Summary
Licensed gameshave evolved over time. Typically, they weren’t very good in the 80s and 90s, although there were some standouts, especially when proven developers got on board. Konami and Capcom are two great examples who handled cartoon and movie games well.
However, licensed games have improved, and some of the best games on the Nintendo Switch are licensed. From cartoons to movies, these are still some all-time greats that every Switch owner should cherish. They will be ranked according to their overall quality. They may not have originated on the Switch, but that doesn’t matter in the long run.
Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 2was released in 2004 before venturing onto the Switch in 2022. Despite it being over twenty years old now, this hack-and-slash dungeon crawler based on theDungeons & Dragonslicensestill feels great to play.
Players can choose from a variety of classes all aligned to a specific race. There are dialogue trees, but the story isn’t the important thing here. It’s all about going on an adventure, leveling up, and collecting tons of loot, either alone or with friends in the co-op mode.
Ghostbusters: The Video Gamewas first released in 2009 before getting remastered in 2019 on the Switch. It’s still thebestGhostbusterssequelto follow the second movie, as it ties directly into where things left off with the original crew. Most of the cast returned to record lines, including the core four of Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson.
Players took on the role of the rookie just joining the crew as New York City goes into a panicked state when ghosts start appearing. The remaster itself is a bit clunky and didn’t add much to fix the original, but the core content is still rock solid for anyGhostbustersfan.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2was released in 2009, and it took another ten years before fans would see a sequel.Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Orderis still a console exclusive for the Switch, as Nintendo helped produce it along with Team Ninja who handled the bulk of development. It’s another great multiplayer game for those looking for some co-op brawling.
Marvel fans will enjoyit as well, as there are tons of big heroes in it, like Spider-Man and Wolverine, along with more obscure characters like Crystal and Elsa Bloodstone. Hopefully, this won’t be the end of the series, but if it is,Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Orderhelped end it on a good note.
Disney Illusion Islandwas a fun surprise in 2023 when it launched on the Switch. Players could choose toplay as Mickey, Minnie, Donald, or Goofy as they explore this new island to help its citizens.
It’s a Metroidvania wherein players can get new powers that help with traversal, like being able to scale walls. Each power was unique to a specific character, with Donald often getting the more jokey power-ups. There are bosses, but it isn’t a battle-heavy game to begin with, which makes it easy for players of any kind to jump into.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republicis still well-regarded as one of BioWare’s best games, along with one of thebestStar Warsgames. Players could create their character from a range of starter pre-designed classes and go through a dialogue-heavy adventure that took place way before the movies began.
Combat felt kind of like an MMO in that it was automatic, but players could also execute abilities that ran on cooldowns. The main highlight was the story, which remains one of the best in anyStar Warsmedium. ForStar Warsfans hungry for more on the Switch, they should also check outLEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga.
There have been a lot of fighting games based on this global phenomenon, butDragon Ball FighterZis the best one yet. There are so many characters to choose from and lots of Easter Eggs for diehard fans to comb through. The gameplay is solid even on the Switch, and it looks just like the anime.
That’s common to say nowadays thanks to cel-shading technology, but it’s true.Anime and fighting gamefans should also check out the various remasters of theNaruto: Ultimate Ninja Stormgames on Switch, as they are also a treat for the eyes.
LikeThe Simpsonsbefore it,South Parkquickly became a hit when it started airing on Comedy Central in 1997. With it came a cavalcade of quick cash-in games that ranged from okay to bad. It took decades, but finally, there wasaSouth Parkgamethat captured the spirit of the show inSouth Park: The Stick of Truth.
It was a strong tie-in to the cartoon, but it was also a great turn-based RPG with a class system, character creator, and dialogue trees. While it didn’t launch initially for the Switch, the later port does run well, and it fits right at home on the handheld hybrid like a more adult version ofEarthBound.
One of the best-licensed games on the SNES isTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 4: Turtles in Time. Coincidentally, the best-licensed game on the Switch is its long-awaited sequel,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. It was made by Tribute Games, who also worked onScott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Gamewhile the team was still part of Ubisoft. After that brawling success, they branched off and formed Tribute Games officially, and have consistently put out great pixel art games likeTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.
This game upgraded the brawler genre with six-player co-op, a leveling system, tons of characters, Easter Eggs, and more. Fans of the turtles should also check outTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collectionon the Switch.
