Skip to main content

Grounded and Pentiment are the first Xbox games to come to Nintendo Switch

Characters in Grounded game.
Xbox Game Studios

During Wednesday’s Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, we learned about two of the Xbox Game Studios titles that are going multiplatform. The games in question are Obsidian Entertainment’s Grounded and Pentiment, and the latter will launch tomorrow on Nintendo Switch.

Earlier this year, various leaks and rumors suggested that first-party Xbox exclusives like Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment could make their way over to competing platforms. Microsoft finally addressed the rumors on February 15, confirming that it planned to bring four of its first-party games to non-Xbox platforms over the course of 2024. Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer wouldn’t say what any of the specific games were at the time, though, stating that “the teams that are building those games have announced plans that are not too far away.” It’s now clear that Spencer was partially referring to this Nintendo Direct, as two of the games showed up here.

Recommended Videos

If you aren’t familiar with these titles, here’s the rundown: Grounded is a 2022 survival crafting game where players control kids who were shrunk down in size and are trying to survive in a backyard. It launches for Nintendo Switch on April 16, and was the first announcement of the show. During a sizzle reel at the end of the show, we learned that Pentiment is launching on Nintendo’s hybrid console tomorrow. First released for PC and Xbox Series X/S in 2022, Pentiment is a historical narrative adventure title and yet another solid Xbox-published title, with Digital Trends’ four-star review calling it “a wonderful game that tells a thematically poignant story that anyone who likes to create will empathize with.”

Pentiment launches for Nintendo Switch tomorrow, February 22. Grounded comes to the system on April 16.

Tomas Franzese
Former Digital Trends Contributor
A former Gaming Staff Writer at Digital Trends, Tomas Franzese now reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting…
All cross-platform games (PS5, Xbox Series X, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC)
Players take on an Alpha Doshaguma in Monster Hunter Wilds.

Cross-platform support is becoming more important in the world of video games. Multiplayer hits like Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 and Fortnite have pushed crossplay into the limelight, and now most upcoming video games release with at least partial cross-platform support. Finding every cross-platform game is no easy feat, though, so we did the hard work to bring you a comprehensive list of games that support crossplay.

Unfortunately, there aren't any rules when it comes to crossplay, so each game handles the feature a little differently. To make matters more confusing, certain backward-compatible games on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X still support crossplay on the most recent hardware, even if there isn't an official release for that hardware.

Read more
The best Nintendo Switch games for adults

If you're checking out any list of the best Switch games, there will be no shortage of games aimed at kids. That isn't to say these aren't great games for players of all ages, but sometimes older games want a game that feels a little more mature and less like a party game. Just because Nintendo likes to focus on games for all ages doesn't mean the entire console is lacking games for adults, though. The best indie games on Switch, for example, aren't afraid to push some boundaries. Whether it's a stellar single-player title or one of the best multiplayer games on Switch, we'll help you find the best games on the console for adults.

Bayonetta 3

Read more
The Nintendo Switch games with the best graphics
Mario throws his hat, Cappy, while exploring New Dunk City

Look,no one is going to argue that the Nintendo Switch is a graphical powerhouse on par with other modern consoles. Released in 2017 as a hybrid device, its lower specs make sense, of course, given that Nintendo designed the Switch to function as both a home entertainment system and a handheld. Even without stellar visuals, it still brings a bevy of riveting single-player experiences alongside plenty of beloved multiplayer titles.

The console's successor will no doubt sport better specs, so there are certain to be even nicer visuals on the way. But in the meantime, many developers have found ways to pull off some visually impressive titles on the Nintendo Switch despite its lower-end hardware, including some upcoming titles that are looking quite promising. Here are some of the Nintendo Switch games with the best graphics.

Read more