As we announced last week, a big version 2.0 update has been in the works for the unique physics-based shooter The Day We Fought Space, and for those looking forward to that event today is the big day. The Day We Fought Space version 2.0 is available now in the iOS App Store.
What does version 2.0 mean? Typically rolling a game’s version over to the next number is saved for especially big or momentous additions to a game, and that is certainly the case with version 2.0 of The Day We Fought Space. The marquee feature here is a new level called Comet that has zero gravity, throwing a huge twist into the game’s already unique physics-based “wreck ’em up” gameplay. One of the core elements to the gameplay in The Day We Fought Space is destroying enemies higher in the playfield and then utilizing gravity so that their wreckage drops onto the enemies below, smashing them up real good. Since Comet has no gravity you’ll have to alter your play style to compensate for that.
Comet should provide more than 6 hours of new gameplay to enjoy, and alongside that will be more than 20 new weapons to equip onto your ship, adding even more options to the already staggering number of crazy weaponry in the game. Radioactive space bees, a black hole, a yo-yo saw… the new weapons are truly off the wall in a wonderful way, and one of the things that has always stood out to me about The Day We Fought Space since its launch just shy of a year ago is just how unique the weapons are in the game. This goes hand in hand with your ability to create and customize your own ship layouts, unlocking dozens and dozens of different items to equip on custom ships that give you a nearly unlimited number of ways to play.
Version 2.0 will also feature new story elements that expand on the characters and lore in the game, giving insight into why you’re in a battle with all of space. Rounding things out are new precision targeting challenges and a new Zen Mode for when you just want to kick back, zone out, and cause heaps of destruction with your fleet of wild spaceships. There has been no shortage of shooters released going back many decades now, so it’s a genre that’s hard to stand out in. I can say without hesitation that there’s nothing quite like The Day We Fought Space out there, so if you have yet to try this one out let the new version 2.0 update be your reason to finally dive in.
Sponsored Content
This article is sponsored content written by TouchArcade and published on behalf of Tursiops Truncatus Studios to promote the version 2.0 update for The Day We Fought Space. For questions or comments, please email [email protected]
Vampire Survivors debuted on PC before arriving on Xbox and eventually mobile through developer Poncle. Read my Steam Deck review of the base game here, DLC review here, and iOS review of the base game here. Following the Vampire Survivors: Legacy of the Moonspell DLC release which took a little while to come to mobile, the second paid DLC for the game is out now on all platforms in the form of the Vampire Survivors: Tides of Foscari DLC. As with the main game and prior DLC, I’ve been playing Vampire Survivors: Tides of Foscari pre-release for review on Steam Deck. Early access was not available for the mobile version, so this review will cover the DLC and the current state of the game on Steam Deck.
Vampire Survivors: Tides of Foscari adds in a huge new stage, eight new characters, many new weapons, and additional secrets as usual. In a lot of ways, it feels like the prior DLC, which is to say, it isn’t bad, but it is more of the good stuff. As of this writing, I’ve spent about 12 hours in the game on Steam Deck since getting access to the DLC. I’ve been experimenting with different builds, testing my old builds like the money farm build with new weapons, and more. One more notable addition in this DLC is the attack animations for two characters which is new to Vampire Survivors as a whole.
The fantasy focus in the DLC has been good, and it carries through to the enemies found in Lake Foscari, upgrades, the music, and also the aesthetic of the stage. I’m curious to see how this feels on a new save on another platform, because my near 100%-completed PC save with Vampire Survivors: Tides of Foscari has been a lot of fun. I just wish performance on Steam Deck was better, which remains my only real complaint with the game right now, unless you opt into the New Engine Beta. I swapped into this following the public launch a few hours ago, and it is a marked improvement on Steam Deck.
I still haven’t seen everything Vampire Survivors: Tides of Foscari has to offer, and likely will be playing it daily over the next few weeks like I did with the first paid DLC pack. I’m also looking forward to replaying the DLC on Xbox and mobile from tonight. Just like the setting, the fantasy theme carries over into the music, which is amazing in this DLC for the new characters. I hope the soundtrack on Steam gets updated with these new songs soon, because I’m certain I’ll be listening to them outside the game just like with prior songs.
Like I said with the Vampire Survivors: Legacy of the Moonspell DLC, Vampire Survivors: Tides of Foscari is a lot like the Dead Cells DLC packs where they add in a lot of content to the base game that already had tons of quality content. If you enjoy playing Vampire Survivors I don’t think you need a review to tell you it is worth paying just $2 to add more to do in-game, but if you are still on the fence, I’ve enjoyed just about everything Vampire Survivors: Tides of Foscari has given me so far, and look forward to seeing what else the developer brings to Vampire Survivors in 2023.
Vampire Survivors: Tides of Foscari with its fantasy focus, new characters, weapons, and lovely stage is an easy recommendation for any fan of the game. The base game was already too cheap for what it offers, and these DLC packs are a nice way to enhance the core experience while getting more to do for those who have been hitting 100% with prior content drops. I still hope 2023 sees the game get cross platform saves to let me go from Steam Deck to Xbox Series X to iOS and back. Right now, Vampire Survivors: Tides of Foscari is essential for everyone playing the game. Grab that Academy Badge and jump in.
Vampire Survivors: Tides of Foscari Steam Deck Review Score: 5/5
Each and every day new mobile games are hitting the App Store, and so each week we put together a big old list of all the best new releases of the past seven days. Back in the day the App Store would showcase the same games for a week, and then refresh those features each Thursday. Because of that developers got into the habit of releasing their games throughout Wednesday or very early Thursday in order to hopefully get one of those coveted features spots. Nowadays the App Store refreshes constantly, so the need for everyone to release all on the same day has diminished. Still, we’ve kept our weekly Wednesday night format as for years that’s the time people knew to check TouchArcade for the list of new games. And so without further ado please check out the full list of this week’s new games below, and let us know in the comments section which games you’ll be picking up!
It’s up to you to complete your fathers legacy and discover a long lost treasure as you are thrust into a world full of discovery!
Explore a huge open-world full of deadly creatures and hidden secrets. Complete quests to win favor with the local inhabitants, in return, they may just help you on your journey.
Level up your skills and equipment to become stronger as you face ever more powerful and deadly foes.
Experience the massively popular world of Baldur’s Gate as never before. Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance thrusts you into an epic Dungeons & Dragons adventure filled with intense action, intricate puzzles and sinister intrigue, where your mastery of cold steel and devastating spells is the only thing between you and ultimate evil.
Become Chief Emoji Officer using only emojis… without getting fired along the way.
You’re a new hire to Redify, a startup that loves changing the world! It’s up to you to turn the company around and climb to the executive level by making decisions for the company. Work with a variety of unique co-workers and respond to their messages to navigate corporate politics in this unique twist on a visual novel.
Don’t Byte Your Tongue is a precision platformer that has a simple premise: Get to the top! The gameplay is easy to learn but hard to master, making it accessible to players of all skill levels. However, as you progress through the game, you’ll face increasingly difficult challenges that will test your skills to the limit.
We made Honeycomb for vocabulary and puzzle lovers! This word game is for you if you want a relaxing game that will still make you think.
You need to form the right words using all of the letters to fill in the puzzle, but this can be quite tricky on a hexagonal grid! It’s satisfying to beat each level, and a cute bee will pop out to celebrate when you do.
Become rich beyond your wildest dreams in this newly reimagined version of one of the best-selling board games ever created: MONOPOLY! Let everyone’s favorite billionaire, MR. MONOPOLY, be your guide as you explore new boards themed after world-famous cities, fantastical lands, and more.
Experience the classic gameplay MONOPOLY fans love at a faster pace everyone can enjoy. Collect Property Tile Sets, build Houses and Hotels, pull Chance Cards, and of course, earn that MONOPOLY Money! Play with your favorite game Tokens such as the Scottie, the Top Hat, the Battleship and more.
Help our moon boy on his journey to recover shooting stars
Moonleap is a game about a moon boy on his journey to recover shooting stars. Change day to night with your jump and catch all the stars in this challenging puzzle-platformer!
A colorful cast of rivals is waiting to race against you on a variety of vibrant environments. Collect power ups and coins on the way to expand your car collection and outrun the competition.
Simple Race: Race in each world zone to reach the end Versus: Challenge different opponents to earn your spot in the top Forever Mode: Explore all the world zones and ride at your pace in an endless ride, day and night
Randomly generated levels never play the same track twice! 25+ Unique Unlockable cars! 11+ Unique environments Various racetrack levels for each environment Day/Night cycle Controller compatible
NINJA COMBAT is an action game released in 1990 by SNK. In order to defeat the evil ninja clan KAGE ICHIZOKU, justice-seeking ninjas head towards the NINJA TOWER. Enjoy battling with a wide array of weapons and ninja magic as well as the ability for a friend to join the action.
Build and explore your own city in this 3D sequel to the original Pocket City! Create using roads, zones, landmarks, and special buildings. Drop your avatar into the world and roam freely. Buy your own house, host events, survive disasters, and live the life of a successful mayor!
No microtransactions or long wait times, everything is unlocked and rewarded through gameplay!
A story-driven zombie RPG full of drama and pixels! Survive the raging bytes!
A police officer, Ben, awakens in hospital after an accident to find the city overrun by zombies! What in the world is going on here? Can the government be relied on? Do any other survivors remain? Ben stumbles upon a doctor named Barbra while struggling through zombie-infested streets. Together, they make their way to Ben’s police station, but only more horror awaits them.
Can you survive the raging b”y”tes of the zombies?
Rhythm connects! Presenting Pigeon Games’ second enchanting music rhythm game, following the success of “Phigros”! Dive into a mesmerizing journey where points and lines dance in harmony, weaving an extraordinary geometric tapestry set to the innermost beat of your heart!
Sentinels of Earth-Prime is a cooperative card game that recreates the pulse-pounding action of superhero comics. Play as a team of heroes, using the rules of Sentinels of the Multiverse and the combined setting and characters of the critically acclaimed Mutants & Masterminds roleplaying game, to protect Earth-Prime!
The rules of the game are straightforward: Play a Card, Use a Power, and Draw a Card. What makes SoEP unique is that each card has special abilities that can create powerful combos or even change the rules of the game!
Sentinels of Earth-Prime is a standalone game, but it also fully cross-compatible with Sentinels of the Multiverse. If both games are installed on the same device, you can play with all owned content from within either game.
A BIG adventure that fits in your pocket! Go with the heroic Snaileeyo™ and explore vibrant new worlds, solve challenging of obstacles, fight enemies and save your friends.
Slither across brilliant islands, haunting deserts, scorching volcanic mountains and crystal palaces. Enjoy intuitive controls, smooth HD graphics and original music. Gain special powers: fly, blast fireballs, lay decoys, and grow mega huge to topple your foes! Find all your friends and unlock the true ending.
Treat yourself to an unforgettable, fun-filled adventure!
Reach the bottom of the tainted cave in this reaction-battle roguelike! In order to uncover the mystery of the secret treasure, you have to reach the lowest level of the tainted cave. But this will be no easy feat as there are countless corrupted enemies standing in your way.
An authentic and exhilarating hack-and-slash RPG with 8-bit graphics! Become the legendary magic knight Vareion and defeat the 12 gods!
Enjoy a roguelike experience with randomly generated maps! A variety of fearsome enemies will come at you! Equip yourself with various weapons and armor to defeat the oncoming enemies!
The worms are back in their most destructive game yet. With a gorgeous, hand-drawn 2D look, brand new weapons, vehicles and buildings plus the return of some much-loved classic weapons and gameplay, Worms W.M.D: Mobilize is the best worms experience ever.
Work your way through 10 training and 20 campaign missions of increasing difficulty using the huge arsenal of new and classic weapons at your disposal. Use new vehicles to cause chaos amongst the enemy ranks and use buildings to gain the tactical advantage as you try to dominate the battlefield!
Take on opponents in hilarious all-out tactical worm warfare either in local or online multiplayer. Flatten your opponents with the Concrete Donkey. Turn them into chunks of worm meat with the Holy Hand Grenade. Rain down hell from above in helicopters or pound them into oblivion with the tank. With 50 weapons and utilities at your fingertips, this is Worms at its chaotic best!
Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for April 12th, 2023. Luckily, my hospital visit wrapped up quicker than expected. That means I was able to cobble something together for you today. We wouldn’t want to miss one, would we? Today’s article features a little news item, a brief review, a couple of new release summaries, and the usual lists of new and outgoing sales. Let’s get to work!
News
‘Pokemon Stadium’ is Now Available for Switch Online Expansion Pack
It’s been a bit since the last addition to the Nintendo Switch Online Nintendo 64 catalog. January, to be exact. We have an interesting one this time around, but it has a big catch. Pokemon Stadium was the first chance players had to see their favorite characters in glorious 3D, and the original one was able to connect with your Game Boy cartridge to transfer your Pokemon into the game or even play the Game Boy game on your TV. This one doesn’t let you do those things, which is probably obvious if you think about it for a few seconds. That means you’re limited to using the “rental” Pokemon to play the game, and if you’ve been complaining that Pokemon games are too easy… well, have fun. You’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscription to play it, naturally.
Reviews & Mini-Views
Forever Lost: Episode 1 ($4.99)
Forever Lost is a three-episode adventure series from Glitch Games that kicked off around a decade ago on mobile and wrapped up a few years after that. In its time and place, it was a solid game with good visuals and clever puzzles. And considering how much time has passed, it still looks fine enough. There are a lot of games with a similar look these days, so it doesn’t stand out much in that regard. The puzzles, on the other hand, are still quite good. A lot of the usual escape room fare, but they ride the line of tricky and fair quite nicely.
I assume the other two episodes will follow in due time, but for now we’ve got this initial one. It isn’t terribly long, but it will eat up an evening or two depending on how much trouble you have with the puzzles. You don’t have to worry about getting completely stuck, as the game has hints that will take you all the way through the end if you’re looking for help. With this just being the first episode, the story doesn’t really go anywhere substantial. Some fairly generic stuff about waking up in a mental institute with no idea who you are or how you got here.
Normally, I’d recommend this to adventure fans as a nice low-cost brain-teaser, but the old Switch performance bugbear has reared its head again. The game is very laggy both in its controls and in some of its visual elements. I’d find myself accidentally turning things off and on again because it took so long for the graphics to update that I thought my initial press didn’t register. The credits are almost vomit inducing with how choppily they scroll. In what I could perhaps take as a final act of rebellion, the game crashed on me after the credits finished.
I’d imagine there are some challenges in getting a game of this age running nicely on modern hardware, but as it is right now it just isn’t fun to play the game this way. Perhaps it can be patched into shape, but for now I’d recommend checking this series out on mobile instead. The puzzles are absolutely worth playing, and it’s neat to check out all the little details in each environment. But this Switch version sometimes feels like it’s fighting you with its laggy nature more than it is with its challenges, so it’s hard for me to recommend with much vigor at the moment.
SwitchArcade Score: 3/5
New Releases
Wildfrost ($19.99)
Here’s another roguelike deck builder game, and I’m afraid I haven’t put the necessary time into it yet to tell you if it does anything to stand out in what is an increasingly crowded pack. Early reviews are certainly encouraging at least, and my experience with it so far is quite positive. I’d say if you love this genre, you can feel free to take a chance on it. If you’re a bit burnt out, I can’t say that I’ve seen anything here so far to bring you back.
Hyper-5 ($9.99)
Mmm, I can’t say I like the look of this one. Maybe it works better in motion, but it’s hard to make out various elements in the screenshots with the art style it’s using. Well, I haven’t played it yet so don’t put too much stock in that. It’s a side-scrolling shooter with five stages, upgrades, online leaderboards, and more. I may not be sold on the practical value of the visuals, but they’re certainly no half-effort.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Not a whole lot today so far. That makes me a little nervous, because it sometimes means a big sale is about to roll in. All I would really gesture at in the inbox today is Tribes of Midgard, which might be to your tastes. As to the outbox, there are a few of my usual recommendations in there. Blossom Tales II, Demon Turf, Danmaku Unlimited 3. That kind of thing. The lists aren’t too big today so take a second to scan through them yourself.
Select New Games on Sale
Tribes of Midgard ($7.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Tribes of Midgard Deluxe ($11.99 from $29.98 until 4/18) Monument($1.99 from $7.00 until 4/18) Colsword($1.99 from $4.00 until 4/18) Alien War($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/2) World Soccer Kid($1.99 from $2.99 until 5/2) Zombie’s Cool ($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/2) Dragon Question ($1.99 from $3.99 until 5/2) Nature($1.99 from $2.99 until 5/2) UNI($1.99 from $4.99 until 5/2) In My Shadow ($6.60 from $12.00 until 5/2) Aeterna Noctis ($17.99 from $29.99 until 5/2) Blood Will Be Spilled($1.99 from $14.99 until 5/2) Feudal Alloy ($1.99 from $16.99 until 5/2) Toby: The Secret Mine ($1.99 from $11.99 until 5/2)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Thursday, April 13th
Astronite($10.49 from $14.99 until 4/13) Atone: Heart of the Elder Tree($8.99 from $14.99 until 4/13) Blossom Tales II: TMP ($10.49 from $14.99 until 4/13) BPM Bullets Per Minute ($17.49 from $24.99 until 4/13) Brigandine: Legend of Runersia ($24.99 from $49.99 until 4/13) Danmaku Unlimited 3 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/13) Death Come True($11.19 from $15.99 until 4/13) Demon Turf ($14.99 from $24.99 until 4/13) Eight Dragons($1.99 from $7.99 until 4/13) Far: Changing Tides ($7.99 from $19.99 until 4/13) Kawaii Slime Arena($4.19 from $5.99 until 4/13) Lil Gator Game ($13.99 from $19.99 until 4/13) Mystic Fate($2.49 from $9.99 until 4/13) Rite($3.49 from $6.99 until 4/13) Sakura Neko Calculator($3.99 from $4.99 until 4/13) Superola Champion Edition($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/13) Tempus($4.89 from $6.99 until 4/13) The Sinking City ($9.99 from $49.99 until 4/13)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with the big Thursday list of releases, including the likes of Cannon Dancer, Castle of Shikigami 2, and Hello Kitty and Friends Happiness Parade. We’re all really looking forward to that last one. We’ll have summaries of every new release, plus whatever sales and big news roll in over the course of the day. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!
Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for April 10th, 2023. In today’s article, we kick off the week with three reviews. Rakuen: Deluxe Edition is here to make you sob uncontrollably, LUNARK will take you to the past’s future, and GrimGrimoire OnceMore is ready for one more try. After that, we look at the new releases that popped up over the weekend. They aren’t too hot. Finally, sales. Everyone loves those sales lists, and they are here as they always are. Let’s get to it!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Rakuen: Deluxe Edition ($24.99)
I don’t know who decided we needed an infusion of games that make you bawl like a hungry baby in the last few months, but here we are with another one. Rakuen: Deluxe Edition contains a port of 2017’s Rakuen, the newly-released spin-off Mr. Saitou, and a collection of short animated movies set in the game’s world. The first of the bunch is the star of the show, having earned considerable acclaim on other platforms. The other two items round out the package nicely even if they’re not quite as substantial.
Rakuen is a narrative-heavy adventure game that was originally built in RPG Maker, similar to things like To the Moon or, I suppose, Corpse Party. You’ll walk around and talk to various characters, solve some puzzles, and explore a handful of locations. It was created by Laura Shigihara, who you’ll likely know from her many musical contributions to games like Plants vs Zombies, Deltarune, and the aforementioned To the Moon. She also contributed a song to Meg’s Monster, which was the last game to make me ugly-cry. Hmm. Laura, I’m on to you. You’re in cahoots with Big Tissue, I know it.
You play as an unnamed boy who is in the hospital and clearly not for a short stay. His mother likes to read to him from a storybook called Rakuen, and an incident one night involving the book leads to him discovering a whole other world. In that world, a forest spirit is sleeping. He can only be awoken by playing a special song, whose components can only be found by helping out some of the locals. It’s said that he can grant wishes, and the boy clearly has one in mind. Each of the characters you have to help forms something of a mini-episode within the greater narrative. Oh, and all of the characters in that other world seem to be counterparts of other residents and workers at the hospital, and their troubles seem to mirror theirs as well.
None of these tales have what I would call happy endings, but through your efforts some measure of relief, catharsis, or closure can be reached. Whether it be serving tea to flower blossom creatures on behalf of a fishperson or fixing a music box for an ill-mannered bear, the boy is willing to do whatever it takes to help people out. He’s accompanied almost all the time by his mother, who not only serves a narrative duty but also allows the player to get a hint if they need one. Most of the puzzles just involve bringing items from here to there, but some of them are more involved and feel like the kinds of things you’d see in an old Resident Evil game. It feels like the game eases off on the puzzles in the back half of its story, but that’s just as well. By then I was fully hooked into the story and just wanted to see how it ended.
While the game has many strengths, I would say its strongest elements are its characters and setting. The hospital ward is appropriately drab, with its residents doing what little they can to find some light in the darkness. The fantasy world is colorful, energetic, and full of bright and cheery characters. Neither space is particularly large, but both feel impressively alive. Even minor characters get a little bit of time to shine, and the major characters become very familiar in a hurry. It’s hard not to get attached to all of them, especially as you guide them through their issues.
To talk too much more about the story would spoil it, and it really is one you should experience on your own. It’s an emotional roller coaster, but it earns its beats properly by laying the foundations for everything that happens. The soundtrack is of course fantastic, and while the graphics aren’t the most impressive around they look really good for what they are. It only takes six or so hours to play through, but it truly is marvelous stuff. A real must-play, so long as you feel okay with going through the wringer.
The other included game, Mr. Saitou, has similarly interesting characters and writing, but it has very different goals in mind. It’s more of a silly slice-of-life adventure within the same setting, and taken that way it’s fine. Nothing I would insist people play, but if you enjoyed Rakuen and want to see more of that world it will certainly give you that. It’s alright as an extra, as are the animated shorts.
Rakuen: Deluxe Edition has a few different things to offer, with the titular Rakuen being the star of the show. It’s a bittersweet, deeply emotional story set in a rich, well-realized setting and it’s absolutely unforgettable. The visuals may be simple but they more than serve the purpose, and the soundtrack is outstanding. The other included items in this package are more like nice bonuses, but they are certainly quite welcome. If you enjoy a good yarn, grab a box of tissues and settle in with this over an evening or two.
SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5
LUNARK ($19.99)
This came up last week when I reviewed Xiaomei and the Flame Dragon’s Fist, but sometimes a game is very clearly aiming at trying to recreate an experience from a particular moment in time, and when reviewing them all I can really do is determine how successful they are at that. In the case of Lunark, that particular moment in time is somewhere around the early 1990s. The latest gaming hardware afforded considerably better visuals and audio compared to the 8-bit generation, and Jordan Mechner’s Prince of Persia offered an enticing look at how that new power could be used to create a cinematic experience the likes of which had rarely been seen before. Delphine’s Another World and Flashback built on these ideas further, and the Oddworld games from Oddworld Inhabitants brought them into a newer generation.
Lunark‘s eyes appear to be mainly fixed on Flashback, with its cyberpunk setting and more action-packed gameplay. And yes, it largely nails it. You’ve got a mysterious protagonist, a compelling story, lots of tricky platforming and puzzle challenges, and well-animated visuals. It also has the stiffness that usually comes with games of this type, making things a lot more deliberate and less immediately responsive than more modern action-adventure games. This can be very frustrating, particularly when enemies or tricky jumps are involved, but it is like this by design. While games generally didn’t move in this direction with good reason, there’s value in having a well-made new game in this style.
While I doubt Lunark will go down in history as one of the all-timers of cinematic platforming, it’s well-made enough that anyone who likes this underserved niche should check it out. The presentation is on point, the story and setting are intriguing, and the mechanics feel like a close cousin to Flashback. This flavor of game isn’t going to be for everyone, especially those lacking warm and fuzzies for the specific era it’s paying homage to, but the target it’s aimed at is going to have a blast with it.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
GrimGrimoire: OnceMore ($49.99)
I feel like GrimGrimoire was a case of a game that was in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was a 2D side-view real-time strategy game with a story structure not unlike that of a visual novel releasing on the PlayStation 2 in 2007, well after the new generation of consoles was launched and commanding the attention of most of the hardcore players that might have given it a shot. The reviews were decent but not great, and that seemed to have been its reception from those who did pick it up. Unsurprisingly, it was a commercial failure. It’s easy to see why someone would think it deserved another kick at the can, however, and that seems to be how NIS felt as we now have this spiffy redo of the game.
It really is an upgrade, too. The new additions here directly address some of the worst problems of the original game, adding a bit more complexity to the progression of your units and implementing a highly welcome fast-forward function. Some of GrimGrimoire‘s battles can run very long indeed, and being able to kick things into a speedier gear is great. The new skill trees fit into the game so snugly you would think they had been there from the get-go. Other improvements come in terms of presentation and the new Grand Magic, following the trend of other strategy games allowing players to rewind battles if needed. All of this makes a game that sometimes felt like a repetitive slog a lot snappier, though it doesn’t quite alleviate how samey things are at times.
The story is a strong point here, with a new recruit mage finding herself trapped in a time loop with a really bad ending. Each loop through, she carries her knowledge from previous runs and gets a little closer to finding a way to break the cycle. It’s good stuff. The battles are pure real-time strategy apart from the unusual viewpoint. Collect resources, use those resources to summon units, use those units to defeat the enemy, and interfere a bit when you can or need to. Competently made, and considering the developer used StarCraft as a North Star of sorts I suppose that isn’t too surprising.
Some RTS fans are going to find GrimGrimoire a little too tedious at times even with the great new features, while those looking to enjoy the excellent visuals and solid time loop yarn will have to come to grips with the strategic elements. Still, I think there’s a lot here worth digging into. I like to think the audience is more receptive to things like this than it was in the late 00s, and that perhaps GrimGrimoire will get its due at long last.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
New Releases
Zodiakalik ($9.99)
Probably the best game among today’s releases, but don’t take that as major praise of any kind. This is a very rough RPG from someone who clearly has a lot of passion for a particular era of the genre. I have played a lot worse. If you feel like getting away from the usual suspects in this genre for a bit, you might enjoy your time here.
Repit ($2.99)
This is a pretty straightforward rage platformer with some charmingly bad art. It’s completely unfair and doesn’t make any pretenses otherwise. Play it if you want to have some laughs at just how brutally rude a game can be.
Mystic Warriors Battleground ($3.99)
Been a while since Gametry ducked its head in the door of the eShop, and I can’t say I’ve missed them. They’ve once again cobbled together some manner of Android template for release on the Switch, a fact made obvious by its lack of support for proper button controls. Save your four bucks for something better.
Nightshade Ninja Warrior ($2.99)
And here’s another one from Gametry, this time a platformer that uses a silhouette art style in a likely effort to hide a complete lack of artistic skill by anyone at the publisher. Another probable Android template due to the requirement for touch controls. Another one to leave in the bin, in my opinion.
Leave it to VG-Games to make the Grand Theft Auto Definitive Edition releases look like pure spun gold.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
A tiny list, but there are a few games in there that I really like. Dorfromantik is super-chill, Brok the InvestiGator is really unique, and Dungeons of Dreadrock is always a good time. The outbox has some good stuff in it too, so make sure you give that list a look as well. Most of it will be back around again before too long, but you never know for sure.
Select New Games on Sale
Deep Space Shooter($2.79 from $3.99 until 4/15) Dungeons of Dreadrock ($2.48 from $10.00 until 4/17) Brok the InvestiGator ($19.99 from $24.99 until 4/17) The Diabolical Trilogy($5.99 from $19.99 until 4/17) even if TEMPEST ($34.99 from $49.99 until 4/18) Devastator($1.99 from $6.99 until 4/21) SongPop Party($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/21) Loot Box Simulator Crimson Fire ($1.99 from $2.99 until 4/24) Loot Box Simulator HotDA($1.99 from $2.99 until 4/24) Theatre of Sorrows ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/28) Super Cute Alien’s Adventure ($8.99 from $9.99 until 4/28) Espacio Cosmic Light-Seeker ($1.99 from $3.49 until 4/28) Dorfromantik($13.49 from $14.99 until 4/29) BIT.TRIP Collection ($3.79 from $9.99 until 4/30) Mechstermination Force($2.15 from $11.99 until 4/30) Gunman Clive HD Collection ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/30) Super Punch Patrol($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/30)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 11th
Alan Wake Remastered ($20.09 from $29.99 until 4/11) Cyjin The Cyborg Ninja ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/11) Destropolis($2.39 from $5.99 until 4/11) Flippin Kaktus ($4.89 from $11.99 until 4/11) Garden Story ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/11) Golden Force ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/11) Ken Follett’s the Pillars of the Earth($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/11) Make War ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/11) Mars Horizon ($6.59 from $19.99 until 4/11) Master Spy ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/11) Minit($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/11) Murder By Numbers ($4.49 from $14.99 until 4/11) Nova-111 ($3.99 from $9.99 until 4/11) Okinawa Rush ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/11) One True Hero ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/11)
PC Building Simulator ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/11) Picklock($1.99 from $7.99 until 4/11) Pirates: All Aboard($1.99 from $5.99 until 4/11) Primal Light ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/11) Railgrade($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/11) Siralim 3($11.24 from $14.99 until 4/11) Siralim Ultimate ($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/11) Splashy Cube ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/11) Steve Jackson’s Sorcery ($12.49 from $24.99 until 4/11) Tanuki Justice ($2.99 from $14.99 until 4/11) TOHU($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/11) Wallachia Reign of Dracula ($2.99 from $14.99 until 4/11) Will You Snail? ($5.99 from $14.99 until 4/11)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with more new releases, more sales, more reviews, and perhaps a spot of news. I have a dentist appointment tomorrow morning, but I imagine it will all work out okay for the article. So yes, see you tomorrow. I hope you all have a magnificent Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!
This year has been surprisingly great for games across all platforms, and I can’t remember the last time I played so many amazing games in the first three months of any year since maybe 2017. I’ve put together a list of the best Switch games of 2023 so far across a variety of genres from games Shaun and myself have played. I’m also going to be doing lists for iOS and Steam Deck in the near future. On Nintendo Switch, a few notable publishers brought their A game right from the start, and we’ve also seen some surprise indie releases hit Switch. This list is in no particular order.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line
Square Enix’s Theatrhythm series is great, and Theatrhythm Final Bar Line feels like the Smash Bros. Ultimate moment for the series. The lack of touchscreen support on Switch is disappointing, but Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is a love letter to all things Final Fantasy and also all things Square Enix with it including songs from across the publisher’s rich library of Japanese games. There’s a demo for this one, and I’d recommend buying the Deluxe or Premium Deluxe Edition if you enjoy the demo to save money on the additional song packs. I only hope it keeps getting more song packs in the future beyond what’s been announced.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero was one of my favorite games last year, and its sequel Trails to Azure is even better. The duology, The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero to Azure, tells one of the best stories in gaming, and both games are fantastic on Nintendo Switch with a wealth of improvements and new features over the original PS4 version. If you’ve ever wanted to get into Falcom’s Trails series on Switch, The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure are both essentials. They are also two of the best JRPGs to hit a Nintendo platform recently.
Metroid Prime Remastered
Metroid Prime Remastered saw a blend of a remaster and remake of the original game arrive on Nintendo Switch, and it looks and plays brilliantly from start to finish. Unlike most Nintendo releases on Switch, Metroid Prime Remastered has a budget price point making it an even easier recommendation for newcomers and fans of the series. Nintendo’s announcement and shadow drop of Metroid Prime Remastered is legendary for how good this release turned out, and it remains one of the highlights of the platform. Hopefully we don’t need to wait too long for the second and third games in the trilogy to hit Switch as we get closer to Metroid Prime 4.
Octopath Traveler II
The original Octopath Traveler is one of my favorite Nintendo Switch games ever, but it had issues and disappointed some folks. With Octopath Traveler II, Square Enix has built on the base of the original and delivered one of the best JRPGs ever. It is easily the peak of the genre on Nintendo Switch with the Xenoblade Chronicles series, and a must play for any fan of Square Enix’s golden era. It also happens to have a superlative soundtrack. It may be a bit of a safe sequel (and standalone release), but there’s no denying the sheer quality on display here. Octopath Traveler II is a Square Enix masterpiece. Try the demo for this one if you aren’t sold on it yet.
Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society
Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society is a massively ambitious dungeon RPG, and a huge jump over Labyrinth of Refrain from NIS America. A friend of mine who played the Japanese release praised it a ton a few years ago, but I was still blown away by how good Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society ended up being when I played it on Switch and Steam Deck. It has tons of depth, a superb story, great music, and tons of quality content. Some mechanics might turn a few newcomers off, but I can’t get over how good this game ended up being. It is one of NIS America’s best releases in a long time.
Ib
Ib, a remake of the indie classic horror game, hit Nintendo Switch a few weeks ago following its PC debut last year. Ib begins with you visiting an art gallery with your parents. While walking around, everything starts changing and becoming creepy with you suddenly realizing there is no one around you in the museum. You eventually find yourself wanting to get back to reality and you meet very unique characters while trying to escape. It excels in its storytelling and atmosphere with its limited set of characters and scope. Ib is one of the best adventure games I’ve played in a long time, and one that I haven’t stopped thinking about since seeing its ending through.
Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
If you enjoy games like Ace Attorney, mystery adventure game Paranormasight from Square Enix is an easy recommendation, and I urge you to just take a chance on it without reading too much about it. It plays very well on Switch and has a lovely blend of great characters, music, fourth wall breaks, multiple routes, and loads of mystery. The atmosphere is excellent with the 360 degree locations, and it still feels underpriced for its quality and content. I hope we see more like this from the publisher in the future. There’s potential here for a nice small game series like we got with Voice of Cards.
Meg’s Monster
Meg’s Monster is a game that wasn’t on my radar until Shaun said I should check it out. It isn’t a deep RPG, but is one of those games that will stay with you long after you’ve beaten it thanks to its narrative. The story is touching and fantastic, and it does a lot, just like Ib, with its smaller budget. The Nintendo Switch feels like the perfect platform for these one and done superb indie games, and Meg’s Monster is a game I wish I had played sooner. Not only is it one of the best indie games of the year, but a shining example of how great stories are best told through the medium of video games.
Atelier Ryza 3
Koei Tecmo and Gust have been on a roll with the Atelier series over the last few years, and the series has seen more success than ever before thanks to the Atelier Ryza games. With Atelier Ryza 3, we’ve seen the biggest jump in ambition for the series, and the final game (so far) in the trilogy delivers with its ambition, story, and gameplay. Despite being the third game in the trilogy, Atelier Ryza 3 is still accessible for newcomers, and one of the best recent JRPGs on Nintendo Switch.
NeverAwake
NeverAwake is a shockingly polished and content-packed twin stick shooter that plays brilliantly. If you like shooting games, action games, or twin-stick shooters, NeverAwake is an essential. Not only does it have tons of stages, more so than I expected in a game like this, but the developer also added some assist options to make things easier for newcomers. NeverAwake excels in many ways, and while I’m not a fan of some of the in-game designs, it is still a brilliant game and one of the best in the genre so far.
Wait, this list has more than ten games? Yes, it does. I wasn’t joking when I said 2023 has been fantastic for games, and instead of worrying about cutting one game for another, I wanted to include every great Switch game that has released this year so far.
Persona 4 Golden
While Persona 5 Royal on Nintendo Switch had a few cutbacks on Nintendo Switch, Persona 4 Golden is basically perfect on it. It is the best version of one of Atlus’ best games. It improves upon the PS Vita version with new features and technical upgrades making it an amazing way to play one of my favorite games ever. If you’ve never played a Persona game before, Persona 4 Golden is the best way to start on Nintendo Switch. It is a joy to play both handheld and docked with its sublime music and great story. Persona 4 Golden has one of my favorite soundtracks of all time. It is an absolute steal at its asking price right now. It is a shame that there’s no physical release on Nintendo Switch so far.
Drainus
Drainus, like Ib, debuted on PC last year before it hit Nintendo Switch recently. The shoot ’em up from Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is a game I come back to often to relax and replay. It has great art, a good story, and an excellent gameplay loop with its drain mechanic and upgrade system. The wait for this Switch version was long, but the developers delivered an excellent shoot’ em up that is pure fun. I can’t wait to see what comes next from Team Ladybug.
Hopefully this list of the best Switch games of 2023 so far helped you find something you hadn’t played before. I’ve enjoyed these games a lot so far on not just Switch, but also other platforms. Stay tuned for our coverage of the best iOS and Steam Deck games of the year as well. If you have a game on Switch you liked a lot this year, let us know in the comments.
Interested in more lists? Check out our other Nintendo Switch recommendations!
Tom Hanks has been dragged into his son Chet’s nasty court war with an ex-girlfriend — with the A-list star being named as a potential witness, RadarOnline.com has learned.
According to court documents obtained by RadarOnline.com, Chet has asked a court to sanction his ex Kiana Parker as part of their dispute.
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Source: MEGA
As RadarOnline.com first reported, Chet and Kiana have been fighting in court ever since their breakup.
In January 2021, Kiana obtained a restraining order against Chet claiming he had attacked her multiple times during their relationship. She pointed to an alleged incident in October 2020 and another in January 2021.
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Source: MEGA;@IAMKIANAPARKER/INSTAGRAM
During one incident, Kiana said Chet became enraged after she tried to leave a hotel room. She said he grabbed her wrists and arms to keep her inside. During the incident, she said Chet threw a beer bottle at her.
In the documents, she claimed Chet told her she was a “ghetto black b—-” and that nobody would believe her because he’s “Chet Hanks.”
Weeks later, a video of them fighting leaked online. A bloodied Chet filmed the end of an altercation they had at his home in Texas. He said Kiana brought “three menacing large men” with her to take property after their split. He said a fight broke out that included Chet allegedly being smashed in the face with a pot. Kiana denied all allegations of wrongdoing and argued self-defense.
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Source: MEGA
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Tom Hanks
Chet then filed a lawsuit against Kiana for theft, assault and battery. Tom’s son said Kiana was the abusive one during the relationship. In addition, he accused her of using his credit cards to pay her rent without his consent.
In response, Kiana filed her own civil lawsuit against Chet accusing him of assault. She demanded $1 million in damages.
“Hanks became aggressive and hostile. As [Kiana] was lying in bed, Hanks started verbally abusing and threatening her. He shoved her, threatening her with imminent bodily injury, while stating “[I] would not disrespect [him], [he] was in control, [he] would not allow what happened with his mom and dad’s relationship to happen to our” and other things,” the suit read.
Now, as part of Chet’s lawsuit, he has asked the court to sanction his ex for refusing to sit for a deposition and for failing to turn over evidence.
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He said Kiana has failed to comply with the court’s order and wants her hit with $11k in sanctions.
As part of his motion, Chet also revealed that Kiana’s lawyers told his counsel that the “case should be settled because it would be embarrassing for [Chet’s] father, Tom Hanks.”
Chet’s lawyer said, “True to this point, [Kiana] has attempted to make Tom Hanks a witness by claiming that he referred her to a “healer.” However, Chet said Kiana has refused to identify the alleged healer.
In her motion, Kiana’s lawyer said, “Mr. Hanks’ father provided a spiritual healer to treat Ms. Parker for the emotional distress she suffered while living in Los Angeles, CA with Mr. Hanks. She did not retain any of the records for this healer.”
We’re used to seeing games from other platforms make their way to mobile devices, be it from PC, or console, or of course other handhelds. However, I think this might mark the first time a Playdate game has made the jump to iOS. Scenic Route Software is no stranger to either platform, and they’ve had their hands all up in the Playdate cookie jar since pretty much the beginning. They first adapted their 2015 iOS puzzler Shift for the Playdate before going on and creating a number of the more enjoyable games on the platform, including the very well-received Generations. Now things are coming full circle as Secret Route has rejiggered Generations slightly and brought it to iOS.
I’m not going to lie: Generations is kind of tricky to describe. It’s probably most similar to something like Triple Town. You have a living room wall with a 6×3 grid, and one by one you’ll be given portraits of family members in various age groups. Place 3 or more of the same age group adjacent to each other and they’ll combine into a single portrait one age group higher. Continue this pattern until you finally age out the oldest age group, aka they die. Hey, it happens to all of us. Aging out gives you a huge bonus and ages up everyone on your board, and the game continues on until you’re unable to place any matches and the board fills up.
There’s also a “save” spot on the coffee table where you can place a portrait you don’t want to place on the board just yet, but you don’t want to park stuff on there for too long because bonus items and portraits can also appear there when it’s empty and those can come in handy big time. Another wrinkle to the mechanics is that you can only place portraits on “open” tiles on the grid, which are tiles adjacent to portraits you’ve already placed. Board management in games like this is already a major strategic factor and this just makes it so you have to be even more careful about where you place your pieces. Oh! I almost forgot the most important part about Generations: There is a cat named Poe that lives in the house and you can pet it.
I can honestly see why this was such a big hit on Playdate, and now that Generations is on iOS it has the potential to reach a much larger audience, which it totally deserves to do. I’m not kidding when I say I’ll hold this one up to the greats of the genre such as the aforementioned Triple Town or Threes! or High Rise – A Puzzle Cityscape. I think my only wish is that it played in portrait orientation as this would be a killer one-handed game. That aside, I can’t really find fault with Generations, and based on how quickly I’ve been firing up a new game once the previous one ends I think this is one of those puzzlers where it’ll feel like you’ll always have room to improve or find new strategies. All that for a fiver AND you get to pet the cat? What’s not to love?
Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for April 7th, 2023. I was thinking that since the number of new releases and sales were pretty high yesterday, I might be off the hook today. No such luck! There are a bunch of new releases to summarize, and a reasonably healthy number of sales to check out as well. No rest for the wicked, it seems. Let’s get to work!
New Releases
The Library of Babel ($18.99)
It describes itself as a stealth platformer, but I would throw in words like ‘puzzle’ and ‘adventure’ in there too. This is based on the book by Jorge Luis Borges, and is set 20,000 years after the extinction of humanity. The robots we created are now the inhabitants of the world, and humans have become sheer myth to them. You play as Ludovik, who has been sent to Babylon to investigate a murder. Suddenly, a state of emergency is declared and the library is locked down. You’re on the trail of the murderer, but will you find them before you become a victim yourself? I’ll have a review of this one soon.
Forever Lost: Episode 1 ($4.99)
Glitch Games has ports of a bunch of its mobile games for us today, and here is perhaps the most well-known of the lot. It’s also the cheapest, so that’s nice. You’ll notice a theme with most of these games. Anyway, you wake up somewhere and you don’t know what is going on. Solve a bunch of puzzles and you might figure some things out. Some solid puzzles, a good sense of humor, and a fair few nice little touches help elevate this one. Worth a fiver for fans of adventure games who haven’t played it before.
Incoherence ($6.99)
Another Glitch Games adventure game. You’re not going to believe this, but you’ve awakened in a mysterious location with some big gaps in your memory. You’ll have to solve some puzzles to sort this out. This plays fairly similarly to Forever Lost, and that isn’t a bad thing. Not sure if it would be the first or second of the Glitch Games bunch dropping today that I would buy, but if the screenshots grab you don’t let me stop you.
Another Tomorrow ($11.99)
The Glitch Games spree continues with this first-person adventure game. There are a bunch of puzzles to solve, with a nice hint system to help you if you get stuck. The story sees you waking up in a strange place, feeling very strange yourself. You don’t know where you are or how long you have been there, but you’re not going to find any answers by sitting around. Don’t get too married to that fascinating plot; this game definitely centers the puzzle-solving over the story-telling. But it’s not too shabby on the whole.
Station 117 ($6.99)
Here’s the last of the Glitch Games bunch, and yes, adventure game again. You’re a genius billionaire playboy amateur marine biologist, and that is the raddest collection of words I’ve written in a while. Your curiosity leads you to set foot in a classified research facility located on the floor of the Pacific Ocean, and unsurprisingly things go a little ca-ca. The only way to get out of this mess is to solve a bunch of puzzles.
Tuya ($2.00)
A short horror experience set in rural Japan. After your grandfather’s sudden passing, you hurry back to your parents’ home in the countryside. What you find is not what you expected. You’ll have to piece together the real story by observing your surroundings. Not the longest or fanciest of things, but for a couple of bucks it’s fine.
Bumballon ($4.99)
This is a challenging, memorization-heavy action game where you have to guide the little fellow through thirty-five levels set across seven worlds. Most of the time, the only thing you need to do is control his speed. But there are sections that mix things up a bit, so you really do have to stay on your toes. Not bad at all for a fiver.
Drill Deal – Oil Tycoon ($14.99)
This is an oil rig simulation game where you are tasked with managing and expanding an oil rig business. Lots of problems will occur, normal or otherwise, and you’ll have to deal with them. It’s a decent enough game, but as is the usual case with these ports from Ultimate Games, the UI feels like it was designed for a computer with a mouse and keyboard, not a controller. If you’ve been able to tolerate its other Switch ports, you’ll probably be able to handle this one as well. But I sure wish the publisher would take more care with these, they could be a lot better than they are with just a few smart tweaks.
Fusion Shift ($3.49)
An action platformer where you can use your powers of mind control to jack your enemies’ brains and use them against their friends. Not the first time we’ve seen that idea in a game by any means but still unusual enough to be novel. The execution could be a lot better, but for three and a half bucks I’m not sure what could reasonably be expected here.
Super Cute Alien’s Adventure ($9.99)
I will be the judge of the cuteness of that alien. And I say he is not super cute. But he is ugly-cute, and that counts for something I suppose. Anyway, this is as generic a platformer as you could imagine, but with a slightly better presentation than average. If it were five dollars I would be saying it has big five dollar Switch platformer energy, but instead it’s ten dollars so I’ll just say that you can do better at this price point.
Catgotchi: Virtual Pet ($12.99)
A very basic virtual pet, one that goes so far as to imitate the look of a Tamagotchi’s LCD display. It’s the usual RedDeer nonsense of pricing a game way higher than it should be so that they can slash it by 80%+ in a sale and make it look like it’s a deal. But like most of the games and apps RedDeer pulls that with, it’s well-made enough if you only spend a couple bucks on it.
Numbers and Squares ($2.49)
Benjamin Kistler must think he’s being clever. Last week we had a Picross knock-off named Squares and Numbers, and now we’ve got a Sudoku game called Numbers and Squares. Anyway, this is just a basic-butt Sudoku game. You can find a lot better ones on the eShop for not much more money, and I’d advise that route.
Pixel Game Maker Series Tentacled Terrors Tyrannize Terra! ($11.99)
I am somewhat amazed at how versatile this Pixel Game Maker utility is. Such a wide variety of games in this line. Anyway, this is a shooter of sorts where you play as a soldier with heavy firepower who has to blast away enemies coming from the front and the back. There are tons of weapons to collect and use, and I sure can’t argue with the level of detail on those graphics. Doesn’t seem excessively good, but it might be fun enough for your liking.
Project Dark ($9.99)
Okay, don’t judge it too harshly by the screenshot. It’s supposed to be dark. It’s an audio game, mainly. You’re meant to close your eyes and listen. It’s mainly a narrative game, with the gameplay largely consisting of making choices. You can also find it on mobile and Steam in case you’d prefer to play it elsewhere. The iPhone used to have a few really cool games along these lines, and I’d love to see the idea make a comeback. Will that start here? Well, I’m certainly not going to try to predict the answer.
Star Chaser for Make-A-Wish ($1.99)
The character in this game was designed by a kid via the Make-A-Wish program, and the proceeds from sales of the game go to funding the organization. You have to go around and collect stars, trying to get a high score. Very reasonably priced if you want to help out a very worthy cause.
A very simple puzzle game from Megame, but at least this is a rare case of this company working within its means. Connect all the dots without crossing your lines. Worth a tenner? I don’t think so, but you might feel differently.
Beach Cafe II: The Escape Room ($3.99)
Cooking & Publishing has another very simple and straightforward room escape game here. Despite the name, it’s not set in a beach cafe this time. It just continues the story of the first game, which was set in a beach cafe. A continuing narrative? Big swings from Team Cooking & Publishing this time.
Zeus: God of Lightning ($4.99)
Wait. Wait. Did Cooking & Publishing accidentally create… art? Look at that screenshot. That is one of the most perfect screenshots from any game ever. I love it. The game itself is just a poor attempt at a visual novel, but just look at that screenshot. Not worth a fiver but for once it was worth the five minutes I spent looking into one of this publisher’s games.
The Shooting Range 3D: Shooting Gallery Simulator ($9.99)
Well, it is what it says. A very basic point-and-shooter game that allows you to shoot at targets in various ranges. You can buy DOOM or Duke Nukem or Quake instead of buying this. You probably should.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Hey, some nice stuff in the list today. New low prices for the likes of New Super Lucky’s Tale and The Testament of Sherlock Holmes, plus some good sales on other stuff like Demon Turf and Two Point Campus. In the outbox, round two of the Mario Day sales are wrapping up very soon. Get them if you’re going to.
Select New Games on Sale
Creature in the Well ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/10) Cozy Grove ($8.84 from $14.99 until 4/12) Blossom Tales II: TMP ($10.49 from $14.99 until 4/13) Demon Turf ($14.99 from $24.99 until 4/13) BPM Bullets Per Minute ($17.49 from $24.99 until 4/13) Lil Gator Game ($13.99 from $19.99 until 4/13) Rite($3.49 from $6.99 until 4/13) The House of Da Vinci 3 ($7.99 from $9.99 until 4/14) Boyfriend Dungeon($13.99 from $19.99 until 4/14) SuperMash($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/14) Batora: Lost Haven ($19.99 from $24.99 until 4/14) New Super Lucky’s Tale ($8.99 from $29.99 until 4/17) United Assault Normandy ’44 ($5.99 from $9.99 until 4/18) The Outbound Ghost ($16.24 from $24.99 until 4/20)
Terror of Hemasaurus ($9.74 from $14.99 until 4/20) NASCAR Rivals ($19.99 from $34.99 until 4/21) Quintus and the Absent Truth ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/21) Hell Pages ($4.49 from $8.99 until 4/21) Freud’s Bones: The Game($9.09 from $12.99 until 4/21) Beholder 3 ($12.99 from $19.99 until 4/21) Starsand($12.99 from $19.99 until 4/21) Half Dead 3($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/21) Casual Challenge Player’s Club($2.99 from $4.99 until 4/21) Two Point Campus ($27.99 from $39.99 until 4/21) Portal Companion Collection ($11.99 from $19.99 until 4/21) Colossus Down ($4.49 from $17.99 until 4/24) Agatha Knife($2.99 from $11.99 until 4/24) MechaNika($1.99 from $5.99 until 4/24)
Breakers Collection ($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/27) Forest Camp Story ($8.40 from $14.00 until 4/27) Tropical Resort Story ($8.40 from $14.00 until 4/27) Home Run High ($7.00 from $14.00 until 4/27) Pocket Academy($8.40 from $14.00 until 4/27) Game Dev Story ($7.00 from $14.00 until 4/27) DobbyxEscape: Spooky Adventure ($2.99 from $3.99 until 4/27) Drift King($5.99 from $19.99 until 4/27) The Testament of Sherlock Holmes ($22.49 from $24.99 until 4/27)
Sales Ending This Weekend
Cresteaju($3.49 from $6.99 until 4/8) Elderand($15.99 from $19.99 until 4/8) Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ($39.99 from $59.99 until 4/8) New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe($39.99 from $59.99 until 4/8) Super Mario Maker 2($39.99 from $59.99 until 4/8) Super Mario Odyssey ($39.99 form $59.99 until 4/8) Dig Dog ($1.99 from $3.99 until 4/9) Inertia: Redux ($2.01 from $4.39 until 4/9) Intruders Hide and Seek ($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/9) Space Tail: EJLH ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/9) Velone($9.99 from $14.99 until 4/9)
That’s all for today and this week, friends. We’ll be back next week with more new releases, more sales, more reviews, and some news. I guess it’s Easter weekend, hunh? It’s easy to lose track when you’re living in Japan. I probably won’t be doing anything special, but I hope those of you who celebrate enjoy your holiday weekend. And for those who don’t, enjoy the days off? Either way, I hope you have a terrific weekend, and as always, thanks for reading!
The idea of third party Steam Deck cases is something that interests me because, as anyone who owns a Steam Deck knows, Valve includes a VERY GOOD protective case with every device already. Most tech devices don’t include any type of case, so if you want to provide that device some protection you have to pick up your own. With popular devices like smartphones and tablets there’s a nearly unlimited number of options to choose from, in practically any price point you’re comfortable with. With the Steam Deck already coming with its own VERY GOOD case there really needs to be a compelling reason to shell out extra for an alternative case. People do have different tastes though, and choice is always a good thing, and to be honest there are some things that bother me about Valve’s default Steam Deck case that had me considering looking into an alternative.
To celebrate the one year anniversary of the Steam Deck, San Francisco-based WaterField Designs released a new lineup of magnetic gaming cases for the Steam Deck as well as the Nintendo Switch, Analogue Pocket, and Playdate. We have long been fans of WaterField gear around TouchArcade Towers, and several years back we even reviewed their entire lineup of Nintendo Switch cases at the time. Their stuff is pricey but the quality is second to absolutely no one, and so the announcement of their new Steam Deck Magnetic Case was the perfect nudge I needed to finally try out something different after spending the past year with Valve’s included Steam Deck case. WaterField was generous enough to send me one for review and so here are my thoughts about it as compared to the original Valve case.
First off let me talk about the fit and finish of the WaterField case. This company is legendary when it comes to quality, and that hasn’t suddenly changed with their new Steam Deck case. The main front and back panels are full-grain leather, Chocolate leather on my model but also available in Black, Blue, and White leather options. Holding those panels together and creating the shape of the case is black ballistic nylon tops and sides. There is an additional option for Chocolate leather panels with waxed canvas exterior sides, and this is the mixture of materials that is kind of the “signature look” of WaterField’s stuff. Finally, for those who don’t really dig leather, there are options for entirely ballistic nylon or entirely waxed canvas cases, which are also a few bucks cheaper.
The interior of the case is a very soft plush lining with a bit of foam in between it and the exterior leather panels. All of the interior sewing is reinforced with thick piping (there’s that legendary quality I was talking about) which, in addition to giving it an extra beefy construction, adds a bit of padding to the exterior edges of the case. This is by no means a super shock-absorbing case, and while it may help protect your Deck from a drop compared to the device being naked I wouldn’t go counting on it or anything. The Valve case does feel like it would protect the Deck from a drop, and in fact that case almost feels bomb-proof, but it’s also about twice the thickness of the Waterfield case which is probably my main gripe with it. For how svelte the WaterField case is it does seem to offer good protection against the general wear and tear of toting your device around in it or packing it away in a larger bag. The interior also includes two pockets, one larger one along the backside that will fit the Deck’s charger and a slimmer pocket on the front side that would be perfect for SD cards or a polishing cloth.
The biggest standout feature of the Steam Deck Magnetic Gaming Case is of course its magnetic closure. I mean it’s right there in the name, you know? I have to say I was skeptical about how well a magnetic closure could keep my very expensive device safely enveloped in its case, but having tried it for myself I’m now a believer. The magnetism is strong, but not too strong to pull open with ease, and the way the two sides snap shut is incredibly satisfying. It’s fun in a way I didn’t think a zipper ever could be, which is not something I ever thought I’d be saying about opening and closing a gaming case. Its other main benefit is it allows you to charge the Steam Deck while it’s in the case since the magnetic edges allow the charging cable to stick through while still closing the two sides together.
The magnetic zipper only extends along the top and side of the case, which brings me to my first negative point about this product after heaping so much praise on it. I prefer a case that can fully open flat, as I use my Steam Deck around the house and keep it in its case unless it’s actually being used in my hands. If I get up and want to set the device down I like to have that open case there to rest it on, and maybe even just close the flap over without actually fully closing the case just in case, I don’t know, an errant toddler’s toy goes flying or something. With the WaterField case only opening on two sides it acts more as a sleeve, and while it’s by no means difficult to slip the Steam Deck in and out of, it’s still not something I’d do just to set my device down for a few moments. It’s not the case’s fault as this is how it was designed, but my personal preference is a case that can open on 3 sides.
That brings me to my second criticism. As mentioned the WaterField case is roughly half as thick as Valve’s case, and that also means it’s a tighter fit all around. The outside leather panels are reasonably stiff but aren’t a molded semi-hard shell like Valve’s and other manufacturer’s cases, so there’s a bit more give in the WaterField case. This isn’t really a huge deal but you will notice that the analog sticks can be clicked in from pushing on the outside of the case, and that just makes me feel… uncomfortable, I guess. Now, my Nintendo Switch Slim Case does exactly the same thing, and that thing has been all over the world with me and never damaged my device. In fact I bought that case alongside my launch day Switch and still use it to this day with my OLED Switch some 6 years later. I’ve never even had stick drift on either of my Switches!
In reality analog sticks are spec’d to be pressed in tens of thousands of times if not more, so I don’t think it’s actually putting my device in danger or anything, but I still would prefer if there was some form of molded piece on the inside front panel with recessed areas for those sticks to sit in. Also worth mentioning is that once I noticed this issue after putting my Deck in the Waterfield case, I got curious and grabbed my Valve case that does have the nice molded interior that perfectly fits the device, and lo and behold if you squeeze that case together you can also make the analog sticks click in. I think that unless you’re willing to rock a fully hard case made of plastic or metal this is going to be an issue.
Overall I still love the WaterField Steam Deck Magnetic Gaming Case despite those two issues I mentioned. The quality and style of this thing is unmatched, the magnetic closure is fun and functional, and the size is much more manageable than Valve’s beast of a case. However, I think the real question is if this will replace the Valve case for me, and the answer to that is complicated. If I’m just tossing my Deck in a lightly packed backpack to head over to a buddy’s house, then yeah WaterField all the way. If I’m traveling heavier and want to stick my Deck in a more tightly packed suitcase or something, especially if the extra space the larger case takes up isn’t such an issue, then I’d probably opt for the Valve case. It is in fact a sturdier case, as evidenced by its gigantic size.
That said, I don’t really take my Deck outside of the house all that often, and don’t really go on any big “need to pack a suitcase” trips, so that scenario isn’t super likely. The bigger question is how I use my Steam Deck day to day around the house, and for me the WaterField case is just what I was looking for. Is that worth $84-89 when every Steam Deck already comes with a great case? That’ll likely come down to you. While my review unit was provided for free, I likely was going to buy one of these anyway, and had I dropped the cash for one I can say now after having used it that I wouldn’t regret the decision. If this does sound like something up your alley you can order a Steam Deck Magnetic Gaming Case–or the versions for Switch/Switch Lite, Analogue Pocket, and Playdate–over on the WaterField Designs website.
Okay, we’re a week into April already, but better late than never, right? The truth is that Marvel Snap(Free) has seen a few changes and tweaks that I wanted to let settle in before doing this month’s guide. As usual, there have been some new cards added since we last checked in, but there have also been some critical nerfs and buffs that have thrown a wrench into the meta in some ways. So let’s have a look and see what’s hot right now in the world of Marvel Snap decks. Remember: today’s winning deck could be tomorrow’s cold meatloaf. These guides are one way to keep your finger on the pulse of the scene, but they aren’t the only method you should be using.
Note that most of these decks are the best of the best at this point in time. They assume you have access to a full range of cards. I’ll once again be including the five strongest Marvel Snap decks of the moment, and I’ll throw in a couple more decks that don’t need anything too hard to get and are just sort of fun to play with. If you need more advice for building decks from more basic sets of cards, make sure to check out our beginner’s guide for some tips.
Since the last time we checked in, there have been some new cards added via the Days of Future Past season. Master Mold seems to have found a home in destroyer decks as anyone could have predicted, but the other cards seem to still be finding their place. Kitty Pryde was actually disabled and pulled due to breaking the game, so we have no idea what she’ll be doing for decks yet. As usual, some cards were nerfed and buffed, with some direct attempts to weaken the power of Thanos and Shuri decks. Let’s check out the five strongest decks for April 2023, plus a couple of decent decks that are easier to put together.
Shuri & Zero
Included Cards: Shuri, Zero, Armor, Sunspot, Aero, Cosmo, Typhoid Mary, Vision, Red Skull, Taskmaster, She-Hulk, Arnim Zola
One of the nerfs in the last month attempted to weaken Shuri decks, but this one still can’t be denied. Shuri is an outstanding card with her ability to double the Power of the next card you play. Combine her with another card with a high Power score and you can easily rack up the wins. Zero removes the abilities of the next card you play, and is often paired with high Power cards that have negative effects such as Typhoid Mary or Red Skull. The idea is that Shuri’s doubling ability means those high Power cards are more than worth their negative effects, and Zero can just remove them. Shang-Chi remains a risk to this deck, and Valkyrie is starting to see a lot of play as a counter as well. Armor and Cosmo can help deal with Shang-Chi, and Cosmo can also help with Valkyrie.
Thanos & Lockjaw
Included Cards: Thanos, Lockjaw, Wave, Shang-Chi, Blue Marvel, Leech, Odin, Doctor Doom, She-Hulk, Magneto, Killmonger, Death
Thanos & Lockjaw looked like it was on the ropes after the Mad Titan got nerfed, but players have found some tweaks to make it stay competitive. The main changes involve bringing in Killmonger and Death. Aero just isn’t what she was, and using Killmonger to clean up any unneeded Infinity Stones while also bringing down Death’s Cost for a big late-game play is worth its weight in gold. Just be mindful as always of Shang-Chi and Valkyrie, who are constant major spoilers for high-Power cards.
This deck is particularly fascinating because it doesn’t require any Series 4 or Series 5 cards, and in fact barely needs any Series 3 cards at all. The ‘Control’ in this deck’s title refers to how you need to manipulate the turn order to make sure your cards are revealed last all the way up until the end. That means you have to make sure you’re losing until the very end. Do what you will for the first few turns but make sure you hang on to Killmonger for the last turn. Play Sera on the fifth turn, and deploy various combinations of Enchantress, Killmonger, and Shang-Chi to completely ruin your opponent’s party.
Thor & Lockjaw
Included Cards: Thor, Lockjaw, Wasp, Iceman, Sunspot, Dracula, Jubilee, Jane Foster Thor, America Chavez, Hulk, The Infinaut, Magneto
This deck remains a royal pain in the butt to play against, and that means it’s a great deck to use yourself. The only real change from last time is the inclusion of Iceman, who is turning out to be one of the few useful counters to some of the other strong decks. The idea is the same as other Lockjaw decks. Get the pup out there, and start throwing your low Cost on On Reveal cards at him to try to draw out the big guns. A solid deck that doesn’t need too many fancy cards to work, but you are depending a little on the luck of the draw with Lockjaw’s teleporting.
Darkhawk & Zabu
Included Cards: Darkhawk, Zabu, Wasp, Yellowjacket, Korg, Black Widow, Lockjaw, Mystique, Rock Slide, Wong, America Chavez, Doctor Doom
Darkhawk was a big roller before he got nerfed a little while back, but there are still some players finding ways to make him work. In principle, this is the usual Darkhawk deck. A lot of cards that will fill up the other player’s hand, which adds to Darkhawk’s Power. Mystique is there to copy Darkhawk, of course. Lockjaw, the low-Cost cards, and the big guns work as a back-up plan if you can’t quite get things together. The good news is that it’s a lot easier to get your hands on the needed cards for this one these days, though it’s still going to be out of reach for many players.
And now, a couple of decent decks for those still climbing up the collection ladder.
Shaun’s Slobberknocker Mark 3
Included Cards: Patriot, Squirrel Girl, Ultron, Kazar, Abomination, Mystique, Iceman, Thing, Cyclops, Shocker, Misty Knight, Wasp
Back to basics this time, but still built around Patriot’s useful buffs for cards with no abilities. Use Mystique to copy either Patriot or Kazar’s ability, allowing you an extra buff. Squirrel Girl, Misty Knight, and Iceman are there to try to draw out Killmonger plays from the opponent, ensuring they don’t have him left in their hand on the last turn when you send out Ultron. Iceman also serves as a nice little nuisance for the opponent. This remains a deck that doesn’t require too many fancy cards to put together but yields reliable results. Since it doesn’t depend on many heavy hitters, it’s largely unaffected by Shang-Chi or Valkyrie shenanigans.
Kazoo
Included Cards: Ka-Zar, Ant-Man, Elektra, Nightcrawler, Squirrel Girl, Iceman, Lizard, Armor, Cosmo, Sandman, Blue Marvel, Spectrum
An oldie but a goodie. If you’re just starting out in Marvel Snap, the Kazoo deck is going to help you fill out your collection more quickly. It’s as simple as it gets. Ka-Zar can buff 1-Cost cards, so get those 1-Cost cards out there and back them up with Ka-Zar. On the fifth turn, play Sandman. This limits your opponent’s options for the final turn, and you’ve probably only got Blue Marvel or Spectrum left in your hand by then anyway. Simple and clean.
And that’s it for this month’s deck guide. We’ll return with another one of these in May to see where things stand after the Animals Assemble event and this month’s nerfs and buffs shake out with the meta. Happy Snapping!
Sky: Children of the Light(Free) from thatgamecompany will begin the Season of Passage from April 17th until April 25th. This season will feature the memories of four teenage spirits. You will be able to gather special candles alongside this to upgrade expressions, items, capes, and more with an instrument featured. There will be masks available to exchange with regular Candles and two Ultimate Gifts for season pass owners. There will also be seasonal quests as usual which can be completed independently with some rituals at regular intervals held with larger groups. The season pass will be $9.99 with a $19.99 three pack gift bundle. Season pass owners will get 30 bonus Season Candles.
More details for the event are available on the official website here. Sky: Children of the Light is now available for free on iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PS4 worldwide. Check it out on Android on Google Play here and for iOS on the App Store here. Check out our forum thread for more discussion around the game. We featured it as our Game of the Week when it launched as well. Have you been playing Sky: Children of the Light regularly and what would you like to see this year?
A few days ago, Apple announced the four games coming to Apple Arcade this month. Unlike prior months that were mostly full of older games, Apple is bringing three Apple Arcade Originals to the service this month beginning with Tilting Point’s puzzle adventure game Doctor Who: An Unlikely Heist. Doctor Who: An Unlikely Heist is an official Doctor Who game blending hidden objects, stories from the universe, mini-games, and more. Check it out here on Apple Arcade. Alongside Doctor Who: An Unlikely Heist, a few notable games have gotten updated. Farmside from Team17 has brought in new main quests, updated visuals for animal buildings, visitor request logic changes, and more today. Watch the Doctor Who: An Unlikely Heist launch trailer below:
SpongeBob SolitairePants adds in 25 new Quest levels, six new decks, a new April Fool’s event, a battle event, and more. SpongeBob Party Pursuitgets Tale of the Deep today letting you find your missing friend. This update also lets you play as Squidward and Patrick. The final notable content update of the week is Jetpack Joyride 2 with its Easter event, the Bot Cleaner powerup, and more. With the updates done, head over to our forum threads for Farmsidehere, SpongeBob SolitairePantshere, SpongeBob Party Pursuithere, and Jetpack Joyride 2here. For all Apple Arcade related things, check out our dedicated Apple Arcade forum for discussion on the service and every game included here. What do you think of this month’s releases so far?
Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for April 6th, 2023. In today’s article, we’ve actually got a bit of news to deal with. After that, it’s the list of new releases. There are a ton of new games on the shop today, though nothing extremely high-profile. Surprisingly, we have a gigantic list of new sales to sort through today. Normally those hit tomorrow, but here we are. And that means I am barely finishing this in time for dinner, so let’s get going!
News
‘Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster’ Series Switch Release Date Announced
It was inevitable from the minute the games were announced for mobile and PC, but it was still nice to see the announcement that the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series would be making it to consoles as well. We had a vague idea of the release date, and now we have an exact one: April 19th. These versions have new additions including the option to switch to the original soundtracks of each game, a considerably better font, and some new cheats. It appears the bundle of six games will be selling for $74.99, with the games also available a la carte for prices between $11.99 and $17.99 depending on the installment. You can even pre-order them now! Wow! But you don’t have to, because they are digital items. The eShop won’t sell out.
New Releases
Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories ($14.99)
Mm, bittersweet indeed. This is a narrative adventure game with a unique aesthetic. It might seem light and fluffy at first, but as you progress through the story things do get a bit more serious. It’s really light in terms of puzzles and things like that, so you’re really just moving through the story. That’s all well and good, but right now this game is really crash-prone for some reason. Very frustrating. I’ll be reviewing this soon, but I’d recommend waiting for a patch before jumping in on it in any case.
Dungeons of Aether ($14.99)
Set in the same universe as Rivals of Aether, this is a turn-based roguelite that uses dice mechanics. Choose from four different characters and make your way into the dungeons for some sort of reason that I’m sure is written in the game description. Does it matter? Just head in there and get some loot. It’s no Dicey Dungeons, but I’m sure some folks will get their kicks from it.
Batora: Lost Haven ($24.99)
This is an ambitious game that is trying to do a lot of things, such that it’s kind of hard to put it in any particular genre box. A hack-and-slash game? It has RPG elements, a choice-based narrative, and some puzzles to solve too. Well, whatever it is, it’s not bad. You can tell a lot of work went into building the setting, so if you like games that go deep on their lore, this might be right up your alley. I don’t think it’s an excellent game by any means but it takes some big swings and I genuinely appreciate that.
Curse of the Sea Rats ($19.99)
I’ve banged this drum before, but we have a lot of Metroidvania-style games on the Nintendo Switch. Like, more than anyone could have ever asked for. And in that kind of atmosphere, even a good example of the genre risks falling into the background. Curse of the Sea Rats is a decent Metroidvania-style game, and I love that it supports local multiplayer for up to four people. But is it good enough to stand out in the crowded eShop? I’m not so sure, but I’ll have a full review for you soon to let you know my final decision on the matter.
Gemini ($4.99)
A wordless adventure about two stars. You have to play through the game once on your own to unlock the local two-player mode, which strikes me as an odd choice as the multiplayer element seems like a draw and people generally aren’t going to play a narrative-focused game more than once. But it’s not my game, is it? For a fiver, those who enjoy narrative experiences may want to give this a closer look.
Marfusha ($11.99)
This is a very simple game in many ways, but there is a certain pleasure to it. You have to guard a gate from waves of enemies, and while that makes it sound like it’s going to be a base defense game, it’s actually more of a shooter. Each day you’ll earn money based on your performance and can choose a card to upgrade your character. Keep going until you can’t anymore. The main mode is okay and worth the playthrough, but the challenge mode will be what keeps you coming back. Not bad for something to just zone out with.
Witch Explorer ($19.99)
I have a tower defense game, I have a shooter, uhn, Witch Explorer. Ha ha, remember Pikotaro? I saw an advertisement in my local snack shop with him promoting some new whole grain Kit Kats or something. Right, this game. Like many games that try to do more than one thing at a time, Witch Explorer isn’t exactly an exceptional example of either of its genres. But it’s decent enough. Mainly a tower defense game, but one where you can directly go around and shoot things yourself. And occasionally it descends into full-on bullet hell, so that’s something. The charming art style does a lot of heavy lifting here.
Goroons ($10.00)
A sixty-five stage puzzle-platformer than can be enjoyed solo or with up to four players via local multiplayer. You have to use four monsters to make your way through each of the stages, and there are leaderboards to compete on to add a little replay value. Twice a month, new special challenges will rotate in to keep the good times rolling. Is this worth a tenner? Hm. I’m not so sure, to be honest. But you might feel differently.
IIN ($10.00)
This is a puzzle game from the same developer as Goroons. The idea is that you take over marked cubes and move them to reach their associated goals. You get eighty stages in total and can play alone or with a friend in local co-op. Each level has a global leaderboard associated with it so you can compare your performance with others, and there are also some rotating Special Challenges you can compete on.
Pupperazzi ($19.99)
If the game you need right now is one about taking pictures of dogs, then here you go. Meet various dogs, pet the dogs, dress the dogs, snap their photos. It’s not the deepest of games and it certainly has its rough edges, but I feel like the concept is strong enough and the execution is decent enough that those who are drawn to its basic pitch are likely to enjoy it. Mystifyingly, this isn’t even the only photography game releasing today.
The 7th Guest ($14.99)
Wow, this takes me back. In the old days, when CD-ROM technology was new, this was one of the first big games that was meant to push the medium. It’s a puzzle-heavy adventure game set in a spooky mansion. It shows its age, and that’s either going to be a good thing or a bad thing for you depending on your tastes. Nice to see it on the Switch in either case, though.
Alekon ($15.99)
Here’s the other photography game hitting the eShop today. You won’t be snapping shots of pups in this one, though. It’s all about taking pictures of magical creatures. There’s no dancing around it, this game is heavily inspired by Pokemon Snap. You’re on rails, you’re trying to get unique poses, and so on. But after a while you’re allowed to free roam in each of the areas, and that’s where it starts flying on its own wings. If you enjoyed Pokemon Snap, give this one a go. It’s quite well done.
Volley Pals ($6.49)
An arcade-style take on volleyball for up to four players via local multiplayer. It features cartoony graphics, relatively simple gameplay mechanics, and some wacky stages to play in. You can break all kinds of rules, and there are stage-specific mechanics to deal with. It might be worth looking into if you have people over to play games or just want something to play with the family. Not much here for someone playing alone apart from playing matches against the AI, though.
Arcade Archives Rezon ($7.99)
Here’s the next release springing from Hamster’s acquisition of the Allumer catalog. Rezon is a fairly naked homage to Irem’s R-Type, though you should obviously not expect it to quite live up to that game. It’s certainly as difficult as that game if not more so, and not always in the best ways. Nevertheless, it’s not too shabby and it’s extremely unlikely you’ll have played this before, so that’s something going for it. Intrepid shooter fans might want to give it a go.
Egglien ($5.99)
This is an action platformer game of sorts where you play as an alien that can propel herself by shooting eggs. There are forty levels in total to play, and it seems to be fairly inventive. Nice five dollar Switch platformer energy, inflation-adjusted to reflect our modern times.
Pretty Girls Tile Match ($5.99)
It’s another Pretty Girls game, and all the surrounding elements are the same as usual. Unlock outfits for the girls and fill out your gallery. The game aspect this time is a match-3 game involving mahjong tiles. It’s like mahjong solitaire but you’re removing three tiles at a time instead of two. Seems fine for what it is.
Eventide: Slavic Fable ($14.99)
Oh, if it isn’t a new Artifex Mundi release. That should make some people happy. This adventure game draws heavily on Slavic mythology and involves some sort of magical heritage park and some guy who kidnaps the heroine’s grandmother to try to gain control of its power. You have to rescue her and save the world. You know, the usual business. Some nice art in this one, as is the norm with Artifex Mundi games.
The Answer is 42 ($2.99)
A puzzle game where, as advertised, the answer is always 42. There are one hundred levels to play, and the idea is that you have to draw lines between the numbered tiles to reach the number 42. You have to use all of the tiles on the board to clear the level, so you’ll need to think carefully about your moves. It might seem simple but it gets very complicated in a hurry. Nothing fancy presentation-wise, but number puzzle fans will definitely get their money’s worth.
Lucky Slots ($7.99)
A slots game from Funbox Media. Yes, that’s certainly a slots game.
Tasty Slot Machine ($7.99)
A slots game from Funbox Media. Yes, that’s certainly a slots game.
Celebrity Slot Machine ($7.99)
A slots game from Funbox Media. Yes, that’s certainly a slots game. What? If they can copy and paste their eShop descriptions, I can copy and paste my summaries.
Waves Running Simulator – Surfing Hyper Runner Casual 3D Games ($2.99)
Our old pals INSTAMARKETINGANDGAMES again. This is a runner. It’s not very expensive. It’s not very good. Buy a couple of tasty Snickers bars instead and you’ll probably be happier.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Wow, there are a lot of neat games on sale right now. So many that I can’t even begin to pick out the best. This list is heavily curated, so make sure you swing by the eShop to see if anything on your wishlist is on sale. Over in the outbox, the only thing I will note is the Cloud Versions of the fancy Resident Evil games. I’m not sure how often Capcom is going to be doing sales on those, so if for some reason you want them, you might want to bite now.
Select New Games on Sale
Garden Story ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/11) White Day A Labyrinth Named School($22.49 from $29.99 until 4/18) Metal Max Xeno Reborn ($26.79 from $39.99 until 4/18) Metal Max Xeno Reborn Deluxe ($33.49 from $49.99 until 4/18) Evergate($2.49 from $9.99 until 4/18) Starlink Battle For Atlas($10.79 from $59.99 until 4/18) Bustafellows($17.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope ($29.99 from $59.99 until 4/18) Shining Resonance Refrain ($5.99 from $29.99 until 4/18) Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled($13.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy ($15.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Crash Bandicoot 4 ($19.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Spyro Reignited Trilogy($15.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Rayman Legends Definitive Edition ($9.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Sonic Forces ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/18)
Sonic Colors Ultimate ($19.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Sonic Frontiers ($40.19 from $59.99 until 4/18) Sonic Frontiers Deluxe ($46.89 from $69.99 until 4/18) Sonic Mania ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Team Sonic Racing ($14.99 from $29.99 until 4/18) Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania($17.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania Deluxe ($19.99 from $49.99 until 4/18) Cook Serve Delicious 2($1.99 from $12.99 until 4/18) Cook Serve Delicious 3 ($1.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Cook Serve Delicious Bundle ($2.99 from $24.99 until 4/18) Shin Megami Tensei III HD($19.99 from $49.99 until 4/18) Shin Megami Tensei III Deluxe ($27.99 from $69.99 until 4/18) Shin Megami Tensei V ($29.99 from $59.99 until 4/18) Shin Megami Tensei V Deluxe ($42.49 from $84.99 until 4/18) Persona 3 Portable($15.99 from $19.99 until 4/18)
Persona 4 Golden($15.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Persona 3 & 4 Bundle($29.61 from $39.49 until 4/18) Persona 4 Arena Ultimax ($14.99 from $29.99 until 4/18) Persona 5 Royal($41.99 from $59.99 until 4/18) Persona 5 Strikers ($23.99 from $59.99 until 4/18) Persona 5 Strikers Deluxe($27.99 from $69.99 until 4/18) Yurukill: The Calumniation Games ($27.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Alien: Isolation ($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium, Assorted DLC ($0.99 from $1.99 until 4/18) Horizon Chase Turbo ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Death’s Door ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Graze Counter GM ($11.24 from $14.99 until 4/18) Raptor Boyfriend: High School Romance ($10.49 from $13.99 until 4/18) McPixel 3 ($6.49 from $9.99 until 4/18) Made in Abyss Binary Star ($29.99 from $59.99 until 4/18)
Blanc($11.99 from $14.99 until 4/18) Sea Horizon ($11.19 from $14.99 until 4/18) AI The Somnium Files($7.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) AI The Somnium Files nirvanA Initiative ($41.99 from $59.99 until 4/18) MotoGP 22($7.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Monster Energy Supercross 3($2.49 from $24.99 until 4/18) Owlboy($11.24 from $24.99 until 4/18) Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark ($8.99 from $29.99 until 4/18) Monark: Deluxe Edition ($34.99 from $64.99 until 4/18) Seven Pirates H ($29.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Thea 2: The Shattering ($8.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Return to Monkey Island ($18.74 from $24.99 until 4/18) Divinity Original Sin 2 DE ($24.99 from $49.99 until 4/18) Hot Wheels Unleashed ($12.49 from $49.99 until 4/18) Dragon Ball Z Kakarot($19.79 from $59.99 until 4/18)
Trek to Yomi ($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Pipeline Panic ($4.49 from $14.99 until 4/18) Wonder Boy Asha in Monster World ($13.99 from $34.99 until 4/18) Disgaea 6 Defiance of Destiny ($29.99 from $59.99 until 4/18) Skelattack($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Contra Anniversary Collection ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Castlevania Anniversary Collection ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Arcade Classics Anniversary ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Castlevania Advance Collection($11.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection ($27.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) No Man’s Sky ($40.19 from $59.99 until 4/18) Grandia HD Collection ($19.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Suhoshin($15.19 from $18.99 until 4/18) Inscryption($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Loop Hero ($5.99 from $14.99 until 4/18)
Shiren the Wanderer TToF&tDoF($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Re:Zero Starting Life in Another World ($11.99 from $59.99 until 4/18) Carrion($7.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) The Sorrowvirus ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/18) Empire of Angels IV ($7.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) LEGO Star Wars Skywalker Saga Deluxe ($27.99 from $69.99 until 4/18) Star Wars The Force Unleashed ($12.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) My Friend Pedro ($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Enter the Gungeon ($5.99 from $14.99 until 4/18) GTA The Trilogy DE ($29.99 from $59.99 until 4/18) Stubbs the Zombie ($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Gris($4.24 from $16.99 until 4/18) Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 ($9.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Mega Mix ($19.69 from $39.99 until 4/18) Inertial Drift ($7.99 from $19.99 until 4/18)
LEGO Brawls ($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) AlphaLink($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/18) Shantae and the Seven Sirens ($17.99 from $29.99 until 4/18) Chaos;Head NOAH($12.49 from $24.99 until 4/18) Chaos;Child ($12.49 from $24.99 until 4/18) 13 Sentinels Aegis Rim ($29.99 from $59.99 until 4/18) Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls? ($3.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Potion Permit ($15.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Valkyria Chronicles ($5.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Valkyria Chronicles 4 Complete ($12.49 from $49.99 until 4/18) The Captain ($17.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Townscaper ($3.59 from $5.99 until 4/18) Pac-Man World Re-Pac ($17.99 from $29.99 until 4/18) Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series ($19.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Rabbids Party of Legends ($11.99 from $39.99 until 4/18)
Arcade Spirits($2.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Arcade Spirits The New Challengers ($13.39 from $19.99 until 4/18) DC League of Super-Pets ($13.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Kitiara Fables ($8.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Super Bullet Break($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Tormented Souls ($13.39 from $19.99 until 4/18) Nexomon($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/18) ARK Dinosaur Discovery ($7.49 from $9.99 until 4/18) Immortals Fenyx Rising ($11.99 from $59.99 until 4/18) NBA 2K23 ($14.99 from $59.99 until 4/18) Pac-Man Museum+($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) SEGA AGES Phantasy Star ($2.79 from $7.99 until 4/18) Root Film ($13.19 from $39.99 until 4/18) Maglam Lord ($21.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Maglam Lord Deluxe($32.99 from $59.99 until 4/18)
Rush Rally Origins ($9.99 from $14.99 until 4/18) Star Renegades ($7.49 from $24.99 until 4/18) Demon Slayer Hinokami Chronicles($29.99 from $59.99 until 4/18) Diablo II Resurrected ($13.19 from $39.99 until 4/18) Diablo III Eternal Collection ($29.99 from $59.99 until 4/18) BioShock 2 Remastered ($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) R-Type Final 2 Digital Deluxe ($29.99 from $59.99 until 4/18) Ys VIII Lacrimosa of Dana ($19.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) Sifu($29.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) It Takes Two ($29.99 from $39.99 until 4/18) The Caligula Effect 2 Deluxe ($35.74 from $64.99 until 4/18) Gato Roboto ($1.99 from $7.99 until 4/18) The Talos Principle ($4.49 from $29.99 until 4/18) The Swords of Ditto: Mormo’s Curse($3.74 from $14.99 until 4/18) Risk of Rain 2 ($12.49 from $24.99 until 4/18)
GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon ($14.99 from $24.99 until 4/18) Beat Souls($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/18) Scrapnaut($5.39 from $11.99 until 4/18) Batman: The Telltale Series($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/18) Batman: The Enemy Within ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/18) Disney Dreamlight Valley($22.49 from $29.99 until 4/18) Infernax($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/19) Forklift Extreme ($2.99 from $9.99 until 4/26) Insert Before Flight($2.37 from $12.49 until 4/26)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Friday, April 7th
Arsonist Heaven ($2.99 from $4.99 until 4/7) Back Again ($2.09 from $2.99 until 4/7) Car Factory Driver ($7.79 from $12.99 until 4/7) Collab Ball ($2.99 from $4.99 until 4/7) Explosive Candy World ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/7) FUR Squadron ($4.89 from $6.99 until 4/7) Hell Blasters ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/7) Hentai RPG Isekai Journey ($3.99 from $8.99 until 4/7) Live Factory($2.99 from $14.99 until 4/7) Mayhem Brawler($11.99 from $19.99 until 4/7) Melty Blood Type Lumina($29.99 from $49.99 until 4/7) Melty Blood Type Lumina Deluxe($41.99 from $69.99 until 4/7) Package Inc ($3.99 from $4.99 until 4/7)
Pretty Girls Rivers ($3.59 from $5.99 until 4/7) Resident Evil 2 Cloud Vers. ($29.99 from $39.99 until 4/7) Resident Evil 3 Cloud Vers. ($19.99 from $29.99 until 4/7) Resident Evil 7 Biohazard Cloud Vers.($29.99 from $39.99 until 4/7) Resident Evil Village Cloud Vers.($29.99 from $39.99 until 4/7) Teratopia($5.99 from $9.99 until 4/7) The Guise($4.79 from $5.99 until 4/7) The Hand of Glory($9.49 from $18.99 until 4/7) Truck Simulator 3($6.49 from $12.99 until 4/7) Wind of Shuriken($4.79 from $7.99 until 4/7)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with another dozen or so new releases to wrap up the week, plus a bunch more sales. Probably not as many as today, though. Well, I’d better get to my dinner. I have it cold a little too often these days, and that doesn’t make Mrs. Musgrave very happy. I hope you all have a great Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!
Developer Tursiops Truncatus just announceed that the over the top physics based shoot ’em up The Day We Fought Space!($3.99) will be getting a major 2.0 update next week. If you’ve not played The Day We Fought Space yet, it was originally announced in 2019, and finally made it to iOS last year. Next week’s update will bring in a new zero-gravity planet, Comet. The update will also bring in precision targeting challenges, the new Zen mode, and more when it arrives on April 13th. In terms of new weapons, 20 will be added with over a hundred unique combinations. Watch the trailer for the game below:
As of this writing, The Day We Fought Space! is available on iOS for $3.99. This update will go live on April 13th. If you’d like to grab the game before the update, check it out on the App Store for iOS here. Head over to our forum thread for The Day We Fought Space!here for more impressions. Have you played The Day We Fought Space! before or will you be trying it once this 2.0 update hits next week with the Zen mode and other additions?
Each and every day new mobile games are hitting the App Store, and so each week we put together a big old list of all the best new releases of the past seven days. Back in the day the App Store would showcase the same games for a week, and then refresh those features each Thursday. Because of that developers got into the habit of releasing their games throughout Wednesday or very early Thursday in order to hopefully get one of those coveted features spots. Nowadays the App Store refreshes constantly, so the need for everyone to release all on the same day has diminished. Still, we’ve kept our weekly Wednesday night format as for years that’s the time people knew to check TouchArcade for the list of new games. And so without further ado please check out the full list of this week’s new games below, and let us know in the comments section which games you’ll be picking up!
A Pretty Odd Bunny is a 2D stealth platformer about a rabbit who likes eating pigs. You play as a red-eyed rabbit and help him reach the pig at the end of the levels without letting other rabbits see you!
Find the right path through the levels so your fellow bunnies don’t see you. They don’t approve of your food choices and will try to stop you if they see your intentions.
Walk, run and jump into a colorful but dangerous world full of beautiful graphics and smooth animations. Created frame by frame with love and passion.
Explore more than 80 levels in 4 unique worlds, collect hidden coins, unlock extra challenges with cute characters, gorey action, blood, and a lot of severed pig’s heads.
Solve the biggest mystery in the town of Riverstone surrounded by the Elmwood Forest. Find the missing girl and prove yourself to everyone.
It’s been 3 weeks since a young teen has gone missing and despite the town’s police’s best efforts, they hit a dead end and declared the case of 18-year-old Zoey Leonard a runaway.
For all the interactive-mystery game fanatics. Develop your own trail to unravel the secrets of the town of Riverstone! This is YOUR chance to help a detective regain his legacy, save the life of a missing girl and uncover the orchestrator behind such a sick crime.
Solve sci-fi mysteries with this AI-generated RPG. Interview folks to uncover their secrets! New characters and mystery every game!
Solve a mystery of a ring of spies, or a stolen alien artifacts. Play on an asteroid or at the edge of a black hole. This sci-fi whodunnit lets you chat naturally with AI-generated characters to discover the culprit of the mystery. Driven by ChatGPT, this mystery game gives you a new scenario and characters every time you play! Rank up as a detective to gain new characteristics of locations and suspects. Chat naturally with the characters as you hunt for clues. Even the artwork for each character is custom created by AI.
Defeat your opponents in the epic strategy card game Conclave by building a formidable army and leading it into battle. However, brute force isn’t the only path to victory – you can also support your Creatures with powerful spells such as Siren’s Song, which entrances your opponents’ units, or artifacts like Narrow Bridge, preventing your opponent from swarming you with many creatures at once. Every decision is crucial on your journey to victory. You will have to forgo some cards in order to gather the resources necessary to play your more powerful cards. Will you choose to overwhelm your opponents with raw strength, or outmaneuver them with clever use of spells and artifacts? The choice is yours in Conclave.
In this deep life simulator, create your own character and take them on a journey from birth to death. Swipe through life year-by-year and make difficult decisions, then watch the consequences unfold. Along the way, develop your personality, experience major milestones, navigate life’s ups and downs, and deal with unexpected drama.
Place towers, slide towers, combine towers, defend your treatment!
The Fighting Chance gamified client simulates every stage of your treatment, so you can take an active role in achieving a better you.
Our propritary simulated battlefield technology puts you in control. Place different types of towers, slide towers around the map, combine towers to unlock new abilities, and block monsters from advancing – to prolong your treatment as long as possible.
After all, its your health on the line but we can give you a Fighting Chance.
The popular game for the Playdate handheld console, now on iOS! Experience what IGN called one of the ten best games for the Playdate, but now on your phone! And in color!
No ads! No in-app purchases! It won’t even harass you to rate it (Though it would be nice if you did)! Just a super fun, meditative puzzle game. Don’t forget to pet the cat!
Higan: Eruthyll is a 3D real-time combat RPG that brings fantasy to theater. Planet Eruthyll is where you can use diverse tactics with dynamic instructions and enjoy the touching stories presented by fantastic cutscenes.
-Push the button to jump, spam the button to fly -5 game modes: tennis, ping-pong, arcade, karate and random -First to score 4 or more points with a 2 point advantage wins -Hit with the center of your racket for a turbo shot -Hone your skills against the bot player -No ads, no in-app purchases, no data tracking
Are you up for a cozy escape-room puzzle adventure…in a dream-like world? Let’s go now!
Linn (that’s you!) is going camping with Pam (Pandora, your best buddy) and Tammy (Pam’s sister) for the weekend. The game starts from Pam’s garage, then moves on to a mountain cottage and more mysterious places. In order to go on your adventure, you need to solve puzzles to find the way forward through multiple chapters!
You’re chosen by the gods. Fight demons, climb ruins and face destiny to save the human race in this lush action-adventure inspired by Indian culture.
In this award-winning adventure game set in ancient India, a young girl named Raji has been chosen to stand against the demonic invasion of the human realm. Her destiny? To rescue her younger brother and face the demon lord Mahabalasura.
Become history’s greatest rail baron in Sid Meier’s Railroads!, a classic of the tycoon genre now available for iPhone and iPad.
In this captivating mix of model train set and railway management simulator, lay tracks and optimise routes to establish lucrative networks of cities and industries, transporting passengers, raw materials and goods across continents.
Grow profits through efficiency, innovation, and shrewd business decisions as you acquire valuable patents, trade stocks, and build or buy industries. Compete with world leaders and industrial titans to achieve the ultimate goal — becoming the greatest railroad tycoon of the age!
Detective Ito’s partner is missing, but what starts as a straightforward case soon spirals into a twisted nightmare that causes Ito to confront her past and question her own sanity. Your decisions and actions change Detective Ito’s state of mind, opening doors to different possibilities as you attempt to find your partner and understand the dark and horrifying world around you.
Play this popular point and click adventure game, now with intuitive new touch controls for smartphones and tablets.
TOP PLAYER’S GOLF is a sports game released in 1990 by SNK. Three modes, STROKE PLAY, MATCH PLAY, and NASSAU GAME, are available along with two types of courses. You’ll find yourself fully absorbed in this game’s immersive graphics and strategic skill planning.
Show the world your legendariousness by conquering all 120 unique, obstacle-filled levels. – Conquer obstacles, bombs, springs, traps, chasms, and umm, spiders. – Some levels are easy. – Most levels are hard. – Become a legend.
It’s you against WordSpiral for the highest score. Find words by selecting neighboring letters and click on the last letter twice to accept the word. If valid, watch the word disappear a letter at a time and shrink the spiral down. Try to remove the entire spiral. Then reset the board and ask the AI to solve the same game to compare your scores.
Sid Meier’s Railroads($12.99) is out now on iOS and Android. Ahead of the launch, we spoke to Feral Interactive’s Head of Design Edwin Smith about working on the game, the developer’s plans for the rest of the year, subscription services, Switch ports, working with Android, and a lot more. The company has done a lot since 1996 across Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and even Nintendo Switch, and it is always fun discussing how premium game developers approach ports, the state of the platform, and more. This interview was conducted prior to the game’s launch.
TouchArcade: Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do at Feral Interactive.
Feral Interactive: My name is Edwin, and I manage the Design team at Feral. In the Design team we’re focused on working out what changes and improvements are needed to make a great desktop (or console) game work well on mobile. This means we also spend a lot of time with other teams in Feral, from Development to Marketing. One day we might be discussing how best to implement a new control method, the next we might be talking with the media team about what features or controls exist, so they can make the best trailer possible. Every day is different.
TA: Following the tease for Feral Interactive’s newest project, I saw a lot of speculation, and even started looking into games by Feral Interactive on Steam to try and see what was possible. I didn’t expect Sid Meier’s Railroads. How did you decide on working on this one next rather than tackling another Total War release?
Sid Meier’s Railroads! is a tycoon game, which is a genre we haven’t brought to mobile before. It’s also a type of game that perhaps isn’t well-catered for on premium mobile. We think it fits well into our portfolio of premium games for mobile gamers.
TA: Having spent some time with Sid Meier’s Railroads on PC and Steam Deck over the last week, I was curious what the biggest challenge was with bringing it to mobile platforms?
FI: Fitting all the information on screen in a clean and simple manner was the toughest problem. However, with Sid Meier’s Railroads! we also optimized the gameplay loops with mobile in mind. For example, we’ve added extra warnings and UI to highlight route congestion, as well as extra summary warnings so players are alerted if something needs attention. They still need to take that information and use it to inform their decisions, but can now see important information at a glance without having to check multiple areas. With mobile players often playing in shorter bursts, facilitating easier access to key information really helps the enjoyment of the game.
TA: Will there be 120hz support on modern iOS and iPadOS devices?
FI: No, but this is a deliberate decision taken after testing the game. Gameplay in this type of game doesn’t benefit much from a 120fps frame rate, unlike a racing game for example, and running at such a high frame rate would significantly impact the battery usage and temperature of the device. By limiting the performance mode to 60fps, users will still get a very smooth gameplay experience with the added benefit of extended battery life while playing.
TA: Will Sid Meier’s Railroads be feature complete on iOS and Android compared to the PC version?
FI: Yes, the game has the same content as the original single player game, though multiplayer is not available.
It’s worth noting that eight of the game’s sixteen scenarios had only a single objective on desktop — ‘Be the last Baron standing’. For mobile, we have given each of these scenarios a full set of new objectives.
TA: Will map editing be included here in any form?
FI: No, Sid Meier’s Railroads! doesn’t come with a map editor. A map editor could be enabled in the desktop version (via manipulating an INI file in the game’s data), but it was a developer tool and came with a warning that no official support was offered for it. We did look at this during mobile development, but for the initial launch we focussed on the core single player experience.
TA: A lot of these classic PC games that Feral Interactive works on have amazing music. When you work on bringing the games to mobile from PC, is there any additional work done on the audio side?
FI: Often, the biggest audio challenge is to update all the sound libraries to versions that work on mobile. In terms of the actual music and sound files – they often use older audio codecs that use up a lot of space, so we’ll always look to re-encode them to use the very latest codecs. As a result of this work, the game audio still sounds amazing but takes up less storage space.
TA: Feral Interactive continues to bring premium games to mobile, and we’ve started seeing recent releases come to iPadOS, iOS, and Android simultaneously compared to launching on just iPadOS before. What changed with the development pipeline in recent years?
FI: You’ve got a good memory! The reason for our staged support was part of a step-by-step plan to make sure we focused on one problem at a time and always offered the best experience to our players. We didn’t want to try to do too much at once.
Our first mobile release, ROME: Total War, targeted the iPad first. The reason was that tablets have bigger screens so we could focus on the problems of converting AAA games to touch controls, without having to worry about smaller screens as well. Once we had released a game on iPad — and it was well received! — we moved onto making the same game work on the smaller iPhone screens.
This was quite a challenge, and took many months of research and design iterations, but the knowledge gained from the initial iPad release made it a much easier task.
With these two challenges met we then focused on Android. On iOS the hardware is limited to a relatively small pool of devices, whereas Android has a much more fragmented installed base. As such, supporting a wide range of Android phones and tablets is a much more involved process, not only due to the variety of hardware, but also the fact that many vendors use customized versions of Android which, in turn, use different graphics drivers and can offer slightly different functionalities. There are also completely different APIs to iOS which needed brand new libraries.
With Android we focused on making sure we could offer a high quality experience on the most popular devices. During development, we relied on our QA team to make sure we tested as many different popular phone types as possible. This ensured that we uncovered as many device-specific issues as possible before the game was released.
As we completed all these stages, and felt confident in being able to offer a great experience, we started combining the multiple platforms on newer releases. This has resulted in all our more recent releases being released simultaneously across iPadOS, iOS and Android.
TA: What do you think of the current state of subscription services on mobile across Netflix Games, Google Play Pass, and Apple Arcade?
FI: Subscription models have their pluses and minuses, both for developers and players. However, it’s not our area — we are very much focused on bringing standalone premium games to mobile.
TA: Will there be more from Feral Interactive on iOS and Android this year?
FI: Yes, but we aren’t giving any clues!
TA: Feral Interactive’s Switch ports have been amazing so far. Are there more Switch game conversions in the works for this year?
FI: See the answer above.
TA: What are your thoughts on Steam Deck? Is it something you test on for Linux releases?
FI: Like most players and developers out there, we’re fans of pretty much all gaming hardware, and the Steam Deck is an interesting device, but not one we support or work with. Our Linux titles are officially supported on Ubuntu only, and we aren’t planning to update them for further compatibility with Steam Deck or its operating system, SteamOS 3.0.
Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for April 4th, 2023. In today’s article, we have a little bit of Nintendo Switch Online news to go through before we head into a pair of reviews by our pal Mikhail. I have some coming tomorrow, most likely. After that, we head into the new releases of the day, headlined by GrimGrimoire OnceMore. Then, it’s sales time. Not a great batch of sales today, but sales time comes all the same. Well, let’s get to work!
News
‘Pokemon Stadium’ is the Next Switch Online Nintendo 64 Game
We haven’t seen any additions to the Nintendo 64 catalog on Nintendo Switch Online for quite a while. Not since January, when Goldeneye 64 hit the service. Sure, we got Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, and even a couple of NES and Super NES games in that time period, but this has been the longest we’ve gone without a new Nintendo 64 game to play since the service launched. The wait is over, as next week will see the release of Pokemon Stadium. Unfortunately, there’s no way to use the Transfer Pak feature of the game (at least right now), so you’ll have to get through it with the rental Pokemon. Anyway, it will be added to the line-up on April 12th.
Reviews & Mini-Views
Remnant: From the Ashes ($39.99)
When Remnant 2 was recently announced, a friend of mine kept trying to get me to play the first game because he insisted I’d like it a lot. I never got around to it until the Switch version was announced for whatever reason. I bought Remnant: From the Ashes on Steam to play on Steam Deck, and thought it was a nice blend of third-person shooters with souls-like elements. I was however, unsure, how it would be on Switch. Having now played it for review on Switch, the team has done a fantastic job with the port.
Remnant‘s gameplay, atmosphere, and enemy design are excellent, and the gear system is well thought out. If you do have a Steam Deck, it is a much better experience there, but this is likely the best the developers could do with the Switch, and I’m pleased with it. The controls are good, and the major issue is the load times. Performance, even in busier areas, holds up a lot better than I expected.
Remnant: From the Ashes on Switch is downgraded compared to other platforms, but is a much better port than I expected with DLC included. It feels like a good blend of The Division with souls-like elements, and the online has worked very well in the times I’ve tried it on Nintendo Switch. This is definitely one of the better third-party late ports to Nintendo’s hybrid system, and it even has a physical release, which is great to see. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
Norn9: Var Commons ($49.99)
Norn9: Var Commons on Nintendo Switch sees the 2015-released PS Vita otome game arrive on Nintendo Switch nearly a decade later. I still remember Norn9 being one of the last few PS Vita releases in North America to get a relatively large-scale retail release. I didn’t love Norn9 back then, but thought there was potential. For this Switch version, Aksys Games has improved the localization, which is the most welcome upgrade for existing owners.
I’ve always liked the sci-fi setting, and how the story progresses despite its issues. Norn9 doesn’t feel like a regular otome game, and this is something I always appreciate for keeping things fresh. It still doesn’t hit the same highs as some of my favorite otome games from Aksys Games, but is worth experiencing especially with the updated localization. Just like recent otome releases from Aksys Games, Norn9: Var Commons does include touchscreen support which is always welcome. The design of the UI itself isn’t the best though.
If you already played Norn9: Var Commons on PS Vita, I don’t think this is worth grabbing at full price, especially since it costs more than the PS Vita original did back in 2015. If you skipped it, Norn9: Var Commons on Nintendo Switch is the best version not only for its features, but also its localization. This is definitely a nice way to get Switch players into Norn9 while we are waiting for Norn9: Last Era. –Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
New Releases
GrimGrimoire OnceMore ($49.99)
One of Vanillware’s classic games makes its return to modern platforms with this spiffy new release. Mage-in-training Lillet Blan goes on a journey into the Silver Star Tower, but things are definitely not the way they should be. Explore the tower and use your magic to defend yourself and reveal secrets in this unique strategy game. I’ll have a proper review of this one soon, but I think Vanillaware fans don’t need much coaxing to pick this one up.
Road 96: Mile 0 ($12.99)
I guess Road 96 did well enough to get a follow-up, so here we are. This is a narrative adventure where you will switch between two characters, Zoe and Kaito, as they carry out their lives in a luxury condominium. They both come from different backgrounds and have very different outlooks on the world, and these differences will inform their roles in the story. They’ll begin the tale as friends, but is that how things will end? I’ll have a review of this one soon.
Kitty Rainbow ($11.00)
Well, someone likes Rainbow Islands and got tired of waiting for Taito to bring it back. So yes, this is basically Rainbow Islands crossed with a roguelite and done up in some very cheap-looking graphics. Use your rainbows to defeat enemies and as platforms, climb to the top of the stage, pick a perk, then move on. Seek out and collect seven rainbow-colored gems to earn an extra life, which is important because you only start with one. I would love to have Rainbow Islands on Switch. This isn’t it, but it might do it for some of you. And hey, for whatever it’s worth, I genuinely believe this was made with good intentions.
Path of Colors ($5.99)
A puzzle game where you have to make lines from each color base to the target base. You need to be careful because if the colors cross you’ll end up with a new one, but maybe that is something you’re going to want sometimes. Seems amusing enough.
TacTac Prologue ($5.99)
A short little adventure game that, as the title suggests, is really more of a prologue than anything else. Explore the village of Gaab as Dunai, a young man who is preparing to leave town and move to the big city. He wants to say goodbye to all of his friends and loved ones, but he’ll need to do a little work first because his best friend is nowhere to be found. There are various puzzles to solve, so it isn’t just walking about and talking. But again, it’s a prologue. So keep that in mind.
My Name is Mayo ($0.99)
It truly is odd to see this on the Switch. You see, this game basically exists for Trophy and Achievement Hunters to rack up some easy wins. You tap on the Mayo jar and achievements/trophies pop. There’s a certain surreality to it that I suppose has some value, but given the Switch doesn’t have a system-level achievement system, I really can’t see the point in this at all.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Hey, the Siralim games are on sale. Those are good. Minit is also as cheap as it ever has been, so that might be a good pick-up. Shooter fans will certainly want Sophstar if they don’t already have it. As for the tiny outbox, Rogue Legacy and its sequel should be considered given just how infrequently they go on sale. Check those lists!
Select New Games on Sale
Dust & Neon ($20.99 from $29.99 until 4/10) Siralim 3($11.24 from $14.99 until 4/11) Siralim Ultimate ($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/11) Minit($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/11) A Day Without Me ($1.99 from $5.99 until 4/17) The Awakening of Mummies ($1.99 from $2.99 until 4/17) Brotherhood United($1.99 from $8.99 until 4/17) Zombo Buster Advance ($1.99 from $3.99 until 4/17) Instant Farmer ($1.99 from $2.99 until 4/17) Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/17) Demon’s Rise: War for the Deep ($1.99 from $6.99 until 4/17) Mail Mole ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/17) Gunborg: Dark Matters ($3.74 from $14.99 until 4/18) Strumfront: The Mutant War ($2.49 from $9.99 until 4/18) Skautfold: Shrouded in Sanity ($2.49 from $9.99 until 4/18)
Sophstar($9.09 from $12.99 until 4/18) Heidelberg 1693 ($10.49 from $14.99 until 4/18) Arietta of Spirits ($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) Paradise Lost ($1.99 from $14.99 until 4/24) Lumberhill($4.49 from $14.99 until 4/24) Spacebase Startopia ($24.99 from $49.99 until 4/24) The Solitaire Conspiracy ($2.39 from $11.99 until 4/24) Behold the Kickmen ($1.99 from $3.99 until 4/24) Lair of the Clockwork God ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/24) Thomas Was Alone ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/24) Sakura MMO ($6.69 from $9.99 until 4/24) Sakura Cupid ($6.69 from $9.99 until 4/24) Sakura Nova($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/24) Sakura Swim Club($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/24) Sakura Succubus ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/24) Sakura Succubus 6 ($6.69 from $9.99 until 4/24) Sakura Spirit ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/24) Crystal Goddess ($4.01 from $5.99 until 4/24) Life of Delta ($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/24)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 5th
Full Metal Furies($1.99 from $19.99 until 4/5) Love Esquire ($16.74 from $24.99 until 4/5) Perfect Gold ($5.35 from $7.99 until 4/5) Rogue Legacy ($2.02 from $14.99 until 4/5) Rogue Legacy 2($21.24 from $24.99 until 4/5) Saint Maker ($9.37 from $13.99 until 4/5)
That’s all for today, friends. Truth be told, I spent half the day at the hospital and city hall today sorting out various medical and bureaucratic issues. Good ol’ Mikhail saved my bacon, as he does. But I’ll be back tomorrow with more new releases, more sales, more reviews, and maybe some news. I hope you all have a great Tuesday, and as always, thanks for reading!
Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for April 3rd, 2023. In today’s article, we’ve got two reviews from our pal Mikhail and a couple of reviews from me, all mini-sized for your reading convenience. Then we have a few new releases to check out, though nothing terribly exciting. After that, it’s a surprisingly healthy list of new sales for you to consider, plus the outgoing list of sales about to expire. Let’s get going!
Reviews & Mini-Views
Session: Skate Sim ($39.99)
When Session: Skate Sim was announced for Switch, I was equal parts excited and afraid. Despite adoring Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater on PS5 with the amazing DualSense features and 120hz support, I loved the time I spent with it on Nintendo Switch. I was hoping Session: Skate Sim would deliver a true simulation experience on Switch, but the port is lacking.
When I started doing the tutorial and eventually exploring what Session: Skate Sim had to offer, I was impressed with the gameplay, music, and presentation. I was disappointed with the visuals and cutbacks compared to other platforms though. Session: Skate Sim is an impressive and chill game if you enjoy skateboarding, but it is disappointing on Switch.
Session: Skate Sim is a great game I recommend on literally any other current platform. It is a shame about how it turned out on Nintendo Switch. I still found myself having fun on and off, but I cannot recommend Session: Skate Sim on Nintendo Switch in its current state. You’re missing out on too much of the atmosphere by playing a subpar version on Switch right now. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 2.5/5
Train Life: A Railway Simulator ($29.99)
What is it with train games right now? Feral Interactive is bringing Sid Meier’s Railroads to mobile and Nacon recently released Train Life: A Railway Simulator on Nintendo Switch. As a fan of the genre, I was curious to see how Train Life: A Railway Simulator would be on Switch, and whether it would be worth playing on the go.
Having no experience with this game on other platforms, I was quite impressed to see how it scaled down on Switch in portable mode, but very disappointed by how it looks docked. Barring the visuals, the controls are good, and the overall experience seems very welcoming to newcomers.
With a good tutorial and a lot of accessibility options to tweak the difficulty, this feels like a nice blend of more realistic train simulation and something like Euro Truck Simulator. There is a lot of depth across the different trains, locations, requirements, and more in the core gameplay loop here.
I hope potential future updates can improve the visuals docked and some of the load times in general. I’d also recommend increasing the sensitivity speed for camera movement and zooming, because the defaults feel really bad.
Train Life: A Railway Simulator has been a pleasant surprise on Nintendo Switch. While I cannot recommend it for docked play at all, it has been fun in handheld despite its visual cutbacks. Train Life: A Railway Simulator is a nice blend of traditional management games and more-involved train games. I’m looking forward to trying the DLC when I get time to come back to Train Life: A Railway Simulator in the future. -Mikhail Madnani
SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5
Saga of Sins ($19.99)
Wasted potential, that’s what Saga of Sins is. It has a really interesting premise of entering the minds of sinners (and eventually the innocent), and the visual style is a great hook. It all looks like stained glass! Neat. Plus, you can transform into various beasts, and who doesn’t love that? And then you start playing it, find yourself in the middle of a very plain 2D platformer with very plain combat and some poorly telegraphed boss battles, and it all starts to unravel. The cool story set-up doesn’t really go anywhere interesting, either. It all adds up to a game that makes a great first impression and then slides downhill almost immediately, never quite recovering.
Saga of Sins is basically functional, so if you come in with realistic expectations you might have an okay time with it. But the good ideas here deserved better than to set up a game I can only damn with the praise of “basically functional”. Cool visuals, some interesting mechanics, and at least the start of a cool story, but there isn’t much else here that really lifts this experience out of being absolutely middle-of-the-road.
SwitchArcade Score: 3/5
Assault Suits Valken Declassified ($24.99)
Once you started to dig past the most famous titles in the Super NES library, there was a lot of treasure to be found. Initially released in the West by Konami under the title Cybernator, Assault Suits Valken was one such game. It was a very distinct action game, and those who spent a little time getting used to its unique mechanics were rewarded with a really enjoyable mecha romp. Most had no way of knowing at the time that our version of the game had some cut content, or that it was part of a larger series. It speaks to the quality of the gameplay that Cybernator was still very well-regarded on the merits of what was there.
If you have happy memories of that game, publisher Rainmaker has a great proposition for you: a faithfully-translated version of Assault Suits Valken handled by the emulation pros at M2, all dressed up with an embarrassment of riches as far as extras are concerned. While the game itself is toting the usual features seen in many of M2’s other projects such as the Castlevania Anniversary Collection or the Namco Museum Archives, the bonus content goes well beyond by translating a full strategy guide, offering a nice way to listen to some tunes, and a whole lot more. The ultimate treat for a fan of the game, and priced accordingly.
The price point might make this a hard pill to swallow for those unfamiliar with the game already, but I suspect this is one for the super fans anyway. M2 has done its usual fine work with the emulation side of things, and Rainmaker has really packed in the extras to help increase the value proposition. The game itself is a good one, a strong deep cut from the Super NES library, and it’s nice to have the original experience in English after all this time.
SwitchArcade Score: 4/5
New Releases
New York City Driver ($12.99)
Another BoomHits driving game, following almost the same structure as all of the other ones. This time it’s less about the vehicle theme and more about the location, though. There are fifteen different vehicles that wouldn’t be out of place in New York, seventy-five missions to complete, and a… particular interpretation of New York City to drive around in. Likely to be on deep discount soon.
Panda’s Village ($5.99)
This is just a weird game. It’s a tower defense game of sorts where you play as a panda and have to fortify your village and defend it against the neighboring monkeys who have a habit of invading. Yes, they will throw poop at you. It’s like something you would accidentally find on the App Store and have a guilty evening with before deleting and never speaking of again.
Cube Farmer ($30.00)
This is a very simple puzzle game where you place water cubes in designated locations to make the crops grow properly. You get forty levels to play in total. This seems like it would be a decent enough puzzler to chill with were it not for the price tag, which is absolutely bonkers. Seventy-five cents per level is one of the poorer propositions I’ve seen in a puzzle game in a while, especially since some of them are over in seconds. It seems priced to put on deep sale for attention, not to sell at its normal price.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
Well right at the head of the list there you’ve got a quality shoot-em-up. Head down the list a bit and you’ll see some stuff from Team 17, plus the awesome throwbacks Donut Dodo and Galacticon. Not too much to note in the outbox, but do note that the discount connected with FIFA’s run on Game Trials is coming to a close.
Select New Games on Sale
Hell Blasters ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/7) Rogue Star Rescue ($9.74 from $14.99 until 4/14) Golazo 2 Pixel Soccer ($12.78 from $15.98 until 4/15) Mudness Offroad Car Simulator ($1.99 from $14.99 until 4/15) Automachef($2.99 from $14.99 until 4/16) Neon Abyss ($6.99 from $19.99 until 4/16) Yooka-Laylee & the Impossible Lair($5.99 from $29.99 until 4/16) Crown Trick($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/16) Monster Sanctuary ($6.99 from $19.99 until 4/16) The Survivalists ($6.24 from $24.99 until 4/16) Raging Justice ($3.74 from $14.99 until 4/16) My Time at Portia($7.49 from $29.99 until 4/16) Golf With Your Friends ($5.99 from $19.99 until 4/16) Moving Out($6.24 from $24.99 until 4/16) King of Seas($4.99 from $24.99 until 4/16)
Worms WMD($5.99 from $29.99 until 4/16) Worms Rumble ($2.99 from $14.99 until 4/16) Epic Chef ($6.24 from $24.99 until 4/16) Overcooked 2($6.24 from $24.99 until 4/16) The Legend of Tianding ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/17) Alisha: Oblivion of Twin Goddesses ($13.19 from $32.99 until 4/17) Crazy Chicken Xtreme ($7.99 from $24.99 until 4/17) My Life: Riding Stables 3 ($11.99 from $29.99 until 4/17) My Life: Pet Vet($11.99 from $29.99 until 4/17) Monster Dynamite($2.99 from $19.99 until 4/17) Amazing Machines ($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/17) Barn Finders ($6.99 from $19.99 until 4/18) 4×4 Offroad Driver 2($7.79 from $12.99 until 4/21) Roof Jump Stunt Driver ($6.49 from $12.99 until 4/21)
Donut Dodo ($2.99 from $4.99 until 4/21) Billy 101 ($3.99 from $4.99 until 4/21) Chenso Club ($6.49 from $9.99 until 4/21) Hotshot Racing ($2.99 from $19.99 until 4/21) American Fugitive ($1.99 from $19.99 until 4/21) Human: Fall Flat ($5.99 from $19.99 until 4/21) Fishing: Barents Sea CE ($2.99 from $29.99 until 4/21) Galacticon($2.99 from $4.99 until 4/21) The Legend of Gwen($11.99 from $19.99 until 4/21) Gunpig: Firepower for Hire ($2.99 from $4.99 until 4/21) Detective Agency: Gray Tie CE ($11.99 from $14.99 until 4/21) Match Ventures 2 ($9.59 from $11.99 until 4/21) Runefall 2 CE($5.99 from $9.99 until 4/21) Brightstone Mysteries: The Others ($11.99 from $14.99 until 4/21) My Lovely Pets CE ($11.99 from $14.99 until 4/21) Big Adventure: Trip to Europe ($9.59 from $11.99 until 4/21) Big Adventure: Trip to Europe 2 ($11.99 from $14.99 until 4/21) Big Adventure: Trip to Europe 3 ($11.99 from $14.99 until 4/21) Woodle Tree 2 Deluxe ($1.99 from $12.99 until 4/22) Suicide Guy Collection ($2.19 from $10.99 until 4/22) Formula Retro Racing World Tour ($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/23)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 4th
After Wave: Downfall ($3.74 from $14.99 until 4/4) Beauty Bounce($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/4) Bunny Bounce ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/4) Dating Life: Miley X Emily($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/4) Dyna Bomb($3.74 from $14.99 until 4/4) EA Sports FIFA 23 Legacy ($19.99 from $39.99 until 4/4) Evolution Board Game ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/4) Horror Tale 1 Kidnapper ($6.99 from $9.99 until 4/4) Kamikaze Veggies ($3.89 from $12.99 until 4/4) Legend of Arcadieu Bundle ($3.99 from $7.99 until 4/4) Little Misfortune ($6.99 from $19.99 until 4/4) Magi Trials($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/4) Sakura Santa ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/4) Sakura Succubus 4 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 4/4) Secrets of Magic 3: Halloween ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/4) Summer Days ($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/4) Superliminal($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/4) W.A.R.P.($2.49 from $4.99 until 4/4)
That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with more new releases, more sales, more reviews, and maybe some news. I feel like I have a million things to do right now and no time to do them, but I guess that’s how it goes sometimes. I hope you all have a great Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!
Earlier this year, Dead Space had a superb remake that hit current PC and console platforms. I was very impressed with how it looked and ran on Steam Deck, and called it the first tech showcase for the system in 2023. Following that brilliant horror release, I was very curious about how Resident Evil 4 Remake from Capcom would fare on Valve’s portable system. Having played it through the launch week and seeing improvements in the final game, I can safely recommend Resident Evil 4 Remake for any Steam Deck owner hoping to play it on the go.
Just like the recent remakes of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3, Resident Evil 4 Remake from Capcom is a blend of a re-imagining and a remake. While a lot of people adore Resident Evil 4 and consider it one of the best games ever, my favorite game in the series is actually Resident Evil 2 Remake. It is incredible that Capcom managed to release such a great action horror game with Resident Evil 4 Remake, and I hope the publisher lets this team, that also did Resident Evil 2 Remake work on a brand-new game in the series.
While I originally did a lot of testing across different frame rate targets on Steam Deck, the current default preset will serve you well. If you do want to try something else, 30 or 40fps targets work well so far with some drops in busier areas while delivering very good image quality for the system. The two settings I definitely would play around with are toggling lens disabling lens distortion and enabling gyro on the Steam Deck’s controller settings for Resident Evil 4 Remake. Gyro helps a lot in the game, and it should’ve been an official setting like in the PS5 version. Speaking of controls, I’m glad Capcom lets you manually force button prompts for different controllers here. I used the PlayStation button prompts on Steam Deck.
In the case of beloved games like Resident Evil 4 and Final Fantasy VII, I’m glad that current players can experience the originals and the remakes on modern platforms. In both situations, the remakes and originals can co-exist, and more choice is always better. While I prefer Resident Evil 4 Remake and Dead Space Remake, both the original experiences are still playable on current platforms.
When Capcom sent me PC review code for Resident Evil 4 Remake, I had the base game, but was curious about the DLC included in the deluxe edition. I upgraded to it through the bundle available for purchase on Steam, and it has been hit or miss. If you like the costumes included, I’d recommend getting it. If you aren’t a fan of the costumes in the DLC, this bundle isn’t for you. Thankfully, you can buy everything separately as well. Speaking of DLC, hopefully we see this release get some story DLC in the future. I’m looking forward to the Mercenaries update later in the week as well.
As of this writing, Resident Evil 4 Remake is marked as ‘Playable’ by Valve. It isn’t ‘Verified’ because it sometimes shows non-Steam Deck icons or displays mouse/keyboard prompts. As far as I’m concerned, Resident Evil 4 Remake is amazing on Steam Deck. While it had a bit of a rough time during the demo, it has only gotten better since the final game was released and Valve has pushed out a few shader updates for the game.
If you’re hoping to experience Resident Evil 4 Remake on Steam Deck to have a great experience on a portable, it is essential. Having now played it on PC, PS5, and Steam Deck, the DualSense features definitely make the PS5 version my favorite, but Resident Evil 4 Remake is a joy to play on Steam Deck, and it plays without issues from the get go. It is fantastic to see a big budget release like this work out of the box on Steam Deck while managing looking and playing so well. The game itself has a few frustrating moments, but it still gets my highest possible recommendation for Steam Deck owners hoping to play it on the go.
Interested in more Steam Deck coverage? Check out our Steam Deck recommendations!
