Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 26th, 2021. I’m just about back to normal now, but between the lingering headache and the sheer number of new releases today, you may find the summaries to be a bit, er, brief compared to the usual ones. Possibly mildly cranky. These things happen, I suppose. We also have the lists of incoming and outgoing sales for you to check out, and those are pretty much as normal. Let’s wade into all those new games!
New Releases
Spelunky ($9.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
Derek Yu’s endlessly replayable roguelike platformer hits the Switch in fine form. If you like a stiff challenge that rewards players who know when to be patient and when to just boogie, you should buy this. Absolutely essential. Already own it on another platform? You probably don’t even need me to give you a shove to buy it again.
Spelunky 2 ($19.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
How do you follow up a game that most people never stopped playing? It’s a mystery that has yet to be fully solved, I think. Spelunky 2 does its best by adding a whole lot more of everything. It even adds branching paths and multi-layered levels to really confuse the heck out of you. A solid choice for those who scoff at “just right" and instead like their porridge big, bold, and tongue-meltingly hot.
Inked: A Tale of Love ($9.99)
Well, that’s quite pretty, isn’t it? Inked has a story to tell and an attractive way of doing so, but the nuts and bolts of the gameplay don’t fit together as tightly as you might like. The camera is sometimes a pain, the controls just don’t feel good, and some of the puzzles are a little too out there for their own good. But hey, it sure does look nice.
Girls Tank Battle ($10.99)
I feel like if you’re buying this for the girls, you’re probably going to come away disappointed. Come for the top-down tank action and things may go a bit better. Nothing too interesting about this one, but each stage you clear does let you pick a perk in that pleasing roguelite-ish way. And yes, every so often you’ll earn pictures of the girls for your gallery. eastasiasoft needs to watch out; other companies have clearly figured out their formula.
Magical Girls Second Magic ($4.99)
Like so. Another block breaker, with the main gimmick being that you’ll reveal pictures of anime-style girls by clearing all the blocks in a stage. There’s a support mode that will stop the ball from dropping off the screen, if you want a slightly easier time of it. Each of the girls has different levels of evolution, so you’ll need to do some grinding to collect them all.
Arcade Archives Space Cruiser ($7.99)
Time to party like it’s 1981 and you’re not interested in playing Defender, Donkey Kong, Galaga, Frogger, Tempest, Bosconian, or even Vanguard. Yes, you are an iconoclast. You are putting your quarter in Taito’s Space Cruiser. Blast UFOs, avoid incoming asteroids, and enjoy one of the most ridiculously awesome end-of-game explosions you’ll ever see in a forty year old shoot-em-up.
Cape’s Escape Game 3rd Room ($9.80)
Another Cape game, and like the others you can play this for free with ad support on your mobile device if you want. You’re trapped in a convenience store by a tricky ghost and need to solve all of the puzzles to get out. Not a bad little game for what it is, but its brevity and slipshod translation are a lot easier to stomach when it costs watching a couple of video ads instead of ten bucks.
The Magnificent Trufflepigs ($11.99)
This is a short narrative adventure about metal-detecting in the countryside. Over the course of the game’s couple of hours of runtime, you’ll reveal more of the story of your companion, Beth. The story is probably the best part of this game, and some people are going to find that tale justifies dealing with the somewhat dull gameplay for while others may find the juice isn’t worth the squeeze.
Instant Farmer ($2.99)
This is a low-cost relaxed puzzle game of sorts where you need to swap around the various blocks properly in order to irrigate and grow the crops. As you clear each puzzle, the farm in the background will grow. It looks cute, and it’s cheap enough to take a punt on without much guilt if you like the sound of it.
May’s Mysteries: The Secret of Dragonville ($14.99)
First released almost exactly ten years ago on the Nintendo DS, this game is a fairly clear homage to the Professor Layton series. There’s a story here but it almost entirely exists to push you from one brain-teasing puzzle to the next. There’s quite a lot here to do, and it will easily last for at least a dozen hours if not more. Lots of familiar sorts of puzzles here along with some less-common but equally clever ones, and if that’s your jam I think the price it’s asking is more than reasonable.
Have a Blast ($17.99)
This is an arena-based shooter for up to four players via local multiplayer. There are fifteen different arenas, multiple game modes, and five ships to choose from. If you don’t have anyone to play with, you can go against bots. It seems well-made enough for what it is, but I’m not sure there’s enough here to chew on if you can’t reliably count on having people to play with.
Shape Suitable ($8.99)
This appears to be a series of puzzles centered around making the correct shape to satisfy the requirements laid out by the hints. I’m not too keen on the look of it, as it comes off a bit cheap. But this kind of thing can be fun if you’re in the right mood for it, and I think kids might really like it.
Garden Paws ($24.99)
It’s another slow life game and one that seems to be well-regarded in its computer form by players. I’m a bit concerned about how it’s going to run on the Switch, mind you. Explore the world, craft items, go fishing, mine some precious stones, complete quests, and run a shop. Everyone is a cute animal, so that’s a plus. Seems to have a lot to do, so assuming it doesn’t run too badly this could be your next chill game fix.
Wildbus ($12.99)
The heck am I looking at here? I don’t know, but I think I like it. Build and customize your awesome bus and go around doing… you know, stuff. Shooting hoops. Beating up bad guys with a giant boxing glove. Normal bus stuff. I don’t know how much depth this game has to it, but I’ve thrown more than thirteen bucks at far worse-looking things than this.
Secret Neighbor ($19.99)
The latest installment in this popular series puts a Werewolf Game-style spin on the situation. Up to six players can play via online multiplayer. The goal of all but one of the players is to break into the house and gather the necessary keys to access the basement. However, one player is the Neighbor in disguise and must use everything at their disposal to pick off the intruders without blowing their cover. An interesting set-up, to be sure.
Pretty Girls Panic! ($5.99)
eastasiasoft and ZOO Corporation are feeling randy again, and that means we’ve got another game combining a well-established formula and some provocative pictures of anime girls in various fetish-tastic costumes. This time the gameplay is patterned after Qix. Remove portions of the screen to reveal the picture. Get a certain percent and you can move on to the next stage. Not the first time we’ve had frisky Qix, and certainly not the last.
Titans Black Ops ($6.99)
Benjamin Kistler flips another template he probably found on the Unity Asset Store. As usual, it’s not worth buying or encouraging. Find an extra buck in the couch cushions and buy a Metal Slug game instead.
Green Phoenix ($3.49)
This is a 3D rail shooter with reasonably sharp graphics for the price. Frankly I think the bar is pretty low for actual original games at this kind of price point, and Green Phoenix hops over it without much difficulty. A nice cheap pick-up if you like rail shooters.
Witch Hunter ($8.99)
Sometimes a picture tells 90% of the story, and if you’re reading this site you probably know full well what you’re looking at. It’s almost nostalgic to see a 2D endless runner in 2021, especially one that follows the well-worn template so closely. Is it “nine bucks" nostalgic? Probably not. I mean, you could buy Space Harrier for that price and still have a dollar left over for a Snickers bar. Space Harrier and Snickers! Good luck beating that, Witch Hunter.
Dark Thrones ($8.99)
This appears to be functionally identical to Witch Hunter, but with a slightly different theme. From the same developer and publisher, no less. That is actually pretty rude, if you ask me.
Eternal Hope ($8.99)
Ready for another shadowy puzzle-platformer that is probably not-so-secretly about grief or depression? This one has a dimension-shifting mechanic as its core means of solving puzzles, which isn’t the most original idea around but not completely exhausted either. The overall quality of the game also lives in that middle zone between extremes.
Off The Road Unleashed ($15.99)
We’ve seen so many of these released on the Switch by now, you probably don’t need me to say much. You get five worlds to explore, and thirty-two vehicles to unlock including helicopters, boats, and airplanes. Yes, you can find it for free on mobile App Stores. No, it doesn’t appear they changed much beyond stripping out the IAPs. Give it a try on your mobile device if you like.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Not a bad selection of sales on the whole so far, even if we don’t have too many rarities in the bunch. Shaun’s Picks: Hotshot Racing, The Flame in the Flood, and Velocity 2X. But you probably already own those. The outbox merits more attention today, with many good games finishing up their latest discounts. Great stuff like Songbird Symphony, Toki Tori 2+, Aggelos, and Cat Quest are all yours for the taking at low prices, but you’ve got to move fast. Check those lists, friends!
Select New Games on Sale
Heroes of Loot ($3.99 from $7.99 until 8/31)
Speed Limit ($2.49 from $9.99 until 9/2)
Cyber Protocol ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/2)
Nirvana Pilot Yume ($1.99 from $4.99 until 9/2)
OMG Police: Car Chase TV ($1.99 from $4.99 until 9/2)
Clumsy Rush ($1.99 from $4.99 until 9/2)
Hotshot Racing ($4.99 from $19.99 until 9/9)
The Flame in the Flood: Complete ($3.74 from $14.99 until 9/9)
Smoke and Sacrifice ($4.99 from $19.99 until 9/9)
Serial Cleaner ($2.24 from $14.99 until 9/9)
Manual Samuel ($2.49 from $9.99 until 9/9)
Human: Fall Flat ($7.99 from $19.99 until 9/9)
Bomber Crew ($2.99 from $14.99 until 9/9)
Velocity 2X ($4.99 from $19.99 until 9/9)
The Swindle ($3.74 from $14.99 until 9/9)
Beholder: Complete Edition ($2.99 from $14.99 until 9/9)
When Ski Lifts Go Wrong ($2.99 from $14.99 until 9/9)
Pumped BMX Pro ($2.99 from $14.99 until 9/9)
Motorsport Manager ($4.49 from $14.99 until 9/9)
For The King ($8.49 from $24.99 until 9/9)
Hue ($1.99 from $9.99 until 9/9)
A Knight’s Quest ($4.99 from $24.99 until 9/9)
Narcos: Rise of the Cartels ($5.99 from $29.99 until 9/9)
Peaky Blinders: Mastermind ($4.99 from $24.99 until 9/9)
Just Die Already ($10.04 from $14.99 until 9/9)
Space Crew ($9.99 from $19.99 until 9/9)
Galaxy Squad ($8.49 from $9.99 until 9/9)
Her Love in the Force ($17.49 from $24.99 until 9/10)
Our Two Bedroom Story ($17.49 from $24.99 until 9/10)
My Forged Wedding ($17.49 from $24.99 until 9/10)
Love Letter from Thief X ($17.49 from $24.99 until 9/10)
Enchanted in the Moonlight ($9.99 from $19.99 until 9/10)
Star-Crossed Myth ($14.99 from $29.99 until 9/10)
Kissed by the Baddest Bidder ($12.49 from $24.99 until 9/10)
Beat Me! ($3.89 from $12.99 until 9/15)
Wood Block Escape Puzzles 3 ($3.99 from $5.99 until 9/15)
Pretty Girls Klondike Solitaire ($4.19 from $5.99 until 9/16)
Empire of Angels IV ($13.99 from $19.99 until 9/16)
Magical Girls Second Magic ($3.99 from $4.99 until 9/16)
Pretty Girls Panic! ($4.79 from $5.99 until 9/16)
Void Gore ($2.49 from $4.99 until 9/16)
Dungeon Escape ($3.49 from $4.99 until 9/16)
Iro Hero ($3.89 from $12.99 until 9/16)
The Rainsdowne Players ($1.99 from $3.99 until 9/16)
Family Tree ($1.99 from $7.99 until 9/16)
Woven ($1.99 from $19.99 until 9/16)
BATTOJUTSU ($3.99 from $4.99 until 9/16)
Without Escape ($1.99 from $4.99 until 9/16)
Refreshing Sideways Puzzle Ghost Hammer ($16.79 from $27.99 until 9/16)
Madoris R ($4.00 from $5.00 until 9/16)
ibb & obb ($1.99 from $14.99 until 9/16)
Sushi Reversi ($9.99 from $13.99 until 9/16)
Zero Strain ($2.99 from $9.99 until 9/16)
Hero Hours Contract ($1.99 from $3.99 until 9/16)
Break Dot ($3.99 from $4.99 until 9/16)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Friday, August 27th
36 Fragments of Midnight ($2.00 from $2.99 until 8/27)
3D Billiards: Pool & Snooker ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
3D Minigolf ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
A Hero and a Garden ($3.24 from $4.99 until 8/27)
A Little Lily Princess ($10.49 from $14.99 until 8/27)
A Summer with the Shiba Inu ($5.49 from $9.99 until 8/27)
Access Denied ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Aggelos ($2.99 from $14.99 until 8/27)
Angels with Scaly Wings ($7.49 from $9.99 until 8/27)
Anodyne 2: Return to Dust ($13.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Aokana: Four Rhythms Across Blue ($20.09 from $29.99 until 8/27)
Arcade Spirits ($11.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Attack of the Toy Tanks ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Autumn’s Journey ($3.24 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Badland: GotY Edition ($4.79 from $5.99 until 8/27)
Balancelot ($5.19 from $7.99 until 8/27)
Battle Axe ($20.99 from $29.99 until 8/27)
Battle Princess Madelyn ($6.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Battle Princess Madelyn Royal ($5.24 from $14.99 until 8/27)
Bird Game+ ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Birthday of Midnight ($3.24 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Blind Men ($2.74 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Bone Marrow ($3.99 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Boreal Blade ($1.99 from $3.99 until 8/27)
Bouncy Bullets ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Brawl Chess ($3.49 from $9.99 until 8/27)
C14 Dating ($13.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Castle Pals ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Cat Quest ($6.49 from $12.99 until 8/27)
City Bus Driving Simulator ($4.79 from $11.99 until 8/27)
Clash Force ($2.99 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Coast Guard: Beach Rescue ($4.79 from $11.99 until 8/27)
Concept Destruction ($2.99 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Corridor Z ($1.99 from $7.99 until 8/27)
Crash Drive 3 ($13.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Cross the Moon ($3.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
CrossKrush ($2.99 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Cybarian ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Daggerhood ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/27)
DanMachi Familia Myth Infinite Combate ($21.99 from $39.99 until 8/27)
Deep Space Rush ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Delta Squad ($2.99 from $5.99 until 8/27)
Detective Driver: Miami Files ($4.79 from $11.99 until 8/27)
Devious Dungeon ($3.19 from $7.99 until 8/27)
Devious Dungeon 2 ($3.19 from $7.99 until 8/27)
Distraint 2 ($4.49 from $8.99 until 8/27)
Distraint: Deluxe ($2.39 from $5.99 until 8/27)
Donuts’n’Justice ($3.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Dracula’s Legacy ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Dreaming Sarah ($3.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Duck Souls+ ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Easy Flight Simulator ($3.99 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Even the Ocean ($8.99 from $14.99 until 8/27)
Evergate ($6.69 from $9.99 until 8/27)
Five Dates ($11.04 from $12.99 until 8/27)
Football Game ($2.24 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Forgotten Tales: Day of the Dead ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/27)
Fort Triumph ($14.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
FoxyLand ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
FoxyLand 2 ($2.39 from $5.99 until 8/27)
Framed Collection ($3.99 from $9.99 until 8/27)
FullBlast ($2.99 from $5.99 until 8/27)
Ganbare! Super Strikers ($5.49 from $9.99 until 8/27)
Gas Station: Highway Services ($4.79 from $11.99 until 8/27)
Genesis Noir ($10.49 from $14.99 until 8/27)
Gnomes Garden 3 ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Golf Zero ($2.99 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Grave Danger ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Gravity Duck ($2.24 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Guard Duty ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/27)
Gun Crazy ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Gutwhale ($3.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Have a Blast ($14.39 from $17.99 until 8/27)
Heal: Console Edition ($4.89 from $6.99 until 8/27)
Heroes Trials ($2.39 from $5.99 until 8/27)
Himno ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Hoggy2 ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Horned Knight ($4.19 from $5.99 until 8/27)
How to Take Off Your Mask ($10.49 from $14.99 until 8/27)
I Am The Hero ($3.99 from $9.99 until 8/27)
I and Me ($3.99 from $9.99 until 8/27)
In Other Waters ($10.49 from $14.99 until 8/27)
Infectious Madness of Dr Dekker ($5.84 from $12.99 until 8/27)
Infestor ($3.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
InkSplosion ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Iron Snout ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Island Flight Simulator ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Jack N’ Jill DX ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Jet Set Knights ($5.99 from $9.99 until 8/27)
Jisei: The First Case HD ($2.99 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Just Ignore Them ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Knightin’+ ($2.99 from $5.99 until 8/27)
LASTFIGHT ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Legend of the Skyfish ($3.99 from $7.99 until 8/27)
Mahjong Deluxe 3 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Moai VI: Unexpected Guests ($9.49 from $18.99 until 8/27)
MotoGP18 ($2.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Neo Cab ($3.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Nexomon: Extinction ($13.39 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Nine Parchments ($4.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Race Track Driver ($8.99 from $11.99 until 8/27)
Radio Commander ($8.24 from $14.99 until 8/27)
Red Colony ($5.59 from $6.99 until 8/27)
Renzo Racer ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
RIVE: Ultimate Edition ($1.99 from $14.99 until 8/27)
Robots Under Attack! ($1.99 from $5.99 until 8/27)
Root Film ($29.99 from $39.99 until 8/27)
Season Match ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/27)
Season Match 2 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/27)
Season Match 3 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/27)
Secrets of Magic 2: W&W ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/27)
Secrets of Magic: TBoS ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/27)
Shmubedi Boo ($3.30 from $9.99 until 8/27)
Songbird Symphony ($7.64 from $16.99 until 8/27)
Soul Axiom Rebooted ($8.44 from $12.99 until 8/27)
STAY ($2.00 from $11.99 until 8/27)
Street Racing: Tokyo Rush ($5.99 from $11.99 until 8/27)
Strike! Ten Pin Bowling ($7.49 from $9.99 until 8/27)
Sudoku Classic ($2.49 from $5.99 until 8/27)
Super Mutant Alien Assault ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/27)
SuperEpic: The Entertainment War ($2.15 from $17.99 until 8/27)
Swords & Soldiers ($1.99 from $7.49 until 8/27)
Tales of the Orient: Rising Sun ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/27)
The Church in the Darkness ($3.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
The Stillness of the Wind ($3.89 from $12.99 until 8/27)
Think of the Children ($2.59 from $12.99 until 8/27)
Through the Darkest of Times ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/27)
Toki Tori ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/27)
Toki Tori 2+ ($1.99 from $14.99 until 8/27)
Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt ($7.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Trine 2: Complete Story ($4.24 from $16.99 until 8/27)
Trine 3: Artifacts of Power ($4.99 from $19.99 until 8/27)
Trine Enchanted Edition ($3.74 from $14.99 until 8/27)
Ultra Foodmess ($2.49 from $3.99 until 8/27)
Viviette ($5.99 from $9.99 until 8/27)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with summaries of the rest of the releases for the week, including the big gun of the day No More Heroes 3. We should also have a big-pants list of new sales to look at, and if there is any huge news we may cover that as well. I hope you all have a terrific Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!
