Best Games To Explore The Darkness On Nintendo Switch

Best Games To Explore The Darkness On Nintendo Switch

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen it all – from pixelated pixies to photorealistic beasts. But the games that truly leave an indelible mark on my psyche are those that masterfully blend horror and first-person perspective, making me feel like I’m not just playing a game, but living through a nightmare.


In many Nintendo Switch games, players often encounter troublesome adversaries, and one of the more traditional ones is simply the enigma of darkness itself. It’s so powerful that it compels players to seek out a light source in order to advance further. Numerous games set in dark environments necessitate players to utilize a light source for progress.

The toughest part about darkness lies in the surprises it holds – whether they’re perilous traps and formidable foes lurking to test a player’s reflexes and adaptability, intricate puzzles or crucial items for advancing the plot, or even unforeseen challenges that can trouble the main characters themselves. These unexpected hurdles might bring about hallucinations, loss of control, madness, or even death for the characters, mirroring the tension felt by the player.

11 Outlast Bundle of Terror

Nightmarish, Insane Collection

Best Games To Explore The Darkness On Nintendo Switch

In today’s world, traditional flashlights are rarely needed due to technological advancements, such as those seen in the game “Outlast Bundle of Terror“. Instead of carrying regular flashlights, characters use night-vision scopes attached to their cameras for navigation in dark environments like asylums and villages. This feature allows them to observe and avoid potential threats without startling them with a bright light.

This convenience doesn’t make the journeys easy, as the horrific mysteries are hidden in the dark. Mental humans and inhuman species still roam their territories, acting aggressively on anyone for any reason. Very few people can be trusted as sanity is drained from all, including the protagonists. No one can escape the same again once the journey ends, but it is necessary to bring what was recorded to light.

10 White Night

Haunting Noir Mystery

Best Games To Explore The Darkness On Nintendo Switch

In a setting reminiscent of film noir, the narrative of White Night unfolds in a gloomy and tense atmosphere. The tale commences during the early 1900s as an anonymous protagonist emerges from a car crash. Seeking aid and refuge, he eventually discovers a foreboding mansion. Upon entering, he finds the doors mysteriously locking behind him, trapping him within the enigmatic shadows of the mansion.

The main character must navigate through his environment with meager supplies, as the area is pitch-black, he resorts to striking matches for illumination on his journey. His resources are scarce, offering minimal defense against the spectral beings that lurk in the corridors. He’s compelled to elude threatening specters and decipher puzzles to unearth the enigmatic secrets concealed within this dilapidated structure. Among the decaying walls, there lie hidden papers shedding light on the suspenseful mystery unfolding.

9 Darkest Dungeon

Stressful Resolve In The Dark

Best Games To Explore The Darkness On Nintendo Switch

In the realm of Darkest Dungeon, I’ve learned that compassion is scarce and survival hinges on the light we carry. It’s not just about seeing in the dark, but ensuring our party’s safety. The journey is fraught with aberrant creatures and challenges, making it crucial to gather the right supplies for each venture.

Torchlight’s brightness significantly impacts the exploration process, enhancing safety and preparation against surprise attacks. Brighter conditions are safer for the team’s mental well-being and increase the likelihood of discovering common items. However, venturing into dimly lit areas is riskier, increasing stress levels and making the team more susceptible to enemy assaults. This risk could potentially lead to finding rare treasures hidden deep within the darkest corners of the dungeons.

8 Bulb Boy

Bright Head At Night

Best Games To Explore The Darkness On Nintendo Switch
  • Genre: Adventure, Horror
  • Developer: Bulbware
  • Publisher: Bulbware
  • Released: October 15, 2015

In most games, players need to use a flashlight to navigate through levels, but the game Bulb Boy takes a unique approach. Instead of relying on an external light source, the protagonist, a young boy shaped like a bulb, illuminates his surroundings using his own head as a light. He embarks on a journey through his family home that’s been consumed by darkness, and he’s the only hope left to rescue Bulbhouse from the terrifying creatures hiding in the shadows.

These fearsome beasts exhibit no mercy towards anyone, not even the young and naive main character. Given his diminutive size and tender age, he’s ill-equipped to confront these monstrosities directly. Instead, he must devise clever strategies to counter them as he ventures further into the heart of darkness. He can employ his intellect to come up with unique solutions, like navigating between chandeliers to evade the creatures or squeezing himself into narrow spaces that his full body wouldn’t fit.

7 Curse Of The Dead Gods

Corrupted Ancient Entry

Best Games To Explore The Darkness On Nintendo Switch

In the game Curse Of The Dead Gods, the main character is an incredibly bold adventurer who dares to delve into the haunted, treasure-filled Lost Temple despite its deadly curse. Driven by his insatiable hunger for wealth, he confronts a variety of obstacles such as harpies, elemental traps, ancient mages, insects, warrior champions, and many others. Every try is unique because the old temple constantly rearranges its layout, moving hostile creatures and traps around. As the explorer ventures further into the shifting temple, he becomes increasingly tainted by various curses due to his greed.

Light is his only reliable ally to reveal a safe path, especially for traps hidden well in the dark. Any damage taken in the dark does more than getting hit in the light. There’s no need to worry about his torch’s strength, though inventory management is always a concern. He can fight with three weapons and a torch, but can’t hold all four simultaneously. He has to choose between defending himself or lighting the darkness.

6 Luigi Mansion 3

Darkest Of Hotels

Best Games To Explore The Darkness On Nintendo Switch

In a different scenario, it’s Mario who encounters many adventures, but his braver brother, Luigi, tackles the scarier missions, even those in Luigi’s Mansion 3. He’s the go-to guy for dealing with ghostly threats that lurk in dark places such as mansions and hotels. Equipped with E Gadd’s useful Poltergust, he braves the darkness.

This tool offers a versatile function, combining exploration and combat effectively. Its unique flashlight feature not only illuminates hidden treasures and secrets but also temporarily stuns ghosts when flashed, making their capture less challenging. Furthermore, it’s useful for triggering mechanisms to solve puzzles. An advanced version of this flashlight is the Dark Light Device, which reveals secrets and enemies in darker, mystical environments, as some materials and beings are subtly concealed to the naked eye but can be exposed by using the Dark Light.

5 Guayota

Darkness Drive To Insanity

Best Games To Explore The Darkness On Nintendo Switch
  • Genre: Adventure, Puzzle
  • Developer: Team Delusion
  • Publisher: Dear Villagers
  • Released: August 13, 2024

Guayota offers an extraordinary journey into the legend of St. Brendan’s Isle. Shrouded by ominous fog, it is said to be a utopia with rugged landscapes and lush greenery. Further details about this mysterious place appear to be concealed within its ancient temples, guarding its mysteries.

In my gaming experience, I can tell you that delving into these crumbling ruins feels far more menacing than exploring the sunlit outskirts of the island. These ancient structures are filled with secrets of the past, locked away in chambers guarded by treacherous traps. Any adventurer foolish enough to step foot within these hallowed grounds risks getting ensnared in the mind-bending gloom. The darkness slowly erodes one’s sanity until there’s nothing left but death.

1. In order to reveal the island’s secret truth, the main character needs to employ light to activate multiple mechanisms concurrently. This method is reminiscent of Guache folklore. Luminous objects can help guide the way by being positioned correctly to unlock doors. As you delve deeper into the temples, the puzzles become increasingly complex. Maintaining a bright torch is crucial for the protagonist’s mental well-being; if it ever flickers out, he risks becoming trapped in permanent insanity.

4 Lamentum

2D Horrifying Nightmare

Best Games To Explore The Darkness On Nintendo Switch
  • Genre: Survival Horror
  • Developer: Obscure Tales
  • Publisher: Neon Doctrine
  • Released: August 27, 2021

Lamentum revolves around Victor Hartwell’s desperate mission to discover a remedy for his gravely ill spouse, Alissa. Driven by desperation and the ticking clock, he ventures towards Grau Hill Mansion, a place shrouded in tales of ominous science and testing. With few alternatives left, Victor courageously approaches the foreboding mansion, holding on to the hope that it might hold the key to saving his wife’s life.

19th-century settings typically rely on traditional lighting options such as candles or lanterns. Due to this, Victor often needs to make quick decisions about which item to use at the appropriate time because he can’t wield both the light source and attack simultaneously. The mansion is filled with gruesome traps and terrifying creatures reminiscent of games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Victor must choose the correct path carefully to avoid being ensnared by the old building’s dangerous allure.

3 Doom 3

Demonic Hunt In Dark

Best Games To Explore The Darkness On Nintendo Switch

In most Doom games, the Doomguy overpowers the demons effortlessly. However, in Doom 3, the demons attempted a new strategy to catch him off guard: they flooded the facility with horrifying surprises by hiding in dark areas and ambushing him. Despite their demonic powers causing hallucinations in his mind, this doesn’t deter him from annihilating them mercilessly.

His journey traverses every nook and cranny of the Mars base and even the depths of Hell itself. Due to the darkness, he must rely on his flashlight for guidance as well as to spot the malevolent intruders lurking out of sight. These creatures can materialize from any shadowy corner or concealed chamber to launch surprise attacks with their sharp claws or ranged weaponry. This compels him to remain vigilant.

2 Fatal Frame: Maiden of the Black Water

Haunting Spiritual Journey

Best Games To Explore The Darkness On Nintendo Switch

In the setting of Mount Hikami, portrayed as a sacred, spiritual location, tranquility morphs into apprehension and dread due to reports of mysterious vanishings within its boundaries. As tales of these disappearances spread, the spiritual site draws in three main characters for distinct purposes.

The main characters venture into the mysterious, eerie Mount Hikami equipped with a flashlight and a special Camera Obscura. This unique camera allows them to perceive things that are otherwise invisible to the human eye. Additionally, it has the ability to expel ghosts by capturing clear images of them within its range, even when they’re nearby. The flashlight serves to illuminate hidden documents and items throughout the mountain. As they progress, it is crucial for them to locate camera film and necessary parts to enhance the Camera Obscura, as Mount Hikami holds many secrets waiting to be uncovered.

1 Amnesia: The Collection

Identity Hidden In Dark

Best Games To Explore The Darkness On Nintendo Switch

Among the most renowned first-person games featuring terrifying mysteries is the collection known as Amnesia: The Dark Descent. In this game, the player takes on the role of a character who must evade and hide from grotesque monstrosities to stay alive. As he navigates through the labyrinthine old castle, seeking answers about his identity, he remains perpetually vulnerable.

As I traverse the chilling landscapes of the early 1800s, my only sources of light are tinderboxes and a flickering lantern. The world around me transforms drastically depending on whether I’m bathed in light or plunged into darkness. I find solace in standing under bright lights for safety, but it leaves me vulnerable to the monstrous creatures that lurk in the shadows, ready to pounce.

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2024-08-26 14:35