Franchises With The Most Playable Games On The Nintendo Switch

Key Takeaways

The Nintendo Switch brings classic game franchises like Resident Evil, Legend of Zelda, and Street Fighter to a new audience.
Various remasters, ports, and cloud technology allow older titles from franchises to be played on the Switch.
The Switch offers an extensive library of old titles for fans of Resident Evil, Tetris, and Final Fantasy.

As someone who grew up with the magical sounds of chiptune melodies and the thrill of defeating bosses in pixelated worlds, I can’t help but feel nostalgic when I look at the incredible library of classic games available on the Nintendo Switch. Two of my all-time favorites, Super Mario and Mega Man, have found their way onto this modern console like a dream come true for us old-school gamers.

Even though the video game industry’s ongoing advancement is truly impressive, there are numerous gamers who yearn for reliable means to replay timeless games from previous decades. Consequently, many companies have opted to republish their classic game collections. This not only generates income from what was once considered defunct series, but also allows them to assess public interest in potential future releases.

Over time, numerous established franchises are migrating a multitude of their older games onto Nintendo’s versatile Switch console. These range from timeless horror masterpieces and popular puzzle series, all the way to Nintendo’s own classic collection, thanks to the Switch’s widespread popularity and its unique hybrid design.

8 Resident Evil

From Tank-Controlled Originals To Cloud-Based Ports

Franchises With The Most Playable Games On The Nintendo Switch

Titles On Switch: 11

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve always seen Nintendo as a warm, inviting place for family-oriented gaming. Yet, it’s hard to ignore the enduring popularity of Capcom’s chilling horror series. Incredibly, most of its mainline installments are playable on my beloved Nintendo Switch, making it a go-to console for both casual and hardcore gamers.

By releasing collections like the Origins and Revelations Collections, as well as individual adaptations, Capcom has made it possible for players to enjoy Resident Evil games from Zero to 6 directly on their consoles. In addition, they’ve leveraged cloud technology to bring the high-powered original and remake titles of the eighth generation to the Switch. This means that more Resident Evil games are now available on a Nintendo system than ever before.

7 The Legend of Zelda

More Than 35 Years Of Hylian Hero Adventures

Titles On Switch: 15

Over the past few years, the Nintendo Switch has become a hub for numerous unique Zelda games, thanks to the phenomenal commercial and critical acclaim received by titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Tears of the Kingdom, and Echoes of Wisdom.

Looking back at the history of The Legend of Zelda games, it’s evident that Nintendo hasn’t overlooked its long-running adventure series, which has been around for nearly four decades. By remaking titles like Link’s Awakening in 2019 and utilizing the vast library of software on Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo has essentially made every Zelda game – from the original released in 1986 to Ocarina of Time in 1998 – accessible on their hybrid console.

6 Street Fighter

Nearly 20 Releases Over 30 Years

Year Original Title Released: 1987
Number of Titles On Switch: Fifteen (15)
Genre: Fighting

Instead of many sequels like other video game series, Street Fighter’s numerous titles are a result of continuous updates and modifications over its long arcade history. Each title presents unique differences in characters and gameplay mechanics, which might not be immediately apparent.

Essentially, Capcom’s exclusive series games like “Street Fighter: 30th Anniversary Collection” and “Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers” gather several past versions onto the Nintendo Switch. Moreover, Capcom has added titles such as “Street Fighter Alpha 3: Upper” to their collection, named “Capcom Fighting Collection.

5 Tetris

The Quintessential Falling-Block Puzzler In Multiple Forms

Year Original Title Released: 1984
Genre: Puzzle
Titles On Switch: 17

On its own, the Nintendo Switch offers a distinctive twist on the classic Tetris puzzle gameplay through its exclusive battle royale version, Tetris 99. Enhanced by separate releases of the puzzle-blended series Puyo Puyo Tetris, visually engaging Tetris Effect: Connected, and the Nintendo Switch Online service’s offering of the original NES and Game Boy Tetris titles, the Nintendo Switch becomes a tetromino enthusiast’s dream destination.

Incorporate over fifteen distinct versions of Arika’s Tetris: The Grand Master and Tetris Forever into this hybrid console, making it an ideal destination for enthusiasts of the ‘falling-block’ game genre.

4 Final Fantasy

The Genre-Defining RPG Series In (Almost) All Its Glory

Titles On Switch: Nineteen 19

Ever since its debut in 1987, Square Enix’s “Final Fantasy” game series has been a delight for role-playing game enthusiasts, regardless of changes in hardware or genres. The shift of the series towards PlayStation during the fifth console generation was a significant blow to Nintendo 64 fans. Yet, with the arrival of the Nintendo Switch, many beloved games from the franchise’s extensive library have returned to Nintendo platforms.

Nowadays, you can find various forms of the classic 2D titles from the revamped Pixel Remaster series, as well as individual adaptations of numerous 3D installments from the Final Fantasy series. At last, Nintendo gamers have the chance to experience the groundbreaking title that shifted to Sony hardware: Final Fantasy 7.

3 Castlevania

Multiple Releases On Multiple Consoles Congregate On Switch

Year Original Title Released: 1986
Genre: Action-Platformer, Metroidvania
Titles On Switch: 19

Castlevania, aside from boasting a long-standing lineage of games that dates back to some of Nintendo’s original in-house series, is also recognized for its action-platformer genre and strong affiliation with Nintendo gaming devices.

The first “Castlevania” game, which was initially only available on Nintendo’s 8-bit systems in 1986, is now one of many “Castlevania” games accessible on the versatile Nintendo Switch. This includes collections such as Konami’s “Anniversary,” “Advance,” and “Dominus,” as well as Nintendo’s subscription service and digital store. In total, close to 20 “Castlevania” games can be played on this hybrid console.

2 Super Mario

Nintendo’s Plumber Mascot’s Own Platforming Adventures

Titles On Switch: 19

The iconic platformer character who is synonymous with gaming, hailing from Nintendo and adored by fans, is none other than their official mascot – Super Mario. Interestingly, Super Mario Odyssey could be considered a near-release game for the Switch system itself. It’s only natural that, given its popularity, the Mario series boasts as many versions on this console as there are installments in total.

Leaving aside the numerous subseries and sports games that Mario is often involved in, Mario continues to maintain a prominent position on the Nintendo Switch, as most of its earlier titles are accessible on this console. Enhanced versions of more recent games like Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury and New Super Mario Bros. U: Deluxe have enriched the Switch’s Mario collection. Furthermore, with the Nintendo Switch Online service and the Super Mario 3D All-Stars compilation, players can now enjoy almost every 2D and 3D Mario game released so far.

1 Mega Man

The Blue Bomber Is Back, With More Than 30 Titles On Switch

Year Original Title Released: 1987
Genre: Various
Titles On Switch: 35

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at the massive collection of Mega Man games available on the Nintendo Switch. From standalone titles nestled within the Capcom Arcade Stadium series to comprehensive collections spanning the various paths the Mega Man franchise has taken, it’s safe to say that the Blue Bomber’s library has never looked so vast on a single platform. It’s truly a gamer’s dream come true!

Instead of the Mega Man Legacy Collection 1 + 2 showcasing the original 8-bit and 16-bit games, separate collections, namely the Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 + 2 and Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection, feature the X and Battle Network installments. In addition to this, Capcom has given Nintendo Switch users additional experiences by offering remastered versions of Mega Man 1-5 on the Game Boy through NSO, as well as releasing Mega Man 11 in 2018.

2024-09-09 08:34