Welcome back! This column has taken a small break, but we are happy to once again show off some of the great, lesser known titles on the Nintendo Switch. In a month dominated by Kirby and the Forgotten Land and the new Mario Kart 8 tracks, it can be easy to lose track of the gems that are scattered throughout the eShop. We are here to help remedy that! Here are 10 games that you might have missed this month!
Dawn of the Monsters
$29.99 On the eShop
Since Streets of Rage 4 there hasn’t been a fantastic beat-’em-up to grace the Switch’s library. Sure, the game only came out two years ago, but it’s not irrational to want more brawling action. Dawn of the Monsters is a return to form for the genre, with stellar gameplay and art that will appeal to both fans of both the kaiju and beat-’em up genres. It’s a focused experience that lets players beat up monsters and have a great time doing it.
Red Wings: American Aces
$11.99 on the eShop
There aren’t a lot of aerial combat games on the Nintendo Switch, which is shame because it’s a console ripe for arcade shooters. Fortunately, there is the Red Wings franchise, and Red Wings: American Aces might be the best option available for Switch users. Sure, it isn’t Ace Combat, but there is a lot to enjoy in this shooter, especially if one can get some friends over for local split screen. There is also decent mission variety in single player, and even online multiplayer (Which we did not get the opportunity to test). It’s not deep, but it is enjoyable, and at the low price point, it’s easy to jump into.
Young Souls
$24.99 On the eShop
Our second beat ’em-up on our list is a nice reassurance that this genre still has a lot of life left in it. While Young Souls doesn’t have the polish or thrilling gameplay that Dawn of the Monsters has, it’s still quite solid on its own. There are some performance issues throughout, and players should expect a few crashes along the way though. The presentation might not be for everyone either, as the teenagers feel a little unnatural with their profane dialogue. Still, if players are willing to work past the shortcomings, Young Souls is a more than competent beat ‘em up.
Phantom Breaker: Omnia
$39.99 On the eShop
Phantom Breaker: Omnia isn’t the strongest fighter in recent memory, and it certainly isn’t the strongest one on the Nintendo Switch. Still, it’s a competent fighter and gives fans of the genre something new to play until the next big heavy hitter comes along. With beautiful anime visuals, tons of modes, and flashy animations, this is as solid as a fighter can get. Still, the omission of a tutorial and the lack of depth makes this a game that won’t last too long if you have games like BlazBlue or even in your library.
Who Pressed Mute On Uncle Marcus?
$12.99 on the eShop
Wales Interactive has been steadily releasing solid FMV games over the last couple of years, and Who Pressed Mute On Uncle Marcus? is their best one yet. The premise of interrogating family members over who poisoned the protagonist’s uncle is interesting enough, and the eccentric cast of characters makes the experience absurd in the best way. The acting is solid throughout, and the amount of replayability makes this an excellent game for anyone interested in a light-hearted murder mystery.
The Cruel King and the Great Hero
$29.99 on the eShop
It was a light month for turn-based RPGs, and while The Cruel King and the Great Hero isn’t superb, it’s an absolute delight. The combat is incredibly simple, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The side quests are a little monotonous, making this one drag a little bit. Still, this is made up with exceptional presentation in the form of a storybook style. The tunes are lighthearted and tie the package together nicely. The journey might be rocky, but for fans of the genre, it is one worth going through to the end.
Kraken Academy!!
$17.99 On the eShop
Some games have a greater emphasis on setting, story, and characters, and we love that. Kraken Academy!! is a nice little experience that feels rather light on gameplay. Players will go through the same loops over and over again to complete the story, and that will feel repetitive to some. Still, the game feels so nice to play, and is an overall pleasant experience. If players want something that isn’t too intense and is nice palette cleanser from more hardcore games, Kraken Academy!! is a solid choice.
Agent Intercept
$19.99 On the eShop
Coming to the Switch from mobile gaming is Agent Intercept, a short but action filled driving game that allows for players to be the cool secret agent of their dreams. Agent Intercept is bright, silly, and full of fun nods for anyone who likes the transforming cars that our favorite spies used to possess back in the day. The addition of leaderboards and challenges helps tie the package together, but some players will lose interest in knowing that the main story is only a couple hours long. This is especially so when you consider that it’s more expensive than some games on this list that have more content.
Ikai
$14.99 On the eShop
We don’t get a lot of horror games this time of year, so fans of the genre will likely take whatever they can get. Fortunately, Ikai isn’t much of a compromise.It’s made by a small indie team, so it isn’t the most visually astounding game, but it makes up for it with great tension and atmosphere. The scares are fairly mild, but players will still be on edge the entire time as they run away from yokai and solve puzzles. It’s not innovative, but it gets the job done in a year that’s been light on horror games so far.
Dark Deity
$24.99 On the eShop
Tactical turn-based strategy fans should be delighted by Dark Deity. At a glance, it looks like it can be yet another low-budget Fire Emblem knockoff, but there is much more to Dark Deity than it seems. It’s a much more combat-focused experience than games like Three Houses, but it makes the most out of its mechanics and map design. Sure, it’s not a graphical powerhouse and some of the characters and story beats are rather generic, but that doesn’t stop Dark Deity from being a great time, especially at the low price point.
