Review: 51 Worldwide Games (Nintendo Switch)

by Jim Smale · June 22, 2020

Clear the table and settle down with friends and family to enjoy a diverse collection of timeless favorites, in person or online**, in 51 Worldwide Games. From ancient board games to modern classics, relaxing solitaire games to fast-paced toy sports, experience the games that have shaped cultures around the world.

Pros:

Decent graphics.
2.3gb download size.
Three ways to play-single system/local play/online.
Single system-1 or 2 players.
Every game begins with a skippable tutorial on how to play the selected game.
Each game has a set of challenges that reward you with a medal.
Unlock helpful hints by playing.
Depending on the game you can unlock game variations, higher difficulties, or maybe new rules.
Games can generally use the touchscreen, joycon, or motion controls for play.
Full touchscreen control.
List of games-
- Mancala
- Hanafuda
- Backgammon
- Renegade
- Draughts
- President
- Dominoes
- Speed
- Hare and Hounds
- Blackjack
- Four-in-a-Row
- Chess
- Shogi
- Mini Shogi
- Ludo
- Riichi Mahjong
- Sevens
- Golf
- Darts
- Texas Hold’em
- Nine Men’s Morris
- Air Hockey
- War
- Carrom
- Chinese Checkers
- Yacht Dice
- Takoyaki
- Billiards
- Hex
- Spider Solitaire
- Gomoku
- Matching
- Bowling
- Shooting Gallery
- Slot Cars
- Dots and Boxes
- Hit and Blow
- Pig’s Tail
- Mahjong Solitaire
- Last Card
- Fishing
- Klondike Solitaire
- Toy Tennis
- Toy Football
- Toy Curling
- Toy Boxing
- Toy Baseball
- Battle Tanks
- Team Tanks
- Sliding Puzzle
- 6-Ball Puzzle
Piano-chance to just chill out and play the piano.
Recommend games via the world tour guide button.
Look at what games are playing and recommending.
Online-friends only or anyone.
Local play-2-4 local machines or mosaic where you put two Switches together lengthways.
Local two-player one console-play with touch or Joycons.
Local Switch owners can download the FREE guest edition to join in on a select amount of games.
Random game choice button.
Running counter of who’s won what games and it can be reset.
Very simple easy to learn controls.
Great game to have when traveling with kids or friends.
Solo two-player experiences.

Cons:

Not all games are compatible with local play or Switch sharing.
It takes a bit of getting used to the touch screen or motion controls.
No online leaderboards for competitions.
Some games come across as way too basic.
Few games I’m surprised made it in.
No way to customize your experience like avatars or in individual games.
The second player on the same console can’t have their own profile and is always a guest.

7/10

Graphics - 7/10
7/10

Sound - 7/10
8/10

Accessibility - 8/10
8/10

Length - 8/10
9/10

Fun Factor - 9/10

7.8/10

Summary

This to me is the digital version of that game set you would buy on holiday for a few guid. It was a Fold up board with bags of pieces allowing you to play like 50 different games, the pieces had magnets and it was a popular thing on caravan holiday sites, anyway history lesson over, 51 Games is a fantastic set of games that supports a lot of ways to play, love that they brought back the download and play so other Switch owners can grab a free edition and play some games with you. The games play just fine and have a few challenges in them but it’s a game you play for multiplayer. Solo play is fine but you have no leaderboards to compete on or anything. Overall its a great set of games and someone’s favourite will be on it, perfect for keeping the kids quiet.