Oh, is it that time again? That time when an absolute ton of games go on sale in celebration of some sort of event on the calendar? Yes! It is June, and while E3 is dead and gone, its spirit lives on. That means lots of game announcements, but it also means sales. Now, Nintendo can’t very well call it an E3 sale when that’s no longer with us, so instead we have the smooth-as-butter Mega Extreme Fun Sale on our hands. But which games are the best in this eShop bonanza? We’ve picked out fifteen of the finest, and will present them in no particular order. Let’s spend money!
Kirby and the Forgotten Land ($41.99 from $59.99)
I can genuinely say that I haven’t had such a good time playing a game from start to finish as I did with Kirby and the Forgotten Land in quite some time. It put a grin on my face from the start, and it kept me happily engaged to the very last drop. Then I pulled my son in and we played through everything again in multiplayer. It’s one of the better Kirby games, and deserves a place of honor among the upper canon of Nintendo Switch titles.
Balatro ($13.49 from $14.99)
This game might seem benign, but once it gets its claws into you it will not let you go for quite some time. That’s why I’m putting it here despite its discount being a modest one. It really is a game that I think almost everyone should try out, weaving roguelite mechanics into a devilishly accessible card game. Balatro will keep you engaged for quite some time, and that’s both its greatest selling point and my biggest warning about it.
Jack Jeanne ($34.99 from $49.99)
Jack Jeanne tells the story of Kisa, a young woman who dreams of being an actor. She’s been invited to attend one of the most prestigious drama schools around, but there are a couple of catches. She must be chosen as the lead in the final performance of the year, and she must conceal her gender. Both of those things are easier said than done thanks to her talented and very hunky classmates. She has to compete against them for parts, but what happens if love blooms on the battlefield? One of the better visual novels of the last few years, and one worth owning for anyone who enjoys a good story.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 ($41.99 from $59.99)
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the best game in the series yet, and despite a few issues like burying the player in tutorials and some story bits that could have been handled better, the game is a real treat for RPG fans. There’s more to do and more reasons to do it, and whether you’re coming off one or both of the previous games or jumping in fresh, you’ll find a suitably epic adventure waiting for you. A fine capper to an excellent trilogy of RPGs.
1000xRESIST ($17.99 from $19.99)
If you have even the smallest shred of love in your soul for story-based games, play 1000xRESIST. Some of the best games of this sort feel like getting a fine dinner in a fancy restaurant. This one is like getting the whole damned menu brought to your table, plus a slice of fruit cake because there’s always room for dessert. An absolute masterpiece, and I am grateful that I got to experience it. And now you can experience it too, with an extra couple bucks in your pocket for good measure. Hekki grace.
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy ($39.99 from $49.99)
While a bit rockier of a road than the original Ace Attorney trilogy, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy nevertheless does its best to improvise as it goes along, much in the manner of its titular character. The included games are up and down, depending on your tastes, but fans of Ace Attorney should have a good time with all of them. Capcom’s given the games a real shine-up for this set, and it’s good to see that even the more controversial games in the franchise won’t be forgotten. Worth adding to your court records at this price, to be sure.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze ($39.99 from $59.99)
It’s wild to me that for all the attention Donkey Kong Country Returns garnered, its sequel seems perpetually overlooked. Sure, it made sense on the Wii U. Not much was able to get out of the shadow of its market failure. But this should have been a slam dunk on the Switch, and instead I’m here recommending it several years later because I know a lot of people didn’t pick it up. It’s good 2D platforming eats, I promise. Hopefully this sale will entice a few more people to Donkey Kong’s banana stand.
Berserk Boy ($15.00 from $20.00)
Clearly inspired by the Mega Man games, but the way the Berserk Boy dashes around the screen smashing up the enemies is a mechanic that is incredibly fun to sink your teeth into. Your character has the ability to change into four different powered-up forms, each with their own abilities to make use of. Oh, and it has a Tee Lopes soundtrack. Hopefully that helps you with your purchasing decision. Just a superb homaage to Capcom’s action classics all-around, and if you enjoy the Mega Man X era of that franchise in particular, you’ll want to give this a go.
Daemon x Machina ($41.99 from $59.99)
I’m including this one here on the word of our pal Mikhail, the resident giant robot expert of TouchArcade. When he reviewed it a million years ago, he called it one of the best mech action games in years. Perhaps tastes could change, but in his recent review of Megaton Musashi, he once again asserted his love of Daemon x Machina. If a game can keep Mikhail contented for half a decade, surely it’s worth considering at a discounted price? Well, that’s the pitch.
Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp ($41.99 from $59.99)
Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp is one of those remakes that maybe does too much in some ways while doing too little in others, but the quality of the original games shines through brightly. I have some mild issues with the visuals and technical performance, but what is great about these games, the tactical gameplay, can’t really be hindered by that kind of thing. What isn’t in question is that you get an awful lot of game here, since it includes both of the Game Boy Advance titles in full. If you enjoy turn-based strategy, this is a great pick-up at a nice price.
Tunic ($14.99 from $29.99)
If you enjoy action-adventures and don’t mind a game that isn’t big on going easy on the player, you should give Tunic a look. It’s gorgeous, clever, challenging, and simply a joy to pick away at. While it is quite difficult by default, there is an impressive number of options for those who want to tailor the game to their preferences. This Switch port, while obviously not quite up to the versions on other platforms from a technical standpoint, is very good and more than capable of delivering the experience to players. Not for everyone due to how opaque it can be at times, but those who get into it will find it to be very special indeed.
Sonic Frontiers ($20.99 from $59.99)
At least for me, Sonic Frontiers is a lot more than the sum of its parts. This game has a lot of rough edges and things that on paper shouldn’t work, but it completely sucked me in anyway. Its flaws mean that I can understand anyone who bounces off of it, but I think even for those who don’t get into it the way I did, you have to at least respect the effort here. It tries something very new for the series, and if this is how good the first attempt at this style went, I can’t wait to see what comes next. What a weird thing to feel about 3D Sonic.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons ($41.99 from $59.99)
Sure, by and large this game’s time has passed. The moment moved on. But that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable to get into today if you’re new to it. New Horizons probably could have been bigger and more expansive, and there’s an argument to be had that Nintendo perhaps moved on from it too soon. Taken for what it is, however, it’s an incredibly relaxing and compelling game for those looking to hide somewhere less stressful than the real world for a little while. Why not book a little time on the island?
COCOON ($14.99 from $24.99)
The best adventure games are often the ones that keep surprising you with novel puzzles to solve and problems to overcome, and Cocoon does a fantastic job of that. Your world-hopping powers are used simply enough at the outset, but before long you’ll be untangling some absurd knots with your expanding skill set. It’s all wrapped up in a gorgeous presentation, which certainly doesn’t hurt matters. You’re best off going into this one without anything spoiled, but if you enjoy adventure games or figuring out puzzles, you’ll likely have a blast with this.
Bravely Default II ($41.99 from $59.99)
The JRPG genre is in a different place than it was back in 2012, and it doesn’t need a savior or disruption the way it did at that time. It’s sufficient for Bravely Default II to be the incredibly safe sequel that it is, stretching its legs a little and further exploring the immensely clever gameplay mechanics established in previous games. Bravely Default II is truly a JRPG fan’s JRPG, and while I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hoping it would smash my expectations the way the first game did, I’d be similarly dishonest if I were to say that I didn’t enjoy every minute of it. A worthy adventure.
And those are our picks from the Mega Extreme Fun Sale on the Nintendo Switch eShop. There are plenty more great games on sale right now, so make sure to check your wishlists and dig into the publisher pages on the eShop just to be sure you aren’t missing anything. If you have any sales you’d like to share, please hit those comments below. Thanks for reading!