An Indie Backlog curated overview. We round up the best indie games on Nintendo Switch and how professional critics and players received each one — the scores below are theirs, linked to the source.
Tiny, perfect turn-based tactics from the makers of FTL — defend the last cities of Earth from giant bugs, two minutes of agonizing decisions at a time.
At a Glance
| Developer | Subset Games |
| Release year | 2018 |
| Platforms | PC, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox |
| Subgenre | Turn-based tactics |
| Length | ~10 hours (main story) |
| Metacritic | 90 / 100 |
| Steam rating | Very Positive (~94%, 21,000+ reviews) |
| Steam Deck | Verified |
| Languages | 17 |
About the Game
Into the Breach, from two-person studio Subset Games (FTL), is a turn-based tactics game played on a tiny 8×8 grid. You command three mechs defending humanity’s last cities from the Vek, a swarm of giant insects erupting from underground. The twist: the game shows you exactly what every enemy will do on its next turn.
That perfect information transforms tactics into a pure puzzle. Each turn becomes a chess-like problem of positioning, knockback, and sacrifice — can you shove that Vek into its ally, block an attack with your own mech, and protect the power grid, all in one move? There’s almost no luck; just the consequences of your choices.
Runs are short and roguelike — lose, and you send one pilot back through time to start a new timeline with carried-over experience. It’s deceptively deep, endlessly replayable, and ideal in handheld bursts. Few strategy games respect your time this much.
Screenshots
Screenshots: official Steam media for Into the Breach.
Why It Made the List
Into the Breach earns its spot as maybe the most elegant strategy game ever made for a handheld. Bite-sized runs, perfect-information puzzles, zero wasted motion — it’s the definition of easy to learn and a lifetime to master, and it’s flawless on Switch.
What the Critics Say
Into the Breach holds a Metacritic score of 90. Critics praised its elegant design, depth, and respect for the player’s time; the rare criticism is that its minimalist presentation can feel austere.
What Players Say
On Steam it’s rated Very Positive across more than 21,000 reviews — about 94% positive. Players love the puzzle-like purity and the short, replayable runs.
Praise & Criticism
Praise
- Brilliant perfect-information tactics
- Bite-sized, endlessly replayable runs
- Deep strategy with almost no luck
- Perfect for handheld play
Criticism
- Minimalist, austere presentation
- Small grid can feel limited
- Punishing on higher difficulties
Games Like This
- Slay the Spire — another bite-sized, replayable strategy gem
- Hades — run-based depth done brilliantly
- Wildermyth — tactical combat with emergent story
Where to Buy
Plain store links for now — swap in your affiliate-tagged URLs once you’ve joined Amazon Associates and the eBay Partner Network. (Steam and the eShop have no consumer affiliate program; those links are for convenience.)
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