Whether you come in peace or firing your lasers, the Nintendo Switch offers plenty of incredible space and sci-fi game escapades. Here are the best space and sci-fi games on Nintendo Switch
Nintendo might be best known for jumping plumbers and the defender of Hyrule, but its first-party offerings also have plenty of sci-fi games, with Metroid & Star Fox proudly blasting into space on the regular.
And sure, the Switch 2 is out now, but its predecessor will still be around for a while too. The first Nintendo Switch has a library loaded with first-party hits, notable third-party ports, and indie darlings across all genres to keep sci-fi fans happy. Thanks to the console's backwards compatibility, all of these games will be compatible with the Switch 2 as well.
Now, let's do a barrel roll and blast into the best space and sci-fi games on Nintendo Switch (in no particular order).
November 4, 2026: Updated list with trailers, links to games, and updated entries.
1. Everspace – Stellar Edition
Release date: December 11, 2018 | Developer: Rockfish Games | Genre: Spaceship shooter | Available at: Nintendo eShop, Amazon
Everspace has two of our favorite things in video games: customizable spaceships that look, sound, and handle great, plus roguelike elements that make it easy to pick up and endlessly replayable.
You're expected to die out there, but each run puts credits in your bank, making subsequent journeys easier. It's space combat with an old-school, arcade-y flavor, and the mix of new weapons, upgrades, ships, and side missions makes every run through dangerous sectors of deep space unpredictable and exciting.
Everspace looks and plays great on Nintendo Switch, and it even comes loaded with the Encounters expansion, making it the complete experience from the get-go; no extra purchases required.
If you like space shooters with flight sim DNA but almost none of the complexity, don't skip this one.
2. Risk of Rain 2 / Risk of Rain Returns
Release dates: August 30, 2019 / November 9, 2023 | Developer: Hopoo Games | Genre: Roguelike platformer | Available at: Nintendo eShop, Amazon
OK, we're kind of cheating with this entry, but we just couldn't choose between the Risk of Rain games, as they each bring something unique to the table.
The Risk of Rain games are roguelite platformers where you must survive on a strange planet for as long as you can after crash landing. No crafting or deep exploration required in this game, though. Just shoot everything that moves and collect items to boost your offensive and defensive abilities.
Technically, there are three Risk of Rain games — Risk of Rain, Risk of Rain 2, and Risk of Rain Returns — but there's no reason to pick up the original anymore, as the 'Returns' remake improved on it in every way. Brilliantly, Risk of Rain 2 wasn't a straightforward sequel, but more like a 3D take on the same premise and gameplay formula.
There are several classes to choose from, plus some more classes are unlocked as you play. The main gimmick here is that the difficulty increases with time, so you must choose between looking for more loot in each level or blasting through the zones before enemies are too brutal for your current character build. It's fast-paced, chaotic, and works as well in 3D as it does in 2D.
3. Citizen Sleeper 1 & 2
Release dates: May 5, 2022 / January 31, 2025 | Developer: Jump Over the Age | Genre: Visual novel/role-playing game | Available at: Nintendo eShop, Amazon
Looking for narrative-focused experiences to enjoy at your own pace that don't involve any sort of combat or stressful gameplay? Then check out Citizen Sleeper 1 & 2.
The Citizen Sleeper games offer a hybrid of visual novels and tabletop RPG elements, taking players down a choose-your-own-adventure-style narrative, but also throwing upgradeable stats and skill checks into the mix.
In the far future, sleepers are humans whose minds are digitized and transferred into robot bodies. They're either owned by or running away from big scary corporations. In the first game, the main character arrives at a space station looking for a fresh start and a definitive way out of servitude.
The sequel operates somewhat independently, but you should play both. They don't take very long to finish and encourage more runs, as their core systems and progression are built on top of decision-making and dice rolls that shape the story as key events play out.
If you can vibe with the unique gameplay style, these are some of the best space RPGs of all time. Don't sleep on them.
4. Astroneer
Release date: January 13, 2022 | Developer: System Era Softworks | Genre: Exploration, survival, & crafting | Available at: Nintendo eShop, Amazon
Astroneer seems like a familiar space exploration game at first glance, but its lighter tone and cartoony aesthetic give it a unique vibe that's just perfect for portable hardware despite its remarkably large scale.
Whether you prefer going solo or co-op, Astroneer has lots to offer. From surprisingly deep exploration of vast star systems to expansive base-building mechanics, this game won't disappoint if you put in the time. And if you want something a little darker, the Glitchwalkers DLC is an easy recommendation once you've exhausted all that the base game has to offer.
While a game like No Man's Sky, with its procedural generation and ambition, might be more stunning, there's something uniquely charming and satisfying about the simplicity of Astroneer.
5. Outer Wilds
Release date: December 7, 2023 | Developer: Mobius Digital | Genre: Open-world mystery | Available at: Nintendo eShop, Amazon
Forget specific genres or decades; Outer Wilds is one of the best games… ever, and the excellent Switch port doesn't let the side down.
Outer Wilds is a timed sci-fi adventure where you're stuck inside a 22-minute loop that ends with the star system's sun dying. The goal? To figure everything out over many, many loops to stop the sun from going supernova.
This is a game for those players who love exploration and puzzles equally. While it presents itself as an open-world sandbox, it's very much a sprawling conundrum to figure out at your own pace. Across multiple time loops, the player must investigate alien ruins, study the solar system's history, and discover the cause of the time loop before trying to fix things.
It's a perfect blend of exploration, platforming, puzzle-solving, and surprisingly realistic spaceship-piloting. There's no combat here, but you'll face plenty of hazards while also managing your oxygen supplies, dealing with each planet's varying gravity, and exploring stellar phenomena.
Then, after 22 minutes, the sun explodes, and you start all over again. It's brilliant, and you simply must play it.
6. No Man's Sky
Release date: October 7, 2022 | Developer: Hello Games | Genre: Action-adventure/survival | Available at: Nintendo eShop, Amazon
The launch was a bit of a disaster, but continual improvements since the 2022 launch have blasted No Man's Sky to the top of many best space games lists.
Plenty of games can claim to have a big player space, but No Man's Sky takes it one step further with an infinite, procedurally-generated universe. Yeah, you heard us right. An infinite number of systems to visit and worlds to explore, each filled with its own unique flora and fauna.
There is an intriguing storyline to follow, but the real joy of No Man's Sky is in the exploring. You have complete freedom to head out to uncharted worlds, mine resources, build bases, and battle foes. You can even buy new spaceships and acquire a small fleet of your own.
You might think that all of this scope would be too much for Nintendo's little hybrid console to handle, but nope — Hello Games managed it somehow with a Switch port that runs well and is a blast to play. If you’re on Switch 2, grab the free upgrade for an even more impressive port with better visuals and performance.
7. Metroid Prime Remastered
Release date: February 8, 2023 | Developer: Retro Studios | Genre: First-person shooter | Available at: Nintendo eShop, Amazon
After a long drought, Metroid fans are finally eating good again with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Metroid Dread, and the upcoming Metroid Ravenous. Still, nothing hits like the classics, and they don't get more classic than Metroid Prime.
The Switch-exclusive Metroid Prime Remastered will blow you away whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer. It looks almost remake-level, runs incredibly well (locked 60 FPS), and is the best way to experience this first-person action-adventure classic due to significant control and gameplay improvements.
Metroid Prime takes place between the original side-scroller and Metroid II (in fact, the entire Prime saga happens before the second 2D game). Samus Aran battles the dangerous Space Pirates and other alien threats on Tallon IV, while also learning more about her past and the history of an extinct civilization.
You'll have to do plenty of shooting, but exploration takes precedence. Just a couple of hours with this remaster will prove why Metroid Prime is widely regarded as one of the best games of all time.
8. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
Release date: March 20, 2025 | Developer: Monolith Soft | Genre: Action RPG | Available at: Nintendo eShop, Amazon
An open-world set on an alien planet with action-RPG mechanics, a colorful roster of characters, and even mech combat; if any of that sounds appealing to you, then Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is the next Nintendo Switch purchase you need to make.
The story kicks off with the survivors from a destroyed Earth trying to build a new life on the planet Mira. Many surprises lie ahead, but you can explore at your own pace and clear an absurd number of side quests if that's your jam. Also, and I can't stress this enough, you get to pilot a giant mech with a big sword.
The narrative might be a bit on the thin side for some, but the world is massive, the art direction and music are stunning, and for a game that's always been limited to Nintendo hardware, it sure is a looker.
If you’re on Switch 2, you can also grab a paid (but cheap) upgrade to make the adventure shinier and smoother.
