Another month is in the books! September was another fun month for the Nintendo Switch. mostly because of the big games announced in the Nintendo Direct. Still, there was one or two high profile releases on the Switch, including Warioware: Get It Together and Sonic Colors. This list isn’t about the big games though. Here are 10 Switch games you might have missed in September that are worth checking out, even if it was kind of a slow month.
Kitaria Fables
$19.99 on eShop
Kitaria Fables is yet another farming simulator on the Nintendo Switch. To start, no, it doesn’t live up to the same standard that Stardew Valley and Rune Factory set years ago. Still, it’s a cute relaxing experience with cats, crafting, and solid combat. The game leans more towards Rune Factory, as it focuses more on combat and the story. There are a few annoyances, such as the strange audio mixing and a poor lock-on system, but one can do much worse if they are dying for a game in this genre.
Golf Club: Wasteland
$9.99 on eShop
Golf Club Wasteland completely surprised me with its subject matter and tone. What looks like a cute arcade golf game set in the apocalypse is actually a melancholy and cautionary warning. While going through the game’s 35 holes, players will uncover diary entries from the elderly protagonist who remembers what Earth was once like. They will listen to a radio station full of fun tunes and compelling talk show segments. They will scream at the way the ball bounces into the water. It’s a great golf game that is much more than one would expect for $10.
Espgaluda II
$19.99 on eShop
I’ve come to realize that so far, every one of my lists has included a shoot ’em up game. That isn’t going to change here. Espgaluda II is yet another classic bullet hell shooter with tons of customization and complex mechanics. I typically recommend easier games in the genre, but this one is too rich to ignore. It looks pretty standard at a glace, but the game’s hitboxes, movement, and difficulty all come together brilliantly to make Espgaluda II yet another thrilling shooter from Cave.
Olympia Soiree
$49.99 on eShop
It seems like this list also never excludes visual novels either. That’s not surprising since so many of them make their way onto the handheld platform. This month’s standout is Olympia Soiree, a gorgeous and brilliantly put together game published by Aksys. It balances its great story with romance well, and utilizes some interesting themes to make it stand out. It’s a bit pricy, but Olympia Soiree is a quality visual novel for anyone looking for something to lose their time to.
Dandy Ace
$19.99 on eShop
I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of roguelikes on the Nintendo Switch. The console has the perfect amount of flexibility for these kinds of games. I’m also a sucker for card-based games. Dandy Ace is another roguelike that utilizes a card system and it should absolutely be welcomed on the Switch with open arms. The gameplay involves collecting and upgrading cards to give the protagonist more abilities and buffs. The active combat is exhilarating and building a powerful loadout is satisfying. Dandy Ace also has a refreshing bright and humorous presentation that isn’t too common in the genre. It doesn’t have the same replayability as the other roguelike heavy hitters, but that doesn’t stop Dandy Ace from being so compelling for at least 10-20 hours.
Astria Ascending
$39.99 on eShop
This one just barely made the cut on our list due to its timing. Astria Ascending graced the Nintendo Switch on the last day of the month and is a nice pickup for JRPG fans. Astria Ascending is an indie turn-based RPG by a team of 10 developers, a few of which were involved in classic Final Fantasy titles. This gorgeous game has almost everything that tradition JRPG fans could want as far as gameplay goes. The combat is familiar with a few unique systems to add tons of depth to it. There are many entertaining minigames to explore, including a card game (Just like the PS1 era Final Fantasy games did). The game falls short in some ways, especially when it comes to compelling characters, but the doesn’t stop Astria Ascending from being one of the better JRPGs of the year.
Super Arcade Football
$4.99 on eShop
In my review Super Arcade Football, I stated that I’ve been looking for something similar to Soccer Superstars for almost a decade. Super Arcade Football doesn’t quite scratch the itch, but for $5 it can still be a lot of fun. The story mode is decent, but playing a game, tournament, or league with a friend is enjoyable. I have some issues with the story and dialogue, especially because there is a lot of unnecessary bullying and fat-shaming in it. I don’t know how the script made it into a modern video game. Still, if one is okay with ignoring the storyline, this is a fun little soccer game.
Nexomon
$9.99 on eShop
Last year I called Nexomon: Extinction the best “Pokemon” game on the Switch. I like Pokemon Sword and Shield a lot more than I did then, but that doesn’t change how much I loved PQube’s take on the genre. It’s strange, but the team has now released the Nexomon port on the Switch, which is an older game than Nexomon: Extinction. There are a lot of issues in this game that were resolved in Extinction, but that doesn’t prevent Nexomon from being enjoyable. There are over 300 monsters to catch, and tons of fun referential humor throughout the game’s story. There isn’t a multiplayer mode, but at only $10 I’m sure most people can look past that. If you want to dip your toes into an alternative to Pokemon, it’s hard to do better than the Nexomon series.
Suzerain
$17.99 on eShop
I’m not sure if this counts as the second visual novel on my list, but it does play a lot like one. Suzerain is a bit of a President (Or dictator) simulator, where players play out their first term in a nation going through political upheaval. Players can control most aspects of their nation, from the economy to human rights to foreign relations. They can work with revolutionists or constitutionalists. They can take the advice of their family or advisors. A lot can happen in the first term, and while this isn’t the deepest experience, it’s still compelling. The entire game is presented almost like a novel where players make choices and see the surface level results. Still, it isn’t as deep as most political strategy games, which will be a turnoff for some.
Unmetal
$19.99 on eShop
Last but certainly not least is Unmetal. In fact, this might be my favorite game on the list. Unmetal is a love letter to the Metal Gear franchise. It’s full of great referential humor and solid stealth gameplay. The gunplay and some levels aren’t perfect, but the game’s story and sense humor is enough to keep players pushing forward. Any fan of Metal Gear owes it to themselves to pick up Unmetal.
