Nintendo brought a fresh batch of Nindies games into the spotlight today during their Nindies Summer Showcase. Over the span of 22 minutes, a ton of new indie games were announced for the Switch during a rapid-fire, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it stream. Luckily, I had my handy notebook ready, so here’s a complete breakdown of the games that were shown.
Super Meat Boy Forever – Meat Boy and Bandage Girl now have a child, Nugget, and series antagonist Dr. Fetus returns to kidnap their darling little baby. Those familiar with the original Super Meat Boy should be happy to expect more of the same frantic platforming. Super Meat Boy Forever hits in 2018.
Shovel Knight: King of Cards – We finally have some more information on the final campaign expansion to Shovel Knight. As a prequel, King of Cards tells the story of King Knight’s battles with four other Kings. The game will not only have the classic platforming like its predecessors, but will also include card battles. Shovel Knight: King of Cards will be released in Early 2018.
Mom Hid My Game – A basic hide-and-seek puzzle game where you have to find a game console that your mom hid around the house. It’s expected to be both quirky and challenging. Mom Hid My Game will be available for both the 3DS and Switch in Late 2017.
Golf Story – A golf game with RPG elements and a deep story. Explore new islands and battle enemies while playing golf, disc golf, and mini golf. Very interesting title, looks to be a lot of fun. Golf Story will launch exclusively on the Switch in September 2017.
Floor Kids – A game about breakdancing. Looks like Tony Hawk meets PaRappa the Rapper, with a nice hand-drawn style and smooth animation. Floor Kids will release during the Holiday 2017 period.
WulverBlade – I love my beat ’em ups, and WulverBlade immediately caught my attention. The title looks like a cross between Game of Thrones and Golden Axe. Wulver Blade will be released first on the Switch in September.
Poly Bridge – A relaxing bridge-building simulator. Try to create a bridge that will hold its integrity as vehicles travel across. Poly Bridge will come out in Holiday 2017, and is a Switch exclusive.
Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition – An episodic story that features a furniture salesman caught up in a spooky mystery (and that’s already a hit on the PC). The art style looks awesome, and Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition will include the Act V expansion when, it hits the Switch in Early 2018
Earth Atlantis – A hand-drawn, black-and-white shoot ’em up, coming first to the Switch this Fall.
Next Up Hero – An overhead, Diablo-esque title with a cartoonish look. Next Up Hero is a community-driven game with online elements. Players will recruit other fallen heroes to join their squad. Coming to the Switch in 2018.
SteamWorld Dig 2 – The sequel to the amazing SteamWorld Dig finally got a release date! The platformer will premiere on the Switch on September 21.
Mulaka – Nulaka is a skilled warrior who has to solve puzzles, battle giant monsters, and transform into different animals. It’ll be released in Early 2018.
Yono and the Celestial Elephants – An overhead action game starring an unbelievably adorable elephant, Yono and the Celestial Elephants will release exclusively for the Switch on October 12.
Dragon: Marked for Death – Created by the talented developers at Inti Creates, Dragon: Marked for Death is a side-scrolling action RPG with local and online play. Dragon: Marked for Death will release on the Switch as an exclusive this Winter.
Battle Chef Brigade – Battle monsters in a 2D action world to collect ingredients, then go into your kitchen and use those ingredients in a match-3 game to make amazing dishes. Coming Holiday 2017.
Morphies Law – Coming this winter exclusively to Switch. Morphies Law is a 4v4 arena multiplayer shooter. The more you shoot your enemies, the bigger your character gets, and the smaller they get. Shoot them in the head and their head shrinks. Shoot their legs, their legs get smaller while yours gets bigger. The team with the tallest avatar wins the round.
Sausage Sports Club – A family-friendly sports multiplayer game (with a very interesting name). Coming first to the Switch this Fall.
Light Fingers – Releasing first on the Switch in Early 2018, Light Fingers is a turn-based multiplayer game where you create a game board and battle enemies. Looks to incorporate board game elements as well as card battles.
Nine Parchments – Looking a lot like a light-hearted Gauntlet, this overhead action RPG features both online and local co-op, and will release for the Switch this Holiday season.
But as always, Nintendo saved the biggest announcement for the finale… drum roll please…
No More Heroes: Travis Strikes Again – Suda 51 is currently working on the third No More Heroes game, and this time, Bad Girl’s father will try to get revenge on Travis Touchdown for her death. Using the same art style as the previous two titles on the Wii, No More Heroes: Travis Strikes Again is a Switch exclusive and it’ll be released in 2018.
Whew! That was a lot of games! Be sure to check out the video embedded above to see each of the titles in action. Looks like the Switch is becoming the go-to console for indie hits. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to buy some eShop credit.
If you’re in the Seattle area, Nintendo will host another Nindies@Night event tomorrow night, August 31, beginning at 8:30 PM (Pacific Time). Most of the games announced during today’s Nindies Summer Showcase will be available to play at the Museum of Pop Culture, as well as during this weekend’s PAX West expo. A portion of the event will also be livestreamed on on Twitch, so be sure to tune in from 9:00 to 10:00 PM for “developer deep dives and sneak peeks of never-before-seen gameplay.”
Nintendo was also kind enough to deliver a few more details about each title in their full press release:
Super Meat Boy Forever (Team Meat): In this beefy sequel to the fan-favorite original game, players will once again leap off walls, dodge buzz saws and perform incredible feats of 2D platforming. In this game, though, levels get more challenging each time they’re beaten. With an updated control scheme, new ranking system and daily challenges, players are going to want to keep coming back for seconds. Super Meat Boy Forever launches for Nintendo Switch in 2018.
Shovel Knight: King of Cards (Yacht Club Games): This final adventure in the Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove saga is fit for a king! Travel through four new worlds and 30 new courses to discover how King Knight ascended the throne and became one of the Order of No Quarter. Shovel Knight: King of Cards launches on Nintendo Switch in early 2018.
No More Heroes: Travis Strikes Again (Suda51 and Grasshopper Manufacture): Seven years have passed since the events of No More Heroes, and The Bad is determined to exact his revenge on Travis Touchdown. Just like the original cult classic, players will have to battle through multiple punk-rock levels and defeat over-the-top bosses. Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch in 2018. More details about the game will be revealed in the future.
Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition (Cardboard Computer and Annapurna Interactive): This haunting episodic tale is loved by many, and now it’s coming to Nintendo Switch. Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition, which includes the debut of the long-awaited fifth and final act of the series, launches on Nintendo Switch in early 2018.
SteamWorld Dig 2 (Image & Form Games): In the sequel to the award-winning original, you must dig deep, gain riches and explore an underworld riddled with danger. A new trailer for SteamWorld Dig 2 that debuted during the Nindies Showcase presentation revealed the game will launch for Nintendo Switch on Sept. 21.
Dragon: Marked for Death (Inti Creates): Go it alone or team up with three other friends in this side-scrolling action-RPG. With 30 enormous quests and four classes to choose from, players will have hours and hours of action to fight through. Dragon: Marked for Death launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch this winter.
Battle Chef Brigade (Trinket Games and Adult Swim): Orcs, elves and humans have one thing in common – a need to feed! Battle Chef Brigade is one part combo-based action game, one part match-three puzzler and an all-around feast for fans of 2D animation. Duel your way into the Brigade when the game launches first on Nintendo Switch this holiday season.
Golf Story (Sidebar Games): Most role-playing games are about slaying dragons or retrieving mystical crystals, but what about an RPG that lets players equip golf clubs instead of swords? In this golf RPG (yes, it’s a thing!), play through a dramatic story with a diverse cast of characters to meet, golf challenges to beat, upgrades to earn and equipment to collect. Golf Story launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch in September.
Floor Kids (MERJ): This rhythm-based action game lets players bust out fresh moves, earn respect and recruit dancers through a variety of locations. Play the game’s single- or multiplayer modes with either traditional or touch-screen controls. Floor Kids launches first on Nintendo Switch this holiday season.
Wulverblade (Fully Illustrated and Darkwind Media): Get nostalgic for the classic beat-’em-ups of the ’80s and ’90s with Wulverblade, a rich, hand-drawn 2D action game set in war-torn ancient Britain. The two-player co-op game launches first on Nintendo Switch in September.
Poly Bridge (Dry Cactus): Flex your engineering muscles in this bridge-building simulator that proves it’s just as fun to fix things as it is to watch them fall to pieces. Hundreds of levels and hours of physics-based puzzles will gear players up to create their own incredible bridges and puzzle levels to show their friends. Poly Bridge launches as a console exclusive on Nintendo Switch this holiday season.
Earth Atlantis (Pixel Perfex and Headup Games): As one of the last survivors of humanity, players must explore an underwater world and hunt down monstrous creature/machine hybrids in this side-scrolling shooter. Earth Atlantis launches first on Nintendo Switch this fall.
Next Up Hero (Digital Continue and Aspyr Media): Everyone dies in this community-driven online action game. But once one person dies, an echo is left behind. The next hero can then revive them as an AI companion. Choose from nine heroes and wield various weapons when Next Up Hero launches on Nintendo Switch in early 2018.
Mom Hid My Game (Kemco): Players must push their imaginations to the limit in this seek-and-find game about, well, seeking and finding a game! Mom Hid My Game launches for both Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems later this year with exclusive stages.
Mulaka (Lienzo): Battle mythical creatures, solve puzzles and undergo magical transformations in this lush action-adventure, inspired by northern Mexico and the indigenous Tarahumara culture. Mulaka launches on Nintendo Switch in 2018 with exclusive features and functionality.
Yono and the Celestial Elephants (Neckbolt Games and Plug In Digital): Many adventure games have a distinct lack of elephants … but that’s all about to change. Yono is here, and he’s basically a one-elephant army that runs, opens chests with his trunk, head-butts bad guys, sprays water and throws explosives. You know, normal elephant stuff. Yono and the Celestial Elephant launches as a console exclusive on Nintendo Switch on Oct. 12.
Morphies Law (Cosmoscope): A new trailer that debuted during the Nindies Showcase showed off the uniqueness of this upcoming shooter. Morphies Law launches as a console exclusive for Nintendo Switch this winter.
Sausage Sports Club (Luckshot Games): Players looking for a physics-based sports game about adorable floppy-necked animals competing on a reality TV show are in luck. Sausage Sports Club features multiple game modes, arenas and playable characters. Plus, it can be played with up to eight players! The multiplayer game launches first on Nintendo Switch this fall.
Light Fingers (Numizmatic): One to four players manipulate a magical clockwork board in this turn-based multiplayer game featuring real-time challenges, devious opportunities for misdirection and, of course, lots of loot! With procedurally generated boards, players will never play the same game twice. Light Fingers launches first on Nintendo Switch in early 2018.
Nine Parchments (Frozenbyte): Everyone has heard of beat-’em-up games, but what about a blast-’em-up game? In this local and online* co-op game, up to four players battle strange creatures and mighty bosses while wielding an ever-changing arsenal of spells. Nine Parchments launches for Nintendo Switch this holiday season.
