Nintendo’s first major release of 2019, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, arrives on Nintendo Switch today. To celebrate that fact, Nintendo UK has shared a new launch trailer, complete with just as many precise platforming segments and musical ‘wah-wahs’ as you’d expect.
The trailer gives us a glimpse at some of the things you can expect to see and do in the game, likely feeling pretty familiar to those who have already experienced New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U on Wii U. While this new release is essentially just a bundle of those two games, the odd few new elements – such as the infamous Peachette power-up and Nabbit being a playable character in the base game – can also be seen in action.
If you’re thinking of picking this one up today, make sure to check out our full review of the game. Here’s just a little snippet of what we had to say:
“New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is an impressive package if you skipped the original, offering the best of modern-era 2D Mario, madcap multiplayer and glimpses of the outrageous invention that was to come in Super Mario Odyssey. Only the most fervent fans will find enough new content here to justify double-dipping, though, especially if you already played the Luigi expansion.”
Are you buying this one for yourself today? Are you already playing it as we speak? Make sure to let us know down below in the comments.
Next weekend, Pokémon GO is launching a new ‘Limited Research’ event style, and things are kicking off with a particularly elusive monster to snag for your collection.
On 19th January, players will be able to complete special Field Research tasks that all focus on one particular Pokémon – Feebas. Known for its unique evolution into Milotic (in which it must be walked as your buddy Pokémon for 20km before gobbling up 100 Feebas candy) this Pokémon will become available in encounters triggered by those featured tasks; if you’re lucky, you might even find a shiny version of the monster.
It would appear that this will be a new, regular thing for 2019, joining the already-popular Community Days (the next of which takes place tomorrow), and will likely play out in a similar way to last year’s Squirtle Squad bonus tasks.
If you want to join in the fun, here are the times you’ll need:
– Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India: Jan. 19, 2019, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. UTC (GMT +0) – The Americas and Greenland: Jan. 19, 2019, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. PST (GMT −8) – Asia-Pacific: Jan. 20, 2019, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. JST (GMT +9)
Will you be heading out on the 19th to snag some Feebas? Do events like these keep you interested in playing the game? Let us know in the comments.
Begin your adventure in Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition
A power struggle begins in a civilization dependent on an ancient technology, the blastia, and the Empire that controls it. Follow Yuri, a former Imperial Knight, whose seemingly simple mission pushes him into the middle of a nefarious plot that threatens the entire planet.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Tales of Vesperia is one of the most beloved entries in the ‘Tales of’ series and returns with remastered full HD graphics, never before seen characters, expanded story, and much more!
Features
Upgrades: Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition features updated graphics and an expanded story.
Bonus content: Additional playable characters, scenarios, locations, brand-new music tracks, and costumes that have not been available outside of Japan.
Adjusted Combat: This edition uses a specialized version of the Linear Motion Battle System. Players control a single party member in real-time combat, while the other three members are controlled by customized A.I. commands. Assemble your favorite team and enjoy exciting real-time battles with all new Mystic Artes and skills!
“After a strong 2018, both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS add to their large and diverse libraries with two solid games starring Mario and friends,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Nintendo is giving fans on both platforms good options to kick off their entertainment in 2019.”
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe contains New Super Mario Bros. U and the more challenging New Super Luigi U – two full games with a ton of high-quality content. While you can play as iconic characters Mario, Luigi, Toad and Nabbit, a new character also joins the mix – Toadette. Younger or less-experienced players will love playing as Nabbit and Toadette, as they offer extra assistance during play.
When Toadette picks up a Super Crown, she turns into Peachette and can double jump, float slowly during freefall and boost back up when she falls in a pit. When playing as Nabbit, you won’t be hurt by enemies and can earn extra 1UPs at the end of stages.
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a classic side-scrolling Super Mario experience in the vein of the original games. With 164 levels and numerous hidden secrets, it’s the ideal game to play at home or on the go. There is a wide variety of additional game modes to entertain players of all skill levels, and with up to four player multiplayer**, you and your friends and family members can all play together.
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is now available on Nintendo Switch at a suggested retail price of $59.99. For more information about the game, visit http://newsupermariobrosu.nintendo.com/.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story is one of the most acclaimed entries in the beloved Mario & Luigi RPG series. This new version for Nintendo 3DS includes all of the original’s hilarious and captivating content, with revamped graphics and refined gameplay. It also includes an original new mode starring everyone’s favorite son of the famous Koopa King, Bowser Jr., as he gathers an army, creates formations, supports his allies with an arsenal of moves and generally causes chaos (in the best way possible).
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey is now available at a suggested retail price of $39.99 and can be played on the entire Nintendo 3DS family of systems*, including Nintendo 2DS and New Nintendo 2DS XL. For more information about the game, visit https://marioandluigibowsersinsidestory.nintendo.com/.
Creatures Inc., a Japanese development studio heavily associated with The Pokémon Company and Game Freak, has caused upset amongst fans of the Pokémon franchise in China and Korea.
Best known for producing the series’ trading card game and toys, and helping with the development of video games, Creatures came under fire this week for tweeting images of a studio visit to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo. Creatures employees seemingly visited the shrine for Hatsumode (a Japanese New Year tradition where people visit Shinto shrines that are close to where they live or work), sharing pictures of the team enjoying the visit online. The tweet has since been deleted, but has been captured and re-shared by other users.
A screenshot of the offending tweet.
The Yasukuni Shrine lists the names, origins, birthdates, and places of death of more than two million people who have lost their lives from wars involving the country. The shrine is controversial, however, as it is also home to the names of more than 1,600 war criminals and Chinese and Korean citizens who were forcibly enlisted to fight in World War II by the Japanese army; many share the belief that shrines such as this house the souls of those who are enshrined and are angry at the fact that their ancestors are listed.
This has reportedly led to a number of Chinese and Korean fans expressing their disbelief and upset at the studio choosing to visit (even visits from Japanese politicians and celebrities can often be controversial). It’s important to note that not all have taken offence from the tweet, although Creatures has not acknowledged the situation since the removal of its original message.
Some other tweets from fans which we haven’t listed, containing language some may find upsetting, called for Creatures to remove the original message and apologise; one noted how the shrine already makes them “suffer”, asking Creatures to not “ruin” Pokémon for them by having connections with it.
The next batch of amiibo for the Super Smash Bros. line are now available to pre-order from the Nintendo Official UK Store. If you’re after any of these for your collection, you’d be wise to get your pre-orders in fast.
Joining the roster are Piranha Plant, King K. Rool, and Ice Climbers, all of which release on 15th February and are compatible with Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. At the time of writing, all three are still available to snag from the store (they only went up a matter of minutes ago) and are all priced at £12.99.
Please note that some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale which helps support the site. Please read our FTC Disclosure for more information.
amiibo stock has vastly improved since the scary early days, where literally no one’s orders were safe, but if you’re 100% sure that you want these figures it’s definitely worth getting your order in just in case. Again, at the time of writing, King K. Rool and Ice Climbers are also available from Amazon UK for £14.99 each should you want or need a different option.
Make sure to let us know in the comments if you decide to snap these up!
Of the two games receiving release dates today, it’s the X / X-2 remaster which will be launching first on 16th April. Final Fantasy XII is coming just a little bit later on 30th April, and character designer Akihiko Yoshida has shared this beautiful piece of artwork to celebrate.
If you’re a fan of the Final Fantasy series, the Switch is about to become a fantastic way to have lots of your favourite games ready to play at a moment’s notice.
Are you thinking about diving into these games once more when they arrive on Switch? Is this perhaps the first time you’ll be having a go at a Final Fantasy game? Tell us below.
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
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe(Nintendo, Fri 11th January, $59.99) Join Mario, Luigi, and pals for single-player or multiplayer fun anytime, anywhere! Take on two family-friendly, side-scrolling adventures with up to three friends as you try to save the Mushroom Kingdom. Read our New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe review.
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition(Bandai Namco, Fri 11th January, $49.99) Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Tales of Vesperia and the return of this fan-favorite with the Definitive Edition! A power struggle begins in a civilization dependent on an ancient technology, the blastia, and the Empire that controls it. The fates of two friends travelling separate paths intertwine in an epic adventure that threatens the existence of all. Read our Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition review.
Switch eShop
Double Cross(Graffiti Games, Today, $19.99) Developed by 13AM Games, the studio behind award-winning Runbow, Double Cross is an exciting action adventure game that has players take on the role of Zahra, an agent of R. I. F. T. (Regulators of Interdimensional Frontiers and Technology) whose job it is to maintain peace and order between all dimensions. Read our Double Cross review.
ACA NEOGEO RAGNAGARD(HAMSTER, Thu 3rd January, $7.99) “RAGNAGARD” is a fighting game released by SNK in 1996. Take control of unique characters based on gods and beasts of legend, and take down your enemies to gain power over Heaven. This game’s Element System allows for a variety of playing styles. Charge your Element Gauge to utilize destructive Disaster Arts and Miracle Arts!
Animus: Stand Alone(TROOOZE, Thu 3rd January, $7.99) ANIMUS places the gamer into the role of a solitary warrior who must fight his way through a dark and desolate world full of horrific monsters. The mythology-based hardcore action style transports the gamer into the realm of the game, and its namesake. Animus is very tactical in that it requires the learning and application of tactical skills to defeat enemies who would otherwise brutally punish any gamer expecting casual battles.
BQM -BlockQuest Maker-(Wonderland Kazakiri, Today, $14.99) Create & play! New dungeon RPG “BQM -Block Quest Maker” has come to Nintendo SWITCH! BQM enables you to create your very own dungeon RPG, packed with puzzles and traps. Secret doors, falling rocks, strong mobs – challenge them all and level up. What lies within the box? Unveil the secrets or… create them! But wait. Isn’t the stage design difficult? No, not with this maker! With simple controls of “construct” and “connect”, it’s easy like playing with blocks.
Brick Breaker(Bigben Interactive, Thu 3rd January, $9.99) Brick Breaker, the classic arcade game, is back with a breathtaking new version. Its explosive gameplay – unique and timeless – is filled with surprises. Sharpen your reflexes and precision to overcome the hundred different levels that await you. Collect bonuses, avoid traps and shoot your way to victory. Play alone or with up to 4 players on a split screen. Brick Breaker will offer you many hours of fun and entertainment!
Bury me, my Love(Plug In Digital, Today, $4.99) Bury me, my Love tells the story of Syrian refugee Nour and her husband Majd, as Nour undertakes a perilous journey to safety in Europe. Bury me, my Love is a Text Messaging Adventure game about Nour, a Syrian migrant trying to find her way to Europe. Her husband Majd, who remains behind in Syria, communicates with Nour through a messaging app, advising her as best he can so that she reaches her destination safely.
Caveblazers(Yogscast, Today, $14.99) Caveblazers is an action-focused platformer roguelike set in a fantasy world. Each game is unique with procedurally generated levels to explore and a massive amount of items, weapons and equipment to discover.
Clock Simulator(Kool2Play, Today, $3.99) One of the most original game concepts is now available on the Nintendo Switch! Clock Simulator is a minimalistic rhythm game. It puts the player in the role of the clock itself to explore the concept of time in a whole new way and offer challenge, relaxation, or plain and simple fun. All that a clock needs to do is to advance precisely once every second. Second, after second, after second, after second … Sounds simple enough? But could YOU take over and do it? Calm down. Relax. Focus on your inner rhythm. Click once a second. Every second. You are the clock.
Combat Core(MABManZ, Today, $19.99) Combat Core is a 3D arena fighting game sporting a colorful mix of modern aesthetics and futuristic cyberpunk. Fighters from across the galaxy have gathered to compete in the Combat Core League! The fighting mechanics focus on fast-paced combat, strategic use of your environment, and weapons in the arena. Fight against challenging AI or your friends, online or offline!
Everything(David OReilly, Today, $14.99) Everything is an interactive simulation game where every single object in the Universe is a playable character, from atoms to animals to planets to galaxies. The player can manipulate the world in infinite ways and construct their own, while exploring the interconnected relationships between everything. Narrated by the late British philosopher Alan Watts.
Forever Forest(Fictive Studio, Mon 14th January, $14.99) In a world conquered by darkness, in a forest that never ends, the fate of the Wyld rests on the shoulders of a brave hero with orange fur and a magical mask. Together you will set forth on an epic journey to carry the last ray of light from the deepest south to the darkest north. You need to survive in a hostile environment, compete for food and avoid predators as you explore dense underwood, stony deserts, treacherous swamps and ancient ruins in a magnificent forest brimming with dangers, wonders and surprises.
Gnomes Garden 2(8Floor Games, Thu 3rd January, $4.99) The wicked queen of the trolls has returned from banishment! Using her evil magic, she has kidnapped the princess of the gnomes and taken her to a distant kingdom. In those lands, none know of the power of the magical gardens! The gnomish people who live there have suffered long at the hands of the queen of the trolls and her subjects. The princess decides to help her brothers and sisters and return the power of the magic trees.
Grab Lab(Forever Entertainment, Today, $4.99) Time travel is a piece of cake – let’s try it with my time machine! 3, 2, 1, and. . . BOOM! Oops, my time machine exploded! Something’s wrong with the gravity, something’s wrong with the laboratory and the whole world! Magnetic anomaly, weather anomaly, gravity anomaly – oh, I’ve done a mess… Let’s fix it.
Hive Jump(Graphite Lab, Fri 11th January, $9.99) You and your friends assume the role of JUMPERS, and blast your way through subterranean alien hives in chaotic run-and-gun 2D platforming action. Up to 4 Players band together (Local Multiplayer) to kill aliens, avoid traps, collect treasures and lost relics. Win the final battle against the hive queen to save the galaxy!
HoPiKo(Merge Games, Today, $9.99) The evil Nanobyte virus is out, gaming is over. . . It’s time to hook up your power gloves and save your HoPiKo brothers! HoPiKo is an intense speed run platformer where you get to save gaming. Jump from platform to platform avoiding death, exploiting shortcuts and ripping through 100s of hand-crafted levels, each one dropped into a 5-stage mini-run designed to break your mind! Read our HoPiKo review.
Inside My Radio(Seaven Studio, Today, $9.99) Journey as a green LED mysteriously trapped inside a dying boombox and play the ultimate musical experience: bring electro, dub and disco music back to life!
Knock ‘Em Down! Bowling(D3Publisher, Today, $14.99) Ten-pin bowling, candlepin bowling, duckpin bowling… All kinds of popular bowling styles are included in Basic Mode. Play with 4 players and 1 Joy-Con Controller! Try fun game modes like split screen, team matches, no gutters, and more! Also includes Variety Bowling where roulette decides the rules!
Lightseekers(Playfusion, Today) Epic battles await: Take the role of a powerful magic hero and play the multi-award winning Trading Card Game, now on Nintendo Switch. With hundreds of cards available, each deck is unique and represents your personal play-style.
Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight(DANGEN Entertainment, Today, $14.99) Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight, the critically and publicly acclaimed action-platformer from Bombservice, has finally made its way to Nintendo Switch! Lead Kaho, a priestess from the village of Lun, as she seeks an audience with the Queen of Karst who can surely lift the curse from the land. Combo and dodge through a lovingly crafted pixel art world full of monsters and bosses. Carve out your path to Castle Karst as you see fit and lift the curse that threatens all life in the kingdom.
Onimusha: Warlords(Capcom, Tue 15th January, $19.99) This version includes the original game’s intense swordplay and dramatic revenge story, plus improved controls, widescreen display, a new soundtrack, and more. Experience this enhanced version of the best-selling action-adventure classic!
Overdriven Reloaded: Special Edition(Maïlys Brouste, Today, $7.99) Let’s Destroy Huge Bosses and dodge thousand of bullets . . . It’s time to save the universe one more time!
Pang Adventures(DotEmu, Thu 3rd January, $9.99) The Pang series is a beloved collection of arcade games from the 90s. Guide two brothers around the world to save humankind from an alien invasion! Use your skills to overcome the attack balls pouring from the skies & rescue the world from impending annihilation! Read our Pang Adventures review.
Planet RIX-13(Sometimes You, Wed 16th January, $4.99) You are the pilot of a spacecraft that is looking for and exploring worlds that are potentially suitable for life. While scanning the next target, you lost control of your ship and had to make an emergency landing. It quickly becomes clear that you are not the first person on this planet.
SEGA AGES Out Run(SEGA, Today, $7.99) The 3D driving game that launched a legacy returns on Nintendo Switch! Featuring new motion controls, newly added music tracks, and a new ranking system. Speed through the streets of SEGA AGES Out Run, the award-winning title that paved the road for the racing genre. Your favorite stages and soundtrack are back. Do you have what it takes to beat the clock?
Snowboarding The Next Phase(RedBullMediaHouse, Today, $9.99) Snowboarding The Next Phase brings snowboarding to the Nintendo Switch for the very first time! Stomp tricks, play against your friends, and make the dream of becoming the greatest boarder of all time come true.
Stellar Interface(ImaginationOverflow, Fri 11th January, $12.99) Fight In Ever Changing Space Battles! Run through the universe, discover the numerous perks/consumables and their synergistic effects. Explore the randomly-generated galaxy to find merchants, unlock spacecrafts, collect StellarNetES Cartridges, checkmark your kills of the various galactic overlords. And die. A lot!
Tetraminos(Bigben Interactive, Thu 3rd January, $9.99) The classic arcade game is back in a supercharged version! For beginners or veterans, Tetraminos offers an easy-to-learn, limitless challenge. Give your brain a workout with the 50 Puzzle mode levels, survive as long as possible in Endless mode and rack up the combos and same-colour lines to climb to first place in the online ranking. Challenge your friends in local Versus mode with up to 4 players and sabotage their boards in wild games.
Nintendo 3DS retail
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey(Nintendo, Fri 11th January, $39.99) Laugh your way through a hilarious story told from three perspectives! Search the Mushroom Kingdom for a cure as Bowser, explore his innards as the Mario Bros., and discover the untold story of Bowser Jr. ’s Journey. Overcome the fury of Fawful, action-packed battles, puzzling tasks, and giant bosses in a classic action RPG—stuffed with new content!
Activities
Mushroom Kingdom Wallpaper – To celebrate the launch of the exciting games New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe and Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey, My Nintendo is offering three different wallpapers. Redeem your My Nintendo points to plaster your computer or smartphone with Mushroom Kingdom heroes. Also, don’t forget to take the quiz on the Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey official site to earn My Nintendo Platinum Points!
Animal Crossing 2019 Calendar – Before you shake that tree, download and print a 2019 calendar inspired by the Animal Crossing series! Redeem your My Nintendo points and celebrate the birthdays of your favorite Animal Crossing characters.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Piranha Plant Limited-Time Offer – Purchase and register your Super Smash Bros. Ultimate game by Jan. 31 for a download code to play as Piranha Plant when it releases.
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
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe(Nintendo, €59.99 / £49.99) – Run, leap and stomp your way through more than 160 2D side-scrolling courses in traditional Super Mario style with New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe for Nintendo Switch! Up to four players can work together to grab coins and topple enemies on their way to the Goal Pole, or see who can nab the most gold in frantic, friendly – and above all, fun – competition! – Read our New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe review
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition(BANDAI NAMCO, €49.99 / £39.99) – Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Tales of Vesperia and the return of this fan-favourite with the Definitive Edition! A power struggle begins in a civilization dependent on an ancient technology, the blastia, and the Empire that controls it. The fates of two friends travelling separate paths intertwine in an epic adventure that threatens the existence of all. Dive into the Definitive version of this game with updated full HD graphics, brand-new music tracks, exciting mini-games, bosses, and a collection of unreleased costume DLC! – Read our Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition review
Switch eShop – New Releases
SEGA AGES Out Run(SEGA, €6.99 / £5.99) – The 3D driving game that launched a legacy returns on Nintendo Switch! Featuring new motion controls, newly added music tracks, and a new ranking system. Speed through the streets of SEGA AGES Out Run, the award-winning title that paved the road for the racing genre. Your favourite stages and soundtrack are back. Do you have what it takes to beat the clock?
Caveblazers(Yogscast, €10.39 / £9.59) – Caveblazers is an action-focused platformer roguelike set in a fantasy world. Each game is unique with procedurally generated levels to explore and a massive amount of items, weapons and equipment to discover. As you delve deeper into the cave, you’ll discover new areas to explore, new weapons and new monsters to try them out on.
Battle Princess Madelyn(Causal Bit Games, €14.99 / £13.49) – Battle Princess Madelyn is a game that follows the journey of a young knight in training, Madelyn, and her ghostly pet dog, Fritzy. They set out on a journey to save her kingdom and her family from the clutches of an evil wizard. – Read our Battle Princess Madelyn review
GEM CRASH(DOUBLE DRIVE, €3.34 / £3.00) – The game is played simply by rotating the map’s outer ring. Bounce the ball and destroy the gems within the time limit. If you manage to destroy the PRISM GEM, you will go into Fever Time. This will trigger an opportunity to destroy a BONUS GEM to get bonus points! Try to improve your score by upgrading the ball and by using items!
Neko Navy – Daydream Edition(Fruitbat Factory, €10.99 / £9.89) – Flying cats versus 10,000 soothing characters! What awaits them beyond all those furious midair fights…? Witness the world’s most shocking ending for yourself! Shoot, evade, and detonate Bombers! “Neko Navy” is an exhilarating horizontal scrolling shooter where you can shoot them up with easy controls.
ACA NEOGEO KIZUNA ENCOUNTER(HAMSTER, €6.99 / £6.29) – “KIZUNA ENCOUNTER” is a fighting game released by SNK in 1996. Create a team of two fighters and use weapons and your fists to win in single-round sudden death tag-team matches! Experience the feel of an advanced battle system that pairs mid-battle character change-ups and easy commands leading to rush combos!
A Ch’ti Bundle(Seaven Studio, €15.99 / £14.49) – Get the two successful and award-winning games Ethan: Meteor Hunter + Inside My Radio in this discounted bundle!
Apocalipsis Wormwood Edition(Klabater, €7.99 / £7.19) – In Apocalipsis Wormwood Edition the static woodcuts from the Middle Ages start living their own life, but the medieval philosophy and occult symbolism go beyond the visuals and inspire the story itself. In this game, the music and the graphics work in perfect tandem to immerse you in this bizarre, dreary world. Wormwood Edition also contains One Night in the Woods, which is a prequel to the story known from Apocalipsis: Harry at the End of the World.
Big Crown: Showdown(Sold Out, €12.99 / £9.99) – Big Crown: Showdown sees friends become foes as they compete for the crown in 4-player local and online multiplayer combat, set over 3 wacky worlds full of medieval shenanigans. Avoid perilous hazards and engage in frantic fights as you attempt to knock your opponent’s off 15 crazy courses in the ultimate royal battle!
BQM -BlockQuest Maker-(Wonderland Kazakiri, €12.99 / £11.99) – Create & play! New dungeon RPG “BQM -Block Quest Maker” has come to Nintendo SWITCH! BQM enables you to create your very own dungeon RPG, packed with puzzles and traps. Secret doors, falling rocks, strong mobs – challenge them all and level up. What lies within the box? Unveil the secrets or… create them! But wait. Isn’t the stage design difficult? No, not with this maker! With simple controls of “construct” and “connect”, it’s easy like playing with blocks. Commands may be easy, but dungeons you create can be as canny and deadly as your imagination dictates. Just use your head and BQM’s traps and gimmicks. Be it puzzle, action or story – which dungeon will you make? Share maze of your design with players all around the world and challenge them to beat your wit.
Bubble Shooter DX(EntwicklerX, €2.99 / £2.69) – Bubble Shooter Deluxe (DX) is a classic bubble shoot game. This addictive classic bubble blast match-three game comes with clean and modern graphics, hundreds of great challenging levels and some nice special items for a better game experience in harder levels.
Bury me, my Love(Plug In Digital, €4.99 / £4.49) – Bury me, my Love tells the story of Syrian refugee Nour and her husband Majd, as Nour undertakes a perilous journey to safety in Europe. Bury me, my Love is a Text Messaging Adventure game about Nour, a Syrian migrant trying to find her way to Europe. Her husband Majd, who remains behind in Syria, communicates with Nour through a messaging app, advising her as best he can so that she reaches her destination safely.
Clock Simulator(Kool2Play, €3.99 / £3.59) – One of the most original game concepts is now available on the Nintendo Switch! Clock Simulator is a minimalistic rhythm game. It puts the player in the role of the clock itself to explore the concept of time in a whole new way and offer challenge, relaxation, or plain and simple fun. All that a clock needs to do is to advance precisely once every second. Second, after second, after second, after second … Sounds simple enough? But could YOU take over and do it? Calm down. Relax. Focus on your inner rhythm. Click once a second. Every second. You are the clock.
Combat Core(MABManZ, €17.60 / £15.79) – Combat Core is a 3D arena fighting game sporting a colourful mix of modern aesthetics and futuristic cyberpunk. Fighters from across the galaxy have gathered to compete in the Combat Core League! The fighting mechanics focus on fast-paced combat, strategic use of your environment, and weapons in the arena. Fight against challenging AI or your friends, online or offline!
Double Cross(Headup Games, €14.99 / £13.49) – Double Cross is an exciting action adventure game that has players take on the role of Zahra, an agent of R.I.F.T. (Regulators of Interdimensional Frontiers and Technology) whose job it is to maintain peace and order between all dimensions. A recent attack on R.I.F.T. headquarters thrusts players into a thrilling new case where they must use their R.I.F.T. developed gear to sling, swing, fight and investigate across distinct dimensions. – Read our Double Cross review
Elli(BandanaKid, €19.99 / £17.99) – A whimsical hand-crafted single-player adventure filled with a variety of puzzles and exciting platforming. Watch your step, there are many dangers to overcome! Discover a delightful world, inhabited by the playful and usually helpful Mandragora. Journey from lavish beaches, through ancient temples, mountain tops and caverns filled with forgotten Mandragora technology, and more. A vast and ever-changing soundtrack, beautifully blending the themes of the world and underscoring Elli’s adventure.
Ethan: Meteor Hunter(Seaven Studio, €7.99 / £7.19) – Your name is Ethan, a rat that got touched by meteorites giving him the power of telekinesis: freezing time and moving objects around him. Manipulate the world with endless possibilities: build the solution YOU want where nothing is scripted and levels can be solved in multiple ways. With its unique blend of precision platforming and time-stopping physics-based puzzles, you may die repeatedly and feel like a hero when you succeed.
Inside My Radio(Seaven Studio, €7.99 / £7.19) – Journey as a green LED mysteriously trapped inside a dying boombox and play the ultimate musical experience: bring electro, dub and disco music back to life!
Everything(David Oreilly, €12.99 / £11.69) – Everything is an interactive simulation game where every single object in the Universe is a playable character, from atoms to animals to planets to galaxies. The player can manipulate the world in infinite ways and construct their own, while exploring the interconnected relationships between everything. Narrated by the late British philosopher Alan Watts.
Grab Lab(Forever Entertainment, €4.49 / £4.04) – Something’s wrong with the gravity, something’s wrong with the laboratory and the whole world! Magnetic anomaly, weather anomaly, gravity anomaly – oh, I’ve done a mess… Let’s fix it. Help me in collecting all vials and all parts of my time machine to save the world. Rescue my lost friends – scientists and celebrities! Grab Lab is a crazy mix of puzzle and arcade game. Complete all unique levels – from simple to extremely advanced and demanding. Save the world – fix the gravity and rules of physics.
HoPiKo(Merge Games, €6.99 / £6.29) – The evil Nanobyte virus is out, gaming is over… It’s time to hook up your power gloves and save your HoPiKo brothers! HoPiKo is an intense speed run platformer where you get to save gaming. Jump from platform to platform avoiding death, exploiting shortcuts and ripping through 100s of hand-crafted levels, each one dropped into a 5-stage mini-run designed to break your mind! – Read our HoPiKo review
Knock ‘Em Down! Bowling(D3 Publisher, €14.99 / £13.49) – Ten-pin bowling, candlepin bowling, duckpin bowling… All kinds of popular bowling styles are included in Basic Mode. Play with 4 players and 1 Joy-Con! Try fun game modes like split screen, team matches, no gutters, and more! Also includes Variety Bowling where roulette decides the rules! The roulette wheel will have you bowling with strange items like a curling stone or a soccer ball!
Left-Right : The Mansion(Triple Boris, €4.49 / £4.00) – Left-Right: The Mansion is a little game about a boy, Billy, whose dog named Gigi ran away inside a big mansion. He must journey through this mysterious place, where he will have to find and remember the right path in order to find her. Every room will challenge him with a simple choice to make: left or right. Two doors, yet only one will make him go forward; the other one will bring him back to the beginning.
Lightseekers(Playfusion, Free) – Epic battles await: Take the role of a powerful magic hero and play the multi-award winning Trading Card Game, now on Nintendo Switch. With hundreds of cards available, each deck is unique and represents your personal play-style. Collect and trade cards to become the ultimate hero of Tantos.
Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight(DANGEN Entertainment, €13.99 / £12.59) – Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight, the critically and publicly acclaimed action-platformer from Bombservice, has finally made its way to Nintendo Switch! Lead Kaho, a priestess from the village of Lun, as she seeks an audience with the Queen of Karst who can surely lift the curse from the land.
Snowboarding The Next Phase(RedBullMediaHouse, €9.99 / £9.99) – Stomp tricks, play against your friends, and make the dream of becoming the greatest boarder of all time come true. Challenge your friends with split-screen multiplayer. Try to keep your high scores on top of the worldwide leaderboard in Arcade Mode, or find the best solo lines in Career Mode. Feel like a pro with our easy-to-learn intuitive Nintendo Switch controls, but there are hours of challenges and tricks to master.
Voxel Sword(SAT-BOX, €5.40 / £4.95) – Voxel Sword is an easy to play action game, set in an adorable toy fantasy world, where you can wield various weapons to defeat monsters. This is our toy fantasy world, Voxel. Since ancient times, humans and monsters have worked together and coexisted in peace. However, one fateful night that equilibrium was suddenly shattered…
Fragment of Marine(Mediascape, €4.40 / £3.99) – Traverse circles in a mysterious ocean world, and search for your lost memories and your body! Checkpoints are spread out generously throughout the stages, so that even beginners can play the game, whereas special challenges like the Time Attack mode or clearing the whole game without dying ensure that also game veterans and achievement hunters have a good time.
Hive Jump(GRAPHITE LAB, €9.99 / £9.99) – You and your friends assume the role of JUMPERS, and blast your way through subterranean alien hives in chaotic run-and-gun 2D platforming action. Up to 4 Players band together (Local Multiplayer) to kill aliens, avoid traps, collect treasures and lost relics. Win the final battle against the hive queen to save the galaxy! Action Platforming: Engage swarms of aliens in frenetic combat. Avoid traps, withstand ambushes, discover treasures, rescue survivors, and more.
Stellar Interface(ImaginationOverflow, €12.99 / £12.99) – Fight In Ever Changing Space Battles! Run through the universe, discover the numerous perks/consumables and their synergistic effects. Explore the randomly-generated galaxy to find merchants, unlock spacecrafts, collect StellarNetES Cartridges, checkmark your kills of the various galactic overlords.
Switch eShop – Demos
Pic-a-Pix Pieces Demo(Lightwood Games, Free) – Pic-a-Pix is a picture logic game, sometimes known as Picross, Nonogram or Hanjie, where whimsical pixel-art pictures are created by solving puzzles. In Pic-a-Pix Pieces, large pictures have been split into a number of smaller pieces. Each piece is a puzzle grid, and by solving them all you’ll form a mosaic that reveals a spectacular final image.
Retimed Demo(Stray Fawn, Free) – Challenge friends and family to awesome and fast-paced arena battles. Choose between chaotic team matches and intense free-for-all fights. Dash and dodge bullet clusters in nerve-wracking slow-motion moments. Use different surroundings to outplay your opponents and enjoy the colourful world of Retimed!
3DS eShop – New Releases
Azure Snake(RandomSpin, €0.99 / £0.89) – Azure Snake is a beautiful snake in the world of light.
Wii U eShop – New Releases
Azure Snake(RandomSpin, €0.99 / £0.89) – Azure Snake is a beautiful snake in the world of light.
Switch eShop – Pre-Orders
Old School Racer 2(Riddlersoft Games, €4.34 / £4.01, pre-order from 07/01/2019) – Hey there all you dirt bike fans welcome to the world of Old School Racer, race through a 2D retro world, across 60 unique and amazing levels with twists and turns everywhere. We have a brand new mechanic added to the game……MORPHING! The world will literally morph at times creating extra paths, platforms, jumps and drops to help or possibly hinder your performance. Gravity modifications once again returns, redefining what you will call the ground, soon you will be racing upside down, up sheer walls or flying through the sky.
Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 2(Milestone, €59.99 / £49.99, pre-order from 10/01/2019) – 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.
Johnny Turbo’s Arcade: Nitro Ball(FTE Games, €7.99 / £7.10, pre-order from 10/01/2019) – Join the game show and blast your way through 5 intense levels gathering power-ups and special weapons, including a special super power.
LEGRAND LEGACY: Tale of the Fatebounds(Another Indie Studio, €15.99 / £14.39, pre-order from 10/01/2019) – Welcome to Legrand, a beautifully hand-drawn world riddled with curious creatures, devastating wars, and intriguing tales of vengeance and redemption. Embark on an epic adventure through this sprawling fantasy universe and fight alongside the Fatebounds as they attempt to bring peace to Legrand! But be careful who you trust because everyone has a secret to hide…
Mecho Wars: Desert Ashes(Arcade Distillery, €7.99 / £7.19, pre-order from 10/01/2019) – In the aftermath of a great flood, a vengeful leader threatens to conquer the world with the aid of a once lost technology, and only a small but determined army stands in their path. Mecho Wars: Desert Ashes is the definitive release of the 2009 turn-based strategy classic, Mecho Wars. Fully remastered in high definition, it features new hand painted art, new visual effects, an expanded single-player campaign and six previously unreleased multiplayer maps.
Mega Mall Story(Kairosoft, €10.00 / £8.99, pre-order from 10/01/2019) – Design a towering mall of mega proportions! Attract droves of customers and elevate yourself to 5-star status in this mall management simulation game! Add anything from fast food joints to sushi restaurants, stairs and elevators–even a heliport–all with a touch of the finger!
Flowlines VS(Baltoro Games, €4.99 / £4.49, pre-order from 11/01/2019) – We want players to solve puzzles, to compete with others while doing so, and to play – everywhere and with everyone. Pair up all the matching sockets on the board by drawing continuous lines, without crossing over other lines or branching off. Cover the entire board while connecting all of the sockets! Keep an eye out on time-limited stages, or on the limit on moves you can make per stage!
If the recent news of Dragon: Marked for Death‘s unfortunate delay on Nintendo Switch has been getting you down, fear not: this new music video hopes to drum up the hype once more ahead of its release.
Originally due for release on 13th December, but delayed for unknown reasons just weeks before that very date, this game sees players team up with three others to take on 30 quests, all wrapped up in a story fueled by revenge. The game’s set to be released both physically and digitally, with the digital option actually splitting into two separate purchases.
The video above has been shared by Inti Creates, giving us a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Dragon Marked for Death’s orchestrated soundtrack and doubling up as an ‘Official Music Video’. The game’s soundtrack features 77 songs in total, portraying the various scenes present in the game’s five countries; the footage shows how orchestras from Boston, Prague, Kuala Lumpur, and Okinawa recorded the soundtrack simultaneously.
The game is still scheduled to arrive on 31st January. Will you be picking up a copy?
