Exploration 2026 for Nintendo Switch — top best games in the Exploration genre

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse - a game in the Exploration genre

Role-playing game, Action, Side view, Exploration, Fantasy, Medieval era, Metroidvania, Platformer

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 15 October 2026

Players: 9.5/10

Steam: 86/100

Metacritic: 83/100

The Curse of Blood returns to the Castlevania universe in a modern 2D action format with a focus on world exploration from the creators of Dead...

Silver Pines

Adventure, Horror, Side view, Exploration, Detective, Metroidvania, Survival horror

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 8 October 2026

Players: 8/10

Steam: 97/100

Metacritic: 84/100

The main character is a private detective, Red Walker, who travels to the mysterious town of Silver Pines to investigate the disappearance of...

Mouthwashing

Adventure, Horror, First-person view, Indie, Mysticism / Supernatural, Exploration, Old school, Walking Simulator

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 29 October 2026

Players: 9.2/10

Steam: 95/100

Metacritic: 88/100

Space indie horror in the style of games from the PlayStation One era. The game tells the dark story of the crew of the Tulpar ship, drifting in...

Hail to the Rainbow

Action, Shooter, Adventure, First-person view, Combat robots, Post-apocalyptic, Science fiction, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 21 October 2026

Players: 9.1/10

Steam: 87/100

A dark cyberpunk action game in the spirit of Half-Life 2. A young guy Ignat is trying to survive in post-apocalyptic Russia and solve a mystery...

Final Fantasy Resonance

Role-playing game, Adventure, Turn-based, Exploration, Fantasy, Japanese role-playing game

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 22 October 2026

Steam: 97/100

Metacritic: 83/100

The first game in the series, made in the popular HD-2D style. The developers combined classic pixel art with modern visual technologies, dynamic...

Outbound

Adventure, First-person view, Third-person view, Indie, Survival, Exploration, Open world, Crafting, Construction

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 11 May 2026

Steam: 73/100

Metacritic: 67/100

A survival simulator in an open world, the main feature of which is the main character’s van, which must be improved by adding various mechanisms to...

Content Warning

Action, Online, First-person view, Cooperative (co-op), Mysticism / Supernatural, Exploration, Procedural generation, Survival horror, Horror

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 1 April 2026

Players: 8.1/10

Steam: 93/100

A cooperative horror puzzle game in the spirit of Lethal Company. The game is about a group of bloggers trying to get viral on the local equivalent...

EBOLA VILLAGE

Adventure, Third-person view, Puzzle, Exploration, Zombies, Survival horror, Action, Horror

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 23 January 2026

Players: 6.8/10

Steam: 79/100

A dark game inspired by classic survival horror games from the 90s, set in Russia. The main character named Maria is investigating mysterious events...

MIO: Memories in Orbit

Platformer, Indie, Side view, Science fiction, Metroidvania, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 20 January 2026

Players: 4/10

Steam: 86/100

Metacritic: 82/100

An android named Mio awakens on a large spaceship that has fallen into disrepair. The main character explores overgrown locations filled with hostile...

Ova Magica

Role-playing game, Adventure, Anime / Manga, Casual game, Crafting, Japanese role-playing game, Farm Simulator, Exploration

Game in development: Nintendo Switch → 10 November 2026

Steam: 91/100

A cozy role-playing game that combines a farming life simulator with creature-collecting and progression mechanics. The story unfolds in the quiet...

Thief: The Dark Project Remastered

Action, Adventure, Stealth, First-person view, Steampunk, Exploration, Old school, Medieval era

Game in development: Nintendo Switch → 3 December 2026

Anticipation Rating: 10/10

The game brings back the iconic stealth-action Thief: The Dark Project from 1998 in a refreshed form, preserving the atmosphere and features of the...

Disney Pixar Toy Story 3 Complete Edition

Action, Adventure, Platformer, Third-person view, Cooperative (co-op), Casual game, Exploration, Old school, Remake

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 15 October 2026

Players: 10/10

Steam: 83/100

Metacritic: 76/100

A remaster of one of the most successful games based on the Disney and Pixar license — Toy Story 3. The updated version features improved graphics...

Lou's Lagoon

Adventure, Simulation, Third-person view, Indie, Survival, Exploration, Open world, Construction, Crafting

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 27 August 2026

Steam: 77/100

Metacritic: 71/100

An open world life simulator inspired by the cartoon “Miracles on Bends”. Uncle Lou disappeared, leaving the hero with his seaplane delivery company...

Tenebris Somnia

Action, Adventure, Third-person view, Exploration, Old school, Survival horror

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 16 October 2026

Steam: 94/100

Metacritic: 81/100

Atmospheric survival horror inspired by classics of the genre like Silent Hill and Resident Evil, but made in the retro style of 8- and 16-bit games...

Bubsy 4D

Action, Adventure, Platformer, Science fiction, Comedy, Space, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 22 May 2026

Steam: 92/100

Metacritic: 63/100

Sheep have arrived on Earth from outer space, armed with technology from the Woolies, Bubsy's longtime enemies. The protagonist, along with a motley...

Kong: Survivor Instinct

Action, Platformer, Side view, Exploration, Metroidvania

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 30 September 2026

Players: 9/10

Steam: 71/100

Metacritic: 66/100

Adventure Metroidvania based on King Kong. The game tells the story of oil rig worker David as he tries to find his daughter in a collapsing city. To...

Moss: The Forgotten Relic

Action, Adventure, Platformer, Isometric, Puzzle, Fantasy, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 16 July 2026

Steam: 91/100

Metacritic: 80/100

A re-release of the adventure puzzle duology Moss and Moss: Book 2, fully adapted for play without a VR headset. The game takes you to the ruins...

Barbarian Saga: The Beastmaster

Action, Platformer, Side view, Fantasy, Old school, Metroidvania, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 9 September 2026

Steam: 45/100

The events of the game unfold in the world of Arboréa, which has survived devastating portal wars. After a brief period of peace, the new king of the...

Keep Driving

Role-playing game, Adventure, Simulation, Business / Management, Exploration, Indie

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 28 September 2026

Players: 9.4/10

Steam: 93/100

Metacritic: 84/100

A pixel game, the main character of which goes on a trip by car to get to the music festival. You can choose a route and communicate with random...

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - Master Collection Version

Action, Adventure, Stealth, Third-person view, Tactics, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 27 August 2026

Players: 8.3/10

Steam: 96/100

The final mission of the legendary Solid Snake. The events unfold five years after the incident at Big Shell, when private military companies turned...

Cozy Caravan

Adventure, Top-down view, Indie, Casual game, Exploration, Open world, Crafting, Farm Simulator

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 15 January 2026

Players: 9.1/10

Steam: 93/100

Metacritic: 77/100

Players set off on a journey in an old caravan, completing tasks for the residents of Harvestville and preparing for the annual Whistlebark fair...

Disney Pixar Toy Story: Retro Roundup!

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

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 15 October 2026

Steam: 81/100

Metacritic: 77/100

A large retro collection that brings together classic games based on the animated films "Toy Story" and "A Bug's Life". The compilation includes...

Farlands

Top-down view, Sandbox, Indie, Science fiction, Casual game, Exploration, Construction, Crafting, Farm Simulator

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 16 July 2026

Steam: 89/100

Colorful sandbox in the spirit of Stardew Valley. The player gets an entire planet at their disposal, which the character buys at a very favorable...

Garfield - Escape from Monday

Action, Adventure, Platformer, Third-person view, Exploration, Comics

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 24 September 2026

Steam: 86/100

Metacritic: 66/100

A colorful 3D platformer about the famous orange cat Garfield. The game's plot tells how the hero accidentally ate some bad lasagna, fell asleep, and...

LumenTale: Memories of Trey

Role-playing game, Adventure, Turn-based, Exploration, Fantasy, Japanese role-playing game

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 26 May 2026

Steam: 70/100

Metacritic: 76/100

A role-playing game with elements of creature collection, unfolding in the magical world of Talea. Trey embarks on a journey to restore lost...

Time To Wake Up

Adventure, First-person view, Exploration, Walking Simulator

Game in development: Nintendo Switch → Q4 2026

Steam: 83/100

One night, the hero finds himself trapped inside his own dream. But he is not alone — a voice, concerned with his eyes, speaks to him. The voice...

JAWS: Retro Edition

Action, Adventure, Side view, Exploration, Old school, Shooter

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 13 February 2026

Steam: 95/100

A re-release of the classic game from 1987, timed with the release of Steven Spielberg's horror film "Jaws." The player is offered to control a boat...

Dave The Diver - In the Jungle

Role-playing game, Action, Adventure, Hunting / Fishing, Business / Management, Indie, Casual game, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 18 June 2026

Players: 5.5/10

Steam: 86/100

Metacritic: 86/100

A storyline expansion that continues the adventures of Dave and his team beyond the familiar ocean depths. This time, the explorers venture into the...

Under The Island

Role-playing game, Action, Puzzle, Open world, Fantasy, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 17 February 2026

Steam: 92/100

Metacritic: 81/100

A pixel adventure about a girl named Nia, who, together with her new friend Avocado, tries to save the island from flooding. You need to explore...

Heartworm

Adventure, Exploration, Old school, Survival horror

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 1 October 2026

Players: 9.5/10

Steam: 86/100

Metacritic: 69/100

A survival horror game in the style of 1990s games, it follows Sam, who, after her beloved grandfather’s death, follows the trail of a mysterious...

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - Master Collection Version

Action, Adventure, Stealth, Third-person view, Tactics, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 27 August 2026

Steam: 82/100

The events unfold ten years after Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, when Snake leads his own private military company in Colombia. It all begins with...

My Little Puppy

Adventure, Third-person view, Indie, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 29 May 2026

Steam: 97/100

A touching adventure game about Corgi named Bon-Gu, who, after death, found peace in a dog paradise. However, the once familiar smell of the beloved...

D-topia

Adventure, Puzzle, Casual game, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 14 July 2026

Steam: 88/100

Metacritic: 73/100

An adventure puzzle about the future, where artificial intelligence has taken on the care of human happiness. At the center of the utopian community...

The Perfect Pencil

Action, Adventure, Platformer, Indie, Side view, Metroidvania, Exploration, Horror

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 29 January 2026

Steam: 69/100

A colorful metroidvania with a side view, where John finds himself trapped in a surreal "world of fear" and seeks a way to freedom. The hand-drawn...

Winx Club - Moonlight Quest

Action, Adventure, Third-person view, Cooperative (co-op), Casual game, Open world, Exploration

Game in development: Nintendo Switch → 30 November 2026

The story revolves around the grand Festival of the Hundred Moons, which is at risk of being canceled due to a mysterious threat looming over the...

Dosa Divas

Role-playing game, Adventure, Turn-based, Tactics, Comedy, Japanese role-playing game, Exploration

Game released: Nintendo Switch → 14 April 2026

Steam: 96/100

Metacritic: 70/100

A colorful turn-based RPG centered around the story of two sisters, Samara and Amani, reuniting for a journey through an amazing world. Together with...