Summary
French publisher Ubisoft and its development subsidiaries are responsible for some of the most critically and commercially successful video games of all time. First achieving worldwide acclaim with the legendary platform gameRayman,the company has gone from strength to strengthwith influential series likeAssassin’s Creedand the manyTom Clancygames.
Despite some hardware limitations, the Nintendo Switch has managed to accommodate ports of many classic Ubisoft games and received a few popular exclusive titles, too. Here are some of the best of the bunch, ranked based on a combination of the game’s overall quality on Nintendo’s hybrid console and its popularity with fans.
The first game in the much-hyped series to appear on a Nintendo console,Trials Risingtakes the action around the world to test the mettle of burgeoning motorcycle racersand test physics too. Featuring multiple real-world landmarks and some very creative courses, it’s one of the most enjoyable bike racing games ever made.
Clothing and vehicles can be fully customized, with thousands of items available for purchase using in-game credits. The track-builder is extensive too, with over 8000 items available for players to construct their dreamTrialscourses.
Often compared toThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,Immortals Fenyx Risingis strikingly similar to the classic Switch launch title but still stands up on its own. Taking placein an open worldinspired by Greek mythology, players assume the role of the titular Fenyx as they seek to defeat Typhon and restore the powers of the Greek Gods.
The Golden Isle contains seven distinct regions to explore, each filled with mythological monsters like the cyclops to defeat. Fenyx can traverse the land by climbing, riding creatures, and even flying with the help of the Wings of Daedalus, and can gradually unlock incredible god-like powers to utilize in combat.
Stepping into the shoes of reporter Jade once again,Beyond Good & Evil: 20th Anniversary Editionis a remaster of the classic 2003 action-adventure game. Making use of her martial arts and photography skills, the goal is to uncover a sinister alien conspiracy on behalf of the resistance.
Despite some criticism at the time of its original release, it remains a cult classic, regarded by many as one of the best games ever made. Apart from the updated graphics and quality of life improvements for modern sensibilities, the 20th anniversary remaster also contains some new features, like exclusive cosmetic items, a speedrun mode, and even a sidequest that links to the prequel.
Originally released to coincide with the centenary of the outbreak of World War One,Valiant Hearts: The Great Wareventually made its way to the Nintendo Switch a few years later. Taking a step back from the action on the battlefield, this game approaches human stories on both sides during wartime. The four playable characters are soldiers from France, Germany, and the USA, plus a Belgian nurse.
It’s regarded by many as aninvaluable way to learn about history, with the development team extensively studying firsthand accounts to maximize accuracy. There are some sections involving stealth and hostility, but progressing through the levels generally involves utilizing the dog Walt to solve puzzles in various recognizable locations on the Western Front.
Set in the universe of the popular animated TV series,South Park: The Stick of Truthisa role-playing adventurewith a fantasy twist. Featuring many of the characters fromSouth Park, players control the New Kid in town, who participates in a fantasyDungeons and Dragons-stylewar involving tropes like wizards and elves.
Assembling familiar characters into the playable party, each being one of four classes with their own strengths and weaknesses, players engage in turn-based combat against a diverse mix of enemies, such as gnomes, aliens, and hippies. The trademark boundary-pushingSouth Parkhumor is on full display, which was one of the main sources of praise from critics.
When it comes toAssassin’s Creed, every fan has their own personal favorite, and many Switch ports have sadly suffered from performance issues.The Ezio Collectionis definitely worth trying, butAssassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collectionjust edges it with most fans, containing two classic entries in the franchise,Black FlagandRogue, plus all of their DLC.
Black Flagis the fourth numbered entry in the series, putting players on a pirate ship, sailing around the Caribbean, and engaging in famous naval battles, whileRogueturns players into assassin hunters as they betray the brotherhood. Both are excellent chapters in the long-running saga and can be enjoyed in handheld mode with no issues on the Switch.
One of themost visually striking gamesin Ubisoft’s back catalog,Child of Light: Ultimate Editioncontains the base game and a few bonuses, like an extra mission and a new Healing Skill. As Aurora, the goal is to return to and save her ailing father by restoring light to the enigmatic land of Lemuria, where the sun, moon, and stars have been taken by Umbra, The Queen of Night.
Battles are turn-based, with many interesting characters joining Aurora on her quests, from a mouse archer to a guiding firefly. Everything about the game came in for heaps of praise, from its rich narrative and sublime soundtrack to the stunning graphics and enjoyable gameplay.
An enhanced port for the Nintendo Switch,Rayman Legends Definitive Editionis the fifth entry in theclassic platform game franchise. Rayman and his friends are sucked into mysterious paintings while wandering in the enchanted forest and must find a way through each one to uncover their secrets, battling enemies along the way.
One main source of praise was the sheer amount of content, with over 100 different maps to enjoy, including many from the prior gameRayman Origins. There are a host of different playable characters with their own unique abilities, and up to four players can join in local co-op, in both regular levels and the excellent Kung Foot minigame.
Building on the success ofKingdom Battle,Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hopeis a Nintendo Switch-exclusive tactics game. Improving on its impressive predecessor, battle maps feature a more free-flowing movement system rather than the rigid grid system usually present in the genre.
The nine playable characters in the base game, now including Bowser, must travel to different planets to rescue Sparks and receive their unique powers. Unlike in the previous game, Mario can be swapped out, and theRayman in the Phantom ShadowDLC even adds a whole new campaign starring Rayman as a playable hero, reuniting him with the Rabbids.
Heavily inspired by Persian mythology,Prince of Persia: The Lost Crowncontainselements of Metroidvania games, with many shortcuts, secret rooms, and puzzles needing to be solved. The game is presented in a side-scrolling style with eye-catching 2.5D graphics as the protagonist, Sargon, seeks to rescue the kidnapped prince at Mount Qaf.
Exploration and combat are particularly enjoyable, as are the somewhat familiar mechanics of time and space manipulation found in previousPrince of Persiagames. Despite the positive response from critics and players and several major award wins, sales were disappointing for Ubisoft, and the development team was disbanded.
