Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for October 14th, 2022. There ended up being an awful lot more new releases today than I went home expecting last night. Don’t get too excited, though. Most of them are quite dubious. We have summaries of all of them anyway. In better news, Nintendo kicked off a new sale last night that sees some of its first-party games getting their first discounts. Let’s head on in!
New Releases
Dragon Ball: The Breakers ($19.99)
This is a neat idea for a Dragon Ball game. It’s an asymmetrical multiplayer online game where seven players are normal citizens who are trying to survive while one player takes on the role of a Raider like Cell or Frieza. There are offline tutorial and practice modes but otherwise you’ll need to be online to play this game. Still, it’s refreshing to see a Dragon Ball game where you can play as a regular person on the ground during one of these ridiculous invasion events.
Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway ($49.99)
Oh, a third one of these then? I guess this series has been doing really well. This one features more than forty Nickelodeon characters to choose from, and ring the bell because this game finally has voice acting! It features water racing, more customization options, tons of crew members to choose from, and thirty six tracks to race on. There’s a battle mode, too. Up to four players can play locally, and up to twelve can get in on the action online. It seems like Game Mill is really stepping up its game with this one.
Star Trek Prodigy: Supernova ($49.99)
We don’t have Paramount+ here in Japan, so I can’t say I’m familiar with Star Trek Prodigy. But it seems to be doing alright for itself, and now it has its own video game. It’s from Outright Games, so keep your expectations in check. Anyway, this is an action-adventure game of sorts that takes you to three different planets for some exploration, puzzle-solving, and the occasional phaser fight. You can play solo or pull in a friend for some co-op local multiplayer. As is always the case with one of these licensed Outright affairs, it might be of interest if you have any young fans in your household.
NASCAR Rivals ($49.99)
Here’s the latest NASCAR game and I sure hope it’s a lot better than the last one from these folks because that one was quite poor. It has full licensing, a fairly extensive career mode, and a quick Race Now mode if you just want to drive. You can also race against another player locally or head online to race with up to sixteen people. That all sounds fine but NASCAR Heat Ultimate Edition+ was a technical tire fire on the Switch and I would be awfully surprised if this installment turns things around enough to matter.
Our Fantasy Quest ($14.00)
Another minigame assortment from SAT-BOX, this time with a medieval fantasy theme. There are ten events to play in total, including things like jousting, potion making, monster racing, and more. Up to four players can get in on the fun via local multiplayer. I’ll grant that it’s a less common theme for this kind of thing. Maybe it will work out for them.
reky ($9.99)
The description for this game talks about how easy the rules are to understand, and how important it is to remember those rules, but it never actually explains what you do in this ninety-six stage puzzler. Let me see if I can find anything. Okay, I dug up some details. You have to interact with the different puzzle elements, which appear to take the form of various cubes, to make a path to the goal. You can absorb the color from a cube or spew color back out on one, and any cube with color to it can be moved. You’re challenged to to this in as few steps as possible. Yes, that seems interesting. Puzzle fans may want to give this a look.
Broken Universe – Tower Defense ($9.99)
This is a cute tower defense game whose cartoonish aesthetic seems to be its main selling point. It seems to have a healthy following from its computer and Android versions, though it seems to have some issues with its difficulty curve. My main worry, as it always is with tower defense games on console, is in how the touch/mouse controls have been adapted for a controller. But if you’re a Switch-owning fan of this genre, you’ve probably learned to put up with a lot in that regard. If that’s you, then proceed… with caution.
God Damn The Garden ($4.99)
If you want a really weird, somewhat short first-person shooter, here’s your stop. It’s full of random humor that is either going to pull your interest or push you away. I’ve seen far worse things for a fiver.
Beeny ($0.99)
Ah, it’s a new game from that fellow that made those Toree games. This is apparently a prelude to Super Kiwi 64. It’s a vertical 2D platformer where you play as a rotund bee who has to roll and hop its way through nine levels. As usual there are a few secrets to dig up, lending the game a bit of extra replay value. For a buck, it’s more than fine.
Moonlight ($3.99)
Another 2D platformer with a silhouette art style, eh? It’s incredibly middling, and that’s me trying to be kind. The reasonable price might entice you, but even around this price point there are better options to get your platforming fix.
Mad Experiments: Escape Room ($9.99)
This is an escape game with an interesting twist: you can play with other players in online multiplayer. There are three different rooms to play, so let’s hope each one is a bit more complex than in the average game of this sort. Looking at impressions from the computer version, a lot of folks seem to feel like it’s a little too insubstantial and that the puzzles are lacking in cleverness. That doesn’t sound great, but you might like the game anyway.
Japanese Escape Games The Forbidden Garden ($9.99)
Here’s another option, and arguably a more familiar one. The latest in the Japanese Escape Games series is set in a garden. In terms of UI and overall puzzle design it is quite similar to the previous titles. I don’t have much else to add.
Runefall 2 – Collector’s Edition ($9.99)
Pretty much just a straightforward match-3 puzzle game. It seems like it has power-ups, upgrades, and a few other elements to dress it up. If you’re interested, I’d recommend giving the first game a go on your mobile device. It’s free and it will basically show you what you can expect here.
Letterbox by POWGI ($7.99)
It’s been a hot minute since the last Lightwood Games release on the Switch. I’m always happy to see a new one turn up, as they fill a nice niche on the console. The idea behind this one is that you are given a nine-letter word, a grid with nine spaces and letters surrounding it, and you need to place the letters of the word in those spaces such that you make six real words. A little tricky! Your reward for successfully completing a puzzle is a Dad joke from POWGI the dog. It works. If you like word puzzles, this is a good one.
Isekai Tragic Love ($19.90)
Another visual novel about romancing women from a fantasy world. There are five different women in this one: a high elf, a dwarf, a dark elf, a dragonute, and a mermaid. So yes, make your choice and see where it leads. Then play it again and choose a different route. Repeat until you get your money’s worth. The elf in that screenshot up there is named Ariel Rounds, by the way. That’s some Bond Girl-style naming there.
Attacker-chan! ($4.99)
This doesn’t look very good at all. It’s apparently a 2.5D roguelite action game that can be cleared in about a half hour to an hour. Sure, there isn’t much to this summary, but there isn’t much to the game itself either.
Super Funky Bowling ($2.99)
This game was made using FUZE4 Nintendo Switch, which is certainly neat. Anyway, this is a puzzle platformer with sixty-four stages and some hidden secrets to find. You have to use the ball to hit the pins in each stage, but the layouts are more akin to Marble Madness than they are to a normal bowling lane.
Fishing Ducks ($3.99)
Here’s the latest from Cooking & Publishing. Either alone or with a friend, you have to fish for ducks. It requires motion controls, by the looks of it. No support for handheld mode. As with most games from this publisher, the smart move is probably just to keep walking.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Lots of good stuff today, much of it courtesy of Nintendo’s Demo Sale. Triangle Strategy, Metroid Dread, and WarioWare: Get It Together! are just some of the highlights. Also mind the sale on Dicey Dungeons. It’s the lowest price on it we’ve seen yet, and the game is a real treat.
Select New Games on Sale
Shoot 1UP DX ($2.39 from $5.99 until 10/20)
Pig Eat Ball ($5.99 from $14.99 until 10/20)
Weapon of Choice DX ($2.39 from $5.99 until 10/20)
Explosionade DX ($2.39 from $5.99 until 10/20)
The Hundred Year Kingdom ($6.49 from $12.99 until 10/20)
Labyrinth of the Chaka King ($3.50 from $7.00 until 10/20)
Glyph ($1.99 from $19.99 until 10/21)
TOEM ($9.99 from $19.99 until 10/21)
Super Mega Baseball 3 ($13.49 from $44.99 until 10/24)
Lost in Random ($11.99 from $29.99 until 10/24)
Fe ($4.99 from $19.99 until 10/24)
Burnout Paradise Remastered ($9.89 from $29.99 until 10/24)
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit ($7.99 from $39.99 until 10/24)
Plants vs Zombies BfN Complete ($9.99 from $39.99 until 10/24)
Steamroll Rustless Edition ($4.99 from $9.99 until 10/24)
Super Korotama ($2.99 from $4.99 until 10/24)
Pompom: The Great Space Rescue ($8.99 from $9.99 until 10/25)
Touhou Spell Bubble ($27.49 from $54.99 until 10/25)
Moving Out ($6.24 from $24.99 until 10/26)
What the Golf? ($8.99 from $19.99 until 10/26)
Mega Man 11 ($9.99 from $29.99 until 10/26)
Rayman Legends ($9.99 from $39.99 until 10/26)
Immortals Fenyx Rising ($14.99 from $59.99 until 10/26)
Klonoa Phantasy Reverie ($27.99 from $39.99 until 10/26)
Captain Tsubasa RoNC ($14.99 from $59.99 until 10/26)
Dragon Quest XI S ($34.99 from $49.99 until 10/26)
Triangle Strategy ($41.99 from $59.99 until 10/26)
Freedom Planet ($4.49 from $14.99 until 10/26)
Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 ($23.99 from $29.99 until 10/26)
Spiritfarer ($9.89 from $29.99 until 10/26)
Card Shark ($14.99 from $19.99 until 10/26)
Attack on Titan 2 ($29.99 from $59.99 until 10/26)
Deadcraft ($14.99 from $24.99 until 10/26)
Metroid Dread ($41.99 from $59.99 until 10/26)
WarioWare: Get It Together ($34.99 from $49.99 until 10/26)
Miitopia ($34.99 from $49.99 until 10/26)
ARMS ($41.99 from $59.99 until 10/26)
BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL! ($6.99 from $9.99 until 10/26)
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon RT DX ($41.99 from $59.99 until 10/26)
Kirby Fighters 2 ($13.99 from $19.99 until 10/26)
Sushi Striker ($34.99 from $49.99 until 10/26)
Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires ($41.99 from $59.99 until 10/26)
Blue Reflection: Second Light ($35.99 from $59.99 until 10/26)
Daemon X Machina ($41.99 from $59.99 until 10/26)
Fitness Boxing 2 ($34.99 from $49.99 until 10/26)
Research & Destroy ($9.99 from $19.99 until 10/26)
Aegis Defenders ($4.99 from $19.99 until 10/26)
PixelJunk Monsters 2 ($2.24 from $14.99 until 10/26)
Ori & the Blind Forest ($9.99 from $19.99 until 10/26)
Ape Out ($3.74 from $14.99 until 10/26)
R-Type Dimensions EX ($7.49 from $14.99 until 10/27)
Lode Runner Legacy ($5.99 from $11.99 until 10/27)
Restless Soul ($9.74 from $14.99 until 10/27)
Dobutsu Shogi World ($34.99 from $39.99 until 10/27)
Sam & Max Save the World ($14.99 from $19.99 until 10/27)
Sam & Max Beyond Time & Space ($14.99 from $19.99 until 10/27)
A Musical Story ($9.74 from $14.99 until 10/27)
El Hijo: A Wild West Tale ($11.99 from $19.99 until 10/28)
Subnautica ($14.99 from $29.99 until 10/28)
Subnautica: Below Zero ($14.99 from $29.99 until 10/28)
Metal Unit ($4.79 from $15.99 until 10/28)
MXGP3 Motocross ($1.99 from $19.99 until 10/28)
Shing! ($1.99 from $19.99 until 10/28)
Groove Coaster Wai Wai Party! ($5.99 from $59.99 until 10/31)
Railway Empire ($19.99 from $39.99 until 10/31)
Tropico 6 ($24.99 from $49.99 until 10/31)
Summer in Mara ($9.99 from $19.99 until 10/31)
Fashion Friends ($5.99 from $9.99 until 11/2)
Crysis 2 Remastered ($16.49 from $29.99 until 11/2)
Crysis 3 Remastered ($16.49 from $29.99 until 11/2)
Hampuzz ($3.49 from $6.99 until 11/2)
Dicey Dungeons ($1.99 from $14.99 until 11/3)
G-MODE Archives25 Topolon ($1.99 from $4.99 until 11/3)
Monster Boy & the Cursed Kingdom ($13.99 from $39.99 until 11/3)
Galacticon ($3.49 from $4.99 until 11/3)
Whisper Trip ($1.99 from $4.99 until 11/3)
Gunma’s Ambition ($1.99 from $9.99 until 11/3)
Wildbus ($1.99 from $6.99 until 11/3)
Strange Field Football ($1.99 from $6.99 until 11/3)
CASE: Animatronics ($4.99 from $19.99 until 11/3)
CASE 2: Animatronics Survival ($4.99 from $19.99 until 11/3)
Onirike ($3.74 from $14.99 until 11/3)
Forklift Extreme ($5.99 from $9.99 until 11/3)
Sales Ending This Weekend
A Sketchbook About Her Sun ($1.99 from $4.99 until 10/15)
Cuccchi ($3.19 from $7.99 until 10/15)
LEGO DC Super-Villains ($8.99 from $59.99 until 10/15)
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 ($5.99 from $29.99 until 10/15)
LEGO Star Wars: Skywalker Saga Deluxe ($41.99 from $69.99 until 10/15)
Mortal Kombat 11 ($9.99 from $49.99 until 10/15)
Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate DLC ($9.99 from $49.99 until 10/15)
Murder House ($8.39 from $11.99 until 10/15)
Mystic Belle Enchanted Edition ($7.49 from $14.99 until 10/15)
Nun Massacre ($4.19 from $5.99 until 10/15)
Promesa ($1.99 from $4.99 until 10/15)
Re:Turn 2 – Runaway ($5.00 from $10.00 until 10/15)
Shooting Star Island ($2.20 from $4.90 until 10/15)
Tyd wag vir Niemand ($1.99 from $9.99 until 10/15)
Ultionus: Tale of Petty Revenge ($4.99 from $9.99 until 10/15)
Unstrong Space Calamity ($2.24 from $4.99 until 10/15)
Will Die Alone ($1.99 from $4.99 until 10/15)
Arietta of Spirits ($7.99 from $19.99 until 10/16)
Hope’s Farm ($1.99 from $19.99 until 10/16)
Secrets of Magic 3 Happy Halloween ($1.99 from $9.99 until 10/16)
Skautfold: Shrouded in Sanity ($3.99 from $9.99 until 10/16)
Supaplex Squares ($10.49 from $14.99 until 10/16)
That’s all for today and this week, friends. We’ll be back next week with more reviews, more new releases, more sales, and more news. Big releases next week include Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope and New Tales from the Borderlands, and I’m sure there will be plenty of fun surprises along the way too. I hope you all have a great weekend, and as always, thanks for reading!
