This article is part of a directory: Complete guide to the Nintendo Switch
Table of contents

The Nintendo Switch might rightly have a reputation for being the best console for family games, but that doesn't mean it doesn't also play host to some excellent shooters.

From first-person switch shooters to third-person blasters, there are plenty of games to sink your teeth into on Nintendo's very portable console, and we've gathered some of the very best around right here for you to check out, below.

Metroid Prime Remastered 1
Metroid Prime Remastered
1. Best overall

Superb remaster

A great shooter that's been lovingly remastered to run incredibly smoothly and impressively on the Switch.

Pros
  • Looks great
  • Classic map to explore
  • Eerie atmosphere
Cons
  • Occasionally hard to figure out where to go

Metroid Prime was an instant classic when it debuted on the Game Cube, and now it's been resurrected in stunning fashion on the Switch with a complete graphical overhaul.

It leaves this old game looking brand-new and underlines how brilliantly it plays even all these years after its release. Metroid Prime Remastered is a brilliant shooter that oozes atmosphere and urges you to explore its world.

Best shooter games on Nintendo Switch 2021: All the best shooters photo 4
Splatoon 3
2. Super fun

Family friendly

A great splatterfest of a shooter that's family-friendly, too.

Pros
  • Family-friendly
  • Great style
  • Fun matches
Cons
  • Not that much variety

Although it's not exactly groundbreaking if you played the last couple of Splatoon games, this third-person, paint-splatting sequel is a fun multiplayer blast.

It looks superb on the Switch - with amazing vibrant colours and fun character designs. The single-player campaign is vastly improved, plus there are new multiplayer modes. Everything seems better tweaked than before, giving the best Splatoon experience yet.

Neon White review: Speedrunning a gauntlet photo 5
Neon White
3. Super fast

Incredible speed

An amazing speed-running shooter that feels like nothing else out there.

Pros
  • Incredible speed-running
  • Clean art style
  • So addictive
Cons
  • Story is pretty missable

It's a little too simple to call this just a shooter - Neon White is unlike anything else, blending shooting with platforming and a puzzle game's tests of mentality to see how quickly you can blitz your way through a whole heap of ingeniously designed levels.

Best shooter games on Nintendo Switch 2021: All the best shooters photo 2
Doom (1993)
4. Crazy action

Total gorefest

This is an amazing gorefest of a shooter, and it plays beautifully on the Switch.

Pros
  • Looks great
  • Super soundtrack
  • Amazing action
Cons
  • Very gory

Of all the remastered or remade games for Nintendo Switch, Doom is possibly the most impressive. It plays just like the PS4 and Xbox One equivalents.

It's clearly not as sharp - which you notice more when played on a TV in docked mode - but the authentic Doom visuals and action are all there. It's not one for the feint hearted, but older Switch owners will love this hardcore first-person shooter.

DUSK image
DUSK
5. Old-school

Retro action

A retro shooter of the very highest quality.

Pros
  • Retro graphics
  • Great soundtrack
  • Such fun to blitz through
Cons
  • Easy to get lost at times

This brilliant throwback of a shooter will have you reliving the very best feelings from the 90s, with quick-paced action and tight shooting across brilliantly designed levels. It's adrenaline-pumping stuff, and runs flawlessly on the Switch having been celebrated on the PC at release.

Best shooter games on Nintendo Switch 2021: All the best shooters photo 5
Fortnite
6. Pop culture

Mega-popular

There's a reason Fortnite has endured - it's loads of fun.

Pros
  • Great visuals
  • Constant updates
  • Never gets old
Cons
  • Building takes some getting used to

What can be said about the multiplayer shooter that hasn't before? It's not just a game, it's a cultural phenomenon and, as it's free to download and play, you can check it out for yourself without spending a penny on any in-game content.

Best shooter games on Nintendo Switch 2021: All the best shooters photo 7
Sniper Elite III: Ultimate Edition
7. Stealth action

Tactical shooting

Be sure to pick your shots carefully in this tactical stealth shooter.

Pros
  • Great tactical options
  • Looks great
Cons
  • Once detected it gets messy

The Switch release of Sniper Elite III: Ultimate brings one of the best combat games around to a portable platform. It is more cerebral than most shooters and plays partly as a stealth puzzle game.

Plus, you can now get Sniper Elite V2 in its remastered form on the Nintendo machine too.