Are you a proud owner of a Nintendo Switch, and do you love playing shooting games on it? If the answer is yes on both counts, congratulations! You’re officially in the cool club.
Why Do We Love Shooting Games On The Switch?
We sophisticated Nintendo fanboy types are always curious about shooting games that aren’t generic. The ones flooding the market are the typical, run-of-the-mill boring shooter games that try too hard to be edgy. We’re looking for a uniqueness that suits the best way to play on the Switch and matches the platform’s style.
Which Shooting Games On Switch Are The Best?
We’ve scoured the internet and used our big-brain power to compile together 7 great titles to bring you the best options. The shooting games on Switch we want to play must fulfill three-fold criteria to qualify on our list.
First, the games must have an eye-catching aesthetic; you can’t be cool if you don’t look the part. Second, the gameplay must have an endearing quality that hooks players. Lastly, the game has to have an “It” factor, attracting gamers like zombies to brains.
Now then, enough small talk! Let’s get started.
7. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! (Handsome Jack Collection)
There’s no better way to kick off our list of the best shooting games on Switch than with Borderlands. We’re considering Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! from the Handsome Jack Collection for our list. Despite the game’s availability on every console under the sun, the Switch is the ideal platform for playing it on.
Related Article: 5 Best Looter Shooter Games Like Borderlands.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel has excellent gun-totting gameplay and more variety than either Borderlands 1 or 2. The complex timeline is set between the first two games and chronicles the adventure of Handsome Jack’s rise to power. Ironically, one of the DLC protagonists is a body double of Handsome Jack; a twist we weren’t expecting but were happy about. The story follows four vault hunters, NPCS from the previous installments, and some become antagonists.
The vault hunters help Jack by sabotaging the Hyperion Corporation’s hierarchy. Naturally, the move isn’t something Hyperion finds pleasing, so they send mercenaries after the group and Jack. The enemies are much more varied and have tons of different attack patterns, but players also have more freedom and options to kill them. There are space station low-gravity shenanigans and cryogenic blast canisters that players can shoot to freeze enemies in place.
The action skills of the protagonists are the most diverse and flashy, plus the trademark rapid-fire gunplay makes Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! An excellent addition to the Borderlands canon.
Why Is Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (Handsome Jack Collection) One Of The Best Shooters On Switch?
We know Borderlands is a no-brainer, and our pick might seem lazy, which is fair. Our counter-point is that sometimes the obvious choice is the correct one, which is why we choose Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. The game’s release through the Handsome Jack Collection on Switch contains the complete version, with all story and character DLCs.
The Switch is perfect for playing the entire Borderlands saga, and the hybrid console’s mobility makes the experience feel organic. The game runs smoothly, and the colorful art style feels like a natural fit for Nintendo. In fact, if you’re new to the Borderlands franchise, you could easily mistake the series as an exclusive first-party property of Nintendo.
Borderlands’ ridiculous absurdity and humor are charming traits, and the number of guns with different variations is insane. You’ll spend countless hours playing the games; the combat is a delight to get into. The difficult modes that unlock after completing a playthrough incentivize replayability. There’s also rare loot and stronger opponents to test your skills against. Plus, there’s local and online co-op, making the game infinitely more fun, and as we know, the Switch is all about playing together.
With so many upsides, you can’t ignore the appeal of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel! as one of the all-time best shooting games on the Nintendo Switch. If you need more incentive, the Handsome Jack collection contains 3 games, so it’s a steal.
6. Contra: Rogue Corps
Contra is an amazing series that deserves a lot of love, but sadly it’s underrated, so we’re putting it under the spotlight to fix that injustice. We’re talking about specifically the over-the-top, and I-can’t-believe-this-is-a-thing type game, Contra: Rogue Corps. Things will make sense in a bit, and you’ll see why we picked Contra: Rogue Corps for our list of best shooting games on the Switch.
Contra: Rogue Corps has a story, and it’s after the events of previous installments. However, no prior knowledge is needed to enjoy the game. The plot is bare bones anyway, but the gameplay is where Contra: Rogue Corps shines. All you need to know is that the earth is a post-apocalyptic barren wasteland, and stuff typically beyond belief happens regularly.
Related Article: The 8 Best Post-Apocalyptic Open-World Survival Games Like Days Gone.
Contra: Rogue Corps significantly deviated from the series formula; understandably, people had reservations. The change worked out in the game’s favor because the fun factor cranked up to 11. Through the magic of plot armor, the protagonists are immune to the post-apocalyptic magical disease that turns everyone crazy. With nothing else to do, the surprisingly visually distinct anti-heroes join the scrap to kill aliens and hostile creatures.
That’s Contra: Rogue Corps in a nutshell.
What Makes Contra: Rogue Corps One Of The Best Shooting Games On The Switch?
When the announcement and release of Contra: Rogue Corps came for the Switch, we were hesitant because the reception to the game wasn’t hopeful. Yet, we were pleasantly surprised by how well the game performed and had a blast playing it. There is a fascinating upgrade system for weapons with unlimited ammo, so shoot to your heart’s content.
You have a manic cyborg-super soldier, a suave and psychotic assassin lady with a parasite, a gentleman alien creature with a malleable frame, and our favorite, the scientist panda, who isn’t shy about going feral. The main gameplay loop is enemies surrounding the player characters, and players must clear the screen using guns. Each character has a primary and secondary weapon and a special ability that is extremely powerful but recharges slowly.
The various stages have multiple enemy types that require strategizing before heading into the thick of things. The gameplay is well throughout and balanced, it’s neither too easy that enemies become a cakewalk, nor is it Dark Souls levels hard that you’ll throw your controller on the screen or out the window. Balancing the load between primary and secondary weapons as they heat up is a nice touch. Also, thank goodness for infinite ammo in Contra: Rogue Corps because enemies are endless.
Players must constantly move around to avoid the vast sea of enemies and fire back to reach the highest score for the leaderboard and bragging rights. The game’s goofiness is its most endearing quality that we love, and the satisfying gameplay is a bonus. Hopefully, you now understand why we picked Contra: Rogue Corps as one of the best shooting games on the Switch.
5. Rolling Gunner +OverPower
For adding a sci-fi flair to our list of best shooting games on Switch, we got a fantastic title that many will agree is a timeless classic. We’re referring to Rolling Gunner with its DLC OverPower, the twin-stick shooter bullet-hell game that’s as addictive as it’s gorgeous. The space-themed shooting game is deceptively challenging and offers innovative abilities to the spaceships to balance things out.
A plasma shield offers protection from the swarm of enemy bullet barrages. The players can use the shield to absorb and use the energy to fire a powerful beam. The charged beam cuts through the enemy lines and their attacks, allowing players to move around. The perspective is a side-scroller with the occasional vertical route, especially during boss fights. The players control the fire weapon’s trajectory and angular positioning while moving around the spaceship on the screen.
The game’s graphics are crisp, and the spaceship’s movement feels fluid; there is hardly any lag. Considering that the screen fills up quickly with bullet patterns and enemy ships, the developers have achieved a remarkable feat. Shotting enemies is wholly satisfying, and watching the ships explode pumps up players and motivates them to play the game further.
Why Is Rolling Gunner+ OverPower On Our List Of The Best Shooting Games On Switch?
With the OverPower DLC, Rolling Gunner is much more manageable for players struggling at a particular stage. The auto-defense feature of the player’s ship instantly fires whenever enemies or their bullets are within its vicinity. The shield also recharges much faster and doesn’t wait for players to pick up destroyed enemy ship loot. The difficulty is adjustable to make the experience easier.
There’s also a gripping story in Rolling Gunner that is deep and makes you care for the protagonist’s plight. Before each mission, a little backstory and twists slowly unravel for players to take in and understand the stakes. Rolling Gunner has one of the better narratives for a title which mainly focuses on its gameplay aspect. The sound design and modern visuals of Rolling Gunner make it a treat to play, and you can’t ask for more.
The impression we get when playing Rolling Gunner is that the game’s design is the most compatible with the handheld aspect of the Switch. The twin-stick shooting and fast-paced movement are best controlled using the Switch joycons without the docket and connected to the console. Plus, the retro vibe of the game reminds us of the simpler times of the Gameboy era. The soundtrack of Rolling Gunner injects us with a heavy dose of nostalgia and has us bobbing our heads unapologetically.
The boss fights, in particular, are impressive. Each final enemy has a lot of detail and designs that make them feel imposing and seemingly impossible to defeat. When you do eventually defeat a boss, it’s a massively fulfilling feeling. With such positives that we’ve pointed out, it’s clear why Rolling Gunner +OverPower is one of the best shooting games on the Switch.
4. Metroid: Dread
Diving into Nintendo’s treasure trove of first-party exclusives, we’ve picked out the best one yet for our list of shooting games on the Switch. Also, before any of the so-called elitists have a stroke from raging about how Metroid isn’t a shooter, we ask them, do you not see the giant blaster on the character? It’s a shooter, and it qualifies Metroid: Dread to be on our list of the best shooting games for Switch, so shhh~ and enjoy.
Anyway, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Metroid is perhaps one of the most beloved and influential video game franchises ever. Case-in-point, Metroid: Dread proved that the series’ appeal isn’t just for nostalgia. The release and subsequent reception, both commercial and critical, is evidence that Metroid is still heads and shoulders above the rest of the video game pack.
The game’s main appeal is the ambiance and sense of the titular dread present around the enclosed environment. The fan-favorite protagonist, Samus Aran, makes a grand return spectacularly, but she’s a bit busy avoiding horrifying lifeforms to acknowledge players. The game immediately pushes players into learning the basics of platforming and shooting mechanics in a retro-style 2-D game.
It’s true that Metroid: Dread encourages and emphasizes stealth, and the shooting is severely limited, but that’s actually great. The lack of shooting in the earlier segments of the game familiarizes players with a new way to play.
Is Metroid: Dread Truly One Of The Best Shooting Games On Switch?
The common thing between Metroid: Dread game and Nintendo as a company is that they push creative boundaries. The Switch is a game-changer allowing players to play however they want. Metroid: Dread is the same way; there are open pathways, and players can tempt fate and play aggressively. Alternatively, players can take their time, learn the control timing and platforming and how shooting works then proceed.
When players receive the upgrade to the blasters, it’s temporary, so players have to use each shot sparingly. Metroid: Dread builds an intense atmosphere where the enemies can show up any second, and players must react quickly. The smooth animations and beautiful character design nicely contrast against the cold, metallic environment Samus is in. The platforming sections and level of creativity are at their finest, and developers Mercury Steam have done justice to Metroid.
Slowly, Samus rebuilds her power suit abilities, succeeding in regaining everything at the end game. In the end game, players can play without the worry of Samus getting killed instantly asthe classic Metroid-style returns that we all love. The story is full of suspense and twists that will catch players off-guard. The stealth mechanic incorporation is fantastic, making the game feels like a horror story.
We’re hoping now you realize why we chose Metroid: Dread as one the best shooters on the Nintendo Switch.
3. Neon White
Neon White is a beautiful creative gem that elevates the shooting genre of games on the Switch. The game grabs the player’s attention with its eye-catching art style and anime-influenced themes. Fusing parkour traversal and first-person perspective with magical action cards and rapid-paced shooter mechanics, Neon White delivers a fabulous experience.
The story is wild, even by anime viewers’ standards, which is always good and ensures the plot is original. The diverse cast of characters adds a fun dynamic and banter and makes players curious about learning about them. The colored code names for each character make them visually attractive (red is the best girl) and have fun personalities.
The main gameplay requires players to use the parkour movement style in different stages to climb obstacles and kill enemies. The faster pace of the game means enemies will spawn at various spots that players must reach to eliminate them. There are magical skills and weapons in the form of cards, and they’re the best part about Neon White. Each card has a unique ability that activates when players intentionally destroy it, so players must think fast.
The game’s plot centers around an assassin who’s in hell but gets a chance to change his fate. The catch is eliminating the demons infesting heaven; other killers have also received a similar opportunity.
What Makes Us Think Neon White Is One Of The Best Shooters On Nintendo Switch?
Neon White’s setting makes the game feel like a breath of fresh air, comfortable surpassing other generic, uninspired titles. The vibe of Neon White provides a high-stakes story with moral dilemmas for our protagonist. Players must ensure White, the protagonist, wins the competition, but plot twists make other assassins’ efforts equally as compelling.
The uniqueness and originality that Neon White brings mirror the innovative capability of the Nintendo Switch. The console was a Nintendo exclusive for a long time before it was recently released on other platforms. The fact that developers chose the Switch as the primary platform speaks volumes about how the console is creatively fulfilling. Neon White and Nintendo Switch is a match made in heaven, or in this case, hell.
The shooting mechanics of Neon White rival the gaming industry’s upper-echelon titles, having a surprisingly addictive quality. Players will lose track of time; the competitive mode is the icing on the cake. The leaderboard is incorporated for players who go the extra mile and reach the highest score for serious bragging rights. Switch multiplayer is always a fun way to play any game, but with Neon White, it’s always fun-filled, chaotic sessions.
Given, how much we’ve sung praises about Neon White on Nintendo Switch, it’s obvious why we consider it one of the best shooting games on Switch.
2. Metal Slug X
Okay, time to enter the serious mode cause we’re in the top-tier category now, folks. Holding the runner-up position on our list of best shooting games on Switch is the timeless Metal Slug series. Specifically, we’re counting Metal Slug X. The fandom is still hungry for more games, so here’s hoping the people holding the licenses take a hint.
Metal Slug X is the game that revolutionized the side-scroller shooting genre. Appealing to a player base that didn’t enjoy hard games, Metal Slug X hooked casual players, which wasn’t the norm. The graphics might feel dated, but the gameplay is solid and still holds up. The story is minimal, with the plot revolving around our 4 characters who fight against a foreign military force. The players start with a handgun with infinite ammo and ten grenades, but after freeing prisoners, powerful guns unlock.
Our favorite weapons are laser guns; they tear through enemy soldiers, as the beam fills the screen. Another fan-favorite weapon type is the heavy machine gun which shoots powerful bullets. The rocket launcher is extremely fun, plus you don’t have to aim as the rockets home in on enemies. There are temporary rides like tanks and jets that players can use, but personally, we prefer the indestructible camel that can’t die.
How Come Metal Slug X Holds Such A High Position On Our Ranked List Of Shooting Games On Switch?
Metal Slug X is the best entry in the franchise, primarily due to its various detailed stages and immersive sound design. The facial animations of enemies and player characters are hilarious, especially when they’re unaware, and we open fire. The Switch port for Metal Slug X contains vastly improved performance, and there’s no slowing issue from the original.
At times, the prisoners we set free fight alongside us, delivering hadokens. (Admit it, everyone was making street fighter move poses as kids). If you still need more convincing to play, your character becomes bloated after consuming excess edibles. The movement slows down, but the bullets become fatter, which is a randomly funny thing you’ll notice. Oh, and there’s an Egyptian stage where our character becomes an undead mummy if poisoned by the enemy mummies.
The shooting action intensifies with each round, and the bosses are diverse. Elements such as aliens barge in during later stages, which prompts the foreign military to fight with us. It’s a powerful scene to see bitter enemies joining forces to defeat a common enemy. The Switch version of the game is the definitive version, and by extension, Switch is the best platform for Metal Slug games.
Switch’s controls are much more responsive than on other consoles. An additional fabulous day/nighttime visual feature makes the outdoor stages look awesome. With such glowing positives we’ve pointed out, it’s clear now that Metal Slug X is one of the best shooting games on Switch.
1. Splatoon 3
Okay! Time to discuss the number one entry on our list of shooting games for the Switch. After considering the matter, it’s fitting that a Nintendo-owned franchise takes the top spot, and the winner is Splatoon. For our list, we’re going with the franchise’s latest entry, Splatoon 3, the groundbreaking title that completed the trifecta of hits. Perhaps no other Nintendo series fully represents the innovative and family-friendly vision of the company better than Splatoon.
The Switch isn’t just a console, it’s a means of connectivity for the whole family, and Splatoon perfectly embodies this aspect. The rapid-paced ink-themed shooting game is a fantastic experience that Switch owners should not miss out on. Players first decide on an anthropomorphic race, a squid or an octopus, before being assigned their respective ink color. The fun starts when players cover the ground and walls with their ink color.
The more area covered with your ink, the more room to swim around is available for players. The player character transforms into their animal form when passing through floors and walls with their color. Alternatively, if the color is of the opponent, there are penalties like over-time damage and slow movement. New weapons unlock that deal high-impact damage if the player covers more than half of the area with their ink.
Why We Chose Splatoon 3 As The Best Shooting Game On Nintendo Switch?
The traversal and combat are the heart and soul of Splatoon 3, but the presentation is delightful and cheery. The imagery and phrasing used to represent attacks have funky sounds and silly animations that make light of any shooting. Splatoon 3 proves that games need not be mature and edgy to have appeal toward casual and pro gamers. The universal acclaim of the Splatoon franchise is a testament to the Switch’s dominion over the global sales chart.
People have spoken with their wallets that they love Splatoon, and since it’s a Nintendo-only game, they’re happy to pay up. The contrasting ways to play games on the Switch go hand-in-hand with Splatoon 3, which offers meaningful choices to players. From selecting the races to their choice of ink color, weapons, and character customization options, Splatoon 3 has it all.
Players also have a lot of multiplayer-focused modes that Nintendo vehemently advertises as what the Switch is for. The game’s addictive color-splattering mechanic gets players invested immediately, and when the showdown happens, they’re hooked. The gameplay requires tactical thinking, but it’s also fun for casual play sessions where it’s a friendly game between players. The Switch’s hardware encompasses the casualness of the Splatoon experience and delivers the fun factor brilliantly.
Undoubtedly, Splatoon 3 surpasses all other shooting games on the Switch by a wide margin. The Switch is, hands-down, the best console for most shooters, and for Nintendo, Splatoon 3 is the best shooting game ever. Until Splatoon 4 eventually gets announced and released, we fanboys play the waiting game with Splatoon 3.
Final Thoughts
Phew~ Another long list of games completed; these are harder than anticipated as thorough research and gameplay are required. We hope you enjoyed our thoughts on which shooting games we consider best on Nintendo Switch. Share your thoughts in the comments below; we’re curious if you agree with our choices or are livid about leaving out your favorites.
Other games could have been on the list, but we carefully vetted the options to bring you our selections. If you want to see different lists of games on Switch, check out Every Pokemon Game For Switch Ranked, From Worst To Best.