My Most-Played Nintendo Switch Games Part 1: Digital Games

Maybe my biggest, most brightest reddest flags as a person is that, despite claiming to be a physical media enthusiast, some of my most-played games (not even just on Switch, but possibly ever) are digital. *audience gasp :o*

My next-reddest flag is that I'm very dramatic. 

I strongly prefer physical and love it when these games occasionally eventually get physical releases, but sometimes the quality/convenience/value proposition of a not-physically-available game is too much to resist!

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Vampire Survivors 
Approximate aggregate score 8-9/10; Base digital price $5; Shawn's digital-shelf-worthiness score 4.5/5

This retro-lookin' roguelite time-challenge screen-chaos-survival thing is easier to buy and try than explain. It's a great fun time-waster on its own that's even better locally with friends, and the amount of gameplay content you get for $5 is staggering.

Balatro
Approximate aggregate score 8-9/10; Base digital price $15; Shawn's digital-shelf-worthiness score 4/5

Another retro-styled simple pleasure, this roguelike poker-ish deckbuilder blends the familiar-feeling statistical probabilities of a card game but with absurd scope and breadth that make it feel infinitely replayable. It eventually went physical (special edition), which I recommend for the $20-25 price tag.

Dicey Dungeons
Approximate aggregate score 8-9/10; Base digital price $15; Shawn's digital-shelf-worthiness score 4/5

If you haven't noticed a time-wasting theme to my selections yet, this is another roguelike that kinda blends turn-based RPG and deckbuilding. Most importantly, it's adorable, thoughtful and fun. It eventually went physical as well, but will cost $30-40 CIB.

Knights of Pen and Paper +1 Deluxier Edition
Approximate aggregate score 7-8/10; Base digital price $15; Shawn's digital-shelf-worthiness score 3.5/5

Knights of Pen and Paper 2 Deluxiest Edition
Approximate aggregate score 7-7.5/10; Base digital price $13; Shawn's digital-shelf-worthiness score 3.5/5

If you're sick of rogues and decks (I hope you still like retro-styled), these are delightful homages to (or parodies of) tabletop RPGs. There are better turn-based RPGs, but these may actually scratch your DnD itch when your friends are "at work" or "asleep" or whatever. They're available physically for Switch now, but only in a two-pack that could run you $100+ CIB. 

Retro Bowl
Approximate aggregate score 7.5-8.5/10; Base digital price $5; Shawn's digital-shelf-worthiness score 3/5

It may be the best cheap digital-only indie sports game ever. It blends the perfect amount of simple nostalgia and modern depth for quick pick-up-and-play style American football session. My only gripe is it actually may be a little better on mobile devices where it's also free!

Disney Dreamlight Valley*
Approximate aggregate score 7-8/10; Base digital price $40; Shawn's digital-shelf-worthiness score 2.5/5

This very large, very cozy nostalgia-monster gets a big asterisk for being a $40-45 code-in-a-box with serious technical issues on Switch, but it's also possibly my wife's favorite and most-played Switch game.

Honorable Mentions & More

Portal: Companion Collection is the only currently-digital-only Switch game on my wishlist. Tetris 99 is great and free-to-download if you like Tetris (and battle royale) that's also available physically. Game Builder Garage doesn't count, but it's a wildly underappreciated $20 physical game that's lets you play (digitally, obviously) games others have created in the software, and some are very impressive (think playing others' levels Super Mario Maker 2 but more creatively-open). 

Also, several good combo-carts and compilations may have titles on the cart with others requiring download, but that feels like a topic for a different day. 

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Despite their devil-digital nature (kidding), these games hold a special place on the figurative shelf that is my heart... and several of them the literal place that is my storage, because I'm paranoid if I ever remove them that's when they'll get pulled from the eShop.