Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for December 30th, 2021. We’re just about at the end of this year, and today marks the last release of any note for 2021. There are four new releases to look at, and we’ve got summaries of all of them. We’ve also got the usual sales lists, with the incoming and expiring sales for the day. That’s about it, but what can you expect at this time of year? There will be a SwitchArcade Special with the genre awards going up today as well. Lots of good games in there if you can’t find what you’re looking for here. Let’s go!
New Releases
Deathsmiles I-II ($39.99)
SwitchArcade Highlight!
While I wouldn’t blame anyone for being wary of City Connection’s Switch releases after things like Cotton Saturn Tribute, I’m happy to say that this one turned out fine. Low input lag, runs well, and while it’s not the most gorgeous of packages, it’s hardly bare-bones. You get Deathsmiles, Deathsmiles Mega Black Label, and Deathsmiles IIX Merry Christmas in Hell with a few modes each. Training modes and online rankings are also here, along with some new paid DLC that adds extra characters from Cave’s Gothic wa Mahou Otome. If you enjoy shoot-em-ups, you probably already know Deathsmiles and why it’s worth adding to your collection. This is a good version. ‘Nuff said.
Pawn of the Dead ($9.99)
This is a somewhat unique spin on chess. It seems like it’s going to take after Interplay’s classic Battle Chess, but there’s a little twist. When the CPU player takes your pieces, instead of removing them from the board it will convert them to its side. There’s a campaign mode with sixty-four levels to play, a random level generator to entice you to come back after you’ve finished the campaign, and both 3D and 2D modes to play in. The game description disagrees with itself about whether or not you can play multiplayer, which is interesting. I’m guessing that it does, but don’t count on it. If nothing else, I appreciate some attempt was made here to differentiate it from standard chess.
Hollow 2 ($19.99)
The original Hollow was, to be nice, not a terribly great game. Now, perhaps the developer has turned things around with this one. Perhaps this is the space horror FPS that so many of us would love to see. But I’m not very hopeful of that outcome. I suppose the fact that there is a sequel at all means enough people liked that first game, and they will probably want to consider this one. Otherwise I would advise, at best, playing the waiting game to see how reviews shake out.
Frogs vs. Storks ($9.99)
Hmm, the directions are right on the screenshots, eh? Well, at least there are directions. This is a single-player puzzle game where your goal is to… well, what it says on that screenshot up there. You’ll have to pay attention to the state of the lily pads you’re moving to and look for opportunities to eat some bugs and flowers. At the same time, you want to avoid the stork eating those things as it will deduct points from your score. There are forty levels here, which seems a little thin for a tenner. But there is also a level generator which I presume will add a few more minutes of entertainment at the very least.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
If you’re feeling a bit lonely for the New Year, it seems as though Winged Cloud has a few ideas for you. All of the Sakura and Bounce games are on sale, so you can stockpile as many as necessary to get you through the cold winter. Luckslinger is at a new low price, so you might want to look at that as well. The outbox has more items of note in it, with discounts from Square Enix, Koch Media, and more coming to a close. Check both of those lists, friends.
Select New Games on Sale
Little Mouse’s Encyclopedia ($4.99 from $12.99 until 1/5)
Real Boxing 2 ($8.89 from $14.99 until 1/10)
Mana Spark ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
Pocket Mini Golf ($1.99 from $2.49 until 1/10)
REKT! High Octane Stunts ($1.99 from $5.99 until 1/10)
Puzzle Book ($1.99 from $3.99 until 1/10)
Robonauts ($1.99 from $3.99 until 1/10)
Space Pioneer ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
Eyes: The Horror Game ($1.99 from $2.49 until 1/10)
Akane ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/10)
Legends of Talia: Arcadia ($2.09 from $6.99 until 1/10)
Sakura Succubus ($6.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
Sakura Succubus 2 ($6.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
Sakura Succubus 3 ($6.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
Sakura Succubus 4 ($6.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
Sakura Swimclub ($6.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
Sakura Nova ($10.49 from $14.99 until 1/10)
Highschool Romance ($9.09 from $12.99 until 1/10)
Sable’s Grimoire ($10.49 from $14.99 until 1/10)
Beauty Bounce ($3.49 from $4.99 until 1/10)
Bunny Bounce ($3.49 from $4.99 until 1/10)
Beach Bounce Remastered ($6.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
Dating Life: Miley X Emily ($6.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
The Marauder Chronicles: COV ($3.49 from $4.99 until 1/10)
Inferno 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/12)
Die for Valhalla! ($2.39 from $11.99 until 1/12)
Tetsumo Party ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/12)
Back to Bed ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/12)
Luckslinger ($3.99 from $9.99 until 1/12)
The Bug Butcher ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/12)
Rainswept ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/12)
Batu Ta Batu ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/12)
STAB STAB STAB! ($3.99 from $9.99 until 1/12)
Thea: The Awakening ($7.19 from $17.99 until 1/12)
Steamburg ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/12)
Dimension Drive ($1.99 from $12.99 until 1/12)
Lost Wing ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/12)
BFF or Die ($2.99 from $7.99 until 1/12)
Lumini ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/12)
Wingspan ($13.39 from $19.99 until 1/12)
Outbreak ($6.49 from $12.99 until 1/19)
Outbreak: Epidemic ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/19)
Outbreak: The New Nightmare ($6.49 from $12.99 until 1/19)
Outbreak Lost Hope ($6.49 from $12.99 until 1/19)
Outbreak: Endless Nightmares ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/19)
Splatter ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/19)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Friday, December 31st
3D Arcade Fishing ($7.49 from $14.99 until 12/31)
9 Monkeys of Shaolin ($5.99 from $29.99 until 12/31)
A Year of Springs ($3.99 from $4.99 until 12/31)
ActRaiser Renaissance ($25.49 from $29.99 until 12/31)
Adventures of Pip ($7.99 from $9.99 until 12/31)
Ancestors Legacy ($15.99 from $39.99 until 12/31)
Ash of Gods: Redemption ($5.99 from $29.99 until 12/31)
Assault ChaingunS KM ($7.99 from $9.99 until 12/31
Astro Rangers ($1.99 from $2.29 until 12/31)
B.ARK ($7.99 from $9.99 until 12/31)
Balan Wonderworld ($19.99 from $39.99 until 12/31)
Balloon Pop: Kids & Toddlers ($7.49 from $14.99 until 12/31)
Battle Brothers ($14.99 from $29.99 until 12/31)
Battle of Archers ($1.99 from $2.29 until 12/31)
Battlestar Galactica Deadlock ($14.69 from $29.99 until 12/31)
Bibi & Tina at the Horse Farm ($14.99 from $29.99 until 12/31)
Bibi & Tina: Adv. with Horses ($14.99 from $29.99 until 12/31)
Bibi Blocksberg: Broom Race 3 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 12/31)
Chicken Assassin: Reloaded ($1.99 from $7.99 until 12/31)
Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon ($15.99 from $39.99 until 12/31)
Collection of Mana ($19.99 from $39.99 until 12/31)
Conduct Together! ($1.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
Death Race 2020 ($1.99 from $5.99 until 12/31)
Death Road to Canada ($7.49 from $14.99 until 12/31)
Defentron ($4.44 from $9.99 until 12/31)
Desert Child ($4.19 from $11.99 until 12/31)
Destruction ($2.99 from $9.99 until 12/31)
Diablo III: Eternal Collection ($29.99 from $59.99 until 12/31)
Dragon Quest ($3.24 from $4.99 until 12/31)
Dragon Quest II ($4.21 from $6.49 until 12/31)
Dragon Quest III ($8.11 from $12.49 until 12/31)
Dry Drowning ($9.99 from $24.99 until 12/31)
Dungeon Encounters ($23.99 from $29.99 until 12/31)
Eagletalon vs Horde of Flies ($4.49 from $8.99 until 12/31)
Elva the Eco Dragon ($5.34 from $8.90 until 12/31)
Etherborn ($5.94 from $16.99 until 12/31)
Fantasy General II Invasion ($19.59 from $39.99 until 12/31)
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles ($11.99 from $29.99 until 12/31)
Final Fantasy IX ($10.49 from $20.99 until 12/31)
Final Fantasy VII ($7.99 from $15.99 until 12/31)
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered ($9.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD ($24.99 from $49.99 until 12/31)
Final Fantasy XII TZA ($24.99 from $49.99 until 12/31)
Final Fantasy XV Pocket ($11.99 from $29.99 until 12/31)
Fly Together! ($1.99 from $14.99 until 12/31)
Forest Home ($1.99 from $14.99 until 12/31)
Future Aero Racing S Ultra ($3.11 from $6.99 until 12/31)
Gem Smashers ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/31)
Gnomes Garden: Lost King ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/31)
Golf Story ($6.99 from $14.99 until 12/31)
Guardians of Galaxy Cloud Version ($38.99 from $59.99 until 12/31)
Hexa Maze ($9.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
Hob: The Definitive Edition ($3.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
Horror & Adventure Pinball ($8.99 from $14.99 until 12/31)
Hot Wheels Unleashed ($34.99 from $49.99 until 12/31)
I Am Setsuna ($19.99 from $39.99 until 12/31)
Iconoclasts ($5.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
Instant Sports ($7.49 from $14.99 until 12/31)
Instant Sports Paradise ($16.24 from $24.99 until 12/31)
Instant Sports Summer Games ($12.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
Instant Sports Winter Games ($19.99 from $24.99 until 12/31)
Jump King ($6.49 from $12.99 until 12/31)
Jumping Joe & Friends ($1.99 from $2.49 until 12/31)
King Leo ($9.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
King’s Bounty II ($44.99 from $59.99 until 12/31)
Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory ($29.99 from $59.99 until 12/31)
Late Shift ($6.49 from $12.99 until 12/31)
Legend of Mana ($20.99 from $29.99 until 12/31)
Lost Sphear ($19.99 from $49.99 until 12/31)
Ludo XXL ($9.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
MageQuit ($7.49 from $14.99 until 12/31)
Manticore: Galaxy on Fire ($1.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
Math Classroom Challenge ($5.99 from $9.99 until 12/31)
Memories of East Coast ($3.99 from $4.99 until 12/31)
Meteoroids 3D ($5.99 from $9.99 until 12/31)
Micro Pico Racers ($1.99 from $4.49 until 12/31)
Mini Motor Racing X ($1.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
Missile Dancer ($7.99 from $9.99 until 12/31)
Momolu and Friends ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/31)
Monster Dynamite ($9.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
Monster Energy Supercross ($2.99 from $29.99 until 12/31)
MotoGP 21 ($15.99 from $39.99 until 12/31)
Mutazione ($14.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
My Riding Stables 2: A New Adv. ($14.99 from $29.99 until 12/31)
Not Not: A Brain Buster ($1.99 from $2.49 until 12/31)
Okinawa Rush ($12.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
Oninaki ($24.99 from $49.99 until 12/31)
Panda Hero ($7.49 from $14.99 until 12/31)
Party Treats ($1.99 from $2.49 until 12/31)
Pocket Soccer ($1.99 from $2.49 until 12/31)
Powertris ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/31)
PuPaiPo Space Deluxe ($3.99 from $4.99 until 12/31)
Race Truck Driver ($5.99 from $11.99 until 12/31)
Redeemer: Enhanced Edition ($5.99 from $29.99 until 12/31)
Relic Hunters Zero Remix ($8.44 from $12.99 until 12/31)
Retro Fighter Dragon’s Revenge ($1.99 from $5.99 until 12/31)
Saints Row IV Re-Elected ($2.79 from $39.99 until 12/31)
Saints Row The Third ($13.99 from $39.99 until 12/31)
Shing! ($5.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
Shipped ($1.99 from $5.99 until 12/31)
Slots of the Season ($3.99 from $7.99 until 12/31)
Spelunker Party! ($14.99 from $29.99 until 12/31)
Spinch ($9.74 from $14.99 until 12/31)
Star Ocean First Departure R ($8.39 from $20.99 until 12/31)
Stencil Art ($1.99 from $3.99 until 12/31)
Street Racing: Tokyo Rush ($5.99 from $11.99 until 12/31)
Teslagrad ($4.49 from $14.99 until 12/31)
The Darkside Detective ($4.54 from $12.99 until 12/31)
The Darkside Detective: FitD ($9.74 from $12.99 until 12/31)
The Shapeshifting Detective ($6.49 from $12.99 until 12/31)
Torchlight II ($4.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
Torchlight III ($5.99 from $39.99 until 12/31)
Trials of Mana ($24.99 from $49.99 until 12/31)
Ultimate Runner ($9.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
Very Very Valet ($9.99 from $24.99 until 12/31)
Viviette ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/31)
Voice of Cards: Isle Dragon Roars ($23.99 from $29.99 until 12/31)
Whispering Willows ($2.49 from $9.99 until 12/31)
Wild & Adventure Pinball ($9.89 from $14.99 until 12/31)
Willy Morgan & Curse of Bone Town ($14.99 from $24.99 until 12/31)
World of Final Fantasy ($15.99 from $39.99 until 12/31)
World to the West ($9.99 from $19.99 until 12/31)
X-Force Genesis ($3.50 from $7.00 until 12/31)
You Died But a Necromancer… ($4.49 from $8.99 until 12/31)
That’s all for today, friends. I’ll be back tomorrow with one last Round-Up for the year. A few new releases, perhaps some more sales, and that’s the lot. There will also be one final SwitchArcade Special with our top ten games of 2021, so do look forward to that. I just need to settle on the final order tonight. No problem, no problem. I hope you all have a thrilling Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!
