News

SwitchArcade Round-Up: Strictly Limited Games Sale, New NSO N64 Games, Plus the Latest Releases and Sales

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for December 8th, 2023. In today’s article, we start off with a couple of news items. Nothing from The Game Awards, that’s a bit beyond the scope of what I usually do here. But I do have some nice news about a good sale on physical games, plus a little slice of retro happiness. We then go into the new release summaries for today, and it’s not a particularly bumper crop. A few good games, though. Finally, the lists of new and expiring sales, as you like. Let’s get to it!

News

Grab Some Hot Deals in Strictly Limited Games’ Warehouse Clearance Sale

Collecting games is fun, and it’s always nice to have a physical copy to put on the shelf when one really connects with you. I’m also a fan of a good deal, but that presents a problem sometimes these days. Many of the coolest games are only available via limited print runs, and you just don’t see a lot of discounts on those. The opposite, if anything. That’s why I’m always happy to hear about any kind of deal, and Strictly Limited Games has a really good one going on right now until December 12th. How does 20% off literally everything in-stock grab you? The publisher is moving to a bigger warehouse and is having a sale to celebrate, and that means we all win.

Strictly Limited Games sent over a few items for me to check out and show to my readers. Samples, if you will. So let’s do that, shall we? First up, in that photo you see above this paragraph, is the newest of the bunch. Drainus Collector’s Edition. Besides the excellent game itself and an actual manual, you also get a poster, a really nice art book, a soundtrack, a badge, and an acrylic decoration. It’s all loaded up in a very nice box, as with all of these collector’s editions. This one is still in stock as I write this, and if you want to get it you can grab it via this link. The 20% off will apply when you check out.

Next up is Rolling Gunner: Collector’s Edition. Another fine shoot-em-up, and this includes the Overpower paid expansion right on the cartridge. Once again you get the game with a manual, plus an assortment of other goodies. There’s a hardcover artbook, a poster, a soundtrack CD, a badge, an acrylic keychain, some cards, and my personal favorite thing from any of these packages they sent me: a snow globe where the “snow" is pink bullets. Give it a shake and simulate playing the game, right on your desk! Neat. Once again it’s all placed in a nice box. Like Drainus it is still in stock right now, and you can go ahead and pick it up at this link if you want it.

Continuing the theme, we’ve got Deathsmiles I + II Collector’s Edition. This one costs a bit more, but opening the box it’s easy to see why. There is so much here I struggled to fit it all in the photo. The game, the manual, the nice big box to hold everything in. Same as before there. The paid DLC is on the cartridge here as you would hope. You also get posters, some character cards, some stickers, a soundtrack, some art cards, some arcade instruction card-inspired sheets, a wall scroll, a pin, a keychain, and a handful of acrylic decorations. Well, it’s all in the picture there. This too is still in stock, but supplies are very low right now. You can pick it up via the link here.

Alright, let’s combo break those shoot-em-ups. The last item they sent me is by far the fanciest, and that 20% off at the check-out is going to be really helpful here. The Turrican Collector’s Edition includes both Turrican Anthology Vol.1 and Turrican Anthology Vol.2, which gives you just about every Turrican game you could hope for across the two. The big fancy box comes in a bigger fancy box here, mostly to accommodate a very nice artbook. Inside the smaller fancy box, you get the amazing soundtrack, a Blu-Ray Turrican Documentary, some stickers, some acrylic art cards, two posters, a pin, and a signed postcard. This one is also still in stock, so if you or someone you know loves Turrican, you can pick it up via this link.

Anyway, this is just an example of what you can find in the Warehouse Clearance sale. You can also pick up the standard editions if you just want the games themselves, and you’ll still enjoy that 20% discount when you check out. There are tons of other games there, so head on over to Strictly Limited Games and see if you can help them lighten the load for the move to their swankier digs. You’ll have to make up your mind fairly quickly though, as the sale only runs through December 12th.

Three More Nintendo 64 Games Have Joined the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack

Last month was more than a little dry for fans of retro games on Nintendo Switch Online. Indeed, there wasn’t a single game released last month for the Western apps, something that hasn’t happened in a very long time. Well, as long as you have the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, December is already looking better. From today, three additional games join the line-up. Jet Force Gemini, 1080 Snowboarding, and Harvest Moon 64 are here to give you something to idle the time away with until you get to open your Christmas presents. As long as you’re subscribed, just update the app and you’re all set.

New Releases

Fearmonium ($12.99)

Well, if you’re going to do a Metroidvania-style game at this point, you might as well go with a weird premise to stand out. In this one, you play as a phobia inside of a teenage boy’s mind. And you’re growing! How nice. So it turns out his mind is a bit of a nightmare, and you have to explore it. Is a phobia always a bad thing? I suppose we’ll see by the end of this one.

Xuan Yuan Sword: Mists Beyond the Mountains ($14.99)

This classic Chinese RPG is now available in English, and if you’re a fan of classic turn-based console RPGs you’ll definitely want to give this one a go. There were a few games before it in the series, but this is probably my favorite of the lot. The gameplay mechanics are good, the story is decent, and it’s a fun journey that takes you to a variety of locations. Very cool to see this on Switch.

Molecano ($8.00)

Oh! What a nice surprise. I didn’t know Molecano was coming to the Switch. This charming little word game has been available on mobile for a while, and while I don’t know that it’s a particularly great fit for sticks and buttons and widescreen displays, it’s good that we have the choice to play it on another platform. If you like word games, give it a shot. It’s cute and pretty enjoyable.

Granada ($15.00)

Gaiares ($15.00)

Avenger ($15.00)

Psychic Storm ($15.00)

These four games together make up the previously-released Telenet Shooting Collection. They’re now available separately, and the price is of course higher in sum than buying the set. Gaiares and Granada are the gems here, but as to whether you should pay fifteen bucks each for them? That’s for you to decide. At least you have the choice now, I suppose.

The Bin Bunch

Air Aces ($9.99)

Vege Bubble Shoot ($9.99)

Mob Control ($4.99)

Golf Guys ($4.99)

Helix Jump ($4.99)

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Some decent sales today. I like Garlic a fair bit, and that price is about the sweet spot for it. The first Valis Collection at twenty bucks is also where I’d start recommending it, but I’d leave that second collection for now. Mortal Kombat 1 is also enjoying its first post-launch sale, in case you want to see the modern equivalent of the Street Fighter II Game Boy port with your own eyes. Marvelous/XSEED is wrapping up its latest batch of sales soon, so check that weekend outbox while you’re at it as well.

Select New Sales

Garlic ($8.99 from $14.99 until 12/21)
ChronoBreach Ultra ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Tricks Magician ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/21)
The Fairy’s Song ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/21)
Cat Souls ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Gruta ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Kuroi Tsubasa ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/21)
DoraKone ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Billy 101 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Steel Defier ($2.99 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Gematombe ($5.99 from $14.99 until 12/21)
Headbangers in Holiday Hell ($2.39 from $5.99 until 12/21)
Dungeon Slime Collection ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Wonderland Nights: White Rabbit’s Diary ($2.79 from $6.99 until 12/21)
Replikator ($3.99 from $9.99 until 12/21)


Little Disaster ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Light of Life ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Ultra Pixel Survive ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Cyber Citizen Shockman ($4.19 from $5.99 until 12/21)
Mortal Kombat 1 ($41.99 from $69.99 until 12/27)
Super Toy Cars Offroad ($4.99 from $19.99 until 12/27)
Telenet Shooting Collection ($40.49 from $44.99 until 12/28)
Valis: The Fantasm Soldier ($7.50 from $15.00 until 12/28)
Valis II ($7.50 from $15.00 until 12/28)
Valis III ($7.50 from $15.00 until 12/28)
Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection ($19.99 from $39.99 until 12/28)
Valis: The Fantasm Soldier MSX ($10.50 from $15.00 until 12/28)
Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Megadrive ($10.50 from $15.00 until 12/28)
Syd of Valis ($10.50 from $15.00 until 12/28)
Valis IV ($10.50 from $15.00 until 12/28)
Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection II ($31.49 from $44.99 until 12/28)
A-Train: All Aboard! Tourism ($41.99 from $59.99 until 12/28)
Monster Hunter Rise ($15.99 from $39.99 until 12/28)
Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak DLC ($23.99 from $39.99 until 12/28)
Volley Pals ($3.24 from $6.49 until 12/28)
Dinobreak ($11.99 from $19.99 until 12/28)

Sales Ending This Weekend

Akiba’s Strip: Hellbound & Debriefed ($9.99 from $19.99 until 12/9)
Akiba’s Strip: Undead & Undressed DC ($19.49 from $29.99 until 12/9)
BurgerTime Party! ($4.99 from $19.99 until 12/9)
Corpse Party ($13.99 from $19.99 until 12/9)
Corpse Party: Blood Drive ($9.99 from $19.99 until 12/9)
Deadcraft ($9.99 from $19.99 until 12/9)
Fate/EXTELLA The Umbral Star ($19.99 from $39.99 until 12/9)
Freedom Planet ($4.49 from $14.99 until 12/9)
Gal Metal ($4.99 from $19.99 until 12/9)
Hazelnut Hex ($5.59 from $7.99 until 12/9)
Heroland ($4.99 from $19.99 until 12/9)
Loop8: Summer of Gods ($24.99 from $49.99 until 12/9)
Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories ($9.74 from $14.99 until 12/9)
No More Heroes ($13.99 from $19.99 until 12/9)
No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle ($13.99 from $19.99 until 12/9)


Rune Factory 3 Special ($29.99 from $39.99 until 12/9)
Rune Factory 5 ($23.99 from $39.99 until 12/9)
Sakuna: Of Rice & Ruin ($19.49 from $29.99 until 12/9)
Senran Kagura Peach Ball ($8.99 from $29.99 until 12/9)
Senran Kagura Reflexions ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/9)
Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle: LE ($19.49 from $29.99 until 12/9)
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town ($19.99 from $39.99 until 12/9)
Touhou: New World ($19.99 from $24.99 until 12/9)
Trinity Trigger ($23.99 from $39.99 until 12/9)
Wall World ($7.99 from $9.99 until 12/9)
Furi – Modore Edition ($9.99 from $24.99 until 12/10)
Furi – Onnamusha DLC ($3.49 from $6.99 until 12/10)
Furi ($7.99 from $19.99 until 12/10)
Haven ($12.49 from $24.99 until 12/10)
Welcome Kokuri-san ($19.99 from $24.99 until 12/10)

That’s all for today and this week, friends. We’ll be back next week with more new games, more sales, more reviews, and hopefully a bit of news before the holiday freeze. I have so much work to do right now it’s outrageous, but I’m picking away at it piece by piece. I hope you all have a nice weekend, and as always, thanks for reading!