Skip the Shovelware: 10 Nintendo Switch 2 eShop Games Actually Worth Your Money

The Nintendo Switch 2 eShop Is Hiding Some Incredible Games ?" Here Are 10 Worth Buying Right Now

The Nintendo Switch eShop has always been a double-edged sword. For every hidden gem waiting to be discovered, there are dozens of forgettable titles and outright shovelware clogging up the storefront. On the original Switch, dedicated hunters could unearth some genuinely delightful indie experiences ?" but they were often modest, pixel-art affairs that, while charming, rarely pushed boundaries. The Switch 2 is a different story entirely.

BeatEmUps, one of YouTube's most prolific Nintendo commentators, recently put in the legwork so you don't have to ?" playing through nearly every eShop title available on the Switch 2 to curate a definitive list of must-buys. What he found surprised even him.

"Crazy seems to be the Switch 2's middle name," he noted, "because some of the games in this video ?" I can't believe are not only on the console, but somehow running at 120 frames."

That level of technical achievement on a handheld console is no small feat, and it signals that the Switch 2's eShop is shaping up to be something genuinely special. Here's a breakdown of the standout titles making waves right now.

Devil May Cry 5: A Hack-and-Slash Masterclass Comes to Handheld

If you've ever wanted to feel like the coolest demon hunter in the room while sitting on your couch ?" or your commute ?" Devil May Cry 5 on Switch 2 makes that fantasy a reality. Capcom's celebrated action title has made its way to Nintendo's latest hardware, and the results are, by all accounts, jaw-dropping.

The fifth installment in Capcom's beloved franchise retains everything that made the series a genre benchmark: lightning-fast combat, a deep upgrade tree, three uniquely styled playable characters, and the franchise's signature blend of over-the-top action and self-aware humor. Veterans of the series will feel immediately at home, able to chain aerial combos, switch between weapons mid-battle, and stylishly juggle enemies as if no time has passed since earlier entries.

"The core heart of Devil May Cry is on display here with its action, story, and in-your-face style of humor," BeatEmUps explains. "Visually, it's just so impressive ?" and it's 120 FPS. I don't understand. Capcom is doing some incredible things on this console."

For newcomers, Devil May Cry 5 is also an ideal entry point. The games are designed to be accessible without prior knowledge of the series, though fans are encouraged to work backward through the catalogue ?" most of which is now available on Switch. Curiously, the fourth entry remains absent, though that quirk does little to diminish what is an otherwise outstanding lineup.

The fact that a game of this visual fidelity is running at 120 frames per second on a handheld console is the kind of technical achievement that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. It's a statement of intent from both Capcom and the Switch 2 platform itself.

Sektory: The Twin-Stick Shooter You Won't Be Able to Put Down

Of all the titles on this list, Sektory is the one that kept BeatEmUps up at night ?" in the best possible way. This twin-stick shooter, available for just $15, managed to do what few games accomplish: inspire an immediate, uncontrollable urge to share it with someone else.

"The night I downloaded it, I even texted Bob and just sent him a picture of it and said, 'Download this. Trust me.' I just wanted to share it with somebody. I was really enamored by it."

Sektory draws immediate comparisons to Geometry Wars ?" the Xbox 360 classic that defined an era of score-chasing, arcade-style shooters ?" but layers on a roguelike progression system that keeps every run feeling distinct. Vibrant visuals, a pulsing soundtrack, and intense boss encounters form the backbone of the experience, while a clever upgrade mechanic rewards thoughtful play over simple reflexes.

The loop works like this: as you eliminate enemies, you collect currency that spawns upgrade modules. Collect enough, and you can permanently lock in enhancements that shape your build ?" whether you're optimizing for raw speed, devastating power, or something in between. Challenge completions during levels unlock additional modifiers, adding further complexity to each run. Successfully finishing a full run unlocks a wealth of new content, giving long-term players plenty to chase.

Also running at 120 FPS, Sektory is arguably the Switch 2 eShop's most addictive offering at its price point. It's the rare game that makes $15 feel like a steal.

Mouse PI for Hire: Noir Meets Rubber Hose in a Surprisingly Brilliant Shooter

Not every great game on the Switch 2 eShop is chasing graphical records or roguelike depth. Some are simply doing something nobody else has thought to do ?" and Mouse PI for Hire is one of the most original concepts to arrive on the platform in some time.

Imagine a 1930s black-and-white cartoon brought to life as a first-person shooter. That's Mouse PI for Hire in essence: a gritty noir adventure rendered in rubber hose animation, following an anthropomorphic mouse detective investigating a missing persons case that spirals into something far more dangerous. The visual aesthetic is immediately arresting ?" it genuinely looks like Fleischer Studios-era animation crossed with id Software's early catalog.

"It looks like an old-school black-and-white cartoon, but it plays like Doom," BeatEmUps describes. "When I started the game, I was actually surprised to find out it's not all run and gun all the time."

Between action sequences, players gather clues at headquarters, explore semi-open areas, and upgrade their arsenal ?" with weapon modifications displayed in real time through delightfully expressive cartoon animations. The tonal balance between pulpy noir storytelling and satisfying gunplay is handled with real craft, and the overall presentation feels remarkably polished for an indie release.

It's the kind of game that reminds you why the indie space exists: to take creative risks that larger studios wouldn't dare attempt. Mouse PI for Hire swings big, and it lands.

The Last Salvage Squad: A $10 Retro Sci-Fi Gem Worth Your Time

Sometimes a game doesn't need to be the best thing you've ever played. Sometimes it just needs to be exactly what it is ?" clean, focused, and satisfying. The Last Salvage Squad fits that description perfectly, and at $10, it earns its place on this list without breaking a sweat.

This retro sci-fi 2.5D first-person shooter wears its influences proudly, channeling the visual energy of a Virtual Boy title with a tight gameplay loop built around mission-based alien defense. You grab a weapon, repel the invasion, collect dropped materials, and use your downtime between missions to upgrade your character's stats and abilities. It's not revolutionary, but it doesn't need to be.

"I'm not saying it's the best game you'll ever play," BeatEmUps acknowledges, "but for only $10, I think you'll see where I'm coming from. It's just really satisfying to play."

Also delivering a smooth 120 FPS experience, The Last Salvage Squad is the kind of game that makes for a perfect palate cleanser between larger titles ?" unpretentious, fun, and easy to pick up and put down. Its distinctive visual style alone is enough to make it stand out in a crowded eShop.

The Broader Picture: What the Switch 2 eShop Gets Right

What's striking about the current state of the Switch 2 eShop isn't any single game ?" it's the cumulative impression left by the catalogue as a whole. The original Switch launched with an eShop that gradually filled with charming but low-ambition titles. The Switch 2 appears to be operating on a different level from the start, attracting ports and original titles that genuinely challenge the hardware and deliver experiences once reserved for home consoles and gaming PCs.

The prevalence of 120 FPS performance across multiple titles ?" from a demanding hack-and-slash like Devil May Cry 5 to a twin-stick shooter like Sektory ?" suggests that developers are taking the platform seriously and finding inventive ways to leverage its capabilities. For players, that translates directly into a richer, more varied library that rewards exploration.

BeatEmUps has been covering Nintendo's eShop since the original Switch launched, and his enthusiasm for what the Switch 2 is delivering feels earned rather than promotional. The improvement in quality, ambition, and technical execution represents a meaningful generational leap ?" not just in hardware, but in the software ecosystem surrounding it.

Rise of the Tomb Raider: A Reboot Trilogy Worth Experiencing on Switch 2

For those who missed Crystal Dynamics' acclaimed Tomb Raider reboot trilogy ?" or who simply want to experience it again with fresh eyes ?" the Switch 2 is proving to be a surprisingly capable home for Lara Croft's origins story. Rise of the Tomb Raider, the second entry in the trilogy, renders in full 1080p and represents one of the more visually impressive ports currently available on the system.

"This action-adventure game is stunning on the system," BeatEmUps says. "If you've never played these Tomb Raider games, I would highly recommend starting with the first one and then moving through to this one."

The games draw frequent comparisons to the Uncharted series ?" cinematic pacing, third-person action, a strong narrative focus ?" and represent some of the best the genre has to offer. The recommendation here is to start at the beginning of the trilogy and work forward, both for narrative coherence and to appreciate how the series evolved with each installment.

Worth noting: a post-launch patch for the first game specifically addressed issues with hair rendering ?" a small but meaningful improvement that significantly cleaned up the presentation. It's the kind of developer attentiveness that bodes well for the ongoing health of these ports. With the third game in the trilogy presumably on the way, now is the ideal time to begin the series.

At $20 for the first entry, the price of entry is more than reasonable, and with a new Tomb Raider title on the horizon, there's never been a better moment to revisit where it all began for this version of Lara Croft.

A Note on What Didn't Make the Cut ?" and Why It Matters

A thoughtful games recommendation list is defined as much by what's excluded as what's included. BeatEmUps applies a self-imposed rule that games with physical retail releases don't qualify as "eShop games" for the purposes of these roundups ?" a distinction that may feel increasingly arbitrary as physical Switch 2 releases transition to game key cards rather than traditional cartridges.

South of Midnight, for instance, was evaluated and ultimately passed over ?" not because of quality concerns per se, but because of perceived value relative to its $40 price point, particularly when the game is available via Xbox Game Pass at no additional cost to subscribers. It's a fair consideration, and one that speaks to the broader context players should weigh when making purchasing decisions in an era of subscription gaming services.

These distinctions matter because the eShop, at its best, offers genuine value ?" experiences that justify their price tags outright, without requiring a subscription or prior investment. The titles that made this list do exactly that.

Final Thoughts: The Switch 2 eShop Deserves Your Attention

The Nintendo Switch 2 eShop is not the afterthought it might have appeared to be in the platform's early days. It is, increasingly, a destination in its own right ?" home to technically impressive ports, creative indie originals, and budget-friendly titles that punch well above their weight class.

Whether you're drawn to the stylish ferocity of Devil May Cry 5, the addictive roguelike loops of Sektory, the creative audacity of Mouse PI for Hire, or the polished action of the Tomb Raider series, there is something on this list for virtually every type of player. And with the platform still in its relative infancy, the trajectory suggests the best is very likely still to come.

"I am so impressed by Nintendo this generation," BeatEmUps reflects. "I've been doing these videos since the first Switch ?" and this is something else entirely."

Consider this your permission ?" and your guide ?" to open the eShop and spend wisely. Your wallet may not thank you immediately, but your game library certainly will.