5 Best Cloud Games Currently Available on Nintendo Switch

Hello, everyone! Before we get started with today's article/list, I just want to clarify that the views of this article/list are those of just myself, and do not reflect the opinions of HackerNoon as a company. Let's get started.

Today, I'm gonna cover something that most people are not excited by: Cloud Gaming on Nintendo Switch. Yep, I did just say that. Here's why.

Many people see cloud gaming as a dying fad that has no business being supported on Nintendo Switch. Also, it serves no purpose other than allowing next-gen games and some powerful- but strenuous - current-gen games to make their way to switch via Cloud Streaming. To the latter statement, I'm inclined to agree.

Lastly, there's the inevitable fact that after 5 years or so from the date of the Switch's inevitable discontinuing, the Switch internet and Switch online services will likely be gone, rendering the games being discussed and any future announced Cloud-only Switch "games" unplayable!

Case-in-point? Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece for Cloud collection.

With all that said, though, it's not all bad.

As long as you have nearby access to a nearby McDonalds or Starbucks or any place with Free Wi-Fi (such as a hotel) and a few bucks to spend indoors, you can play Cloud games.

I tested this during a somewhat recent trip to Florida about 2 months ago. It worked well. However, I'm not here to be too Doom and gloom about Cloud Gaming on Nintendo Switch (even though there's enough reason to be skeptical and negative about it.)

For a Cloud Game to be eligible for this list, I had to have been able to play it in the first place, whether it be through my main account, or a secondary Japanese Account in the event the Cloud-Game is Japan-Only.

Despite these two simple rules, I have to exclude Assassin's Creed: Odyssey - Cloud Version and Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis Cloud Version from the list.

Why? Two words only: Geo Block.

Here's what that means: You can't play the game - even IF you have a Japanese Switch Account, unless you connect to a Japanese Wi-Fi server.

With all that cleared up, let's begin, shall we? Oh, and lastly, if you're crazy enough to do something to get your switch banned like I did a while ago, you lose access to the Eshop and your cloud games as they're Digital stream games.

Number 5 - Resident Evil 7: Biohazard - Cloud Version

When picking candidates for this particular list, I'm basing my picks based on wi-fi connectivity, accessibility settings, ability to play the game, and the quality of the game as a whole. These factors will become more clear and prevalent as we progress down this unique list. Trust me.

For connectivity via Wi-Fi, it sucks. You're on the east coast of the United States, and you have to contend with the Japanese language you have to navigate to English via the options setting within the 15-minute trial, then play the game with a very unstable - if non-existent - connection until you get booted back to the title screen. Ugh. You can "rent" a pass to play the game for 2,000 yen which lasts 180 days, but who'd do that in all honesty?

Well, to give credit where it's due, you can, with some major luck, get up to the Baker's House gate before being booted back via error message. Here's some video of that happening:

Also to give credit, the graphics look AMAZING, minus some blurs. The first-person perspective of Ethan Winters provides for some gorgeous shots of the outer forest and disturbing looks of the Baker mansion's interior. The frame rate is a decent 30fps with few drops. I gotta give credit in that department. Also, anyone with a Japanese account can try the game for 15 minutes, so that's nice.

Number 4: Hitman III - Cloud Version

Next up at number 4, we have Hitman III Cloud Version. The game has a performance mode and a graphics mode. Performance mode boosts FPS at the cost of graphics. With the 15-minute trial period demo from the Eshop, you can assassinate (stealthily) sailors, elite people, and disguise yourself as them in order to fit in. Balancing these three aspects while streaming is difficult but manageable.

Being able to stream it via foreign servers while IN the USA gives it a HUGE leg up over Biohazard 7. The story of Hitman III is also really good as well, highlighting Agent47's final series of missions against his toughest foes yet.

Also, one last note: The ability to read and understand what's going on in ENGLISH is a huge bonus, and the free 15-minute tutorial alone set the mode for the full experience, which nearly netted it number 3 on the list, but not quite...

Number 3: The Forgotten City - Cloud Version

For those uninitiated, this game started out as a Skyrim Mod, that later developed into its' own game, featuring memorable characters such as Livia, etc.

The game itself has 4 endings to go for, with the best ending requiring a TON of work to reach, and more work to actually secure. However, it's SO worth the view you get of everyone you worked soo hard to save in this game. Getting through the game relies on looping through time and experiencing different conversations with the same NPCs over and over.

The graphics, the soundtrack, and the locales. Ohh. They're all so BEAUTIFUL!! In the end, no matter which ending you go for, "the many shall suffer, for the sins of the one."

Number 2: Control Ultimate Edition - Cloud Version

For those who are highly confused as to why Control Ultimate Edition - Cloud Version ranks above The Forgotten City. I have had the most varied experience playing this particular game via the Cloud. I started out with the demo and got to battling enemies ad enjoying the story real quick.

The concept of clearing out an invaded FBC building of supernatural threats known as "The Hiss" and various "Hiss-infected" opponents all the while trying to find the protagonist's brother Dylan helps make for quite the interesting plot.

Gameplay involves using your fists, psychokinetic powers, and even brainwashing certain enemies into temporary allies as well as shooting enemies dead with your gun. These will be very essential to solving puzzles, beating enemies and bosses, etc. Or... you could use Ultimate Edition's inclusion of God Mode and be invulnerable to everything but falls, and kill EVERYTHING in one hit.

This game gives you all of these options to toy around and mess with, and it increases replayability for me. As a result, I bought it the first chance I could get. The options of choosing between performance mode and graphics mode are also pretty cool.

In conclusion, Control Ultimate Edition - Cloud Version is a great game. If you haven't played this on Switch yet, don't wait until it becomes too late! Play it now while you still have a chance.

NUMBER 1 - A Plague Tale: Innocence Cloud Version

I was simply very impressed with the game. The Gameplay was great, the Demo/tutorial was generous and great. And as for the story itself? Simply AMAZING!

Let me set the scene for you: Set in 14th century Aquitaine, France during the Hundred Years' War, the game focuses on the plight of Amicia de Rune and her ill brother Hugo as they flee from soldiers of the French Inquisition and from hordes of rats that are spreading the black plague. The player controls Amicia, using a combination of stealth and limited tools to hide from, distract, or knock out soldiers, evade rat hordes, and solve puzzles.

That's EPIC as heck already. The story starts on a light note but immediately goes downhill after the Apple tree test. You try to save your dog named Lion from the Black Plague, but he's consumed by the Plague (poor doggy).

Sheesh! This is intense. I, also with Control, bought this as soon as I could.
Nothing can top this right now.

The graphics are amazing, the story and gameplay are awesome, the story's characters are great, and the music... Ohhh, the music!

The music is soo good!

With all of these factors combined, A Plague Tale: Innocence is my favorite Cloud-based Switch Game at this time.

I thank you for reading this long listicle and now I wanna know what you think. Should I do the inverse on this topic? Let me know via the comments or via social media! Thanks again for reading. See you soon!