Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for December 23rd, 2021. As we approach both the end of the week and Christmas, things are winding down in some ways and heating up in others. We’ve got several new releases to look at today, though not so many as we sometimes see on a Thursday. On the other hand, we have quite a few more sales than we typically see. I’m guessing some folks are taking tomorrow off and have decided to hit the sales switch a wee bit early. Let’s dig in!
New Releases
Arcade Archives Orius ($7.99)
I did a double-take when I saw that name, friends. I was sure I had seen that Konami’s 1991 horizontal shoot-em-up Xexex was going to be this week’s Arcade Archives release. Well, it turns out that Orius is the North American name for the game. That is something I did not know. Anyway, this is a cool blend of Gradius, Life Force, R-Type, and X Multiply. I likely don’t need to convince you whether you need another classic Konami shooter in your life or not, but I will note that this game has only had one home release prior to this, and that was on the Japan-only Salamander Portable collection for the PlayStation Portable. As such, there is a good chance you haven’t played this before.
Tunnel of Doom ($13.99)
An unusual blend of roguelite and tower defense, Tunnel of Doom sees you holding off hordes of monsters by gathering resources, building traps and weapons, and then engaging the enemy in action-based combat. It’s pretty fun at first, but it’s the kind of game where once you’ve figured out the strategy there isn’t much more to it. You either get a reasonably lucky roll of the proverbial dice and sail through, or you get some bad luck and perish quickly. I’ll have a review of this one as soon as I finish sorting out my thoughts on it.
Beastie Bay DX ($14.00)
It’s been a hot minute since the last Kairosoft simulation game dropped on Switch. Beastie Bay was one of the publisher’s early forays into free-to-play on mobile, and I don’t think it really went over the way they had hoped. Well, there’s none of that fluff in this DX version of the game. You can just enjoy this chill sim about cultivating a desolated island and befriending/battling its local creatures. It’s quite enjoyable, but it has all of the same strengths and weaknesses that all Kairosoft games tend to. If you’re burnt out, it won’t change your mind. If you aren’t? Not a bad way to kill time over the holidays.
Teratopia ($9.99)
This is a 3D action platformer and it’s safe to say it didn’t make a lot of friends when it released on other platforms. It’s set in a world of monsters, and you eventually take control of three different ones as you explore thirteen different zones. You can recruit other Teratopians along the way for some temporary assistance in battle, which is probably the game’s most interesting element. Unfortunately, you do a lot of fighting and it just isn’t very interesting. The platforming also isn’t anything special. I’ve played much worse, and it is very reasonably priced, but I feel like there are too many better options to give this one much of a thumbs-up.
Moorhuhn Jump and Run ‘Traps and Treasures’ ($12.99)
As usual, the weird use of punctuation and any other quirky bits of formatting are on the publisher, not me. This is another game in the Moorhuhn line, and I think the second one in the Jump and Run sub-series. It is what it appears to be. Run, jump, swing, shoot, and do whatever else you need to do in order to find the legendary Amulet of Whatsit in twenty-one stages of platforming action. Apparently there are an additional six bonus levels here when compared to the original version, for a total of twenty-seven stages in all. Is it good platforming? I don’t know, but people must like Moorhuhn for a reason.
Lynn, the Girl Drawn on Puzzles ($7.99)
A girl gets sucked into a book of puzzles in this stylish game. The story unfolds as you solve more than one hundred stages of tricky brain-teasers. You have to move around the various rooms that make up each stage in order to safely move Lynn to the goal. The presentation really is striking on this one, and the puzzles look interesting enough. Might be worth a bite if you’re hunting for another game to test your reasoning skills.
Jigsaw Fun: Greatest Cities ($14.99)
It’s another jigsaw puzzle game from the folks at Mindscape. There are one hundred images in this one, all which are drawn from various cities around the world. Up to four players can play at once via local multiplayer, and you can play each image in four different puzzle sizes. It features button and touch controls, and you can race the clock if you need some extra pressure.
Windstorm: Start of a Great Friendship ($29.99)
This is based on some movies and books that I will admit I have no experience with whatsoever. Apparently they’re about a black stallion named Windstorm and a horse whisperer named Mika who is trying to befriend him. Explore the Kaltenbach estate, search for secrets, and try to become a racing champion. Or just chill and enjoy riding around on your cool horse. Up to you. You have to take care of Windstorm, which means grooming him, training him, and keeping him happy.
Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 Digital Bundle ($59.98)
Not much to say about this. It’s a proper bundle of both Bayonetta games, here in one handy purchase. If you want to pick up both in digital form, this is an easy way to do it.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Yes, that is quite a hefty list compared to how it usually looks when I’m writing up the Thursday article. Plenty of goodies in there, but I’m short on time so I’m going to leave it in your hands to sift through and find what you like. At the very least you don’t have to worry too much about the expiring sales. Not much in there to think about at all. Happy hunting!
Select New Games on Sale
EDF World Brothers ($35.99 from $39.99 until 12/30)
Ruvato: Original Complex ($7.49 from $14.99 until 12/30)
Galak-Z: The Void DE ($3.74 from $14.99 until 12/30)
Skulls of the Shogun: BE ($4.99 from $19.99 until 12/30)
Johnny Turbo: Heavy Burger ($2.49 from $9.99 until 12/30)
Johnny Turbo’s Arcade: Assorted ($1.99 from $7.99 until 12/30)
Headsnatchers ($3.74 from $14.99 until 12/30)
Real Heroes: Firefighter ($3.74 from $14.99 until 12/30)
Still There ($5.09 from $14.99 until 12/30)
Conarium ($4.99 from $19.99 until 12/30)
PandaBall ($6.99 from $13.99 until 1/1)
Western 1849 Reloaded ($3.99 from $7.99 until 1/1)
1001 Ultimate Mahjong 2 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/1)
Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythmic Adv. 1 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)
Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythmic Adv. 2 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)
eCrossminton ($2.24 from $14.99 until 1/3)
Knight Squad ($3.74 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Assassin’s Creed III ($14.79 from $39.99 until 1/5)
Assassin’s Creed: Rebel Collection ($14.79 from $39.99 until 1/5)
Immortals Fenyx Rising ($19.79 from $59.99 until 1/5)
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Stela ($6.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
UNO ($3.99 from $9.99 until 1/5)
Just Dance 2022 ($29.99 from $49.99 until 1/5)
Family Feud ($9.89 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Return of the Obra Dinn ($14.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Agatha Christie: Hercule Poirot TFC ($23.99 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Knight Squad 2 ($11.24 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Parasomnia Verum ($2.79 from $3.99 until 1/5)
Stay Safe ($2.99 from $5.99 until 1/5)
The Knight of Queen ($3.49 from $4.99 until 1/5)
NEO: The World Ends With You ($29.99 from $59.99 until 1/6)
Unreal Life ($13.79 from $22.99 until 1/6)
Deathtrap Dungeon Trilogy ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/6)
Fighting Fantasy Legends ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/6)
Skul: The Hero Slayer ($15.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Ember ($4.99 from $14.99 until 1/6)
Artifact Adventure Gaiden DX ($5.99 from $9.99 until 1/6)
Fairy Fencer F ADF ($8.99 from $29.99 until 1/6)
Megadimension Neptunia VII ($11.99 from $29.99 until 1/6)
Arc of Alchemist ($9.99 from $39.99 until 1/6)
Mary Skelter 2 ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/6)
Istanbul: Digital Edition ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Talisman: Digital Edition ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Charterstone: Digital Edition ($12.49 from $24.99 until 1/6)
Eight-Minute Empire: Complete ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/6)
Soulslayer ($5.49 from $9.99 until 1/6)
Hell is Other Demons ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/6)
Glyph ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Lily of the Hollow Resurrection ($4.89 from $6.99 until 1/6)
Death end re;Quest ($11.99 from $29.99 until 1/6)
Mystic Vale ($10.99 from $21.99 until 1/6)
Shaolin vs Wutang ($7.99 from $9.99 until 1/6)
Monster Truck Championship ($15.99 from $39.99 until 1/6)
World for Two ($8.39 from $13.99 until 1/6)
Rivals of Aether ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/6)
Undermine ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Azur Lane: Crosswave ($19.99 from $49.99 until 1/6)
Raiders of the Lost Island ($6.49 from $12.99 until 1/6)
Krystopia: A Puzzle Journey ($6.39 from $7.99 until 1/6)
Later Daters ($4.79 from $7.99 until 1/6)
Billion Road ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Save Your Nuts ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/6)
Pine ($4.99 from $24.99 until 1/6)
Super Hydorah ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Gaokao.Love.100Days ($6.99 from $11.99 until 1/6)
CrunchTime ($1.99 from $3.99 until 1/6)
Into the Breach ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/6)
Pippu Bauble Quest ($1.99 from $3.99 until 1/6)
Metal Unit ($11.19 from $15.99 until 1/6)
Spooky Ghosts Dot Com ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/6)
Pode ($12.49 from $24.99 until 1/6)
Battery Jam ($2.99 from $14.99 until 1/6)
The World Next Door ($2.99 from $9.99 until 1/6)
Steam: Rails to Riches CE ($13.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Hyper Light Drifter SE ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Rhythm of the Gods ($5.84 from $8.99 until 1/6)
A Tale of Synapse: TCT ($11.69 from $17.99 until 1/6)
Reverse Memories ($4.89 from $6.99 until 1/6)
Super Neptunia RPG ($15.99 from $39.99 until 1/6)
Farmers Co-op: Out of this World ($9.74 from $12.99 until 1/6)
Tennis World Tour 2 ($19.99 from $49.99 until 1/6)
Yokai Poetry ($4.89 from $6.99 until 1/6)
Rotund Takeoff ($5.59 from $7.99 until 1/6)
Hunting Simulator 2 ($15.99 from $39.99 until 1/6)
Kasiori ($5.60 from $7.00 until 1/7)
Rise of the Slime ($10.49 from $14.99 until 1/7)
Ox Logic Puzzle 1000 ! ($7.00 from $14.00 until 1/7)
Number Place 10000 ($2.94 from $5.89 until 1/7)
Super Dodgeball Beats ($3.24 from $12.99 until 1/7)
Hardcore Mecha ($17.49 from $24.99 until 1/7)
Asobu Tights ($18.90 from $21.00 until 1/7)
Uchu Shinshuchu ($4.00 from $8.00 until 1/7)
Vaporum Lockdown ($10.99 from $21.99 until 1/7)
Atari Flashback Classics ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/7)
Centipede Recharged ($6.69 from $9.99 until 1/7)
Black Widow Recharged ($6.69 from $9.99 until 1/7)
RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures ($24.99 from $49.99 until 1/7)
All in Casino Girls ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/8)
Zoo Dentist ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/8)
Checkers for Kids ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/8)
AnimaLudo ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/8)
Fantasy Checkers ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/8)
Colorfall ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/8)
Among Pipes ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/8)
Gangsta Paradise ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/8)
Fall Gummies ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/8)
Perfect Traffic Simulator ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/8)
The Legend of Ninja ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/8)
Fantasy Tower Defense ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/8)
Royal Tower Defense ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/8)
Disgaea 1 Complete ($19.99 from $49.99 until 1/10)
Disgaea 4 Complete+ ($19.99 from $49.99 until 1/10)
Disgaea 5 Complete ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/10)
SNK 40th Anniversary Collection ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/10)
Mad Rat Dead ($24.99 from $39.99 until 1/10)
Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/10)
Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/10)
The Caligula Effect: OD ($19.99 from $49.99 until 1/10)
RPG Maker MV ($24.99 from $49.99 until 1/10)
Liar Princess & Blind Prince ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/10)
Poison Control ($24.99 from $39.99 until 1/10)
The Alliance Alive HD ($19.99 from $49.99 until 1/10)
Langrisser I & II ($19.99 from $49.99 until 1/10)
Savior of Sapphire City/SoSC ($37.49 from $49.99 until 1/10)
Void Terrarium ($12.49 from $25.00 until 1/10)
Disaster Report 4 ($29.99 from $59.99 until 1/10)
TLoH: Trails of Cold Steel III ($29.99 from $59.99 until 1/10)
Destiny Connect: Tick-Tock Travelers ($9.99 from $39.99 until 1/10)
The Longest Five Minutes ($4.99 from $39.99 until 1/10)
Yomawari The Long Night Collection ($14.99 from $39.99 until 1/10)
The Princess Guide ($9.99 from $39.99 until 1/10)
Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA ($19.99 from $59.99 until 1/10)
Labyrinth of Refrain: CoD ($19.99 from $49.99 until 1/10)
Happy Birthdays ($14.99 from $39.99 until 1/10)
God Wars: The Complete Legend ($9.99 from $39.99 until 1/10)
The Lost Child ($9.99 from $49.99 until 1/10)
Penny-Punching Princess ($9.99 from $39.99 until 1/10)
Lapis x Labyrinth ($9.99 from $29.99 until 1/10)
Shisen-Sho NIKAKUdori ($1.99 from $3.99 until 1/11)
Horatio Goes Snowboarding ($5.59 from $6.99 until 1/12)
Moorhuhn Wanted ($5.59 from $6.99 until 1/12)
Myastere: Ruins of Deazniff ($15.99 from $19.99 until 1/12)
Kitty Love: Way to Look for Love ($19.99 from $24.99 until 1/12)
Iris School of Wizardry ($19.99 from $24.99 until 1/12)
Ayakashi Koi Gikyoku ($19.99 from $24.99 until 1/12)
Spiral Memoria ($19.99 from $24.99 until 1/12)
Drag Racing Rivals ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/12)
Crash Drive 2 ($1.99 from $8.99 until 1/12)
Marooners ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/12)
Gardener’s Path ($3.99 from $4.99 until 1/12)
Werewolf The Apocalypse: HotF ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/12)
Suzerain ($12.59 from $17.99 until 1/12)
Crysis Remastered ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/12)
Crysis 2 Remastered ($22.49 from $29.99 until 1/12)
Crysis 3 Remastered ($22.49 from $29.99 until 1/12)
Crysis Remastered Trilogy ($39.99 from $49.99 until 1/12)
Genesis Noir ($9.74 from $14.99 until 1/12)
Super Mutant Alien Assault ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/12)
Fhtagn!: TotCM ($4.79 from $7.99 until 1/12)
Neo Cab ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/12)
Chiki-Chiki Boxy Racers ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/12)
Regina & Mac ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/12)
Regina & Mac World ($1.99 from $3.99 until 1/12)
Commander Keen in Keen Dreams: DE ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/12)
Paradise Killer ($12.99 from $19.99 until 1/12)
Last Encounter ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/12)
In Other Waters ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/12)
Tokyo Dark Remembrance ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/12)
BATTLLOON ($3.49 from $6.99 until 1/12)
The Midnight Sanctuary ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/12)
Venture Kid ($3.50 from $10.00 until 1/12)
Blossom Tales: TSK ($5.24 from $14.99 until 1/12)
Slayin 2 ($4.19 from $11.99 until 1/12)
Oceanhorn 2: KotLR ($22.49 from $29.99 until 1/12)
The Church in the Darkness ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/12)
The Stillness of the Wind ($3.89 from $12.99 until 1/12)
Framed Collection ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/12)
Think of the Children ($2.59 from $12.99 until 1/12)
Tiny Metal ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/12)
Magical Girls Second Magic ($3.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Agent A: Puzzle in Disguise ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/13)
Niche: Genetics Survival Game ($10.99 from $19.99 until 1/13)
MADORIS R ($4.00 from $5.00 until 1/13)
Crowdy Farm Rush ($1.99 from $5.99 until 1/13)
Moorhuhn Jump and Run ($9.99 from $12.99 until 1/13)
Hero Hours Contract ($1.99 from $3.99 until 1/13)
BREAK DOT ($3.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Miles & Kilo ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/13)
SuperEpic: Entertainment War ($2.15 from $17.99 until 1/13)
BATTOJUTSU ($3.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Teratopia ($7.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
Battle Axe ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/13)
Golden Force ($8.99 from $19.99 until 1/13)
SUSHI REVERSI ($9.99 from $13.99 until 1/13)
Refreshing Sideways Puzzle GH ($16.79 from $27.99 until 1/13)
The Rainsdowne Players ($1.99 from $3.99 until 1/13)
Citizens Unite! Earth x Space ($17.99 from $29.99 until 1/13)
Alphadia Genesis ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/13)
Alphadia Genesis 2 ($9.74 from $14.99 until 1/13)
Marenian Tavern Story ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/13)
Yodanji ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Revenant Dogma ($6.49 from $12.99 until 1/13)
Revenant Saga ($6.49 from $12.99 until 1/13)
Frane: Dragon’s Odyssey ($6.49 from $12.99 until 1/13)
Alvastia Chronicles ($6.49 from $12.99 until 1/13)
Crystal Ortha ($9.74 from $14.99 until 1/13)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Friday, December 24th
6Souls ($6.39 from $7.99 until 12/24)
Animated Jigsaws: Japanese Women ($2.49 from $9.99 until 12/24)
City Stunt Driver ($7.79 from $11.99 until 12/24)
Construction Site Driver ($10.49 from $13.99 until 12/24)
Cycle 28 ($2.79 from $6.99 until 12/24)
Defend Your Castle ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/24)
Detective Di: The Silk Rose Murders ($6.49 from $12.99 until 12/24)
Extreme Race ($1.99 from $2.49 until 12/24)
Five Dates ($9.74 from $12.99 until 12/24)
Gnomes Garden ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/24)
Kwaidan: Azuma Manor Story ($6.24 from $24.99 until 12/24)
Mekorama ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/24)
Star Horizon ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/24)
Sweet Bakery Tycoon ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/24)
The Bunker ($7.14 from $12.99 until 12/24)
Time Carnage ($8.44 from $12.99 until 12/24)
Truck Simulator ($5.99 from $11.99 until 12/24)
That’s all for today, friends. I’ll be back tomorrow with the few new releases that are choosing to drop on Christmas Eve, plus whatever sales roll in. I hope you’ve got all your presents wrapped already. Time is ticking! Have a fantastic Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!
