Image: Nintendo LifeNintendo of America has kicked off its 'Hits for the Holidays' eShop sale, bringing a wave of beefy discounts to thousands of titles across the storefront until 5th January.There are so many to choose from, in fact, that it can be difficult to see the very best among the savings. That's where we come in. In the following list, we have highlighted every game in the Nintendo's North American 'Hits for the Holidays' eShop sale that we awarded 9/10 or higher and yes, it's a rather long one.If you're keen to splash the holiday cash in this sale, you can pick up some eShop credit from our store by following the links below. 'Tis the season, after all.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube789kWatch on YouTube Buy Nintendo eShop CreditUSACANUKEURJPNWithout further ado, here's the very best of the Nintendo eShop 'Hits for the Holidays' sale in alphabetical order...A Short Hike (Switch eShop)Publisher: Whippoorwill / Developer: Adam Robinson-YuRelease Date: 18th Aug 2020 (USA) / 18th Aug 2020 (UK/EU)$4.79 (-40%)A Short Hike is a fat-free experience from top to bottom or should we say bottom to top? It's the kind of game that makes us sigh with happiness when we recall our time with it, and even having played it through to its ostensible conclusion multiple times, we know for a fact there are still things to see and do on that mountain.It's something of an apotheosis a milestone in indie games akin to Cave Story or Spelunky. The very best bits of multiple game genres, stripped of all padding and bloat, mixed perfectly into a delicious video game stew that only gets richer the more you play.An exploration in every sense of the word, A Short Hike is cute without being twee, challenging without being obnoxious, and emotional without being cloying. A landmark game for all ages. Don't miss this one.Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition (Switch)Publisher: Bandai Namco / Developer: Project AcesRelease Date: 11th Jul 2024 (USA) / 11th Jul 2024 (UK/EU)$35.99 (-40%)Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown is the absolute pinnacle of the series and despite coming to Switch over five years after other platforms, this 'impossible' Switch conversion does very little to degrade the experience. Long-time franchise players and military aviation enthusiasts will be overwhelmed by the fan service at every turn, from craters on the ground to airplanes, liveries, callsigns, and emblems shouting out to previous entries.We understand the genre is uniquely niche, but if this is your first foray into the franchise, this conversion is a perfect gateway into this rich, revered series. You get tons of content and an epic single-player campaign wrapped up in triple-A presentation that delivers the most comprehensive portable experience ever from Project Aces.Please note that some external links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.Alien: Isolation (Switch eShop)Publisher: SEGA / Developer: Creative AssemblyRelease Date: 5th Dec 2019 (USA) / 5th Dec 2019 (UK/EU)$14.99 (-25%)Alien: Isolation is a survival horror masterpiece and straight-up one of the very best horror video games ever released. It's a nerve-wracking affair a slow, methodical game of cat and mouse against a brilliantly clever recreation of one of cinema's most infamous killers but if you're up to the task you'll find one of the most satisfying gameplay experiences in the genre; a brilliant and beautiful homage to one of the greatest Sci-Fi movies of all time. Feral Interactive has done a stellar job with this Switch port and the excellent motion controls and inclusion of all previously-released DLC only go to sweeten the deal. This is essential stuff for survival horror fans.Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch)Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: NintendoRelease Date: 20th Mar 2020 (USA) / 20th Mar 2020 (UK/EU)$41.99 (-30%)Animal Crossing: New Horizons improved upon every single facet of the series imaginable. There's more to do, more to see, more to change, more to mould, and more to love; fans and first-time players can find themselves losing hours at a time gathering materials, creating new furniture, and making their island undeniably theirs.Every moment is unashamedly blissful, with excellently written characters that truly feel alive and an island paradise that gives back infinitely more than you put in. Back when Animal Crossing: New Leaf hit the shelves all those years ago and created a whole new generation of fans, many people were wondering how Nintendo could possibly top it, but here we got our answer.This is a masterpiece that's worth buying a Switch (or two) to play.Animal Well (Switch eShop)Publisher: Bigmode / Developer: Shared MemoryRelease Date: 9th May 2024 (USA) / 9th May 2024 (UK/EU)$19.99 (-20%)Developer Shared Memory's stated goal was to craft complete experiences that will be playable long after the world loses its internet connection, and screen after screen, Animal Well excels in delighting your eyes and giving your brain something to stew on.Its a riposte against a culture of post-launch updates in favour of a meticulously crafted, singular vision with potentially years worth of discoveries baked in. By all indications, Animal Well delivers on that long-term promise and does so with a one-of-a-kind elegance.Astral Ascent (Switch eShop)Publisher: MP2 Games / Developer: Hibernian WorkshopRelease Date: 14th Nov 2023 (USA) / 14th Nov 2023 (UK/EU)$16.24 (-35%)Astral Ascent is a prime example of a game that amounts to more than the sum of its parts. Its strong character design, hi-bit visuals, tight combat, memorable bosses, and broad build variety have all featured in games youve probably played beforetheres nothing new here.But to write it off as just 'another one of those' in a crowded genre would be to miss out on one of the most delightful and surprising releases of 2023. Astral Ascent is comfortably one of the best roguelites available on the Switch. Don't miss it.Axiom Verge (Switch eShop)Publisher: Thomas Happ Games / Developer: Thomas Happ GamesRelease Date: 5th Oct 2017 (USA) / 5th Oct 2017 (UK/EU)$2.99 (-85%)Axiom Verge on Switch is truly an outstanding port of an outstanding game, no more and no less. We would strongly urge those of you who missed this game on other platforms to pick it up here; this is the full Axiom Verge experience and it's available in a format that supports both handheld and home play.For those of you who have played it before on other platforms, its ultimately a question of just how much you love this game. This is the exact same, excellent game that youve played before, so whether or not you want to buy it again is personal choice.Regardless of which side you fall on, Axiom Verge is a fantastic example of how to do a Metroidvania right.You'll also find Axiom Verge 2 in this sale for $5.99 (-70%).Balatro (Switch eShop)Publisher: PlayStack / Developer: LocalThunkRelease Date: 20th Feb 2024 (USA) / 20th Feb 2024 (UK/EU)$13.49 (-10%)Balatro is a roguelike for gamers who don't like roguelikes... and then everybody else on top of that. It utterly nails what it sets out to do, providing an instantly accessible, satisfying, and addictive gameplay loop that anybody can grasp.It's an immensely enjoyable experience from the start, but as you get deeper in, there's really nothing else quite like it. Utterly sublime.Blaster Master Zero 2 (Switch eShop)Publisher: Inti Creates / Developer: Inti CreatesRelease Date: 20th Mar 2019 (USA) / 20th Mar 2019 (UK/EU)$4.99 (-50%)Inti Creates knocked it out of the park with Blaster Master Zero 2, improving on the original 'reboot' in nearly every conceivable way while also setting a clear path forward for what could hopefully become a flagship series for the company.Tight platforming action, memorable boss battles, plenty of extra side content, and some gorgeous pixel art make this one of the easiest recommendations on the eShop; wed strongly encourage you to pick this one up.Whether youre a long-time fan of the series or are just getting into it for the first time, Blaster Master Zero 2 is a stellar experience from stem to stern, and further cements Inti Creates legacy as one of the best developers in the retro gaming business.Botany Manor (Switch eShop)Publisher: Whitethorn Games / Developer: Balloon StudiosRelease Date: 9th Apr 2024 (USA) / 9th Apr 2024 (UK/EU)$19.99 (-20%)It looks like The Witness and it plays a bit like StreetPass Garden, but Botany Manor blooms into something that's not only entirely its own, but also something quite special. Don't let its cosy aesthetics fool you Botany Manor is packed with nicely challenging, well-designed puzzles, and isn't afraid to tackle heavy subjects, too.Braid: Anniversary Edition (Switch eShop)Publisher: Number None / Developer: Number NoneRelease Date: 14th May 2024 (USA) / 14th May 2024 (UK/EU)$10.99 (-45%)Braid remains a landmark equally for indie game development and puzzle platformers. The time control mechanics are mind-bendingly satisfying to play with and the puzzles are wickedly inventive. This Anniversary Edition is an exquisite expression of the original concept, with everything spruced up to perfection.And, even on top of that, it includes interactive creators commentary that sets a high watermark for in-game analysis and represents a new key text for anyone interested in how games are made. In short: this package is an all-timer.Castlevania Dominus Collection (Switch eShop)Publisher: Konami / Developer: KonamiRelease Date: 27th Aug 2024 (USA) / 27th Aug 2024 (UK/EU)$19.99 (-20%)Castlevania Dominus Collection is quite possibly the best compilation that Konami and M2 have produced to date. It presents three exceptional DS games that easily stand the test of time and provide just as much enjoyment now as they did back in the 2000s.Not only that, but the impossible has seemingly been achieved with the remarkable addition of Haunted Castle Revisited. Included as a fun little bonus, this revamped take on a reviled arcade curio is fantastic, and while it can't compete with the very best 'classic' games in the franchise, it's the closest we've gotten to a brand new Castlevania in years. An exquisite package.And for even more Castlevania action, you'll also find the Castlevania Advance Collection in this sale for $9.99 (-50%).Chained Echoes (Switch eShop)Publisher: DECK13 Spotlight / Developer: Matthias LindaRelease Date: 8th Dec 2022 (USA) / 8th Dec 2022 (UK/EU)$21.24 (-15%)Chained Echoes is a wonderful mash-up of '90s JRPG tropes, masterfully woven together to produce an experience that feels simultaneously nostalgic and fresh. A well-paced story, unconventional progression system, tactical combat system, and expansive world all come together to make for a game that is shockingly one of the very best RPGs that we played in 2022. Really, theres no place where it feels like Chained Echoes drops the ball, which is all the more impressive when you consider that the vast majority of it was put together by one person. If you consider yourself a fan of JRPGs, you owe it to yourself to pick this one up as soon as possible. It stands as a shining example of everything that makes RPGs great.Chicken Police - Paint it RED! (Switch eShop)Publisher: HandyGames / Developer: The Wild GentlemenRelease Date: 5th Nov 2020 (USA) / 5th Nov 2020 (UK/EU)$9.99 (-50%)An extremely impressive first game from The Wild Gentlemen, Chicken Police - Paint it RED! is one of the best visual novel/adventure games we've played in a long, long time and one hell of an absorbing tale. It looks and runs great on the Switch, with only a couple of really minuscule interface issues which are easily ignored. At roughly eight or nine hours, the story is surprisingly lengthy for its genre, but we were never bored and wanted to investigate every little thing just to wring out more precious droplets of banter and fascination. Chicken Police is a polished, captivating experience and we're very excited for whatever's coming next from this team.Chicory: A Colorful Tale (Switch eShop)Publisher: Finji / Developer: FinjiRelease Date: 15th Dec 2021 (USA) / 15th Dec 2021 (UK/EU)$9.99 (-50%)As an adventure game, Chicory: A Colorful Tale is quite sincerely up there with the very best of the genre. Theres plenty to see and do and a full completion run will probably take you 25-30 hours. The characters and their travails are rich and likeable, the games sense of humour is generally inspired, and its all very sweet without being sugary-twee and talking down to the player. Its also an affecting little tearjerker that will definitely strike a chord if you make art, and almost certainly will even if you dont so long as youre capable of pretty basic empathy. Chicory is simple to play but impressively long and complex, with perfect controls, performance and visuals. Throw yourself into painting the world and youll be left with a game thats very much your own and speaks to you directly a beautiful marriage of mechanics, themes and visuals.Collection of Mana (Switch)Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square EnixRelease Date: 11th Jun 2019 (USA) / 11th Jun 2019 (UK/EU)$15.99 (-60%)What you've got here are two of the finest examples of the genre, accompanied by a third likeable entry which is also well worth a look. When you consider how many titles Konami is packing into its Anniversary Collection packages and that their retail price is almost half what Square Enix is demanding for the three games included here it's impossible to not question the value of Collection of Mana. However, there's no denying the fact that Secret of Mana is one of the finest console RPGs of all time, and even though it's readily available elsewhere, playing it on Switch is like wrapping yourself up in a warm and familiar blanket; it's just right somehow. We could argue that Secret of Mana is merely the appetiser for the real star of this collection: Trials of Mana. It's nothing short of a masterpiece and finally getting the chance to play it officially in English is a landmark moment for SNES and RPG fans alike.Core Keeper (Switch)Publisher: Fireshine Games / Developer: PugstormRelease Date: 17th Sep 2024 (USA) / 17th Sep 2024 (UK/EU)$14.99 (-25%)Core Keeper is a wonderfully engaging and mysterious survival sandbox that is tough to put down once it gets its hooks in you.An expertly judged progression curve, tons of secrets and unlockables, and excellent presentation all come together to make this one an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a great new survival game. If youve had your fill of stalwarts like Minecraft or Terraria and are looking for the next great game to scratch that itch, look no further.Crimzon Clover - World EXplosion (Switch eShop)Publisher: DEGICA / Developer: YotsubaneRelease Date: 29th Oct 2020 (USA) / 29th Oct 2020 (UK/EU)$11.99 (-40%)While Crimzon Clover does owe a tremendous debt to many arcade shooters through the 1990s and 2000s, it's clear that Yotsubane has a great love and understanding of them. Its not only a homage (look at the default high score table for some familiar initials) but also brings some mechanical brilliance that makes it stand out against most of its doujin shoot-em-up peers, and enough to hang with the genre greats. Its flashy, its exciting, its addictive, and its an essential purchase for genre fans.Crypt of the NecroDancer (Switch eShop)Publisher: Brace Yourself Games / Developer: Brace Yourself GamesRelease Date: 1st Feb 2018 (USA) / 8th Feb 2018 (UK/EU)$3.99 (-80%)A roguelike at heart with a rhythm-game soul, Crypt Of The NecroDancer is a sublime experience thats a must-play for fans of the genre(s). Its upbeat, uptempo take on dungeon crawling is infectious, and theres enough content here to last even the savviest of spelunkers for many, many dance-fuelled dives into the depths if youve never tangoed with the NecroDancer, this fully-featured Switch edition is the perfect way to jump in. For anybody who never played this but loved the Zelda spin-off Cadence of Hyrule (and was left wanting more), what are you waiting for?Cuphead (Switch eShop)Publisher: StudioMDHR / Developer: StudioMDHRRelease Date: 18th Apr 2019 (USA) / 18th Apr 2019 (UK/EU)$13.99 (-30%)Cuphead was an absolute masterpiece when it originally launched on Xbox One and nothing has been sacrificed in its move to the Switch. A run-and-gun boss battler dressed up like a 1930s Fleischer or Disney animated short, its the same visually jaw-dropping, aurally delightful, knuckle-whiteningly difficult game it was on Microsofts console and the Switchs library is all the better for its presence. Its focus on intense boss battles wont be to everyones tastes, but as long as you know what youre getting yourself into we cant recommend it enough. Just look at it!And the Delicious Last Course is the icing on the cake, too.Cyber Shadow (Switch eShop)Publisher: Yacht Club Games / Developer: Mechanical Head StudiosRelease Date: 26th Jan 2021 (USA) / 26th Jan 2021 (UK/EU)$10.99 (-45%)If you consider yourself a fan of retro action platformers, you owe it to yourself to pick up Cyber Shadow. Its clear in virtually every facet of Cyber Shadows design that this project was a labour of love and that its designer is intimately familiar with what makes the stalwarts of this beloved genre so great.Well-built levels, authentic presentation, tight controls, and high difficulty all combine to make this a supreme and focused experience, and one that we can easily say is well worth your time. Mechanical Head Studios set a high bar with its inaugural release.