NieR:Automata

Nier: Automata makes it onto the honorable mentions list because the game is genuinely excellent and the Switch port is solid, but the open-world component is the supporting act rather than the headline. The connected zones have side quests, roaming, and real discovery, but this is a story-first experience that happens to have open areas rather than an exploration-first game with a story attached. If you are drawn by the world design of the games above, Automata will satisfy you. Just know going in that the narrative is the reason to play it.

NieR:Automata is the kind of game that stays with you after the credits roll and then makes you replay it because the second and third playthroughs recontextualise everything. The story is genuinely bold in ways that most action RPGs never attempt. The Switch version runs well enough to recommend without hesitation. It missed the top ten primarily because the onboarding is deliberately strange and the accessibility score reflects that. If you want a third-party solo experience with real narrative ambition and stylish combat, this belongs on your list.