Following the letdown of the Wii U, Nintendo was under pressure to deliver something extraordinary with the Nintendo Switch. This wasn’t just their first attempt at a hybrid console—it was also among their higher-priced offerings at the time. While a lot hinged on its success, the launch selection was rather modest, with only nine games available on day one and few of them being exclusives for the Switch. It did feature first-party titles like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and 1-2 Switch, but the third-party options were surprisingly sparse, likely because developers were unsure about the system’s potential success.
Among the more interesting titles at launch was Snipperclips: Cut It Out, Together!, which came from the indie developer SFB Games, the same team behind the 2024 horror title Crow Country. This 2D puzzle game was developed in collaboration with Nintendo and was cleverly designed to make full use of the new Joy-Con controllers. Players had to guide two characters—adorable, sentient pieces of paper—through puzzles using a cutting mechanic. For those who enjoyed Snipperclips, keep an eye on Mouse Work, which offers some familiar fun.
Snipperclips might not have had a huge marketing push since it was a digital-only release, but its association with Nintendo and status as a launch title helped it gain traction. The game managed to rack up about 350,000 sales on the Switch eShop within the first month, and it received additional DLC with new levels and modes. Although a sequel hasn’t surfaced yet, another indie dev seems to be stepping up to the plate with a similar game lined up for the new Switch 2.
Recently unveiled, Mouse Work is a fresh party game created for the Nintendo Switch 2, relying heavily on its innovative Joy-Con’s mouse controls. The game revolves around a motley crew of mice as they tackle various mini-game challenges. These tasks often require maneuvering a cursor to navigate NPCs or racing against time to complete paintings. While Mouse Work can be played solo, it’s best enjoyed as a multiplayer experience for up to four players.
Nitrome, the indie studio behind Mouse Work, is based in London, U.K. They’ve recently launched the 2022 game Shovel Knight Dig, but many might know them from their extensive library of web browser games. Mouse Work, with its vivid 2D graphics and playful concept, definitely seems to draw inspiration from the classic Adobe Flash games.
Nitrome kicked off development on Mouse Work in January 2025, aiming to wrap up the project by the end of the year.
Despite being in different genres, Snipperclips and Mouse Work share a few commonalities. Both are innovative indie games making extensive use of the Joy-Con controllers, albeit in distinct ways. Launching around the beginning of a new Nintendo console cycle, they stand as some of the first third-party titles to fully explore these new features. Whether Mouse Work will match the success of Snipperclips remains to be seen, but it is sure to stand out among the indie games coming to the Switch 2 this year.
