The latest Nintendo Download update for Europe has arrived, and it’s bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy!
Switch Retail – New Releases
ASTRAL CHAIN (Nintendo, 30th Aug, £49.99) – Astral Chain, a brand-new action game from PlatinumGames, is coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch! As part of a police special task force, it’s up to you to fight against mysterious, alien-like creatures who have invaded the world. In the Ark, a multi-cultural city in the near future, disaster strikes when gates to another dimension suddenly appear! Dangerous creatures begin to emerge, attacking the people and polluting the land, and normal police forces are unable to compete with them. To stand up against these threats, a brand new, special police unit known as Neuron is formed. – Read our ASTRAL CHAIN review
Switch eShop – New Releases
Heave Ho (Devolver Digital, 29th Aug, £8.09) – Heave Ho tasks up to four players with a simple goal – don’t fall to your death! Players will use their own two hands and the outstretched grip of their friends to grapple across each level on their way to victory. Grab one another’s hands, climb across dangling bodies, and swing your pals to safety in a wobbly, dangly mass of limbs. Customize your character with all manner of stylish accessories and zany accoutrement in a vain attempt to remember who you are and which of your hands is the only thing between you and the plummet of doom. – Read our Heave Ho review
DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 Lite Version (BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment, 29th Aug, Free) – Experience some of the key elements of Xenoverse 2 for free, with the DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2 Lite version for the Nintendo Switch! The following features are available in the Lite version: – The first 5 episodes of the Story Mode – Online Matches – All contents of the Hero Colosseum – Photo ModeNote: The purchase of DLCs and TP medals are unavailable from the Lite Version. You will be required to have the Full Version of the game in order to purchase DLCs and TP Medals.
Deadlings (ALL IN! GAMES, 26th Aug, £6.47) – Death is lonely. He has zero friends on his FaceTome account and no one to hang out with. So, in order to feel better, he begins “Project Deadlings”. Death buys a factory where he can build his laboratory and begin training a massive army of zombie minions. As the army of Deadlings grows, the mazes within the laboratory become deadlier, loaded with puzzles and death-defying traps.
Eight-Minute Empire (Acram, 27th Aug, £11.46) – Eight-Minute Empire, by Ryan Laukat, is a quick Civilization/Exploration game using card-driven area control. In Eight-Minute Empire, 2-5 players take turns selecting a card from the six displayed. This card gives the player a resource, and also has an action which the player takes immediately. Actions help players take over the map, but the resources are worth points at the end of the game, so players have to balance the two aspects. Players spread across the map in order to collect points at the end of the game by having majority control in regions and continents.
ESport Manager (Ultimate Games, 27th Aug) – eSport Manager is a game based on the idea of e-sports competitions, especially the most popular – FPS AND MOBA. Create your dream team by selecting the players who suit you the best. Care for their constant development, train, sign advertising contracts and be active in social media.
AER Memories of Old (Daedalic GmbH, 28th Aug) – The gods of old are forgotten, lost in the events that shattered the world, leaving only fragments of islands in the sky. This mystic world of endless skies, colourful islands and ancient ruins are in danger of falling into darkness. As one of the last few shapeshifters, you are sent on a pilgrimage to the Land of Gods. Uncover the secrets that will help save reality itself. Fly and explore by transforming into a bird at will A large open world of hidden secrets and new discoveries A pilgrimage of mysteries, puzzles and temples Strong focus on atmosphere and aesthetics with a vibrant minimalistic art style – Read our AER Memories of Old review
Boreal Blade (Frozenbyte, 28th Aug, £17.99) – Boreal Blade is a team-based melee fighting game with a focus on player vs player combat. Boreal Blade combines reactionary and tactical gameplay with extraordinary freedom to variate your attacks and develop your unique fighting style. The game features four distinctive fighting styles with the possibility to choose between one-handed and two-handed weapons, a shield and a weapon combo, long thrusting pole weapons and fighting unarmed.
Hookbots (Tree Interactive, 28th Aug) – Battle & challenge your human friends on this multiplayer robot party game: 52 ways to customize your bots & 14 game modes. From knights and dinosaurs, to bounty hunters and space warriors. Choose, customize and crush tons of different bots.
Pantsu Hunter: Back to the 90s (Sometimes You, 28th Aug, £11.69) – Share a heart-to-heart talk, watch a movie together, take a bath, remove a computer virus, help a girl in a tough spot and – if you’re lucky – find the love of your life using the color and pattern of her panties. Pantsu Hunter: Back to the 90s is an adventure game with point-n-click elements (with a risk of swift loss) that tells the story about a guy looking for love renovated in a nostalgic ’80s and ’90s anime style.
Whipseey and the Lost Atlas (Blowfish Studios, 28th Aug, £4.99) – In Whipseey and the Lost Atlas you play as Alex, a young boy who’s curiosity has landed him in a world of trouble. After finding himself lost in a strange world and being transformed into a magical creature named Whipseey, he must solve the mystery of the Lost Atlas to return to his original form and go back home. – Read our Whipseey and the Lost Atlas review
Agent A: A puzzle in disguise (YAK, 29th Aug, £12.99) – You play as Agent A in this stylish secret agent world full of retro-futuristic contraptions, hidden gizmos, gadgets and clever logic based puzzles. But do be warned… Ruby La Rouge is no spy to be taken lightly! Explore a labyrinth of perplexing puzzles in this quirky game of cat and mouse that’ll have you wondering whether you’re the cat… or the mouse!!
Brunch Club (Yogscast, 29th Aug, £9.59) In the main game you can play solo or work together with friends to complete the levels before time runs out! It doesn’t stop there though, online leaderboards mean that it’s not good enough to just complete when you can compete!
Bubsy: Paws on Fire! (UFO Interactive, 29th Aug, £22.49) – Oinker P. Hamm is determined to capture every animal in the universe for his “Amazootorium.” Bubsy, fearing mostly for himself, is just as determined to stop him. Two archrivals stitched together by the cruel knitting needles of fate. No matter who emerges victorious, there is one thing we know for certain: There’s going to be a whole lot of yarn along the way.
Damascus Gear Operation Osaka (ARC SYSTEM WORKS, 29th Aug, £17.09) – The goal of “Damascus Gear Operation Osaka” is to repay the hero’s significant [debt] before the due date. In the [Cosmopolis], GEAR pilots fight day and night in the [Arena] for large sums of Eyn(this world’s currency). The hero will participate in the Arena as a Ranker, aiming to use the prize money to repay his debt. Use [missions] to enhance your GEAR, and earn prize money in the [Arena] before the due date.
Grand Brix Shooter (Intragames, 29th Aug, £8.99) – Board the Brix Core, piloted by Prince Brix himself. Combine aircraft in different ways to gain abilities and grab crystals to boost your firepower. It’ll take split-second decisions, expert control, and a bit of luck to survive this gauntlet. Can Prince Brix defeat the evil looming before him and save the world?
Hopping girl KOHANE Jumping Kingdom: Princess of the Black Rabbit (D-O, 29th Aug) – This game is an action-puzzle game that the player operates Kohane who rides pogo-stick to aim for a goal. You can enjoy a full-fledged action, even with a simple operation with one hand’s thumb. The important point of the game is magic stamps with various effects. Let’s step on the magic stamps well and aim for a high score.
Invasion of Alien X – Earth in Crisis (DOUBLE DRIVE GAMES, 29th Aug, £7.19) – Aliens are on a terrifying Earth Invasion Tour! Your mission: Fire artillery and protect the base from the enemy flagship. . . Repel the invaders. Deploy weapons batteries delivered by drones wisely, and you can win. The planet’s fate is in your hands. Earthlings. . . The counteroffensive starts now!
Little Racer (ALL IN! GAMES, 29th Aug, £12.95) – Little Racer is a dynamic racing game and a great adventure harking back to your childhood. Enjoy various tracks, avoid obstacles and speed for the win. Take the wheel, choose a kart and start the wild ride!
OBAKEIDORO! (FREE STYLE, 29th Aug, £16.99) – A thrilling, heart-pounding struggle! Humans have 3 minutes to work together to get away from the Monster! Playing as the Monster, you’ll have to utilize your skills to catch the Humans! Play Bogeyrun! online or offline with up to 4 players.
Vambrace: Cold Soul (Headup Games, 29th Aug, £17.99) – Vambrace: Cold Soul is a roguelike fantasy-adventure set amidst a frozen landscape. Plan your expeditions underground, then journey to the cursed city surface with your team of heroes. Wield unique powers, avoid dangerous traps, brave strange encounters, and survive deadly combat! Read our Vambrace: Cold Soul review
Wilmot’s Warehouse (Finji, 29th Aug) Wilmot’s Warehouse is a puzzle game about keeping a warehouse running in tip-top shape. You play as Wilmot, a hard working warehouse employee tasked with pushing, sorting and stacking a variety of products. Over time more and more truckloads of these products will arrive, gradually filling up the warehouse. How you arrange them all is entirely up to you – organise by colour, type, the Dewey Decimal System, or some wild format that only you understand – it’s all good!
FUZE4 Nintendo Switch (FUZE Technologies, 30th Aug) FUZE4 Nintendo Switch is a coding application for Nintendo Switch. It has been designed and developed by a team of experienced gamers, programmers, artists and educators. The end result is a language ideally suited to coding games and apps for absolute beginners and seasoned programmers alike.
Headspun (Wales Interactive, 30th Aug) Headspun is a FMV/Adventure hybrid set in Cortex; the world of Theo Kavinsky’s broken brain. After waking from a five-week coma, Theo finds his life in disrepair. With no memory of the accident, it’s up to Ted and Teddy – the conscious and subconscious voices in his head – to work out what happened, and put his life back on track.
Root Letter: Last Answer (Pqube, 30th Aug) The return of the best-selling interactive mystery visual novel! Follow in the footsteps of Aya Fumino, a school penfriend allegedly involved in a tragic murder 15 years ago. Explore the prefecture of Shimane, uncover clues, and use the letters you wrote to each other to track down her childhood friends for questioning. But perhaps these friends, now adults living a peaceful life, will not be eager to let their painful memories resurface…
The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors (ININ Games, 30th Aug) – Over a total of eight levels, you’ll take on the tyrant Banglar and his henchmen either alone or – for the first time in the history of the series – with a friend. So settle into a night on the couch with your friends, and reminisce about the golden era of 90s co-op game evenings you know and love. – Read our The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors review
Legend of the Skyfish (Ratalaika Games, 30th Aug) Legend of the Skyfish is a beautiful level-based adventure puzzler with a unique weapon and tool – a fishing pole! Follow the intrepid Little Red Hook on her journey with the Moonwhale to defeat the monstrous Skyfish. Use your fishing pole as a weapon or a grappling hook, and upgrade it as you go. Legend of the Skyfish features beautiful hand-painted art, intricate action puzzles and unique enemies. Explore a huge world of 45 handcrafted levels and defeat giant bosses.
SpaceColorsRunner (Arach Games, 30th Aug)
Arcade Archives Pinball (HAMSTER, 30th Aug)
Switch eShop – Demos
NBA 2K20 Demo(Take-Two Interactive)
Boreal Blade Demo (Frozenbyte)
Fifty Words by POWGI Demo (Lightwood Games)
Automachef Demo (Team17)
Domiverse Demo (Haunted Tie)
Switch eShop – Pre-Orders
NBA 2K20 Legend Edition (Take-Two Interactive) – NBA 2K has evolved into much more than a basketball simulation. 2K continues to redefine what’s possible in sports gaming with NBA 2K20, featuring best in class graphics & gameplay, groundbreaking game modes, and unparalleled player control and customization.
LEGO® Jurassic World (WB Games, pre-order from 26th Aug)
Rest in Pieces (Itatake, pre-order from 26th Aug)
Wuppo: Definitive Edition (Knuist and Perzik, pre-order from 27th Aug)
Battle Supremacy – Ground Assault (Atypical Games, pre-order from 29th Aug)
Fifty Words by POWGI (Lightwood Games, pre-order from 29th Aug)
Gnomes Garden: Lost King (8Floor Games, pre-order from 29th Aug)
Pocket Clothier (Kairosoft, pre-order from 29th Aug)
AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES (Spike Chunsoft US, pre-order from 30th Aug)
Close to the Sun (Wired Productions, pre-order from 30th Aug)
Into the Dead 2 (Versus Evil, pre-order from 30th Aug)
Into the Dead 2 Bundle (Versus Evil, pre-order from 30th Aug)
NBA 2K20 (Take-Two Interactive, pre-order from 30th Aug)
NBA 2K20 Digital Deluxe (Take-Two Interactive, pre-order from 30th Aug)
Sydney Hunter and the Curse of the Mayan (CollectorVision Games, pre-order from 1st Sep)
Switch eShop – Special Offers
DLC / Add-On Content
Nintendo Switch
- Human: Fall Flat: Steam (Curve Digital)
- Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid – MMPR Lord Zedd Character Unlock (nWay)
- WWE 2K18 Season Pass (2K)
- Starlink: Battle for Atlas – Collection Pack (Ubisoft)
- Starlink: Battle for Atlas – Starlink Digital Collection Pack 2 (Ubisoft)
- South Park: The Fractured but Whole – Season Pass (Ubisoft)
- Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle ®: Donkey Kong Adventure (Ubisoft)
- Mario + Rabbids® Kingdom Battle : Season Pass (Ubisoft)
So that’s your lot for this week’s Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks!