9 November 2021

Steam: 87/100

Metacritic: 76/100

Airborne Kingdom is a real-time management strategy with an isometric camera in a steampunk setting. In the game you will go on a fantastic journey — fly...

The Forgotten City

Action, Adventure, First-person view, Exploration, Indie

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 23 September 2021

Players: 10/10

Steam: 96/100

Metacritic: 85/100

The Forgotten City — a first-person adventure action game from the creators of the eponymous mod for The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. The game's events revolve around...

Haven

Role-playing game, Adventure, Third-person view, Futurism (Future), Anime / Manga, Cooperative (co-op), Exploration, Science fiction

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 4 February 2021

Players: 9.2/10

Steam: 88/100

Metacritic: 75/100

Haven is an atmospheric third-person adventure where you take control of the characters Yu and Kay, who have been exiled to a mysterious planet called the Source...

Road 96

Action, Adventure, First-person view, Interactive movie, Indie, Roguelike, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 16 August 2021

Players: 9.2/10

Steam: 90/100

Metacritic: 77/100

Road 96 is a thrilling, interactive, first-person adventure that pays tribute to various road movies, as well as the work of cinema legends such as Quentin...

The Longing

Adventure, Side view, Puzzle, Arcade, Platformer, Point & Click, Walking Simulator, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 14 April 2021

Players: 7.7/10

Steam: 92/100

Metacritic: 79/100

The Longing is an unusual game, the main feature of which lies in its length. The fact is that it will take 400 days to complete the game. Even if a player enters...

Mundaun

Horror, First-person view, Walking Simulator, Adventure, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 27 May 2021

Steam: 93/100

Metacritic: 74/100

An atmospheric horror adventure set in a remote alpine village. The main character, a young man named Kurt, goes there to find out the circumstances of the...

The Unexpected Quest

Strategy, Isometric, In real time, Business / Management, Fantasy, Exploration, City Building

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 23 January 2021

Players: 10/10

Steam: 77/100

Metacritic: 49/100

A colorful strategy in a fantasy world inspired by Warcraft 3 and The Settlers series. In the game, you need to construct buildings, participate in battles...

TOEM

Arcade, Adventure, Isometric, Puzzle, Indie, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 17 September 2021

Players: 9/10

Steam: 99/100

Metacritic: 79/100

A black-and-white adventure about travel, memories, and seeing the world through a camera lens. Everything is built around observation and the moment—each frame...

Sunless Skies: Sovereign Edition

Role-playing game, Adventure, Top-down view, Indie, Steampunk, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 19 May 2021

Players: 10/10

Steam: 84/100

Metacritic: 87/100

Adventure role-playing game, which is a direct sequel to Sunless Sea. The setting is not murky water-filled spaces like in Sunless Sea, but the sunlit sky. The...

The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf

Exploration, Cooperative (co-op), Platformer

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 16 November 2021

Steam: 82/100

Metacritic: 66/100

This Smurfs adventure follows a mission to save the forest from the toxic Evileaf. Created by the evil sorcerer Gargamel, the plant attracts and captures Smurfs...

Skeletal Avenger

Arcade, Roguelike, Isometric, Fantasy / Medieval, Role-playing game, Action, Exploration, Slasher, Dungeons

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 4 November 2021

Players: 7/10

Steam: 82/100

Skeletal Avenger is an arcade action RPG with roguelike elements and an isometric camera view. A huge arsenal of weapons and capabilities awaits you — you can...

Windstorm: Start of a Great Friendship

Action, Adventure, Simulation, Third-person view, Casual game, Exploration, Open world, Racing

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 23 December 2021

Steam: 70/100

An adventure game inspired by German films about a girl named Mika and a raven stallion named Ostwind. The story centers around the friendship between a human and a...

Castlevania Advance Collection

Arcade, Side view, Horror, Platformer, Action, Fantasy / Medieval, Collection, Metroidvania, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 23 September 2021

Steam: 91/100

Metacritic: 84/100

Castlevania Advance Collection is a classic collection of the Castlevania series, which includes the classic Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Castlevania...

DEEEER Simulator

Simulation, Adventure, Action, Third-person view, Shooter, Exploration, Sandbox

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 25 November 2021

Players: 7.5/10

Steam: 94/100

DEEEER Simulator is a simulator of a deer, but not an ordinary one, but one capable of flying on dragons and doing many other unusual things. Deer can install...

Saviors of Sapphire Wings & Stranger of Sword City Revisited

Role-playing game, Dungeons, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 16 March 2021

Steam: 63/100

Metacritic: 80/100

This fantasy role-playing game combines dungeon exploration with a story of war against the Overlord of Darkness, Ol=Ohma. A hundred years after his victory, a...

El Hijo - A Wild West Tale

Adventure, Stealth, Isometric, Indie, Historical, Casual game, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 25 March 2021

Steam: 71/100

Metacritic: 73/100

El Hijo - A Wild West Tale is an adventure with stealth elements and an isometric camera view in the spaghetti western genre. Events will send you to conquer the...

Weaving Tides

Adventure, Puzzle, Platformer, Action, Top-down view, Indie, Isometric, Fantasy / Medieval, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 27 May 2021

Steam: 83/100

Weaving Tides is an atmospheric puzzle platformer with an isometric camera view in a fantasy setting. In the game you will go to conquer the wonderful world of...

Beyond Blue

Simulation, Action, Adventure, Third-person view, Futurism (Future), Indie, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 11 November 2021

Players: 8.8/10

Steam: 88/100

Metacritic: 72/100

Beyond Blue is an action-adventure game with a third-person view in a sci-fi setting from the creators of Never Alone. Beyond Blue takes place in the near future...

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy

Role-playing game, Third-person view, Fantasy / Medieval, Anime / Manga, Adventure, In real time, Exploration, Crafting, Turn-based, Puzzle

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 3 December 2020

Steam: 90/100

Metacritic: 81/100

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy is a Japanese-style role-playing adventure viewed from the third person, which is a sequel to Atelier Ryza: Ever...

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion

Role-playing game, Action, Adventure, Horror, Isometric, Puzzle, Indie, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 22 April 2021

Players: 7.7/10

Steam: 95/100

Metacritic: 73/100

Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is an adventure RPG puzzle game with horror elements and an isometric view. You are a nice baby turnip who was declared an enemy of...

Sumire

Adventure, Visual novel, Mysticism / Supernatural, Indie, Fantasy / Medieval, Anime / Manga, Side view, Exploration, Walking Simulator

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 27 May 2021

Steam: 95/100

Metacritic: 86/100

Sumire is a fantasy adventure visual novel with anime and supernatural elements. In this charming place, a sad girl named Sumire meets a mischievous spirit who...

Pathway

Strategy, Top-down view, Turn-based, Tactics, Roguelike, Exploration, Role-playing game

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 27 May 2021

Steam: 76/100

Metacritic: 69/100

Pathway is an amazing tactical strategy game with turn-based combat and a top-down view. The events of the game will take you to 1936, when German military...

Aeon Drive

Arcade, Action, Platformer, Futurism (Future), Anime / Manga, Cyberpunk, Side view, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 30 September 2021

Steam: 75/100

Aeon Drive is a side-scrolling arcade platformer in a sci-fi setting. The action takes you to the neon-lit streets of Neo-Barcelona. You will try on the role of...

Glyph (2021)

Third-person view, Exploration, Platformer

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 1 February 2021

Steam: 92/100

Metacritic: 70/100

Glyph is a 3D open-world platformer in which the player sets out to restore an ancient temple city by solving puzzles and defeating enemies. Its non-linear levels...

Omno

Arcade, Third-person view, Adventure, Exploration, Logic, Indie, Platformer, Casual game, Puzzle

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 16 December 2021

Steam: 91/100

Metacritic: 77/100

Omno is a third-person, open-world puzzle-platformer adventure game. In the game you will go to conquer the ancient world of wonders with many interesting riddles...

Monster Jam Steel Titans 2

Arcade, Racing, First-person view, Third-person view, Stunts, Sports game, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 2 March 2021

Players: 5.5/10

Steam: 77/100

Metacritic: 59/100

Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 is a continuation of the crazy arcade racing game with a third-person view, where you get behind the wheel of a rampant monster truck...

Lamentum

Adult game, Adventure, Action, Side view, Indie, Puzzle, Survival horror, Exploration, Horror

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 31 August 2021

Players: 8/10

Steam: 87/100

Lamentum is a dark side-scrolling action adventure game set in New England in the mid-19th century. The game tells the story of a young aristocrat named Victor. He...

SkateBIRD

Arcade, Third-person view, Sports game, Skateboards, Exploration, Sandbox

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 16 September 2021

Steam: 85/100

Metacritic: 59/100

SkateBIRD is a dynamic racing arcade game with a third-person view about birds on skateboards. Expect the familiar gameplay of skate simulators, several platforms...

Genesis Noir

Adventure, Third-person view, Futurism (Future), Indie, Point & Click, Exploration, Puzzle

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 26 March 2021

Steam: 79/100

Metacritic: 80/100

Genesis Noir is a third-person noir adventure where you have to save humanity from destruction. The event itself will tell the secrets of the universal Big Bang and...

DreamWorks Spirit Lucky's Big Adventure

Action, Adventure, Platformer, Third-person view, Casual game, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 1 June 2021

Steam: 82/100

An adventure game based on the story of Lucky, her mustang Spirit, and her best friends Abigail and Prudence. The events unfold in the open territory of Miradero...

No Longer Home

Adventure, Isometric, Indie, Visual novel, Arcade, Point & Click, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 7 October 2021

Steam: 60/100

Metacritic: 73/100

No Longer Home is an exciting adventure game with visual novel elements. Bo and Ao are graduating from university and are about to leave the apartment they've lived...

Blue Fire

Adventure, Arcade, Platformer, Third-person view, Metroidvania, Exploration, Slasher

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 4 February 2021

Steam: 83/100

Metacritic: 71/100

Blue Fire is a 3D arcade platformer with a third-person perspective, set in a place called The Nether. As you progress, you'll explore ancient temples, meet...

Titan Chaser

Adventure, Walking Simulator, Open world, Exploration, Indie

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 15 September 2021

Players: 10/10

Steam: 82/100

The main character drives a car around the territory where various scientific stations are located, and drives away titans (huge monsters) using a powerful...

Curious Expedition 2

Role-playing game, Simulation, Turn-based, Roguelike, Side view, Adventure, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 11 August 2021

Players: 9.4/10

Steam: 84/100

Metacritic: 73/100

Curious Expedition 2 is a sequel to the side-scrolling adventure role-playing game with a procedurally generated world, dedicated to expeditions in the 19th...

Hoa

Platformer, Adventure, Puzzle, Action, Indie, Side view, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 24 August 2021

Players: 10/10

Steam: 92/100

Metacritic: 70/100

Hoa is an indie platformer with a side view and elements of the puzzle. You are waiting for breathtaking drawings, hand -drawn, excellent music and a pacifying...

Exploration

Best Games in the Exploration genre of 2021 for Nintendo Switch (Game released)