Image: Nintendo LifeHot on the heels of the North American equivalent, Nintendo of Europe has opened the doors on the 'Play On' Switch eShop sale, bringing discounts to thousands of titles until 23rd February.To help you separate the hot from the slop, we have assembled the following list of every game in Nintendo's sale that we scored a 9/10 or higher. This is presented in alphabetical order, with each title accompanied by its discounted price in GBP (you'll find all EUR savings on the respective eShops).And hey, there's some proper heat on display in this one! So, if you wanted to load up on eShop credit before diving in, you'll find the links to our store below.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube796kWatch on YouTube Buy Nintendo eShop CreditUSACANUKEURJPNEnough chit chat, here's the cream of the crop:13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (Switch)Publisher: Atlus / Developer: VanillawareRelease Date: 12th Apr 2022 (USA) / 12th Apr 2022 (UK/EU)12.49 (-75%)13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a wonderful achievement for dynamic storytelling, as it puts forth a compelling and multifaceted narrative thatll keep you guessing right up until the very end. This excellent story, combined with enjoyable combat portions, a striking art style, and some top-notch voice acting make for an experience that you wont want to miss out on. Its the kind of game thatll have you wishing that you could play it again for the first time, just so all its best elements could be new again.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.Abzu (Switch eShop)Publisher: 505 Games / Developer: Giant SquidRelease Date: 29th Nov 2018 (USA) / 29th Nov 2018 (UK/EU)3.74 (-75%)Abz is certainly a standout release on the eShop, offering up an experience that breaks from the norm of goal-based gaming in favour of something thats more focused on simply existing in a world and enjoying all its little intricacies. Those of you who appreciate casual adventures like taking a walk in a forest will be sure to enjoy what Abz has to offer, as the dreamlike visuals, entrancing orchestral score, and deliberately sedate pace do a fantastic job of drawing the player into this alien world. Abz isn't a game about winning, but about the journey (no pun intended) you take getting there.Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Deluxe Edition (Switch)Publisher: Bandai Namco / Developer: Project AcesRelease Date: 11th Jul 2024 (USA) / 11th Jul 2024 (UK/EU)32.99 (-34%)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.Aegis Defenders (Switch eShop)Publisher: Humble Bundle / Developer: GUTS DepartmentRelease Date: 8th Feb 2018 (USA) / 8th Feb 2018 (UK/EU)3.74 (-75%)Aegis Defenders is a fantastic game, brilliantly blending the tower defense and platforming genres in a unique way to produce a memorable and enjoyable experience. Lovable characters, interesting lore, plenty of secrets, engaging gameplay, and gorgeous presentation combine to make this a must-have title for your Switch. We would recommend this to anybody looking for a detailed world to immerse themselves in, or to somebody looking for that next game to play through with a friend. Aegis Defenders is a real gem on the eShop; dont miss out.Archvale (Switch eShop)Publisher: Humble Games / Developer: Idoz & PhopsRelease Date: 2nd Dec 2021 (USA) / 2nd Dec 2021 (UK/EU)5.99 (-50%)Archvale is a triumphant bullet-hell/RPG genre mashup. Although you could argue its similarity to one or two recent releases, it trumps the competition with incredibly slick combat, simple and satisfying progression, and varied environments and enemies. The difficulty ramps up heavily as you progress to the later levels, so the inability to change difficulty on-the-fly may prove a bit of an issue for some players. Push through, however, and youll find Archvale to be one of the most satisfying twin-stick games available right now.Axiom Verge 2 (Switch eShop)Publisher: Thomas Happ Games / Developer: Thomas Happ GamesRelease Date: 11th Aug 2021 (USA) / 11th Aug 2021 (UK/EU)8.09 (-50%)Axiom Verge is a remarkably tough act to follow, but Thomas Happ managed to do it again in producing a pitch-perfect, excellently paced Metroidvania adventure. Axiom Verge 2 perfectly balances familiar elements that made the original great and trying out new ideas that give the sequel its own identity, and while lovers of the first game may take some time to adjust, everything comes together and makes for a potent experience that no fan of the genre will want to miss out on. The mysterious atmosphere, thrilling pace, and fantastic world design all come together to make for a worthy follow-up that stands well on its own.Balatro (Switch eShop)Publisher: PlayStack / Developer: LocalThunkRelease Date: 20th Feb 2024 (USA) / 20th Feb 2024 (UK/EU)11.51 (-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.BioShock: The Collection (Switch)Publisher: 2K / Developer: 2KRelease Date: 29th May 2020 (USA) / 29th May 2020 (UK/EU)7.99 (-80%)BioShock: The Collection combines three excellent, iconic games and all their DLC into one convincing package. Stable performance, engrossing narratives, fun gameplay, and lots of content make this one an easy recommendation, even if these releases show their age from time to time.If youre looking for a series of strong single-player shooters to pick up for your Switch, its tough to go wrong here.BlazBlue CentralFiction Special Edition (Switch)Publisher: Arc System Works / Developer: Arc System WorksRelease Date: 7th Feb 2019 (USA) / 8th Feb 2019 (UK/EU)8.74 (-75%)BlazBlue CentralFiction Special Edition may have arrived a few years late on Switch, but that delay didn't dull the sharpness of its 2D fighting package. Not only does it give the Ragna saga a proper send-off with a story mode that's so rich in character development it could be a full anime season in its own right, but it offers a staggering number of modes to keep you playing long after the credits roll. It runs silky-smooth docked or in handheld modes and runs like a dream online. The lack of an English dub still rankles, and new adopters are going to have to do a lot of research to understand what's going on, but it's well worth the effort.BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle (Switch)Publisher: Arc System Works / Developer: Arc System WorksRelease Date: 5th Jun 2018 (USA) / 22nd Jun 2018 (UK/EU)4.49 (-75%)BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle is an utterly accomplished 2D fighting game. It's bursting with content and featuring the visual spectacle of combat that uses up every single trick in the book. A few strange decisions aside, this title is a must for fighting game fans. Even if you're not a fan of any of the franchises represented in this game, you most certainly will be by the time you're done with this stacked fighting package.Blazing Chrome (Switch eShop)Publisher: The Arcade Crew / Developer: JoyMasherRelease Date: 11th Jul 2019 (USA) / 11th Jul 2019 (UK/EU)4.58 (-70%)For those longing for a time when side-scrolling shooters ruled the roost, Blazing Chrome is exactly what you're looking for. Perfect for short sessions, its slick gameplay and old-school art direction make for an astonishingly fun game full of explosions, epic set pieces and spectacular boss battles. Its brutal difficulty may not be for everyone, but if you're up for the challenge, then get ready for one of the most accomplished 2D action titles in years.Botany Manor (Switch eShop)Publisher: Whitethorn Games / Developer: Balloon StudiosRelease Date: 9th Apr 2024 (USA) / 9th Apr 2024 (UK/EU)17.99 (-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.Card Shark (Switch eShop)Publisher: Devolver Digital / Developer: NerialRelease Date: 2nd Jun 2022 (USA) / 2nd Jun 2022 (UK/EU)6.29 (-65%)Card Shark is the kind of game that at first blush seems like it just wont work. Lots of dialogue bookended by brief, simplistic minigame sequences seems like it would make for an experience that would lose its luster quickly, yet we couldnt put it down. Witty writing, high-stakes gameplay, and a gorgeous art style all come together here to make for a game thats well-executed and unique in its appeal. If youre looking to try something awesome that notably bucks most modern gaming trends, Card Shark is absolutely something wed recommend, well worth your time and money.Chained Echoes (Switch eShop)Publisher: DECK13 Spotlight / Developer: Matthias LindaRelease Date: 8th Dec 2022 (USA) / 8th Dec 2022 (UK/EU)18.39 (-20%)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. 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)6.29 (-65%)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, 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.Cuphead (Switch eShop)Publisher: StudioMDHR / Developer: StudioMDHRRelease Date: 18th Apr 2019 (USA) / 18th Apr 2019 (UK/EU)11.89 (-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 (also in this sale for 5.43) 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)10.79 (-40%)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.Death's Door (Switch eShop)Publisher: Devolver Digital / Developer: Acid NerveRelease Date: 23rd Nov 2021 (USA) / 23rd Nov 2021 (UK/EU)4.49 (-75%)Death's Door is a modern classic, utilizing old gameplay ideas in a new setting to make for a short and sweet experience you wont want to miss. The snappy combat, rewarding exploration, and relaxing music will stick with you once you've finished, and while it may not have anything 'new' to offer, Deaths Door is so high quality that youll hardly have time to think about its lack of innovation.Wed give this one a very high recommendation, especially to any fans of Zelda or Soulslike games Acid Nerve has crafted an experience thats absolutely worth your time and money.Detention (Switch eShop)Publisher: Coconut Island Games / Developer: Red Candle GamesRelease Date: 1st Mar 2018 (USA) / 1st Mar 2018 (UK/EU)4.74 (-50%)Detention is another horror classic that deserves a place on your Switch. Its story has an important message as it introduces themes through the eyes of a child that only escalate the horror.Through a terrifying atmosphere, chilling ghouls, and a soundtrack that will sink its teeth into you, Detention is a suitably horrifying title that needs to be experienced firsthand.Dicefolk (Switch eShop)Publisher: Good Shepherd Entertainment / Developer: LEAP Game StudiosRelease Date: 20th Jun 2024 (USA) / 20th Jun 2024 (UK/EU)8.76 (-35%)An attractive art style, strong combat system, and meaningful player choices make Dicefolk a brilliant addition to the library, as it manages to feel fresh without getting too far away from the core ideas that make these sorts of games so addictive and popular.Dicefolk is a good entry point to the genre, in fact; approachable without being patronising and its tons of fun once you get a grasp of its various quirks.