Best Cheap eShop Games Under $5 on Switch

Finding a good game to play on the eShop doesn’t require spending a ton of money. If you have some extra cash or gold points to spend, check out these cheap eShop games. They’re all worth playing as long as you’re a fan of the genre.

Best Cheap eShop Games on Switch

10. Daggerhood

Price: $4.99
Publisher: Ratalaika Games
Developer: Woblyware
Genre: Action Platformer

Daggerhood is a unique little puzzle platformer that clearly draws plenty of inspiration from Celeste. The game is divided up into five worlds with over 100 levels to beat. There are special challenges in each level to collect treasure and five unique mini-bosses to defeat.

Each new world in the game introduces a new gameplay mechanic. Daggerhood is also available on mobile devices, but Switch physical controls make all the difference for this quick platformer.

9. Dig Dog

Price: $3.99
Publisher: Wild Rooster
Developer: Wild Rooster
Genre: Action Platformer

Dig Dog is an action roguelike platformer from a single developer. Players take on the role of a dog who must dig, dash, and jump in his search for bones. Dig Dog includes two different game modes ⁠— Bone Hunt and Free Dig.

Bone Hunt is the roguelike mode where players dig for bones across four different worlds. Each level is procedurally generated so it feels different to play. Free Dig is more forgiving with an infinite set of levels and no game overs.

8. Qbik

Price: $4.99
Publisher: Forever Entertainment
Developer:
Genre: Puzzle

Qbik is a pixel-art puzzle platformer that gets increasingly challenging as you progress. The game features 63 levels and a level editor for making your own challenges. Players who love solving logic puzzles will appreciate Qbik’s gameplay.

There is a story here, but it’s pretty minimal. Most of the fun to be had with this game is solving each puzzle room. Fans of puzzle games will enjoy this one.

Note: Qbik features a short demo on the eShop that will give you an idea of what the game is like to play. Check it out if the game sounds interesting. It is one of the only cheap eShop games on the list to include a demo.

7. Ambition of the Slimes

Price: $5.00
Publisher: Flyhigh Works
Developer:
Genre: Simulation, RPG

Take over the world with slimes in the simulation RPG that’s full of fun challenges. Players can claim increasingly more difficult enemies to work their way up the food chain. There’s a surprising amount of strategy involved in managing your slime army, too.

Each slime has unique abilities like teleportation or melting. Figuring out the right strategy to take over a group of enemies can be a real puzzler. You may restart maps several times to try different approaches, but the game never really feels unfair.

Best of all, this one regularly goes on sale for 50% off making it around $2.50 when its on sale. Learn how you can get cash back on eShop purchases.

6. OPUS: The Day We Found Earth

Price: $5.00
Publisher: Flyhigh Works
Developer: SIGONO Inc.
Genre: Adventure

OPUS: The Day We Found Earth is an interactive story experience that is short but sweet. While the core gameplay loop can get a bit repetitive, the engaging narrative is worth experiencing at least once. Players take on the roal of Emeth, a robot tasked with finding Earth to save mankind. You operate a telescope, searching the stars set to an atmospheric soundtrack.

5. KAMIKO

Price: $4.99
Publisher: Flyhigh Works
Developer:
Genre: Action, Arcade

Fight as one of several priestesses against demons while solving puzzles in a game that feels like Zelda-lite. If you’re a huge fan of adventure puzzle games, you’ll find a lot to love about KAMIKO. The game is pretty short and can be beat in less than 2 hours.

There are three different priestesses and four levels to master so there is some replayability. Each priestess has two attacks and a dash mechanic for dodging. The soundtrack for KAMIKO is easily one of the best you’ll hear in any indie game at this price point. It was also one of the best cheap eShop games on Switch at launch.

4. Super Crate Box

Price: $4.99
Publisher: Vlambeer
Developer: Vlambeer
Genre: Arcade Platformer

Fast-paced arcade game where every pick-up is a weapon change. There are over 20 weapons to master in an endless arcade mode. Unlock new characters when you reach high scores on several different levels. The gameplay itself is pretty simple and twitchy, but fun to master.

Super Crate Box is free to play on Steam, so you can download it to see if you like it. It’s lots of fun learning the many different kinds of weapons.

3. Toki Tori

Price: $2.99
Publisher: Two Tribes Publishing
Developer: Two Tribes Publishing
Genre: Puzzle Platformer

Toki Tori is a delightful re-imagining of an original 2001 Gameboy Color game. Players must guide the titular chicken through a variety of levels with ever-increasing difficulty. Toki cannot jump, so some of the puzzles require creative solutions to progress.

Build bridges, freeze enemies, and even plant traps to overcome the enemies littered throughout the stages. Toki Tori is challenging but not too challenging, as the game features a rewind mechanic to undo any mistakes. Puzzle fans will find Toki Tori to be one of the best cheap eShop games on Switch.

2. Golf Peaks

Price: $4.99
Publisher: 7Levels
Developer: Afterburn
Genre: Puzzle

I wasn’t quite sure what to make of Golf Peaks the first time I downloaded it. I’m not really a huge fan of golf, but the puzzle nature of the game intrigued me. Each level consists of an obstacle course with golf rules and a set number of cards.

Players must use the cards to guide the ball into the hole. It seems like a simple mechanic at first, but Golf Peaks introduces new twits and challenges at a steady pace. Slopes, water hazards, jump pads, boost pads, and even tiered platforms present a challenge worth conquering. Even if you hate golf but you love puzzle games, you’ll find a lot to love about Golf Peaks.

1. Downwell

Price: $2.99
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Developer: Moppin
Genre: Arcade, Adventure

Despite launching as a mobile game in 2015, Downwell tops our best cheap eShop games list. It’s a fun romp that can be played in both orientations on Switch, though vertical provides the most screen space.

The vertical roguelite adventure only features three buttons, making it extremely easy to pick up. Along the way you’ll collect power-ups and upgrades to help you combat the denizens waiting below. You may find the speed of the game frustrating at first, but stick with it. You’ll slowly learn more tricks to help you defeat new enemies so you can progress even further down.

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