Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for May 30th, 2024. It’s Thursday, and that means a bunch of new games hit the eShop today. We’ve got summaries of all the games worth summarizing, and that’s the bulk of today’s festivities. After that, we’ve got the usual lists of sales. A healthier bunch of new sales than yesterday, and a small but steady list of expiring ones. Let’s get into the games, shall we?
Select New Releases
Ninja Kamui: Shinobi Origins ($24.99)
I’m not familiar with the anime series this game is based on, but this G.rev-developed side-scrolling action game looks pretty promising. The developer is best known for its shooting games, but this isn’t its first foray into this genre so I’m sure it will turn out fine. Take control of Tsukumo and battle your way through scores of enemy ninjas and other assorted fools. Timing is everything and speed is of the essence, so move fast, slice sharp, and blast precisely as you make your way through each area. I haven’t had a chance to play this yet, but I’ve had my eye on it. I’ll let you know if it turns out to be something special.
Seed of Life ($39.99)
This game came out a few years ago on PC and is now making its way to consoles. It wasn’t terribly well-received, but perhaps these versions will have some improvements? Anyway, you’re the last known survivor of a dying planet on a mission to find and activate an item called the Seed of Life, which will apparently bring back your sun. It’s a mix of puzzle and platforming, but I must caution that while the game description boasts about AAA-quality visuals this is indeed the work of a very small team and has all the rough edges you would expect from such an affair. Indeed, having played the PC version I have some concerns about the performance of this Switch port that I’ll only be able to alleviate by playing it.
Umbraclaw ($24.99)
I hate to say it, but I’m starting to feel like Inti Creates has lost its groove a bit recently. Umbraclaw has a cool premise and some interesting systems, casting you as a rather weak little recently-deceased kitty who gets more powerful the more it dies. Unfortunately, it also loses more of itself as it grows in power, and if you proceed that way through the game you can’t get the happy ending. The game feels like it’s caught between being a regular one-off game and a roguelite, and it’s not a pleasant pull. Well, I’ll be reviewing this one soon and I’ll expand more on my thoughts then.
Goliath Depot ($6.99)
Flynns Arcade has another fun little arcade-style action game for us this week. Goliath Depot tasks you with a simple job in each of its stages. All you have to do is close all of the doors. That’s easy, right? Naturally, there are all kinds of things trying to stop you from doing that, but you have some limited ways of fighting back. Play alone or with a friend in local multiplayer, and see what kind of score you can muster for the online leaderboards. I’ll be reviewing this one soon, but if you’ve enjoyed things like Donut Dodo and Galacticon, you should give this a try.
Xuan Yuan Sword 7 ($39.99)
This released a few years back on other platforms, but it has finally made its way to the Nintendo Switch. Part of a long-running and popular series of Chinese RPGs, this game sees you playing as a swordsman in the end of the Western Han era who battles to restore prosperity to China and protect his family. The combat is real-time and it’s… you know, not as deep or interesting as one might like. The rest of the game fares better, and running roughly fifteen to twenty hours in length, its pace is pleasingly brisk. If you have an interest in the setting, you’ll probably be able to tolerate its rough edges to get to the good stuff.
Picross S Namco Legendary Edition ($10.99)
Remember when Jupiter did that SEGA-flavored Picross game? This is a Namco-flavored Picross game. It features puzzles based on all sorts of classic Namco games and characters, and if you love Picross or Namco it’s an easy game to recommend.
Spellbearers ($14.99)
Big wizard money! Big wizard prizes! I love it! This game is inspired by Smash TV, and that’s extremely apparent as soon as you start playing. You travel from room to room, battling waves of enemies using your magic powers. You can play alone or pull in a friend for two player local co-op. Sure, twin-stick shooters are a dime a dozen these days, but it’s nice to see one that pays homage to a real classic of the genre. Fifteen bucks nice, I’m not sure. But that’s your call to make.
Master Key ($12.50)
Feel like exploring a decent-sized open world, collecting items and battling enemies as you go? Do you like that whole “1-bit” aesthetic? Then you might be interested in Master Key. It’s one of those Zelda-inspired games, paying some obvious homage to Link’s top-down adventures. And hey, it’s pretty good. If you’re looking for something to scratch that particular itch, this might do a decent job of it.
Stick to the Plan ($11.99)
A cute little puzzle game where you play as a dog named Roberto who is trying to find the perfect stick. In each of the seventy stages, you have to figure out how to reach the goal, picking up your stick along the way. This might not seem like a particularly grand challenge, but some of the sticks Roberto picks up are… somewhat larger than you would expect. I’m sure you’ll figure it out, though.
Arcade Archives Cue Brick ($7.99)
An oddity from Konami’s extensive library of arcade games joins the Arcade Archives line-up this week, and if you like sliding tile puzzles you’re going to have a great time with this. If you don’t, maybe the various Konami references will help you slide into it? Ha! Slide into it. I didn’t even do that on purpose. At any rate, it’s nice to take a break from the usual fare now and then, and this certainly accomplishes that.
vridniX ($9.99)
Well, this is an odd fellow. He can’t stop running, he hangs off of ceilings with his tongue, and he can rotate levels. Use those things to conquer a hundred stages spread across six different worlds. I like this game’s irreverent style, even if the gameplay isn’t anything we haven’t seen before.
A Cat & His Boy ($2.99)
This is a short little narrative adventure about a boy whose parents are going through a divorce and the cat that is trying to comfort him. The whole thing is done up in Game Boy-style visuals, and may even be a Game Boy game running under emulation? Let me check. Yes, it is. And also discovered during my research is that you have a dedicated meow button. How is this not worth three bucks?
Cook ‘Til Escape ~Nyanzou&Kumakichi: Escape Game~ ($14.70)
Solve the puzzles and cook over a thousand dishes to escape… wait, cook to escape? Uh, okay. Well, if you’re looking for an escape game that isn’t the same old thing, here you go.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
I mean, compared to yesterday it’s a good bunch, right? Some new low prices on Thunderful’s games, and you can’t really go wrong with any of the games I’ve included here. Some good games in the outbox, too. Backpack Hero, Shotgun King, and the Cook, Serve, Delicious! Trilogy are all great ways to blow some cash if that’s a thing you’re looking to do today.
Select New Sales
Super Shadow Break Showdown ($5.84 from $12.99 until 6/6)
Pix the Cat ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/12)
Double Dragon/Kunio-kun: Brawler Bundle ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/13)
River City Saga: Three Kingdoms ($20.99 from $29.99 until 6/13)
It Takes Two ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/18)
Curious Expedition ($2.24 from $14.99 until 6/19)
Curious Expedition 2 ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
Say No! More ($2.24 from $14.99 until 6/19)
Lonely Mountains Downhill ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue DX ($2.69 from $17.99 until 6/19)
Source of Madness ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
Giga Wrecker Alt ($1.99 from $24.99 until 6/19)
SteamWorld Dig ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/19)
SteamWorld Dig 2 ($3.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
SteamWorld Heist ($1.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
SteamWorld Quest ($4.99 from $24.99 until 6/19)
SteamWorld Build ($17.99 from $29.99 until 6/19)
Crowns & Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit ($10.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
Paper Cut Mansion ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
Togges ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
Wavetale ($10.49 from $29.99 until 6/19)
LEGO Bricktales ($10.49 from $29.99 until 6/19)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, May 31st
10 Seconds to Win ($3.49 from $4.99 until 5/31)
Ancient Relics Egypt ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/31)
Backpack Hero ($15.99 from $19.99 until 5/31)
Book Quest ($2.44 from $6.99 until 5/31)
Cook, Serve, Delicious Trilogy ($13.99 from $34.99 until 5/31)
Demon Turf ($12.49 from $24.99 until 5/31)
Draw Rider Remake ($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/31)
Dreams of a Geisha ($9.99 from $19.99 until 5/31)
Fabled Lands ($9.19 from $22.99 until 5/31)
Hand of Fate 2 ($8.99 from $29.99 until 5/31)
Hotel Hustle ($2.99 from $10.99 until 5/31)
Kinduo 2: Frostbite ($3.99 from $4.99 until 5/31)
Master Maker 3D Ultimate ($3.49 from $4.99 until 5/31)
Pretty Girls Panic Plus ($2.39 from $5.99 until 5/31)
Quintus & the Absent Truth ($2.99 from $9.99 until 5/31)
Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate ($8.74 from $12.49 until 5/31)
Suhoshin ($5.24 from $14.99 until 5/31)
Two Point Campus ($9.99 from $39.99 until 5/31)
Violet Wisteria ($9.89 from $14.99 until 5/31)
Wife Quest ($3.99 from $7.99 until 5/31)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with the remaining releases of the week, plus whatever sales and news roll in during the course of the day. I’m expecting a bunch of sales after I head home for the night, but we’ll catch up on those tomorrow. I hope you all have a thrilling Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!