Hello, friends. It’s that time of the year again. The most magical of times, when over a thousand Nintendo Switch games get discounts on the eShop that make them very hard to resist. Unless you’re enormously wealthy, you’re going to have to make some hard choices. We here at TouchArcade Towers have decided to help you out with your purchasing decisions by once again presenting what we think are the twenty best pick-ups to grab from this enormous Cyber Deals event. A curated list for you to dig through and take into consideration. These are in no particular order, naturally. Let’s get to the Black Friday eShop sales!
Persona 5 Royal ($44.99 from $59.99)
Should you play Persona 5 Royal? Yes, of course you should. Should you play it on Switch? If you’re looking for the handheld experience or only have a Switch, absolutely. It’s a stellar port. If you’re playing on your TV there are probably better options in terms of visual fidelity, but this is a great way to enjoy one of the shining stars of the JRPG genre regardless of how you go about it.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD ($41.99 from $59.99)
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is a great way to play a game that still carries quite a few flaws. I think the motion controls aren’t quite up to the original version, but the button controls work great and make it suitable for portable play. Being someone who appreciates a good Zelda dungeon, I’ve never been quite as down on Skyward Sword as some. I’ll say it again: the puzzles in this game are absolutely A+. At the same time, I think it’s safe to say that if you were down on it, all of the little changes made for this version probably aren’t going to change your mind about its broader issues.
No Man’s Sky ($47.99 from $59.99)
This feels like one of those games that really doesn’t need much of an introduction, but let’s try. It’s a space exploration/survival game with an infinite procedurally-generated universe. You can travel through space, you can land on the planets, and you can play it in a variety of ways. This Switch version lacks the multiplayer features that can be found in the other versions these days, but you can still have a really good time just exploring and seeing what odd stuff you can come across.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Gold Edition ($70.19 from $89.99)
One of the odder cross-overs Mario has ever joined in on is back with a space-faring sequel. Mario, the Rabbids, and their friends are on a journey to save the Sparks from an evil entity that seeks to destroy them. Explore various planets, take part in turn-based tactical battles, and laugh at all the stupid humor. Well, not all of it. But laugh at some of it, or the Rabbids will feel bad. This Gold Edition includes the current and upcoming DLC, one of which features some guy named Rayman. Never heard of him.
AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative ($41.99 from $59.99)
If you’ve played the first game, you probably don’t need me to tell you to pick up the second game; you likely already have. If you haven’t, now you have two fantastic adventure games to play. AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative may not be the unexpected surprise that the first game was, but it lives up to the impressive bar of quality set by its predecessor in a way few games of its genre manage to. This Switch version has a few technical issues, but nothing that should keep you from enjoying the game here if this is where you want to play it.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection ($27.99 from $39.99)
I’m still amazed that this collection happened, and it’s a great value even at its full price. On sale? It’s one shell of a deal. This is an outstanding, exhaustive collection of some truly fantastic classic Konami games, delivered accurately with a Party Wagon full of extras. A must-have for any fans of beat-em-ups, the Turtles, or general gaming history.
Cult of the Lamb ($19.99 from $24.99)
The concept for this game sounded really interesting, so I’m glad it pulled it off. You play as a would-be sacrificial lamb who is rescued from death by The One Who Waits. All the deity asks in return is that the lamb starts a cult in their name and slaughters the heretics who defy them. It’s a roguelite action-adventure game with some simulation elements, with some vague similarities to a twisted version of Animal Crossing. Head into dungeons, gather resources, recruit cult members, attack your enemies, and so on. Some technical issues hindered this at launch, but it’s in slightly better shape these days.
Sonic Origins ($19.99 from $39.99)
While Sonic Origins certainly could have been a more thorough and polished celebration of the early days of the Most Famous Hedgehog, I think it’s still worth recommending. The minor differences don’t bother me much at all, but I can see them getting on the nerves of others. The music replacement is disappointing but understandable. With four exceptionally enjoyable platformers included and a wealth of extra goodies to sift through, Sonic Origins makes for a compelling package, especially for half the usual price.
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax ($17.99 from $29.99)
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is a great fighter with a lot of modes and features to enjoy. While its presentation isn’t quite up to snuff with some of the other versions of the game, relative to other Switch games in the genre it carries itself well enough. Some missing online features will be of more concern to those who intend to take their battles into the digital space, but overall this is a strong pick-up for Persona fans and those looking for a little on-the-go pugilism alike.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses ($41.99 from $59.99)
With the latest Fire Emblem game just around the corner, you’ve got just enough time to catch up on the last one if you missed it. Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a humongous adventure that tries to and largely succeeds at uniting its own divided fandom houses. While it’s a bit slow in places and feels a little rough in others, the game dreams big and does a pretty good job overall in realizing its ambitions. Note that the DLC for the game is also on sale right now, a rare discount indeed.
Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series ($23.99 from $39.99)
In some ways, the two games in Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series feel very much of a specific era. There are a lot of “Look Ma, 3D!" moments in them that stand out in modern times, at least. But they also feel distinct and unique in a lot of ways, and I find myself once again wishing we had more of this series. Perhaps we will get more after this. Ultimately, this is a pair of good remakes of two very strong games, and I can only hope this time we don’t have to say good-bye to Klonoa again when it’s all said and done.
Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak ($39.89 from $69.99)
Monster Hunter Rise is what a full-butt Capcom game that pushes the Switch hardware looks like, and holy smokes, is it something. But more than that, the new gameplay elements help make the game play better than ever. This year’s Sunbreak is a full-sized expansion to the original game with new monsters to hunt, new locations to explore, new gear to collect, and a whole lot more. Put together this package will give you hundreds of hours of entertainment, all for a measly forty bucks.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Deluxe Edition ($34.99 from $69.99)
If you enjoy the LEGO games, this is one of the best ones ever. If you fell off the series because it felt like it was treading water, this might be the one to bring you back. And if you’ve never played one before, here is a great place to start. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is a fantastic game, and serves as proof that TT Games can still serve up some surprises in this long-in-the-tooth franchise.
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Anniversary Edition ($2.99 from $14.99)
Three dollars for Danganronpa? Three itty-bitty bucks for one of the best adventure games this side of the century? The whole series is on sale and it’s worth grabbing the lot, but if you want to dip your toe in to see how you like it, you’ll never have a better chance than this. Man, I spent more than that on a cheeseburger last Sunday. And it wasn’t even a good one!
Pocky & Rocky Reshrined ($20.99 from $29.99)
Following on from excellent remakes of Wild Guns and Ninja Warriors, Tengo Project and Natsume-Atari have a superb remake/reimagining of the classic Pocky and Rocky. This one goes even further beyond being a simple remake, with more characters, stages, and gameplay mechanics to play with. I can safely say this is the real deal. If you enjoyed the classic games or just like top-down shooters, you’ll have a blast with Pocky & Rocky Reshrined.
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium Bundle ($29.99 from $39.99)
Despite the lack of online multiplayer, Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium is an easy recommendation to fans of classic arcade games. With a solid range of titles across multiple titles and levels of fame, this set is bound to include plenty of games for everyone to enjoy. The first Capcom Arcade Stadium had a lot of cool features, extras, and options, and this follow-up doesn’t deviate from that. I’d strongly suggest grabbing this full-game bundle. It’s a quality package at a great price, and I wish Capcom’s arcade rivals would take some notes from these sets.
Retromania Wrestling ($19.99 from $29.99)
RetroMania Wrestling is an arcade-style pro wrestling game inspired by Technos Japan’s classic WWF Wrestlefest. The line-up of 16 wrestlers includes some legends, some modern superstars, and a few others. There are four different modes to play including a story mode with up to fifty different match variations. Of course, local multiplayer is here as well. You can have up to four players in the ring for some real arcade mayhem. Shame there’s no online multiplayer, but that’s how it is. It’s a faithful follow-up to those 30-year old arcade wrestling games, with all that entails.
Demon Turf: Bundle ($19.99 from $26.98)
You can scoop up both the beefy Demon Turf and its bite-sized follow-up Neon Splash in one fell swoop with this great deal. If you like 3D platformers, you’ll find a lot to like in Demon Turf. Those who enjoy speed running in particular will find both of these games are gifts that keep on giving, but even for folks who just want to play through normally this bundle will keep you busy for a while.
Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary Edition ($1.99 from $9.99)
Duke blasts his way onto the Switch with this special edition of his most popular game. You get all of the original content plus a new fifth episode that brought back many of the key creatives for a victory lap. There’s gyro aiming, HD rumble, and multiplayer for up to eight players via ad-hoc or online. All that for two bucks? Yeah. It’s a sometimes messy game that doesn’t always know where it’s going with its ideas, but it’s creative, fun, and so over-the-top in every respect that you can’t help but have a good time. Pure, distilled 90s computer gaming, for better or worse.
Castlevania/Contra Anniversary Collection ($3.99 from $19.99)
This one is a cheat, but I have a good reason for it. These two sets were done by the same developer and offer a very similar set of features and extras. Both are highly recommended, but if you can only have one it’s going to come down to which series you prefer. Castlevania Anniversary Collection gives you eight games covering the bulk of the 8- and 16-bit eras of the series, while Contra Anniversary Collection presents you with seven distinct games from the same period. Both sets include regional variants of most of the games, and include a digital booklet that gives some cool behind-the-scenes info and art you can enjoy. Pick either or both, you’ll have an excellent time either way. Four dollars for each is an absolutely smashing bargain.
Naturally, there are many other games on sale right now on the Nintendo Switch eShop. If you’ve had your eye on any particular games, it might behoove you to pop onto the eShop and see if they’re also on sale. Happy shopping everyone, and as always, thanks for reading!
