Over the past few console generations,games likeGod of War,Marvel’s Spider-Man, andThe Last of Ushave helped Sony to take a commanding lead over Microsoft when it comes to console sales. However, there are a handful of PlayStation exclusives that would arguably have been better had they been released for the Nintendo Switch rather than their respective consoles.
Nintendo’s home console/handheld hybrid boasts numerous features that the PS4 and PS5 are lacking. Granted, not everyPlayStation-exclusive titlewould benefit from having a touchscreen or motion controls, particularly given the huge tradeoff in processing power. Some definitely would though and would also be more enjoyable were they playable while on the move.
1Astro’s Playroom
Metacritic Rating: 83 (PS5)
Team Asobi’sAstrogames are all about celebrating hardware innovation, which is something that the Switch offers up in droves. Granted, it may not have an inbuilt microphone or adaptive triggers like the DualSense does, but it more than makes up for this with things likeHD Rumble, a multi-input touchscreen, and dual-handed motion controls.
Integrating these features intoAstro’s Playroomwould arguably have made for a much better experience, while also providing the added bonus of being able toplay the game on the go. Such a title would likely have done a much better job of showcasing the Switch’s impressive capabilities than1-2-Switchever did too, though Nintendo would perhaps beg to differ.
2Shenmue 3
Metacritic Rating: 67 (PS4)
The Nintendo Switch hadn’t been released whenYu Suzuki announced theShenmue 3Kickstarter back in 2015. Fast forward to 2019 though and Nintendo’s hybrid console was selling like hotcakes. In Japan, Switch games regularly occupied all 30 spots on Famitsu’s weekly video game chart and the console itself broke countless sales records on its way to surpassing the PS4’s lifetime total in early 2023.
In the years since the game’s release, Suzuki has spoken ofhis desire to introduce the series to a wider audience, suggesting that the decision to limitShenmue 3to a single console may not have been the wisest. Given Suzuki’s interest in touchscreen gaming though (something that he’s explored both before and afterShenmue 3throughPsy-PhiandAir Twisterrespectively), it would have been interesting to see how he would have utilized the console’s multi-input panel had the game been released for the Switch instead of the PS4.
3Dreams
Metacritic Rating: 89 (PS4)
Dreamsis probably one ofthe most underrated games in thePS4’s expansive library. It encourages players to unleash their inner creativity, providing all manner of tools with which to do so. Sadly, however, despite its many successes, the game struggled to find a consistent audience on the platform, with daily player counts dropping below one thousand within a year of its launch. A multiplatform release would undoubtedly have helped in this regard, though so too would Switch exclusivity.
The impressive sales ofMario Maker 2and other games like ithave shown that there is a clear demand for this type of title on the Nintendo Switch. Higher demand means more players, which invariably leads to more content being created and thus a better overall experience for all. This reliance on user-generated content also makesDreamsa great game to play in short bursts; something that the Switch’s portable nature allows it to cater to remarkably well.
4Shadow of the Colossus
Metacritic Rating: 91 (PS4)
Speaking ofgames that are best enjoyed in smaller, more bite-sized chunks,Shadow of the Colossusis another title that would have felt right at home on the Switch. Its sixteen colossi boss fights serve as the perfect breakpoints, allowing players to split the seven-hour main story up into much more manageable twenty to thirty-minute segments.
Being able to play the game while on the go would have been fantastic, but there are other ways in which the Switch could have enhanced the overall experience. For example,Shadow of the Colossusis often praised for the way that it handles climbingthe titular colossi; a process that could arguably have been enhanced by optional motion or touchscreen controls.
5Stray
Many indie games have found success on Nintendo’s hybrid console, fromEnder Lilies: Quietus of the KnightstoDoki Doki Literature Club, so there’s no reason whyStraycouldn’t have done the same.The game’s simplified jumping mechanicswould have meshed well with the console’s touchscreen too, while other actions like scratching would have felt a whole lot more immersive with the addition of motion controls.
