Cuphead

Cuphead arrived on Switch in 2019 as one of the first major acquisitions outside its original platforms, and instantly became a flagship example of what the independent scene can achieve in hand-drawn animation. The game builds on the visual language of American cartoon grotesques from the 1930s — rubber-hose animation, grainy film texture, and watercolor backgrounds — with every single frame genuinely drawn by hand. The story of two brothers who lost a bet to the devil and must collect debts from other debtors is just an excuse for a series of boss fights. Those fights are the game's core: every opponent moves through multiple phases, changes shape and attack patterns, and forces the player to memorize the rhythm of the entire encounter.

Mechanically it's a run-and-gun with beautifully tuned controls. The character shoots finger bullets from their hand, can dash-roll out of the way, lock their firing direction, switch between purchased weapons, and parry pink-colored objects to charge a super attack. Alongside the boss fights there are also classic side-scrolling platforming levels and a few aerial sections in the style of vertical shoot-'em-ups. Difficulty is high and uncompromising, yet the game never feels unfair, since death is always the result of a specific mistake, and restarting is instant.

On Switch the game runs smoothly even in portable mode, and the smaller screen doesn't hurt it in the slightest, since the readability of enemy attacks was designed very carefully. The game also includes two-player co-op on a single console, making it a wonderful couch title. The soundtrack, recorded live by a big band with ragtime and jazz, is just as striking as the visuals and helps create the impression that the player is controlling a forgotten animated film. Critics praised its unrivaled craftsmanship above all, and the game became one of the symbols of independent game-making for its decade. Today it still feels fresh, and the later expansion The Delicious Last Course added another set of boss fights along with a new playable character.