News

SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘Tetris 99’ News, ‘South of the Circle’, Plus Today’s Other Releases and Sales

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 3rd, 2022. In today’s article, we’ve got a little slice of Tetris 99-related news before we roll into the few new releases that hit the eShop today. After that, a rather meager list of new sales and a not-so-meager list of expiring ones. Not too bad for a Wednesday, really. In other news, I think I have my new Switch all set up. Transferring stuff sure is a pain when you have too many games. It could almost make me not want to stockpile cheap games that go on sale. Almost. Let’s go!

News

The Next ‘Tetris 99’ Maximus Cup is a Catch-Up Event

It’s been a while since the last Maximus Cup event in Tetris 99, but we’ve finally got a new one on the schedule. Well, sort of. Just as it did a couple of years back, Tetris 99 is holding a catch-up event. Themes from the past will rotate each day, allowing you a second chance to get them. Starting Friday, the selection will include Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, Miitopia, Mario Golf: Super Rush, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD, WarioWare Get It Together, and Metroid Dread. It only takes ten points for each, but be diligent because if you miss a day you probably won’t be seeing that theme return for a while.

New Releases

Before We Leave ($19.99)

A relaxing little building game about creating an interplanetary civilization. Pretty standard as this kind of thing goes, but it’s solidly built and the charming presentation helps its appeal. I don’t think it’s going to convince anyone that doesn’t already like the genre, and like most games of this sort brought over from PC the controls can be a bit fussy, but it’s not too shabby at all.

South of the Circle ($12.99)

Another powerful piece of interactive storytelling from the award-winning folks at State of Play, South of the Circle sees the protagonist crash landing in Antarctica in the middle of the Cold War. As he searches for help, he thinks back on his life leading up to this moment. Make your choices and see how things turn out in this stylish narrative adventure. Reviews so far seem to be quite favorable, but I haven’t had a chance to play it myself yet.

Pure Crosswords – The Best Crossword Puzzle Game Ever! ($14.99)

This kind of hyperbole only serves to debase us both. More than 2,000 puzzles, but do keep in mind they use British English. No complaining if words have “extra" letters or “funny" spellings! That is how they were originally.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Look, I warned you they were meager today. I even included games that usually get curated right out just so that we didn’t have a teeny-tiny list of a few games. That would totally ruin my formatting. Cast your eyes instead to the outbox, as a bunch of sales are coming to an end. Koei Tecmo’s stuff like the Atelier games, Square Enix’s lovely RPGs, Ubisoft’s line-up, and more are wrapping up their latest discounts, so grab what you want while you can.

Select New Games on Sale

Bit Orchard: Animal Valley ($1.99 from $6.99 until 8/9)
Under Leaves ($1.99 from $12.99 until 8/9)
Boreal Tenebrae ($1.99 from $6.99 until 8/9)
Pendula Swing: Complete Journey ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/9)
Elemetals: Death Metal Death Match ($1.99 from $12.99 until 8/9)
Nirvana ($1.99 from $6.99 until 8/9)
Art Sqool ($1.99 from $12.99 until 8/9)
Family Chess ($1.99 from $19.99 until 8/9)
Colorfall ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/9)
Perfect Traffic Simulator ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/9)
The Legend of Ninja ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/9)
Sky Games ($2.99 from $14.99 until 8/9)
Fantasy Checkers ($1.99 from $7.99 until 8/9)
Fantasy Tower Defense ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/9)
Royal Tower Defense ($1.99 from $7.99 until 8/9)


Fall Gummies ($1.99 from $7.99 until 8/9)
Don’t Be Afraid ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/15)
Blood Will Be Spilled ($2.00 from $14.99 until 8/23)
Super Soccer Blast ($3.99 from $7.99 until 8/23)
Super Tennis Blast ($4.49 from $14.99 until 8/23)
Super Volley Blast ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/23)
Feudal Alloy ($2.00 from $16.99 until 8/23)
Toby: The Secret Mine ($2.00 from $11.99 until 8/23)
Super Snake Block ($2.50 from $5.00 until 8/23)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, Thursday, August 4th

Actraiser Renaissance ($20.99 from $29.99 until 8/4)
Armed to the Gears ($2.39 from $11.99 until 8/4)
Assassin’s Creed: Ezio Collection ($23.99 from $39.99 until 8/4)
Atelier Firis DX ($27.99 from $39.99 until 8/4)
Atelier Lydie & Suelle DX ($27.99 from $39.99 until 8/4)
Atelier Mysterious Trilogy DX ($62.99 from $89.99 until 8/4)
Atelier Ryza ($29.99 from $59.99 until 8/4)
Atelier Ryza 2 ($35.99 from $59.99 until 8/4)
Atelier Sophie 2 ($44.99 from $59.99 until 8/4)
Atelier Sophie DX ($27.99 from $39.99 until 8/4)
Azure Reflections ($12.49 from $24.99 until 8/4)
Balan Wonderworld ($11.99 from $39.99 until 8/4)
Best Month Ever! ($14.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Bit Dungeon Plus ($2.24 from $8.99 until 8/4)
Blue Reflection Second Light ($38.99 from $59.99 until 8/4)


Chasm ($4.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Child of Light Ultimate Edition ($4.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Chocobo GP ($34.99 from $49.99 until 8/4)
Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon ($15.99 from $39.99 until 8/4)
Collection of Mana ($19.99 from $39.99 until 8/4)
Collection of SaGa: FFL ($13.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Cooking Simulator ($1.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Cozy Grove ($9.66 from $14.99 until 8/4)
Danger Scavenger ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/4)
Deleveled ($2.59 from $9.99 until 8/4)
Dragon Quest ($3.24 from $4.99 until 8/4)
Dragon Quest II ($4.21 from $6.49 until 8/4)
Dragon Quest III ($8.11 from $12.49 until 8/4)
Dream ($4.99 from $9.99 until 8/4)
Dungeon Encounters ($17.99 from $29.99 until 8/4)


Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires ($41.99 from $59.99 until 8/4)
Effie ($6.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Family Tennis SP ($4.19 from $6.99 until 8/4)
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water ($31.99 from $39.99 until 8/4)
Fear Effect Sedna ($1.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles ($11.99 from $29.99 until 8/4)
Final Fantasy IX ($10.49 from $20.99 until 8/4)
Final Fantasy VII ($7.99 from $15.99 until 8/4)
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD ($24.99 until $49.99 until 8/4)
Final Fantasy XII TZA ($24.99 from $49.99 until 8/4)
Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition ($11.99 from $29.99 until 8/4)


Freshly Frosted ($8.89 from $9.99 until 8/4)
Game Dev Story ($7.00 from $14.00 until 8/4)
Gensokyo Defenders ($5.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Gensokyo Defenders Plus ($2.09 from $6.99 until 8/4)
Gensou Skydrift ($7.19 from $23.99 until 8/4)
Ghoulboy ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/4)
Green Hell ($2.49 from $24.99 until 8/4)
Guardians of the Galaxy Cloud Vers. ($29.99 from $59.99 until 8/4)
Help Will Come Tomorrow ($3.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Heroine Anthem Zero Ep 1 ($6.49 from $12.99 until 8/4)
Hollow 2 ($1.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Horrid Henry’s Krazy Karts ($1.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Hot Shot Burn ($2.24 from $14.99 until 8/4)
I Am Setsuna ($15.99 from $39.99 until 8/4)
Immortals Fenyx Rising ($14.99 from $59.99 until 8/4)


Kingdom Hearts 1.5 + 2.5 Cloud Vers. ($27.99 from $39.99 until 8/4)
Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Cloud Vers. ($34.99 from $49.99 until 8/4)
Kingdom Hearts III Cloud Vers. ($34.99 from $49.99 until 8/4)
Kingdom Hearts Integrum Cloud ($62.99 from $89.99 until 8/4)
Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory ($29.99 from $59.99 until 8/4)
Kubinashi Recollection ($8.39 from $11.99 until 8/4)
Kuukiyomi: Consider It! ($2.49 from $4.99 until 8/4)
Life is Strange: True Colors ($39.59 from $59.99 until 8/4)
Lost Sphear ($14.99 from $49.99 until 8/4)
Megaquarium ($9.83 from $24.59 until 8/4)
Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX ($22.49 from $29.99 until 8/4)
Monster Sanctuary ($6.79 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Moving Out ($6.24 from $24.99 until 8/4)
My Hidden Things ($4.68 from $6.99 until 8/4)
My Time at Portia ($7.49 from $29.99 until 8/4)


Necrosphere Deluxe ($3.99 from $7.99 until 8/4)
NEO: The World Ends With You ($29.99 from $59.99 until 8/4)
Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection ($29.99 from $39.99 until 8/4)
Oninaki ($19.99 from $49.99 until 8/4)
orbit.industries ($13.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Overcooked! 2 ($6.24 from $24.99 until 8/4)
Panzer Dragoon Remake ($2.49 from $24.99 until 8/4)
Pawn of the Dead ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/4)
Rolling Sky ($5.49 from $10.99 until 8/4)
Rolling Sky 2 ($6.49 from $12.99 until 8/4)
Romancing SaGa 2 ($7.49 from $24.99 until 8/4)
Romancing SaGa 3 ($8.69 from $28.99 until 8/4)
SaGa Frontier Remastered ($17.49 from $24.99 until 8/4)
SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions ($8.99 from $29.99 until 8/4)
Sherlock Holmes Bundle ($29.99 from $49.99 until 8/4)
Spelunker Party! ($8.99 from $29.99 until 8/4)


Star Ocean First Departure R ($8.39 from $20.99 until 8/4)
Starlink BfA Deluxe ($19.99 from $79.99 until 8/4)
Superliminal ($11.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Tennis Open 2020 ($1.99 from $9.99 until 8/4)
The Amazing American Circus ($7.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
The Ambassador: FT ($3.89 from $14.99 until 8/4)
The Sinking City ($7.49 from $49.99 until 8/4)
Thief Simulator ($1.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Tiny Metal ($7.49 from $14.99 until 8/4)
Tokyo Dark: Remembrance ($9.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Toridama: Brave Challenge ($1.99 from $4.99 until 8/4)
Touhou Genso Wanderer LLR ($22.49 from $44.99 until 8/4)
Touhou Hyouibana ($24.49 from $34.99 until 8/4)
Touhou Luna Nights ($14.39 from $17.99 until 8/4)
Trials of Mana ($24.99 from $49.99 until 8/4)


Trivial Pursuit Live 2 ($12.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Turn Tack ($10.49 from $14.99 until 8/4)
Voice of Cards: Isle Dragon Roars ($20.99 from $29.99 until 8/4)
Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden ($20.99 from $29.99 until 8/4)
Wanderlust Travel Stories ($2.24 from $14.99 until 8/4)
World of Final Fantasy Maxima ($15.99 from $39.99 until 8/4)
Worms W.M.D ($5.99 from $29.99 until 8/4)
Yoku’s Island Express ($4.99 from $19.99 until 8/4)
Yooka-Laylee & the Impossible Lair ($7.49 from $29.99 until 8/4)

That’s all for today, friends. Tomorrow is Thursday, and you know full well what that means. Lots of new games, though admittedly none of them knocking my socks off at a glance. We’ll have summaries of each of them to help you get a better picture of things, plus whatever sales and big news roll in between now and then. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!