The Nintendo Switch is known for its wide library catering to both casual and hardcore gamers. Besides exciting triple-A franchises like The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario, Nintendo’s handheld device boasts many indie gems. From adrenaline-pumping roguelite titles like Hades to charming puzzlers like I Am Dead, the console’s catalog spans several genres.

And if you’re in for a more story-driven adventure, with twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat at every turn, there are just as many visual novels to explore. So, care to play the detective and get to the bottom of convoluted criminal affairs? Perhaps, you would rather travel back in time to unearth the mysteries of an ethereal mansion? Here we will discuss some of the most intriguing and compelling Nintendo Switch visual novels.

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus!

If its signature anime-style characters and adorable design are to be trusted, Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! looks just like your typical dating sim. This visual novel kicks off with the player-protagonist joining a high school literature club alongside their childhood friend. There, you encounter three potential love interests you can woo with romantic poems or demote to the friend zone.

However, there is more to this seemingly ordinary book club than meets the eye. And the story wastes no time in taking a dark turn, departing from its light-hearted atmosphere – and naïve flirty conversations – to delve into sheer psychological horror. Long story short, you’re in for a wild ride due to the deceptive nature of this indie Switch title.

The House in Fata Morgana

What if you could discover what happened to the residents of a cursed mansion throughout the ages? If you have a thing for story-focused time-travel adventures, The House in Fata Morgana ticks all the right boxes. In this indie visual novel entirely set within a venerable mansion, you follow in the footsteps of an amnesiac spirit. To restore its long-lost memories, the spirit has no choice but to explore the mansion’s past over centuries alongside a mysterious maid.

Going as far back as 1099, you’ll learn more about the various individuals that inhabited the mansion and shaped its history. One of the highest-rated entries on Metacritic, this suspenseful gothic tale that reads like a bona fide novel can be trying at times. While it will hit you right in the feelings, this masterpiece of storytelling is well worth exploring on the Switch, if only for a complete edition that adds even more features and stories.

Sunshine Shuffle

Only just released on the Nintendo Switch, Sunshine Shuffle is a visual novel meets card game. Halfway between Poker Night and Animal Crossing, this narrative poker adventure takes you on a steamship alongside talking animals. For all their adorable appearances, these cutesy creatures all share a criminal past. And their backstory unfolds as you confront every member of the S.S. Sunshine at Texas Hold ‘Em.

With its well-crafted neo-noir story and funky ska soundtrack, this game is an original addition to the genre. Seasoned card game players may find the poker mechanics a bit tedious and slow, however. For more poker fun, they might turn to top online casinos instead. The best online platforms offer many poker variants besides other casino classics like blackjack and baccarat. Live dealer sessions spruce up the virtual experience by letting players interact with an actual dealer. Better still, most platforms reward both first-timers and regular users with welcome bonuses, free spins, and loyalty schemes.

Credit: Instacodez – Flickr

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy

The first game in the Ace Attorney franchise dropped on the Game Boy Advance over two decades ago. But the courtroom adventures of rookie lawyer Phoenix Wright have lost none of their spark over time. Compiling the first three games in the series, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy puts you in the shoes of a fiery attorney doing his best to defend his clients and prove their innocence in court.

To make matters more challenging, unscrupulous prosecutors and unreliable witnesses have a habit of obstructing the path to justice. So, gather evidence and connect the dots during your investigations before confronting witnesses in thrilling courtroom battles. With larger-than-life characters, quirky dialogues, and compelling murder mysteries, the original trilogy is where the series peaked. But if you’re hungry for more trials, the Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is coming in 2024. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles also take you to 19^th-century Tokyo and London.