As with films, sci-fi is a genre that has many options when it comes to gaming, like open-world RPGs, survival horror, narrative-based, or survival games. Thanks to the continuous flow of sci-fi games being ported to theNintendo Switch, its library has grown tremendously and provides a great selection.
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Whether you enjoy your science fiction anime-inspired, Metroidvania-style, mixing in some comedy, or a multiplayer experience, this console has it all. And maybe you’ll even come across some sci-fi titles here that you probably didn’t even know existed on the Switch. Nonetheless, safe travels on your space adventures!
10Signalis
Sci-fi mixed with elements of retro survival horror andResident Evil-style inventory managementis whatSignalishas to offer. That, and an immersive dystopian interstellar atmosphere created by the eerie environment design and a brilliant pixel art style. Even more impressive is that this was all executed by a team of two people.
Signalis' narrative has you follow protagonist Elster, a Replika android awoken from cryosleep, into the unknown dangers that lie in an off-planet facility. As you navigate the ominous areas populated with zombie-like creatures in search of your partner Arianne, memories become intertwined with the mystery.
9Ghost Song
Ghost Song is yet another offering from Humble Games, and this sci-fi piece is like the perfect fusion ofHollow Knight,Metroid, andReturnal. It’s a Metroidvania set in an extraterrestrial world of purple sky and mist containinga series of cave systemsfor you to explore and grotesque fungal enemies and bosses to defeat.
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Your Deadsuit’s attached arm cannon is only one way of dispatching the cosmic horror monstrosities that lie in your path, and the character design is original and unlike anything seen in a sci-fi film. And the environment of the Lorian moon is atmospherically grim yet visually gorgeous.
8Aliens: Fireteam Elite
Aliens: Fireteam Elitefinally landed on the Switch on May 19, 2025 - or Alien Day (LV-426, get it?). It’s a multiplayer third-person shooter where you play as Colonial Marines and must survive waves of iconic Xenomorph variants, including a variety of brand-new designs not even appearing in the films.
You canchoose from many classesto have a better tactical strategy of the gear and abilities you’ll want to utilize in combat. And you have classic weapons from the Alien universe, like flamethrowers and rifles. It gives you the best of both worlds ofAlien: Isolationand the less successful Aliens: Colonial Marines, and a must for fans of the series.
7Astral Chain
A Nintendo Switch exclusive,Astral Chainis like the hack-and-slash sci-fi equivalent ofBayonettafrom the developers behindNier: Automata. Set in the year 2078, you traverse the rich cyberpunk landscape of The Ark as a detective able to wield weaponized alien beings called Legions held via chain.
As part of the Neuron task force police unit, you carry out thetypical duties of a detective, chasing down leads, questioning potential suspects and witnesses, and solving evidence-based puzzles like Sherlock Holmes. The Ark isn’t a peaceful society, though, constantly being invaded by chimera foes from the Astral Plane. That’s where your Legions come in.
6Borderlands Legendary Collection And New Tales From The Borderlands
WhileBorderlands 3has yet to be on the Switch, you can still get a healthy dose of its quirky looter-shooter sci-fi fun with the Legendary Collection andNew Tales from the Borderlands. The Collection bundles Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, and Borderlands 2.
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Borderlands is an FPS RPG series packed with unique visual style, action, comedic characters, evil corporations, and compelling villains like Handsome Jack. New Tales from the Borderlands is a sequel to the spin-off series from Telltale Games, following equally irreverent characters in the Borderlands universe with choice-based gameplay.
5Astroneer
Astroneeris a more family-friendly cosmic adventure in which you take control ofone of gaming’s cutest astronauts. It has base-building survival craft elements, planetary vehicles, and a terrain tool mechanic that has the satisfying function of sucking up debris to reshape the environment. And there are seven planets you can explore.
Astroneer may not be to the scope of No Man’s Sky, but there’s still plenty to do and plenty of fun to be shared with friends. The low-poly graphics give each planet a distinct look and provide a whimsical aesthetic for when the debris vacuum gets to work manipulating your surroundings.
4Journey To The Savage Planet
High on Lifemay be limited to Xbox and PC, but something quite similar to its concept exists on the Switch. It’s another FPS platformer with a comedic tone taking you to an interstellar world titledJourney To The Savage Planet. Sure, it doesn’t have the traditional Squanch humor and raunchiness of the Gatlians, but it’s still pretty hilarious in its own right.
Working in the pioneer program for the “fourth-best interstellar exploration company,” you tag various flora and fauna and try to avoid occupational hazards. The hilarity comes in the actions you can do, like being able to slap alien species you encounter, the materials you read and watch, and the suit AI that accompanies you on the journey.
3No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Skylaunched on Switch in 2022, and it’s by far the best space exploration game you can play. With a galaxy of procedurally generated planets that constantly offer new biomes carrying all kinds of species, it’s an endless excitement of interplanetary discovery. And everything looks absolutely gorgeous.
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Allowing you to travel to each planet seamlessly with your spaceship and land without loading screens is its most immersive aspect that beats most other games with similar mechanics. At its core, it’s still a survival game, as the creatures roaming each planet sometimes aren’t as inviting.
2Citizen Sleeper
This acclaimed sci-fi game comes from the development team Jump Over The Age, known for creating truly memorable experiences within the genre. You may recall their debut game wasa sci-fi underwater adventurein which you were a diving suit’s AI called In Other Waters. The narrative structure inCitizen Sleeper, however, is reminiscent ofDisco Elysium, and the setting is a space station.
The unique spin is the inspiration of tabletop roleplaying mechanics, such as dice and ticking clocks, that factor into the gameplay. Like Signalis, the future envisioned here is brutally dystopian and focuses on a character who’s a Sleeper, an artificial human implanted with human consciousness and property of Essen-Arp. And your goal is seeking freedom from the corporation.
1The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worldsis a sci-fi RPG from Obsidian presenting yet another future where, once again, corporations are the primary enemy after capitalistic greed drove them to colonize the solar system. The narrative here is tied to an alternate historical timeline of President Teddy Roosevelt’s assassination, creating the future you’re now a part of.
Strictly a single-player experience, you still can recruit plenty of companions to form a party and explore the scenic lands of Halcyon, with dangers lurking around every area. The story and world-building of The Outer Worlds are just exceptional,including the spectacular writingthat has tons of dialogue options for branching conversations.
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