When two of the three big publishers in gaming team up, you know fireworks are about to go off. With rumors swirling that Microsoft could be bringing their games over to Nintendo’s handheld wonder, it’s easy to speculate just how far the team up will go. Is this just for newer titles, or will Microsoft join half the industry in dumping their back catalog onto the system? If the latter ends up being the case, we’ve gone ahead and picked out 10 titles that play to the traditional strengths of Nintendo. Halo and Gears are nice, but there are plenty of other interesting hidden gems waiting just below the surface.
Of course, having said all that, most people would probably love to play Halo while they are out and about. A stripped down version of the Master Chief Collection would be a glorious addition to the Switch library, granted that it works this time. It would also set an interesting precedent for the industry as a whole. With Microsoft and Nintendo suddenly working together, that would leave Sony standing alone. Considering that the console giant is not even attending E3 this year, it might not be where the house of PlayStation prefers to be.
We’re only a short while away from new consoles, and going into a generation with two major console manufacturers working together is something that simply hasn’t happened before. Microsoft and Nintendo both seem to complement each other in current times, and a combined effort could force another changing of the guard for the next generation. Of course, with streaming entering the picture, anything is possible. All we do know is that the prospect of seeing Master Chief on your shelf right next to Mario is equivalent to loading up Crazy Taxi on PlayStation 2 for the first time. We only get these moments once in a great while, and it will be a thrill to savor it if it does indeed happen.
10 Xbox Switch Games
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10 Xbox Games We Want on Nintendo Switch
The recent rumors that Microsoft might be bringing their games over to Nintendo's platform has the entire gaming world abuzz. Sure, heavy hitters like Halo and Gears would be amazing to play on the go. However, there are plenty of Xbox originals that fit it perfectly with the Switch's existing lineup. -
Blue Dragon
One of Microsoft's many attempts to get in good with Japan, Blue Dragon is a colorful and stylish JRPG with characters designed by Akira Toriyama. Further entries in the series have already found success on Nintendo handhelds, so bringing this old gem back to the forefront could be a great move. -
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge
One of the pillars of the original Xbox Live experience, Crimson Skies is an arcadey dogfighting game that plays great even today. Microsoft has never really attempted anything like this again despite putting it out as the face of Xbox One backward compatibility. Except for just once... -
Snoopy Flying Ace
An Xbox hidden gem if there ever was one, Microsoft published Snoopy Flying Ace on Xbox Live Arcade to critical acclaim. Even if players were put off by the childish characters, it feels like the second coming that Crimson Skies never got. When it comes to the Switch, either of these high flying gems will do. -
Hexic
Nintendo has Tetris. Sega has Columns. Microsoft has Hexic. A game about rotating and matching blocks à la Bejewled, Hexic has some much welcome mechanical complexity thanks to its status as a product of Alexey Pajitnov's brilliant mind. A new entry in the series or a port of Hexic 2 would fit right in on bus rides and rooftop parties. -
Ilomilo
A co-op puzzler, ilomilo stole players hearts in much the same way that Yarny did with the release of Unravel. Microsoft has never been known for courting cutesy characters, but Ilo and Milo certainly have the same aura of some of Nintendo's recent ventures into crafts and yarn. -
Killer Instinct
A jam-packed fighting game overshadowed by other titles at the Xbox One's launch, more people deserve to play what multiple developers have created over three seasons. With robust single player support and plenty of fun guest characters, it would the perfect way to see the Battletoads make their way back to Nintendo's arms. -
Phantom Dust
Phantom Dust is currently available free to download on Windows and Xbox One, but it's still probably a hidden gem. A complex card battling system and a distinct style mark this unique Xbox game. With a failed remake already on the books, it's possible Microsoft may perceive the IP as tainted, but we can still hope for another try at the series. -
Screamride
A unique theme park simulation thing from Frontier Developments, Screamride didn't make a huge splash upon its debut in 2015. Still, the creation and destruction tech had some neat ideas even if the package itself was an unbalanced whole. It'd be worth revisiting once again, perhaps in a portable incarnation. -
Voodoo Vince
Voodoo Vince is a game more people have probably heard about than played. It's a weird 3D adventure that was advertised like a platformer, which probably did a lot to cause that. Still, it's one of Xbox's more stylish exclusives and its cartoony violence would make it appropriate for every Switch owner. -
Zoo Tycoon
One of Microsoft's longest running gaming franchises, the latest edition of Zoo Tycoon is a delightful jeep simulator that happens to have animals in it. Animals you can hose down at your leisure. It's bizarrely relaxing and would fit right in alongside a new Animal Crossing.
