Creating Games Using the Nintendo Switch
Use these Switch titles to build your own video games
The video game industry has never thrived as much as it is now. From the big budget production values of AAA releases to the many, many independently produced passion projects, there are more games than ever to choose from on any given platform. That’s largely because there are more creators pursuing their dreams than ever before. What was once a carefully-guarded industry has now become a free-for-all canvas thanks to the rising indie scene, which continues to produce highly inventive games through numerous pathways.
Still, despite things being much more flexible and accessible than ever before, it doesn’t change the fact that stepping into the world of creating and releasing video games is a daunting endeavor, one that demands a great deal of sacrifice and dedication. Thankfully, there are some ways in which aspiring game designers and producers can dabble into various aspects of the creation process to see if it’s for them. Even the humble Nintendo Switch can become a gateway to game development. Of course, far more serious tools exist on the PC, but it’s nice to have casual alternatives that can even be experienced on the go.
This guide will highlight some Nintendo Switch software that allows creators to experience significant aspects of what it means to be a game creator — whether it’s game design, programming, or bringing all the moving parts together.
Without further ado, here are some Switch titles that will enable you to easily dabble in the exciting world of video game creation.
RPG Maker MV
RPG Maker was the original “game about making games” on console, having been a popular tool in the PC gaming world before its major worldwide release on Sony PlayStation back in the year 2000. The timing couldn’t have been better as the internet had just started to become mainstream, and so aspiring creators all over were hoarding up memory cards to store their own RPGs. Even better was the ability to upload creations on sites like GameFaqs for others to share and experience.
The latest is RPG Maker MV on Nintendo Switch (and other platforms), and this version is easily the most robust and accessible package for creators to build their dream RPG from scratch, and share with others via the free player app. More serious creators would probably want to pick up the more customisable PC version, but in any case RPG Maker MV provides an incredibly deep and yet highly accessible platform to create games, and not just RPGs either. RPG Maker has spawned a variety of games across different genres, such as puzzle and adventure, with many of these games available on the Xbox, eShop, and Steam storefronts as legitimate indie releases, most notable being the ever expanding lineup of RPGs by Japanese publisher KEMCO.
SmileBASIC 4
SmileBASIC is the quintessential coding package for anyone wishing to build sound fundamentals in video game programming, and the latest is also available on Nintendo Switch. Although quite playable in handheld mode thanks to the touch controls, a compatible keyboard will certainly go a long way to help aspiring coders to get the most out of the experience.
SmileBASIC 4 features one of the most entertaining and effective tutorials ever, all presented as a whimsical manga comic with a very dry sense of humour. The tutorials start with the absolute basics before building up to more complex exercises. What’s more, players are able to download game creations from the game’s server, and then proceed to modify the code to their liking. SmileBASIC 4 is comprehensive, robust, and surprisingly, highly rewarding and fun to master. This is indeed a quality release, featuring excellent interface and design to help creators enjoy an otherwise daunting process, not to mention there are plenty of resources both within and beyond the game to help support learners as they develop both 2D and 3D projects.
Fuze4
Where SmileBASIC 4 offers a guided learning experience to help players develop the basics, Fuze4 takes it several steps further by not only providing equally comprehensive programming tools, but also providing a range of assets and libraries to allow players to create their own 2D and 3D games with relative ease (but still plenty of hard work!). Although the tutorials in Fuze4 don’t quite have the same charm as the manga comics in SmileBASIC 4, they still provide the fundamentals.
Fuze4 is certainly a worthwhile package for serious creators who are willing to commit to the steep learning curve and reap the rewards. A compatible keyboard is essential to get the most out of it, and a recommended pathway would be to build up fundamentals via the excellent tutorials contained in SmileBASIC4, before considering getting into Fuze4 as an alternative. In the end, SmileBASIC4 and Fuze4 are largely similar as they are both equally proficient in what they allow players to do, but they differ in terms of execution of commands and certain significant features, and so in the end it will just come down to preference. A separate and modestly priced player app is also available, which can be used to download several community creations for free.
Pixel Game Maker MV (Not a Switch Game, Yet)
From the creators of RPG Maker themselves, Pixel Game Maker MV isn’t quite available on Nintendo Switch per se, but games created with this platform can be submitted to publisher Gotcha Gotcha Games for consideration to be released on the eShop (and Steam too), under the banner of Pixel Game Maker Series.
Taking a much different approach than the flagship RPG Maker series, Pixel Game Maker MV allows players to build pixelated action and adventure games using a variety of play styles and perspectives, and also being able to delve into a variety of genres beyond just RPGs. As of right now, this is a fun and emerging community of creators, even better since there is an opportunity to get your game published on the eShop via publisher Gotcha Gotcha Games. Although a bit more expensive, Pixel Game Maker MV can be picked up via Steam and itch.io, and if you’re after some inspiration, be sure to check out some cool releases like Puzzle Pedestrians and Remote Bomber on the eShop.
Whether you choose to dabble into a bit of game development just as a hobby, or decide to take it even further, the Nintendo Switch provides a convenient and effective (not to mention, affordable!) means to try it out for yourself, and perhaps even a few opportunities to make something of it too.
If you find yourself building some momentum and are ready to get really serious, then the next logical step would be the ever elusive and yet highly versatile Python programming language, and along with it the ocean of courses and resources available that will enable to you become as proficient as you desire to be. Once you’ve built enough confidence, then you can think about investing in more expensive packages on PC like GameMaker Studio 2.
Happy programming/coding/creating/designing!
