Category: Nintendo News

The latest Nintendo Download update for North America 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!

Nintendo Switch Retail

BLAZBLUE CENTRALFICTION Special Edition (Arc System Works Co., Ltd., Today, $49.99) The definitive edition of the BLAZBLUE series, BLAZBLUE CENTRALFICTION, is the most-played 2D fighting game in the world featuring with beautiful graphics and a well-designed, fighting system.

Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 2 (Milestone, Fri 8th February, $59.99) The official Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship game is back! Live like a champion with the updated career mode and set weekly activities in your agenda: new challenges, sponsors and incredible prizes all await you!

Switch eShop

The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince (NIS America, Tue 12th February, $19.99) Plucked straight from the pages of an ancient fairy tale, The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince tells the story of two lonely hearts brought together through a mutual misunderstanding. Transform between the wolf and the princess to solve puzzles and evade traps, collect flowers and petals to unlock fragments of memories, and weave through the dark and dangerous forest to guide the prince toward a cure. But be warned… an all-seeing forest is no place for a blind prince.

AWAY: Journey to the Unexpected (Playdius, Today, Today, $16.99) Welcome to a feel-good FPS! A colorful adventure combining action, negotiation and rogue-lite elements. You play as a kid that is neither a hero nor a warrior. Yet with the power of friendship, you will overcome every obstacle in your way! Choose your path through the levels, uncover the light-hearted story, and above all, recruit allies.

Observer (Bloober Team, Today, $29.99) >observer_ is a cyberpunk, detective thriller set in the year 2084 in Krakow, Poland. The world lies in ruins with corporations seizing power after the fall of governments. You do their bidding. No lie will remain hidden from you, as you hack into the minds of those you interrogate. When your past catches-up, you must act on your own and unravel the mystery of your son’s disappearance. Your name is Daniel Lazarski, you’re an Observer. Read our Observer review.

99Moves (EnjoyUp Games, Fri 8th February, $2.99) 99Moves, a retro arcade game where you will have to survive with just 99 Movements. Without a heading in the galaxy, all was lost because your energy was about to run out… gravity would chart the course of your destiny… Suddenly, V-99 entered a zone called Shaders, which provided energy… It was a new opportunity to survive. However, it was not all good news, as you only have 99 energy pulses to move through the Shaders zone.

Access Denied (Ratalaika Games, Fri 8th February, $4.99) Calling all safe-crackers and lovers of puzzle games! The time for testing your brain, whilst listening to rain and thunder has arrived, as try your hand at a series of puzzles that are playable across 36 levels.

Ancient Rush 2 (Heideland GameWork, Fri 1st February, $9.99) Old Legends surround the long forgotten kingdom of Ozolan. They tell stories about Chulua, the former Ruler of Ozolan, who is said to have buried himself in his own treasury, only using his bare hands.

Arcade Archives MOON CRESTA (HAMSTER, Thu 31st January, $7.99) “MOON CRESTA” is a shooting game produced and released by Nichibutsu in 1980. Players control Unit1 and Unit 2 and Unit3 of the airplane, and coalescing these airplanes, will defeat the enemies.

City of Brass (Uppercut Games, Fri 8th February, $19.99) Become a daring thief in City of Brass, a first-person action adventure from senior BioShock developers. Armed with scimitar and a versatile whip, you’ll lash and slash, bait and trap your way to the heart of an opulent, Arabian Nights-themed metropolis – or face certain death as time runs out.

Defense Grid 2 (Hidden Path Entertainment, Today, $19.99) Defense Grid 2 is an award-winning tower defense strategy game. A horde of enemies is invading and stealing your cores, now it’s up to you to stop them by strategically building towers at your base.

Doom & Destiny (Heartbit, Fri 8th February, $11.99) Four nerds, drawn into a fantasy world and mistaken for heroes, have to battle their way through a massive, crazy adventure and defeat a preposterous villain! Doom and Destiny is a turn based hilarious jrpg where you take control of a party of four everyday friends. Journey through an unpredictable story filled with parodies and cameos. Start your adventure in a classic dungeon with dragons, save princess with the help of green-dressed elf and then fly to manga-themed city with the help of a famous italian plumber. This is Doom and Destiny, the flying-spaghetti fantasy adventure!

Estiman (Arts Alliance, Today, $3.99) Estiman is an original, engaging arcade game based on one of the processes our minds work with every day – estimation. With combos you can keep going forever (if you have the skills! ). The sweet, minimal visuals will appeal to your aesthetic sense, and an adaptive difficulty level turns this simple concept into a compelling and satisfying game.

Evoland Legendary Edition (Shiro Games, Today, $19.99) Evoland is a journey through the history of action/adventure gaming, allowing you to unlock new technologies, gameplay systems and graphic upgrades as you progress through the game. Inspired by many cult series that have left their mark in the RPG video gaming culture, Evoland takes you from monochrome to full 3D graphics and from active time battles to real time boss fights, all with plenty of humor and references to many classic games.

Freecell Battle King (MAKING, Thu 31st January, $7.99) Battle play is exciting ! Clear speed is the key ! Sharing one unit,two Switches or online, enjoy the fun of competition with freecell ! The tasks are 3000 questions! There are ordinary “KING Mode” and easy “MAY Mode”. Collect the “collection” by clears to color the game screen. One-player is also enrichment ! There is also a mode that you can play easily. Joy-Con or play with touch ! Play with your favorite style.

Food Truck Tycoon (Baltoro Games, Fri 8th February, $4.99) Test your skills and talent as owner of a busy food truck! Your only job is to take orders, prepare food and serve to as many customers as possible. Be careful not to burn the food! Fulfill your dream of becoming the tycoon of the best food trucks in the city!

Glass Masquerade (Digerati, Thu 28th February, $11.99) Welcome to Glass Masquerade – an artistic puzzle game inspired by Art Deco and stained-glass artisans of the 20th century. Combine hidden glass pieces to unveil clocks and themes exhibited by various cultures of the world at the ‘International Times Exhibition’ – an interactive electronic show.

Gnomes Garden: New Home (8Floor Games, Today, $4.99) After defeating the sorcerer collector, the gnomes returned the castle to its old form. But it still stood in the grey wasteland, and there nothing could grow. The princess was worried that her people would soon run out of food and start to starve.

Iron Crypticle (Tikipod, Wed 13th February, $9.99) The glorious Royal Treasures of Cryptonia have been stolen! Now the King’s washed-up knights must suit up and descend into the ancient palace crypts to return those GOLDEN GOODIES! Get ready for GHOULISH arcade action in this epic medieval twin-stick dungeon shooter. Up to 4 players (local co-op) can fight together to SMASH through all manner of ghouls and fiends. Grab loot and gobble up food to build up your XP. UPGRADE your abilities to help you face the challenges of the lower floors! UNLOCK new weapons and magical items as you progress. Collect magical gauntlets to power your explosive ATOMIC FIST! Weapons at the ready – prepare yourself for IRON CRYPTICLE!

Magic Scroll Tactics (Mediascape, Today, $11.99) Magic Scroll Tactics is a side-scrolling tactical RPG where height is key. But be warned, simply holding the high ground won’t ensure victory! Raining arrows down on your hapless foes is only one part of this simple yet deep strategy game; you’ll need to master a wide variety of abilities and units if you wish to conquer your perilous foes.

Mercury Race (Herrero, Today, $7.99) Mercury Race is a shooting & racing game set in a retrofuturistic world. Finish each circuit in time to obtain the badge and achieve ranking number one. The game will challenge not only your driving skills but also your shooting accuracy.

Minesweeper Genius (Level 77, Tue 12th February, $5.99) Inspired by the classic computer game from our childhood – as well as sudoku and picross – Minesweeper Genius is a brain teaser that will challenge your mind and logical thinking.

Odallus: The Dark Call (Digerati, Fri 8th February, $11.99) The old gods have forgotten this land… Odallus is an exploration/action game and loving homage to the 8-bit genre classics. You play as Haggis – a battle-weary warrior who must wield his sword once more to rescue his son from Darkness. Key Features Eight levels open to exploration Huge bosses Sharp controls Rad 8-bit graphics Thrilling atmosphere 8+ hours of gameplay 50+ enemy types Veteran Mode

Oniken: Unstoppable Edition (Digerati, Fri 8th February, $9.99) In a post-apocalyptic future controlled by a sinister corporation, ninja mercenary Zaku is the last hope for humanity. Inspired by the demanding gameplay of 8-bit action/platformers, Oniken pits your agility and swordplay against a gauntlet of enemies, traps, and challenging bosses. Key Features 8-bit inspired pixel art and music Cinematic cutscenes Six difficult missions, plus additional bonus stages Battle 18+ bosses in the campaign or Boss Rush mode Single-life Hardcore Mode for a true challenge

Percy’s Predicament Deluxe (Maestro Interactive, Today, $5.99) Percy’s Predicament Deluxe is a single player game in which you control Percy Penguin, who has become trapped within a magical orb. You must navigate the course and collect all the fish before the time runs out! 100 Levels and six different environments each with their own musical themes means the fun never stops!

Ping Pong Trick Shot EVOLUTION (Starsign, Tue 5th February, $4.99) This is an action puzzle game in which you throw ping pong balls into a cup. Control your character, position, angle and power when you throw the ping pong ball.

Pocket Academy (Kairosoft, Today, $12.00) School got you down? Wish you could change a few things? Well, now’s your chance to create the ultimate dream school in this simulation smash-hit! Tailor your personal academy as you see fit, erecting classrooms, making clubs–even deciding this week’s hot couple! How will you expand your hallowed halls of learning?

Pumped BMX Pro (Curve Digital, Today, $14.99) Pumped BMX Pro puts you back on the seat for another high adrenaline, fast-paced trickathon where chaining massive combos could put you at the number one spot on the global leaderboards.

Reverie: Sweet As Edition (Rainbite, Today, $12.99) With restless spirits threatening the safety of Toromi Island’s inhabitants, Tai must venture through dangerous dungeons and across a variety of environments to put the spirits to rest. All in a summer holiday! Reverie is an action adventure game set on a fictional island in New Zealand, inspired by the legend of Maui and the Giant Fish where the demigod himself fishes up the North Island with a powerful fishhook.

RIOT – Civil Unrest (Merge Games, Tue 5th February, $19.99) RIOT – Civil Unrest is the highly anticipated real-time riot simulator that places the player right in the heart of some of the world’s most fractious clashes. Campaigns include: Indignados (Spain), Arab Spring (Egypt), Keratea (Greece) and NoTAV (Italy). Seventeen single level scenarios include Rome, Oakland, Paris, London and Ukraine.

Shanky: The Vegan’s Nightmare (Artvision Games, Fri 1st February, $6.99) Shanky – is a joyful meat grinder and mince is its movement force. Swallow up everything you can and collect Meat-Cola to stay on the move. Participate in a stunning story of love and self-sacrificing. Depending on the level, Shanky would change its movement force accessories to legs, wheels, wings and boat. During the boss battles, you would learn how to use its mince launcher. Collect Meat-Cola to expand Shanky’s stomach and success is guaranteed. And remember – there is never enough mince, so keep grinding!

Sky Gamblers – Afterburner (Atypical Games, Today, $19.99) This is the latest and greatest jet dogfight game, coming from the creators of Sky Gamblers, Battle Supremacy and Radiation series! Get into the cockpit and prepare to take-off. Unlock, upgrade and customize the weapons and defenses of more than 100 planes.

Solitaire Klondike BLACK (Sanuk Games, Thu 31st January, $5.00) The classic single player card game “Solitaire Klondike” arranged to Cool version!

Solstice Chronicles: MIA (CIRCLE Entertainment, Today, $14.99) In a dead colony on Mars a corporate marine is left far behind enemy lines. With the unlikely help of an insurgent drone, he faces a battle for survival against an army of murderous, mindless mutants… and worse things.

Spoiler Alert (Megafuzz, Fri 1st February, $4.99) Spoiler Alert is a video game that tests your platforming skills… in reverse. It’s a comedy platformer that you play backwards. When you pick this game up, it has already been beaten.

Stunt Kite Party (HandyGames, Fri 8th February, $9.99) Stunt Kite Party is a family-friendly single player and couch-coop multiplayer game with an exciting storyline and endless fun in numerous game modes. Choose from eight playable characters and fly your kite in four scenic settings, where you can challenge your friends in either predefined matches or your own custom created tournament.

The King’s Bird (Graffiti Games, Tue 12th February, $19.99) Escape into a world kept secret by a tyrant, and discover the truth about your freedom. The King’s Bird is an artistic, momentum-based game that seamlessly combines precision-platforming with physics-based gliding.

The Stillness of the Wind (Fellow Traveller, Today, $12.99) One by one, everyone left the once bustling village for the city. Everyone, except Talma. Now approaching the end of her days, she maintains a simple, solitary way of life, surviving, subsisting, tending to her homestead and her goats. Develop your own personal routine as you care for your farm and your animals. Tend to your goats, make cheese with their milk, collect eggs and cook meals, grow vegetables and barter with the travelling merchant who brings increasingly disturbing letters from your family in the city.

TORIDAMA: Brave Challenge (G-mode, Thu 31st January, $5.00) 『TORIDAMA: Brave Challenge』is mini game collection based on the courage test. Test your weak feeling inside of you as we say “Chicken Level” based on timing of pressing a button, level, and pitch in various kind of critical situations. Share play is available, so you can measure your “Chicken Level” with your friend. All game is playable with one buttom, so it is casually play with family and many friends in a party. What is more, Crazy mode which will be available after playing all the mini games, supports world ranking system. Let’s challenge how your “Chicken Level” would be amang against strong opponents in the world.

3DS Retail

Yo-Kai Watch 3 (Nintendo, Fri 8th February, $39.99) Mischievous beings known as Yo-kai are everywhere, and it’s up to Nate and Hailey Anne to befriend, battle, and solve problems with them. Follow two parallel stories and unravel the mysteries behind strange sightings while meeting over 600 Yo-kai and using the new 3×3 grid battle system to strategically dish out or dodge attacks. Read our Yo-Kai Watch 3 review.

3DS eShop

Vera Swings (Today, $5.99) After falling asleep while gazing at the moon, Vera dreams about swinging on the stars up to the magical place she’s always longed to visit. Help Vera reach the moon by swinging up the stars in this simple yet challenging platformer. Time your swings just right to catch the colorful stars and touch the glowing checkpoint to unlock the next level up. Hone your timing and precision skills as you swing from platform to platform and climb higher through the sky to make Vera’s dream come true!

Activities

My Nintendo Has a Valentine for You – Newly added rewards featuring the lovable Kirby include a special Kirby: Right Back At Ya! video for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems and a Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn gift box printable.

More Yo-kai, More Mysteries – To celebrate the launch of the YO-KAI WATCH 3 game, a new wallpaper reward is available through My Nintendo. Redeem your My Nintendo Points and download the fun YO-KAI WATCH 3 themed wallpapers.

Nintendo eShop Sales

Check out the full list of deals available this week here.

So that’s your lot for this week’s North American Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks!

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

The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 (THQ Nordic, €29.99 / £26.99) – Legend foretold it. Prophecies predicted it. Chosen ones chose to believe in it. Now the fantasy spoof adventure saga continues. Join Wilbur, Ivo, Nate and Critter in another classic point-and-click adventure in the wicked world of Aventasia. Help them fulfil their destiny. A destiny as yet unwritten.

Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 2 (Milestone, €59.99 / £49.99) – Live like a champion with the updated career mode and set weekly activities in your agenda: new challenges, sponsors and incredible prizes all await you! Train in the Compound. Ride freely or put your custom rider’s skills to the test, competing against rivals on four different tracks. Learn to control your bike when leaning, starting, braking, cornering and scrubbing.

RIOT – Civil Unrest (Merge Games, €16.99 / £12.74) – RIOT – Civil Unrest is the highly anticipated real-time riot simulator that places the player right in the heart of some of the world’s most fractious clashes. Campaigns include: Indignados (Spain), Arab Spring (Egypt), Keratea (Greece) and NoTAV (Italy). Seventeen single level scenarios include Rome, Oakland, Paris, London and Ukraine.

BLAZBLUE CENTRALFICTION Special Edition (Pqube, €39.99 / £43.99) – Brace yourselves for the pinnacle of 2D fighting action – this is BlazBlue’s final and most hard-hitting chapter to date, with more stages, more moves, and more characters than ever before. Whether you’re a hardcore BlazBlue veteran, or a newcomer wanting to experience the HUGE single player mode, one thing is for certain – this is the ULTIMATE anime fighting experience!

Switch eShop – New Releases

Observer (Bloober Team, €29.99 / £26.99) – Observer is a cyberpunk, detective thriller set in the year 2084 in Krakow, Poland. The world lies in ruins with corporations seizing power after the fall of governments. You do their bidding. No lie will remain hidden from you, as you hack into the minds of those you interrogate. When your past catches-up, you must act on your own and unravel the mystery of your son’s disappearance. Your name is Daniel Lazarski, you’re an Observer. – Read our Observer review

Avenger Bird (Ultimate Games, €1.99 / £1.79) – Oh No! Someone had kidnapped your little birds! You must go on an epic adventure to rescue them! Avenger Bird is a platform side-scroller game with pixel-art graphics, but your hero isn’t just a regular hero. You are playing a bird that can flap it’s tiny wings to fly and glide for limited distances. It’s a retro-inspired 16-bit era game with innovative and challenging fly/glide mechanic.

Ping Pong Trick Shot EVOLUTION (STARSIGN, €4.99 / £4.49) – This is an action puzzle game in which you throw ping pong balls into a cup. Control your character, position, angle and power when you throw the ping pong ball. This game includes 4 modes – Challenge, Score Attack, VS, and 50 Cup.

The Path of Motus (Michael Hicks, €11.99 / £10.79) – Will you let other people stop you from pursuing your dreams? For generations, a village of goblins has been trapped inside a mysterious forest; anyone who attempts to leave returns hopeless and defeated. Determined to break new ground, a young goblin named Motus plans to build a series of bridges through the forest. However, his perseverance will soon be tested, as he meets bullies that use their own words to stop him. Will you find a way through life’s forest, or like others be lost in its depths with no will to continue?

Warhammer Quest (Chilled Mouse, €24.99 / £19.99) – Based on the classic tabletop game, Warhammer Quest is an addictive mix of role-playing and strategy. Lead your group of brave adventurers through the perilous dungeons of the Warhammer World in the search for wealth and glory!

ACA NEOGEO PUZZLE BOBBLE 2 (HAMSTER, €6.99 / £6.29) – “PUZZLE BOBBLE 2” is an action puzzle game released by Taito in 1995 as the second sequel of PUZZLE BOBBLE. Bub and Bob, the bubble spitting dragons from the action game are back again to take on new challenges! Skilfully bounce bubbles off the walls, make chains, and erase them! Aim for even greater chains with the new Star Bubbles and Metal Bubbles!

Away: Journey To The Unexpected (Plug In Digital, €16.99 / £14.99) – Welcome to a feel-good FPS! A colourful adventure combining action, negotiation and rogue-lite elements. You play as a kid that is neither a hero nor a warrior. Yet with the power of friendship, you will overcome every obstacle in your way! Choose your path through the levels, uncover the light-hearted story, and above all, recruit allies. All the wacky and powerful characters you meet can be played in first person, and it’s up to you to find the right answers to get them to join your team!

Commander Keen in Keen Dreams (Lone Wolf Technology, €9.99 / £8.99) – Billy Blaze, eight-year-old genius, working diligently in his backyard clubhouse has created an interstellar starship from old soup cans, rubber cement, and plastic tubing. While his folks are out on the town and the babysitter has fallen asleep, Billy travels into his backyard workshop, dons his brother’s football helmet, and transforms into…

Defense Grid 2 (Hidden Path Entertainment, €16.79 / £14.99) – A horde of enemies is invading and stealing your cores, now it’s up to you to stop them by strategically building towers at your base. The controls are intuitive, the gameplay is deep, and you’ll find yourself refining your strategies for hours on end.

Estiman (Arts Alliance, €1.99 / £1.79) – Estiman is an original, engaging arcade game based on one of the processes our minds work with every day – estimation. With combos, you can keep going forever (if you have the skills!). The sweet, minimal visuals will appeal to your aesthetic sense, and an adaptive difficulty level turns this simple concept into a compelling and satisfying game.

Evoland Legendary Edition (Shiro Games, €19.99 / £17.99) – Evoland is a journey through the history of action/adventure gaming, allowing you to unlock new technologies, gameplay systems and graphic upgrades as you progress through the game. Inspired by many cult series that have left their mark in the RPG video gaming culture, Evoland takes you from monochrome to full 3D graphics and from active time battles to real time boss fights, all with plenty of humour and references to many classic games.

Gnomes Garden: New Home (8Floor Games, €4.99 / £4.49) – After defeating the sorcerer collector, the gnomes returned the castle to its old form. But it still stood in the grey wasteland, and there nothing could grow. The princess was worried that her people would soon run out of food and start to starve. So she makes the decision to set off on a journey to find the secret Green Recipe.

KYUB (NextNinja, €4.00 / £3.59) – The puzzle game “KYUB” that fascinated the world now available on Nintendo Switch! Move the cubic object “KYUB” and solve the mysterious problem using its ability! Switch between action and puzzle phases where you manipulate other cubes to climb walls and destroy obstacles with lasers or activate switches to trigger new paths. The atmosphere of mysterious and exciting “KYUB” is waiting for you!

Magic Scroll Tactics (Mediascape, €9.99 / £8.99) – Magic Scroll Tactics is a side-scrolling tactical RPG where height is key. But be warned, simply holding the high ground won’t ensure victory! Raining arrows down on your hapless foes is only one part of this simple yet deep strategy game; you’ll need to master a wide variety of abilities and units if you wish to conquer your perilous foes.

Mercury Race (Herrero, €7.99 / £7.99) – Mercury Race is a shooting & racing game set in a retro-futuristic world. Finish each circuit in time to obtain the badge and achieve ranking number one. The game will challenge not only your driving skills but also your shooting accuracy.

Percy’s Predicament Deluxe (Maestro Interactive, €5.25 / £4.69) – Percy’s Predicament Deluxe is a casual title for all to enjoy! Percy’s Predicament Deluxe is a single player game in which you control Percy Penguin, who has become trapped within a magical orb. You must navigate the course and collect all the fish before the time runs out! 100 Levels and six different environments each with their own musical themes means the fun never stops!

Pizza Parking (I.V.O Games, €3.99 / £3.59) – Pizza Parking is a challenging arcade parking simulator. You are a pizza delivery driver, and your goal is to park precisely and fast! Time is running out and the road is winding and full of obstacles.

Pocket Academy (Kairosoft, €10.00 / £8.99) – School got you down? Wish you could change a few things? Well, now’s your chance to create the ultimate dream school in this simulation smash-hit! Tailor your personal academy as you see fit, erecting classrooms, making clubs–even deciding this week’s hot couple!

Pumped BMX Pro (Curve Digital, €11.99 / £11.99) – Pumped BMX Pro puts you back on the seat for another high adrenaline, fast-paced trickathon where chaining massive combos could put you at the number one spot on the global leaderboards. Pump your way through 60 levels of ever-increasing difficulty, making sure you’re racking up those platinum medals by completing Trick Challenges along the way.

Reverie: Sweet As Edition (Rainbite, €12.99 / £11.99) – With restless spirits threatening the safety of Toromi Island’s inhabitants, Tai must venture through dangerous dungeons and across a variety of environments to put the spirits to rest. All in a summer holiday! Reverie is an action adventure game set on a fictional island in New Zealand, inspired by the legend of Maui and the Giant Fish where the demigod himself fishes up the North Island with a powerful fishhook.

Sky Gamblers – Afterburner (Atypical Games, €16.99 / £15.29) – Get into the cockpit and prepare to take-off. Unlock, upgrade and customize the weapons and defences of more than 100 planes. Paint your favourite jet fighter, customize patterns and badges for the ultimate looks. Become the master of the skies!

Solstice Chronicles: MIA (CIRCLE Ent, €13.49 / £12.32) – In a dead colony on Mars a corporate marine is left far behind enemy lines. With the unlikely help of an insurgent drone, he faces a battle for survival against an army of murderous, mindless mutants… and worse things. This isometric action shooter includes key strategic decisions. Your drone has vital abilities and you need to strategize as you fight; should you scavenge for supplies or push forward to face the enemy?

Surfingers (Forever Entertainment, €4.49 / £4.04) – Surfingers is an arcade game with controls based on up-and-down movement. The player must change the height of the wave in a dizzying pace, bypassing many obstacles (ships, balloons, rocks, trees, bones, pyramids etc.) and try to get as long as possible without touching anything. The game offers surfing through various worlds, including: ocean, snow, desert or hell. There are over 20 characters available to choose from!

The Rainsdowne Players (Stephen Ogorman, €3.29 / £2.99) – Nobody said that opening a theatre on the wrong side of the river was going to be easy! The roof may be leaking, and the audience may be armed to the teeth, but nothing is going to stop the Rainsdowne Players from becoming the premier (and only!) theatre troupe in town!

The Stillness of the Wind (Fellow Traveller, €9.76 / £8.49) – One by one, everyone left the once bustling village for the city. Everyone, except Talma. Now approaching the end of her days, she maintains a simple, solitary way of life, surviving, subsisting, tending to her homestead and her goats. Develop your own personal routine as you care for your farm and your animals. Tend to your goats, make cheese with their milk, collect eggs and cook meals, grow vegetables and barter with the travelling merchant who brings increasingly disturbing letters from your family in the city.

Guacamelee! 2 Complete (DrinkBox Studios, €17.19 / £15.51) – Get the complete Guacamelee! 2 experience by picking up the game and both DLC packs together! The celebrated metroidvania is here in its ultimate form. Punch and suplex your way through the entire story in the game-changing costumes of the ‘Three Enemigos’ character pack, and enjoy the savage challenges and rewards of the ‘Proving Grounds’ challenge level.

99Moves (EnjoyUp Games, €2.99 / £2.69) – 99Moves, a retro arcade game where you will have to survive with just 99 Movements. Without a heading in the galaxy, all was lost because your energy was about to run out… gravity would chart the course of your destiny… Suddenly, V-99 entered a zone called Shaders, which provided energy… It was a new opportunity to survive. However, it was not all good news, as you only have 99 energy pulses to move through the Shaders zone.

Access Denied (Ratalaika Games, €3.99 / £3.99) – Calling all safe-crackers and lovers of puzzle games! The time for testing your brain, whilst listening to rain and thunder has arrived, as try your hand at a series of puzzles that are playable across 36 levels. From rotating dials, imputing numbers and other commands, your work will be cut out for you, but in the event, your mental puzzle-solving prowess comes through for you, you will get the chance to have your cake and eat it too!

City of Brass (Uppercut Games, €14.99 / £13.49) – Become a daring thief in City of Brass, a first-person action adventure from senior BioShock developers. Armed with scimitar and a versatile whip, you’ll lash and slash, bait and trap your way to the heart of an opulent, Arabian Nights-themed metropolis – or face certain death as time runs out.

Doom & Destiny (Heartbit, €11.99 / £10.49) – Doom and Destiny is a turn-based hilarious JRPG where you take control of a party of four everyday friends. Journey through an unpredictable story filled with parodies and cameos. Start your adventure in a classic dungeon with dragons, save the princess with the help of green-dressed elf and then fly to manga-themed city with the help of a famous Italian plumber. This is Doom and Destiny, the flying-spaghetti fantasy adventure!

Food Truck Tycoon (Baltoro Games, €4.99 / £4.49) – Test your skills and talent as the owner of a busy food truck! Your only job is to take orders, prepare food and serve to as many customers as possible. Be careful not to burn the food! Fulfil your dream of becoming the tycoon of the best food trucks in the city!

Glass Masquerade (Digerati, €9.59 / £8.63) – Welcome to Glass Masquerade – an artistic puzzle game inspired by Art Deco and stained-glass artisans of the 20th century. Combine hidden glass pieces to unveil clocks and themes exhibited by various cultures of the world at the ‘International Times Exhibition’ – an interactive electronic show.

Mimic Hunter (Angry Cat, €4.99 / £4.49) – Playing as legendary Mimic Hunter Ratimousse, the task is now yours to face a mysterious threat that emerged long after the end of the Witches’ Wars. To unveil the secrets and save the mortal world, you’ll have to overcome the puzzles, traps, and mind-bending cylindrical labyrinths of the Seven Towers of the Unbound, master your fencing skills and occult powers, and defeat the corrupt minions of a terrible adversary.

Odallus: The Dark Call (Digerati, €10.79 / £9.71) – The old gods have forgotten this land… Odallus is an exploration/action game and loving homage to the 8-bit genre classics. You play as Haggis – a battle-weary warrior who must wield his sword once more to rescue his son from Darkness.

Oniken: Unstoppable Edition (Digerati, €8.99 / £8.09) – In a post-apocalyptic future controlled by a sinister corporation, ninja mercenary Zaku is the last hope for humanity. Inspired by the demanding gameplay of 8-bit action/platformers, Oniken pits your agility and swordplay against a gauntlet of enemies, traps, and challenging bosses.

Stunt Kite Party (HandyGames, €9.99 / £8.99) – Choose from eight playable characters and fly your kite in four scenic settings, where you can challenge your friends in either predefined matches or your own custom created tournament. You can also face off against AI controlled characters in the single-player experience, framed by a lighthearted story mode that allows you to learn more about the joyful world of Stunt Kite Party.

3DS Retail – New Releases

Etrian Odyssey Nexus (Deep Silver, €39.99 / £35.99) – With more classes, characters, gameplay systems, and labyrinths than any other game in the series, Etrian Odyssey Nexus is the ultimate dungeon-crawling adventure. Create and customize characters from 19 playable classes, then take on the dangerous creatures of Lemuria’s labyrinths with your perfect party! With the ability to swap between four difficulty settings, auto-mapping settings, and a grand standalone story, series newcomers and experienced veterans alike are welcome. – Read our Etrian Odyssey Nexus review

Wii U eShop – New Releases

Sinister Assistant (Ultra Dolphin Rev, €3.99 / £3.59) – You are Emuela, a master wizard who likes to hold back her own strength to give her foes a “fighting chance.” She is on a quest. For what? No one knows. But we do know there will be (minor) destruction and property damage along the way. In this world, encounter familiar and new enemies that will stand in your way on your quest for… Goddess knows what! Travel through different worlds and encounter dangerous creatures in Sinister Assistant.

Switch eShop – Demos

The Path of Motus Demo (Michael Hicks, Free) – Will you let other people stop you from pursuing your dreams? For generations, a village of goblins has been trapped inside a mysterious forest; anyone who attempts to leave returns hopeless and defeated. Determined to break new ground, a young goblin named Motus plans to build a series of bridges through the forest.

Pocket Academy Démo (Kairosoft, Free) – School got you down? Wish you could change a few things? Well, now’s your chance to create the ultimate dream school in this simulation smash-hit! Tailor your personal academy as you see fit, erecting classrooms, making clubs–even deciding this week’s hot couple!

3DS eShop – Demos

Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn Demo (Nintendo, Free) – In Patch Land, practically everything, from enemies to obstacles to who knows what else, is entirely made of yarn – even robots! And to beat courses made of yarn, you’ve got to use moves made of yarn. Every stage from the Wii version is making a return, and the Nintendo 3DS version is also being puffed up with some new features. When you pick up items you can craft bigger yarn balls, or you can even conjure up some wind to rake in the beads!

Switch eShop – Pre-Orders

The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince (NIS America, €19.99 / £19.99, pre-order from 06/02/2019) – Plucked straight from the pages of an ancient fairy tale, The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince tells the story of two lonely hearts brought together through a mutual misunderstanding. Transform between the wolf and the princess to solve puzzles and evade traps, collect flowers and petals to unlock fragments of memories, and weave through the dark and dangerous forest to guide the prince toward a cure. But be warned…an all-seeing forest is no place for a blind prince.

Pillar (Michael Hicks, €5.99 / £5.39, pre-order from 06/02/2019) – Lost in an intimate snowy town, a palette of individuals are in search of a mysterious artifact said to bring great knowledge and understanding. Lead each character through their quest in this collection of minigames, each with unique personalities and challenges… maybe their paths aren’t so different after all.

Aragami – Shadow Edition (Merge Games, €26.99 / £22.49, pre-order from 07/02/2019) – Aragami is a third person stealth game that casts you as an undead assassin with the power to control the shadows. Teleport to any shadow, become invisible, materialize weapons or even summon a shadow dragon to infiltrate the enemy ranks and dispose of your targets. Aragami: Shadow Edition includes Aragami: Nightfall, a story campaign which takes place before the events of Aragami, and all content released so far for Aragami.

Alvastia Chronicles (KEMCO, €12.99 / £11.69, pre-order from 07/02/2019) – After encountering the man who killed their parents ten years prior, Elmia and her brother Alan set out to avenge their deaths as they fight to stem the tide of monsters flooding into the upper world, and restore peace to Alvastia.

Astrology and Horoscopes Premium (Crazysoft, €8.99 / £7.99, pre-order from 07/02/2019) – 2019 Astrology and Horoscopes Premium is the most luxury astrology, horoscope and numerology application. Learn your love horoscope in style. Get detailed daily predictions of tomorrow and yesterday based on biorhythms.

TOUHOU SKY ARENA -MATSURI- CLIMAX (Mediascape , €29.99 / £26.99, pre-order from 07/02/2019) – Touhou Project fan game “Touhou Sky Arena” on Nintendo Switch! Enjoy dramatic girl battles in the sky with the “Fired-up Battle System”, which changes abilities to the playing song. Play Local or Network Battles up to 4 players. Play bombardment battles anytime, anywhere with anyone. Over 70 tracks recorded with famous Japanese doujin artists like Rokugen Alice, A-One and BUTAOTOME.

V.O.I.D. (JanduSoft, €3.39 / £3.05, pre-order from 07/02/2019) – V.O.I.D. is an all-new side-scrolling action adventure game! Taking the best aspects of the 8- and 16-bit era classics, and transforming them with modern tech & fresh mechanics, into something new and exciting! PLOIDS are the evolution of the human race by merging technology with its DNA. Our planet is invaded by a race from another galaxy, which destroys everything it touches to become thus with absolute power.

X-Morph: Defense (EXOR Studios, €15.99 / £14.39, pre-order from 07/02/2019) – Unique fusion of a top-down shooter and tower defense strategy. You are the X-Morph – an alien species that invades Earth to harvest its resources. Strategize in the build mode by carefully selecting various types of alien towers or throw yourself right into the battle. Build mazes for incoming enemies in an environment that provides exceptional planning freedom. Tear down buildings and collapse bridges to support your defense or to simply indulge in a spectacle of unprecedented destruction.

X-Morph: Defense Complete Edition (EXOR Studios, €23.99 / £21.59, pre-order from 07/02/2019) – X-Morph: Defense Complete Edition includes: X-Morph: Defense core game, European Assault DLC, Survival Of The Fittest DLC, Last Bastion DLC.

Riddled Corpses EX (COWCAT, €9.99 / £8.99, pre-order from 08/02/2019) – Riddled Corpses EX is a twin-stick shooter made in the style of 8/16 bit arcade games. Travel through diverse locations packed with danger and huge bosses. Choose your character wisely and make good use of their abilities and the special items (clock, dynamite and turrets) to progress and destroy the root of evil!

Switch eShop – Special Offers

Game Title	Price	Saving	Until	Original Price
Joe Dever’s Lone Wolf (Forge Reply)	€7.49 / £6.74	-50%	Mon 11th Feb	€14.99 / £13.49
Doughlings: Arcade (HERO CONCEPT)	€4.89 / £4.40	-30%	Mon 11th Feb	€6.99 / £6.29
Flood of Light (indienova)	€2.49 / £2.24	-50%	Fri 15th Feb	€4.99 / £4.49
Akihabara – Feel the Rhythm Remixed (JMJ Interactive)	€3.99 / £3.60	-50%	Mon 11th Feb	€7.99 / £7.20
Dandara (Raw Fury)	€5.99 / £5.39	-60%	Tue 19th Feb	€14.99 / £13.49
Hiragana Pixel Party (SPRINGLOADED)	€5.15 / £4.54	-36%	Mon 18th Feb	€7.99 / £6.99
Ultra Hyperball (SPRINGLOADED)	€2.99 / £2.69	-70%	Mon 18th Feb	€9.99 / £8.99
Nuclien (SPRINGLOADED)	€0.85 / £0.74	-76%	Mon 18th Feb	€3.49 / £2.99
State of Anarchy: Master of Mayhem (Sometimes You)	€4.79 / £4.31	-40%	Mon 18th Feb	€7.99 / £7.19
The Mooseman (Sometimes You)	€4.54 / £4.08	-35%	Mon 18th Feb	€6.99 / £6.29
One Eyed Kutkh (Sometimes You)	€2.49 / £2.24	-50%	Mon 18th Feb	€4.99 / £4.49
Grab the Bottle (Sometimes You)	€2.99 / £2.69	-40%	Mon 18th Feb	€4.99 / £4.49
It’s Spring Again (Sometimes You)	€0.99 / £0.89	-50%	Mon 18th Feb	€1.99 / £1.79
NeuroVoider (Plug In Digital)	€6.99 / £6.49	-50%	Mon 11th Feb	€13.99 / £12.99
Viviette (DYA GAMES)	€8.99 / £8.99	-10%	Tue 5th Mar	€9.99 / £9.99
Portal Knights (505 Games)	€23.99 / £19.99	-20%	Wed 20th Feb	€29.99 / £24.99
Agatha Knife (Mango Protocol)	€9.59 / £7.67	-20%	Sun 17th Feb	€11.99 / £9.59
Carnival Games® (2K)	€29.99 / £24.75	-25%	Thu 21st Feb	€39.99 / £34.99
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (2K)	€39.99 / £35.99	-20%	Thu 21st Feb	€49.99 / £44.99
WWE 2K18 (2K)	€14.84 / £13.19	-67%	Thu 21st Feb	€44.99 / £39.99
WWE 2K18 Digital Deluxe Edition (2K)	€19.49 / £17.39	-70%	Thu 21st Feb	€64.99 / £57.99
Mega Man 11 (CAPCOM)	€23.99 / £19.99	-20%	Thu 28th Feb	€29.99 / £24.99
Mega Man Legacy Collection (CAPCOM Europe)	€11.24 / £8.99	-25%	Thu 28th Feb	€14.99 / £11.99
Let’s Sing 2018 (Koch Media)	€23.99 / £17.99 / CHF	-40%	Thu 21st Feb	€39.99 / £29.99 / CHF –
Let’s Sing 2019 (Koch Media)	€27.99 / £20.99 / CHF	-30%	Thu 21st Feb	€39.99 / £29.99 / CHF –
Syberia (Microids)	€14.99 / £13.49	-50%	Wed 13th Feb	€29.99 / £26.99
Syberia 2 (Microids)	€14.99 / £13.49	-50%	Wed 13th Feb	€29.99 / £26.99
V-Rally 4 (BigBen)	€34.99 / £31.49	-30%	Thu 21st Feb	€49.99 / £44.99
Tennis World Tour (Bigben Interactive)	€34.99 / £30.93	-30%	Thu 21st Feb	€49.99 / £44.19
GRIP (Wired Productions)	€31.99 / £27.99	-20%	Thu 21st Feb	€39.99 / £34.99
Job the Leprechaun (Herrero)	€2.69 / £2.69	-10%	Thu 14th Feb	€2.99 / £2.99
Quarantine Circular (Ant Workshop)	€4.79 / £3.83	-20%	Wed 27th Feb	€5.99 / £4.79
Layers of Fear: Legacy (Bloober Team)	€15.79 / £14.21	-21%	Mon 18th Feb	€19.99 / £17.99
Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle (CAPCOM)	€15.99 / £12.79	-20%	Thu 28th Feb	€19.99 / £15.99
Resident Evil Revelations (CAPCOM)	€11.99 / £9.59	-40%	Thu 28th Feb	€19.99 / £15.99
Mega Man X Legacy Collection (CAPCOM)	€14.99 / £11.99	-25%	Thu 28th Feb	€19.99 / £15.99
Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2 (CAPCOM)	€14.99 / £11.99	-25%	Thu 28th Feb	€19.99 / £15.99
Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 (CAPCOM)	€11.24 / £8.99	-25%	Thu 28th Feb	€14.99 / £11.99
OKAMI HD (CAPCOM)	€14.99 / £11.99	-25%	Thu 28th Feb	€19.99 / £15.99
Six Sides of the World (Dolores Ent.)	€1.99 / £1.79	-80%	Thu 14th Feb	€9.99 / £8.99
A Hole New World (Dolores Ent.)	€1.99 / £1.79	-80%	Thu 21st Feb	€9.99 / £8.99
Qbik (Forever Entertainment)	€1.04 / £0.94	-79%	Thu 21st Feb	€4.99 / £4.49
Violett (Forever Entertainment)	€0.99 / £0.89	-90%	Thu 21st Feb	€9.99 / £8.99
Frederic: Resurrection of Music (Forever Entertainment)	€1.25 / £1.13	-79%	Thu 21st Feb	€5.99 / £5.39
Frederic 2: Evil Strikes Back (Forever Entertainment)	€1.04 / £0.94	-79%	Thu 21st Feb	€4.99 / £4.49
Sparkle 2 Evo (Forever Entertainment)	€1.04 / £0.94	-79%	Thu 21st Feb	€4.99 / £4.49
Millie (Forever Entertainment)	€1.04 / £0.94	-79%	Thu 21st Feb	€4.99 / £4.49
Goetia (Forever Entertainment)	€0.99 / £0.89	-90%	Thu 21st Feb	€9.99 / £8.99
Star Story: The Horizon Escape (Forever Entertainment)	€0.99 / £0.89	-90%	Thu 21st Feb	€9.99 / £8.99
Hollow (Forever Entertainment)	€1.99 / £1.79	-90%	Thu 21st Feb	€19.99 / £17.99
Sparkle 3 Genesis (Forever Entertainment)	€1.04 / £0.94	-79%	Thu 21st Feb	€4.99 / £4.49
NO THING (Forever Entertainment)	€1.01 / £0.91	-49%	Thu 21st Feb	€1.99 / £1.79
Sparkle ZERO (Forever Entertainment)	€1.04 / £0.94	-79%	Thu 21st Feb	€4.99 / £4.49
NoReload Heroes (Forever Entertainment)	€0.99 / £0.89	-90%	Thu 21st Feb	€9.99 / £8.99
Phantaruk (Forever Entertainment)	€1.04 / £0.94	-79%	Thu 21st Feb	€4.99 / £4.49
Realpolitiks (Forever Entertainment)	€6.24 / £5.62	-75%	Thu 21st Feb	€24.99 / £22.49
Teddy the Wanderer: Kayaking (Forever Entertainment)	€4.99 / £4.49	-50%	Thu 21st Feb	€9.99 / £8.99
Startide (Forever Entertainment)	€0.99 / £1.50	-90%	Thu 21st Feb	€9.99 / £8.99
Diggerman (Forever Entertainment)	€3.34 / £ 3.00	-33%	Thu 21st Feb	€4.99 / £4.49
Shut Eye (Forever Entertainment)	€0.99 / £0.89	-75%	Thu 21st Feb	€3.99 / £3.59
Milanoir (Gambitious )	€6.49 / £5.84	-50%	Thu 14th Feb	€12.99 / £11.69
Oh…Sir! The Hollywood Roast (Gambitious )	€1.39 / £1.19	-60%	Thu 14th Feb	€3.49 / £2.99
Party Crashers (Giant Margarita)	€7.49 / £6.74	-50%	Thu 21st Feb	€14.99 / £13.49
Word Search by POWGI (Lightwood Games)	€4.79 / £4.19	-40%	Thu 21st Feb	€7.99 / £6.99
Fill-a-Pix: Phil’s Epic Adventure (Lightwood Games)	€4.79 / £4.19	-40%	Thu 21st Feb	€7.99 / £6.99
Word Puzzles by POWGI (Lightwood Games)	€5.99 / £5.39	-40%	Thu 21st Feb	€9.99 / £8.99
Word Sudoku by POWGI ( Lightwood Games)	€4.79 / £4.19	-40%	Thu 21st Feb	€7.99 / £6.99
Calculation Castle: Greco’s Ghostly Challenge”Addition” (Media Five)	€4.24 / £3.75	-50%	Sat 9th Mar	€8.49 / £7.50
Calculation Castle: Greco’s Ghostly Challenge “Division” (Media Five)	€5.94 / £5.25	-30%	Sat 9th Mar	€8.49 / £7.50
Calculation Castle: Greco’s Ghostly Challenge”Multiplication”(Media Five)	€5.94 / £5.25	-30%	Sat 9th Mar	€8.49 / £7.50
Calculation Castle: Greco’s Ghostly Challenge “Subtraction” (Media Five)	€5.94 / £5.25	-30%	Sat 9th Mar	€8.49 / £7.50
BLACK BIRD (Onion Games)	€12.99 / £9.74	-35%	Thu 14th Feb	€19.99 / £14.99
Cycle 28 (Pill Bug)	€2.79 / £2.49	-50%	Thu 14th Feb	€5.59 / £4.99
DragoDino (Plug In Digital)	€6.49 / £5.84	-35%	Thu 21st Feb	€9.99 / £8.99
Animated Jigsaws: Beautiful Japanese Scenery (RAINYFROG)	€4.49 / £3.99	-50%	Thu 21st Feb	€8.99 / £7.99
Fossil Hunters (Smiling Buddha Games, LLC)	€7.49 / £6.74	-50%	Thu 21st Feb	€14.99 / £13.49
Jotun: Valhalla Edition (Thunder Lotus Games)	€7.49 / £5.49	-50%	Thu 21st Feb	€14.99 / £10.99
Don’t Knock Twice (Wales Interactive)	€6.24 / £4.99	-50%	Thu 21st Feb	€12.49 / £9.99
Moonfall Ultimate (Wales Interactive)	€7.79 / £5.99	-40%	Thu 21st Feb	€12.99 / £9.99
Crush Your Enemies! (Vile Monarch )	€5.19 / £4.67	-35%	Wed 13th Feb	€7.99 / £7.19
Semispheres (Vivid Helix)	€4.99 / £4.49	-50%	Thu 14th Feb	€9.99 / £8.99
Baobabs Mausoleum Ep.1: Ovnifagos Don’t Eat Flamingos (Zerouno Games)	€3.99 / £3.59	-33%	Thu 21st Feb	€5.99 / £5.39
Eternum Ex (Zerouno Games)	€8.99 / £8.99	-31%	Thu 21st Feb	€12.99 / £12.99
WWE 2K18 Season Pass (2K)	€20.09 / £16.74	-33%	Thu 21st Feb	€29.99 / £24.99
OkunoKA (Ignition Publishing)	€11.99 / £8.79	-20%	Fri 15th Feb	€14.99 / £10.99
Lazy Galaxy: Rebel Story (AbsoDev)	€2.37 / £2.13	-66%	Tue 26th Feb	€6.99 / £6.29
Madorica Real Estate (GIFT TEN INDUSTRY)	€11.25 / £10.13	-13%	Mon 18th Feb	€12.99 / £11.69
Never Stop (Pixelsplit )	€3.99 / £3.59	-20%	Fri 15th Feb	€4.99 / £4.49
Gekido Kintaro’s Revenge (NAPS Team)	€6.92 / £6.23	-54%	Sun 24th Feb	€14.99 / £13.49
Kentucky Robo Chicken (Solid9)	€0.99 / £0.91	-60%	Thu 28th Feb	€2.49 / £2.29
Jewel Fever 2 (Sprakelsoft)	€3.19 / £2.87	-20%	Mon 4th Mar	€3.99 / £3.59
2064: Read Only Memories INTEGRAL (MidBoss)	€8.78 / £7.89	-50%	Sun 17th Feb	€17.57 / £15.79
Build a Bridge! (BoomBit Games)	€8.99 / £8.09	-40%	Mon 25th Feb	€14.99 / £13.49
Puzzle Puppers (Cardboard Keep )	€2.99 / £2.69	-40%	Sun 17th Feb	€4.99 / £4.49
Overcooked! 2 (Team17)	€18.74 / £14.99	-25%	Sun 17th Feb	€24.99 / £19.99
Heart&Slash (BLG-Publishing)	€6.99 / £6.29	-50%	Sun 17th Feb	€13.99 / £12.59
Soulblight (My Next Games)	€11.99 / £10.79	-20%	Sun 24th Feb	€14.99 / £13.49
Operation Pig (Vikalb)	€7.49 / £6.74	-25%	Sun 10th Mar	€9.99 / £8.99
Hyperide: Vector Raid (Arts Alliance)	€1.99 / £1.79	-50%		€3.99 / £3.59
Jumping Joe & Friends (QubicGames)	€1.99 / £1.79	-60%		€4.99 / £4.49
Swords & Soldiers (Two Tribes Publishing)	€6.74 / £6.11	-10%		€7.49 / £6.79
Swap This! (Two Tribes Publishing)	€1.07 / £0.98	-10%		€1.19 / £1.09
Toki Tori (Two Tribes Publishing)	€4.49 / £4.04	-10%		€4.99 / £4.49
Toki Tori 2+: Nintendo Switch Edition (Two Tribes Publishing)	€13.49 / £12.14	-10%		€14.99 / £13.49
RIVE: Ultimate Edition (Two Tribes Publishing)	€13.49 / £12.14	-10%		€14.99 / £13.49

New 3DS eShop – Special Offers

Game Title	Price	Saving	Until	Original Price
Breakout Defense 2 (nuGAME)	€4.89 / £4.19	-30%	Thu 7th Mar	€6.99 / £5.99

Play Together Sale

Nintendo of Europe has just launched an amazing sale on top multiplayer games! Take a look at all of the offers here.

DLC / Add-On Content

Nintendo Switch

• Pic-a-Pix Deluxe – Classic 14 (Lightwood Games) – €2.99 / £2.99
• WorldNeverland – Elnea Kingdom:Chocolate Outfits Set (althi) – €2.99 / £2.69
• WorldNeverland – Elnea Kingdom:Chocolate Accessories Set (althi) – €1.99 / £1.79
• Zaccaria Pinball: Zaccaria Remake Table Pack 2 (Magic Pixel) – €14.99 / £13.49
• Fortnite – Fortnite – Frozen Legends Pack (Epic Games) – €24.99 / £19.99

Nintendo 3DS

• Etrian Odyssey Nexus – Inventor’s Experience – €1.99 / £1.79
• Etrian Odyssey Nexus – Inventor’s Fortune – €1.99 / £1.79
• Etrian Odyssey Nexus – Etrian 1 & 2 Portraits – Free
• Etrian Odyssey Nexus – Etrian 3 Portraits – Free
• Etrian Odyssey Nexus – Etrian 4 Portraits – Free
• Etrian Odyssey Nexus – Etrian 5 Portraits – Free
• Etrian Odyssey Nexus – New Adventurers – Free
• Etrian Odyssey Nexus – PROJECT Re FANTASY – Free
• Etrian Odyssey Nexus – Bikini Armor – €1.99 / £1.79

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!

Picture the scene; it’s the mid-’80s, the American home video game market is in the pits, and Nintendo – an upstart Japanese company that only really has Donkey Kong to its name in terms of global commercial success – is trying to sell consoles to people who still remember the video game crash of 1983; a period typified by a flood of terrible games, some of which were so bad they were put in landfill. How do you convince an entire nation that thinks games consoles are a dead end to buy your new and expensive home entertainment system?

As it happens, Nintendo’s approach included many key points; the NES had a front-loading cartridge system which resembled a VCR (not a games console, honest!) and even shipped with R.O.B., a robotic buddy who made the package seem toy-like and approachable. However, arguably the most important part of the company’s approach was the famous ‘Original Nintendo Seal of Quality’, a white-and-gold badge which was printed on cartridges and packaging to assure consumers that they were getting a top-notch product, and not the kind of shoddy game that sank the Atari 2600 – and the industry itself.

Back in the ’80s, Nintendo limited publishers to releasing a select quota of games each year in an effort to ensure that only the finest games came to the NES; with only a finite number of slots to fill each year, third parties would be more inclined to release quality games, rather than flood the market with lower-quality product in a bid to capitalise on the popularity of the console. This approach caused much annoyance with certain publishers – some of which, like Konami, even went as far as to establish separate sub-brands (Ultra and Palcom) so they could release more games in a calendar year – but you can see the sense in it, even today; by making publishers consider their releases more keenly, the quality bar should have been kept high. You’re only going to bring your best titles to market if you have to pick them carefully.

Of course, the reality wasn’t quite as utopian as that and the NES still saw its fair share of poor games, but it could have been so much worse had Nintendo not introduced this system – all of which was backed up by the bold ‘Seal of Quality’ branding which would later be copied by its rival, Sega. Fast forward to the present, and while Nintendo still uses the Seal of Quality badge on its products, its impact is arguably lessened. Today, the seal really just means that Nintendo has vetted the game to ensure it works on its consoles without issue.

Basically, the seal is simply an assurance that the item you’re looking at won’t destroy your console, rather than an indication that the game itself is of high enough quality. Now, for anyone who didn’t live through the NES, SNES and Game Boy eras, this might not come as much of a shock, as the seal hasn’t had quite the same cachet in recent years. Nintendo has totally relaxed its agreements with publishers and there’s no longer a limit on how many games can be released in a single year.

It’s also vital to remember that the market has changed completely since the days of the NES, when Nintendo had almost full control of the console arena and could, therefore, be more heavy-handed with publishers. The arrival of the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis changed all of that, giving Nintendo some much-needed competition in the west and making the company realise that it couldn’t be quite as draconian with third-parties if it wanted to win the console war. As soon as a viable rival turns up, you can’t expect publishers to limit their earning potential to just a handful of releases every 12 months when they have other options – and from the arrival of the SNES onwards, Nintendo would never have the luxury of having the market all to itself again, at least in the domestic sector of the games industry.

Predictably, when you’re fighting for market share there’s little reason to be picky about what games you allow to be released on your platform; all publishers have to pay a licence fee after all, so it’s all money in the bank. As a result, we saw an influx of pretty terrible games during the N64, GameCube and Wii eras, with the latter period being packed with godawful cash-in titles thanks to the fact that the Wii was the biggest-selling home console of its generation, and introduced video games to a whole new audience which – it pains us to say – was perhaps a little less discerning when it came to quality.

Today, digital publishing is a solid reality, removing a massive barrier to entry for many developers. We’re now at the point where small studios can self-publish if they wish, and – thanks to the fact that the Switch is selling so well – we’ve seen a deluge of games hit the eShop. We’re also seeing an upturn in the number of physical games coming to Switch, many of which bear that iconic white-and-gold Seal of Quality, which suggests to the uninformed that they have passed some form of rigorous testing.

As seasoned gamers with a knowledge of Nintendo’s history, we know that’s not the case; the Nintendo of today is unlikely to turn any game away from its console unless it’s totally and utterly broken, and even mature and gory titles are released on Switch – a far cry from the puritanical days of the NES where Nintendo forced publishers to censor their titles to remove any offensive imagery. The Nintendo of the ’80s took its role as an entertainer of children very seriously indeed, but today, industry-agreed age ratings do this job just as well, allowing publishers to effectively self-regulate their products to ensure they end up in the right hands.

The worrying thing is, we’re seeing a rise in the amount of ‘shovelware’ titles coming to Switch, thanks in no small part to the fact that, to publishers, it represents an enticing commercial opportunity. With a good Christmas under its belt, the Switch has plenty of momentum and this consumer awareness generates a predictable appetite for new games. While we’re getting a steady stream of quality titles on Switch for sure, we’re also witnessing some rather troubling releases – the most egregious of which has to be the recent budget range from PlayIt in the UK; these are packaged games sold in stores, but when you open the case up, you’ll find there’s simply a download code inside and no game card. While this practice isn’t new (heck, even Nintendo has resorted to it in the past), it’s a rather questionable way of getting eShop shovelware in front of the unsuspecting public.

We imagine the situation is only going to get worse as the years roll by; Switch shows no signs of slowing and we know from the Wii, DS and 3DS libraries that after a while, the sheer volume of crap starts to drown out the quality games. Now, consumer choice is always a good thing when it comes to entertainment and quality is, to a certain degree, subjective; not everyone likes the same games and we’ve all got a title in our collection that we know is complete rubbish but we can’t help but love it regardless.

The volume of really bad games available shouldn’t be an issue as long as good games continue to exist and there remains a means for consumers to sort the wheat from the chaff (review sites like the one you’re reading now being perhaps the best way of doing that). But even so, a large volume of poor software can have an impact on how a console is perceived by the gaming public; this is why the Wii has such a bad reputation these days, despite the fact that it was a groundbreaking console which played host to some of Nintendo’s most accomplished games. Super Mario Galaxy, Donkey Kong Country Returns and Metroid Prime 3 are all stunning, but the Wii’s legacy – for many players – is the avalanche of terrible waggle-based shovelware that plagued much of its existence.

With this in mind, should Nintendo make the Seal of Quality stand for something once more? Should the company start having a more active role in the games released for the Switch, as it did during the NES era, when its staff would personally vet each upcoming third-party game to iron out kinks and identify the games that would prove to be the most successful?

In an ideal world, such an approach would reap massive rewards, as it would ensure that the Switch got only the finest games and that consumers would avoid being stung by terrible software – but is this really a workable approach in 2019, when platform holders want to be as welcoming as possible to ensure they get the software support they need to beat their rivals? There’s an old saying we’re fond of here at Nintendo Life: ‘The further you open the window, the more crap flies in’. Nintendo needs to cast its net as widely as possible to present to consumers as many gaming options as it can, but that inevitably means lowering the quality barrier and results in just as many average games getting released as outstanding ones (if not more).

The Seal of Quality stood for something once; sure, there were still ‘bad’ NES games, but Nintendo’s stringent policy was arguably responsible for giving us hits like Contra, Castlevania, Final Fantasy, Dragon Warrior, Mega Man 2, River City Ransom, Tecmo Bowl and many, many more 8-bit classics. Today, it feels like a relic to the past; a symbolic reminder to Nintendo veterans that the company still remembers its formative years in the console space, but a badge which carries little weight in the grand scheme of things.

Should this situation be different? Do you think Nintendo should put its money where its mouth is and make the Seal of Quality stand for something again? Let us know with a comment below.

Funko has revealed the latest Pokémon character to be added to the Pop Vinyl lineup, with the grass-type starter Pokémon Bulbasaur coming soon.

As you can see, the figure takes on the usual, Funko Pop appearance, seemingly staring into your soul with its deep, black eyes of doom. The figure will fittingly be released on Pokémon Day, 27th February, and a blog post from Funko’s official site states that “additional Pokémon will be available every season”.

The official Pokémon Twitter account has also revealed that “a year’s worth of seasonal Pikachu figures”, also from Funko, are on the way. The message specifically mentions “US” trainers, so we imagine these will be exclusive to that region.

Do you collect Funko Pop figures? What do you think of this Bulbasaur design? Tell us below.

Ubisoft has today revealed an official release date for the upcoming Assassin’s Creed III remaster, noting that the game will launch on 29th March. Sadly, despite the rumours, it would appear that Switch is missing out.

Towards the end of last month, we shared the news that multiple Czech retailers had started listing the game for Nintendo Switch, even going as far as sharing its box art. While no official confirmation had been given at the time, the box art – and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey‘s recent cloud-based release in Japan – had us optimistic that the remaster might find it’s way to Nintendo’s console.

In an official press release today, though, the game has been confirmed for PlayStation 4, the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One X, and Windows PC. There’s no mention of Switch to be found.

From an official standpoint, then, any dreams of reliving the American Revolution on the go are now dead. The only potential glimmer of hope is the possibility that Nintendo may have asked Ubisoft to hold back a Switch announcement, ready for a surprise reveal in a theoretical future Nintendo Direct. To be absolutely clear, this is purely speculation on our part; it’s impossible to know whether the game is secretly on the way or not.

Were you hoping to see Assassin’s Creed III Remastered on Switch? Are you sad that it doesn’t look likely now? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

The HD Rumble feature is a cracking little addition to the Switch’s arsenal of technical goods, taking the subtle art of vibration to whole new levels from a gaming point of view. We often see features that stray from the norm like this get completely ignored – and especially those that are unique to one console – but HD Rumble has been used a decent number of times across major and indie releases alike.

One of the reasons for this may well lie in Nintendo’s available development tech. It’s not often that you get to hear developers talking about the ins and outs of working with a console, but Daylight Studios has done exactly that in a recent interview with Nintendo Soup. The developer’s producer, Faizan Abid, explained how the effect was used in the recently released Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space?!, revealing that it is a surprisingly easy affair.

“For the rumble feature, I can use any kind of sound effect I have in the game and generate the rumble effect. So it will actually follow the exact wave pattern. It is so easy to use, I can just input a sound effect and output the rumble.

So what we did was we had over a hundred sound effects in the game. Obviously, we are not doing rumble for everything, but we took all the sound effects of the game, the weapon fire and everything, and ran it through a script that converts it into rumble. We actually put in everything but we realised it was too much. We cut down, and we have a little bit left, but we still think it’s a bit too much but *laughs*.”

With Nintendo providing the tools to essentially drag and drop files with ease – not unlike those do it yourself-style website builders, it seems – using the feature in a new project sounds refreshingly simple. Taking away any unnecessary development steps sounds like the kind of support you’d hope for from a developer’s point of view, and is certainly something that will help the Switch’s unique functionalities to be used successfully.

Has the HD Rumble feature enhanced any of your favourite games? Do you wish it was used more often? Share your thoughts with us below.

Gaming accessory maker Hori has revealed the Fighting Stick Mini for Nintendo Switch, a portable control option that looks ideal for your classic beat ’em up needs.

Said to fit comfortably in your hands, this new release scraps the standard Joy-Con and Pro Controller button layout to provide you with that authentic arcade feel. Each of the Switch’s usual buttons are mapped to the eight buttons on the front of the unit, with the joystick working exactly as you’d expect. You can see it up-close in the images below.

It’s scheduled to release in Japan this April (pre-orders are now being accepted at Amazon Japan with worldwide shipping) and seems to be a re-branded version of the PS4 Fighting Stick Mini. Both of these products are officially licensed by Nintendo and Sony respectively, so you should be able to expect a high level of quality from both.

It also serves as a miniature version of the previously released Hori Real Arcade Pro, a more expensive and considerably larger option for the most eager of fighting fans. Naturally, this option is a premium version of the product – and has reviewed well amongst buyers on Amazon – but it’ll cost you considerably more. The Mini version above costs just over £35, whereas the Pro is available for £113.23.

With the Switch’s great library of fighters – Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, Pokkén Tournament DX, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate to name just a few – one of these could be a nice little investment.

Are you a keen fighting game fan? Do you like to use traditional fighting stick setups? Let us know in the comments.

The good news is that there are no real stinkers this week, as we try to get you some of the cream of the crop, with the occasional warning to steer clear. Let’s take a look in detail.

A unique concept that provides some genuinely fun local multiplayer gameplay, Black and White Bushido unfortunately suffers from a bit of a shallow pool of content, in addition to a seriously woeful single player AI. In this monochromatic, samurai experience, you’ll fight against fellow warriors or bots in standard modes you’d expect; deathmatch and capture the flag, in addition to a training mode to hone your skills. While the variety in modes is very limited, it is an engaging local multiplayer experience, similar in some ways to the popular TowerFall, providing that ‘friendship ending’ fun (if playing with three other humans).

Like TowerFall, you fight on stages where you pass through the screen, only to come out on the other side of the map, allowing for some tactical moves that always require your guard to be up. The control is also tight and really enjoyable; the wall jumping, parkour action and ability to slice to the side for an additional jump make gameplay with multiple players frantic, and enjoyable.

The main hook of Black and White Bushido comes from the former half of its name; the stylised, black and white palette doesn’t just make the game look super cool, it also allows each team to blend into half of the background at any given time to utilise stealth. The screen will also change to expose hiding players at various times, which can be crucial when going in for the kill. There are also items to utilise, though you’re not aware of what you’ve picked up at the time, so it’s a bit random. The main issue comes from the really poor single player AI. One match we played had all three opponents simply jumping up and down for the whole match whilst we captured the flag three times over. Disappointing.

The visuals of Black and White Bushido are great, but they’re difficult to see when viewing the whole screen in tablet mode. The use of the monochromatic palette, with the occasional splash of blood, is really satisfying, making grabbing a kill all the more pleasing. The art style is in fact (perhaps unsurprisingly) very reminiscent of the Samurai Jack cartoon series, which is anything but a bad thing. The four characters and seven stages (including one unlockable) are all well designed, with the latter’s use of unique taunts a really nice addition. It’s a shame then, that Black and White Bushido feels a bit bare bones when it has some really great elements along with a unique premise going for it. It’s fantastic for an hour as a local multiplayer party game, but not recommended for extended single player use.

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If you’re someone who suffers from déjà vu, then Necrosphere Deluxe might exacerbate this problem, as you’ll spend 99 percent of your time in this game dying, instantly respawning to a checkpoint and trying to figure out its fiendishly difficult platforming puzzles, only to die again. You take on the role of recently deceased Agent Terry Cooper, trying to make your way out of the afterlife and back into the world of the living. Along the way, you’ll find scrolls that reveal more of the plot, though the focus is absolutely more on the simple gameplay.

About that gameplay; Nercrosphere Deluxe only uses two buttons, taking Terry either right or left. It’s up to you as the player to navigate the environmental hazards and use objects (usually taking the form of a bubble) to allow you to jump, climb, or duck your way to the end of each section. As a ‘mini Metroidvania’ experience, the entire world is one vast, ever-expanding map, though there isn’t a minimap to help you navigate.

The backtracking element comes from finding upgrades such as a jetpack, which give you a few more options and allow you to reach areas that you previously couldn’t. What’s frustrating, however, is having to go back and complete some of the harder puzzles for a second time. Frustrating is a good word to describe Necrosphere, as some of the conundrums it presents you with are brutally annoying to figure out. However, the resolution to solving them is rewarding, requiring both solid thought and quick reflexes. The use of a button on either Joy-Con is quite jarring at first, though you get used to it. The option to use the Joy-Con individually would have been nice, considering the game’s incredibly rudimentary control scheme.

Aesthetically, Necrosphere Deluxe is fine, but not stand-out brilliant. The 8-bit style pixilated visuals serve to support its increasingly brutal puzzles, but aren’t anything inspiring. The soundtrack, however, is fast-paced, retro, and very cool, keeping the insane momentum going across all fronts. In review, Necrosphere Deluxe is a short and hard as nails platformer that’ll have you shouting in frustration, but defeating it is very rewarding. The backtracking through previously-completed puzzles is frustrating, but hey, at least it gives you more bang for your buck.

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A hide-and-seek multiplayer shooter, At Sundown: Shots in the Dark shares many traits with the excellent Screencheat, which we covered a few weeks back. Both have you hiding from opponents in tense deathmatches, with only limited opportunities to see them. In At Sundown, this takes the form of spots of light and trails of movement, as well as the obvious gunfire spots. The control can be a little tricky to get hold of at first, especially when using the Joy-Con, but once mastered, this can be a seriously fun and addictive party game.

You’ve got all of the standard modes you’d expect: deathmatch, timed match, arena matches and the like, though all are very similar, with no crazy creative modes. The weapon choice is also a little tamer compared to its first-person cousin, with your standard array of real-life guns to choose from. However, the top-down perspective really works a charm, making it feel like a blend of the best parts of both Screencheat and Wondershot, both of which are excellent in their own right. The control feels a tad stunted at first, but as mentioned, you soon become accustomed, at which point, it provides first-rate multiplayer fun. There is also an online component, should you wish to test your skills out on players around the world. Finally, the array of maps may seem weak, but each setting has a variety of different rooms where the action can take place, which does at least add some sort of diversity, even if the scenery remains the same.

In terms of its visuals, At Sundown is serviceable, with each of the characters having cool Saturday morning cartoon-style designs and somewhat pretty maps. Again, At Sundown is another example of a game that certainly pushes its gameplay as a priority over its aesthetic, but what we get certainly isn’t bad. The graphics are serviceable too, again adopting the cartoonish style, which is great. The soundtrack is a bit stock, but if you’re playing it right, you likely won’t be paying attention during the intense firefights anyway. In conclusion, At Sundown: Shots in the Dark is another fine example of a party game experience that is at its best when played with four human players. The online element is also a welcome feature, but games like this are best enjoyed with some mates on the couch with a big packet of Doritos, in our experience.

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Mixing up the variety of genre this week, we have the strategic RPG, Mecho Wars: Desert Ashes, which sports an incredibly imaginative steampunk-infused aesthetic, alongside decent gameplay, that players of the Advance Wars series will be accustomed to. That said, Mecho Wars is unfortunately let down by a rather stock and dull plot that doesn’t match the wonderful visual style of its creatures. The dialogue mainly consists of generic commands and orders, and doesn’t match the weird and wonderful tone set by the visuals, which is a shame.

Gameplay-wise, however, Mecho Wars is familiar and solid. It takes the tactical gameplay of the Advance Wars series, where your goal per level is to take enemy settlements, turning them into your own and gaining gold, which you can use to bolster your units to decimate your opponents. The AI is suitably challenging and the single-player campaign has a great difficulty curve that introduces you to mechanics level-by-level, rather than throwing you in all at once; a sign of great game design. The units are what you’d expect: heavy, ground, aerial and water-based, and they all have their own perks and drawbacks, leading to some tactical thinking of which option is best to purchase dependent on your current situation. You also have the options of both local (via controller sharing) and online multiplayer, allowing you to complete arcade-style matches, which is equally enjoyable. Overall, the gameplay is functional and addictive, as well as being fairly simple.

However, where Mecho Wars: Desert Ashes really comes into its own is its delightfully surreal art style. There are influences aplenty, from archaic, Lovecraftian horror, mixed with a bizarre cocktail of Blade Runner’s neo noir, Dishonoured’s steampunk and even a hint of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s cosmic quirkiness in there. It’s weird, but awesome. That said, it’s unsatisfying when the narrative is so poor, which is a shame, because the rest of the game is so good. A great lore with compelling characters and dialogue alongside these visuals could’ve made it something really special. That said, we enjoyed Mecho Wars: Desert Ashes for what it is and it would be unfair to judge it for what it isn’t. It’s a great strategic RPG that boasts an amazing art style and some solid, if familiar gameplay. Good stuff.

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Our final pick for the Nindie round up today is a twin-stick shooter RPG with ambitious visuals and plot, and gameplay that can be a tiny bit shallow. The premise of Solstice Chronicles: MIA takes a few cues from popular AAA shooters of the past few decades, such as its Mars-based setting straight out of DOOM and its robot companion, Saffron, reminiscent of AI helpers in both the Halo and Destiny series. The plot is pretty standard, with a huge invasion of mutant creatures overtaking the planet, leaving our lone hero as the only survivor. The marine’s dialogue is a tad clunky and his line delivery generally below average, but our AI friend Saffron has a healthy infusion of sass and a better voice actor that lets the dialogue scenes breathe more naturally.

Solstice Chronicles: MIA gives you the option of four classes before stripping you of your equipment at the beginning, Samus Aran-style. The four classes – Assault, Demolition, Hellfire, and Terminator – introduce the RPG elements, allowing you to upgrade your gear between levels. The latter two are a little dull, but the flamethrower-wielding Hellfire and the self-destructing Terminator provide some really unique ways to play.

Saffron also plays a big part in gameplay, with options for her to use a bomb, taunt enemies to distract, block their attacks and scout ahead to scope out the oncoming wave. The level of progression isn’t quite as extensive as we would’ve liked, which is a bit of a shame; the classes seem promising, but the skill trees are a tad limited. Enemies will appear according to your threat metre at the top of the screen, which will indicate how many are en route. The main issue is that making it to scripted events as the main goal somewhat nullifies incentive to fight most enemies, in addition to ammo being so generously distributed. Thus, the game becomes a race to the finish and also doesn’t encourage a huge amount of exploring. The control is fine, but kills don’t always feel super satisfying, even with the melee attack, with both gunfire and hard hits lacking the ‘oomph’ to make them cathartically pleasing.

Solstice Chronicles: MIA opts for a pretty ambitious, AAA style of storytelling, with fully-rendered 3D cutscenes and voice acting to recount its exposition. This doesn’t always hit the mark, as the aforementioned scenes are fine, but more reminiscent of last generation graphics, rather than pushing the Switch to its limit. The top down perspective for the main gameplay segments works well, but again, a slightly more zoomed-in approach might’ve been more welcome. In review, Solstice Chronicles: MIA is a mixed bag. It has some admirable intentions, but doesn’t always stick the landing. The dialogue is actually well written and both the aesthetic and gameplay are more than passable, but there is a feeling that with a little bit more attention, it could be even better. Still, as we said in the Mecho Wars review, we review games based on what they are, not what they could be, and Solstice Chronicles can still provide a good time for anyone looking for some two-stick shooter, RPG chaos.

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Will you be getting your hands on any of the above titles? Do you agree with our opinions this week? Let us know in the comments below.

When Civilization VI was first confirmed for Nintendo Switch last September, turn-based strategy fans were instantly excited at the prospect of taking the series on the go. As it turns out, it would appear that the game has performed very nicely indeed as a result.

The game launched on the platform in November to high praise – we said that it’s a “brilliant introduction” to the series on Switch and just as addictive as ever in our review – sitting proudly amongst the very best third-party recommendations for the console. As reported by GamesIndustry.biz, publisher Take-Two Interactive has revealed that the Switch version “significantly exceeded expectations” in terms of sales.

The company actually published four games to Switch in the final four months of 2018 – Civilization VI, NBA 2K19, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2, and Carnival Games. CEO, Strauss Zelnick, has said that Take-Two is excited about continuing this support for the console going forward.

“We felt good about the platform and we put the titles on Switch that we felt were going to perform well. We are excited about continuing to support the Switch for the right kind of properties.”

The unprecedented success of Civilization VI, as well as that of last year’s mega-hit Red Dead Redemption 2, has seen Take-Two raise its revenue expectations for the current financial year from the $2.55 to $2.65 billion range to between $2.66 and $2.71 billion.

Did you buy a copy of Civilization VI? Would you like to see Take-Two Interactive continue its support of Switch? Let us know in the comments.