Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 24th, 2020. Kind of a quiet Monday, as has generally been the case this August. There are a couple of new releases to look at, and a pair of Mini-Views covering some of last week’s releases. There are quite a few new sales to check out, however. While we don’t usually see a whole lot of new discounts roll in over the weekend, this time around there’s a massive list of titles to check out. Let’s get to it!
Mini-Views
Runestone Keeper ($9.99)
One of the problems this game ran into on mobile is that while it built on the concept in its own ways, it couldn’t really distinguish itself enough from Dungelot. That’s not an issue on Switch, as Dungelot is nowhere to be found. The game definitely controls better if you use the touch controls in handheld mode, but the button controls have been mapped as sensibly as you could hope. Otherwise, this game makes the same compelling offer it once did on mobile. The risk versus reward of flipping over more dungeon tiles after you’ve found the exit, the satisfaction of hatching a plan with your items and spells to take down monsters you have no business battling, and simply trying to go as far in as possible makes this fun for short and long sessions alike.
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Poker Hands ($0.99)
Poker Hands has a neat concept and I was quite keen on it initially. You’ve got a Threes!-style layout where you can shift cards around, and you need to complete hands according to each stage’s target. There are 50 levels in total, and they generally increase in complexity in terms of both targets and board shapes. I got a bit tired of it all somewhere around the thirty-fifth level, so I suppose I got my dollar’s worth. My biggest issue with the game is that the randomness of the fresh cards being dealt in can make it a bit of a crapshoot when you’re trying to build certain types of hands. It feels less like I’m solving a puzzle and more like I’m hoping for the right cards to come into play. Still, it’s entertaining enough for the price.
SwitchArcade Score: 2.5/5
New Releases
Parking Madness ($6.00)
Hmm. This doesn’t seem that mad at all, if you ask me. You know those old puzzles where you have to slide pieces to clear a path for another piece to slide out? That’s this, but with kind of plain-looking cars in place of generic blocks. There are quite a few levels to tackle in this one, grouped into four different difficulty levels. If my math is right, you get well over 200 puzzles to complete. That seems fair for the price, provided you actually see yourself doing more than 200 puzzles like these. Personally, I don’t. But you may feel differently about the matter, and that is okay.
Puzzle Bundle – 3 in 1 ($19.99)
Fallen Tree Games gets in on the bundle craze with its own pack of puzzlers. You get Highrise Heroes: Word Challenge, Quell Zen, and Swapperoo for a slightly better price than buying them individually. All three of the games are pretty good, and the introductory discount drops this bundle down to a mere five dollars. The usual caveats apply: always check if the included games are on sale separately, as it will sometimes be cheaper to buy them that way. But sure, this is a nice bundle of good games that actually fit well together, so check it out if you like puzzle games and don’t already own any of these.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Well, that’s a lot. The big summer sale that kicked off last week appears to have had quite a few stragglers trying to get in on the event even in an unofficial capacity. While most of the biggest sales were covered last week, there are still some decent games to check out in here. As for the outbox, the most noteworthy titles are the Devil May Cry games and the Disney Classic Games Collection. The former will be back around before too long, I’d imagine. The latter? Well, it should be on sale again someday, but it’s uncommon enough that you may want to grab it now if you want it.
Select New Games on Sale
Children of Morta ($13.19 from $21.99 until 9/10)
Wuppo: Definitive ($7.49 from $14.99 until 9/5)
Braveland Trilogy ($3.74 from $14.99 until 9/7)
Rise: Race the Future ($11.54 from $16.49 until 9/12)
Niffelheim ($5.99 from $19.99 until 9/7)
The Tiny Bang Story ($2.99 from $9.99 until 9/7)
Spaceland ($9.99 from $19.99 until 9/7)
She Sees Red – Interactive Movie ($2.99 from $9.99 until 8/30)
Batu Ta Batu ($3.99 from $4.99 until 9/12)
Ages of Mages: Last Keeper ($8.39 from $11.99 until 9/12)
Them Bombs! ($9.79 from $13.99 until 9/11)
LocO-SportS ($1.79 from $5.99 until 9/11)
The House of Da Vinci 2 ($8.99 from $9.99 until 8/30)
#womenUp, Super Puzzles Dream ($1.85 from $6.19 until 9/11)
Fantasy Tower Defense ($3.74 from $4.99 until 9/12)
Doom & Destiny ($8.39 from $11.99 until 9/4)
Miner Warfare ($5.59 from $7.99 until 9/4)
Inertial Drift ($17.99 from $19.99 until 9/12)
Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle ($4.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Perfect Angle ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/31)
Die for Valhalla! ($2.39 from $11.99 until 9/4)
Defunct ($0.19 from $14.99 until 9/7)
Snake vs Snake ($3.59 from $3.99 until 9/10)
Steamburg ($0.99 from $4.99 until 9/4)
Basketball ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/10)
Thea: The Awakening ($7.19 from $17.99 until 9/4)
Xenon Racer ($3.99 from $29.99 until 9/7)
World Soccer ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/10)
Monkey Business ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/10)
Among the Sleep – Enhanced ($6.99 from $24.99 until 9/7)
ZOMB ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/10)
Lucah: Born of a Dream ($5.99 from $14.99 until 8/28)
Tetsumo Party ($0.99 from $4.99 until 9/4)
Super Jumpy Ball ($4.49 from $4.99 until 9/10)
Teddy Gangs ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/10)
Safari Pinball ($1.49 from $2.99 until 9/10)
Bowling ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/10)
Immortal Planet ($5.99 from $14.99 until 9/4)
Adventure Pinball Bundle ($4.49 from $8.99 until 9/10)
Stab Stab Stab! ($3.99 from $9.99 until 9/4)
Rocket Rabbit – Coin Race ($2.99 from $7.99 until 9/6)
Piano ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/10)
Monstrum ($23.99 from $29.99 until 8/28)
Food Truck Tycoon – Asian ($1.49 from $4.99 until 9/11)
WildTrax Racing ($5.59 from $7.99 until 9/10)
Even the Ocean ($11.99 from $14.99 until 9/7)
Paratopic ($4.11 from $5.49 until 9/10)
Solitaire Klondike Minimal ($0.69 from $2.99 until 9/10)
Perfect Traffic Simulator ($6.99 from $9.99 until 9/11)
Lair of the Clockwork God ($16.99 from $19.99 until 9/4)
Moonlighter ($8.49 from $24.99 until 9/10)
This War of Mine: Complete ($11.99 from $39.99 until 9/10)
Beat Cop ($3.74 from $14.99 until 9/10)
Tactical Mind ($0.44 from $2.99 until 8/31)
Mad Carnage ($0.34 from $4.99 until 8/31)
The Way Remastered ($0.75 from $14.99 until 9/11)
VSR: Void Space Racing ($0.49 from $4.99 until 9/11)
FunBox Party ($0.34 from $1.99 until 8/31)
Earthworms ($0.01 from $7.99 until 9/11)
911 Operator ($4.49 from $14.99 until 9/11)
Astro Bears ($0.69 from $6.99 until 9/11)
Dungeon Warfare ($3.39 from $9.99 until 8/29)
Mars Power Industries ($0.79 from $3.99 until 9/11)
Mushroom Quest ($0.29 from $2.99 until 8/31)
Skull Rogue ($1.19 from $2.99 until 8/31)
BE-A Walker ($2.49 from $9.99 until 9/11)
Debtor ($0.35 from $2.99 until 9/1)
911 Operator Deluxe ($10.99 from $21.99 until 9/11)
Carnage: Battle Arena ($4.49 from $14.99 until 9/11)
Coast Guard: Beach Rescue Team ($5.99 from $11.99 until 9/4)
City Driving Simulator ($5.99 from $11.99 until 9/4)
Gas Station: Highway Services ($5.99 from $11.99 until 9/11)
Hamster Bob ($2.49 from $4.99 until 9/11)
Cars 3: Driven to Win ($9.99 from $39.99 until 8/31)
Ironcast ($6.49 from $12.99 until 8/30)
Lichtspeer: Double Speer ($2.99 from $9.99 until 8/27)
Butcher ($3.99 from $9.99 until 8/27)
Party Golf ($1.50 from $15.00 until 9/9)
This is the Police ($11.99 from $29.99 until 8/31)
This is the Police 2 ($11.99 from $29.99 until 8/31)
Chess Ultra ($6.24 from $12.49 until 8/30)
Ben 10 ($7.99 from $19.99 until 8/31)
Aces of the Luftwaffe: Squadron ($3.99 from $14.99 until 8/27)
Uurnog Uurnlimited ($2.99 from $9.99 until 8/31)
Dimension Drive ($1.94 from $12.99 until 8/31)
Vostok Inc. ($4.49 from $14.99 until 8/31)
Hammerwatch ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/31)
Bloody Zombies ($5.24 from $14.99 until 8/30)
Space Dave ($0.99 from $4.99 until 9/3)
3D MiniGolf ($13.99 from $19.99 until 8/31)
Aegis Defenders ($5.99 from $19.99 until 8/31)
Guilt Battle Arena ($4.99 from $9.99 until 9/9)
The Adventure Pals ($3.74 from $14.99 until 8/30)
Sumer ($10.49 from $14.99 until 8/31)
Adventures of Elena Temple ($0.39 from $3.99 until 9/9)
Pirate Pop Plus ($2.49 from $4.99 until 9/9)
One Strike ($0.99 from $4.99 until 8/31)
Grave Danger ($13.99 from $19.99 until 8/31)
Survive! Mr. Cube ($2.99 from $14.99 until 8/31)
SpiritSphere DX ($5.00 from $10.00 until 8/30)
Super Volley Blast ($6.99 from $9.99 until 8/31)
Adventure Time: Pirates ($15.99 from $39.99 until 8/31)
Flat Heroes ($6.69 from $9.99 until 9/8)
Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes ($8.99 from $14.99 until 8/31)
The Spectrum Retreat ($6.49 from $12.99 until 8/30)
Retimed ($10.49 from $14.99 until 8/31)
Debris Infinity ($3.49 from $4.99 until 8/30)
Party Crashers ($1.50 from $15.00 until 9/9)
Shift Happens ($5.09 from $14.99 until 8/31)
Joggernauts ($3.74 from $14.99 until 8/31)
Tied Together ($2.99 from $14.99 until 9/9)
The Shapeshifting Detective ($6.49 from $12.99 until 9/3)
GRIP ($9.99 from $39.99 until 8/31)
Please, Don’t Touch Anything ($4.99 from $9.99 until 9/9)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 25th
Bear With Me: Lost Robots ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/25)
Beast Quest ($11.99 from $19.99 until 8/25)
Church in the Darkness ($4.99 from $19.99 until 8/25)
Croc’s World ($0.99 from $4.99 until 8/25)
Deer Drive Legends ($5.99 from $19.99 until 8/25)
Devil May Cry ($11.99 from $19.99 until 8/25)
Devil May Cry 2 ($11.99 from $19.99 until 8/25)
Devil May Cry 3 Special ($14.99 from $19.99 until 8/25)
Disney Classics: Aladdin & Lion King ($17.99 from $29.99 until 8/25)
Farabel ($0.69 from $9.99 until 8/25)
Helheim Hassle ($15.99 from $19.99 until 8/25)
Island Maze ($1.49 from $2.99 until 8/25)
Jewel Fever 2 ($0.99 from $4.99 until 8/25)
Madorica Real Estate ($9.50 from $14.99 until 8/25)
Ninjin: Clash of Carrots ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/25)
Override: Mech City Brawl ($15.99 from $39.99 until 8/25)
Pacific Wings ($0.99 from $4.99 until 8/25)
Snooker 19 ($13.99 from $34.99 until 8/25)
Sudoky ($0.99 from $2.99 until 8/25)
Trine 4: Nightmare Prince ($8.99 from $29.99 until 8/25)
Trine: Ultimate Collection ($19.99 from $49.99 until 8/25)
Troll & I ($2.99 from $29.99 until 8/25)
Water Balloon Mania ($0.99 from $4.99 until 8/25)
Yellow Fins ($0.99 from $4.99 until 8/25)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with a couple of new releases to check out, along with whatever news and sales come along in the meantime. What are you all playing right now? I’ve dug into my backlog and pulled out the gory but enjoyable Mother Russia Bleeds. I’m hoping to finish it today, after which I’ll be preparing for a somewhat big JRPG review on the horizon. I hope you all have an excellent Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!
