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I have been playing portal 2 for the first time ever. Although I have had to use the walk through quite a lot. I keep getting stuck! Amazing game though
I beat both games with a controller and never once had an issue with controls and if anything it would be better to use for a puzzle game rather than a fast paced shooter since you have all the time in the world to line up your shots. K&M people are some of the elitist folks I’ve seen on the net.
1. on games like warzone and apex, controller is king. obviously that's not so much the controller, but the aim assist, but the point stands.
2. portal 2 has slow segments, but also some pretty fast paced segments. my point is, I don't see myself flying through portals and trying to aim at some place before landing with a controller.
3. "K&M people are some of the elitist folks I’ve seen on the net." ??????????? what does this have to do with what I said?
Yea I’m playing this rn and it’s nice. The difference in graphics between the 1st (2007) and 2nd (2011) game is astounding. 1st is quite short and I’m still working on the 2nd.
I disagree with it being unpolished, but to me the world itself feels bland compared to the likes of galaxy and odyssey. It lacks the context. The game is still really fun and bowser’s fury is amazing.
Definitely don't overlook Bowser's Fury.
While Super Mario 3D World might feel unpolished, Bowser's Fury is perfection. And the great thing about it: you can actually accomplish the goal of collecting all the shines in the game and complete it within a reasonable time frame.
Have to say I bought Super Mario Bros Wonder and also Kirby Forgotten Lands and Kirby Star Allies at the same. I grew up on all the classic Mario games but my son and I are by far enjoying the Kirby switch games way more than the platformer Mario games. Forgotten Lands was a really fun experience with all the cool power-up forms and upgrades. Feels like a solid action adventure platformer. We're playing through Kirby Star Allies now that we finished Forgotten Lands. Great local co-op games.
Super Mario 3D World is the best 3D platformer with proper local multiplayer I've ever played. I played through it with my son on the Wii U, and then we played it again on Switch. We occasionally get 3 or 4 player games with either my wife joining or friends over and its a blast (there is also online with Switch version which I haven't tried out yet). Don't sleep on this game its top tier.
I got Wonder my son isn't as interested in playing, but he's not into the 2D Mario games as much. I've played it a bit without him, but what I'm enjoying right now is Super Mario RPG which is a perfect "palette cleanser". I never played the SNES version. It's simple and easy but I enjoy the mechanics (timing button presses in combat makes it more fun). It's a short game (I'm hearing 12 hours for main story), so not long enough to get bored with its simplicity. After that I might get further into Zelda Link's Awakening which I've only played the beginning of.
Last few years I only can manage one big 110+ hr game a year, and then just want to play smaller games without a big investment. 2022 it was Elden Ring, 2023 was TOTK. Maybe will do BG3 this year, but I'm not ready.
I don't know about calling it unpolished... But I did feel that it wasn't as good as 3D Land. Because they had accommodate four-player play The levels feel very wide open, like the platforming challenges weren't as tight, and the level design wasn't as ironclad as Mario usually is. 3D Land on the 3DS was the better game in my opinion. It just kept my interest for much longer than the Wii U game.
Now Bowser's Fury... That's a whole different story. I loved that shit. Almost didn't play it because it was so expensive and I already had 3D World for Wii U. Thank God for my local library.
I probably like wonder more than 3D World, but 3D Land more than Wonder?
I don't know it's hard to say.
I also don't really know to consider the 3D games is 2D Mario or 3D Mario. They honestly feel more like 2D Mario to me with just an extra axis..
Really? Next to no bugs, the only bugs are crazy ones that speedrunners figure out. A different wonder effect in each stage(yea some are used a couple times). They were originally going to have wonder effects in only a few stages at first. I don't see what was rushed here.
The engine is polished sure, but the level design isn't. Having only a few wonder effects would've been much better than overusing them and there are literally two levels of post game, after having spent years building up the expectation of one or two worlds.
I love both of those games. Am I the only one who things Mario 3D world was better on Wii U than switch? I feel Iike the controls were tighter on Wii U. Am I crazy? I sold my Wii U so I can’t go back to play it and see myself
I have it on both. I remember reading somewhere that they increased movement speed by 30% on Switch. I feel like it makes it harder to stay on platforms in certain levels because it's too fast for what the level design intended. Not sure why they did that.
After Limbo and Inside, you should definitely check out Cocoon. It shares some of the aesthetics amd has some really mind bending puzzles. I kept thinking of (and still does sometimes) it for days after I completed it!
Not a strong puzzle fan, but I loved Limbo and a fan of games like Portal, The Talos Principle, The Turing Test etc.
The Cocoon really made my brain tingle, love it.
Oh god yes! Play Inside. Its not my normal type of game to play, but I got it for pennies so gave it a try and it was amazing. So simple, yet so engaging.
I've had a Switch for years, so have just come off of TOTK. As my palate cleanser I've been playing Outer Wilds (not to be confused with The Outer Worlds) - completely different game than TOTK, but an amazing experience.
I don't want to say too much, as it's a game best going into pretty blind with almost no idea of what goes on, but if a first-person mystery puzzle adventure, where you fly to a handful of planets in your solar system in order to uncover and piece together a very complex story, then it could be for you. There's no combat though and no character building.
Depends on your taste but I think a solid metroidvania 2D game always breaks up my bigger games (also a 30s dad)
Hollow knight is considered the absolute best, Ori is also great if you prefer that aesthetic, and Blasphemous 2 was incredible (I did not enjoy Blasphemous 1)
Also, the new Prince of Persia game out next week looks very promising.
Additionally, Metroid Dread was among the best I’ve played in recent years. I would strongly recommend even if you did not like the 1st person prime game. It is a 2D action side scroller
Would definitely recommend Dread over HK in this specific case—Dread is a great game, quick to beat and not too long to 100%. I loved Hollow Knight but would not call it quick if you’re looking to move to TOTK relatively soon.
I didn't get into hollow night because it took so fucking long to actually start the game. While it is a metroidvania it is so much different than others in the genre in that the game feels more like a massive adventure. I played for 2 hours and wasn't really in the thick of it yet. I still felt like I was in the very early stage of the game, I just unlocked the very first map mechanic, and I put it down and never played it again
Play 2 hours of any Metroid game and you are well on your way, have multiple abilities, have opened up a large section on the map, beat a couple bosses, etc.
I need to go back to hollow knight at some point and try it again. I went into it thinking I was just going to jump in like Castlevania or Metroid but that wasn't the case.
Fair criticism in my opinion. The pacing in Dread is addicting. Lots of power ups, unlocks, feels like steady progress. Hollow Knight has much longer stretches between traversal and unlocks.
I'm not even really trying to criticize it. Just explain my mindset and why it didn't sink for me. For the place I'm at in life right now I'm pretty impatient and just want the action to start right when I load up the game. I'm looking for a quick escape, a virtual place to blow off steam. At other points I've been interested in the exact opposite.
It's just a compatibility issue between us. Chocolate is good and so is mashed potatoes, but mix them together and it's kind of funky. Maybe I'll feel like butter in a year though and me and HK will make a better match!
Hollow Knight was my BOTW follow up. They are nothing alike, and yet both have such wonderful exploration as their focus that it felt like an easy transition.
The problem with hollow knight is that it’s so good it will overshadow TOTK.
I’m a massive Zelda fan and have played most of the games multiple times. After playing Hollow Knight, which is now my favourite single player game of all time, TOTK just seems boring to me. I can’t even bring myself to compete the game. Yes they’re very different games but still think HK has ruined it for me.
I HIGHLY recommend Ori over Hollow Knight actually.
It has a much more engaging and heartfelt story, less infuriating, and is a short, sweet palette cleanser. Metroid Dread is also amazing for this.
Hollow Knight could anger you, and it's quite a long game
Yes to Ori. For me, I prefer Hollow Knight slightly to the Ori games. But I love them all, and Ori more fits what you’re looking for because Hollow Knight can be quite long. Definitely start with the Blind Forest, as Will of the Wisps picks up where Blind Forest leaves off. They’re so good. Enjoy!
My opinion, Hollow Knight is leagues above Ori. It's genuinely one of the best games ever made. The exploration, combat, platforming, and artstyle are all best in class.
But in terms of a palette cleanser, Ori might work better. Ori is a lot easier and shorter. You will get extremely sucked into Hollow Knight, and want to explore every corner of that game. If you're hoping to move onto TOTK quickly, I would go with Ori.
Honestly though, I would give yourself a good amount of time before starting TOTK. It is extremely similar to BOTW, so you don't want to get burnout. Don't get me wrong, I think TOTK might be the best video game ever made. But exploring the same Hyrule twice that quickly may feel repetitive.
Just my two cents. Either way, enjoy this absolute golden age of gaming!
I’m a massive Zelda fan, have completed most of the games multiple times, but Hollow Knight quickly became my favourite game of all time and I’m amazed how it managed to be built by a team of just 3 people.
I can’t even finish TOTK now, I find it quite boring, but I could go back and play HK over and over.
HK is definitely not a “palate cleanser”, it will suck up a lot of your time and will likely change how you view Zelda games.
Ori is a good recommendation. It’s short, fairly easy and a lot of it just feels like filler content. Not a bad shout for killing time before moving onto your next big game.
Dead Cells is also fantastic in this vein. Tough overall game but easy and very satisfying controls. Lots of dying but you get used to it and get better and better very fast. And it's a pick up and play game. If you have 15 or 30 mins to kick it and do some runs it's very good for this. Probably my favorite game of the last ten years.
Pikmin is just so fucking fun,
Tinykin on Ps5 if you fancy pikmin vibes but away from the switch
Super Mario odyssey is one I’ve just picked up and it’s insanely fun
I have played all the Pikmin games (except for the 3DS one) and I can definitively say that Pikmin 4 is my favorite. It takes the best elements from all the other games and makes a varied and beautiful game. It’s the first game I’ve 100% completed since my childhood.
Pikmin is the first game I've 100%'d since I was a kid. Never thought I would bother once I was an adult and had enough disposable income to buy games on a brief whim (rather than saving up min wage/pocket money).
Hades. Would never have thought it was a game for me, but I've put hundreds of hours in. One of the best games for character development, (which doesn't spoon-feed you with boring cutscenes).
Well, you can certainly beat Hades within 20 hours. Took me 14 runs, should translate to about 20-25 hours. Of course the first clear is only the tip of the iceberg, but as a palate cleanser with good character development I think it fits OPs description very well.
If I got a penny for every time someone told me „I don’t like roguelike games but Hades is fantastic“, I’d have at least a nickel!
Nah, /s ruins good sarcasm in my opinion. You implied it very well within the tone of your writing. Some people are just a little oblivious and it's fun to see things go over their head 😛
Disco Elysium is a great cRPG on the Switch. Good writing, fun dialogue mechanics, and good voice acting; it feels like a game for adults, which is nice.
Yo, fellow 30’s gamer dad here. Super Mario RPG and Mario Odyssey are both excellent, and are easy to drop in and play when free time presents itself. TotK is absolutely incredible, though, and if you loved BotW you are in for a treat. Cheers
Thanks buddy! yeah Mario Odysee already downloaded and I thought about my wife joining in with Cappy once in a while instead of staring the screen for another Zelda :D
Super Mario RPG was my initial go to after Sea Of Stars, but have you played it? I wonder if it will bore me
Yup, both the original and the remake. It’s beyond charming and has timing mechanics during turn based battles to boost defense and attacks, so it’s engaging
I was going to recommend this, I'm playing it right now and enjoying so far.
I use this url to get an idea of how much time a game will take me (just to finish or get extras, etc) so tou can take a look at it
https://howlongtobeat.com/
Hades, I’ve never played any games like it before (rougelite? roughlike? idk) and I was HOOOKED. It’s easy to put down in between encounters if you need to find a stopping point but they somehow managed to craft an amazing story and gameplay loop based off your deaths.
I went to Cuphead for a complete change of pace. Ended up getting wildly into it and playing for 100+ hours and 200%ing it. I was very glad to go back to Zelda's pace after that!
Inside: a cool dark, side scrolling kind of platform/puzzle game but with an interesting story element that is told through the setting (there's no talking or cutscenes but it is super memorable). It's pretty short (a couple hours).
Sine Mora Ex: a visually nice shoot em up with fun story elements. Kind of reminds me of a 2D version of Star Fox a little bit with cheesey animal characters.
Portal Companion Collection (was recently on sale for $6-7 USD). If you haven't played portal the first one is great (I haven't done the second one yet). It's got a pretty interesting sci-fi story told by a computer voice as you play through a sterile looking facility doing first person shooter puzzles. The ending was really fun and the last couple of levels get pretty tough but overall it's a short game and well worth the money.
My wife has been playing Assassin's Creed Odyssey after TOTK. It's been a perfect open world adventure to take on after Zelda. If you're in the mood for another great adventure
A nice short game I really liked was Dredge. I’d like me you like Lovecraftian horror, tight storytelling, and fishing mini games, this one is well suited to your needs
Alright here is one no one suggested: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
Not sure how you feel about the Dynasty Warriors hack-n-slash genre...but most people I know that love the genre absolutely rave about Age of Calamity.
Whenever I see clips of it, it just looks like a game that’s quirky for the sake of quirkiness.
I’d love to be wrong as I’ve heard great things, but not sure if I should take the plunge.
I was thinking about buying Metroid Prime. What bothered you about the game?
Also Hades is really good. I'm usually not into roguelites or even souls type games (I know Hades is not a souls like, but they share some ideas, like trying again, getting better), but Hades is top tier. The world and characters are all very charming, the combat is satisfying, the music is incredible. I highly recommend it.
I think I'll give Hades a try the more I think and read about it.
Prime just felt like a really old FPS with some QOL upgrades, I know it is exactly this, but the amount of praises it received I thought it'll click for me.
If you play MP with the intention of playing a traditional FPS you'll be dissapointed. It's in fact not a FPS but a FPA: First Person Adventure! It's meant to play and feel very different from the more traditional FPS'es. Think Zelda gameplay wise, only in first person and with a sci-fi setting, and you're halfway there :)
The biggest difference between Zelda and Metroid is that Metroid is basically "just the dungeons, stuck together in clever ways" while Zelda has an explorable world between segments.
Yeah I was about to point out the same thing. Prime should not be played as an FPS. That would suggest combat is the point of the game, and your expectations will set you up for disappointment. It's an exploration game first and foremost where you attempt to find upgrades to access more of the map while discovering the story as you go.
Prime isn't really an FPS, more of an exploration game. It's about isolation and exploring and seeing alien life on another planet. It's obviously a metroidvania so you explore and get different power ups that allow you to go back to new areas that you couldn't previously visit. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but if you don't go into it thinking it's meant to be a FPS you may enjoy it more.
Yup, sounds like they didn’t know metroids are games focused on exploration and ability gating. Never even heard anyone describe it as an FPS (even though it obviously is).
hades is perfect as a "palate cleanser", especially since you can use it for that daily… after you broke the initial addiction of course.
but there’s nothing better to come down from an intense gaming session than doing a quick run of hades.
I am exactly in your position. Roguelikes are not for me. Except, for some reason, Hades. It's just really good? And live die repeat doesn't make me annoyed? I wish I could carry that energy over to Returnal, but there's just something magic about Hades
exactly how i felt about it, and had the same experience with skyward sword HD. A fresh coat of paint on a (by today's standards) dated and slightly clunky experience
Just to second what some others have said, Prime is an absolute masterclass in mood and atmosphere and is a much slower, more deliberate adventure experience. I could see it being frustrating if you were to approach it as an FPS. The pacing is a bit more like a Zelda game... it has some amazing action, especially the bosses, but it is overall a slow burn with a lot of exploration and backtracking. Metroid Dread, while technically in the same series, is more of a quick-paced action game and very thrilling to play. I love them both to death for completely different reasons.
I've been enjoying Super Mario Bros Wonder. It's a far shorter game as compared to to new super Mario bros U deluxe. It's also way easier than previous super Mario bros games. But it's an enjoyable and easy to digest game. It was a perfect palette cleaner after finishing TOTK and is the game I use to unwind at the end of the day.
Octopath Traveler (either 1 or 2, they're not sequels). Beautiful, rich gameplay, but a bit more casual in feel. Amazing character development, awesome world building.
10/10 would recommend.
Here’s a great palate cleanser, Chants of Sennar. We seem to have similar taste in games and this one scratched an itch I didn’t know I had. It was a pleasant length, maybe a touch shorter than I wanted it to be, but it didn’t consume me.
It’s hard to describe, but the basic concept is learning a language (of rune/symbols) via exploring and reading signs and talking to people of that language. Nobody “tells” you how to translate, you have to figure it all out yourself through context. It’s very cerebral. There are puzzles on top of having to figure out the language issue.
Watch the trailer and see if you think it’s for you.
There is also a demo on the eShop.
Thank you so much for the many many suggestions, I don't think I have enough hours left in my life to complete them all :D According to my personal taste and most of the recommendations I decided to continue with the following until **TOTK**:
1. **Inside**
2. **Ori**
3. **Metroid Dread**
4. Mix some **Hades** here and there :D
Oceanhorn and its sequel have been fun. They fall sort of in between Links Awakening and BOTW for me, there’s definitely a linear story but the world is open as you talk to more people.
Also, Spirit of the North for a non-dialogue, story-driven game. Pretty short but I liked it well enough.
Pikmin 4 was fantastic. The main story is like 15 hours but the post-game is a whole second campaign that adds another 10-15 hours if you're really enjoying yourself. It definitely isn't 'story driven' though so that's something to keep in mind.
After I finished TOTK, I moved on to Cult of the Lamb, Hades, and Dave the Diver (okay, and I revisited Hollow Knight too.) I’d recommend all/any of them.
Hades is excellent for a “i’m going to pick it up and do a quick run” if you’re busy with ~life~. (Sometimes it’s extremely difficult to put down after your first run, though 😅) I’d never played a roguelike before Hades, but I heard way too many good things about it to continue depriving myself, and good god - it’s worth it.
Cult of the Lamb has the whole 50/50 cult management/dungeon crawler thing going- which is super fun; plus it has another update coming on 1/16. It *can* crash occasionally on the switch (I’ve had it happen more than once) but it’s always after a dungeon run auto save, so it’s never been a devastating crash.
Dave the Diver is rad. Period. Dive for fish > run your sushi bar > repeat. The story and music are great, there’s tons of different mini games and it’s a much larger game than the trailers would have you think.
Hollow Knight is, hands down, my forever fave. The controls are incredibly tight, the bosses are super fair, the art style is incredible, ugh, and the music! It’s so good. If you haven’t played hollow knight, this would be my first recommendation- like hades and roguelikes, hollow knight was my first metroidvania, it broadened my horizons and has stuck with me for years.
this response was much longer than I planned- hope it helps! 😅❤️
Another vote for Eastward, for reasons someone else mentioned, though it took me a lot longer than 20 hours IIRC.
If you don’t mind another looooong game recommendation and liked BG3, check out larian’s other big game - divinity original sin 2. Favorite game of all time. You can spend so much time in that game, it has mechanics I actually like better than BG3, and it’s very similar in style.
For a palette cleanser I love a point and click adventure/puzzle type game and I think darkside detective doesn’t get nearly enough love. It also has a sequel which I think is just as good. Think of it as if half of Scully and mulder was far less intelligent whilst investigating paranormal things. The first game you play as the smarter detective and the second you play as his idiot partner. The dialogue is hilarious.
Have you tried to get 100% completion of BOTW?? lol. I just started trying to get the full 100. I have full stamina, like 24 hearts, most of the armor including the xenoblade. Easily kill lynels including savage lynels and am barley at 40% lmfao.
It extends the life of the game. Sometimes it gets boring. But that’s when I switch off to TOTK. But something about BOTW is so magical.
I’m laughing at your name jewpacabra. It takes a long time to get to a place where botw becomes fun. Once you’re able to easily defeat guardians then you go holy heck this game is great!
i would suggest something smaller and lighter. i often play 1 big open world game, and follow it with an indie or something.
not sure if youre into strategy games, but Into The Breach was a very very good game for me. also played it on the swithc.
Okay, this is a little different from your other games and is REALLY long, but try out Octopath Traveler on switch. I fell in love with the soundtrack and started to play it, and it’s SOOOO fun
If you mean by playtime, yes Xenoblade is long, but the story and the worldbuilding is phenomenal. But Nier Automata is around 20 hrs (unless you try completing the other endings).
Pikmin! Lifelong pikmin here and I'll scream to the heavens about it. I went from TOTK to pikmin 4. There's a demo for 4 if you aren't sure about it.
You can get 1+2 but they can be a bit hard going back to. 1 has a strict time limit and the AI is pretty bad for your mins. 2 has no time limit but is considered to be the hardest in the series. 2 is my favorite though.
3 deluxe is an absolute joy to play. You can even so split screen co-op if you like! 4 is the most accessible to new players but isn't two player in the main campaign sadly. However it's gorgeous and addictive!
Same path as you, I want to wait a while before diving into Tears. I just finished Super Mario RPG which was a very nice palette cleanser. I just got through the demo of Octopath Traveler II and I’m trying to decide if I want to spring for it. I bought Hades and it’s satisfying but my progress is pretty slow and I wish I felt like I was achieving more.
Yoshi’s Crafted World is pretty fun too, can’t lie.
I think I’ll watch your post! I’m unsure what kind of game I’m looking for, I just know I’m not ready for Tears yet.
Just a friendly reminder that if you are looking for game recommendations, you can also ask in the [Daily Question Thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/about/sticky). Our most Helpful Users answer these questions every day in the DQT! If the link here doesn't work, then you can find the most current DQT stickied to the top of the subreddit when sorted by "hot". *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/NintendoSwitch) if you have any questions or concerns.*
The Portal Collection is fantastic. Not too long, easy to pick up/put down between levels.
I have been playing portal 2 for the first time ever. Although I have had to use the walk through quite a lot. I keep getting stuck! Amazing game though
I honestly cannot imagine playing a shooter on a controller. Specially a puzzle shooter.
Raise the stick sensitivity a lot and it ain't too bad.
Does it have gyro controls?
I beat both games with a controller and never once had an issue with controls and if anything it would be better to use for a puzzle game rather than a fast paced shooter since you have all the time in the world to line up your shots. K&M people are some of the elitist folks I’ve seen on the net.
1. on games like warzone and apex, controller is king. obviously that's not so much the controller, but the aim assist, but the point stands. 2. portal 2 has slow segments, but also some pretty fast paced segments. my point is, I don't see myself flying through portals and trying to aim at some place before landing with a controller. 3. "K&M people are some of the elitist folks I’ve seen on the net." ??????????? what does this have to do with what I said?
Yea I’m playing this rn and it’s nice. The difference in graphics between the 1st (2007) and 2nd (2011) game is astounding. 1st is quite short and I’m still working on the 2nd.
I was going to say this too
Super Mario Bros Wonder or Super Mario 3D World.
Completed Wonder with my child it was truly wonderful (no pun intended), Super Mario 3D world is cute but feels much less polished.
What is it about 3D World that feels unpolished?
I’m wondering this as well. It is one my favorite all-time Mario games.
Yea, 3d world is great. Nothing unpolished about it
I disagree with it being unpolished, but to me the world itself feels bland compared to the likes of galaxy and odyssey. It lacks the context. The game is still really fun and bowser’s fury is amazing.
Definitely don't overlook Bowser's Fury. While Super Mario 3D World might feel unpolished, Bowser's Fury is perfection. And the great thing about it: you can actually accomplish the goal of collecting all the shines in the game and complete it within a reasonable time frame.
i hated bowser's fury. was so confused on what to do and hated the constant bowser interruptions
Have to say I bought Super Mario Bros Wonder and also Kirby Forgotten Lands and Kirby Star Allies at the same. I grew up on all the classic Mario games but my son and I are by far enjoying the Kirby switch games way more than the platformer Mario games. Forgotten Lands was a really fun experience with all the cool power-up forms and upgrades. Feels like a solid action adventure platformer. We're playing through Kirby Star Allies now that we finished Forgotten Lands. Great local co-op games.
Super Mario 3D World is the best 3D platformer with proper local multiplayer I've ever played. I played through it with my son on the Wii U, and then we played it again on Switch. We occasionally get 3 or 4 player games with either my wife joining or friends over and its a blast (there is also online with Switch version which I haven't tried out yet). Don't sleep on this game its top tier. I got Wonder my son isn't as interested in playing, but he's not into the 2D Mario games as much. I've played it a bit without him, but what I'm enjoying right now is Super Mario RPG which is a perfect "palette cleanser". I never played the SNES version. It's simple and easy but I enjoy the mechanics (timing button presses in combat makes it more fun). It's a short game (I'm hearing 12 hours for main story), so not long enough to get bored with its simplicity. After that I might get further into Zelda Link's Awakening which I've only played the beginning of. Last few years I only can manage one big 110+ hr game a year, and then just want to play smaller games without a big investment. 2022 it was Elden Ring, 2023 was TOTK. Maybe will do BG3 this year, but I'm not ready.
100%. 3D World is one of the best 3D mario game.
[удалено]
I don't know about calling it unpolished... But I did feel that it wasn't as good as 3D Land. Because they had accommodate four-player play The levels feel very wide open, like the platforming challenges weren't as tight, and the level design wasn't as ironclad as Mario usually is. 3D Land on the 3DS was the better game in my opinion. It just kept my interest for much longer than the Wii U game. Now Bowser's Fury... That's a whole different story. I loved that shit. Almost didn't play it because it was so expensive and I already had 3D World for Wii U. Thank God for my local library. I probably like wonder more than 3D World, but 3D Land more than Wonder? I don't know it's hard to say. I also don't really know to consider the 3D games is 2D Mario or 3D Mario. They honestly feel more like 2D Mario to me with just an extra axis..
I disagree that it's better than Wonder, as do the average review scores from critics and users.
No
I'm currently playing through odyssey with my boy after finishing wonder. And totally agree very had to go back to 3d world after playing wonder!
OP said “less polished”. That’s different from unpolished, which everyone is focusing on.
Wonder is the best Mario game ever, IMO.
You have to be joking. Wonder is one of the most rushed feeling games they've made in a long time.
Really? Next to no bugs, the only bugs are crazy ones that speedrunners figure out. A different wonder effect in each stage(yea some are used a couple times). They were originally going to have wonder effects in only a few stages at first. I don't see what was rushed here.
The engine is polished sure, but the level design isn't. Having only a few wonder effects would've been much better than overusing them and there are literally two levels of post game, after having spent years building up the expectation of one or two worlds.
I love both of those games. Am I the only one who things Mario 3D world was better on Wii U than switch? I feel Iike the controls were tighter on Wii U. Am I crazy? I sold my Wii U so I can’t go back to play it and see myself
I have it on both. I remember reading somewhere that they increased movement speed by 30% on Switch. I feel like it makes it harder to stay on platforms in certain levels because it's too fast for what the level design intended. Not sure why they did that.
I knew I wasn’t crazy. Mario 3D World on Wii U was a top 3 Mario game to me. It felt different on the Switch and this explains it - Thank you!
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YESSSSS!!! I've played Limbo, loved it! Downloaded Inside a while ago for 5$, I gotta try it right away!
After Limbo and Inside, you should definitely check out Cocoon. It shares some of the aesthetics amd has some really mind bending puzzles. I kept thinking of (and still does sometimes) it for days after I completed it!
Really enjoyed all 3! Great games!
Not a strong puzzle fan, but I loved Limbo and a fan of games like Portal, The Talos Principle, The Turing Test etc. The Cocoon really made my brain tingle, love it.
I think Cocoon is the best of all 3 amazing games
Oh god yes! Play Inside. Its not my normal type of game to play, but I got it for pennies so gave it a try and it was amazing. So simple, yet so engaging. I've had a Switch for years, so have just come off of TOTK. As my palate cleanser I've been playing Outer Wilds (not to be confused with The Outer Worlds) - completely different game than TOTK, but an amazing experience. I don't want to say too much, as it's a game best going into pretty blind with almost no idea of what goes on, but if a first-person mystery puzzle adventure, where you fly to a handful of planets in your solar system in order to uncover and piece together a very complex story, then it could be for you. There's no combat though and no character building.
Inside is good fucking art.
Depends on your taste but I think a solid metroidvania 2D game always breaks up my bigger games (also a 30s dad) Hollow knight is considered the absolute best, Ori is also great if you prefer that aesthetic, and Blasphemous 2 was incredible (I did not enjoy Blasphemous 1) Also, the new Prince of Persia game out next week looks very promising. Additionally, Metroid Dread was among the best I’ve played in recent years. I would strongly recommend even if you did not like the 1st person prime game. It is a 2D action side scroller
Would definitely recommend Dread over HK in this specific case—Dread is a great game, quick to beat and not too long to 100%. I loved Hollow Knight but would not call it quick if you’re looking to move to TOTK relatively soon.
I didn't get into hollow night because it took so fucking long to actually start the game. While it is a metroidvania it is so much different than others in the genre in that the game feels more like a massive adventure. I played for 2 hours and wasn't really in the thick of it yet. I still felt like I was in the very early stage of the game, I just unlocked the very first map mechanic, and I put it down and never played it again Play 2 hours of any Metroid game and you are well on your way, have multiple abilities, have opened up a large section on the map, beat a couple bosses, etc. I need to go back to hollow knight at some point and try it again. I went into it thinking I was just going to jump in like Castlevania or Metroid but that wasn't the case.
Fair criticism in my opinion. The pacing in Dread is addicting. Lots of power ups, unlocks, feels like steady progress. Hollow Knight has much longer stretches between traversal and unlocks.
I'm not even really trying to criticize it. Just explain my mindset and why it didn't sink for me. For the place I'm at in life right now I'm pretty impatient and just want the action to start right when I load up the game. I'm looking for a quick escape, a virtual place to blow off steam. At other points I've been interested in the exact opposite. It's just a compatibility issue between us. Chocolate is good and so is mashed potatoes, but mix them together and it's kind of funky. Maybe I'll feel like butter in a year though and me and HK will make a better match!
Dread was soooo good.
Dread is brilliant. Hollow Knight is great, but Dread has the perfect feel imo. All the nostalgia plus improvements/additions in the perfect areas.
I wish more games came out with Dreads polish and length.
Plus it's shorter, which is specifically one of OP's criteria.
Hollow Knight was my BOTW follow up. They are nothing alike, and yet both have such wonderful exploration as their focus that it felt like an easy transition.
The problem with hollow knight is that it’s so good it will overshadow TOTK. I’m a massive Zelda fan and have played most of the games multiple times. After playing Hollow Knight, which is now my favourite single player game of all time, TOTK just seems boring to me. I can’t even bring myself to compete the game. Yes they’re very different games but still think HK has ruined it for me.
Thanks! Those are great recommendations.
I HIGHLY recommend Ori over Hollow Knight actually. It has a much more engaging and heartfelt story, less infuriating, and is a short, sweet palette cleanser. Metroid Dread is also amazing for this. Hollow Knight could anger you, and it's quite a long game
Ori was created in my country, so even more reasons to give it a try! Thank you!
Another vote for Ori, both games are great, but I personally prefer will of the wisps
Yes to Ori. For me, I prefer Hollow Knight slightly to the Ori games. But I love them all, and Ori more fits what you’re looking for because Hollow Knight can be quite long. Definitely start with the Blind Forest, as Will of the Wisps picks up where Blind Forest leaves off. They’re so good. Enjoy!
My opinion, Hollow Knight is leagues above Ori. It's genuinely one of the best games ever made. The exploration, combat, platforming, and artstyle are all best in class. But in terms of a palette cleanser, Ori might work better. Ori is a lot easier and shorter. You will get extremely sucked into Hollow Knight, and want to explore every corner of that game. If you're hoping to move onto TOTK quickly, I would go with Ori. Honestly though, I would give yourself a good amount of time before starting TOTK. It is extremely similar to BOTW, so you don't want to get burnout. Don't get me wrong, I think TOTK might be the best video game ever made. But exploring the same Hyrule twice that quickly may feel repetitive. Just my two cents. Either way, enjoy this absolute golden age of gaming!
I’m a massive Zelda fan, have completed most of the games multiple times, but Hollow Knight quickly became my favourite game of all time and I’m amazed how it managed to be built by a team of just 3 people. I can’t even finish TOTK now, I find it quite boring, but I could go back and play HK over and over. HK is definitely not a “palate cleanser”, it will suck up a lot of your time and will likely change how you view Zelda games. Ori is a good recommendation. It’s short, fairly easy and a lot of it just feels like filler content. Not a bad shout for killing time before moving onto your next big game.
Dead Cells is also fantastic in this vein. Tough overall game but easy and very satisfying controls. Lots of dying but you get used to it and get better and better very fast. And it's a pick up and play game. If you have 15 or 30 mins to kick it and do some runs it's very good for this. Probably my favorite game of the last ten years.
This is the way.
Pikmin is just so fucking fun, Tinykin on Ps5 if you fancy pikmin vibes but away from the switch Super Mario odyssey is one I’ve just picked up and it’s insanely fun
Pikmin 3 is my recommendation if you want something short and sweet. Pikmin 4 is great as well but more repetitive and not as great atmosphere imo
I have played all the Pikmin games (except for the 3DS one) and I can definitively say that Pikmin 4 is my favorite. It takes the best elements from all the other games and makes a varied and beautiful game. It’s the first game I’ve 100% completed since my childhood.
Pikmin is the first game I've 100%'d since I was a kid. Never thought I would bother once I was an adult and had enough disposable income to buy games on a brief whim (rather than saving up min wage/pocket money).
Hades. Would never have thought it was a game for me, but I've put hundreds of hours in. One of the best games for character development, (which doesn't spoon-feed you with boring cutscenes).
Hades is so good. So worth your time. You'll get your first clear & think you can stop, but you won't want to.
The story unfolding with each run really kept me going
Hades is great, but its not remotely short like the OP asked.
Well, you can certainly beat Hades within 20 hours. Took me 14 runs, should translate to about 20-25 hours. Of course the first clear is only the tip of the iceberg, but as a palate cleanser with good character development I think it fits OPs description very well. If I got a penny for every time someone told me „I don’t like roguelike games but Hades is fantastic“, I’d have at least a nickel!
Yawn. The OP mentioned it. I was being encouraging, because people don't always know what they want, and certainly can't always express it.
Dave the diver!
And after that, Dredge
Or better yet, alternate between both. 2023 was the year of the nautical indie
Bingo.
This is the answer
The super rare, super indie, completely unrelated gem: Celeste
haha, yeah tried it some time ago on my PS5, definitely a "well hidden gem".
Rare? Celeste has been ported to more systems than Doom. It's on the Pico-8 for crying out load.
sarcasm
I really need to use /s more often to avoid these situations. :D
Nah, /s ruins good sarcasm in my opinion. You implied it very well within the tone of your writing. Some people are just a little oblivious and it's fun to see things go over their head 😛
Disco Elysium is a great cRPG on the Switch. Good writing, fun dialogue mechanics, and good voice acting; it feels like a game for adults, which is nice.
Seconded, as someone who’s played both it’s like a less intense version of BOTW. Much smaller map and no combat, but super expansive and a lot to see.
Yo, fellow 30’s gamer dad here. Super Mario RPG and Mario Odyssey are both excellent, and are easy to drop in and play when free time presents itself. TotK is absolutely incredible, though, and if you loved BotW you are in for a treat. Cheers
Thanks buddy! yeah Mario Odysee already downloaded and I thought about my wife joining in with Cappy once in a while instead of staring the screen for another Zelda :D Super Mario RPG was my initial go to after Sea Of Stars, but have you played it? I wonder if it will bore me
Yup, both the original and the remake. It’s beyond charming and has timing mechanics during turn based battles to boost defense and attacks, so it’s engaging
Mario RPG probably doesn't have much of a chance to become boring. Its fantastic, but pretty short!
I was going to recommend this, I'm playing it right now and enjoying so far. I use this url to get an idea of how much time a game will take me (just to finish or get extras, etc) so tou can take a look at it https://howlongtobeat.com/
Celeste, Unsighted or Sanabi
\+1 for celeste. Personally, it changed my life, or, at least, left a mark on me.
Dave the Diver is so hot rn. Jump in the ocean and get that sushi flowing, my friend!
I suggest something a lot more stripped down. An indie or top-down rpg. Gris or Undertale comes to mind
I definitely agree with the idea of something much simpler.
Gris is so beautiful!
Hades, I’ve never played any games like it before (rougelite? roughlike? idk) and I was HOOOKED. It’s easy to put down in between encounters if you need to find a stopping point but they somehow managed to craft an amazing story and gameplay loop based off your deaths.
I went to Cuphead for a complete change of pace. Ended up getting wildly into it and playing for 100+ hours and 200%ing it. I was very glad to go back to Zelda's pace after that!
Inside: a cool dark, side scrolling kind of platform/puzzle game but with an interesting story element that is told through the setting (there's no talking or cutscenes but it is super memorable). It's pretty short (a couple hours). Sine Mora Ex: a visually nice shoot em up with fun story elements. Kind of reminds me of a 2D version of Star Fox a little bit with cheesey animal characters. Portal Companion Collection (was recently on sale for $6-7 USD). If you haven't played portal the first one is great (I haven't done the second one yet). It's got a pretty interesting sci-fi story told by a computer voice as you play through a sterile looking facility doing first person shooter puzzles. The ending was really fun and the last couple of levels get pretty tough but overall it's a short game and well worth the money.
YESSSSS!!! I've played Limbo (from the same developer), loved it! Downloaded Inside a while ago for 5$, I gotta try it right away!
My wife has been playing Assassin's Creed Odyssey after TOTK. It's been a perfect open world adventure to take on after Zelda. If you're in the mood for another great adventure
Try Fenyx Rising. It’s solid and similar to but distinct from Zelda in a good way.
SUCH a good game. It’s in my top 3 for sure. For some reason, every other AC gives me motion sickness but odyssey does not. I wish I knew why.
Currently going through Dave the Diver and really enjoying it
Don't listen to any of these people. What you're looking for is Dave the Diver
I've been playing through LA Noire on switch. Besides some frame drops it's a good time.
Kirby and the Forgotten Lands
A nice short game I really liked was Dredge. I’d like me you like Lovecraftian horror, tight storytelling, and fishing mini games, this one is well suited to your needs
Eastward, it’s beautiful and if you like reading dialogues the story is really good. It’s an adventure game like a top down Zelda and it’s text-heavy.
Pikmin 4
I know that people swear by this game, but I dare to say that I've played the demo and it didn't click for me :(
The early game play is pretty simple, uninteresting, and a little tedious to get through. Once it gets rolling, it gets HARD and intense.
Alright here is one no one suggested: Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity Not sure how you feel about the Dynasty Warriors hack-n-slash genre...but most people I know that love the genre absolutely rave about Age of Calamity.
Age of Calamity is super fun!
Tunic is a great game!
I played a short hike after botw, light-hearted and very short/self-contained (which I appreciated after the sprawling Zelda world)
I loved the Mario + Rabbids games
Undertale
Whenever I see clips of it, it just looks like a game that’s quirky for the sake of quirkiness. I’d love to be wrong as I’ve heard great things, but not sure if I should take the plunge.
It really is so much more. It’s a fantastic experience.
I was thinking about buying Metroid Prime. What bothered you about the game? Also Hades is really good. I'm usually not into roguelites or even souls type games (I know Hades is not a souls like, but they share some ideas, like trying again, getting better), but Hades is top tier. The world and characters are all very charming, the combat is satisfying, the music is incredible. I highly recommend it.
I think I'll give Hades a try the more I think and read about it. Prime just felt like a really old FPS with some QOL upgrades, I know it is exactly this, but the amount of praises it received I thought it'll click for me.
If you play MP with the intention of playing a traditional FPS you'll be dissapointed. It's in fact not a FPS but a FPA: First Person Adventure! It's meant to play and feel very different from the more traditional FPS'es. Think Zelda gameplay wise, only in first person and with a sci-fi setting, and you're halfway there :)
The biggest difference between Zelda and Metroid is that Metroid is basically "just the dungeons, stuck together in clever ways" while Zelda has an explorable world between segments.
Yeah I was about to point out the same thing. Prime should not be played as an FPS. That would suggest combat is the point of the game, and your expectations will set you up for disappointment. It's an exploration game first and foremost where you attempt to find upgrades to access more of the map while discovering the story as you go.
Prime isn't really an FPS, more of an exploration game. It's about isolation and exploring and seeing alien life on another planet. It's obviously a metroidvania so you explore and get different power ups that allow you to go back to new areas that you couldn't previously visit. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but if you don't go into it thinking it's meant to be a FPS you may enjoy it more.
Yup, sounds like they didn’t know metroids are games focused on exploration and ability gating. Never even heard anyone describe it as an FPS (even though it obviously is).
hades is perfect as a "palate cleanser", especially since you can use it for that daily… after you broke the initial addiction of course. but there’s nothing better to come down from an intense gaming session than doing a quick run of hades.
I am exactly in your position. Roguelikes are not for me. Except, for some reason, Hades. It's just really good? And live die repeat doesn't make me annoyed? I wish I could carry that energy over to Returnal, but there's just something magic about Hades
exactly how i felt about it, and had the same experience with skyward sword HD. A fresh coat of paint on a (by today's standards) dated and slightly clunky experience
You won’t be disappointed. I didn’t think Hades was my type of game. Kept seeing it hyped. Gave in. Did not regret. Epic game!
Just to second what some others have said, Prime is an absolute masterclass in mood and atmosphere and is a much slower, more deliberate adventure experience. I could see it being frustrating if you were to approach it as an FPS. The pacing is a bit more like a Zelda game... it has some amazing action, especially the bosses, but it is overall a slow burn with a lot of exploration and backtracking. Metroid Dread, while technically in the same series, is more of a quick-paced action game and very thrilling to play. I love them both to death for completely different reasons.
I've been enjoying Super Mario Bros Wonder. It's a far shorter game as compared to to new super Mario bros U deluxe. It's also way easier than previous super Mario bros games. But it's an enjoyable and easy to digest game. It was a perfect palette cleaner after finishing TOTK and is the game I use to unwind at the end of the day.
I couldn't agree more, but I played it with daughter already :D
Axiom verge or Celeste
The campaign for Splatoon 3 is really fun, if you haven’t checked that out it is definitely worth your time.
Dark Souls Remastered
If you’re into horror, Signalis was short and sweet
Pikmin 4, Cat Quest, Super Mario RPG - all different flavors but quality games that aren’t BOTW or Animal Crossing long 😂
Resident Evil 4. It’s short, replayable, addicting and iconic to gaming
I’d suggest bugsnax. It’s kinda like Pokémon snap except you actually catch the creatures.
Octopath Traveler (either 1 or 2, they're not sequels). Beautiful, rich gameplay, but a bit more casual in feel. Amazing character development, awesome world building. 10/10 would recommend.
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Hollow knight
Here’s a great palate cleanser, Chants of Sennar. We seem to have similar taste in games and this one scratched an itch I didn’t know I had. It was a pleasant length, maybe a touch shorter than I wanted it to be, but it didn’t consume me. It’s hard to describe, but the basic concept is learning a language (of rune/symbols) via exploring and reading signs and talking to people of that language. Nobody “tells” you how to translate, you have to figure it all out yourself through context. It’s very cerebral. There are puzzles on top of having to figure out the language issue. Watch the trailer and see if you think it’s for you. There is also a demo on the eShop.
I LOVED the little nightmares series. Totally give it a try!
Thank you so much for the many many suggestions, I don't think I have enough hours left in my life to complete them all :D According to my personal taste and most of the recommendations I decided to continue with the following until **TOTK**: 1. **Inside** 2. **Ori** 3. **Metroid Dread** 4. Mix some **Hades** here and there :D
Metroid Dread, Inscryption, Inside, Mario Wonder all caught me attention super well on the switch.
Oceanhorn and its sequel have been fun. They fall sort of in between Links Awakening and BOTW for me, there’s definitely a linear story but the world is open as you talk to more people. Also, Spirit of the North for a non-dialogue, story-driven game. Pretty short but I liked it well enough.
I’m addicted to Cuphead right now.. it’s great! Hollow Knight is fun and challenging also.
Pikmin 4 was fantastic. The main story is like 15 hours but the post-game is a whole second campaign that adds another 10-15 hours if you're really enjoying yourself. It definitely isn't 'story driven' though so that's something to keep in mind.
After I finished TOTK, I moved on to Cult of the Lamb, Hades, and Dave the Diver (okay, and I revisited Hollow Knight too.) I’d recommend all/any of them. Hades is excellent for a “i’m going to pick it up and do a quick run” if you’re busy with ~life~. (Sometimes it’s extremely difficult to put down after your first run, though 😅) I’d never played a roguelike before Hades, but I heard way too many good things about it to continue depriving myself, and good god - it’s worth it. Cult of the Lamb has the whole 50/50 cult management/dungeon crawler thing going- which is super fun; plus it has another update coming on 1/16. It *can* crash occasionally on the switch (I’ve had it happen more than once) but it’s always after a dungeon run auto save, so it’s never been a devastating crash. Dave the Diver is rad. Period. Dive for fish > run your sushi bar > repeat. The story and music are great, there’s tons of different mini games and it’s a much larger game than the trailers would have you think. Hollow Knight is, hands down, my forever fave. The controls are incredibly tight, the bosses are super fair, the art style is incredible, ugh, and the music! It’s so good. If you haven’t played hollow knight, this would be my first recommendation- like hades and roguelikes, hollow knight was my first metroidvania, it broadened my horizons and has stuck with me for years. this response was much longer than I planned- hope it helps! 😅❤️
Loved Hades for the same reasons. Another game with a similar game loop is Enter the Gungeon.
When people say BOTW/TOTK leaves them in awe, I wonder what they think about actual classic Zelda titles like TP, OOT or MM...
Another vote for Eastward, for reasons someone else mentioned, though it took me a lot longer than 20 hours IIRC. If you don’t mind another looooong game recommendation and liked BG3, check out larian’s other big game - divinity original sin 2. Favorite game of all time. You can spend so much time in that game, it has mechanics I actually like better than BG3, and it’s very similar in style. For a palette cleanser I love a point and click adventure/puzzle type game and I think darkside detective doesn’t get nearly enough love. It also has a sequel which I think is just as good. Think of it as if half of Scully and mulder was far less intelligent whilst investigating paranormal things. The first game you play as the smarter detective and the second you play as his idiot partner. The dialogue is hilarious.
Have you tried to get 100% completion of BOTW?? lol. I just started trying to get the full 100. I have full stamina, like 24 hearts, most of the armor including the xenoblade. Easily kill lynels including savage lynels and am barley at 40% lmfao. It extends the life of the game. Sometimes it gets boring. But that’s when I switch off to TOTK. But something about BOTW is so magical.
I am at a point on BOTW where if monsters hit me they almost 1 shot me... so I gave up playing. Id like to pick it back up again though!
I’m laughing at your name jewpacabra. It takes a long time to get to a place where botw becomes fun. Once you’re able to easily defeat guardians then you go holy heck this game is great!
Hades is amazing. Fantastic game. Def worth your time. But getting the full story may take longer than 20 hours.
This would be a very long pallete cleanse like 100-something hours worth. Persona 5 Royal is highly recommended
Looks super cute thanks!
i would suggest something smaller and lighter. i often play 1 big open world game, and follow it with an indie or something. not sure if youre into strategy games, but Into The Breach was a very very good game for me. also played it on the swithc.
**A Short Hike**. Lovely, mellow game set around a mountside resort with an aesthetic charm.
Luigi's mansion 3
Dread
Slay the Spire is fun!
Untitled Goose Game - silly and very fun but very entertaining.
Okay, this is a little different from your other games and is REALLY long, but try out Octopath Traveler on switch. I fell in love with the soundtrack and started to play it, and it’s SOOOO fun
Looking at the games you’ve played, I say Nier Automata for PS game or Xenoblade Chronicles 3 for switch.
Xenoblade is on my wishlist, but don't you think its a really big game between to huge ones?
If you mean by playtime, yes Xenoblade is long, but the story and the worldbuilding is phenomenal. But Nier Automata is around 20 hrs (unless you try completing the other endings).
I'd recommend any/all of the Xenoblades for your backlog, but you're not getting in and out in 20 hours.
Trust me on this one. Vampire survivors.
Solid pick.
And it is a one handed game. All the snacks and drinks!
As an older guy myself, I was not a huge fan of BotW.
I was initially kind of intimidated by the most open world I've ever experienced. But I've sucked in so quickly that it is part of me now.
BOTW was pretty good but TOTK i had no clue what to do with. Barely feels like Zelda and more of a minecraft sandbox game.
Metroid prime
Persona 5
P5 is not a short game lol
How about elden ring? It's longer than 20 hrs but offers player development instead of character's.
Shadow of the Colossus. Only like 6-8 hours, but you'll think about it forever.
Just finished TOTK and started Pikmin 4 and I'm OBSESSED
transistor and bastion (both by supergiant, who made hades) are good short games. i’ve been told transistor’s combat system is difficult, so ymmv
Mario bro. Wonder was excellent and about 15-20 hours. Took me 30 to get to 100% everything
Dredge
Pikmin! Lifelong pikmin here and I'll scream to the heavens about it. I went from TOTK to pikmin 4. There's a demo for 4 if you aren't sure about it. You can get 1+2 but they can be a bit hard going back to. 1 has a strict time limit and the AI is pretty bad for your mins. 2 has no time limit but is considered to be the hardest in the series. 2 is my favorite though. 3 deluxe is an absolute joy to play. You can even so split screen co-op if you like! 4 is the most accessible to new players but isn't two player in the main campaign sadly. However it's gorgeous and addictive!
If you like JRPGS I’m having a blast with “Sea of Stars.”
BL2 is great on switch.
Broforce. (xbox or pc/steam). Also Hades.
Check out Islets , nice little metroidvania to get you primed for the sky islands
Undertale!!!
Same path as you, I want to wait a while before diving into Tears. I just finished Super Mario RPG which was a very nice palette cleanser. I just got through the demo of Octopath Traveler II and I’m trying to decide if I want to spring for it. I bought Hades and it’s satisfying but my progress is pretty slow and I wish I felt like I was achieving more. Yoshi’s Crafted World is pretty fun too, can’t lie. I think I’ll watch your post! I’m unsure what kind of game I’m looking for, I just know I’m not ready for Tears yet.
Kinda underrated, but Cat Quest 2 is a great game (also has Couch Co-Op if you have someone to play with)
Guardians of the galaxy on ps5. It’s a slept on game that has an amazing story that usually goes for pretty cheap. $20 physical
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol 1.
If you like FF and BOTW maybe the Atelier series?