Sometimes, gamers who tend to play in one genre like to test out others!

In such cases, it's nice to find games that seamlessly blend your existing interests with something new. To this, I suggest cute shooter games for cozy gamers! 

If you are somebody who enjoys playing games for their charming graphics, alluring stories, and satisfying playback loops, a cute shooter game could be a great choice for you. 

Learn how to master weapons and use quick strategy, but play comfortably in visually cartoon-like worlds that feel easy to dive into!

Here are my top 5 considerably cute shooter game recommendations for the Nintendo Switch!

5. Super Animal Royale 

Super Animal Royale - Launch Trailer - Nintendo Switch

Players in the game ‘Super Animal Royale’ using the weapons they’ve gathered to battle against each other.

In this top-down battle royale with a furry twist, you find yourself with one goal: be the last animal standing. Traverse the land, loot weapons and items, and use them to take down other players.

Choose from a wide array of adorable animals (64 of them entirely!) and, take down the others to become the winner! Some animals have natural abilities that enhance or distinguish their melee combat, which can be useful for close encounters.

Weapons range from guns, explosives, and even melee weapons that you can use to your advantage in the arena. Go solo, or play with a team! This title makes easing into a shooter game easy. It’s cute, colorful, and the gameplay itself can get you hooked.

A player as a horse on their way to gather the loot that the other players have dropped after their gunfight.

I know that for me personally, it was difficult to go from playing Nintendo RPGs to playing fast paced shooter games. I found games like Call of Duty to be intimidating… but titles like this one make it easy for new players to approach battle royale games, and potentially enjoy them!

…the best part? It’s FREE on the eshop, and so are a few other titles on this list. Check out Super Animal Royale and keep on reading!

4. Fortnite

Fortnite Chapter 4 Season OG Official Gameplay Trailer

A Fortnite player mid-battle navigating the turrain as the storm closes in, about to deploy a crash-pad to jump to incredible heights in order to travel great lengths with 0 fall damage.

In Fortnite, enjoy a new environment every season as you battle-royale your way to number one and survive the storm. Fortnite is widely known as one of the most popular battle royale games, and its cute graphics contribute greatly to said popularity. 

Drop from the battle bus onto an island with 100 other players and fight to survive as a deadly storm closes in . Loot weapons of different rarities from chests, as well as healing items and other goodies to help you on your way.

Players can choose from a wide variety of characters in the form of skins, some can be unlocked using currency, and others you can unlock over time through purchasing that season’s battle pass. Alongside skins, collect emotes to use, axe skins, and new gliders!

A Fortnite player making an effort to gather lots of materials so that they can keep themselves safe in future battles.

Though there are now multiple ways to play Fortnite, including its very own lego game, the original format that includes building is still a fan favorite.. Gather materials from the world around you and use them to defend yourself in battle by crafting large structures to hide and post up in.

If Fortnite is one thing, it's approachable.. There exists a huge community of Fortnite players of all different ages and backgrounds, some players even making lifelong friends as a result of playing the game in squads.

However you choose to play, Fortnite rolls out unique gameplay aspects each season for their players to enjoy. Check out the most recent season for a train that circles around the entire map!

3. Slime Rancher: Plortable Edition

Slime Rancher: Plortable Edition - Launch Trailer - Nintendo Switch

A player in the game Slime Rancher: Plortable Edition on their farm, there are chickens, slimes that they are taking care of, and corrals. They have come into contact with Tar Slimes, violent slimes that consume everything and cause madness on the ranch.

While this title is not a pvp shooter, meaning that you do not have to fight against others in online gameplay, Slime Rancher: Plortable Edition is a first-person game with many shooter elements that is a great purchase for your Nintendo Switch.

You play as Beatrix Lebeaux, a farmer on her way to the Far, Far Range to become a slime rancher! Slimes are little amorphous creatures with friendly faces who love to eat! 

When you feed them, they create little gems called plorts that you can sell on a stock-like market. Use your earnings to upgrade your gear and explore as much of the map as you can!

A player sucking up a variety of pink and rock slimes into their vacpack to take them back to their farm.

There are 16 slimes you can find and collect in the wild! When you feed a slime a plort from a different slime, you can create custom combos of the types in order to maximize your profits on the plort market!(or, if you’re like me, decorate your farm and collect as many cool slime varieties as you can!)

Even though I am a fan of pvp shooter games, Slime Rancher provides a fun twist that makes the shooter genre feel relaxing.

Fight off the viscous tar slimes, farm fruits and vegetables to feed your own, and put together the stories of ranchers who came before you. Go check out Slime Rancher: Plortable Edition on the Eshop today!

2. Overwatch 2

Overwatch 2 - Gameplay Trailer - Nintendo Switch

Overwatch Characters Mei, Reinhardt, and Tracer in battle-ready stance.

Overwatch 2 is now free and available on the Nintendo Switch! A beloved shooter for many years, overwatch is known for its extensive backstory and intricate character roster. Choose from(as of January, 2024)39 playable heroes who each have their own weapons and special abilities! 

There are three classes: tank, damage, and healing. Healers can do damage, but their main goal is to support their team through healing and buffs with the priority of keeping them alive. 

Tanks do heavy damage at close range, with some heroes having an extended range as well. 

Damage heroes do just that: damage, but in peculiar ways. 

It’s not so simple though… 39 characters means 39 different sets of weapons and abilities available to learn. It’s completely up to you who to become an expert with. There are a few hero mastery courses available to practice using certain characters, with others to roll out in the future.

Overwatch 2 character Sigma using one of his abilities to hurl enemies into the air, slamming them into the ground afterword for massive damage.

There are several different game modes to keep you entertained, some light-hearted like low-gravity, chaotic fun like total mayhem, or classic like quick play. In most game modes, you play as a team of 5 characters against another team of 5 characters. 

Work together to take down the enemy team, and if you lose? Rise again!Unlock skins for your favorite heroes through events, currency, and their regularly rolled out battle pass that gives you loot every time you level up.

The world of Overwatch is so wide that if I tried to cover it in this article alone I would fail. It is absolutely worth the deep dive, and I myself have spent countless hours on youtube learning about my favorite characters to play. 

Even without the lore, Overwatch 2 is a great shooter for any lover of cool graphics and animation. It was the first one I ever picked up, and I don’t regret it. Why not give it a try for free?

1. Splatoon 3

Splatoon 3 - Overview Trailer - Nintendo Switch

An Inkling character in Splatoon 3 getting ready to unleash their special weapon in order to cover as much turf as they can, and to potentially take down enemies. They carry a bow and arrow type weapon as their main form of attack / paint.

Splatoon 3 makes #1 on this list for its originality, cuteness factor, and multiple ways to play! You do not need to have played the previous games to pick up this one, but this one takes place five years after Splatoon 2. 

The Chaos vs. Order splatfast truly had an effect on the Splatlands. One thing remains the same…Turf war! In this third person shooter, compete on a team of inklings against another team, separated by colors, to try and ink up as much floor space as possible before the time runs out. 

Use your weapons to ‘splat’ your enemies and send them back to spawn, and come up with strategic ways to keep your team’s color the most present on the ground.

I fell in love with the first release, and it appears like Splatoon 3 takes everything players loved about the first two games and just makes it better. Not only is it adorable, but it is a great place to dive in, as it feels like many critiques in the first few releases were answered.

Official Artwork made for Splatoon 3’s co-op mode ‘Salmon Run’.

If you want to try a different kind of game play, check out the Salmon Run! Your goal is golden eggs by defeating bosses. Play with a team of others, revive your teammates when they’re down, and do your best to defeat all the waves of enemies. If you do, you can increase your rank!

Splatoon 3 adds new main, sub, and special weapons to the game. An expansive storymode option makes this shooter a great pick for those who are trying to get into the genre. A true Nintendo title, Splatoon has become a staple franchise among players.

…And this concludes my Top 5 cute shooter recommendations for the Nintendo Switch! Whatever title you choose, experimenting with different kinds of games helps keep our interest piqued. What are your favorite shooters for the Switch?

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