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Whether that’s by train, plane, or as a passenger in a car, it’s always a good idea to take a Nintendo Switch in order to stay occupied. Because Nintendo is one of the most family-friendly video game developers, the console is a great way to keep kids occupied as well.
10 Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley was released back in 2016, but it remains one of the most popular indie games ever made to this day. It allows players to do everything they could possibly want in a life simulation game and despite the monster-battling in the mines, it’s still one of the most realistic life simulation games out there.
Each in-game day takes just twelve minutes, and it’s best for players to be back in their bed asleep before the day ends, so it has natural save points at regular intervals if players need to end the game suddenly.
9 Slay The Spire
Slay The Spire is a roguelike deck-building game that sees players battle their way up the titular spire, upgrading and changing cards in order to create the perfect deck. It’s often regarded as one of the best card games available for Nintendo Switch by fans, and for very good reason.
Slay The Spire is incredibly engaging, and each run can last as little as a few minutes if things go wrong. It’s addictive and engrossing, but it can also be paused in between every step just in case a long journey ends suddenly.
8 Hades
Hades was released for Nintendo Switch in 2020 to an incredible reaction, as many fans thought it was the best game released that year. It’s a roguelike hack-and-slash game where players control Zagreus on his journey to escape the underworld.
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It’s easily one of the best indie games available for the console, and it gives most players the urge to have one more run before they set it down. Because of that, Hades is the ideal game to take on a long journey and get lost in.
7 Football Manager Touch 23
Football is the most popular sport in the world, and Football Manager is an incredibly successful series that sees players take control of virtually any team they want. The series started back in 1992 as Championship Manager and the complexity of the game itself has grown exponentially since then.
Football Manager is easily the most in-depth sports-management game available and the stress experienced is often part of the fun. A long journey can be enough for anyone to make a good start on a season, or rebuild a squad with some fantastic deals on the transfer market.
6 Two Point Hospital & Two Point Campus
Two Point Studios are still relatively new, but they’ve already put out two fantastic games in Two Point Hospital and the more recent Two Point Campus. While each game looks at a different business and has significantly different features, the core gameplay is pretty much the same. Both Two Point Hospital and Two Point Campus allow players to build a business from the ground up and watch it flourish, or struggle against adversity as it fails.
Both of them are among the best third-party games available for Nintendo Switch and many hours can be lost to these two management games.
5 Monster Hunter Rise
Monster Hunter Rise is a great game to take on a long journey, primarily thanks to how the game is structured. The core gameplay loop is exactly the same as most other Monster Hunter games, where players are tasked with slaying or capturing various monsters before returning to camp to craft new weapons and armor.
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Monster Hunter Rise is one of the best-looking Nintendo Switch games available, and it’s incredibly addictive. It can easily engross any player for hours if needed, but because it’s broken up into smaller hunts it also gives players regular intervals to stop.
4 New Pokemon Snap
Sometimes a challenge is the last thing a player wants on long journeys, especially when they’re in a confined space. That’s where games like New Pokemon Snap come into it. The gameplay is very simple and the fact that it’s set in the Pokemon universe alone will make it appealing to plenty of fans.
Each course only takes minutes to complete, but it takes multiple attempts to capture images of every pokemon. New Pokemon Snap is a great game to take on long journeys, as it allows players plenty of time to try and complete a course before moving on.
3 Civilization 6
Civilization 6 is the latest entry in one of the world’s most popular 4X strategy games. Although it was originally released for PC in 2016, it was two years before it was ported to Nintendo Switch and the constant release of DLC has helped it maintain a fresh feeling.
Each game of Civilization 6 will last hours, and it may not even be possible to finish one before most journeys have finished. Regardless, it’s still easy to get lost in Civilization 6 for an entire journey and a long flight might just be enough time to win one.
2 Pikmin 3 Deluxe
The Pikmin series has been beloved by fans for a long time, and Pikmin 3 continued the series’ success. When Pikmin 3 was ported to the Nintendo Switch, it was given several additional features and released as a Deluxe edition.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe includes a number of new side stories and the ability to complete the game in co-op mode instead. That cooperative gameplay can come in handy if two people are traveling, but even if a player is alone it is still a great game to get lost in.
1 Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons dominated the gaming community when it was released in 2020. Years later, it’s still one of the most relaxing and wholesome games available. The game can be saved at any point and there’s an almost endless amount of content available, including seasonal events.
The only downside to taking Animal Crossing: New Horizons on a long journey is that the day-night cycle follows the real world. While players can’t ever run out of things to do, it isn’t necessarily as enjoyable after two or three hours in-game if it’s still daytime.
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