4 best indie Switch games that deserve a 120 fps patch 

1 day ago 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been out for nearly a month, and the console has proven to be a massive improvement over its predecessor when it comes to technical performance. While it doesn't compare to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in terms of power, it's got more than enough for the games Nintendo makes. It's also made old games run better with free and paid upgrades, most of which provide free upgrades to old games, improving resolution and FPS. It's done wonders for Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, and with the console able to handle up to 120 FPS, there are a few indie games that would benefit from the extra frames. For this list, I went with more action-focused titles, since those are the types of games that benefit the most. I've also avoided games that aren't totally suited for it, like Cuphead, which has a unique animation system that doesn't get the performance punch up from the extra power.

Nintendo Switch 2 box art

4K Capability Yes

4K Capabilities 4K 60Hz (TV mode only)

4 Hades

Hades is one of the best indie games of all time, combing incredible visuals, storytelling, and action gameplay into a must-play roguelike. It was also briefly a console exclusive on the Nintendo Switch, something that must have worked out well, since the sequel will also be a Switch 2 console exclusive. Hades did not get a Switch 2 upgrade, and while it does maintain its framerate perfectly, it's only 60 FPS. Hades can run at 120 FPS on PC, and with Hades 2 getting ported to Switch 2, it seems like a great time to upgrade to the original, so people can experience it at its absolute best ahead of Hades 2. The Switch 2 shouldn't have any issues running Hades at 120 FPS, as it would help make one of the best feeling games feel even better.

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Hades

Released December 6, 2018

3 Neon White

A speed-running shooter would benefit from more frames

Neon White is a fast-paced, speed-running shooter, where you navigate through short levels, using gun cards to shoot enemies or do special movements, trying to complete the level as fast as possible. It has leaderboards, making it the type of game where every second matters, and when that's true, every frame matters too. Neon White getting bumped up to 120 FPS, double its current FPS on Nintendo Switch 2. It runs at 120 on PC, and it isn't the most graphically intensive game. When something like Cyberpunk 2077 only manages 40 FPS on Switch 2, I get it. That's an intense game technically. Neon White does a lot with very little, making it a perfect candidate to get a 120 FPS boost on Switch 2.

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2 Death's Door

A top-down action-adventure

Death's Door is a top-down action-adventure game, inspired by hardcore action games and The Legend of Zelda. This game has a gorgeous art-style, and fast-paced precise action, making it another great candidate for an FPS upgrade. It's not a game that's super-intensive, so the Switch 2 should be able to handle it, and the action in Death's Door is demanding, so having more frames can help you succeed. Obviously, more frames don't make you better at games inherently, but the increased frame rate allows for faster reaction time, since you can identify what's happening faster. Death's Door isn't the hardest game in the world, but the combat does demand you to dodge and strike in perfect moments. Plus, giving people an excuse to check out Death's Door if they haven't already will always be a huge win for an excellent game.

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1 Hollow Knight

One of the best

Hollow Knight is a fantastic and beloved Metroidvania, and it absolutely needs a 120 FPS upgrade on Switch 2. It can run at that frame rate on a PC, so it's entirely possible, and this is the most demanding and precise action game on this list, making an upgrade feel required. It would also be a great way to breathe some extra life into Hollow Knight on Switch, since Hollow Knight: Silksong is supposedly coming out in 2025, according to its developers. Team Cherry hasn't announced that Silksong will run at 120 FPS on Switch 2, but considering it's coming to both Switch and Switch 2, it should run better on Switch 2. Unless Silksong is going to run at 30 FPS on the original Switch, which seems unlikely but not impossible, it should run at 120 FPS on Switch 2. And if Silksong runs that well, the original Hollow Knight should too.

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Hollow Knight

Released February 24, 2017

More Switch 2 upgrades would be great for the system

Not only would these four games benefit from a 120 FPS upgrade, along with many other games I didn't list, but the hardware would also benefit. The Nintendo Switch 2 launched with a pretty slim line-up, so much so that most of my time has been spent playing old games that run better. Having even more games to check out would distract me from the lack of a heavy-hitter Nintendo game, especially if Donkey Kong Bananza doesn't hit the way people hope it does.

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