I have not been following the Money Heist series, nor have I checked out the brand new Berlin, and I’m also not big on interactive fiction games. So all that is to say I’m not going to be the best judge to tell you if Money Heist: Ultimate Choice is a great game or not. What I can say though is that in general Netflix has done an excellent job with games based on their programs offering all sorts of awesome fan service for the hardcore fans of said shows, and I’d wager that Money Heist: Ultimate Choice is along those same lines. And hey, if you do watch the show(s) then it’s pretty likely you have Netflix already, which means you can take this baby for a test drive at no risk whatsoever.

Reviews & Mini-Views

The Monty Mole Collection ($6.99)

While this was just announced for release next week in its home region of Europe, the rest of the world got this collection of classic computer platformers about a month back. I don’t talk about it a lot, but my first game machine of any kind I had at home was a Commodore 64. As such, I buy pretty much any Commodore 64 game that pops up on the eShop if only out of pure nostalgia. Not that any of these games are the ones I played on there, mind you. The North American and European software libraries for the Commodore 64 were very different beasts, I’ve come to learn.

Anyway, Monty Mole. I first played one of these games in the iOS Spectaculator app, which I think we can agree may not be the ideal way to play a highly challenging series of action games. I think it was Monty on the Run, because I remember that banging tune that plays during the game. At any rate, it seemed fine even if I couldn’t make much headway with it. With that in mind, it wasn’t difficult for me to fork over the seven bucks to grab this collection when it popped up on the eShop.

You get around half of the series here, with Wanted: Monty Mole (Spectrum and C64 versions), Monty on the Run (Spectrum and C64), Auf Wiedersehen Monty (Spectrum and C64), Moley Christmas (Spectrum), and Sam Stoat: Safebreaker (Spectrum). No Monty is Innocent or Impossamole. I believe the latter has some rights issues around it, but I don’t know why the former was left out. Maybe because it’s a bit of an oddball? Honestly, I was a little impressed that both Spectrum and C64 versions were included for most of the games. That’s a nice bonus.

The games play fairly well given their vintage, though they are very difficult by and large. I didn’t enjoy the C64 Wanted: Monty Mole, which is the one case of the Spectrum and C64 versions being extremely different from each other, as much as the rest of the platformers. Sam Stoat: Safebreaker can go fall into the abyss for all I care. Still, that means there are four rather enjoyable games on offer here. You get some basic display options, save states, and a wildly useful rewind feature. Nothing fancy, but it has what you need.

What it doesn’t have is any extra supplemental material for the games. You get what I think are the covers for each game, plus a brief description. No instructions, no explanations of what these games mean in a historical sense, or anything like that. These aren’t the most complicated of games, but it would have been nice to have a little something to establish some context. Also, Sam Stoat: Safebreaker really needs some directions. I had to look up instructions on the web to sort out how it worked. Likely not an issue for those who played these forty years ago, but those of us coming in somewhat fresh could use a little more to go on.

The Monty Mole Collection should please some of the largely underserved fans of classic microcomputer platforms. It’s a bit threadbare in some ways, but there are enough features here to enjoy this bag of Monty games as best as they can be in the here and now. I wish there was more in the way of extra materials, but I suppose they can’t all be Gold Masters. It’s also unfortunate that this falls just shy of being a full set of Monty games. In the end, what’s here is worth the asking price as long as you’re cool with platformers of this vintage.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

New Releases

The Spy Who Shot Me ($7.99)

This first-person shooter is a parody of James Bond and Bond games from the 1990s. You know which ones, I’m sure. It even throws in some weird mini-game levels to break up the shooting action. It’s more interested in being an amusing send-up than a good game, but for the price I think Bond fans at least will get a kick out of it. Just be ready for some serious frustration if you actually plan on finishing it.

Arcade Archives Mighty Guy ($7.99)

Once upon a time, back in 1986, there was a guy. A Mighty Guy. He was such a Mighty Guy that he decided to punch, kick, and psychoblast his way to the evil computer Zelda and destroy it to save us all. You can live the chronicles of that Mighty Guy in this reissue of the Nichbutsu “classic". Those who enjoy the weirder entries in the Arcade Archives line, come and pick up your game.

The Bin Bunch

Forbidden Ghost Photo ($3.99)

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

A lot more going out than coming in today, but I suppose we could all use a break for our wallets’ sake. Eschatos and Parasite Pack are my recommendations in the inbox, while over in the outbox the Spelunky games and some of the S-Tribute releases are worth picking up. Check those lists carefully!

Select New Sales

Backbeat ($17.49 from $24.99 until 1/10)
Hexagroove Tactical DJ ($13.99 from $19.99 until 1/10)
Eschatos ($16.19 from $26.99 until 1/18)
Catmaze ($3.99 from $9.99 until 1/18)
Intrepid Izzy ($5.49 from $10.99 until 1/18)
Parasite Pack ($3.19 from $7.99 until 1/18)
Long Live The Queen ($3.99 from $9.99 until 1/18)
Ninja or Die: Shadow of the Sun ($9.74 from $14.99 until 1/18)
Super Brawl Rush ($2.99 from $4.99 until 1/18)
Seduce Me: The Complete Story ($5.99 from $9.99 until 1/18)
Gastro Force ($4.19 from $6.99 until 1/18)
Save Room ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/18)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, January 5th

Abarenbo Tengu & Zombie Nation ($5.99 from $11.99 until 1/5)
Akai Katana Shin ($20.99 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Another World Mahjong Girl ($7.49 from $9.99 until 1/5)
Aragami 2 ($15.99 from $39.99 until 1/5)
Ashina: The Red Witch ($5.99 from $9.99 until 1/5)
Avenging Spirit ($2.99 from $5.99 until 1/5)
Batsugun Saturn Tribute Boosted ($17.99 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Blair Witch ($7.49 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Bone Marrow ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/5)
Bounty Battle ($2.49 from $24.99 until 1/5)
Bramble: The Mountain King ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Bridge Constructor Portal ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Bridge Constructor Ultimate ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Buildings Have Feelings Too ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Bulldozer Tycoon: Construction Simulator ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/5)

Chained Echoes ($18.74 from $24.99 until 1/5)
Cleopatra Fortune S-Tribute ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Cloudpunk ($4.99 from $24.99 until 1/5)
Cotton 2: Saturn Tribute ($8.99 from $17.99 until 1/5)
Cotton Boomerang: Saturn Tribute ($8.99 from $17.99 until 1/5)
CrossCode ($5.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Cry Babies Magic Tears: The Big Game ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/5)
Curse Crackers: For Whom the Belle Toils ($9.00 from $15.00 until 1/5)
Darker Skies ($2.69 from $17.99 until 1/5)
Death Becomes You ($3.99 from $7.99 until 1/5)
Deathrun TV ($2.24 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Deathsmiles I-II ($27.99 from $39.99 until 1/5)
Deathtrap Dungeon Trilogy ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/5)
Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/5)

Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Embraced By Autumn ($11.39 from $18.99 until 1/5)
FerroSlug ($2.26 from $5.67 until 1/5)
Foreclosed ($2.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Fresh Start ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Game Tengoku CruisinMix Special ($8.97 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Gleylancer ($3.49 from $6.99 until 1/5)
Guardian Force: Saturn Tribute ($8.99 from $17.99 until 1/5)
Gynoug ($3.49 from $6.99 until 1/5)
Hirilun ($7.99 from $9.99 until 1/5)
Knight Squad 2 ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Lost Epic ($8.99 from $17.99 until 1/5)
Morbid: The Seven Acolytes ($3.74 from $24.99 until 1/5)
Moto Roader MC ($3.49 from $6.99 until 1/5)
Mrs Cat Between Worlds ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/5)

Mugen Souls Z ($31.99 from $39.99 until 1/5)
Nape Retroverse Collection ($2.79 from $6.99 until 1/5)
Necrosmith ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/5)
No Place Like Home ($12.49 from $24.99 until 1/5)
Omen of Sorrow ($12.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Package Inc ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/5)
PAWfectly Designed ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Ping Pong Arcade ($3.74 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Pumpkin Jack ($7.49 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Puzzle Bobble/Bust-A-Move S-Tribute ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Rainbow Skies ($12.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Rogue Glitch Ultra ($9.59 from $11.99 until 1/5)
Rytmos ($6.00 from $15.00 until 1/5)
SENSEs: Midnight ($9.74 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Sephonie ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)

Slaycation Paradise ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Spells & Secrets ($20.99 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Spelunky ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/5)
Spelunky 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Super Mabus Mania ($3.15 from $7.89 until 1/5)
The Bridge Curse: Road to Salvation ($19.49 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Time on Frog Island ($6.24 from $24.99 until 1/5)
Truberbrook ($1.99 from $29.99 until 1/5)
UNBOX: Newbie’s Adventure ($2.99 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Vaporum ($2.49 from $24.99 until 1/5)
Venba ($11.24 from $14.99 until 1/5)
WarriOrb ($1.99 from $12.99 until 1/5)
Working Hard Collection ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/5)

That’s all for today, friends. This is where I would normally say that I’ll be back tomorrow with the remaining releases of the week and such, but to be frank, I’m not sure if I will be or not. I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow and I might end up being hospitalized again, and if that happens, I won’t be back again for a bit. I sincerely hope to be writing for you all tomorrow, though. Have a thrilling Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!

@oh_bibi is proud to present… BEAST: Bio Exo Arena Suit Team!

Welcome to the show!
Play exclusively on @AppleArcade starting February 1!https://t.co/o1M8ee5fxt pic.twitter.com/Z75ECcgSvN

— BEAST: Bio Exo Arena Suit Team (@BeastOBB) January 4, 2024

While not really my favorite genre, I’ll give BEAST: Bio Exo Arena Suit Team a shot when it launches. I’m more interested in Words in Progress to see how another developer tries to do something interesting with word games. The puzzler includes asynchronous multiplayer, multiple language support, an endless mode, and more when it launches. Apple has also announced updates for Crayola Create and Play+ coming January 12th, Jetpack Joyride 2 getting the Hamster Ball Vehicle, and other content updates planned for Cut the Rope 3, Snake.io+, Puzzle & Dragons Story, Cityscapes: Sim Builder, stitch., WHAT THE CAR?, Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go, and more coming.

You can sign up here for Beast Bio Exo Arena Suit Team and here for Words in Progress to be notified of when they are available to download or to have them downloaded when available depending on your setting. I hope we see more games added each month because this seems a bit less than expected. What do you think of today’s releases and the February 2024 announcement?

I’ll update this with our new forum threads when they go up.

The song is so good, it got me to re-download Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition on PS5 for a replay, and also the base game on Steam Deck to play on the go once again. Since you’re here, you may as well also listen to Bury the Light from Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition below:

Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat releases on January 10th, 2024 for iOS and Android. If you’d like to play it with a controller, watch the Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat video showcasing controller support here. You can pre-register for Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat on the official website here and pre-order it on the App Store for iOS here. Pre-registering will get you different rewards like gems, red orbs, potions, and more as detailed on the official website. Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat’s App Store page has a list of some of the different in app purchases like seasonal cards, gift packs, and different sets of devil gems included in the game. What do you think of today’s Devil May Cry: Peak of Combat theme song and are you motivated?

The App Store Great for the month (seemingly) is Blackjack by MobilityWare+ that arrives with no in app purchases or additional purchases required. This means unlimited play with free chips, new travel tables, and more. You can download it here on Apple Arcade. Alongside the new games, Red Games Co’s Crayola and Solitaire Stories have been updated. The former has you ringing in the new year with the Winter Rainbow Rush, Crayola Creativity Week, and the Year of the Dragon celebrations. Solitaire Stories promises a new year of Solitaire with new stories, skills, and more. This includes the new Grown Ups story, Aurora Borealis event, Kitties and Caviar event, and Vault Events feature. With the updates and new releases done, check out our forum threads for Cornsweeper here, Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom here, and Blackjack by MobilityWare+ here. For all Apple Arcade things, check out our dedicated Apple Arcade forum for discussion on the service and every game included here. What do you think of the games and updates in 2023?

Reviews & Mini-Views

EGGCONSOLE Review Spectacular

It’s a quiet day today, so I thought I would do something interesting. Recently, D4 Enterprise started releasing some vintage Japanese computer games on the Switch eShop. These titles are all quite famous in Japan, but most of them are either barely known in the West or not known at all. I figured I’d throw a little life preserver out into the water for those who are curious but not quite convinced. All of the games have the same set of features. You can make use of save states, read a bit of a quick guide to how to play the game, remap the controls, peruse a gallery of art and other goodies, and in some titles start from one of several pre-set save states that will allow you to see the game without playing through it yourself. There are also a couple of screen settings to choose from, plus rewind and speed up functions.

Here are Mini-Views for all five of the current EGGCONSOLE releases. Oh, and the letters and numbers after the title refer to the specific computer platform they were released on.

EGGCONSOLE RELICS PC-8801 ($6.49)

The first release in the series is something of a good luck charm for D4 Enterprise’s various retro game initiative. Relics was originally published by Bothtec in 1986, and it’s a relatively awkward action-adventure game that I would perhaps compare to things like Another World or Prince of Persia in how it plays. There’s a whole back story here that is unfortunately only presented in Japanese, but once you’re in the game everything you need is in English. There are multiple endings based on the actions you take while exploring the world, and if you want the true one you’ll have to figure out what walking the path of justice entails. Oh, and you’re a shade or ghost of some kind. You possess creatures you find along the way, giving you access to their abilities.

Relics is a very clunky game by modern standards, but if you’re patient with it there’s definitely something here to enjoy. The combat is terrible but you should be trying to avoid getting in fights anyway. Exploring the game world and trying to solve the various mysteries you’ll come across are fairly compelling, and the visuals have a real vibe to them that I’m into. I really appreciate the pre-set save states in this game, because it gives curious players a way to experience various parts of the game without having to deal with the cumbersome controls. Not bad on the whole.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

EGGCONSOLE THEXDER PC-8801mkIISR ($6.49)

Depending on your age, you might remember this one. It got a release in the West by Sierra back in the day, and I think it was somewhat popular for the era. There was also a reboot of sorts on the PlayStation 3, but I think that one was somewhat less successful. I have a lot of nostalgia for this game, albeit not in this PC-8801 form. I think it’s actually better here than it was in the version I played as a kid. Anyway, it was 1985 and robots that could transform into vehicles were about the coolest thing around. In comes Game Arts with Thexder, an action game about a robot that can transform into a spaceship. It can also shoot these super-cool homing laser beams. You’ll have to use your various abilities to make your way through labyrinthine stages filled with dangerous traps and enemies.

Thexder is certainly one of the easier games in the EGGCONSOLE line to pick up and play. Learning how to handle the transformation and flying the ship takes some practice, but that’s really the only tricky part of the controls. With that said, the game is very hard. Enemies will glom on to you and chew through your energy at rapid speeds if you let them get close, and it can be hard to shake them off. You’ll have to be very patient and make careful use of save states and rewind if you want to see the game through. If you’re okay with that, this is worth trying.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

EGGCONSOLE XANADU PC-8801 PC-8801mkIISR ($6.49)

Xanadu is an extremely important game in the history of the medium. This 1985 Nihon Falcom release is not only an ancestor to many of Falcom’s subsequent releases like Ys, but also a major influence on the whole side-scrolling action-RPG genre. The exploration component of the game features side-scrolling gameplay, while battles take place on a separate top-down screen. There are a lot of systems in this game, and it’s difficult to learn how they all work. Your goal is to explore a huge underground dungeon and defeat the evil that lays within. You’ll have to battle monsters, solve puzzles, avoid traps, and manage your food if you want to survive. This is a very primordial action-RPG, and it plays like it.

Is Xanadu worth playing today? Only for a certain type of player. You’re going to have to do some research and spend a lot of time learning how things work before you can really enjoy yourself. The ability to make use of pre-set save states helps you see more of the game if you can’t wrap your head around it, but I think this particular EGGCONSOLE release is only for students of gaming history and those who like to chew around complicated, merciless games. It’s presented as well as it can be, but there’s only so much you can do to make a game like this appeal in the current year.

SwitchArcade Score: 2.5/5

EGGCONSOLE HYDLIDE PC-8801 ($6.49)

This 1984 T&E Soft game is another one with a lot of historical importance, but it’s sadly likely best-known among Western players through the absolute evisceration of the NES port by the Angry Video Game Nerd. It’s unfortunate that the first chance Western players had to play this game was via the localized NES game in 1989, leading it to be compared to the games that wouldn’t have existed without it. This was one of the first action-RPGs ever made, and it influenced all kinds of games, from Ys to Metal Gear Solid V. Your goal is to rescue a princess who has been transformed into three fairies by an evil wizard. You play as a knight named Jim, and he’ll have to bump, bump, bump his way to a high enough level to save the day. There are a few puzzles to solve, one of which is completely obscure nonsense, but you’ll mostly be exploring the world and grinding.

There’s a certain compelling quality to Hydlide, but I think it comes down to whether or not you enjoy the grind. It’s kind of fun to wander around the world and see what there is to see, but you’ll find yourself in trouble very quickly if you aren’t adequately leveled. Still, I think this is a game that a person could jump into and have a decent enough time with. It’s tedious and finishing it can feel like a chore, but there’s a lot of satisfaction in climbing the rungs of power and taking on stronger and tougher monsters.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

EGGCONSOLE SILPHEED PC-8801mkIISR ($6.49)

This one will also probably ring a bell for some of you. The Silpheed series has popped up a few times over the years, but it got its start with this 1986 release. I suspect most Western players know it from the SEGA-CD remake, but the DOS version and PlayStation 2 sequel are other ways you might know it. This Game Arts-developed shooter uses a lot of nifty tricks to make it seem advanced well beyond its years. There’s an almost 3D quality to the game, and it’s very cinematic considering the limitations of the hardware. It’s funny, because at its core this is almost as basic as it gets. It’s a vertical shooter, complete with power-ups, enemy formations, and boss battles. Apart from the presentation, the main gimmick Silpheed offers is the ability to equip different weapons to your ship between stages.

That familiar shooting gameplay and cool presentation make Silpheed the perfect choice for those looking to dip their toes into the EGGCONSOLE waters. Sure, it doesn’t hold a candle to a modern shooter, but it doesn’t look bad by any means and it plays quite well. The difficulty is smooth enough that you probably don’t even need to use save states and the rewind feature, but those are there if you want. A very cool game for its era and I’m glad we’re able to play it on the Switch.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

As far as the inbox goes, the main item of note is the latest sale from Inti-Creates. I personally recommend the Blaster Master and Bloodstained games, but you won’t really go wrong with anything there. As for the outbox… well, a lot of sales are ending. Gather the goodies while you can, because the holiday sale is just about done.

Select New Sales

Garden Buddies ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/9)
Clumsy Rush: Ultimate Guys ($1.99 from $6.99 until 1/9)
Sprout Valley ($4.99 from $17.99 until 1/9)
Tiny Dragon Story ($1.99 from $12.99 until 1/10)
Gum+ ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/10)
Cat Tales ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/10)
Cave of Past Sorrows ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/10)
To Leave ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/10)
It’s Kooky ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
Fluffy Horde ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
The Companion ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/10)
The House of Da Vinci 2 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
Gal Guardians: Demon Purge ($17.49 from $24.99 until 1/15)
Yohane The Parhelion: BitD ($26.99 from $29.99 until 1/15)
Dragon Marked for Death: AA ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/15)

Dragon Marked for Death: FF ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/15)
Azure Striker Gunvolt Striker Pack ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/15)
Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 ($17.99 from $29.99 until 1/15)
Mighty Gunvolt Burst ($2.99 from $9.99 until 1/15)
Blaster Master Zero ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/15)
Blaster Master Zero 2 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/15)
Blaster Master Zero 3 ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/15)
GC: Luminous Avenger iX ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/15)
GC: Luminous Avenger iX 2 ($12.49 from $24.99 until 1/15)
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/15)
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/15)
Demon Gaze Extra ($23.99 from $59.99 until 1/18)
X-Force Under Attack ($2.00 from $10.00 until 1/23)
Game of Dragons ($13.93 from $19.90 until 1/23)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, January 4th

A Juggler’s Tale ($2.15 from $17.99 until 1/4)
AEW Fight Forever Elite Edition ($63.99 from $79.99 until 1/4)
Agatha Christie: The Orient Express ($27.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Akka Arrh ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Among Us ($3.00 from $5.00 until 1/4)
Andro Dunos II ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Aragami: Shadow Edition ($5.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Astronite ($10.49 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration ($27.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & Secret Hideout ($23.99 from $59.99 until 1/4)
Axiom Verge ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Banner of the Maid ($4.24 from $16.99 until 1/4)
Big Pharma ($3.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
BlockQuest Maker Complete ($4.99 from $24.97 until 1/4)
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk ($31.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)

BROK the InvestiGator ($14.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Cape’s Escape Game 3rd Room ($2.00 from $9.80 until 1/4)
Castle on the Coast ($2.24 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Catlord ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Cats on Streets ($1.99 from $3.99 until 1/4)
Corpse Factory ($7.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Createscape Town Nyanzou & Kumakichi ($2.00 from $4.90 until 1/4)
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion ($29.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
Cult of the Lamb: Cultist Edition ($17.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Dangerous Relationship ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Dark Deity ($6.24 from $24.99 until 1/4)
DC’s Justice League Cosmic Chaos ($13.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Destiny’s Princess: A War Story, A Love Story ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Diablo III Eternal Collection ($19.79 from $59.99 until 1/4)
Dicey Dungeons ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)

DoDonPachi Resurrection ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Dolphin Spirit: Ocean Mission ($23.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
DOOM 2016 ($7.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Doraemon Story of Seasons ($9.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
Dream Park Story ($7.00 from $14.00 until 1/4)
Dreamscaper ($7.49 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Dungeon and Gravestone ($4.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Dungeon Village 2 ($6.00 from $12.00 until 1/4)
DUSK ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Earth Defense Force: World Brothers ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Effie ($2.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Ephemeral: Fantasy on Dark ($18.99 from $37.99 until 1/4)
Escape from Mirrorland Nyanzou & Kumakichi ($2.00 from $4.90 until 1/4)
Espgaluda II ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)

Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection ($47.99 from $79.99 until 1/4)
Everybody’s Home Run Rush ($2.00 from $5.00 until 1/4)
Fall of Porcupine ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
FAR: Changing Tides ($5.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Far: Lone Sails ($2.09 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Firewatch ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Forest Golf Planner ($7.20 from $12.00 until 1/4)
Forklift Simulator 2023 ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/4)
Game Dev Story ($2.80 from $14.00 until 1/4)
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective ($19.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Ginsha ($14.95 from $17.80 until 1/4)
Gloomhaven: Gold Edition ($39.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
Gunscape ($2.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Hana Awase New Moon ($29.03 from $36.29 until 1/4)
Hashihime of the Old Book Town Append ($30.82 from $61.64 until 1/4)

Heist Force ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/4)
Hello Goodboy ($9.89 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Hypnospace Outlaw ($6.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Inspector Gadget: MAD Time Party ($27.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Interrogation: You Will Be Deceived ($2.07 from $12.99 until 1/4)
It Takes Two ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Itorah ($5.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Jack Jeanne ($39.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
Kingdom Eighties ($8.99 from $11.99 until 1/4)
Klonoa: Phantasy Reverie Series ($9.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Kung Fury: Street Rage Ultimate ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Let’s Get Changed! Nyanzou & Kumakichi ($9.80 from $19.80 until 1/4)
Mail Time ($15.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Marco & The Galaxy Dragon ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
May’s Mysteries: Secret of Dragonville ($4.94 from $14.99 until 1/4)

Mercenaries Rebirth: Call of the Wild Lynx ($13.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Minute of Islands ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Monster Harvest ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Mushihimesama ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
MythForce ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Neighbours Back From Hell ($4.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
NEO: The World Ends With You ($23.99 from $59.99 until 1/4)
NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa ($23.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Nobody Saves The World ($9.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Nowhere Prophet ($2.49 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Oaken ($5.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Office Lovers ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
One More Island ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Orbital Bullet ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Ori & the Blind Forest: Definitive ($6.59 from $19.99 until 1/4)

Ori & the Will of the Wisps ($9.89 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Pizza Possum ($5.59 from $6.99 until 1/4)
Pizza Tycoon ($2.09 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Pocket Academy 3 ($7.00 from $14.00 until 1/4)
Prepare the First RPG Village Nyanzou & Kumakichi ($2.00 from $4.90 until 1/4)
Projection: First Light ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Pub Encounter ($6.79 from $16.99 until 1/4)
Punch a Bunch ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Rad Rodgers Radical Edition ($4.49 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Radiant Silvergun ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Rakuen: Deluxe Edition ($19.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Regency Solitaire ($2.99 from $11.99 until 1/4)
Return to Monkey Island ($14.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)
River City Girls ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)

Rogue Legacy 2 ($14.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 CE ($8.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Romancing SaGa 2 ($4.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Samba de Amigo: Party Central ($23.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Samurai Maiden Deluxe Edition ($44.99 from $74.99 until 1/4)
Secrets of Me ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Shantae ($6.99 from $9.99 until 1/4)
Shantae & the Seven Sirens ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Sifu ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Sonic Superstars ($41.99 from $59.99 until 1/4)
Spidersaurs ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Spiral Memoria ($13.74 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Spirit of the North ($4.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)

Spitlings ($2.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Star Renegades ($6.24 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Steam Prison ($32.74 from $65.49 until 1/4)
Struggling ($4.49 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Super Bomberman R 2 ($34.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
Super Planet Life ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/4)
Tactics Ogre: Reborn ($24.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
THE Bass Fishing ($2.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
THE Card Perfect Collection ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
The Creepy Syndrome ($3.49 from $4.99 until 1/4)
The Crimson Flower that Divides ($23.44 from $46.89 until 1/4)
The Rumble Fish 2 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
The Testament of Sherlock Holmes ($8.74 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line ($29.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
Timelie ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)

Ultimate ADOM: Caverns of Chaos ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Unpacking ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Valkyria Chronicles ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Voice of Cards Trilogy ($34.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
War Tech Fighters ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Warm Snow ($13.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Watch ($4.19 from $5.99 until 1/4)
Weedcraft Inc ($14.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Whispike Survivors ($1.99 from $2.99 until 1/4)
Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection ($24.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
Wonder Boy Asha in Monster World ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Zoo Park Story ($7.20 from $12.00 until 1/4)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with an unsurprisingly quiet Thursday, but we’ll at least have some new releases to look at. We’ll also have whatever sales and big news roll in, and if that’s not enough to make it all hang together, I’ll find another review in the couch cushions. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!

Grift: Scam Tycoon features more than 40 characters to interact with (read: try to scam) and tons of different items to outfit and customize your online bots as you try to scam your way to the top while also seeking out your mortal enemy Gwendolyn Goat. Yes, it’s kind of weird to be rooting for a character who is doing scumbag things, but I have a feeling there’s more to this story and that becoming the world’s best online scammer isn’t going to end up being the fulfilling life Henry Horns thinks it is. After all, the game description teases that “Maybe you’ll discover something new about yourself along the way?" which means there’s bound to be some moral lessons to be learned in all this online chicanery. Or perhaps not. We’ll find out for ourselves when Grift: Scam Tycoon launches on January 17th. You can pre-order it on iOS here or Android here, and if you’re in New Zealand the game is already launched there so you can get a jump start on your online scamming ahead of the rest of the world.

Wyrmspan is currently set to launch later this month on Stonemeier Games’ website. A digital release has not been announced, but I hope Monster Couch works on one in the near future and brings it to iOS as well. This isn’t compatible with Wingspan, and is a standalone game with unique elements. If you’ve not played Wingspan yet, read my review of the iOS release of Wingspan here. Check it out on Google Play for Android here and on the App Store for iOS here. Head over to our forum thread for the game here. Check out the official website for the game here. What do you think of Wyrmspan so far and will you be getting the physical game?

Now, as usual, Ben Brode of Second Dinner has a pretty funny video up explaining all the ins and outs in an entertaining way, and if you can give that a watch I do recommend it. But some of you can’t watch a video right now, so here is Shaun with all of the important info and none of the comedy. Some have the gift and some do not. Let’s start as usual with the new Season Pass card, since that is ostensibly the most important one.

It’s Skaar! You know, Hulk’s little boy. He’s not actually very little. Hulk’s well-fed boy. He’s a 6-Cost 11-Power card, which makes him a little less awesome than Dad but a little more awesome than his second cousin. But! But! Like She-Hulk, Skaar has a handy little ability. Basically, for every card you have with 10 or more Power, Skaar costs 2 less Energy to play. He goes very well with Hulks, in other words. And as you’ll soon see, he goes well with some other new playmates.

Next is Caiera, Skaar’s mother and the tragically deceased Mrs. Hulk. Or maybe he’s Mr. Caiera, I don’t really know. What I do know is that Caiera is a real game-changer. See, the problem with all of these beefy Hulks is that they are very susceptible to the monster-squashing powers of the notorious Shang-Chi. But with Caiera, Hulks have nothing to fear. She has the Ongoing ability of making it so your 1-Cost and 6-Cost cards at any location can’t be destroyed. Wowza. The 1-Cost thing makes her tricky to deploy in a standard destroyer deck, but I’m sure players will find plenty of uses for this 3-Cost 4-Power fighter.

Speaking of fighters, here’s Hercules. Hercules, hero of song and story, Hercules, winner of ancient glory. Wait, not that Hercules. The Marvel one. He’s a 4-Cost 6-Power card with an interesting ability. The first time another card moves to his location on a turn, he’ll move it to another location. Kind of a Fastball Special, and I think that move deck users will enjoy it. We’ve also got Miek, a 1-Cost 1-Power card who gains +1 Power and moves after any turn where you discard cards. Rounding out the move supporters is none other than the Grandmaster, a 2-Cost 0-Power card with an On Reveal ability that moves one other On Reveal card at the same location to the middle location and triggers its ability again. Neat.

Finally, there’s Beta Ray Bill. Yes, the horsey Thor. Nobody hates Beta Ray Bill, and Marvel Snap players will find a lot to like in him. He’s a 4-Cost 5-Power card with the On Reveal ability to add Stormbringer to your deck. As for Stormbringer, it’s a 0-Cost 1-Power card with the On Reveal ability to double Beta Ray Bill’s power. Better than Thor? Or a great new friend to Thor? I’ll let you all sort it out, but I foresee Bill showing up in many of the same places we see Thor today.

Finally, a couple of new locations. The Great Portal is another helping friend to people building power-heavy decks. It adds a random card with 10 or more Power to your hand, and that could be very interesting. The other new location is the Crown City, which is another location that rewards whoever controls it. In this case, if you’re winning you’ll get +4 Power at adjacent locations. Very nice if this one happens to be in the middle, but free Power is free Power wherever it lands. Throw in a bunch of new variants, bundles, and another set of Twitch Drops later in the month, and that’s about the size of the update.

Anyway, that’s it for the Planet Hulk season in Marvel Snap. It will be interesting to see which cards end up jumping out in the meta, because there are always some unpredictable outcomes. Many of the cards seem aimed at beefing up move-based decks, but Caiera looks like she could be the biggest spoiler of the bunch for decks of all kinds. Well, we’ll let the dust settle a little before diving into our January deck building guide. Look for that early next week, provided I can keep myself out of the hospital. What do you think of this new season? Let us know in the comments below!

One very cool feature about Phoenix 2 now being on Android is that the game features cross play and cross progression between the iOS and Android versions, meaning if you’ve dedicated a huge portion of your free time to unlocking and upgrading the game’s 100+ ships or partaking in the game’s daily missions you don’t have to lose that progress should you ever jump ship to Android. It also follows the same pay model as the iOS version, which is a very friendly free to play model. So there’s really no reason NOT to give it a shot, whether you’re an Android person or just never got around to it on iOS over these past 7.5 years.

Reviews & Mini-Views

Super Double Dragon ($6.99)

Super Double Dragon was a game that I really wanted to like back in the day. I was always a big fan of the Double Dragon series, and I wanted it to jump into the 16-bit era with enough style to hang with the many other beat-em-up franchises it spawned. Thirteen-year old Shaun had no way of knowing what was happening behind the scenes at Technos Japan, where things were basically starting to crash and burn en route to its eventual bankruptcy in 1996. The situation at American Double Dragon publisher Tradewest were even more dire. The long and short of it is that Super Double Dragon had to be out by the 1992 holiday season no matter what. And so it was, but not without great sacrifices.

It’s not that the game was buggy or broken, mind you. It just felt thin, and there were a lot of suspicious elements that pointed towards missing things. Riding in a glass elevator with a big crack in the side that… never gets shattered? Hm. Still, it did have some things going for it. The Brothers Lee have an interesting range of attacks to use, including a very cool one where you grab the enemy’s arm mid-punch. There are a lot of weapons to use, too. The difficulty curve was a mess, but what else was new for the series? The worst problem is that the game feels unbearably slow compared to its contemporaries. The Japanese version, Return of Double Dragon, fixes a lot of problems and is a much more playable game as a result, but the slow speed remained.

But we live in the future year of 2024, and we have the technology to right the wrongs of the past. I just got the Japanese Double Dragon Collection for Christmas. It includes this release, which you can buy on the eShop by itself. And in addition to a lot of the usual options for such things, like scan lines and save states, it also includes a speed setting. A speed setting! And it doesn’t mess with the audio! It just makes the game play faster, in increments all the way up to double speed. I wouldn’t go all the way on that, but somewhere around 1.5x makes the game feel like it probably should have. Oh, and you can pick whether you want to play Super Double Dragon or Return of Double Dragon. I recommend the latter.

Super Double Dragon is still an unfinished game in a lot of ways, lacking enemy variety, cut-scenes, or any kind of sense of tying the stages together. But with that speed setting, a middling beat-em-up with a few good ideas becomes something I would lightly recommend to fans of the genre. Of course, you can play the game as it was originally was if you like. It’s really the best of all worlds here as far as options go. I wish there was some documentary-style content here, but at this price point I can let that go. It’s worth a try, but remember to play around with that speed setting.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Double Dragon Advance ($6.99)

It’s hard to pick the best game in a messy series like Double Dragon, but Double Dragon Advance is usually one of my top choices. By the time it released in 2003, Technos Japan was well into the rear-view mirror. A new company, Million, had picked up the rights to Technos’ IP, but despite the change in name there were plenty of familiar faces. For example, the designer of Double Dragon Advance was none other than Muneki Ebinuma, who had been the co-director of Super Double Dragon. This time he wasn’t quite so rushed, and the results speak volumes.

The game at first seems like a remake of the original arcade Double Dragon, and that’s not a bad place to start. There’s a certain ferocity to the combat in the original game that appeals greatly to me, and it’s replicated here. As you play more, you’ll start seeing some differences. Weapons that weren’t there before. New moves. And then you find yourself fighting a bunch of Agent Smith-style enemies and move into a level that seems ripped from Double Dragon II. All up, there are four large stages here that weren’t in the original game, all inspired by other games in the series. This release doesn’t have any genuine game-changing options like Super Double Dragon, but it also doesn’t need any. This is a satisfying brawler all on its own.

Double Dragon Advance is Double Dragon doing what it does best. While it certainly isn’t among the best in its genre, it gives you some fun fighting skills and a wide array of enemies to use them on. And hey, it actually feels like a proper Double Dragon game. Neither a parody nor a naked attempt to cash in on nostalgia, Double Dragon Advance is good, pure brawling action. A great way to spend several dollars and a weekend afternoon.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

New Releases

The Bin Bunch

Moon Lander ($9.99)

Truck Simulator 2024 – USA Driver Zone ($13.99)

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

It’s another NIS America sale, and you can grab good stuff like Labyrinth of Refrain/Galleria and Yx IX: Monstrum Nox at nice prices. Poison Control isn’t the greatest game around but for four bucks I would recommend it. Lots of other goodies in there to consider, including a rare Celeste sale, so have a good look. Give the outbox a look too, as some ININ games are wrapping up their latest discounts.

Select New Sales

Invisible Inc Console Edition ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/12)
Don’t Starve: Nintendo Switch Edition ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/12)
Don’t Starve Together ($5.09 from $14.99 until 1/12)
Mark of the Ninja Remastered ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/12)
Spiritfarer ($7.49 from $29.99 until 1/15)
Sundered: Eldritch Edition ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/15)
Jotun: Valhalla Edition ($3.74 from $14.99 until 1/15)
Yatzi ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/15)
Labyrinth ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/15)
Dog ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/15)
Undead Horde 2: Necropolis ($8.49 from $16.99 until 1/15)
Saviors of Sapphire Wings/SoSC Revisited ($24.99 from $49.99 until 1/15)
The Silver Case 2425 ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/15)
CRYMACHINA: Digital Deluxe ($55.99 from $79.99 until 1/15)
Prinny Presents NIS Classics Vol.1 ($27.99 from $39.99 until 1/15)

Prinny Presents NIS Classics Vol.2 ($27.99 from $39.99 until 1/15)
Prinny Presents NIS Classics Vol.3 ($27.99 from $39.99 until 1/15)
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox ($29.99 from $59.99 until 1/15)
The Princess Guide ($3.99 from $39.99 until 1/15)
A Castle Full of Cats ($2.59 from $3.99 until 1/15)
SNK 40th Anniversary Collection ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/15)
Poison Control ($3.99 from $39.99 until 1/15)
Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk ($19.99 from $49.99 until 1/15)
Labyrinth of Galleria: Moon Society ($29.99 from $49.99 until 1/15)
Sol Cresta ($17.99 from $39.99 until 1/15)
Sol Cresta Dramatic Edition ($22.49 from $49.99 until 1/15)
The Wonderful 101: Remastered ($17.99 from $39.99 until 1/15)
Gungrave G.O.R.E. Ultimate Enhanced ($29.99 from $39.99 until 1/15)
Egglia Rebirth ($13.99 from $19.99 until 1/15)

Celeste ($5.99 from $19.99 until 1/15)
TowerFall ($5.99 from $19.99 until 1/15)
MeteoHeroes Saving Planet Earth! ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/15)
Helvetii ($8.49 from $16.99 until 1/16)
Nuclear Blaze ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/16)
Sophstar ($6.49 from $12.99 until 1/16)
For The Warp ($2.87 from $17.99 until 1/16)
Twin Mind: Ghost Hunter ($10.49 from $14.99 until 1/21)
Octo Curse ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/21)
Montgomery Fox & TCotDN ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/21)
Montgomery Fox & TRoVD ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/21)
Montgomery Fox & TCotMB ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/21)
I Love Finding Birds ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/21)
Clutter 12 ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/21)
Puzzle Vacations: Ireland ($1.99 from $11.99 until 1/21)
Chronicles of Albian: TMC ($1.99 from $11.99 until 1/21)

First Time in Rome ($1.99 from $11.99 until 1/21)
Big Adventure: Trip to Europe 4 ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/21)
Mahjong Woods ($2.09 from $6.99 until 1/21)
Vampire The Masquerade Swansong ($23.99 from $59.99 until 1/21)
Session: Skate Sim ($19.99 from $49.99 until 1/21)
TT Isle of Man ($4.99 from $49.99 until 1/21)
My Little Riding Champion ($2.99 from $29.99 until 1/21)
Tennis World Tour ($2.99 from $29.99 until 1/21)
Tennis World Tour 2 ($9.99 from $49.99 until 1/21)
Overpass ($5.49 from $54.99 until 1/21)
Monster Truck Championship ($3.99 from $39.99 until 1/21)
V-Rally 4 ($4.99 from $49.99 until 1/21)
WRC 10 FIA World Rally Championship ($4.99 from $49.99 until 1/21)
Shadow Gangs ($14.39 from $23.99 until 1/22)
Suicide Guy: The Lost Dreams ($5.19 from $7.99 until 1/22)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, January 3rd

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/3)
Creepy Tale 2 ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/3)
Cursed to Golf ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/3)
Fury Unleashed ($2.99 from $19.99 until 1/3)
Golazo! 2 ($3.74 from $14.99 until 1/3)
Ib ($10.49 from $14.99 until 1/3)
Jitsu Squad ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/3)
Kickback Slug: Cosmic Courier ($5.99 from $11.99 until 1/3)
Lonely Mountains: Downhill ($7.99 from $19.99 until 1/3)
Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! ($29.99 from $39.99 until 1/3)
RayStorm X RayCrisis HD Collection ($27.99 from $39.99 until 1/3)
Taito Milestones 2 ($31.99 from $39.99 until 1/3)
The Wardrobe: Even Better Edition ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/3)
Time Master ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/3)
Train Station Simulator ($5.49 from $21.99 until 1/3)
Turrican Anthology Vol. I ($10.49 from $34.99 until 1/3)
Turrican Anthology Vol. II ($10.49 from $34.99 until 1/3)
Turrican Flashback ($8.99 from $29.99 until 1/3)
Wavetale ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/3)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with a very quiet Wednesday, which means we might have a Bin Bunch game or two at best. I might review some other slightly older titles, if that’s something you’d like to see. Any news and sales that roll in during the next day will also be there. I hope you all have a terrific Tuesday, and as always, thanks for reading!

So far, the recent updates have been good, but I’m still not sold on Hunt-a-thons. They need to balance them for solo play for those living in parts of the world without many Monster Hunter Now players. If you are planning to start playing the game, I put together some (newly updated) tips and tricks for the game, details on the weapons, special skills, the current monsters list, my wishlist for future update monsters, and more. You can grab Monster Hunter Now on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. The in app purchases include different sets of gems and upgrades. Check out the official website here. What do you think of Monster Hunter Now if you’ve been playing it and did you try a Hunt-a-thon yet?

New Releases

Knights of the Rogue Dungeon ($9.99)

This game comes from Atooi, who you might know as the developer of Mutant Mudds and Xeodrifter. More relevant to this game, it is also the developer of Totes the Goat, a Q*Bert homage that offered decent arcade action. Knights of the Rogue Dungeon looks a lot like that game, with the dungeons taking the form of Q*Bert-style pyramids. You have to “paint" all of the block surfaces by stepping on them, with combos earning you armor upgrades that help you defeat the enemies that litter each stage. There are different characters to use, six dungeons to explore, and numerous upgrades to earn. If you enjoyed Totes the Goat or are just looking for another game with vague similarities to Q*Bert, you might want to look into this.

The Bin Bunch

Ski Simulator: Winter Sports ($9.99)

MisBloody ($9.99)

Fantasy Blacksmith Shop Simulator ($7.99)

Warzone Chronicles: Virtual Warfare Shooter ($11.99)

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

We see Taito/ININ sales fairly frequently, but there are a few games here that I want to call some attention to. Specifically, the Darius Cozmic Collections are at new low prices. At their normal prices these are a bit tough for a lot of folks to swallow, but you can now effectively get the full set for a combined total of just over thirty bucks. If you’re feeling fancy, you can grab G-Darius and Dariusburst to round out your Darius set and get away with a total cost not far off from Cozmic Collection Console‘s regular price. Other interesting sales: Yggdra Union with its best price since launch, No Man’s Sky matching its lowest, and Cannon Dancer being at the Arcade Archives-adjacent price it probably should have launched at. Over in the outbox, the Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection is finishing up its sale, and so is Kao the Kangaroo. Check both lists to see what grabs you.

Select New Sales

To The Moon ($7.19 from $11.99 until 1/12)
Finding Paradise ($7.19 from $11.99 until 1/12)
Yggdra Union ($19.99 from $24.99 until 1/15)
The Master’s Pupil ($11.99 from $14.99 until 1/15)
Cogen: Sword of Rewind ($12.49 from $24.99 until 1/15)
Cannon Dancer: Osman ($8.99 from $29.99 until 1/15)
Umihara Kawase BaZooKa! ($2.99 from $29.99 until 1/15)
Taito Milestones ($15.99 from $39.99 until 1/15)
Bubble Bobble 4 Friends ($15.99 from $39.99 until 1/15)
Space Invaders Invincible Collection ($17.99 from $59.99 until 1/15)
Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade ($13.49 from $44.99 until 1/15)
Darius Cozmic Collection Console ($17.99 from $59.99 until 1/15)
G-Darius HD ($11.99 from $29.99 until 1/15)
Dariusburst: Another Chronicle EX+ ($15.99 from $39.99 until 1/15)
The Ninja Saviors ($7.99 from $19.99 until 1/15)
No Man’s Sky ($29.99 from $59.99 until 1/16)
The Forest Quartet ($3.99 from $9.99 until 1/19)
MisBloody ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/20)
Figment 2: Creed Valley ($11.24 from $24.99 until 1/22)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, January 2nd

Aireo FlightSimulator ($19.99 from $24.99 until 1/2)
Bomb Chicken ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/2)
Born of Bread ($23.99 from $29.99 until 1/2)
BroodStar ($4.40 from $11.00 until 1/2)
Crash Drive 3 ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/2)
Full Quiet ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/2)
Gem Crash ($1.99 from $5.99 until 1/2)
Golf With Your Friends ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/2)
Gunbrick: Reloaded ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/2)
Headbangers: Rhythm Royale Deluxe ($22.49 from $29.99 until 1/2)
Howl ($11.99 from $14.99 until 1/2)
Invasion of Alien X: Earth in Crisis ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/2)

Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection ($26.99 from $29.99 until 1/2)
Kao the Kangaroo ($11.99 from $29.99 until 1/2)
Kao the Kangaroo A Well Good Bundle ($13.19 from $32.99 until 1/2)
Kao the Kangaroo Anniversary ($20.34 from $36.99 until 1/2)
Kao the Kangaroo Bend the Roo’les DLC ($5.19 from $7.99 until 1/2)
Kao the Kangaroo Oh Well DLC ($2.74 from $4.99 until 1/2)
Nora: The Wannabe Alchemist ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/2)
Paper Dash: Ghost Hunt ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/2)
Undead’s Building ($1.99 from $5.99 until 1/2)
Wingspan ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/2)
WorldWide FlightSimulator ($11.99 from $14.99 until 1/2)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with a more usual article, featuring some new releases, reviews, sales, and perhaps some news. I hope you all enjoy the first day of the year, whatever you may be doing. As always, thanks for reading!

The best upcoming Nintendo Switch games for 2024

SaGa Emerald Beyond

Why is SaGa in this list as well? I mean if you’ve read TouchArcade for a while now, you know we love SaGa, and will be making sure more folks try the series. After adoring SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions, we all want to play SaGa Emerald Beyond, and I likely will get it on Switch as well since it has a physical release there. I can’t wait to see what the developers have in store for us when SaGa Emerald Beyond launches on consoles, PC, and mobile in a few months.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Daybreak

While I’m not sure the Switch version of The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Daybreak will be the one I play to 100% completion, I will be playing it on Switch because I’ve played every Trails game on Switch. Trails into Daybreak is shaping up to be the best modern entry point into Falcom’s amazing series, and I’ve heard the soundtrack far too many times already. I hope NIS America announces a release date soon for Trails into Daybreak on Switch, PS5, PS4, and PC.

Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II

Experience Inc are masters of dungeon crawlers, but also fantastic at horror adventure games. Death Mark and NG were superb, and I have high hopes of Death Mark II from the Spirit Hunter series. The aesthetic has always been strong, and after two games, I have no doubt in Experience Inc. and Aksys Games delivering a brilliant suspense horror experience here.

Penny’s Big Breakaway

I rarely enjoy 3D platformers. Most of them just bore me, and I’ve not really gone back to replay any outside of Super Mario Odyssey. Evening Star (Sonic Mania) are releasing Penny’s Big Breakaway in 2024, and the upcoming 3D platformer is the first in the genre since Mario Odyssey that has me interested with its gorgeous aesthetic and awesome gameplay based on everything shown so far.

Another Code: Recollection

I love when Nintendo gives some of its smaller and older franchises a shot in the spotlight on Switch like we saw with Famicom Detective Club. While Another Code: Recollection has a demo on Switch, I’m looking forward to playing the full adventure game package in January when it releases bringing the DS and Wii game to Switch with redone visuals and more.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a game I’ve been told to play about a thousand times at least, and I’ve resisted in the hopes of a port or remake. We are finally getting one on Switch, and I’m excited to see what my friends say “feels made literally for me". I hope it ends up delivering and that Nintendo gives it the polish it seemingly deserves.

Unicorn Overlord

Vanillaware and Atlus are releasing a game I didn’t know existed until recently with Unicorn Overlord. The tactical RPG exploration game looks like another win for the developer, and after adoring 13 Sentinels, GrimGrimoire, Dragon’s Crown, and more from them, I’m excited to play this when it launches in a few months. I also enjoy playing Vanillaware games on a portable, and the Switch is the only portable version for this game.

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island

The combination of my love for Shiren 5 and Shaun’s preview of Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island has me hyped to play this when it launches in February in the West for Nintendo Switch. This has the potential to be one of the system’s best exclusives of the year.

Gunvolt Records Cychronicle

Inti Creates’ Gunvolt series has always been worth playing through its games and most of its spin-offs, but the music is always excellent. I didn’t think they’d do it, but we are now getting a Gunvolt rhythm game with Gunvolt Records Cychronicle, and I will be there no matter what to play it on Switch. I’m just a bit concerned about how the music packs and DLC will be handled.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake

I love Koei Tecmo’s Romance of the Three Kingdoms games so much that I bought the untranslated ones on Steam to try and play on Steam Deck. Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV with its expansion pack was awesome, and I never played Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 which many consider the best. I hope this remake delivers and is a good port on Switch when it launches later in 2024.

With my list done, I’m curious what you’re looking forward to playing on Switch in 2024. There are a few games I will be checking out, but I’ve not looked into them much like Princess Peach: Showtime!, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and more. 2024 is shaping up to be a great year with how many releases we are getting in the first half, but I’m curious about Nintendo’s remaining slate. If you think I missed something notable, let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

The best upcoming PC games we want to play on Steam Deck in 2024

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is my most anticipated game of 2024 by far, and I can’t wait to see how RGG Studio managed to improve upon the base laid by Yakuza: Like a Dragon. I already sampled Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth on Steam Deck and PS5 through the free demo, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes in the full RPG when it launches at the end of January on Steam and all consoles.

Dragon’s Dogma 2

I actually wasn’t sure if I should include Dragon’s Dogma 2 on this list because I’m not sure how it will run on Steam Deck. It looks really demanding, but that hasn’t stopped me from trying anything on Deck. I loved Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen on every platform, and hope Dragon’s Dogma 2 not only delivers, but also includes a version of “Into Free" playing somewhere. I believe in Itsuno and Capcom.

Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition

Guerrilla’s Horizon Forbidden West was a technical showcase for the PS5 despite being a cross generation release, and I’m very curious to see how the base game and the awesome Burning Shores expansion end up looking and running on Steam Deck. Horizon Zero Dawn was a bit rough on PC until a few patches, but I hope Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition delivers from the start.

Persona 3 Reload

Persona 3 Reload is already Steam Deck Verified as of a few months ago, which I found quite surprising. I haven’t really seen many games get Verified months prior to launch, but here we are. This is a full remake of the original Persona 3, that has seen different ports and re-releases already through Persona 3 FES and Persona 3 Portable that was ported to current consoles and PC last year. Persona 3 Reload on Steam Deck will also be the only portable version of the game, and I can’t wait to experience the original Persona 3 story in an all new remake when it releases next month.

UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes

I actually delayed writing a new feature on the best fighting games to play on Steam Deck so that I could try out UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes when it launches on Steam and consoles. I loved UNICLR and played it on everything. I hope UNDER NIGHT IN-BIRTH II Sys:Celes delivers another fantastic fighter from French Bread and Arc System Works when it launches in a few weeks. The team is yet to let me down, and every new bit of info the official account posts on Twitter has me more excited for the fighter.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak

This inclusion is kind of cheating because I’ve already played 18 hours of The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak in Japanese (don’t ask) through NIS America and PH3’s superb PC version. I’ll be replaying it and starting from scratch once the English localization is added, but The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak is one game I’m super hyped for on all platforms in 2024. It will be the new modern entry point into this amazing series, and I’m going to go back and listen to the music right now.

Earth Defense Force 6

I can’t believe D3 Publisher keeps delaying English releases of its awesome Earth Defense Force series, but I’m glad we are finally getting Earth Defense Force 6 in the West on PS5 and Steam this year. I’ve enjoyed dipping into past games for mindless fun with friends and going through the campaign as Wing Diver when possible. I played all prior localized games, but I keep hearing how Earth Defense Force 6 is the best in the series. Hopefully it ends up being my obsession for a month when it releases.

Final Fantasy 16

Final Fantasy 16 is planned to launch on PC, but there isn’t really a release window. I adored it on PS5, and put in too much time soaking in the world and replaying specific parts of the game. I assume the PC version of Final Fantasy 16 will arrive with all DLC included, but I don’t know if it will be on Steam or Epic or what at this point. I just know I want to play Final Fantasy 16 again, but will not be doing a third playthrough until it comes to Steam. Hopefully it runs well on Steam Deck as well given that the PS5 version still has some issues.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink

Despite some rocky development, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is finally here, and it looks like a lovely blend of what I like about Granblue and Monster Hunter. I hope the co-op works well, and it looks like a game laser focused on my tastes right now. It is going to be interesting to see how it runs on Steam Deck as well, but given it is releasing on PS4, I’m not too worried.

WRATH: Aeon of Ruin

WRATH: Aeon of Ruin is a boomer shooter from KillPixel, 3D Realms, and Fulqrum Publishing that I’ve enjoyed in Steam Early Access so far. It hits 1.0 in February, and I can’t wait to play the full game. This will likely be in my next boomer shooter article as well. If you own a few other games in the genre on Steam, you can grab the WRATH Aeon of Ruin + Ion Fury + GRAVEN Complete Your Set bundle at a discount, or just grab the bundle to get three games worth playing.

I didn’t include Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy here because I’ve already been playing it on Steam Deck, and I wrote about it a bit already here. I hope the games featured here do end up releasing in 2024 in the West and that they run well on Steam Deck. I’ve already played some through early access or Japanese releases, but will still be playing them all when they release in 2024. As the Steam Deck gets into its third year, I hope Valve keeps improving it through software updates. Things will likely get even better, and I’m curious what you are looking forward to playing on Steam Deck this year?

The best upcoming mobile games we want to play on iOS in 2024

Death Stranding Director’s Cut

This was set to release by the end of 2023, but was sadly delayed. Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding is a unique and incredible experience with its atmosphere, addictive gameplay loop, superb music, and stunning visuals. I can’t wait to see how it looks and runs on iPhone 15 Pro when it launches in early 2024, and hopefully I get to play it using the new Backbone controller.

Katana Zero

Katana Zero arrives soon via Netflix Games, and it will bring the stylish action platformer with excellent music and gameplay to mobile for the first time. I’ve played this multiple times, and will be replaying it on iOS to see how it feels with touch controls. It is a game I see myself coming back to for years, and I hope we get a release date for the game and DLC soon.

SaGa Emerald Beyond

I’m trying to avoid reading too much about SaGa Emerald Beyond, because I want to be surprised when I finally play it. I can’t believe we are getting a new mainline SaGa game this year, and one that ships on just about every console, PC, and mobile platform together. Hopefully it manages to reach the highs or surpass SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions which remains one of the most unique and interesting RPGs in years.

Art of Rally

Art of Rally was also set for 2023, but was pushed to early in January. It is an elegant, relaxing, and stylish racing game that is getting a mobile release through Noodlecake Games with the DLC included. This one potentially could be one of the best looking racing games on the platform, and I will be playing it as soon as possible.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage

Assassin’s Creed Mirage was announced for iPhone 15 Pro alongside Death Stranding and the Resident Evil games. After Ubisoft released super long RPGs, the team went back to the basics for Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and it is a great take on the classic Assassin’s Creed formula by all accounts. I’m mostly curious about this one to see how Ubisoft’s engine scales on iPhone 15 Pro. Hopefully we get a release date soon and Ubisoft considers bringing Immortals Fenyx Rising to iOS as well.

Warframe

Digital Extreme’s Warframe keeps getting better with each update, and 2023 saw it finally get cross platform saves and more. This year, Warframe hits iOS, and I’m excited to play it with my progress carrying over, and also potentially having the best portable version to complement playing it on PS5 and Xbox Series X. Hopefully this ends up getting a good port.

Devil May Cry Peak of Combat

While I’m not sure how much I’ll play it, I’m curious to see how Devil May Cry Peak of Combat translates Devil May Cry’s stylish combat to a touchscreen, and also how it manages to bring over the characters I love from the series to a new game. I didn’t bother playing the betas so the final release in a few weeks will be the first time I play Devil May Cry Peak of Combat.

Hades

Supergiant Games’ amazing Hades comes to iOS through Netflix Games in 2024, and I’m excited to play it for dozens of hours once again. I already did almost everything the game has to offer on Switch and Steam Deck, and have been replaying it on PS5 and Xbox since those versions were released. Hades might be one of Netflix’s best additions if it is a good port.

Zenless Zone Zero

HoYoverse’s action RPG Zenless Zone Zero has been fun to play through its recent beta, but I’m looking forward to its full release so I can properly get into it on console and mobile together. I’m not sure how I’ll manage playing it, Honkai Star Rail, and Genshin together, but Zenless Zone Zero has a lot of potential. In a lot of ways Zenless Zone Zero reminds me of Bandai Namco’s Scarlet Nexus which I loved, and I hope this one delivers.

Braid Anniversary Edition

Braid was one of the early indie game successes, and it is going to be interesting to revisit it through this enhanced version on mobile via Netflix Games. There have been many puzzle games I’ve ended up rating higher than Braid, but I’m curious to see how this feels after all these years, and to check out the new content.

Bonus

No Man’s Sky

Come on Sean. Please just release No Man’s Sky on iOS this year. I’ve been waiting patiently since the announcement back in 2022. No Man’s Sky hit macOS already, and I’m hoping it comes not only to iPad, but also to iPhones this year. A date hasn’t been announced yet, but I feel like we will see it at an Apple event in the future with it also coming to iPhone. Let’s see if I’m right about that.

I can’t wait to see what else we get on mobile in 2024 through standalone releases, iPhone 15 Pro series games, potentially more ports, Apple Arcade releases, Netflix Games, Crunchyroll Game Vault releases, and more. What are you looking forward to playing on mobile in 2024?

You can try Peglin on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. It is a paid game on Steam, but a free to start release on mobile with a one time full game unlock purchase. We featured it as our Game of the Week when it launched. Check it out on Steam here. Head over to our forum thread for more impressions and discussion around the iOS version. Red Nexus Games also announced its new game Fowl Damage which you can wishlist on Steam here. Have you played Peglin before on mobile or PC?

/／
重大発表
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お待たせしました！たくさんのご要望をいただいておりました、#スイカゲーム のスマホ版アプリ（iOS版）を公式にリリースしました

家の中でも外でも気軽にスイカゲームをお楽しみいただくことができます

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— 【公式】スイカゲーム (@SuikaGame_jp) January 1, 2024

If you’d like to play Suika Game on iOS right now on the Japanese App Store, buy it here for 240 Yen. In addition to no word on an international release, there is no mention of Android yet. Suika Game originally released in Japan on Switch back in December 2021, and it finally saw an international release a few months ago for $2.99. Suika Game was the most downloaded game on the Japanese eShop for 2023 as well. Check out the official Japanese website for Suika Game here. If we do get word on an international release or plans for one, I’ll make sure to cover the news as soon as possible. I hope the wait isn’t too long. Have you been playing it on Switch?

The truth is that each of us here are just gamers at heart, and while we have a deep love of mobile gaming and feel it deserves to be taken just as seriously as consoles and PC, we’re also huge fans of all gaming platforms. Adding Switch and Steam Deck into our coverage rotation comes mainly from our own passion of wanting to do so, and in turn we hope we’ve helped to bring some great content to readers who normally come here for mobile gaming stuff but love their Switch and/or Steam Deck devices too. So for our Game of the Year piece this year we’ve decided to pick a winner for both Switch and Steam Deck in addition to an iPhone and iPad choice.

There’s another wrinkle to this year’s picks. Previously we’ve included picks specific to Apple Arcade and Netflix in addition to regular old App Store releases because it felt kind of weird to pick a game that was “locked" behind a subscription as our sole GotY pick, but it also didn’t feel fair excluding those games simply because they were part of a different kind of pay model. Our solution was to just pick one for each. However, after Apple Arcade then Netflix showed up, and now this year Crunchyroll is getting in on the subscription fun, and it’s hard to know where the state of these services will be going in 2024. Do we just keep picking a GotY for each subscription service even if there ends up being, like, ten of them? That seems kind of silly.

For this year we decided to take how a game was paid for or accessed out of the equation. We wanted to compare the games themselves against each other without any of the pay model stuff entering into the equation. The result, as you can likely see by now, is that our iPhone Game of the Year is an Apple Arcade game. This was the game that we enjoyed the most and felt best deserved the honor. Is this going to be controversial? Maybe! But the alternative might mean adding more and more GotY picks to these posts each year, and I feel like that kind of dilutes things. Anyway, I just thought it was worth mentioning our thought process. I do feel bad that people who don’t have Apple Arcade can’t play our pick, but I guess if we picked a paid game and you were flat broke, you wouldn’t be able to play that either, so maybe this isn’t really all that different.

I’ll stop rambling now! Hopefully you enjoy our picks and please feel free to leave any comments, both good or bad, about these decisions in the comment section below. Or if you feel very strongly that there were other games that deserved these honors, tell us about ’em. As always thank you for reading and supporting TouchArcade, we hope you have a happy and safe new year and we’ll see you in 2024!

iPhone Game of the Year 2023: ‘Ridiculous Fishing EX’

[Review] – [Game of the Week] – You know, right around this time 10 years ago we were picking the original Ridiculous Fishing as our Game of the Year for 2013. Boy, where does the time go? At that time we highlighted the excellent gameplay loop that had you launching a fishing line down into the depths of the ocean, tilting your device to try and avoid hitting any creatures in order to do down as deep as the line could go, and then once your line was on its upwards swing trying to catch absolutely everything you could on the hook before you reached the surface. Once you did reach the surface the really absurd fun began, as all your caught sea creatures were then flung into the sky, where you would then use a variety of weapons to blast them out of said sky and earn cold hard cash for doing so. That cash could then go towards upgrades that would let you go deeper, shoot harder, and unlock more and more places to partake in this weird brand of fishing.

It’s a gameplay loop that still hold ups and is a perfect fit for mobile. The only problem was that over the years, as new devices and versions of iOS showed up, the original Ridiculous Fishing never quite kept pace. I mean, keeping any mobile game running smoothly long term can be a tall order, but it was especially upsetting to see one of the greatest mobile original games of all time falling by the wayside. Ridiculous Fishing needed an update, or a remaster, or something to bring it up to modern standards and continue delighting players for many more years to come.

Well that is what we’ve got here with Ridiculous Fishing EX. Original developers Vlambeer, Zach Gage, and Greg Wohlwend partnered up with GNOG developer KO_OP to rebuild the game from the ground up as an Apple Arcade original. The unique angular pixel art style of the original is translated into gorgeous 3D visuals, and there are many more modern touches all over the place, but the core experience of the original Ridiculous Fishing has been preserved in this EX version. This is the Ridiculous Fishing we all know and love, but built for modern times and looking better than ever. Basically a dream come true for me and many others.

Except… they didn’t stop there. While the entireity of the original Ridiculous Fishing was present in this new remake, KO_OP went a step further and added something called the Pro Fishing Tour. Here they were free to play around with the original formula and try new ideas and mechanics, while still leaving the original experience intact. Pro Fishing Tour feels almost like a full sequel, with its own progression system and unique modifiers, and with its very modern seasonal approach to new content it’s like the part of the game that just keeps on giving. You could have released Pro Fishing Tour as Ridiculous Fishing 2 and I would have been completely satisfied. That it’s built in alongside an exquisite full remake of the original just makes this feel like the ultimate realization of Ridiculous Fishing. – Jared Nelson

iPad Game of the Year 2023: ‘Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal’

[Review] – [Game of the Week] – Just like last year, Feral Interactive wins 2023’s iPad Game of the Year with Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal. Not only did Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal offer a superb conversion of a fantastic game for mobile, but it feels amazing to play on modern iPads delivering the definitive version of IO Interactive’s classic. It is so good that I hope Feral Interactive gets to bring it to consoles and Steam.

While we try and limit this to iPad-only games, Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal did enough on the iPad side to be the version I go back to the most following my review of it. A few months ago, I figured something like a Resident Evil port or another release would win here, but Feral Interactive knocked it out of the park with this conversion. As usual, I can’t wait to see what Feral Interactive has in store for us in the next 12 months. Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal is easily the best iPad game of 2023, and one of Feral Interactive’s best conversion yet. If you’ve been playing on iOS for many years, you know I wouldn’t say that lightly. – Mikhail Madnani

Nintendo Switch Game of the Year 2023: ‘The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’

[Review] – And so here we are, with the obvious pick. Sometimes that happens. Honestly, I thought The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom had it fully in the bag, no contest, back when it came out. It’s one of those games where you almost immediately feel that it’s on a level of its own. Then Mario had to roll in and make this an actual fight. Ultimately, I feel the new mechanics did some very heavy lifting in terms of making this world we’ve already seen feel fresh. The Ultrahand in particular totally changes the interactivity of the world, allowing us to have entirely new situations and “conversations" with familiar elements. So much of the fun in Breath of Wild was in how you started as a small speck in a big world and gradually became a force to be reckoned with.

Tears of the Kingdom ups the ante on this progression, and you almost feel like a god of some sort by the end. Fortunately, it also throws an appropriate counter force against you so that you have a reason to push yourself further. It’s not a perfect game, but that’s not really what any of this is about. It is, however, a tremendously fun game that shapes itself to the player’s imagination and creative whims, all while maintaining a nice balance of exploration, puzzle-solving, combat, and even a little story as a treat. I don’t know how the Zelda team is going to one-up this, and I don’t know if a return trip to this specific version of Hyrule would work again. But it certainly worked this time, and I’m just sitting here flabbergasted we got two Zelda games of this level of quality in a single generation of hardware. – Shaun Musgrave

Steam Deck Game of the Year 2023: ‘Street Fighter 6’

This is the first year where we are doing a Steam Deck Game of the Year in addition to our iPhone and iPad awards. 2023 remains one of the best years for gaming, but one stood tall above the rest in its quality and in how much I played it across multiple platforms including Steam Deck. With Street Fighter 6, Capcom went all out and overdelivered after the subpar launch of Street Fighter V. Street Fighter 6 is not only perfect on Steam Deck both online and offline, but it also delivered one of the best fighting game packages ever from launch day with its superb story mode, training options, brilliant multiplayer experience, and fantastic gameplay across the board. Capcom even added in some notable accessibility settings making it more approachable across the board.

Whether you’re new to fighting games or have been playing them for ages, Street Fighter 6 is an easy recommendation. Give the Street Fighter 6 demo a shot if you aren’t sure yet. I even came around to the music, and in a lot of ways, Street Fighter 6 is Capcom’s best fighting game since Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike. It is absolutely worth your time, and is a Monster Hunter World: Iceborne level release from Capcom that continues Capcom’s massive winning streak that began a few years ago. I can’t wait to see how much it evolves in 2024 as more characters are added. – Mikhail Madnani

Previous Game of the Year Picks:

• TouchArcade 2022 Games of the Year: iPhone, iPad, Nintendo Switch, and Steam Deck
• TouchArcade 2021 Game of the Year: ‘Rocket League Sideswipe’
• TouchArcade 2020 Game of the Year: ‘Genshin Impact’
• TouchArcade 2019 Game of the Year: ‘Dead Cells’
• TouchArcade 2018 Game of the Year: ‘Oddmar’
• TouchArcade Game of the Year 2017: ‘Death Road to Canada’
• TouchArcade Game of the Year 2016: ‘Crashlands’
• TouchArcade Game of the Year ‘Land Sliders’ and the Best iOS Games of 2015
• TouchArcade Game of the Year 2014: ‘Wayward Souls’
• TouchArcade Game of the Year 2013: ‘Ridiculous Fishing’
• TouchArcade Game of the Year 2012: ‘Waking Mars’
• TouchArcade Game of the Year 2011: ‘Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP’
• 2010 iPhone Game of the Year: ‘Space Miner: Space Ore Bust’
• 2010 iPad Game of the Year: ‘World of Goo’
• 2009 iPhone Game of the Year – ‘Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor’

That being the case, it’s always tough to come up with these “Best Of" lists. We are a tiny staff of just three people, and trying to corral the sheer number of releases throughout any given year into some sort of manageable list is a daunting task for even a well-staffed outlet. It’s also tough because so many of the games released during the year, while maybe not being the greatest games ever made, do at least exhibit some noteworthy qualities that are worth highlighting. So it can be painful to leave certain games off because you feel like, gosh darn it, they deserve to be noticed!

Well, all this is to say we’ve followed our formula from last year’s Best Games of 2022 list. Starting out you’ll find each of our Game of the Week picks from the entire year, which if you’re familiar with how calendars work gives us just over 50 great games to check out. Of course there are almost always more than just one good game released each week, so beyond those Games of the Week picks you’ll find our honorable mentions broken down by Apple Arcade games, Netflix games, and regular old App Store releases. And while this specific article is mobile focused, do check out our Best of 2023 picks for both Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck.

Games of the Week for 2023

January

• Rocco’s Island: Pocket Edition
• TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge (Netflix)
• Static Shift Racing
• Madness/Endless

February

• 1 Bit Survivor
• Endling: Extinction is Forever
• Dust & Neon (Netflix)
• Ultra Blade

March

• Stuffo the Puzzle Bot
• Cyber Protocol
• How We Know We’re Alive
• Well Word

April

• Brotato
• Generations
• Pocket City 2
• Super Meat Boy Forever
• Peglin

May

• Laya’s Horizon (Netflix)
• Lost Words: Beyond the Page
• Rytmos
• Super Cat Tales: PAWS

June

• Dig Odyssey: Cosmic Mining
• Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon (Netflix)
• Little Big Workshop
• Bright Reappear
• Teeny Tiny Town

July

• McPixel 3
• Ridiculous Fishing EX (Apple Arcade)
• Geo Gods
• Return to Monkey Island

August

• Stone Story RPG
• Molecano
• Gorathar
• Pizza Hero

September

• Undead Horde 2
• Pirate’s Boom Boom
• Grab The Apple
• DERE Vengeance
• Cypher 007 (Apple Arcade)

October

• IGNISTONE
• Subpar Pool
• Kingdom Eighties
• Slayaway Camp 2 Netflix & Kill (Netflix)

November

• Wizard of Legend
• Tiny Connections
• Gubbins
• Coromon

December

• Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal
• Sonic Dream Team (Apple Arcade)
• Little Nightmares
• Grand Theft Auto Trilogy – The Definitive Edition (Netflix/Standalone)

Best Games on Apple Arcade in 2023

• Disney Dreamlight Valley
• finity.
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure
• Junkworld TD
• NBA 2K24 Arcade Edition
• Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On!
• Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go
• TMNT Splintered Fate
• What The Car?

Best Games on Netflix in 2023

• Oxenfree II: Lost Signals
• Storyteller
• Terra Nil
• Valiant Hearts: Coming Home
• World of Goo Remastered

Best App Store Games of 2023

• Baldur’s Gate – Dark Alliance
• Bugsnax
• Coffee Golf
• Conjury
• Cozy Solitaire
• Daily Dadish
• Elderland

• Happy Game
• Honkai Star Rail
• Legend of Keepers
• The Legend of Tianding
• LEGO Bricktales
• The Longing Mobile
• Luck be a Landlord

• Monster Hunter Now
• Myst Mobile
• Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
• Raging Bytes
• Refind Self
• Resident Evil 4
• Resident Evil Village

• Roto Force
• Shapez Mobile
• Sid Meier’s Railroads!
• Six Ages 2: Lights Going Out
• SpongeBob – The Cosmic Shake
• Underground Blossom
• Unpacking

• Vactics
• Voice of Cards: The Beasts of Burden
• Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden
• Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars
• Warcraft Rumble
• Warm Snow
• Wavecade

Conclusion

Well, there you have it. Hopefully this directs you towards some good games that might have slipped past you over the course of 2023, and since it’s impossible to list each and every great game that came out feel free to list anything you think we missed down in the comment section below. I’ll also take this opportunity to direct you towards our Patreon page where you can choose to support us financially for the work that we do here. It’s our main source of keeping the site going, and the only reason we have been able to remain a wholly independent outlet over the course of our 15 year existence. I’ll also list all of our previous Game of the Year articles down below if you want to go through and relive some mobile gaming memories. Thank you very much to everyone who has read and supported our site in any capacity over the years, we wish you a very Happy New Year and can’t wait to see what’s in store in 2024!

Previous Best of the Year Round-Ups:

• The Best Games of 2022
• The Best Games of 2021
• The Best Games of 2020
• The Best Games of 2019
• The Best Games of 2018
• The Best Games of 2017
• The Best Games of 2016
• The Best Games of 2015
• The Best Games of 2014
• The Best Games of 2013, Part 2
• The Best Games of 2012
• The Best Games of 2011
• The Best Games of 2010
• The Best Games of 2009
• The Best Games of 2008

The best Steam Deck games of 2023

Octopath Traveler II

While I know some didn’t enjoy Octopath Traveler as much as I did, it has stuck with me ever since I beat it on Switch a few years ago. For Octopath Traveler II, I was all in, and bought it on PS5, Switch, and Steam. I ended up adoring it all the way, and it is best on Steam Deck. This is Square Enix’s best JRPG since the PS2 days, and it might be one of my all-time favorites with its superb gameplay, stunning visuals, brilliant soundtrack, and amazing characters.

Hi-Fi Rush

Hi-Fi Rush went from being a game shadow dropped by Tango Gameworks and Bethesda to one of the best action games of all-time in the span of a few hours when I just started playing it in January. It perfectly blends amazing visuals, superb music, excellent gameplay, and memorable characters together to be a game I keep going back to months later on Steam Deck and Xbox. This is Xbox’s best game alongside Pentiment for sure.

Street Fighter 6

Street Fighter 6 is my most-played game of 2023 across PS5, Xbox Series X, and Steam Deck. It is the complete package from Capcom with no compromises. I can’t recommend it enough with its superb online, amazing single player content, brilliant training modes, and beast mode baby. It is the best fighting game in years.

Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society

NIS’ dungeon crawler Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk ended up being one of the best in the genre when it launched a few years ago, but the team exceeded it in spades with Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society. This one is special, and it overtook even Etrian Odyssey for me as the pinnacle of the genre with its story, twists, gameplay, and more.

LIVE A LIVE

Seriously? Am I really including a game from last year that only saw a port on PC and PS5 this year? Yes, LIVE A LIVE from Square Enix is one of the best games of the year, and it is at its best on Steam Deck delivering a handheld experience with no compromises. LIVE A LIVE is the second HD 2D game in this top 10 if you’ve been paying attention as well. LIVE A LIVE is a brilliant remake that brings a SFC classic to the West for the first time in the best possible way. This one has a demo so give it a shot. There’s nothing else like it. GO GO STEEL TITAN.

Dave the Diver

When I kept hearing about Dave the Diver, I thought it would be another one of those Steam games that people hype up for a month and then forget. I was wrong. Very wrong. Dave the Diver successfully blends a few interesting gameplay ideas and delivers a charming package with an addictive gameplay loop. I haven’t had time to play the DLC yet, but Dave the Diver is special, and a must play for every Steam Deck owner.

Lies of P

Lies of P is another game that I wrote off for being yet another soulslike. It turns out Lies of P is everything every other soulslike failed to do, but more. It is the closest any game has been to a FromSoftware level release, and it managed to do a bit more on its own with its superb music, polished gameplay, and amazing package on every platform. If you ever wanted more games like Dark Souls and Dark Souls III, Lies of P is absolutely worth your time.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon

FromSoftware’s Armored Core VI is not only one of my favorite games from the developer already, but a damn fine action game with superb mech customization, great music, and a surprisingly good story. The boss fights are spectacular, and it is the rare FromSoftware game that actually has an amazing PC release that plays perfectly on Steam Deck both online and offline.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie

If you’re new to Falcom’s Trails series, do not get The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie. That might sound like a weird way to begin writing about one of the best games of 2023, but I don’t want you to make the mistake of starting here. If you’ve played prior games or even have played them all including this one, The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie is fantastic, and the PC version is the best port we’ve seen a JRPG get on the platform without a doubt. I adore this series and The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie with its stellar PC version earn a spot on this list.

Baldur’s Gate 3

I bet you were wondering where Baldur’s Gate 3 was weren’t you? I’ve been slowly playing through it with cross save on Steam Deck, macOS, and PS5 since those versions all released, and the game is spectacular. I think it needs a bit more polish in the later areas when it comes to optimization, but Baldur’s Gate 3 is a Larian masterpiece with its writing, characters, music, freedom, and more. I think I’m going to be playing it for a very long time.

Bonus

Diablo IV

I wasn’t sure if I’d be featuring Diablo IV in any end of year list after the first update hit for it, but the team has fixed all my issues with the game. With its Steam release and it being so good on Steam Deck, I think this is a fantastic action RPG with a great campaign, amazing music, and its superb atmosphere. I just wish it wasn’t an online-only game, and yes, I will not let that one go. That is why it isn’t in the top 10 and included as a bonus or as number 11 if you may. I can’t wait to see how much it evolves in 2024.

I know 2023 was a special year for game releases, and I hope you find something you like out of our picks for the best 10 Steam Deck games of the year. If you loved something I haven’t featured, let us know in the comments below so we can check it out. Thanks for reading!

10. DRAINUS ($19.99)

While to the layperson all shoot-em-ups might all seem rather similar to one another, I would say with some conviction that each one has a character all of its own. DRAINUS is an incredibly polished example of the genre that is more beginner-friendly than the average entry. You have a lot of tools to keep yourself alive, and the longer you play the more powerful you’ll become. The shooting action itself is snappy and fun, and the boss battles are suitably epic. It’s a shooter I would recommend even to someone who doesn’t usually get into games from this genre, and that’s a rarer thing than you might expect. Another outstanding title on a platform that is swimming in great choices for the genre.

9. Meg’s Monster ($14.99)

You’ve probably noticed this game is appearing frequently in all of these year-end lists around here. That’s because I think it’s a really great game that everyone should try, but it’s also because not many others are going to mention it. This is the sad thing about how many games come out these days. Meg’s Monster is a powerful experience, one that hit me in my heart like a sock full of Canadian nickels. I will never forget this little story about a monster named Roy and the little girl he stumbles across one day. But somehow, even special games like this can be swept away by the relentless tides of new games. Don’t let Meg’s Monster be carried away from your shores.

8. The Making of Karateka ($19.99)

Building on the extremely well-executed Atari 50‘s foundations, this is an incredibly deep dive into a single game and everything that went into its creation. There are a handful of versions of the game in question that can be played here along with a few other bits and bobs, and they’re enjoyable enough in their own right. But having such rich context provided for each of them makes it even more compelling to dig into these historical artifacts. It doesn’t matter if you like Karateka or not – this interactive documentary is equally fascinating for any student of gaming’s past. I’m excited to play the next Gold Master Series game, and I hope to one day have a digital shelf full of these superb pieces of art.

7. Metroid Prime Remastered ($39.99)

I can still clearly remember the first time I laid my eyes on Metroid Prime. I thought it was going to be an absolute disaster. Turning my beloved Metroid into a first-person shooter? No sir, I don’t like it. Then I played it, and I shut my stupid mouth in a hurry. This is a genuine first-person, 3D take on the Metroid formula. The “remaster" here in particular really went above and beyond in updating the game, and it somehow manages to be one of the best-looking games on a platform three generations past its origin. If you’ve never played Metroid Prime before, this is an excellent way to do so. If you have played it before, there’s a good chance you’re about due for a replay.

6. Astlibra Revision ($24.99)

I really had no idea what I was in for with this game when I first started it, but I had heard a great deal of praise from others when it hit other platforms. And yes, this is indeed quite the specimen. It’s an action-RPG that goes on for a frankly absurd amount of hours, but the time just flies thanks to the solid mechanics and compelling character progression. If you’re looking for a game that will keep you busy for a very long time without boring you, Astlibra Revision is an excellent pick. I really couldn’t put it down.

5. Pikmin 4 ($59.99)

After the surprising success of the Switch version of Pikmin 3, it seemed pretty much inevitable we would finally see the promised fourth entry. And hey, it came. It looks amazing, it’s easier to get into than ever, and it remains one of the most charming real-time strategy games you could imagine. Along with the surprise release of ports of the first two games in the series, the Switch is now the ultimate home of Pikmin games and I couldn’t be happier about it. It’s a great series because each of the games has enough differences to make it feel like its own thing. I’m not sure if Pikmin 4 is the best of the bunch, but I know I had a great time with it.

4. PowerWash Simulator ($24.99)

It’s hard to believe, but I ended up pouring just about as many hours into PowerWash Simulator as I did Tears of the Kingdom this year. This is a great game to chill with, cleaning the many interesting settings the game throws at you with your power washer and a few handy nozzles. Every little thing you clean flashes and gives you a little “ding!", and you will soon learn to live for the “ding!". The free DLC is also incredibly generous, greatly extending the already robust main campaign. You get to wash Tifa’s bar! Lara Croft’s mansion! I don’t know why this works as well as it does, but it’s an utter vampire of time. I’d start playing before bed, look up at the clock, and realize I had to get up for work in a couple hours. Wild. Love it.

3. Suika Game ($2.99)

While this has been out for a couple of years in Japan, it suddenly went viral this year and that got us a North American release in the year 2023. It’s tough to describe all of the ways this game pulls you in, but I believe it’s a fine combination of a charming presentation, predictable physics that can still sometimes surprise you, and just the right amount of randomness to force you to adjust your plans on the fly. Going for a watermelon is always a solid challenge, and even once you’ve accomplished that you can always aim for a higher score. I don’t know if I’ll still be playing Suika Game in 2025, but we’re about to head into 2024 and I’m not tired of it yet.

2. Super Mario Bros. Wonder ($59.99)

The last time Mario and Link went head to head for a Game of the Year title, I wasn’t in the position of having to make the call for our site. If I had been, I probably would have picked Super Mario Odyssey over Breath of the Wild, but only by a whisker. This time I do have to make the call, and after a lot of thinking and hand-wringing, I’ve decided on the opposite, but again by the thinnest of whiskers. Super Mario Bros. Wonder delivers exactly what is in its title: wonder. When a Mario game clicks with me, I feel like I’m seven years old again, clutching an NES controller in my hands and dazzled by all the things that Super Mario Bros. and its sequels brought to the genre.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder has it. The feels-good playability of the first Super Mario Bros. game. The surreal design sense of Super Mario Bros. 2. All the wild energy of Super Mario Bros. 3. The interesting secrets of Super Mario World. The sheer creativity of the level set-ups in Yoshi’s Island. I like the New Super Mario Bros. games more than most people, but even I have to admit that this one makes it look like our plumber hero was on vacation from the 2D platformer space for the last thirty years. It’s fun like the way a video game should be. A truly magnificent game, and another jewel in the Switch’s absurdly heavy crown.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom ($69.99)

And so here we are, with the obvious pick. Sometimes that happens. Honestly, I thought The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom had it fully in the bag, no contest, back when it came out. It’s one of those games where you almost immediately feel that it’s on a level of its own. Then Mario had to roll in and make this an actual fight. Here I will note that I have selected Tears of the Kingdom over the insistent protests of our pal Mikhail, who would have preferred to see Super Mario Bros. Wonder up here. So why The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom?

Ultimately, I feel the new mechanics did some very heavy lifting in terms of making this world we’ve already seen feel fresh. The Ultrahand in particular totally changes the interactivity of the world, allowing us to have entirely new situations and “conversations" with familiar elements. So much of the fun in Breath of Wild was in how you started as a small speck in a big world and gradually became a force to be reckoned with. Tears of the Kingdom ups the ante on this progression, and you almost feel like a god of some sort by the end. Fortunately, it also throws an appropriate counter force against you so that you have a reason to push yourself further.

It’s not a perfect game, but that’s not really what any of this is about. It is, however, a tremendously fun game that shapes itself to the player’s imagination and creative whims, all while maintaining a nice balance of exploration, puzzle-solving, combat, and even a little story as a treat. I don’t know how the Zelda team is going to one-up this, and I don’t know if a return trip to this specific version of Hyrule would work again. But it certainly worked this time, and I’m just sitting here flabbergasted we got two Zelda games of this level of quality in a single generation of hardware.

And that’s the list for this year, friends. I really want to hear about some of your picks and favorites from 2023. Go ahead and drop them in the comments so I can give them a read. That wraps it up for me for this year, either here or in the regular SwitchArcade article. If it happens to be here, I will say thanks for sticking with TouchArcade and me for another year. We really appreciate every reader. I hope you’ve all had great years, and I wish you all the best for the coming year. Have a Happy New Year, and see you in 2024!

New Releases

Monster Loves You Too! ($14.99)

Oh hey, it’s a sequel to Monster Loves You. That’s cool. This is a choice-based game where you have to manage your three resources carefully so that you have what you need to take your desired actions. You’re a monster who has been captured and thrown in a dangerous city full of other creatures. Using your Brains, Guts, and Flesh you need to find a way to escape, thrive, or survive. Each of the aforementioned traits are represented as numerical values that you can accumulate and spend as you play. Don’t squander them or you won’t have them when you truly need them. Plenty of interesting characters to meet and outcomes to stumble upon. If you liked the first one, this is an easy recommendation.

Chico and the Magic Orchards DX ($4.99)

This is a cute homage to Game Boy puzzle games, and it reminds me most of all of Mole Mania. You’re a chipmunk who is transported to a magical land full of giant walnuts. Look on the bright side: you’re going to have a lot of food for the winter if you can pull this off. Roll the giant walnuts around to solve puzzles and make your way home. I like this one a lot, and if you enjoy puzzlers I think you’ll enjoy it too.

Kumamon Run ($5.00)

The only reason I’m not putting this mediocre port of a mediocre mobile game into the bin today is out of respect for Kumamon and the people of Kumamoto prefecture. You can find better auto-runners than this on any App Store and keep five bucks in your pocket. Kumamon, you need to watch what your agent is signing you up for.

The Bin Bunch

Battlefront Trench Warriors: Ops of Warfare ($11.99)

The Gardener Simulator – Plant, Grow, Decorate, Build Sim ($13.99)

Ultimate Moto Bike Simulator ($16.99)

Hilm ($1.00)

Wizard Hunter: The End of the Magic World ($6.99)

Nathan Jones and the Empty Century ($4.99)

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Well. The Kids We Were, DREDGE, and The Oregon Trail are pretty good? Quite a lot in that outbox, let me see if any of it strikes me in a particular way. Arcade Paradise is a good get, and there’s always something fun in the NISA sales if you haven’t already filled your boots. Take a look through both lists and see if you want to make any last-minute purchases for the year.

Select New Sales

The Kids We Were ($7.99 from $15.99 until 1/6)
Alpha Particle ($6.99 from $9.99 until 1/9)
Casual Challenge Players’ Club ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/9)
Color Pals ($2.99 from $4.99 until 1/9)
Betomis ($3.49 from $4.99 until 1/9)
Ball laB II ($3.49 from $4.99 until 1/9)
Alive Paint ($3.49 from $4.99 until 1/9)
Otoko Cross: Mahjong Solitaire ($3.49 from $6.99 until 1/9)
Shape Suitable ($1.99 from $8.99 until 1/9)
Magic Exposure: Yuri Visual Novel ($2.99 from $4.99 until 1/9)
Terraformers ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/11)
Solitaire Collection ($3.34 from $7.43 until 1/11)
Backgammon Pro ($3.99 from $7.99 until 1/11)
Akaiito HD Remaster ($7.20 from $11.99 until 1/11)
Aoishiro HD Remaster ($7.20 from $11.99 until 1/11)

Metro Simulator ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/12)
Professional Construction The Simulation ($7.99 from $39.99 until 1/12)
Pineview Drive ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/12)
Mountain Rescue Simulator ($7.99 from $39.99 until 1/12)
Joe’s Diner ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/12)
Firefighters: Airport Heroes ($7.99 from $39.99 until 1/12)
Firefighters: Airport Fire Department ($7.99 from $39.99 until 1/12)
Professional Farmer ($7.99 from $39.99 until 1/12)
Firefighters: The Simulation ($7.99 from $39.99 until 1/12)
Space Blaze ($5.99 from $29.99 until 1/12)
Airport Simulator: Day & Night ($6.99 from $34.99 until 1/12)
TheNightfall ($7.99 from $39.99 until 1/12)
Professional Farmer: American Dream ($7.99 from $39.99 until 1/12)
Forestry – The Simulation ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/12)

Thunder Ray ($9.74 from $14.99 until 1/17)
Depth of Extinction ($2.69 from $14.99 until 1/17)
Ugly ($13.39 from $19.99 until 1/18)
The Oregon Trail ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/18)
Dredge Deluxe Edition ($20.24 from $26.99 until 1/18)
Bot Vice ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/18)
Super Star Path ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/18)

Sales Ending This Holiday Weekend

CounterAttack: Uprising ($8.99 from $14.99 until 12/30)
Agatha Christie Collection ($11.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)
Alfred Hitchcok Vertigo ($5.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Animal Kart Racer 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Arcade Paradise ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Arkanoid: Eternal Battle ($2.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
art of rally ($13.74 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Bang-On Balls: Chronicles ($14.99 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Boyfriend Dungeon ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Cabela’s The Hunt: CE ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/1)
Cricket 22 ($19.99 from $49.99 until 1/1)
CRYMACHINA ($47.99 from $59.99 until 1/1)
Disgaea 7 Complete Edition ($87.99 from $109.99 until 1/1)
Earthen Dragon ($4.00 from $9.90 until 1/1)
Elta7 ($3.09 from $15.49 until 1/1)

Everdream Valley ($12.49 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Figment 1 + Figment 2 ($15.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
GigaBash ($21.24 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Grand Mountain Adventure: Wonderlands ($10.49 from $34.99 until 1/1)
Hamster on Rails ($11.99 from $14.99 until 1/1)
Heart Chain Kitty: All Screwed Up ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/1)
Hellboy Web of Wyrd ($18.74 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Hidden Gems: Volume One ($3.49 from $6.99 until 1/1)
Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch ($15.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Immortal Realms: Vampire Wars ($9.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Kamiwaza: Way of the Thief ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Kind Heart Defenders ($3.19 from $3.99 until 1/1)
Kittengumi: The Sakaboto’s Thief ($7.49 from $9.99 until 1/1)
Lifeslide ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/1)
Light Fingers ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)

Little Friends: Puppy Island ($23.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Mad Rat Dead ($23.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Metamorphosis ($1.99 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Murder Mystery Machine ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/1)
My Universe: Cooking Star Restaurant ($2.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)
My Universe: Fashion Boutique ($2.49 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Operate Now: Hospital ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/1)
Pupperazzi ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Railbound ($8.99 from $12.99 until 1/1)
Sandream ($4.99 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Shooting Star Island ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/1)
Silt ($6.89 from $14.99 until 1/1)
Sixtar Gate: Startrail ($19.99 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Smurfs Kart ($15.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Survivor Castaway Island ($20.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)

Syberia ($1.99 from $12.99 until 1/1)
Tape: Unveil the Memories ($8.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
The Gardens Between ($2.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
The Last Worker ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
The Long Gate ($3.74 from $14.99 until 1/1)
The Quest for Excalibur: Puy du Fou ($8.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)
The Smurfs 2 ($27.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Tin Hearts ($17.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)
Tiny Troopers: Global Ops ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
TLoH: Trails into Reverie ($44.99 from $59.99 until 1/1)
TT Isle of Man RotE 3 ($19.99 from $49.99 until 1/1)
Vampire: TM – Shadows of New York ($2.59 from $12.99 until 1/1)
WRC Collection ($9.99 from $99.99 until 1/1)
Yum Yum Cookstar ($11.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)
Zumba Garden ($1.99 from $2.99 until 1/1)

Ahh, I get to say the thing! That’s all for today, this week, this month, and this year, friends. It’s been a roller coaster ride for me in 2023, and the last few months in particular have been pretty bad. But I’m still here, and that will do for me. The sheer amount of great games this year has been mind-boggling, too. Not just on the Nintendo Switch, but across all platforms. I want to take this time to once again thank you, dear readers, for reading these articles. You’re all great, and we couldn’t do what we do without your support. See you next year!

This is actually a pretty solid sale, especially by the recent standards of Kemco. Some of the included games are as much as 87% off the usual price, making these convenience store cheeseburger RPGs a highly digestible value. I’ll list out the games below, and then swing back around with the ones I would recommend the most.

• Alvastia Chronicles ($0.99) from $7.99
• Alphadia Neo ($3.99) from $7.99
• Asdivine Hearts ($0.99) from $7.99
• Asdivine Hearts II ($0.99) from $7.99
• Asdivine Kamura ($1.99) from $8.99
• Blacksmith of the Sand Kingdom ($3.99) from $7.99
• Chroma Quaternion ($1.99) from $7.99
• Crystal Ortha ($1.99) from $7.99
• Heirs of the Kings ($1.99) from $7.99
• Marenian Tavern Story ($1.99) from $8.99
• Seek Hearts ($1.99) from $7.99

Now, as to my recommendations. Asdivine Hearts is my favorite of Kemco’s standard JRPGs, and it’s the one I usually recommend to people if they want a taste of what the publisher has to offer. Blacksmith of the Sand Kingdom and Marenian Tavern Story are both interesting spins on the usual RPG format, having you manage a smithy and tavern respectively. Lots of gathering, crafting, and so on with that pair and they’re both rather well-done. And if you want one more somewhat traditional RPG with a slightly different flavor, Crystal Ortha is rather interesting.

With all that said, at these prices it’s almost worth picking them all up. Even if you don’t come close to finishing them, you’re almost certain to get your money’s worth out of it. And hey, it’s never too late in the year or too early in the next to start building up an impossible backlog. Thanks for the helping hand with all of that, Kemco!

New Releases

Pinball M (Free)

One thing that I recall being a moderate issue for Zen Studios when it took on the Williams pinball license was that some of the art and other content had to be altered to maintain the ESRB rating for the Zen Pinball/Pinball FX hub app. Maybe that’s why we’ve got this release, which offers up the same Pinball FX gameplay in an app that isn’t afraid to go M for Mature. Pinball M comes with Wrath of the Elder Gods: Director’s Cut as a free table, and currently offers four additional tables as DLC. Chucky’s Killer Pinball, Duke Nukem’s Big Shot Pinball, The Thing Pinball, and Dead by Daylight Pinball can be bought for $5.49 each or in one big bundle for $19.99. More tables will be added over time, and I imagine we will see some of those spicier Williams tables here down the line.

Arcade Archives Solitary Fighter ($7.99)

If you were perhaps hoping for the Arcade Archives release to save this tragic bunch of releases, I’m sorry. The final release for the year 2023 is none other than Taito’s Solitary Fighter, previously seen in the Taito Milestones 2 collection. It’s a fighting game, but one that had the misfortune of releasing around the same time as Street Fighter II. Without the benefit of copying some of that game’s better qualities, this is just a decently good-looking game with gameplay that feels ancient. If you’re looking for an oddity, this might scratch your itch. Otherwise, I’d give it a pass.

The Bin Bunch

Anime Girls: Highschool of Dead ($7.99)

Tiny Treasure Hunt ($3.99)

Found It! ($3.99)

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Some last minute WB Games sales along with a few other odds and ends. Is that price low enough for Mortal Kombat 1 yet? Probably not. But that’s your call. Over in the outbox, the Piczle games are finishing up their latest discounts. And again, a few other odds and ends. Check both lists; it won’t take you but a minute.

Select New Sales

Venice 2089 ($4.89 from $6.99 until 12/30)
A Painter’s Tale: Curon, 1950 ($4.89 from $6.99 until 12/30)
Duck Race ($2.09 from $2.99 until 12/30)
Mortal Kombat 11 ($9.99 from $49.99 until 1/15)
Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate DLC ($9.99 from $49.99 until 1/15)
Mortal Kombat 1 Premium Edition ($65.99 from $109.99 until 1/15)
LEGO Star Wars: TSS Galactic Edition ($23.99 from $79.99 until 1/15)
LEGO DC Super-Villains ($8.99 from $59.99 until 1/15)
LEGO NINJAGO Movie Video Game ($7.49 from $49.99 until 1/15)
LEGO The Incredibles ($8.99 from $59.99 until 1/15)
LEGO Worlds ($5.99 from $29.99 until 1/15)
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 ($5.99 from $29.99 until 1/15)
Scribblenauts Showdown ($7.99 from $39.99 until 1/15)
Ampersat ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/16)
Death Come True ($9.59 from $15.99 until 1/16)
Empire Invasion ($2.59 from $12.99 until 1/17)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, December 29th

BDSM Big Drunk Satanic Massacre ($5.19 from $19.99 until 12/29)
Diorama Dungeoncrawl ($6.99 from $9.99 until 12/29)
Dormitory Love ($26.24 from $34.99 until 12/29)
Fearmonium ($10.39 from $12.99 until 12/29)
Loco Parentis ($4.09 from $9.99 until 12/29)
Murder on the Marine Express ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/29)
Piczle Cells ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/29)
Piczle Colors ($2.49 from $12.00 until 12/29)
Piczle Lines 2: Into the Puzzleverse ($7.99 from $14.99 until 12/29)
Piczle Lines DX ($2.99 from $14.99 until 12/29)
Piczle Lines DX 500 More Puzzles ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/29)
Piczle Puzzle & Watch Collection ($1.99 from $7.99 until 12/29)
Puddle Knights ($3.39 from $9.99 until 12/29)
RedRaptor ($3.49 from $4.99 until 12/29)
Rento Fortune Monolit ($5.99 from $9.99 until 12/29)
Robotry ($4.99 from $12.49 until 12/29)
Tadpole Treble Encore ($4.49 from $8.99 until 12/29)
The Medium: Cloud Version ($27.49 from $49.99 until 12/29)
Twice Reborn: A Vampire Visual Novel ($7.49 from $14.99 until 12/29)
Vostok 2061 ($4.05 from $9.90 until 12/29)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with our final edition of the year, and barring any surprises in the sales department you can probably expect a similar showing to today’s. Do keep your eye open for the separate article covering our 2023 Genre Awards, and get suitably hyped for tomorrow’s overall Best of 2023 list. I hope you all have a thrilling Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!

Best Platformer Game

Super Mario Bros. Wonder ($59.99)

I was genuinely looking forward to reviewing this one, and then I landed in the hospital for ten days. Silver lining: we got to see Mikhail’s review. Other silver lining: I got to digest this amazing game at my own pace. I had thought Nintendo had essentially closed the book on 2D Mario with New Super Mario Bros. U and Super Mario Maker 2. What more could be done? A lot, it turns out. Bolstered by a fresh presentation and a busted fire hydrant of fun new ideas, Super Mario Bros. Wonder showed that this old dog can keep showing off new tricks all day long almost four decades on. And that, my friends, is wonderful.

Runner-Up: Curse Crackers: For Whom the Belle Toils ($15.00)

Best Role-Playing Game

Octopath Traveler II ($59.99)

This was an incredibly competitive genre this year, with plenty of great options that could easily slot in for this position without much argument from me. With that said, I wanted to highlight original titles over remakes, and in that regard I believe Octopath Traveler II to be the top of the heap. While the first game was the talk of the town when it launched, I feel like a lot of people slept on this one. It’s a shame, because I think this game does a better job of delivering on the promise of the first one. With excellent writing, intriguing gameplay mechanics, and a solid level of challenge, this is one to play for any RPG fan.

Runner-Up: Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society ($59.99)

Best Puzzle Game

Suika Game ($2.99)

Hey, it’s new to North America this year. And importantly, this game that had quietly sat unnoticed in the Japanese eShop for a couple of years suddenly caught fire in 2023. It’s tough to describe all of the way this game pulls you in, but I believe it’s a fine combination of a charming presentation, predictable physics that can still sometimes surprise you, and just the right amount of randomness to force you to adjust your plans on the fly. Going for a watermelon is always a solid challenge, and even once you’ve accomplished that you can always aim for a higher score. I don’t know if I’ll still be playing Suika Game in 2025, but we’re about to head into 2024 and I’m not tired of it yet.

Runner-Up: Snakebird Complete ($14.99)

Best Action Game

Astlibra Revision ($24.99)

It was hard to find a place to fit this game, but I think the action component is big enough to put it here. I really had no idea what I was in for with this game when I first started it, but I knew Mikhail had praised it quite a bit after he played it on another platform. And yes, this is indeed quite the specimen. It’s an action-RPG that goes on for a frankly absurd amount of hours, but the time just flies thanks to the solid mechanics and compelling character progression. If you’re looking for a game that will keep you busy for a very long time without boring you, Astlibra Revision is an excellent pick.

Runner-Up: Vampire Survivors ($4.99)

Best Sports Game

EA Sports FC 24 ($59.99)

In contrast to other genres, this one was quite thin this year. I feel like this is the one category where the Switch sometimes doesn’t have a good option, and that leaves me with handing this award over to EA Sports FC 24 for actually trying for once. It’s not a hand-me-down from the PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 generation of consoles, and it’s not a Legacy Edition. Is it up to the version on more powerful consoles? No, of course not. But it’s a solid soccer game for Switch owners, and that’s enough to give it the nod in 2023.

Runner-Up: MLB The Show 23 ($59.99)

Best Racing Game

F-Zero 99 (Free with NSO Subscription)

I don’t think anyone would have seen this coming at the beginning of the year, but the winner of our racing award this year is an F-Zero game. An F-Zero game where you race against tons of other players, available for free through a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. In hindsight this is a very obvious candidate for Nintendo’s massively multiplayer line, and F-Zero works very well with this set-up. A great blend of the old and the new, and one that can please fans and newcomers alike.

Runner-Up: Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged ($49.99)

Best Fighting Game

The King of Fighters XIII Global Match ($19.99)

Another genre with somewhat slim pickings this year, but luckily SNK rolled in near the end of 2023 with an excellent port of The King of Fighters XIII. A few UI issues are the only real spots on this conversion, and the game itself is excellent. Just make sure you find yourself a decent controller or stick, because this can get gnarly in a hurry with the stock Joy-Cons. Note that while I have put Mortal Kombat 1 here as the runner-up, I really don’t recommend it on this platform if you have any other choice.

Runner-Up: Mortal Kombat 1 ($69.99)

Best Music/Rhythm Game

Theatrhythm Final Bar Line ($49.99)

In finally making a full break from the Nintendo 3DS and its stylus, Theatrhythm had the chance to make some big changes. Some will like them, and some won’t. But I think even if you prefer the previous game in the series, it’s difficult to argue with the value proposition of this game. Even if you don’t indulge in the DLC, you’ve got an absurd number of songs to play through, with just about every corner of the Final Fantasy universe getting at least some acknowledgement. Final Fantasy fans are sure to be pleased, and rhythm game fans in general will also have a good time.

Runner-Up: Trombone Champ ($14.99)

Best Party Game

WarioWare: Move It! ($49.99)

The garlic-breathed rotter came back to Switch for one more go with this follow-up of sorts to the Nintendo Wii Smooth Moves. Take on various stances and play a wide array of mini-games. My initial playthrough of this game was with my son, and we had a great time figuring out what to do each time and then trying to pull it off. Some of the asks are a little much for the tech, but all of the players will have to deal with that so it works out fine in a multiplayer context.

Runner-Up: Manic Mechanics ($24.99)

Best Metroidvania Game

Blasphemous 2 ($29.99)

The original Blasphemous earned a lot of fans with its blend of exploratory platforming and Soulslike combat, leaving its sequel with some tough shoes to fill. Fortunately, it was up to the task. If you liked Blasphemous, you’ll enjoy Blasphemous 2 just as much if not more. There are a bunch of new weapons, and each one really changes things up in terms of how you play. The world design once again stands out, and poking around to find all of its corners and secrets will keep you playing for hours on end.

Runner-Up: TEVI ($34.99)

Best Adventure Game

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom ($69.99)

Breath of the Wild isn’t just an excellent reinvention of a series that needed a shot in the arm, it’s also a game synonymous with the Nintendo Switch itself thanks to its launch title status. Following it up was not going to be an easy task, and the development team took several years to do the job. While the decision to keep Tears of the Kingdom in the same world means it isn’t quite as surprising or novel as its predecessor, the new gameplay mechanics and changed context for most of the familiar sites of Hyrule put a satisfying new spin on things. Add in the huge sky and underground areas, and you’ve got lots of good reasons to dive into the Switch take on Hyrule one last time.

Runner-Up: Cocoon ($24.99)

Best FPS/Shooting Game

Metroid Prime Remastered ($39.99)

I know, this is a weird place to put this game. It’s not really a first-person shooter in the traditional sense. You’ll do lots of shooting, and it does use a first-person view, but this is really a genuine first-person, 3D take on the Metroid formula. This “remaster" really went above and beyond in updating the game, and it somehow managed to be one of the best-looking games on a platform three generations past its origin. If you’ve never played Metroid Prime before, this is an excellent way to do so.

Runner-Up: DRAINUS ($19.99)

Best Narrative Adventure Game

Meg’s Monster ($14.99)

Meg’s Monster absolutely destroyed me. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started playing the game, but I had heard some buzz from Japanese players and thought the visuals looked good. There are some light RPG mechanics in play here, but it’s more of an adventure game with a heavy narrative focus. A little girl appears in a world of monsters, and it seems as though the world might end if she cries. A monster named Roy ends up taking her in to try to help her get home, and the journey is absolutely heart-wrenching. Meg’s Monster still lives rent-free in my head months after finishing it, and I think at this point it’s going to be setting down roots there.

Runner-Up: Jack Jeanne ($49.99)

Best Strategy Game

Pikmin 4 ($59.99)

Good year for Gamecube revivals, I suppose. After the surprising success of the Switch version of Pikmin 3, it seemed pretty much inevitable we would finally see the promised fourth entry. And hey, it came. It looks amazing, it’s easier to get into than ever, and it remains one of the most charming real-time strategy games you could imagine. Along with the surprise release of ports of the first two games in the series, the Switch is now the ultimate home of Pikmin games and I couldn’t be happier about it. Head on out and get exploring the surrealism of the mundane!

Runner-Up: Fire Emblem Engage ($59.99)

Best Collection

The Making of Karateka ($19.99)

Building on the extremely well-executed Atari 50‘s foundations, this is an incredibly deep dive into a single game and everything that went into its creation. There are a handful of versions of the game in question that can be played here along with a few other bits and bobs, and they’re enjoyable enough in their own right. But having such rich context provided for each of them makes it even more compelling to dig into these historical artifacts. It doesn’t matter if you like Karateka or not – this interactive documentary is equally fascinating for any student of gaming’s past.

Runner-Up: Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection ($49.99)

Best Simulation Game

PowerWash Simulator ($24.99)

It’s hard to believe, but I ended up pouring just about as many hours into PowerWash Simulator as I did Tears of the Kingdom this year. This is a great game to chill with, cleaning the many interesting settings the game throws at you with your power washer and a few handy nozzles. Every little thing you clean flashes and gives you a little “ding!", and you will soon learn to live for the “ding!". The free DLC is also incredibly generous, greatly extending the already robust main campaign.

Runner-Up: DREDGE ($24.99)

Best DLC

Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed ($29.99)

There was a lot of good DLC to choose from this year, but ultimately the Future Redeemed expansion for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 gets the nod. It’s the mark of a strong add-on if it becomes essential to the game, so what does it say when an add-on is essential to its entire series? Future Redeemed ties together the entire Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy, drawing things to a satisfying close. If you like Xenoblade, you need to play this DLC.

Runner-Up: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge – Dimension Shellshock ($7.99)

Best 1-2-Switch! Game

Everybody 1-2-Switch! ($29.99)

It was a stellar year for 1-2-Switch! games, as we got a 1-2-Switch! game. Everybody 1-2-Switch is undeniably the greatest 1-2-Switch! game released in 2023. If you’re looking for a new 1-2-Switch! game to add to your collection, there is no better choice this year than Everybody 1-2-Switch!.

Runner-Up: Everybody 1-2-Switch! ($29.99)

That’s a wrap for the 2023 Genre Awards, dear friends. If you’re looking for more along these lines, there have been plenty of Best of 2023 articles posted to the site this week. Tomorrow we’ll have our overall Best Games of 2023 list, so keep your eyes peeled for that. I hope you can find some games to enjoy among the many featured here, and if you have some favorites of your own to share, I encourage you to comment below. As always, thanks for reading!

The best iPhone game controller in 2023

Backbone One USB-C (2nd generation)

When Apple announced the iPhone 15 series had moved over to USB-C, Backbone was ready with updates for its existing USB-C controllers. The company even released a new generation version with a magnetic adapter to fit phones with specific cases and more. This is now the best iPhone 15 series controller, and it is available in the ABXY black or PlayStation Edition white variants with a new carrying case. If you have an iPhone 15 series device, this is the controller to get right now from the ones we’ve tried. Keep in mind the subscription locks certain features behind a paywall though. I’m looking forward to checking out the GameSir G8 in the future as well.

The best iPad game controller in 2023

DualSense or Xbox Wireless Controller

This will vary by your own controller preference if you already play on consoles. I prefer the DualSense and the DualSense Edge over the Xbox Wireless controller, but Jared likes the latter more. You can’t go wrong with either option here, and if you are new to using any sort of console controller on iPad, I would recommend the Xbox Wireless Controller since most games show ABXY button prompts on iOS and Apple Arcade games. If you do have a PS5, I can’t recommend the DualSense Edge enough. I love everything about it, and it is worth the price. I don’t recommend getting it solely for iPad play though.

The best Nintendo Switch game controller in 2023 – Docked and Handheld

HORI Nintendo Switch Split Pad Compact – Handheld

The official Joy-Cons are uncomfortable for games like Splatoon 3 or Monster Hunter Rise, and pretty awful if you run into drifting issues like I have across five different Joy-Cons since 2017. I ditched using Joy-Cons for the Hori Split Pad Pro back in 2021. That was a bit bulky, and Hori released an amazing update with the Hori Split Pad Compact this year. It is an essential if you play anything that requires fast analog movement or a functional d-pad, and I’ve not looked back since. You do miss out on HD Rumble, NFC / amiibo, and gyro support though so keep that in mind. I love the turbo functionality for some arcade games, and the paddles for when playing Monster Hunter Rise. There are a few color options or designs available, with more releasing in a month. I got the White and Yellow variant, and want the Dragon Quest model if it ever comes back in stock.

8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller with Charging Dock – Docked

As for the best controller to use when your Switch is docked, having gone through multiple Nintendo Switch Pro Controllers including the limited edition ones like the Monster Hunter and Splatoon variants that also started drifting or failing on me, the best and most reliable controller I’ve used is the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller with Charting Dock. You lose out on NFC / amiibo scanning, but it does have rumble which works well and full gyro support. This released last year, but it still is the best controller for Switch, and it has Hall Effect sticks so you don’t need to worry about drifting.

The best Steam Deck game controller in 2023

Razer Kitsune

Yes, this one is kind of cheating because the Razer Kitsune isn’t a traditional controller, but an arcade controller. The Steam Deck doesn’t actually need an external traditional controller since the system itself is very comfortable, and it offers paddles and more. Instead, I’ve chosen an arcade controller that I’ve been using for fighting games, rhythm games, and arcade games. You can read my review of the Kitsune here.

Bonus: 8BitDo NeoGeo Wireless Controller

As the runner-up, I’ve chosen 8BitDo’s NeoGeo Wireless Controller which I’ve been using to play SNK’s older ports and some other classics on the Steam Deck. The click-style joystick is super satisfying to use, and the controller feels excellent for its price. You can use it as a general controller, but I recommend grabbing it if you play Garou, KOF, Metal Slug, and the like on Steam Deck.

There you have it. I hope you end up finding something useful from the controllers featured here. If you ended up liking a specific controller a lot this year, please let me know in the comments. I’m looking forward to seeing what hardware manufacturers end up doing in 2024 across all platforms with potentially getting a new Razer iPhone controller, more Switch third party controllers to replace the mediocre Pro Controller reliability, and more arcade controllers for Steam Deck. Thanks for reading.

Beastie Bay DX ($5.99)

iTunes Description

Washed ashore a desolate island and surrounded by savage beasts, can you thrive…or merely survive?

Blaze trails into unknown territory…and then make it your own! Plant crops, build housing and power sources, and transform the island into your own personal paradise. As you progress, you’ll be able to develop new gear and technology to take your adventure to the next level, including ways to travel to unexplored islands nearby!

Forum Thread: Beastie Bay DX (by Kairosoft)

Block Puzzle: Free Rotate (Free)

iTunes Description

What if you are allowed to rotate the block before putting it in the board? Tada… A totally fresh new playing experience for Block Puzzle!
Try it and you’ll love it! (aka “Shut up and take my money!"). 100% guaranteed!!!!

Forum Thread: Block Puzzle: Free Rotate (by Genix Lab)

Drift Runner (Free)

iTunes Description

Introducing Drift Runner, the ultimate drifting game that will push your skills to the limit and have you burning rubber in heart-stopping drift battles. From the makers of Burnout Masters, get ready to dominate the streets, break records on the track, and become the undisputed Drift Master!

Forum Thread: Drift Runner (by Road Burn)

Santa Fighter (Free)

iTunes Description

Get ready for some Christmas Chaos! Santas battle it out in an epic showdown at the North Pole. Brace yourself for a festive face-off like never before!

Forum Thread: Santa Fighter (by Andrew Baxter)

Snakes LTD (Free)

iTunes Description

– Against AI mode (Machine learning bots)
– Classic single snake mode
– Auto Pilot Mode (Let the snake eat on it’s own)

Casual Snakes Combat. Kill other snakes and grow as much as you can.

Forum Thread: Snakes LTD (by mlThings)

Three Minutes To Eight ($4.99)

iTunes Description

Set in the near future, Three Minutes To Eight is a mind-bending pixel art adventure game that breaks the mold by introducing an intriguing twist: the protagonist is destined to meet their demise at precisely 07:57 PM. However, hope is not lost. It’s up to you to unravel what lies beneath, uncover secret paths, find ways to cheat death, and unlock multiple endings. Each run is distinct, with randomized elements and unique events, urging you to revisit the game multiple times to discover all its hidden mysteries. Find yourself in an ever-evolving gaming experience, mimicking a borderline state of mind that teeters on the edge of consciousness, where everything is possible yet remains elusive.

Forum Thread: Three Minutes To Eight (by Assemble Entertainment)

Trance Tank ($1.49)

iTunes Description

Trance Tank is an Action-Shooter with Jump `N Run components and also equipped with cool Techno-Sounds. You will be able to control the tanks like no other game before. Experience classic shooting action in a unique landscape that takes you through an extraordinary graphic world. The tanks can jump and sometimes perform acrobatic movements such as somersaults etc. to avoid enemies or obstacles. The techno tracks playing in the background are supplemented by shooting enemies to play techno samples. This always creates a new type of piece of music. Points and fuel can also be collected to increase the high score or to unlock new tanks. Each vehicle has its own driving characteristics and some levels can only be mastered with certain tanks. You have to be a good shooter but at the same time you have to control your tank perfectly through the terrain.

Forum Thread: Trance Tank (by CodedArt)

News

‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Retro Collection’ Will Be Delisted on January 1st 2024

Well, it’s a slow news day, so let’s talk about this. The big cheese of Limited Run Games, Josh Fairhurst, mentioned on Twitter/X today that due to the expiration of the license, Bill & Ted’s Excellent Retro Collection will be removed from digital marketplaces on January 1st, 2024. If you’ve purchased it by then it will continue to be available to redownload, but it will no longer be sold. For those who haven’t had their finger on the pulse of the hottest Bill & Ted news, the collection contains the absolutely dreadful NES game and surprisingly decent Game Boy game. It came out on the eShop in February of this year, and was also available as a physical set. Is it the greatest set of games? No. No it is not. But if you want it, you should grab it very soon.

Reviews & Mini-Views

Koumajou Remilia II: Stranger’s Requiem ($29.99)

Following in the footsteps of the first game’s remaster, here’s a spiffed-up take on the 2010 sequel. Like the first game, it’s a fangame based on the Touhou Project universe that is heavily inspired by the classic Castlevania games. You’ve got a new playable character this time whose moveset is more inspired by Alucard than the Belmonts, eight new stages to play through, and plenty of challenging bullet hell boss battles. It’s as tough as old boot leather, but you can adjust the difficulty setting if you want a slightly easier ride. While the game itself isn’t terribly long, there are a number of unlockable bonuses including an additional playable character that add a bit of value to the package.

Despite this game having a handful of improvements over the first game, I ended up enjoying it less. The novelty of having a game like this fifteen years ago probably helped give this whole trilogy of games an extra push, but the indie boom means we’re hardly thirsting for decent action games nowadays. While the visuals were admirable enough for their era, the inconsistency between the quality of assets in this remaster creates a rather unpleasant whole. The music is still straight fire, though. I genuinely bumped the score up a little because of it. Great music, decent but extremely difficult gameplay, and patchwork graphics. Hm.

If you enjoyed the first Koumajou Remilia game and want another serving of the same, here you go. If you’re a big Touhou fan, this is above average in terms of the spread available on Switch. Perhaps you have happy memories of the original release from back in the day? Well, you might appreciate the few extras that have been added here. For everyone else, this is a very average side-scrolling action game with a very good soundtrack. There are better ways to spend your time and money.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

New Releases

The Bin Bunch

Starship Showdown: Galactic Grand Prix ($9.90)

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Slim pickings indeed. Full Quiet seems like an ambitious and creative NES game that might have been a hard one to punt on at ten bucks but perhaps easier to give a shot to at five. The various Telenet collections are wrapping up their latest sales, and so is that incredibly sweet deal on Monster Hunter Rise. Perhaps we’ll see more sales as the week comes to a close, but given how much is already on sale I wouldn’t count on too much.

Select New Sales

Full Quiet ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/2)
Nora: The Wannabe Alchemist ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/2)
BroodStar ($4.40 from $11.00 until 1/2)
Deathtrap Dungeon Trilogy ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/5)
Finally, in Love Again ($20.99 from $29.99 until 1/8)
Danmaku Unlimited 3 ($6.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
Cat Simulator ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/16)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, Thursday, December 28th

A-Train: All Aboard! Tourism ($41.99 from $59.99 until 12/28)
Cat Quest ($3.89 from $12.99 until 12/28)
Dinobreak ($11.99 from $19.99 until 12/28)
Monster Hunter Rise ($15.99 from $39.99 until 12/28)
Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak DLC ($23.99 from $39.99 until 12/28)
Syd of Valis ($10.50 from $15.00 until 12/28)
Telenet Shooting Collection ($40.49 from $44.99 until 12/28)
Valis II ($7.50 from $15.00 until 12/28)
Valis III ($7.50 from $15.00 until 12/28)
Valis IV ($10.50 from $15.00 until 12/28)
Valis: The Fantasm Soldier ($7.50 from $15.00 until 12/28)
Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection ($19.99 from $39.99 until 12/28)
Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Collection II ($31.49 from $44.99 until 12/28)
Valis: The Fantasm Soldier Megadrive ($10.50 from $15.00 until 12/28)
Valis: The Fantasm Soldier MSX ($10.50 from $15.00 until 12/28)
Volley Pals ($3.24 from $6.49 until 12/28)

That’s all for today, friends. Tomorrow is Thursday and that usually means a lot of new releases, but with it being December 28th I don’t think we’ll be seeing a whole ton. We’ll summarize whatever comes, plus rope in whatever news and sales roll in over the next day. And of course, we’ll also have a number of year-end SwitchArcade Specials for you to enjoy. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!

Curse Crackers: For Whom the Belle Toils ($15.00)

Some games just feel good to play right away, and you know you’re in for a treat when that happens. Curse Crackers: For Whom the Belle Toils looks as humble as it can, but as soon as you nimbly make your way through the carefully crafted stages, you’ll fall deeper and deeper in love with this charming platformer. It’s one of those games where you immediately feel powerful but keep finding new ways to get where you’re going even faster and more efficiently. Outstanding.

Astlibra Revision ($24.99)

I really had no idea what I was in for with this game when I first started it, but I knew Mikhail had praised it quite a bit after he played it on another platform. And yes, this is indeed quite the specimen. It’s an action-RPG that goes on for a frankly absurd amount of hours, but the time just flies thanks to the solid mechanics and compelling character progression. If you’re looking for a game that will keep you busy for a very long time without boring you, Astlibra Revision is an excellent pick.

Cocoon ($24.99)

The best adventure games are often the ones that keep surprising you with novel puzzles to solve and problems to overcome, and Cocoon does a fantastic job of that. Your world-hopping powers are used simply enough at the outset, but before long you’ll be untangling some absurd knots with your expanding skill set. It’s all wrapped up in a gorgeous presentation, which certainly doesn’t hurt matters. You’re best off going into this one without anything spoiled, but if you enjoy adventure games or figuring out puzzles, you’ll likely have a blast with this.

Vampire Survivors ($4.99)

With everything else going on and the absolute tidal wave of imitators, it’s easy to forget that Vampire Survivors only hit Switch a few months ago. I’m sure many played this game before then, but it suits the Switch just as well as it does any platform. The process of simply trying to survive enough to unlock a couple of things leading into essentially becoming the story monsters tell their kids to scare them is one of the more satisfying loops in recent gaming history. It feels like a steal to get so much game for such a reasonable price, but there it is.

DREDGE ($24.99)

Speaking of games with satisfying loops, here’s DREDGE. On the surface, it’s a simple game where you’re going out fishing to get some money to fix your boat. That’s what you’ll be doing most of the time, after all. Go catch some fish, sell them, buy some upgrades, and so on. This part of the game is actually quite enjoyable in and of itself. But as you play the game, little mysterious elements start piling up, creating a rather unsettling atmosphere. What’s really going on in these murky waters? The combination of the narrative elements and the simple yet pleasurable fishing mechanics creates a potent combination.

DRAINUS ($19.99)

Longtime readers will know that I love RPGs a lot, but the other genre that has my heart is none other than the shoot-em-up. While to the layperson they might all seem rather similar to one another, each one has a character all of its own. DRAINUS is an incredibly polished example of the genre that is more beginner-friendly than the average entry. You have a lot of tools to keep yourself alive, and the longer you play the more powerful you’ll become. The shooting action itself is snappy and fun, and the boss battles are suitably epic. It’s a shooter I would recommend even to someone who doesn’t usually get into games from this genre, and that’s a rarer thing than you might expect.

Meg’s Monster ($14.99)

Meg’s Monster absolutely destroyed me. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started playing the game, but I had heard some buzz from Japanese players and thought the visuals looked good. There are some light RPG mechanics in play here, but it’s more of an adventure game with a heavy narrative focus. A little girl appears in a world of monsters, and it seems as though the world might end if she cries. A monster named Roy ends up taking her in to try to help her get home, and the journey is absolutely heart-wrenching. Meg’s Monster still lives rent-free in my head months after finishing it, and I think at this point it’s going to be setting down roots there.

The Making of Karateka ($19.99)

Digital Eclipse is owned by Atari now, so this is going to be the last time it will be eligible for an indie game award from us. What a way to go out, though. Building on the extremely well-executed Atari 50‘s foundations, this is an incredibly deep dive into a single game and everything that went into its creation. There are a handful of versions of the game in question that can be played here along with a few other bits and bobs, and they’re enjoyable enough in their own right. But having such rich context provided for each of them makes it even more compelling to dig into these historical artifacts. It doesn’t matter if you like Karateka or not – this interactive documentary is equally fascinating for any student of gaming’s past.

A Highland Song ($17.99)

I think some of the most interesting stories are personal ones, and A Highland Song feels very personal indeed. I know it’s not a strict biography or anything, but someone who really loves where they’re from had to have been involved here because I can feel the familiarity dripping from every rainy rock and hill I stumbled over while playing this. What really pushed this game over the top for me was in how open-ended it was. I was expecting a fairly straightforward trip with a good story, but instead I got a decidedly non-linear journey with many good stories. Sure, the broad strokes are more or less the same, but this game truly believes that the journey is its own reward and hopes you agree. I know I do.

Snakebird Complete ($14.99)

Given this is TouchArcade, I’m sure most of our readers are very well-acquainted with the classic Snake game. It was a staple of Nokia mobile phones but its roots go back almost to the very beginning of our little hobby. Putting a spin on it that actually works isn’t the easiest thing to do, but that just what Snakebird did by adding some physics and a lot of challenging puzzle-solving to the basic action of eating and getting bigger. This Switch release brings all the Snakebird content you could ask for, and it suits the platform very well indeed.

And that’s a wrap for our ten best Nintendo Switch indie games for 2023. Are there any you’d like to add to this list? What do you think of our picks? You know what to do, my coolest of cats. Head to those comments and say your peace. I’ll be back tomorrow with our Genre Awards, and then again on Friday with the full-on Best of 2023 Awards. Thanks for reading!

The best hidden gems on Nintendo Switch in 2023 – essential Switch games you might have missed

Meg’s Monster

Meg’s Monster is a fantastic narrative experience that I still think about today after playing it on Switch and Steam Deck. It is one of those games that delivers competent RPG gameplay, but that isn’t the draw of the experience. You’re playing this for the story, characters, presentation, and more. Just don’t let the little girl cry because the whole world will die.

Ib

Ib is equal parts unsettling, creepy, and incredible. The music, art, and narrative carry this experience, and it remains an essential for every horror adventure fan on Nintendo Switch. I know it hit PC before, but I adored playing Ib on Switch this year. The less you know about it, the better. Just take a journey into the museum and enjoy the art.

Astlibra Revision

Having already seen the genius of Astlibra Revision on Steam, I loved revisiting it on Switch recently through its amazing release. This really is an outstanding game through its long runtime that never lets go. If you like action-RPGs, this one is worth your time and money. I don’t think we will see anything that comes close to how crazy Astlibra gets in every aspect for a long time.

Jack Jeanne

Jack Jeanne is easily the best otome game you can play right now, if you’re ok with rhythm gameplay. I love rhythm games and good quality otome games, so Jack Jeanne feels tailor made for me. If you enjoy rhythm games but haven’t been able to get into the otome sub genre yet, this is for you. It might be one of Aksys Games’ best releases in a while, and I hope we see more like this.

This Way Madness Lies

If you enjoy magical girls, JRPGs, and Shakespeare and want a game that doesn’t waste your time, This Way Madness Lies is an easy recommendation on Switch. Its low asking price definitely helps, and I think it does a few things better than Cosmic Star Heroine from Zeboyd Games, though that remains my favorite release from the developer.

Saltsea Chronicles

Saltsea Chronicles surprised me constantly through its gorgeous visuals, excellent Switch port, and narrative. It is a game I see myself returning to often, and I hope it gets a physical release in the future. I liked Mutazione quite a bit from developer Die Gute Fabrik, but Saltsea Chronicles is just superb in every way.

Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery

Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery is the perfect game to unwind with this season thanks to its amazing writing, charm, and great soundtrack. It isn’t too long, but is absolutely worth the asking price on Switch for the memorable experience it will give you. This might not be for everyone, but I’m glad the set of games arrived on consoles with such a fantastic release.

The Case of the Golden Idol

The Case of the Golden Idol is an incredible experience that not only respects the player’s intelligence, but also one of the most rewarding games you will play. Combined with The Spider of Lanka DLC, The Case of the Golden Idol is absolutely essential, and it is a joy to play on Switch with touch controls.

Silent Hope

In a lot of ways, Silent Hope feels like a long-lost 3DS game resurrected for modern platforms with its aesthetic, music, charm, and core gameplay loop that come together perfectly. It isn’t going to be for everyone, but I’d recommend trying out the demo if you are remotely interested. I like having this installed on my Switch to just play as a break from other games.

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails

Despite its age, The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails on Switch is a fantastic action RPG that is a reminder of Falcom’s earlier games. There’s a lot to say about where it fits in the Trails series, but I recommend just playing it if you enjoy action RPGs with great music. Falcom fans should definitely not miss this one.

So those are our picks for the best hidden games for the Nintendo Switch in 2023, but how about yours? Do you have a game you want us to play that we missed out on covering? Please comment below so we can all get in on that. Hopefully this list helped you find something you end up liking. Thanks for reading!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Born of Bread ($29.99)

Homage is tricky. There’s of course nothing wrong with building on the ideas of others; human civilization wouldn’t have made it very far if we had to reinvent everything from scratch each time. But inspiration can take many forms, and some are more desirable than others. Naked clones are annoying and offer very little artistic merit. Games like Undertale that manage to build a work that feels fully its own thing despite drawing from the work of another person are perhaps the ideal. And then there’s something in between those two, a sincere piece of work that is perhaps a little too in love with its source and can’t quite escape from its orbit. Born of Bread falls into that category, I think.

Born of Bread really loves the Mario RPGs, particularly the first two Paper Mario games. I think it loves them more than any game I’ve seen outside of maybe Bug Fables. It imitates many of the mechanics of those games, and even to an extent the presentation of them. I do not doubt at all the sincerity of its passion. But gosh, it cuts close a little too often. At no point in my time with this game did I feel like I was playing a distinctive work. It’s derivative, and I believe intentionally so. Whether that is a negative or positive is going to depend on what you’re looking for from a game. There are certainly worse games to borrow notes from.

Less ambiguous is the technical state of affairs. I’ll be frank: this game feels like it needed more time before releasing. It’s really buggy, sometimes in ways where you have to close out the game and restart. The areas you explore are too big for what they contain, leaving a lot of weird empty dead ends and such. The game balance also feels off to me. It’s incredibly easy, and the game’s efforts to carefully pace how often it doles out new skills are ultimately meaningless as a result. The writing quality is good, full of welcome humor, but the actual story itself doesn’t reach its proper potential.

Still, there’s something to Born of Bread. Even with all of its problems, there’s a certain pure affection and charm to how it’s put together. Similar its doughy protagonist, this game has a good heart that makes you want to like it. As long as you don’t mind dealing with some rough edges, you might find yourself really liking this game. That goes particularly so if you’re a big fan of the first two Paper Mario games. I think this developer has a good future ahead of it in this genre, even if this particular game has a few lumps in it.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Fearmonium ($12.99)

If I were scoring a game solely based on its premise, Fearmonium would be having a very good day indeed. You play as a minor phobia inside of the mind of a child, and your goal is to become strong enough to be his main phobia. You are his fear of clowns, and that is used to add a lot of spice to the otherwise mechanically rote series of Metroidvania power-ups. Since you’re exploring the boy’s mind and battling his other fears and mental defenses, there’s a ton of creativity here in terms of area themes and boss fights.

Unfortunately, the execution bites this game and it bites it hard. The actual map designs just don’t flow the way you’d like to see in a game of this genre, and the story really didn’t click for me. Fearmonium wants me to be invested in Max’s struggles, but the writing didn’t endear me to Max or any of the oddballs living in his head. At least, it didn’t as far as I could play. There’s an unavoidable progression-stopping bug in the game at the moment, so I don’t know if it pulls its nose up in the second half. The publisher of this version is aware of the issue and apparently a patch is on the way, but I’ve waited as long as I felt comfortable before posting this review. The game is on the shop, people can buy it, I’m reviewing it. Once the bug is fixed, feel free to mentally add another half point to the score.

Fearmonium‘s creative premise and interesting themes help it stand out in the crowded sea of Metroidvania-style action-adventure games on the Switch. In practice, however, it’s never as cool to play as it is to describe. In isolation I could forgive its awkward writing, somewhat clumsy gameplay mechanics, or troublesome bugs. But taken all together, it hamstrings what would otherwise be a genuinely fascinating game. I feel confident a patch will fix the bugs, but the rest of it will proably have to lay as-is. A little disappointing given how much it got its claws into me with its set-up.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Hammerwatch 2 ($24.99)

For a sequel, Hammerwatch 2 takes some mighty big swings. The first game was a fairly by-the-numbers dungeon crawling action-RPG, but this sequel makes it feel tiny by presenting you with a decent-sized open world to explore instead of just one castle. In many ways, it feels similar in scope to the move from Diablo to Diablo 2. That adds up to a lot of new features, like a day-night cycle, a more extensive NPC and quest system, and tons of optional places to explore. It’s a big step, and one that hasn’t been taken as smoothly as it could have been. There are a lot of inconveniences in this game added in for the sake of a more realized world, and some players may not appreciate that.

That day-night cycle often results in needing to kill time until daylight when everything opens up again. The wider array of situations means the character classes are totally unbalanced, particularly if you’re playing solo. Those optional places to explore rarely offer anything of value, which can make it feel like you’ve only wasted your time by doing so. Traveling distances can be tiresome and monotonous thanks to the size of the world. This aspect can be particularly vexing when you’re dealing with time-limited quests. If you like your games polished and tight in their design, Hammerwatch 2 is probably going to irritate you to your last nerve.

If, on the other hand, you have weird nostalgia for old computer RPGs, there are certainly going to be aspects of Hammerwatch 2 that speak to you. Those old days, before loot came with different colored text. Where you would explore and get in battles just for the sake of it. Look, I’m no fool. I know some of why I like this kind of thing comes down to happy memories of days where I didn’t throw out my back picking up a coin off the ground. But I don’t automatically dislike friction, even if it is largely pointless. If you feel the same way, you’re more likely to enjoy Hammerwatch 2 than the average person. There is a considerable amount of pointless friction here.

Alas, in what I can only describe as the theme of the day, Hammerwatch 2‘s Switch version is extremely buggy. It is actually possible to load into solid walls, and that’s the end of your character. Sometimes event flags don’t trigger properly. Characters or monsters who should appear, don’t. I genuinely can’t remember the last time I got soft-locked and forced to start over as frequently as I’ve had to here. And this is not a short game, either. It’s exasperating the game was released in this state.

Hammerwatch 2 is an interesting game that would probably be controversial enough on its own merits, but with frequent bugs of the worst sort and an interface clearly designed for computer users, it crosses the line into something I just can’t recommend in its current state. I actually enjoyed the game when it was working properly, but there are only so many times I can lose a dozen hours of progress before calling it a day. Maybe after a few patches this will be worth spending time with, but for now I’d avoid it.

SwitchArcade Score: 2.5/5

New Releases

Clue ($19.99)

Another adaptation of this classic board game from Marmalade Game Studio. This actually expands on the board game with some new features and content, and whether or not that’s a good thing is an exercise best left to the reader. Do note that it offers up a paid DLC expansion right from the get-go, in case you really want to dive into something new and different.

Unpogable ($7.50)

You play as a double-sided pogo stick creature, and need to make your way through a bunch of tricky platforming challenges to complete each stage. While there is a pre-built stage included here, the meat of the game comes from its procedurally-generated daily challenge stages. If you want more, you can also generate stages by feeding the game seeds. It seems amusing enough if you’re looking for an affordable platformer to get you through the next day or two.

The Bin Bunch

Cat Simulator ($14.99)

XMas Toy Merge ($2.99)

Super Kart Mini Car Race ($9.99)

Human Bowling ($0.99)

Gang Blast ($0.99)

Mystery Box: Escape The Room ($9.99)

Mystery Box: The Journey ($9.99)

Buddy & Friends: Santa’s Workshop Animal Party ($6.90)

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Small lists today, friends. Time Master and Venba are worth considering, and pinball fans with an open mind might enjoy Zombie Rollerz. Over in the outbox, Baba Is You is ending its latest extremely rare sale. Mortal Kombat 1 isn’t a very good time on Switch, but if you want it then you should at least get it discounted. Not much else in there, but give it all a look anyway.

Select New Sales

Time Master ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/3)
Venba ($11.24 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Divinity: Original Sin 2 ($24.99 from $49.99 until 1/8)
Port Royale 4 ($19.99 from $49.99 until 1/8)
BIT.TRIP Collection ($2.39 from $9.99 until 1/14)
Children of Silentown ($8.99 from $19.99 until 1/15)
Wildcat Gun Machine ($2.24 from $14.99 until 1/15)
Unrailed ($4.79 from $19.99 until 1/15)
Godlike Burger ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/15)
Warpips ($3.79 from $19.99 until 1/15)
Life of Delta ($7.99 from $19.99 until 1/15)
Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes ($2.84 from $14.99 until 1/15)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, December 27th

Baba Is You ($10.50 from $15.00 until 12/27)
Darkwood ($4.49 from $14.99 until 12/27)
Mortal Kombat 1 ($41.99 from $69.99 until 12/27)
Once Upon a Jester ($5.99 from $14.99 until 12/27)
Q Remastered ($2.72 from $6.80 until 12/27)
RiMS Racing ($4.99 from $49.99 until 12/27)
Super Toy Cars Offroad ($4.99 from $19.99 until 12/27)
Sword of Glory ($1.99 from $14.99 until 12/27)
Winds of Change ($5.99 from $19.99 until 12/27)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with more reviews, some new releases, plus whatever sales and news roll in during the next twenty-four hours. We’re rolling out our end-of-year lists now, starting with Mikhail’s. I recommend checking them out to see if there are any cool games in there that might be to your liking. I hope you all have a terrific Tuesday, and as always, thanks for reading!

The best Steam Deck games of 2023 across different genres and categories

Best action game on Steam Deck in 2023

Hi-Fi Rush

Runner-Up: Armored Core VI

Hi-Fi Rush is a superlative blend of rhythm and action games with its brilliant aesthetic, excellent use of licensed and original music, and lovely characters like Korsica and more. I’ve played this too many times already, and it shines on Steam Deck. This one was close, but Armored Core VI just missed out on being the winner here. I adore both these games though.

Best action-adventure game on Steam Deck in 2023

Like a Dragon Gaiden

Runner-Up: Resident Evil 4 Remake

Despite being a budget-priced release bridging the gap between a few games in the series, Like a Dragon Gaiden is a brilliant experience for fans of Kazuma Kiryu, and it also shines with its plethora of side activities. Just like the category above, I wasn’t sure which would be the winner, but Like a Dragon Gaiden edges it out just by a hair. Resident Evil 4 Remake is Capcom’s best remake yet, and the best version of Resident Evil 4 by far.

Best adventure game on Steam Deck in 2023

A Space for the Unbound

Runner-Up: Coffee Talk 2

I ended up liking A Space for the Unbound, and its storytelling quite a bit when I played it on Switch and Steam Deck. While a few of the gameplay portions in the middle dragged a bit too much, A Space for the Unbound is one of the best narrative driven indie games I’ve played. Despite not having been to Indonesia which inspires the setting, the storytelling, characters, and atmosphere all felt perfect. Coffee Talk 2 also delivered a fantastic narrative, but I feel like it didn’t do enough to feel new compared to A Space for the Unbound.

Best puzzle game on Steam Deck in 2023

The Talos Principle 2

Runner-Up: Cocoon

The Talos Principle 2 and Cocoon are both superb puzzle games, but the former just edged a victory for managing to surpass its predecessor in every way while costing less. I still feel like there’s a catch, but The Talos Principle 2 is just that damn good, and it will be a puzzle game people talk about for years to come. Cocoon nailed its concepts and is a strong contender for the best of the best, but I ended up liking Talos more.

Best action RPG on Steam Deck in 2023

Fate/Samurai Remnant

Runner-Up: Remnant II

I promise I didn’t include both of these here just because of the names. Fate/Samurai Remnant not only is the best game based on Fate, but it is one of Omega Force’s best action RPGs yet. Even if you’re new to Fate, this one is worth grabbing, and it was a joy to play it on Steam Deck, the best portable version. I loved Remnant II, but it falls short a bit on Steam Deck and even on consoles. It is a bit too demanding on all formats. Barring that, I loved my time with it, and can’t wait to try the DLC when I’m able to.

Best DRPG on Steam Deck in 2023

Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society

Runner-Up: Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection

Some might think it is blasphemy to give the award to anything but Etrian Odyssey, but here we are. I’m sure I’ve played and own more versions of Etrian Odyssey than most people, but Labyrinth of Galleria was just too good on all fronts. If this was a new Etrian Odyssey release, things might have been harder, but for now, I recommend grabbing both, but definitely prioritizing Labyrinth of Galleria if you want a quality dungeon crawler.

Best CRPG on Steam Deck in 2023

Baldur’s Gate 3

Runner-Up: Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader

Baldur’s Gate 3 was obviously going to win here, but I feel like this category was a bit unfair to Rogue Trader. I love Owlcat’s games, but Rogue Trader just isn’t as polished as Baldur’s Gate 3 right now. I find Baldur’s Gate 3 more approachable as well. The bottom line is both of these are fantastic CRPGs barring a few issues, but Baldur’s Gate 3 just feels like a once in a generation experience right now. I hope Rogue Trader can improve a bit more, and I’ll go into detail about why it is worth your time in the near future in my review.

Best JRPG on Steam Deck in 2023

Octopath Traveler II

Runner-Up: The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie

Both of these games are essentials for JRPG fans, but Octopath Traveler II edges out the victory for improving on its predecessor in every way while being Square Enix’s best JRPG since the PS2 era. Trails into Reverie is the same tier for Trails fans, but not as much for newcomers. Trails into Reverie does shine with its superb PC conversion that makes it the best platform to play the game on.

Best SRPG on Steam Deck in 2023

Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless

Runner-Up: Persona 5 Tactica

Disgaea 7 took the base laid by Disgaea 6 and finally delivered a game worthy of the Disgaea franchise. It is over the top, insane, and addictive. Persona 5 Tactica feels like a long lost 3DS game rebuilt for modern platforms, and a fantastic first SRPG Persona game.

Best strategy game on Steam Deck in 2023

Age of Wonders 4

Runner-Up: Railgrade

I didn’t play Railgrade when it was on Epic, but got around to it on Steam Deck after it got Steam Deck Verified and the wait was worth it. I love train games and Railgrade is superb. Age of Wonders 4 from Triumph and Paradox wins by just a margin thanks to its more polished gameplay. I know both aren’t exactly comparable, but Age of Wonders 4 even without its DLC made a strong showing this year.

Best simulation game on Steam Deck in 2023

Dave the Diver

Runner-Up: Luck be a Landlord

Dave the Diver is a dangerous game that I almost deleted because I kept playing it on Switch and Steam Deck. I ended up adoring it, the restaurant management, diving, and the hilarious cut-scenes. Luck be a Landlord is an addictive slot machine simulator that is worth playing despite that description. Dave the Diver is best on Steam Deck, and while Luck be a Landlord plays well there, I would grab it on mobile if you have the option.

Best farming game on Steam Deck in 2023

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life

Runner-Up: Fae Farm

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is a remake of the original game for all modern platforms including Steam Deck. I don’t know why Valve has marked it as unsupported because it ran fine for me whenever I played it. Fae Farm feels like a lovely game inspired by Story of Seasons with its own charm. A Wonderful Life may not have all the features, but it is a more polished and charming experience. Fae Farm with all DLC will likely be close, but right now it is a bit short of Story of Seasons.

Best cross genre game on Steam Deck in 2023

Mosa Lina

Runner-Up:Affogato

Another category where I kept flip flopping on which to have as runner-up. I finally decided on Mosa Lina (puzzles, platforming, adventures, and more) for doing more with its genre blending, and delivering an unforgettable experience. I’m glad someone I follow posted about this because it is worth going into blind and is super worth its low asking price. Affogato similarly blends genres I love like JRPGs, barista simulation, and more together to be one of the better indies of 2023.

Best racing game on Steam Deck in 2023

Hot Wheels Unleashed 2: Turbocharged

Runner-Up: Disney Speedstorm

Hot Wheels Unleashed was a lot of fun, and I didn’t think we’d get a sequel this soon. If you played the original a lot, this might not hit as hard, but I’ve enjoyed it quite a bit. Disney Speedstorm from Gameloft might be one of the better kart racers with a combat focus. While it isn’t as nice as Dreamlight Valley, Gameloft did a good job here. While we don’t usually do “most disappointing" awards for any category, nothing in gaming has disappointed me more in 2023 than Forza Motorsport.

Best sports game on Steam Deck in 2023

Subpar Pool

Runner-Up: AEW Fight Forever

Blending pool and golf together ended up working out really well in Subpar Pool. While I played it most on iPhone and iPad, Subpar Pool on Steam is worth playing for those who don’t want to play on mobile, and it plays great on Steam Deck. AEW Fight Forever feels like a long lost wrestling game from many years ago resurrected for modern platforms and I mean that in the best possible way.

Best digital board game on Steam Deck in 2023

Wingspan: Oceania Expansion

Runner-Up: NA

Wingspan’s Oceania Expansion finally hit the digital version from Monster Couch, and I love it. I’ve slowly been playing it and seeing how the game balance has been changed, but I think this is an essential expansion to an already amazing adaptation. I still need to write my full review, but have loved the Oceania Expansion additions and changes on iOS and Steam Deck so far.

Best deckbuilder game on Steam Deck in 2023

Phantom Rose 2 Sapphire

Runner-Up: Marvel Snap

Marvel Snap finally got a proper interface for PC and Steam Deck this year after feeling like it was just a mobile game being played before. It is our runner-up while Phantom Rose 2 Sapphire, a surprise for me, is the winner. I didn’t even know about this series until I got sent a code for this release, and I love the aesthetic and gameplay. This is definitely worth trying if you’re looking for something new in the genre, and it even had a huge update release recently.

Best horror game on Steam Deck in 2023

Paranormasight

Runner-Up: Little Goody Two Shoes

Both the winner and runner-up in this category are from Square Enix. Paranormasight is one of the publisher’s most interesting and unique releases in years in its narrative, while Little Goody Two Shoes is a fantastic indie horror adventure game that I adored playing. Both of these are on multiple platforms as well so grab them anywhere, but please play them.

Best Vampire Survivors-like on Steam Deck in 2023

Halls of Torment

Runner-Up: Death Must Die

Vampire Survivors continues to improve and bring in more quality content while being in my daily rotation, but the many games that have been released following it are now getting better as well. Halls of Torment is like Vampire Survivors meets Diablo, and it plays brilliantly on Steam Deck. Death Must Die, our runner-up, is in early access right now, and it is already shaping up to be a special hack and slash roguelite that brings in elements from Hades as well.

Best party game on Steam Deck in 2023

KarmaZoo

Runner-Up: Party Animals

KarmaZoo from Devolver is a hilarious co-op platformer where you can solve puzzles, play as dozens of unique characters, and more as you try and help others. It is our winner for the best party game to play on Steam Deck in 2023. Party Animals is a flawed but hilarious game to play with friends that is held back by some awful maps and control issues. It is still worth checking out, but likely will be better in a few updates.

Best citybuilder game on Steam Deck in 2023

Against the Storm

Runner-Up: Terra Nil

I discovered Against the Storm when I saw a lot of people on my Steam friends list buying it. I had no idea it existed, but it exploded in popularity when it launched on Steam a few weeks ago. I didn’t buy it then because it didn’t play well on Steam Deck, but a recent update added controller support and saw it getting Steam Deck Verified. I’ve been addicted to the dark fantasy citybuilder since then. Our runner-up is Terra Nil, a reverse citybuilder meets puzzle game about transforming a barren world into a gorgeous living and breathing ecosystem.

Best fighting game on Steam Deck in 2023

Street Fighter 6

Runner-Up: Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising

Street Fighter 6 is Capcom’s best fighting game since Third Strike, and one of the best overall packages we’ve ever seen in the genre with its robust singleplayer modes, flawless online, and gorgeous aesthetic. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising fixes every issue the original game had, and it is only our runner-up and not winner by a hair at this point. Both of these are stupidly good fighters, but Street Fighter 6 is our winner.

Best metroidvania game on Steam Deck in 2023

TEVI

Runner-Up: YOHANE THE PARHELION -BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE-

TEVI from the Rabi Ribi developer is just too good in its current state. Just like Rabi Ribi, the developer went above and beyond with this release to deliver one of the best metroidvanias in many years. Inti Creates YOHANE THE PARHELION -BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE- is our runner-up because while it is very well-made, it lacks the oomph I need from Inti Creates releases. It might hit the same highs after an update or two.

Best platformer game on Steam Deck in 2023

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk

Runner-Up: Sonic Origins Plus and Superstars

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk is stylish, fun to play, and perfect on Steam Deck. Team Reptile delivered a superb and polished experience from start to finish with brilliant music here. Get it. Our runner-up is a combination of Sonic Origins Plus and Sonic Superstars. The former because it was actually fixed this year in a free update, and the latter because a new 2D Sonic is excellent, but it has a few annoying issues holding it back. I’m confident in Superstars improving with updates if it gets the support Sonic Frontiers got.

Best visual novel on Steam Deck in 2023

Slay the Princess

Runner-Up: Videoverse

My favorite visual novels of 2023 are Slay the Princess and Anonymous;Code. The latter doesn’t work properly on Steam Deck despite what Valve says unless you do this. The former is a game you should go into with as little prior knowledge as possible. Just know that the hype is worth it and I won’t say more. Slay the princess. The runner-up is Videoverse, a game that will hit hard for a few folks but not others. The ones that do resonate with it, like myself, will think about it for a long time. This one is essential if you grew up with the early days of the internet.

Best multiplayer game on Steam Deck in 2023

Exoprimal

Runner-Up: Lords of the Fallen

Exoprimal has a lot of potential, but Capcom hasn’t managed fixing the opening hours of the experience or adding cross platform parties. Barring those two, I love the time I put into it with friends and randoms on Steam Deck and PS5 where I’ve made the most progress through the game’s story and other modes. Lords of the Fallen needs a bit more work in its optimization, but the multiplayer has been a joy on Steam Deck. Grab it if you want a new big budget soulslike.

Best former EGS exclusive on Steam Deck in 2023

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

Runner-Up: Darkest Dungeon 2

This is one of the more fun categories here. But this is my feature and I’m a do things my way (or the highway). Speaking of my way, Stranger of Paradise hit Steam this year following its launch on consoles and Epic Games Store last year. It is a fantastic blend of Final Fantasy and Team Ninja action game goodness with a lot of heart. Darkest Dungeon 2 almost missed this list, but the recent update with full Steam Deck support made it well worth recommending.

Best console port on Steam Deck in 2023

Dragon Quest Treasures

Runner-Up: We Love Katamari Reroll + Royal Reverie

Dragon Quest Treasures on Steam Deck is a massive upgrade over its Switch release from last year with performance and visual upgrades across the board. Including We Love Katamari Reroll here is kind of cheating, but it deserves a slot as a remake of the best Katamari game that shines on Steam Deck.

Best remake on Steam Deck in 2023

Live A Live

Runner-Up: Dead Space

Live A Live’s remake in the Octopath Traveler HD 2D aesthetic hit Switch last year, but it was released on Steam and PS5 this year with big visual and performance upgrades. It is a stunning remake and an essential JRPG. Dead Space’s remake not only delivered a stellar remake, but it runs and looks shockingly good on Steam Deck.

Best game not on Steam that I wish was on Steam Deck in 2023

Theatrhythm Final Bar Line

Runner-Up: Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince

I played and loved both of these on Switch and also played Theatrhythm Final Bar Line on PS4 again. I have a feeling both of them will hit Steam at some point, but for now they are the best games from this year that I wish were on Steam Deck.

Best game I wish ran better on Steam Deck in 2023

Wild Hearts

Runner-Up: Starfield

Wild Hearts from Koei Tecmo is the first proper hunting game that could’ve been competition for Monster Hunter. It sadly was let down by bad marketing and an awful PC port. Everything else was great. I hope Koei Tecmo gives it another shot in the future because I like it more than most Monster Hunter base games. It runs beyond abysmally on Steam Deck. Starfield is the first modern Bethesda Game Studios release that wasn’t a buggy mess or just boring to play like Fallout 4. I hope Starfield can improve its super bad load times and performance on Steam Deck because I think it has a lot of potential.

Best ongoing game on Steam Deck in 2023

Final Fantasy XIV

Runner-Up: Vampire Survivors

I’m putting Final Fantasy XIV here because I spent a ton of time playing Heavensward and its updates this year after finally reaching the expansion before. It got a few notable patches this year, but I didn’t get to experience that story content yet. I did enjoy playing it a ton on Steam Deck though. Vampire Survivors has gotten its amazing Adventures update this year, and is our runner-up as best ongoing game.

Best game DLC or expansion on Steam Deck in 2023

Resident Evil 4 Separate Ways

Runner-Up: Dusk HD

Resident Evil 4 Remake is amazing, and Resident Evil 4 Remake DLC where you play as Ada Wong is exactly what I wanted. Separate Ways over delivered in its quality and value for its asking price, and it is essential and our best DLC of 2023. The runner-up is Dusk HD, a free HD remaster of New Blood’s masterpiece.

Best boomer shooter on Steam Deck in 2023

Turbo Overkill

Runner-Up: Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengance of the Slayer

Turbo Overkill got its full release this year, and it has sublime movement, chainsaw action, amazing music, and is just a fantastic game overall. It is our best boomer shooter with the runner-up being Slayers X. Slayers X is the most 90s thing ever. More than MTV. That’s all you need to know.

Best shoot ’em up on Steam Deck in 2023

Graze Counter GM

Runner-Up: Ray’z Arcade Chronology

A friend of mine recommended I check out Graze Counter GM, and I’m glad he did. I ended up loving the bullet hell shoot ’em up that forces you to take risks in its gameplay. It has a lovely aesthetic, and I’ve gone back to it often. The runner up is Ray’z Arcade Chronology that came to Steam this year following its PS4 and Switch release. M2 never misses and this was a lovely package to discover Taito’s Ray series.

Best monster collecting game on Steam Deck in 2023

Cassette Beasts

Runner-Up: Dragon Quest Treasures

Both Cassette Beasts and Dragon Quest Treasures on Steam Deck were amazing games. The former in particular does everything better than the genre leader, and it even had a pretty good DLC release. Dragon Quest Treasures, while not as focused on the monster collecting aspect as DQ Monsters, is still a fantastic experience on Steam Deck. If you’ve been a Pokemon fan looking for a more polished and modern experience, grab Cassette Beasts as soon as you can.

Best cooking game on Steam Deck in 2023

Venba and Thirsty Suitors

Runner-Up: Cook Serve Forever

I ended up loving both Venba and Thirsty Suitors for different reasons, but they excelled in making me think of the food I love. Venba even got me to improve my own idli making technique, and Thirsty Suitors was a fresh blend of a few genres with a lovely addition of cooking. I know this is cheating but it got you to read about two amazing games that showcase brilliant food so why not? The runner-up is Cook Serve Forever that is still in early access, but has the potential to be amazing. Right now, it just falls short a bit.

Best retro game collection on Steam Deck in 2023

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection

Runner-Up: The Making of Karateka

Capcom’s newest Mega Man collection is also one of its best ones, delivering a ton of quality content and introducing this side of Mega Man to me for the first time. Digital Eclipse’s first Gold Master Series release in The Making of Karateka is only held back by it being based on Karateka which is more of a curiosity than a game I enjoy replaying. It is our runner-up because Digital Eclipse did so much here, and I’m blindly going to buy every single Gold Master Series release from the team. It is that good.

Best game from 2022 we are still playing on Steam Deck in 2023

The King of Fighters XV

Runner-Up: PowerWash Simulator

This is a fun category because I’m still playing games from a few years ago. The King of Fighters XV got its final announced DLC and cross play this year making it even better. I enjoy playing it on all platforms, and while the new DLC characters are great, it is awesome to see the online so active whenever I try getting a match. I hope it gets more DLC. PowerWash would’ve been the winner here if the recent DLC didn’t disappoint compared to prior paid content. I have put in a ton of time into it though regardless this year.

Best fighting game character DLC on Steam Deck in 2023

Guilty Gear Strive – Elphelt Valentine

Runner-Up: Guilty Gear Strive – Johnny

Having played and enjoyed so many fighting games this year, there is no way I wasn’t going to do a separate category/genre for just fighting game DLC. This one was close between Elphelt and Johnny, but Elphelt has been more fun to play so she wins it. Johnny is the runner-up. Just Lean.

Best remaster on Steam Deck in 2023

Pocky and Rocky Reshrined

Runner-Up: Rise of the Triad Ludicrous Edition

Pocky and Rocky Reshrined hit PC and more-recently Xbox (through the XBOX ININvasion program) this year following its debut on PS4 and Switch. I loved it on Switch, and it has aged like the best wine in its Steam and Xbox Series X releases. Tengo Project did a superb job with this remixed remake remaster hybrid of a classic, and it is gorgeous. Rise of the Triad Ludicrous Edition brings a 90s classic to all current platforms with a stellar release that serves as a history lesson and a fantastic shooter.

Hopefully you enjoyed this slightly different take on our genre awards with many new fun genres and categories. I know Shaun’s Switch list will be a bit different, but I hope with so many genres and games listed, you find something you like here. Forgive me if a game wasn’t in the genre you’d place it in. What did you enjoy playing on Steam Deck this year, and have you found yourself trying out more games ever since you got a Steam Deck or a Steam Deck OLED? Thanks for reading!

TouchArcade (TA): Hi, thanks for giving us your time today. Can you let our readers know a little bit about yourself? And, per TouchArcade tradition, tell us your favorite pizza toppings?

Chris Fernholz (CF): Hi, and thank you for the chance to talk to you! Argonwood is based in Cologne, Germany, and was founded by my brother Manu and me (Chris) 5 years ago and we have been working on Rising Lords full-time since then. We have been supported by a few freelancers but Argonwood is a very small team nevertheless. We originally studied electrical engineering and sociology, but we have been programming and drawing all our lives. Creating games can be very time-consuming, the rest of the time we often spend with our families or playing games ourselves. Manu likes his pizza very basic, with cheese, tomatoes, and mozzarella. I recently found a new favorite with Hollandaise sauce and Kebab, but you can’t really eat this more than once a week.

TA: Can you give us the quick pitch for Rising Lords? What should our readers be excited for?

CF: Rising Lords is a medieval turn-based strategy game with elements from board and card games. The story campaign for Rising Lords is certainly the thing we are most excited about. It brings our core game elements together perfectly along with a deep story and great artwork reminiscent of the medieval ages. It’s the perfect single-player experience, but you can also play sandbox matches with other players or against AI. With simultaneous region management and building as well as tactical battles with a well-balanced unit counter system, terrain, skill cards, morale, and more, this is especially exciting to play with friends.

TA: I’ve seen the classic Lords of the Realm 2 cited as your main inspiration for this game, but can you tell us about any other inspirations?

CF: We have certainly taken some inspiration from many different genres and games that we have played for more than 30 years, even pen-and-paper games and board games like Heroquest and Chess. HOMM, the Total War series and Civilisation certainly had an influence when talking about PC games. As you already mentioned, the spiritual prequel is Lords of the Realm 2, although we completely changed many aspects — battles used to be real time for example.

TA: What were some of the challenges involved in bringing this game to the Nintendo Switch?

CF: Making the game ready for Nintendo Switch was certainly a challenge. There is the limited hardware of course, and we had to reshape and rewrite a lot of core functions to match that. Also, strategy games are usually played with a mouse. Nintendo Switch has the advantage of touch controls, but even without those we were able to work with snapping points so that you don’t have to play with a joystick as a mouse; instead can select the relevant items and figures with the D-Pad.

TA: Are there any new or exclusive elements in the Switch version of the game?

CF: No. we wanted to make sure that the experience is the same across all platforms. On the other hand, this also means that the Switch version has everything included that the other versions have as well.

TA: What are some of your current favorite games in the turn-based strategy genre?

CF: Although technically only half of it is turn-based, our long-time favorite for strategy games is the Total War series. Rome, Medieval, Shogun, Warhammer — you name it. A must-have for us is a working multiplayer though.

TA: What do you think is the coolest thing about Rising Lords?

CF: We think Rising Lords takes the best aspects from different strategy games and merges them on an accessible level. Region management, story campaign, tactical battles, multiplayer, and so on. Much larger games feature some of these aspects in greater detail, but others are often not very approachable or pretty basic. Another thing that most people adore a lot is our unique art style.

TA: What was the thinking behind that distinctive art style? Any particular inspirations there?

CF: The original idea was to make Rising Lords feel like a medieval board game. That is where Lewis Chessmen came into play and served as an inspiration for our units. Other elements are based on medieval tapestry artwork from this time period. The medieval and even the ancient world were a lot more colourful than people think! Colours fade over time, but Rising Lords brings them back to life.

TA: Can you tell us about something you wanted to include in the game that just couldn’t be done?

CF: One of the problems we had with the game and the long development time was that we included a lot more things than we originally planned. If there was one thing missing that we had considered at one point, it would be dedicated sea battles with ships.

TA: Thanks again for speaking with us! Do you have any other message you want to give to our readers? This is your free space to do so!

CF: In our opinion, there are not many strategy games available on Nintendo Switch. There are even fewer medieval turn-based games. Time to shake up some stagnant mechanics and try something different! Especially for those looking for a relaxing gaming experience, alone or with friends. We have created a whole new medieval world for everyone to explore, filled with heroic adventures and lovable characters.

Thanks again to Chris for answering our questions, and for Derek at Hound PR for facilitating. Rising Lords will be coming to Nintendo Switch on January 18th, 2024. We’ll likely be doing a review of the game, so do look forward to that when the time comes.

Square Enix will have events going on until the servers are shut down on February 29th though. The reason for the game shutting down is apparently because the team couldn’t maintain the experience going forward after delivering for two years. Dragon Quest Tact is free to play and if you’d like to try it before it shuts down, you can download Dragon Quest Tact on the App Store for iOS here and pre-register for it on Google Play for Android here. Check out the official English website here. Did you play Dragon Quest Tact since launch, and did you enjoy it?

Check out a screenshot of Ruan Mei in Honkai Star Rail version 1.6 from the App Store story below:

If you missed the recent 2.0 update news for the game, read this. I’m interested in seeing when the many visual improvements showcased with the iPhone 15 Pro event are released for the game. I assume they will be up with 2.0. If you’ve not gotten Honkai Star Rail yet, you can download it on the App Store for iOS here, on Google Play for Android here, and here on the Epic Games Store in addition to its regular PC version. Check it out here on PS5. Have you been playing Honkai Star Rail regularly since it launched on mobile, PC, and PS5?

Company of Heroes Collection

Company of Heroes Collection saw the beloved entry in the series hit consoles for the first time on Nintendo Switch. I was surprised at how good it felt with a controller. While it is still best on iPad, there’s no denying how good Company of Heroes feels on Switch thanks to Feral Interactive’s new release. I can’t wait to play the multiplayer when it arrives in 2024.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure

While many Falcom games hit Switch in middling conversions, The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure on Nintendo Switch is actually the gold standard of how an older JRPG should be brought to Nintendo’s hybrid system. It has massive improvements and upgrades over the PS4 version, and the developer even brought in features we’d only see in PC ports. This is the best console version of an essential JRPG.

Metroid Prime Remastered

Metroid Prime Remastered is an essential for every Nintendo Switch owner. It brings one of Nintendo’s best games ever to Switch in a brilliant conversion at a budget asking price. It almost feels too cheap for the quality on offer, and I hope we see Metroid Prime 2 and 3 also come to Switch like this. Go buy it now.

Persona 4 Golden

After Persona 5 Royal hit Switch with a few technical issues, I was a bit worried about Persona 4 Golden. Despite being based on the PS Vita release, we’ve seen some ports of games from weaker systems hit Switch in less than desirable conversions. Thankfully Persona 4 Golden sees one of the best JRPGs of all time get a stellar port on Switch. I have no complaints about this release barring it not having a physical release available to buy worldwide.

Red Dead Redemption

Even if you already played or own Red Dead Redemption on PlayStation 3 or Xbox, the Switch version is a fantastic release that is a joy to play on the go. The lack of gyro aiming is disappointing, but everything else is better than I expected given this is Red Dead Redemption‘s first ever re-release. This is the best portable version of Rockstar Games’ classic release, and a brilliant game in its own right.

Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection

It took many years, but Atlus’ most consistently great franchise returned with the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection on Switch and Steam earlier this year. The new HD remasters bring incredible games to Switch with quality of life features, visual enhancements, and more. They even support multiple input methods and are the best versions of the classic DS games. Atlus even added accessibility options to make them more approachable by newcomers to the genre.

Vampire Survivors

Vampire Survivors on Switch is everything I hoped for in a port and more. While it has some frame rate issues, which version of the game doesn’t at this point? Vampire Survivors is a perfect fit for Switch, and I can only hope we get updates on time for future content. That’s my only complaint with it right now. Otherwise, this will be your next obsession on Switch, and poncle needs to do a physical release with all DLC included in the future.

GrimGrimoire OnceMore

While most people know Vanillaware for Dragon’s Crown or 13 Sentinels, the developer’s 2007-released RTS game GrimGrimoire has always been worth playing. GrimGrimoire OnceMore, a remaster of it with new features, hit Switch and PlayStation this year in the West, and it is the best version of the game by far. It also got a superb Switch port offering the ability to play this Vanillaware classic on the go.

The King of Fighters XIII Global Match

I’m glad SNK finally brought The King of Fighters XIII to modern platforms with netcode that makes it actually worth playing online. Despite the few UI issues, The King of Fighters XIII Global Match on Switch is an easy recommendation as long as you don’t try playing it with the pitiful d-pad on the Joy-Cons. Hopefully this is the start of the modern SNK re-releases finally hitting Switch as well. If you’ve never played KOF13 before, this is the version to get.

Risk of Rain Returns

Risk of Rain Returns does enough to feel fresh, but manages to nail what I loved about the original with my rose tinted memories of it from back in the day. On Switch, performance isn’t perfect during the late-game, but everything else is superb. I’ve had a ton of fun playing it online and offline on both Switch and Steam Deck. This is how a classic indie game should be revived for modern platforms, and I hope it gets a physical release on Switch.

Bonus

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana

I included Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana as a bonus because it hasn’t been released in the West yet, and I played through it in Japanese. Ys: The Oath in Felghana is one of my favorite games of all time, and I’ve played it multiple times on PC and PS Vita over the years. I wasn’t going to wait for an English release for this one, so I grabbed it from the eShop to play. It is the definitive version of the game with rock solid performance, great visuals, and new features. I hope it comes to the West in 2024.

Each year more and more people kept convincing themselves that a Switch Pro would be releasing, and it is good to see many competent developers and publishers release quality ports, remakes, and remasters on the current Switch. I’m looking forward to see what 2024 has in store for the current Switch through re-releases and more. What do you want to see in 2024 and what were your favorite releases on Switch this year?

The best hidden gems on Steam Deck in 2023 – essential PC games you might have missed

Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines

Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines is a visual novel about procrastinating, projects, burgers, great characters, excellent art, and catchy music. While there is a benefit to knowing some of the characters through the hcnone’s (the developer and artist) work, it is still worth experiencing on its own if you like the art in the screenshots on Steam. If you’ve been looking for a new visual novel to chill with, this is it.

Air Twister

I enjoyed playing Air Twister on Apple Arcade, but I liked it even more on Steam Deck thanks to the ability to play it docked at 144hz with flawless performance. Don’t come into Air Twister expecting a massively innovative rail shooter though. it feels like a love letter to the best in the genre with its wild presentation, crazy soundtrack, and more. I hope we see more like this from Ys Net in the future.

RoboCop: Rogue City

RoboCop: Rogue City ended up being one of the biggest surprises of the year. Not only is it a great RoboCop game, but a damn fine and fun experience throughout. This one is an easy recommendation if you want a competent RoboCop game, and enjoyed the original movies. While Teyon delivered a good experience with its Terminator game, RoboCop: Rogue City is on a whole other level and a game I want to replay soon. It also was super fun to play on Steam Deck despite the visual cutbacks compared to PS5.

Crymachina

Furyu’s games usually do a few things well, but fail at others resulting in a middling package. With the Caligula games, I enjoyed them, but don’t really recommend them without big gameplay caveats. With Crymachina from Furyu and NIS America, I ended up liking the heartwarming narrative a lot, the visuals, the music, and the gameplay. I think this is Furyu’s best overall game yet, and is worth your time on Steam Deck for the best portable version of this action RPG.

Videoverse

While Videoverse might not hit as hard for you if you weren’t around back then, it absolutely delivered in making me think fondly of the past, and delivered a heartfelt story with the closest time capsule experience to the early 2000s internet there has ever been. I can’t wait to see what developer Kinmoku does next because this release has been special throughout. If the premise sounds interesting, just grab it. You won’t regret it.

Touhou Artificial Dream in Arcadia

Touhou Artificial Dream in Arcadia is an excellent dungeon crawler that will hit even harder if you’re familiar with Touhou or older Shin Megami Tensei games. If you aren’t familiar with either of those, it is still a superb old school experience that has been awesome to play on Steam Deck. Try out the demo on Steam if you aren’t sure it is for you.

Sanabi

I wasn’t sure whether to put Sanabi in the hidden gems list or the best games list, but considering I haven’t seen much coverage for it since launch, I decided to put it here. I didn’t get much time to play it around launch as I was waiting for the Switch version, but having finally played it on Steam Deck made me regret not jumping into the stylish platformer sooner. Come for the stylish action and stay for the emotional storytelling.

Moonring

Moonring is a fantasy turn-based retro RPG roguelike hybrid that I keep thinking about. I genuinely don’t know why it is free because it feels too good to even be priced low, let alone cost nothing. It has tons of enemies, bosses, dungeons, and great music. I’ve been wanting to write about it ever since a friend of mine recommended it, and I hope to be able to do more in 2024 with it. For now, download this immediately and play it. It is worth your time.

Lunacid

Lunacid finally left early access recently, and has been a great window into FromSoftware’s older games as a throwback to King’s Field by the developer. While this dungeon crawler is amazing in its own right and worth the asking price, it has not only made me a fan of developer Kira, but convinced me to eventually try more of FromSoftware’s older games.

Void Stranger

System Erasure released the awesome shoot ’em up Zero Ranger a while back, and it is excellent. When the developer announced and released Void Stranger, a friend of mine just told me to blindly buy it and play it without looking at much. It was good advice, and I think Void Stranger is one of the best games of the year. It is a lovely blend of puzzles, adventure games, and frustration. There’s nothing else like it.

Those are our picks for the best hidden games for the Steam Deck in 2023, but I’m curious what you played that you think more should know about. Have you got a game you want us or anyone else to play on Steam Deck that hasn’t been mentioned? Please let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

The Best Nintendo Switch Physical Releases of 2023

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie

NIS America continues to impress with its Trails standard releases on Switch and PlayStation. Trails into Reverie might not be an amazing experience on Switch compared to other platforms where it is top tier, but it is a massive JRPG that has been ported to Nintendo’s hybrid system intact. The physical standard release has a reversible cover, game on cartridge, bonus digital soundtrack code, and a small art booklet.

Dead Cells Return to Castlevania Edition

Dead Cells has gotten a few physical releases so far, but the Dead Cells Return to Castlevania Edition is notable for including all paid and free DLC on cartridge from the get go and having an amazing Castlevania-style reversible cover. Not only did it do a cool cover for Switch matching the original game, but the PS5 edition I also got aims for a cover themed after Symphony of the Night. They really went the extra mile for this physical release. It is still available quite readily if you want the best current version of Dead Cells and the superb Return to Castlevania DLC together.

Rune Factory 3 Special

Xseed Games and Marvelous’ Rune Factory 3 Special includes the game on cartridge, reversible art, and a booklet. The publisher also did a lovely limited edition, but the standard editions Xseed Games releases put most limited editions to shame. This also had a budget price.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure

Another Trails game? I almost included three Trails games on this list because NIS America absolutely nailed the physical releases. That game was The Legend of Nayuta, but I opted to include Trails to Azure here. It has a similar physical release to Trails into Reverie, but it completes one of the best duologies in gaming (Trails from Zero), and the Switch version is the best way to play it on console. It has the full game on cartridge, reversible cover, digital soundtrack code, and an art booklet.

Sea of Stars (Japan import)

I wasn’t going to wait till 2024 for Sea of Stars to get a local physical release, so I grabbed the Japanese release with English support a few weeks ago. This has the game on cartridge, acrylic stands, the soundtrack on CD, art cards, and more. It also somehow costs less than the standard game does on the eShop.

Ib and Drainus (Japan import)

Playism’s releases of Ib and Drainus in Japan from earlier this year had excellent bonuses like an artbook or soundtrack included, but I wanted to highlight both of these because more people need to start looking at how easy it is to buy Switch physical games with English support from places like Amazon Japan or AmiAmi for a lot less than they’d cost to buy locally. Both Ib and Drainus are two of my favorite indie games of the year as well, and I love the physical releases I got.

Drainus (Non import)

Shaun wrote about Strictly Limited Games’ recent sale already, but this version of Drainus is also quite cool. If you haven’t already figured it out, you need to play Drainus if you enjoy shmups, and I’m glad it got 2 lovely physical editions. This one is also available to buy from Strictly Limited Games, but the game hasn’t gotten a North American physical release yet if you were wondering.

Silent Hope

Silent Hope feels like a hidden gem right now given its bad release timing, but I’ve enjoyed dipping in and out of it ever since finishing it for review on Steam Deck and Switch. The Switch physical is called the Day One Edition. It has a booklet, game on cartridge, soundtrack, outer box, and reverse art for the standard case.

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life

The Story of Seasons franchise has had quite a resurgence on Switch and other platforms lately, but Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is the best entry point available on modern platforms. The physical release from Xseed Games and Marvelous has the usual booklet, reverse art, and game on cartridge, but the publisher even did a bit more for the limited edition bundle pictured below. I really wish we either had more physical games released through Xseed Games, or had other publishers putting as much effort as they do.

Red Dead Redemption and Fashion Dreamer*

Red Dead Redemption’s physical release isn’t special compared to everything else on this list in its physical contents, but it is notable because Rockstar Games and Nintendo (they handled the physical release distribution) shipped a complete game on cartridge with no download required. The GTA release also handled by Nintendo at retail required a download just like LA Noire did a few years ago. Red Dead Redemption is a polished port that shipped complete on cartridge and is worth highlighting just for that. You might think this is a low bar, but we see too many publishers cheap out for retail releases on Switch time and time again.

Speaking of Nintendo handling distribution, Nintendo of America handled the retail release for Marvelous and Xseed Games’ Fashion Dreamer. This is notable because syn Sophia developed Fashion Dreamer and the developer previously did Nintendo’s Style Savvy games. Fashion Dreamer is basically a spiritual successor to Style Savvy in many ways. The downside to Nintendo distributing is that we didn’t end up getting a booklet like we do in Xseed Games and Marvelous’ other releases above. This is included here more to let readers know that Nintendo does handle physical releases for games they don’t publish once in a while. I do wish Fashion Dreamer got a nice booklet or poster as a bonus though.

Cuphead – Superdeluxe Games (Japan)

Last year, I featured Cuphead’s physical release because it was a lovely standard edition release with reversible art, DLC on cartridge, collectible art cards, and more from iam8bit. This year, I grabbed Superdeluxe Games’ Cuphead release from Japan, and I’m floored at how good the first print edition is. It includes a lovely soundtrack package in a hardcover case with artwork from the legendary Yoshitaka Amano, a premium outer slipcase, magazine included, and a trading card. Some of this might not still be available, but I was glad I could get this before it sold out.

Bonus: The Worst Switch Physical Release of 2023

METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol. 1

While I love the METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol. 1 even with its flaws, the Switch physical release is embarrassing. It is just one step above having a code in box. You need to download just about everything, and it takes up a ton of space as you can see from the back of the case above. With everything installed, the games included take up 12.7GB (MGS1), 12.4GB (Bonus Content), 12.3GB (MGS2), 618MB (MG and MG2) and 17.8GB (MGS3). Obviously this wouldn’t fit on a 32GB cartridge either, but Konami could have at least included one complete game from the big ones on a cartridge given this was selling for $59.99.

With 2023 done and 2024 likely being the last year for the Switch before things move to the successor, I want to know what you thought of the Switch library this year across digital and physical releases. It feels like we are getting more physical releases than ever before despite many people claiming physical media is dead. With many interesting ports and retail releases, what were your favorite releases of the year and did you grab any of the physical releases highlighted in this feature?

(Special thanks to my friend @thoraxes for help with photographs for Silent Hope, Rune Factory 3 Special, Fashion Dreamer, and Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life.)

New Releases

Trash Punk ($9.99)

Ironic that one of the few games not heading to the hefty Bin Bunch today would have the word ‘trash’ in its title. Not that you can expect anything fancy here. It’s a top-down twin-stick shooter where you’re playing as a punk… I want to say possum? Seems like a possum. Anyway, that’s what it is. Not trash, and today that counts as an accomplishment.

Bloopy & Droopy ($4.99)

Thirty stages, five bosses, two characters you can swap between, all dressed up in a Game Boy-style aesthetic. This has five-dollar Switch platformer written all over it, and it’s a lucky day for us because that is the price it’s going for.

Poppy Playtime: Chapter 1 ($4.99)

Explore an abandoned toy factory filled with vengeful killer toys in this horror adventure. This feels like an enormous ill-advised venture, but I suppose if the foolish protagonist had a shred of common sense we wouldn’t have much of a game here. You use some weird contraption with grabby hands to solve puzzles, which is the main gimmick in play here. This has been enormously successful on other platforms and I’ve little doubt it will find an audience on Switch.

Tanuki Sunset ($16.99)

Don’t mind the slightly misleading screenshot I picked. This is an endless runner style game where you play as a raccoon named Tanuki (like naming a human Gorilla I guess) who is longboarding across scenes that look like they gorged on the 1980s and barfed it all out. Not bad as these kinds of things go. Auto-runners that is, not raccoon longboarding games. I don’t have a baseline for the latter. Anyway, I’d recommend going and looking at a video of it. The game has been out for years on other platforms, after all. If you like what you see, then by all means.

Masarada Town Story ($10.00)

Rebuild a dying town by filling out a museum to attract tourists. You’ll do that by heading into the mines and digging up cool treasures. As you play, the town will slowly expand and attract new denizens who in turn might open up their own businesses. This doesn’t look particularly special for what it is, but it also doesn’t look like it’s dropping the ball significantly either.

Party Friends ($7.99)

Well, it’s a party game. Twenty or so minigames that can be enjoyed with up to four players via local multiplayer. Normally I just send people in the direction of Mario Party for this kind of thing, but the price on this one is fair enough for what you get that I won’t fully recommend people stay away from it.

The Bin Bunch

Kebab Bar Tycoon ($5.99)

Light-It Up ($4.99)

Pocket Foosball ($5.99)

Fashion World ($5.99)

Bowling Fever ($9.99)

Pocket Quest ($7.99)

Space Papers: Planet’s Border ($7.99)

Nothing to Declare ($4.99)

My Life: Farm Vet ($29.99)

Sherlock Holmes – The Hunt for Moriarty ($19.99)

3in1 Game Collection: Backgammon + Checkers + Mills ($19.99)

My Bakery Empire ($7.99)

Truckzilla – Monster Truck Mega Ramp ($11.99)

Hard Racing: Stunt Car Driving ($4.99)

Cute Critters Pet Kitty ($5.99)

Milk Seller ($9.99)

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

A few decent games in the inbox today, and a couple decent ones in the outbox. I’m not going to go into as much detail today so as to have a little time to myself, so feel free to check those lists on your own.

Select New Sales

CounterAttack: Uprising ($8.99 from $14.99 until 12/30)
The Long Gate ($3.74 from $14.99 until 1/1)
Born of Bread ($23.99 from $29.99 until 1/2)
Gunbrick: Reloaded ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/2)
Bomb Chicken ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/2)
Knight Squad 2 ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Garden Guardian ($3.49 from $4.99 until 1/6)
Rice Bowl Restaurant ($2.99 from $14.99 until 1/6)
Swoon! Earth Escape ($5.99 from $29.99 until 1/6)
Pipeline Panic ($2.99 form $14.99 until 1/6)
Draknek & Friends Puzzle Bundle ($37.49 from $74.99 until 1/7)
Cosmic Express ($3.74 from $14.99 until 1/7)
Sokobond ($3.74 from $14.99 until 1/7)
A Good Snowman is Hard to Build ($3.74 from $14.99 until 1/7)

Bonfire Peaks Complete Edition ($20.99 from $29.99 until 1/7)
Freak Crossing ($3.49 from $4.99 until 1/7)
My Heart Grows Fonder ($6.69 from $9.99 until 1/8)
Army of Ruin ($5.99 from $7.99 until 1/8)
Flashout 3 ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/8)
Ziggurat 2 ($14.99 from $24.99 until 1/8)
Running Fable ($3.99 from $7.99 until 1/9)
Livestream 2 ($21.24 from $24.99 until 1/12)
Murtop ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/12)
Donut Dodo ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/12)
Sentry City ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/12)
Galacticon ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/12)
Colored Effects ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/12)
Hero Survival ($3.49 from $4.99 until 1/13)
ALTF4 ($3.89 from $5.99 until 1/13)
Dorfromantik ($13.49 from $14.99 until 1/13)
Earthshine ($3.49 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Fusion Paradox ($6.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
2021: Moon Escape ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/14)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, December 26th

Alicia Griffith: Lakeside Murder ($2.99 from $14.99 until 12/26)
ASMR Slicing ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/26)
Assault Suits Valken Declassified ($9.99 from $24.99 until 12/26)
Astro Miner ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/26)
Big Adventure: Trip to Europe ($2.39 from $11.99 until 12/26)
Big Adventure: Trip to Europe 2 ($2.99 from $14.99 until 12/26)
Big Adventure: Trip to Europe 3 ($2.99 from $14.99 until 12/26)
Blade of Darkness ($2.99 from $14.99 until 12/26)
Brightstone Mysteries: Paranormal Hotel ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/26)
Brightstone Mysteries: The Others ($2.99 from $14.99 until 12/26)
Car Driving School Simulator ($1.99 from $15.99 until 12/26)
Chippy&Noppo ($14.99 from $19.99 until 12/26)
City Bus Driving Simulator ($1.99 from $13.99 until 12/26)
City Driving Simulator ($1.99 from $13.99 until 12/26)
City Driving Simulator 2 ($1.99 from $13.99 until 12/26)

Cooking Festival ($1.99 from $10.99 until 12/26)
Detective Agency: Gray Tie ($2.99 from $14.99 until 12/26)
Detective Agency: Gray Tie 2 ($8.99 from $14.99 until 12/26)
Idle Zoo Park ($5.99 from $9.99 until 12/26)
Match Ventures 2 ($2.39 from $11.99 until 12/26)
Monster Truck Arena ($1.99 from $13.99 until 12/26)
My Lovely Pets ($2.99 from $14.99 until 12/26)
Raft Life ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/26)
So Much Stuff ($5.99 from $14.99 until 12/26)
Street Racing: Tokyo Rush ($1.99 from $13.99 until 12/26)
Tricky Traps ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/26)
Truck Simulator 2 ($1.99 from $13.99 until 12/26)
Truck Simulator 3 ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/26)

That’s all for today, friends. I’ll be back tomorrow with a more usual sort of article. That means reviews, new releases, sales, and so on. We’ll also start rolling out our end-of-year coverage starting today, so be on the lookout for that. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and/or happy holiday, and as always, thanks for reading!

Tiny Wings, $1.99 Let’s give out the coveted UMMSotW award right away, shall we? After all, it’s a day of giving. And this update certainly gives, friends. There are more than one hundred new birds to unlock, fifteen new missions to complete, some revised AI for the Flight School, and a lot of visual improvements. Oh, and if you feel like giving the developer a few more bucks on top of the two bucks you paid fifteen years ago or whatever, you can buy a special bird as IAP. Yes, I will give you that three dollars, Andreas. Even if it was just a tip.

Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go, So far, Samba de Amigo Party-to-Go‘s updates have been going the way I’d hoped they would. There’s a new mode here in the form of the World Challenge, where you compete with others worldwide on three different songs every week. There are some new songs here, too. BTS’ Dynamite, Reach for the Stars (Re-Colors) from the recent Sonic Colors remake, and World New Year – Funky Party Mix. And while you’re getting funky, why not check out the new Space Channel 5 customization items? They’re just part of the fifty new customization items you can make use of. There are a few other bits and bobs here, but those are the highlights.

Super Mario Run, Free Super Mario Run doesn’t get updates or events often, but I suppose if ever there was an occasion to do so Super Mario Bros. Wonder‘s release would be it. For a limited time, Wonder Flowers might appear while you’re playing Toad Rally. Grab one and things will get… not as wild as they do in the real game, but there will be Gold Goombas all over the place. Take them out and you’ll fill out a stamp card that will give some prizes when it’s complete. Yeah, that’s fine. That will bring me back for a little while at least.

Sneaky Sasquatch, Would you trust your health to a sasquatch? If you answered no, then you’ve got more sense than the folks in this game. The latest update adds a hospital where you can do your doctor’s duty as you see fit, plus an ambulance you can drive if you feel like doing the paramedic thing instead. You also get some new music and other little tweaks, plus one big change to the gameplay mechanics: the sasquatch can now be hurt. Be careful out there!

Temple Run: Puzzle Adventure, I’m not really keeping track of such things this week, but if one wants to count something as the obligatory free-to-play matching puzzle game update this week, one could perhaps count this despite it being in Apple Arcade. This update offers up a new Mirror Story, complete with fifty new puzzles to play. There are also some updated Tournaments to challenge. Something to do, at least.

Crossy Road Castle, Oh, this is one of those updates that adds something significant that can be described with very few words, which always leaves me in a pickle in terms of making the paragraph big enough to not mess with the site’s formatting. Usually in these cases I do a little exposition before talking about the update, and it all works out. Crossy Road Castle now has an ultra-difficult mode called Rainbow Rift, and it absolutely is not fooling around. Kind of nice to see such a zesty new challenge to tackle.

The Oregon Trail, This is a robust update for The Oregon Trail, and I’m always happy to see new stuff in this game. We get full-on party customization in this version, which means that whenever you start a new Journey you can set up your party exactly the way you like. You can even name them. That’s fun. You can also choose traits, and those can have a wide array of consequences. So, you know, be careful which ones you go for. There are also some improvements to the UI with regards to food consumption. I’d imagine some bug fixes and other adjustments are in here too, as they always tend to be.

Goat Simulator+, This Christmas update to the Apple Arcade version of Goat Simulator is functionally fairly similar to the Halloween update. You get a level from one of the many spin-off games, this time the Winter level from MMO, and can go looking for some special collectibles in it to unlock a new goat. Cool Goat, in this case. And that’s probably fine, as Goat Simulator is more or less a finished game at this point. Anything along the lines of these limited events are purely a bonus.

Brawl Stars, Free Okay, this might be older than a week. I’m using it anyway. This update seeds events from now until February, so not all of it will be available from the hop. There are new Brawlers, new Hypercharges, a fresh Brawl Pass, and a whole lot more. Lots of free goodies to score if you keep checking in, but that’s how the free-to-play thing usually goes. Still, it’s a fun game and if you’re enjoying it anyway you might as well score the freebies.

Genshin Impact, Free And we’ll end things today with a look at the latest update for Genshin Impact. The Roses and Muskets update adds two new characters in the form of Navia and Chevreuse, some new events to take part in, a new Story Quest to complete, and of course some new weapons to play around with. There’s also a new Domain, the Crumbling Assembly. I do wonder how some of the recent changes in Chinese law are going to hit this game, but I suppose that’s beyond the scope of this article so I will leave it there.

That about wraps it up for last week’s significant updates. I’m sure I’ve missed some, though, so please feel free to comment below and let everyone know if you think something should be mentioned. As usual, major updates will likely get their own news stories throughout this week, and I’ll be back next Monday to summarize and fill in the blanks. Have a great week!

Backbone x Kojima Productions. Dropping January 2024. pic.twitter.com/ukVgKfroYq

— Backbone (@backbone) December 22, 2023

If you’ve not kept up with Backbone lately, read my interview with Backbone CEO Maneet Khaira about the updated controllers, customer feedback, subscriptions, and more here. The current universal Backbone USB-C edition has new magnetic adapters and other improvements. Details for the available models are here. If you do use the controller, make sure to try the Backbone App (Free). I’m still working on covering the new 2023 USB-C model with my iPhone 15 Pro, but you can read my thoughts on the lightning model of the Backbone One PlayStation Edition for iPhone here. What do you think of this limited edition Death Stranding Director’s Cut Backbone controller?

Given that I am removed from all that drama of the original Definitive Edition launch, all I can say is: Wow! These enhanced versions are excellent. Now these three games, even being two decades old, are huge games, and I’m only a handful of hours into a replay of GTA III, and have only poked my head around Vice City and the massive San Andreas. So it’s very possible that I’ll come across some of that “bad stuff" people were up in arms about with these versions somewhere down the line. But just on a base level, and having redownloaded the original mobile versions of all three GTA games to compare, it’s easy to appreciate all the little quality of life improvements these new releases have. From the more modern control schemes to the modern-style mini-map and so much more, playing the Definitive Versions of these games makes it hard to go back to the originals, even if they are still incredibly solid ports for the time they were released.

Let me talk about Classic Lighting. It’s “on" by default, and the games look fantastic. Super moody and super atmospheric, especially at night, even if things are a bit too dark at times. If you turn the Classic Lighting to “off" then it looks like an almost entirely different game. It’s most noticeable at night, and doesn’t look TOO bad during the day, but holy moly does the game look like crap with Classic Lighting turned off. I just don’t understand why anyone would want it that way? And honestly, if this truly is a feature only found in these new mobile releases, I can see why everyone is still so down on the Definitive Editions on other platforms. I would straight up not play these games if there was no option to turn Classic Lighting on, it’s that important to the whole feel of the game. Our pal Mikhail offers up some comparison shots of both lighting options in his review of GTA Vice City – Definitive.

Everything else aside, I’m just having a blast revisiting these classic games. I’ve replayed all three as they were released on mobile over the years, but that was a long time ago now, and since then I’ve only ever dipped into these games on occasion to cause some open world mischief. Prior to that I don’t believe I’ve played through and completed the stories of each since their original PlayStation 2 releases approximately half my lifetime ago. So this is just fun. I’m happy to have modern-feeling versions of these classics, and while the majority of my time playing has been spent using the Backbone controller I’ve also popped in when I didn’t have that handy and played with the touch controls which are actually quite serviceable. Perhaps best of all is that all three titles are available for free to anyone with a Netflix subscription, and even if you aren’t a subscriber there’s regular standalone paid versions for $19.99 apiece.

New Releases

Moorhuhn Invasion – Crazy Chicken Invasion ($6.99)

There are lots of different kinds of Moorhuhn games, but it all started with a chicken shooting gallery game. This is another one of those, I suppose with a UFO/invader theme. Shoot as many chickens as you can in a minute and a half, try to uncover secrets, get the highest score possible, and then do it all again. Reasonably priced for your chicken blasting needs.

Synthetic Lover ($24.99)

A visual novel where the protagonist is a synthetic humanoid designed for the specific task of working in an adult entertainment center called Dollhouse. It’s set in the year 2066, which I guess shows where the yardstick is now for “far enough in the future for things to be pretty different, but not so far that it’s unrecognizable". Anyway, make your choices and arrive at multiple endings with two possible love interests. The usual business, really.

ONE. ($69.99)

Before the legendary visual novel team Key was founded, many of its important staff members worked at a company called Tactics. It mostly made adult visual novel games, and its most famous was the 1998 release One: Kagayaku Kisetsu e. It tells the tale of a young man who is slowly disappearing into another world and can only anchor himself in reality by forming a solid connection with others. In this case, the others are cute young ladies. That’s how it goes, I guess. This is an enhanced remake of that game, naturally with the saucy scenes removed, and I believe it represents the first official English release of One. Gosh, that pricing though. Over on Steam it is releasing today at $19.99. Well, unless you are here in Japan, where it is releasing on Steam at the approximate equivalent of $69.99. Which I suppose explains this Switch price. I think it’s a hard sell at this price. A very hard sell. It’s not even that long of a game, clocking in at under ten hours. Do what you will.

Dungeons & Doomknights ($19.99)

This is an emulated version of a somewhat recent release for the NES. It’s an action-adventure game with top-down and side-scrolling bits, and it seems to have been rather well-received when it came out in actual cartridge form a few years back. It’s always nice to see these games make their way to modern platforms for those who aren’t into keeping their old consoles around and maintained.

B.O.O.L: Master Labyrinth Puzzles ($19.99)

Pretty much a selection of sliding block puzzles. You know, like the ice puzzles in the Zelda games. Try to get the box to the exit in more than one hundred and twenty stages. You have a limited number of moves, and there are a fair number of gimmicks and obstacles that should keep things spicy. The price feels a bit high for what you get here, but if you love this type of puzzle and don’t need fancy production values, you might enjoy it.

Jinshin ($14.99)

Got time for one more KEMCO/EXE-CREATE joint before the end of the year? The theme of this one is ancient Japan with a fantasy twist, but otherwise it’s incredibly familiar if you’ve played any of this developer’s RPGs before. Maybe the somewhat uncommon theme is enough to sway you.

The Bin Bunch

Christmas Bubble Puzzle ($9.99)

Roman Empire Simulator ($14.99)

Military Combat Shooter Desert War ($6.99)

Dungeon Defence Simulator 2024 ($14.99)

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

The Holiday Hits sale is on from today, and that means there are thousands of new sales to look at. I’ve made up a separate article with our favorite picks, but I’ll throw in a few more here to get you started. This list is nowhere near comprehensive. Check the eShop and your wishlist to see if the games you’re looking for are discounted, because they very well may be.

Select New Sales

Rakuen: Deluxe Edition ($19.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)
MythForce ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Cult of the Lamb: Cultist Edition ($17.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Sonic Superstars ($41.99 from $59.99 until 1/4)
DUSK ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Return to Monkey Island ($14.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Unpacking ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Pizza Possum ($5.59 from $6.99 until 1/4)
It Takes Two ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective ($19.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Sifu ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line ($29.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
Diablo III Eternal Collection ($19.79 from $59.99 until 1/4)
Nobody Saves The World ($9.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Rogue Legacy 2 ($14.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)

Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration ($27.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Romancing SaGa 2 ($4.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)
NEO: The World Ends With You ($23.99 from $59.99 until 1/4)
Tactics Ogre: Reborn ($24.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa ($23.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion ($29.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection ($47.99 from $79.99 until 1/4)
Kingdom Eighties ($8.99 from $11.99 until 1/4)
Akka Arrh ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Doraemon Story of Seasons ($9.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
Axiom Verge ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk ($31.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & Secret Hideout ($23.99 from $59.99 until 1/4)
DC’s Justice League Cosmic Chaos ($13.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Oxenfree II: Lost Signals ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)

Voice of Cards Trilogy ($34.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
Firewatch ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
AEW Fight Forever Elite Edition ($63.99 from $79.99 until 1/4)
Jack Jeanne ($39.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
Gloomhaven: Gold Edition ($39.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
Klonoa: Phantasy Reverie Series ($9.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Samba de Amigo: Party Central ($23.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
DOOM 2016 ($7.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Andro Dunos II ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Banner of the Maid ($4.24 from $16.99 until 1/4)
Valkyria Chronicles ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Wonder Boy Asha in Monster World ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection ($24.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)
The Rumble Fish 2 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Super Bomberman R 2 ($34.99 from $49.99 until 1/4)

Star Renegades ($6.24 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Among Us ($3.00 from $5.00 until 1/4)
Chained Echoes ($18.74 from $24.99 until 1/5)
CrossCode ($5.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Spelunky ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/5)
Spelunky 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Curse Crackers: For Whom the Belle Toils ($9.00 from $15.00 until 1/5)
Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition ($29.99 from $59.99 until 1/6)
Red Dead Redemption ($34.99 from $49.99 until 1/6)
LEGO 2K Drive ($19.79 from $59.99 until 1/6)
Adore ($13.99 from $19.99 until 1/11)
Oceanhorn 2 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/11)
Shakedown Hawaii ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/11)

Sales Ending This Holiday Weekend

Cats and the Other Lives ($16.99 from $19.99 until 12/23)
Elderand ($9.99 from $19.99 until 12/23)
The Unexpected Quest ($2.25 from $15.00 until 12/23)
Titanium Hound ($10.50 from $15.00 until 12/23)
Batora: Lost Haven ($9.99 from $24.99 until 12/24)
Before We Leave ($3.99 from $19.99 until 12/24)
Going Under ($3.99 from $19.99 until 12/24)
Greak: Memories of Azur ($3.99 from $19.99 until 12/24)
Narita Boy ($2.49 from $24.99 until 12/24)
The Escapists: GotY Edition ($4.04 from $26.99 until 12/24)
The Survivalists: Deluxe ($2.69 from $26.99 until 12/24)
Thymesia: Cloud Version ($14.99 from $29.99 until 12/24)
Worms Rumble: Digital Deluxe ($2.19 from $21.99 until 12/24)

Yoku’s Island Express ($3.99 from $19.99 until 12/24)
A Short Tale ($2.99 from $5.99 until 12/25)
Age of Sokoban ($2.09 from $2.99 until 12/25)
Alone Music ($3.49 from $4.99 until 12/25)
Astebros ($9.09 from $12.99 until 12/25)
Ferris Mueller’s Day Off ($2.99 from $5.99 until 12/25)
FX Unit Yuki ($6.29 from $8.99 until 12/25)
Jigsaw Tetra ($3.49 from $4.99 until 12/25)
Minepull ($2.09 from $2.99 until 12/25)
Octopath Traveler II ($41.99 from $59.99 until 12/25)
Retro Space Fighter ($3.49 from $4.99 until 12/25)
Snow Madness ($2.09 from $2.99 until 12/25)
Super Cyborg ($2.09 from $6.99 until 12/25)
The Forgotten Room ($2.99 from $5.99 until 12/25)
Veritas ($5.99 from $11.99 until 12/25)

That’s all for today and this week, friends. We’ll be back next Tuesday to resume the regular articles, and we’ll probably have some kind of Christmas treat for you on Monday. I hope everyone who celebrates it has a Merry Christmas, and to everyone else, enjoy the long weekend! As always, thanks for reading!

Steam Deck Game Impressions & Reviews

Custom Mech Wars Steam Deck Review

When D3 Publisher announced Custom Mech Wars, I thought it would be an interesting game I’d likely need to import on PS5 eventually. I didn’t expect a localization, but was glad to see it confirmed for a global worldwide release on not only PS5, but also Steam. I love D3 Publisher’s Earth Defense Force games, and Custom Mech Wars felt like it channeled some of EDF with a blend of Gundam Breaker. Could Custom Mech Wars deliver on the addictive gameplay loop from those games while delivering in deep mech customization? The answer is mostly yes, with some caveats.

The narrative in Custom Mech Wars is pretty standard stuff. It gets the job done, but you’re here for the loop of going into a mission, taking down mechs, getting new parts, customizing your mech, and getting to the next one. You can also opt for higher difficulties to get better rewards. There are drops you collect for either parts or buffs as well. I know the dev team isn’t mentioned in any marketing material, but I’d be shocked if this wasn’t the EDF team or at least them involved in a big part of Custom Mech Wars.

One of the highlights of Custom Mech Wars is the sheer nonsense you can do with customization. You can make the funniest mechs possible, and still be a war machine. This plays a big part of the gameplay loop, and I imagine the game won’t hit as hard for folks who just want well-designed missions with a story focus. I think Custom Mech Wars complements Armored Core VI really well this year. While it isn’t as polished or fun, I enjoyed my time with Custom Mech Wars on PS5 quite a bit, and have loved revisiting missions on the go on Steam Deck even before the recent patch hit. This patch fixed the audio not working on SteamOS. Barring that, there’s nothing you need to do to play Custom Mech Wars on Steam Deck. It just works, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it get Verified soon. It just needs a demo since I don’t think many will take a chance on it right now, and it will be easier to recommend once it gets a price cut or has the DLC included in the base price.

On Steam Deck, Custom Mech Wars allows you to change resolution (720p, 1080p, and 4K), frame rate target (60fps or uncapped), toggle anti-aliasing, adjust shadow quality, adjust texture quality, toggle motion blur, toggle fog, and toggle SSAO. When playing on the Deck itself, it shows Xbox button prompts. Using my DualSense controller shows PlayStation prompts correctly. The performance isn’t perfect, but it isn’t even perfect on PS5 based on what I’ve played. I would recommend turning a few things down to aim for 60fps with drops. Just like in EDF, I didn’t bother going for a locked frame rate here. If you enjoy EDF games, you know what to expect. I do wish the load times were a bit better though.

While the lack of an English dub isn’t a dealbreaker for me in most games, I’m not a fan of the constant flow of dialogue during missions because I want to focus on the gameplay and not reading subtitles. This reminds me of how Koei Tecmo’s Warriors games are with important information constrained to subtitles during missions. If the game had English voices here, I could just focus on the mission at hand, combat, and enemies. The Earth Defense Force games are good about this.

In its current state, I feel like Custom Mech Wars should’ve been priced a bit lower or have the EDF DLC included in its asking price. The missions and enemies don’t get as crazy as that, but for a game focused on customization and mechs like the name suggests, it does the job well. I’ve enjoyed playing it quite a bit on PS5 and Steam Deck. With the latest update, the audio issues are also finally fixed on Steam Deck, and I recommend getting it if you are a fan of Earth Defense Force style gameplay, mechs, and customization.

Custom Mech Wars Steam Deck review score: 3.5/5

Double Dragon Advance and Super Double Dragon Steam Deck Review

I was initially going to do separate reviews for Arc System Works’ recent releases of Double Dragon Advance and Super Double Dragon on PC and consoles, but having spent a few weeks with both of them, I have similar thoughts so I’m doing a combined review. Having only played the original trilogy years ago, I hadn’t actually tried these two games until Arc System Works released them on PC, Switch, and PS4 worldwide as new ports.

Double Dragon Advance launched in 2003 on the GBA as a remake of the original game, but this release also featured things from future entries and ports. It feels like a remixed remake in ways, and it has been excellent playing it for the first time through this PC release. If you’ve played the original 1987 game many times, this will be a surprisingly good experience, and if you’re new to the game like I was, it will feel like a trip down Double Dragon memory lane. While I am happy to see the co-op feature included here, the lack of Remote Play Together hurts though.

Super Double Dragon released in 1992 on the SNES, and it feels pretty bad to play compared to other entries I’ve tried. The speed is sluggish, and I’m glad there’s an option to adjust the game speed without having any audio affected here. This version of Super Double Dragon on PC, PS4, and Switch also includes Return of Double Dragon that feels like a much better game overall. Playing more of Return of Double Dragon reminded me of how different platforms sometimes had completely different takes on a game. As a curiosity, this has been worth the purchase, but it also ended up impressing me once I dug into it more.

While they both run without issues on Steam Deck, the lack of Steam Cloud support and the game speed tied to monitor refresh rate is disappointing. On the Deck itself, the 60hz target or cap is fine, but when I played on my 144hz monitor, I couldn’t cap the frame rate in-game at all, so both games ran too fast. I hope this can be fixed in an update. I’d also love for higher resolution support since both games are capped at 1080p.

Double Dragon Advance and Super Double Dragon are both worth buying at the low asking price individually to play on Steam Deck, but I hope the few PC-specific issues can be addressed in updates. Right now they are both good on Steam Deck, but will have issues if you play on your PC or dock the Steam Deck on a high refresh rate display like I do.

Super Double Dragon Steam Deck review score: 3.5/5

Double Dragon Advance Steam Deck review score: 3.5/5

SteamWorld Build Steam Deck Impressions

Shaun recently reviewed SteamWorld Build on Switch, and I also wanted to cover how it is on Steam Deck. He already went into detail about the game itself, but if you’re curious about how it plays and looks on Steam Deck, read on.

As a huge fan of the SteamWorld games, SteamWorld Build has been an interesting and different experience. It isn’t what I wanted from the series, so I was quite disappointed when it was revealed. Having played it, I’m glad I gave it a chance. It feels like a perfect blend of the charm of SteamWorld with a genre I didn’t think it could fit into. It also happens to play almost perfectly on Steam Deck.

SteamWorld Build on PC lets you toggle button prompts between Xbox and PlayStation, adjust frame rate target, resolution, v-sync, texture quality, shadow quality, depth of field, LOD quality, ambient occlusion, bloom effects, and use a few quality presets for all the settings. I left everything on default barring the shadows which I turned down a bit, before trying to increase certain options. SteamWorld Build looks excellent and supports the Deck’s 16:10 aspect ratio.

If you were hoping to play SteamWorld Build on Steam Deck, barring some text and UI sizes being a bit too small on the device’s screen, I have no complaints with it. Once those are fixed, this will be the best version of the game by far. I just hope we don’t have to wait too long for the update.

Tekken 8 Demo Steam Deck Impressions

Since Tekken 8 is a current-generation console-only game, I was curious how it would look and run on Steam Deck. After Tekken 7 disappointed me in general, I’m glad that Tekken 8 seems to be going in the right direction based on the time I spent with it on the PS5 demo. Tekken 8 on Steam Deck is interesting. It checks the system when you boot it up and automatically adjusts settings, but I feel like the benchmark results are a bit conservative. Even after turning a few things up, I could get 60fps during matches which is all you need in a fighter. The one problem is some cut-scenes don’t have audio playback on Steam Deck right now. I tested on Proton Experimental (bleeding edge) and a few versions of GE with no luck. I hope this can be fixed for launch.

If you were hoping to play Tekken 8 on Steam Deck, download the free demo and see how it feels. I also recommend trying different upscaling methods from the settings, but not using FSR 1.0. Someone will no doubt do more testing and come up with the best Tekken 8 Steam Deck settings to use, and I’ll be trying different things out myself here in the demo and in the full game in a few weeks. I’m looking forward to playing more of the demo later this week.

News

Despite 2023 nearly wrapping up, there’s quite a bit of news to cover. I’ll begin with SEGA releasing character-focused trailers for one of my most-anticipated games of 2024, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. There are quite a few trailers up in the full playlist here, but I’ve linked the trailer for one of my favorite characters from Yakuza: Like a Dragon below:

Dark fantasy city builder Against the Storm has been exploding on Steam, and I recently grabbed it to play on Steam Deck with its new big update adding controller support and more for the platform.

Atlus had two bits of news and trailers this week. The first is a new behind the scenes video for the upcoming Steam Deck Verified RPG Persona 3 Reload. This one has the voices of Mitsuru, Akihiko, and more featured. Watch it below:

Atlus’ upcoming JRPG from 2024, Metaphor: ReFantazio has gotten new details and screenshots about its world, characters, and story. The highlight of this one is the combat system, but I’m interested to see how this team tackles new characters and a new IP after working on Persona for a while.

Bandai Namco Entertainment’s upcoming action RPG Sand Land based on the classic manga got a new gameplay trailer recently alongside a new dev diary. Watch the gameplay video below:

Cuisineer from BattleBrew Productions and XSEED Games got quite an interesting update this week. It lets you pause time in menus, has changes to the fridge, interface improvements, and new customers visiting during teatime.

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon added Ranked Matchmaking this week in its newest major update that also added new parts, new PvP maps, and more. Watch the trailer below:

Makaroll and Playism’s deckbuilding roguelike Phantom Rose 2 Sapphire got its first major content update this week bringing in a new game mode, skins, cards, balance adjustments, and more. I’ve been playing and enjoying this quite a bit on Steam Deck.

Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 1 hit PC and consoles a little while ago, and it had a few issues. Thankfully, Konami has begun addressing them, and fixed Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Version already on PC by allowing players to disable the ugly smoothing option. It looks crisp and as it should now.

About a day ago, Koei Tecmo released a huge update for Fate/Samurai Remnant with new difficulty levels, playable servants, and more.

New Steam Deck Verified & Playable games for the week

• Against the Storm – Verified
• Burnout Paradise Remastered – Playable
• Capcom Fighting Collection – Verified
• Cultist Simulator – Verified
• Cyber Knights: Flashpoint – Playable
• ENDLESS Dungeon – Verified
• FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS – Playable
• Football Manager 2024 – Playable
• Golf With Your Friends – Verified
• House Flipper 2 – Verified
• Inkulinati – Verified
• Last Train Home – Playable
• Layers of Fear – Verified
• Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 – Verified
• Pinball M – Playable
• Sonic Generations – Verified
• Spells & Secrets – Verified
• SWORD ART ONLINE Last Recollection – Playable
• Furi Demake – Verified
• TEVI – Playable
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition – Verified
• THE FINALS – Unsupported
• The Talos Principle 2 – Verified
• Valfaris: Mecha Therion – Verified
• Wayfinder – Playable
• Wizordum – Playable

Steam Deck Game Sales & Discounts

Yesterday, the big Steam Winter Sale 2023 began with tons of discounts. I already grabbed some games through the sale a few days ago that had City Connection’s shoot ’em ups and some games from Playism. Be sure to check out my best Steam Winter Sale 2023 Steam Deck game highlights feature on the site and your own wishlist on Steam for any new deals in there or in your discovery queue.

That’s all for this week’s edition. As usual, you can read all our past and future Steam Deck coverage here. If you have any feedback for this feature or what else you’d like to see us do around the Steam Deck, let us know in the comments below. I hope you all have a great day, and thanks for reading.

Chained Echoes ($18.74 from $24.99)

Chained Echoes remains one of the best surprises in recent years, and is my favorite throwback JRPG-style indie game. I love the music, story, gameplay, and pacing, and remain impressed at how much fun it is to go back to on multiple platforms for replays. Chained Echoes is a game that understands why people love JRPGs and delivers in spades. I have no hesitation in recommending it, and it is shockingly good for the asking price. I know there are loads of throwback JRPGs that just focus on the presentation and turn-based combat, but few manage to reach the absolute highs that Chained Echoes does. It is a damn fine experience that deserves its spot with the greats.

Elden Ring ($35.99 from $59.99)

Elden Ring is one of FromSoftware’s best games ever, and it is shockingly good on Steam Deck. The world, boss design, and immersion is incredible in Elden Ring, and it was worth more than full price. I liked it enough to buy it on all platforms, and it is an absolute steal at 40% off. While the gorgeous world is a sight to behold on a nice TV or monitor, I enjoyed dipping into it on the go thanks to the Steam Deck and can safely recommend it there.

Monster Hunter World Iceborne Master Edition ($19.78 from $59.98)

With Monster Hunter Wilds set for release in 2025, now is a great time to jump into the best Monster Hunter game alongside Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate with Monster Hunter World Iceborne Master Edition on Steam. This includes the base game and the superlative expansion together, and the game has been seeing an online resurgence on PC recently. If you’re new to the genre, there’s no better way to jump in, and the discount price makes it an even better deal than before.

Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition ($51.04 from $89.98)

Cyberpunk 2077 launched in a pretty rough state, but has been fixed since. It is one of those mind blowing things to see running on a Steam Deck, and the developers did a great job translating the open world RPG to Valve’s handheld. The Phantom Liberty expansion is icing on the cake with its narrative. If you held off on the game or own it on console, cross save and the discount now makes it an easy recommendation on Steam Deck.

Fate/Samurai Remnant ($44.99 from $59.99)

While Fate/Samurai Remnant doesn’t have a huge discount, it is one of my favorite games of 2023 across PS5 and Steam Deck. This is the first time it has been discounted on Steam, and is one of Koei Tecmo’s better games in recent years. If you’re new to the Fate franchise or a longtime fan, Fate/Samurai Remnant is excellent from start to finish, and it has been a joy replaying it recently. I can’t wait for the DLC to arrive in the future.

Persona 5 Royal ($29.99 from $59.99

Just like Elden Ring, I feel like Persona 5 Royal is the next game everyone I know has been playing on Steam Deck since it launched. I’ve played Persona 5 through its base release on PS4, then Persona 5 Royal on PS4, then Persona 5 Royal on Steam Deck and Switch. I love it, and this version of the game includes all prior paid DLC at no added cost. It also happens to be a great showcase for the Steam Deck OLED if you have one. Either way, Persona 5 Royal is best experienced on Steam Deck when looking at portables, and I can’t recommend it enough.

God of War ($24.99 from $49.99

Sony’s God of War hitting PC was still a huge deal, and it brought one of the platform holder’s best games ever to PC with a stellar conversion. It impressed me on replays on my laptop, but I adore it on Steam Deck. It also is the best way to sample one of the best PlayStation games ever on Steam Deck with its massive discount. Even if you played it on PS4 or PS5 before, the PC version is worth grabbing to replay on Steam Deck.

Diablo IV ($41.99 from $69.99)

I’ve written about how awesome Diablo IV is on Steam Deck a few times now, and the game has improved quite a bit since launching earlier this year. The only caveat is that it is an online-only game so keep that in mind if you want to play on the go outside your house. I usually tether my Steam Deck to my phone to play Diablo IV outside the house. With all of its updates and the awesome campaign, Diablo IV is worth your time, and the discount makes it well worth considering if you skipped it before. Diablo IV has full cross play and cross progression so you can even treat this like a way to play on the go while you play on your TV via console at home.

Divinity Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition ($13.49 from $44.99)

While everyone is likely obsessed with (for good reason) Baldur’s Gate 3 right now, Divinity Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition is an essential regardless of platform. I played it on every platform, and think it shines the most on a modern iPad or Steam Deck. It controls perfectly and even supports cross save with iPad and Switch on Steam. Divinity Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition might be one of the best RPGs of all time, and is Larian’s most polished release yet with all its updates and features. The asking price is too low to not buy right now.

Street Fighter 6 ($39.59 from $59.99)

Another Steam Deck feature, another mention for the best damn modern fighting game available today. I’m literally playing Street Fighter 6 right now. Well, I have it paused on my PS5 while I write this feature before getting back to it to play online. Street Fighter 6 is Capcom’s best fighting game since Third Strike, and a superlative package overall. It was always worth full price and shines on Steam Deck, but the discount gives me another excuse to get you to try it out. There’s a demo available if you want to see how it looks and runs before buying.

The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt Complete Edition ($12.49 from $49.99)

Despite Cyberpunk 2077 with Phantom Liberty being the new(ish) hotness, CDPR’s The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt is incredible, and I adored finally playing it on Switch and PC when it hit the platform. Since it has cross save, I brought my save to Steam Deck, and have found my favorite version of this masterpiece of an RPG. The Witcher 3 is a once in a generation experience that I recommend to everyone with all of its updates and DLC available right now.

HADES ($12.49 from $24.99)

Supergiant Games’ Transistor might be my favorite game from the studio, but HADES is close. The roguelike dungeon crawler has amazing gameplay, magnificent music, brilliant characters, and Supergiant’s signature style all over the place. It is an essential at full price, and has never been easier to recommend at its discount and with how good it plays on Steam Deck.

Vampire Survivors ($3.74 from $4.99)

Vampire Survivors should just be pre-loaded onto every Steam Deck by now, but it still hasn’t happened. The game is already really cheap and delivers immense value across the base game and all expansions, but now is a great time to get it all if you haven’t already. Vampire Survivors is the Steam Deck killer app despite being available on just about every platform. I can’t recommend it enough, and it is best on Steam Deck as well with full 16:10 support.

Octopath Traveler II ($41.99 from $59.99)

Octopath Traveler II is Square Enix’s best JRPG since the PS2 days with its stunning HD 2D aesthetic, amazing narrative, superlative music, and brilliant combat. It improved on just about everything from the original game, and is a completely standalone experience despite the name. This one has a demo as well, and you need to see how good it looks and feels on Steam Deck yourself. I liked this one enough to buy it on all platforms before, and I’m confident anyone who even has the remotest interest in turn-based RPGs will adore Octopath Traveler II.

No Man’s Sky ($29.99 from $59.99)

No Man’s Sky is the gift that keeps on giving, and it is a game I own and play on every platform. Just like Street Fighter 6, I’ll be recommending it every chance I get, because it is that good, and continues to improve with each content update. While the launch state of the game wasn’t ideal, it now has at least three or four games worth of quality content, and is one of the most relaxing games available. I jump into it a few times a week and have it installed on every platform. On the portable side, it shines on Steam Deck, and is worth grabbing.

Hi-Fi Rush ($22.49 from $29.99)

Tango Gameworks’ Hi-Fi Rush is a game I haven’t stopped thinking about since finishing it back in January. It feels like an all-timer, and I’ve played it multiple times across Steam Deck and Xbox Series X since launch. If you enjoy action games and rhythm games, Hi-Fi Rush will be your new obsession. Get it now.

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles ($15.99 from $39.99)

Capcom’s Ace Attorney franchise is legendary, and I always enjoy revisiting the games across ports. Out of all of them, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is my favorite, and one of Capcom’s best releases in years. This duology should basically be considered the best single adventure game release in terms of quality and value in ages, and is the best entry point into Ace Attorney. It is amazing regardless of where you play it, and it shines on a portable. Grab it on Steam Deck and Switch while you, like me, wait for an iPad version.

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania Bundle ($20.23 from $34.98)

Dead Cells with its Return to Castlevania expansion hit all platforms, but the game remains best on Steam Deck thanks to it getting updates first, and also because it has literally no issues on the system. Every other version has some sort of performance issue or a caveat. Dead Cells on Steam Deck is perfect, and is more than worth full price. With its discount now, you owe it to yourself to grab one of the greats.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero ($29.99) and Trails to Azure ($35.99)

While the PC platform has Trails in the Sky, the best entry point, the modern ports of Trails from Zero and Azure together form my favorite duology ever in RPGs, and these two serve as another fantastic entry point into this amazing JRPG series from Falcom with their superb stories, memorable characters, brilliant music, and more. Out of all versions of these games across platforms, Steam Deck and Switch are the best ways to play these two Falcom masterpieces.

Pentiment ($13.39 from $19.99)

While most people love Obsidian Entertainment for games like Fallout New Vegas or the amazing Pillars of Eternity, the historical narrative-driven Pentiment is my favorite by far. It has a stunning aesthetic, great music, and superb storytelling. It also feels perfect on Steam Deck, and I can’t imagine playing it on another platform now. Make sure to read my lengthy interview about Pentiment with the legendary Josh Sawyer here. This one’s beyond special.

Bonus

The Yakuza Collection Bundle ($42.00 from $139.93)

I promise I’m not just including this to convince Jared to start playing the games, but with Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (the 8th mainline game) arriving next month, now is a great time to stock up on prior games if you don’t have them. The Yakuza Collection Bundle includes Yakuza 0 (the best entry point), Yakuza Kiwami (a remake of Yakuza 1), Yakuza Kiwami 2 (a remake of Yakuza 2), Yakuza 3,4,5 (remastered), and Yakuza 6: The Song of Life (best on PC) for a very low asking price. You obviously won’t be able to beat them all by next month, but let this serve as a reminder to consider getting into SEGA’s best franchise. Yes, I don’t regret saying that.

As usual, you can read all our past and future Steam Deck coverage here. If you have any feedback for this feature or what else you’d like to see us do around the Steam Deck, let us know in the comments below. I hope you all have a great day, and thanks for reading.

Metroid Dread ($41.99 from $59.99)

While I wouldn’t call Metroid Dread my favorite game in the series, it hangs comfortably with the rest of the 2D entries. Given just how good that particular run of games is, I believe that speaks volumes. It takes a lot of risks in service of creating its specific feel, but as long as you’re okay with having conventions challenged within a conventional framework, this should be an easy pick-up. I mean, it’s Metroid. It’s almost as safe as it gets.

Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection ($29.99 from $59.99)

Capcom has done right by the Mega Man Battle Network games with this collection for the most part. If you have happy memories of these games, you’ll likely be happy to revisit them again. The extras are welcome, though I think Capcom could have gone further here with things like save states or the ability to turn off random encounters. It’s great to see some of the lesser-tapped veins of the Blue Bomber’s history get a reissue, and you really can’t argue with the value in terms of how much there is to play here. Worth the pick-up for fans of Mega Man or RPGs alike.

Nintendo Switch Sports ($27.99 from $39.99)

It’s been a minute or two since Wii Sports rocked the gaming world with its simple, accessible motion control gameplay. Things have changed a lot since then, but I think we can all still have a bit of fun with motion controlled bowling. You get that here, along with five other sports. Soccer, volleyball, bowling, tennis, badminton, and chambara, and golf are the sports this time around. Attach those Joy-Con straps, find your TV’s warranty card, and get ready to party like it’s 2006. Play local multiplayer for up to four players, or hop online for some one-on-one. Definitely a fun one to play with family members over the holidays.

Trombone Champ ($8.99 from $14.99)

Barring some minor hiccups in performance, Trombone Champ is a true champ on Switch. It perfectly suits the system and the multiple control options, and is a joy to play. I know this year has been great for quality game releases, but if you own a Switch and want to try something interesting when it comes to music games, Trombone Champ is exactly what you need. -Mikhail Madnani

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury ($39.99 from $59.99)

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury offers up two experiences in one package. One is a spiffed-up port of the Wii U Super Mario 3D World, an excellent platformer that is a blast to play in multiplayer. The other is the all-new Bowser’s Fury, a shorter and more experimental take on 3D Mario that has you earning Shines in a continuous open world. Being able to play with a friend or three helps this stand out among the other 3D Mario choices on Switch. Plenty of fun at a good price.

Batman: Arkham Trilogy ($42.99 from $59.99)

There’s no two ways around it: the port of Batman: Arkham Knight included in this collection is nothing short of disastrous. I wouldn’t call it completely unplayable, but even for someone like me who can overlook a lot of technical problems, it’s a doozy. But you know what? The other two games included here have been ported excellently, and with this sale in place I think it’s a more than fair deal just to have those games on your Switch.

Super Mario Maker 2 ($39.99 from $59.99)

With Super Mario Bros. Wonder around, it’s easy to forget about this great little sandbox. Make your own 2D Mario levels in a variety of styles, upload them for others to play, and download the levels made by others to try. You get a lot of interesting elements to play around with, allowing for a massive variety of stages to be created. If you’re into making things, you’ll get hours upon hours of entertainment. If not? Well, you don’t have to make levels to have a good time with the ones others have made, and there’s a rather substantial selection available. Worth having in the library, for sure.

EA Sports FC 24 ($29.99 from $59.99)

This is a big step for Electronic Arts, as it steps free of the FIFA license for the first time in a few decades. It’s also a big step for this series on Switch, as we didn’t get a hand-me-down or Legacy Edition this time. This is a proper Frostbite Engine modern EA Sports soccer game, with full feature and content parity with other versions. The only drawback is that the game runs at 30 fps now instead of 60 fps like the Legacy Editions, but it’s a small sacrifice in exchange for what you get here.

Undertale ($10.04 from $14.99)

Do I really need to write anything about Undertale at this point? I’m sure there are a few of you who haven’t played it, but I have to assume you have reasons not to have done so by now. Well, if one of those reasons was that you felt it was more of a ten-dollar game than a fifteen-dollar one, here you go. I personally consider this an essential game, and believe me when I say I went into it expecting to dislike it. I haven’t been won over so hard in a long time. Maybe it will win you over too?

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut ($13.99 from $39.99)

Disco Elysium – The Final Cut is a superlative RPG that I consider at par with Divinity Original Sin 2 and now Nintendo Switch owners get to experience both of these top tier RPGs on the go or at home. If you held off on buying Disco Elysium – The Final Cut on other platforms to get it on Nintendo Switch, your wait has been mostly worth it. Disco Elysium – The Final Cut has been adapted to the Switch really well with smart compromises and great tweaks to the interface and controls. My concerns about the UI and text were all put to rest after I launched it and played for an hour. A great version of the game. -Mikhail Madnani

Chicory: A Colorful Tale ($9.99 from $19.99)

This is a cute top-down adventure game set in a coloring book world. You can paint on everything. Cool. It even has support for touch controls. The story goes that superstar artist Chicory has gone missing and took all of the world’s color with her. You’re her number one fan, and you take it upon yourself to fill in for her. Use your painting abilities to solve puzzles, pick up new abilities to open new paths, and customize your character’s appearance as you see fit. You can play on your own or pull in a friend for some local co-op. This is a very good game. Pick it up if you like very good games.

Meg’s Monster ($11.24 from $14.99)

Meg’s Monster is a fantastic narrative experience. While it’s not the most mechanically rich RPG around, it’s not really trying to be. It’s here to tell a story, and it does so wonderfully. The characters are memorable, the plot is engaging, the presentation is sublime, and it’s on the whole just a hard thing to dislike at all. I haven’t been on an emotional roller coaster like this one in a while, and I’d handily recommend it to anyone looking for a touching story to play.

Dave the Diver ($15.99 from $19.99)

Dave the Diver is an amazing game. I’m shocked at how well it keeps up its pacing of unlocks and new missions throughout its two dozen or so hours of runtime, and there’s just so much to do. I never got tired of playing it, but I hope future patches can address the long load times on Switch. Barring that, Dave the Diver is top tier, and essential for Nintendo Switch. -Mikhail Madnani

Vampire Survivors ($4.49 from $4.99)

Vampire Survivors on Switch is everything I hoped for in a port and more. While it has some frame rate issues, which version of the game doesn’t at this point? If you somehow haven’t played it through its Xbox, mobile, or PC release, this is it. Vampire Survivors is a perfect fit for Switch, and absolutely worth buying. -Mikhail Madnani

Sea of Stars ($31.49 from $34.99)

While I think the writing could use some serious editing and the game doesn’t quite nail its pacing, those things are easily forgiven by how well it does just about everything else. Sea of Stars fits in nicely with other indie RPGs like Cosmic Star Heroine and Chained Echoes, serving both as a high-quality traditional turn-based RPG experience and a display of genuine affection for the greats of the genre.

Hades ($12.49 from $24.99)

It’s not a massive surprise when Supergiant Games puts out a great game, but even by the usual standards Hades is something special. With superb action, an excellent metagame, outstanding writing, and all-around slick visuals and audio, this is a game that’s easy to fall in love with no matter how you usually feel about rogue-inspired games. The way Hades weaves together its mechanics and story genuinely drives you to keep on coming back again and again until you finally win. It’s hard to say whether the gameplay or the narrative elements are more important for driving this game’s appeal, but we don’t have to choose, do we? Of course we don’t.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 ($29.99 from $49.99)

I feel like this game didn’t hit with quite the same impact the first one did, but if you love Super Smash Bros. and want a decent alternative, this series remains a solid choice. There are twenty-five characters drawn from various Nickelodeon-owned properties including the likes of Korra, Garfield, Jimmy Neutron, SpongeBob, Danny Phantom, Ren & Stimpy, and more. In terms of gameplay modes you get more options in this sequel, including a fairly robust single-player mode. You’ll have to overlook some performance issues on Switch, but as long as you’re okay with that you’ll have some fun here.

PowerWash Simulator ($19.99 from $24.99)

PowerWash Simulator is a very good conversion for Switch. The only downside is the long load times. Barring that, it is a fantastic way to experience PowerWash Simulator, and a perfect fit for portable play. The DLC only helps extend the fun, especially the two large free expansions. Out of all the “Simulator" games on the eShop, this one is special. –Mikhail Madnani

Persona 5 Tactica ($44.99 from $59.99)

Persona 5 Tactica ended up surprising me in a good way. I initially thought it would be a throwaway story like Persona Dancing or Arena games, but it is so much more. While it doesn’t reach the highs of Persona 5 Strikers even for music, Persona 5 Tactica is an excellent addition to any Persona 5 fan’s library. Just don’t bother getting it if you haven’t played that game yet. -Mikhail Madnani

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 ($47.99 from $59.99)

I think Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 could have been better than it is, particularly with regards to performance and game options. Still, when I take what is in front of me for what it is, it’s an easy title to recommend. You get a bunch of absolutely top-tier games to play and some really cool extra materials to dig through. Sure, there isn’t much new here for people who have played these games before. But for those craving Metal Gear on the go, or those who somehow haven’t dug into these titles in the past, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is a fantastic value.

Naturally, there are many other games on sale right now on the Nintendo Switch eShop. If you’ve had your eye on any particular games, it might behoove you to pop onto the eShop and see if they’re also on sale. Happy shopping everyone, and as always, thanks for reading!

Let’s go over the nerfs first so that we can end on a happier note. The biggest of the bunch is Professor X. He’s a great ace to have up your sleeve, given he can completely close down a location and score you a decisive win. His ability isn’t changing, but his stats are. Charles gets out of our heads by moving from 5-Cost 3-Power to 5-Cost 1-Power. You can still use him the same way, but you’re not going to be able to count on his power to give you the win for the spot.

The next nerf comes for the relatively recently added, and extremely powerful, Werewolf by Night. He’s definitely become the shining the star of the Bloodstone cards with the way he can build power quickly. Like Professor X, his ability remains unchanged. His stats have been adjusted, however, making him a 4-Cost 4-Power card instead of a 3-Cost 3-Power card. This delays his entry into the game and also moves him out of the Surfer Squad. Looks like Brood’s back on the menu, kids!

Black Widow gets a mixed change. It feels more like a nerf than a buff but it isn’t fully one-sided. Her stats change from 2-Cost 1-Power to 3-Cost 3-Power. On the one hand, she now packs a little bit of a punch appropriate to her cost. On the other hand, it’s harder to play her multiple times now, so you won’t be able to trigger her effect so often. On the third hand, she now qualifies for the Surfer Squad. Swings and roundabouts.

Another mixed change that makes the character qualify for the Surfer Squad is Viper. She’s been used as a very strategic card in the past, and she quickly found a home with cards like Annihilus bolstering decks that mess with the opponent. Her ability is untouched, but her stats move from 2-Cost 3-Power to 3-Cost 4-Power. According to the developer notes, this is to help keep Viper and Havok from being too much of a spoiler. Yeah, I can see that. Fair beans.

On to the buffs. Martyr pretty much fell flat on her face. Her ability works against you, and even with her low cost her power just didn’t justify that risk. She gets one extra point of power from here on out, going from 1-Cost 4-Power to 1-Cost 5-Power. Will it help? I guess we’ll see. Gladiator gets a similar tweak, moving from 3-Cost 7-Power to 3-Cost 8-Power. Kind of awkward seeing two such recent cards getting balanced tweaked already, but at least they’re moving in a positive direction rather than a negative one.

Ronan the Accuser gets a big win this time. His ability stays the same, as with all of today’s changes. But his stats have gotten a very nice buff, moving him from 5-Cost 3-Power to 5-Cost 5-Power. Maximus has gotten a stat change too, and it’s being painted as a buff to support Ronan rather than a nerf to punish the Surfer Squad. Maximus moves from a Surfer-tastic 3-Cost 7-Power to 2-Cost 6-Power. And I’ll stuff the last buff in here, with the Punisher getting an extra point of power, moving from 3-Cost 2-Power to 3-Cost 3-Power. Perhaps he’ll make the Surfer Squad cut now.

That’s it for the balance changes in this Marvel Snap update. We probably won’t be seeing any news for the game until the new season drops in 2024, so if you happen to only read my work via these Marvel Snap stories, I guess I’ll see you next year. Good luck with all the Snappings and such!

If you haven’t gotten it yet, Mr Traffic is free to play with optional in app purchases, and it has gotten a lot better since launch through many updates not only in content, but also monetization. You can grab it on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. Head over to our forum thread for Mr Traffic here for discussion around the game and even posts from the developers about new updates, future content, and designs. Have you played Dashy Crashy or Mr Traffic from Dumpling Design yet?

Asphalt 8+ brings in new cars including the DEUS Vayanne, Pagani Imola, Lotus Emira, and more. New decals have also been added with all players getting the Lotus Elise Cup 260 as a free gift. Crossy Road Castle’s Jingle Jump event is with the Rainbow Rift ultra hard mode now added to the game. What The Car? has two events on with Ice to Meet You letting you go driving on frozen roads and more. The Oregon Trail has gotten a huge update with full party customization supported in most Journeys, trait selection, food prioritization, and more today. The final update is Easy Come Easy Golf bringing in the Expanded Shot Camera, new outfit colors, added Tour Mode content, and more.

With the updates done, check out our forum threads for Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go here, Prune here, Prune+ here, Hanx101 Trivia here, Kingdoms: Merge and Build here, Asphalt 8+ here, Crossy Road Castle here, What The Car? here, The Oregon Trail here, and Easy Come Easy Golf (previously Clap Hanz Golf) here. For all other 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 Apple’s newly released games and updates recently?

New Releases

Pajama Sam 3: You Are What You Eat From Your Head To Your Feet ($14.99)

It’s been a while since a bunch of Humongous Entertainment’s classic kid-friendly point-and-click adventures hit the Switch, and I’ve often wondered why more of them didn’t follow. Well, I guess we’re picking things up again. Here’s the third Pajama Sam game, getting us one step closer to having the full series available on the platform. It’s just as good as the first two, so if you or your little ones enjoyed those than you can pick this up with confidence.

Freddi Fish 4: The Case of The Hogfish Rustlers of Briny Gulch ($14.99)

All that stuff I just said about Pajama Sam 3 also applies to this port of Freddi Fish 4. These games are terrific to play with younger kids, and I can only hope the rest of Humongous Entertainment’s catalog eventually makes its way out on the Switch. So yes, if you have some nostalgia for this game or just want something good to enjoy over the holidays with the family, here’s Freddi.

The Curse of Kudan ($39.99)

A yuri-themed visual novel about a group of girls investigating occult mysteries who come a bit too close to one in particular, with potentially fatal results. The art is really good in this one, and the story apparently offers some excellent twists and turns. What is the mystery behind the curse? What past secrets fuel this supernatural grudge? And can the girls figure it all out before it’s too late?

GeoJelly ($10.99)

A platformer with puzzle elements whose chief gimmick is that you can only jump. No standard movement here. You play as a jelly and need to escape from a laboratory while grabbing diamonds along the way to unlock more levels. There are more than fifty levels to play, which should keep you busy for a while.

100 Demon Fantasia ($9.99)

An extremely janky melee action game, but I suppose there’s a charm to that sort of thing. The dining won’t be anywhere near fancy, but for ten bucks you might have already figured that one out.

Three Minutes To Eight ($14.99)

This is an adventure game whose premise has a lot of pull. Your main character will die at 7:57. Is there any way to avoid this fate? That’s the question you’ll have to answer as you die, try again, and die again. If I had a nickel for every interesting time loop adventure game I’ve played on Switch this month, I’d have… well, I’d have ten cents, but it’s weird that it happened twice. Reviews are all over the board for other versions, so we’ll have to see how people take to this one.

Growth ($9.99)

Speaking of odd coincidences, here’s our second game this week that involves trying to bring back nature to barren land. You’re meant to connect clusters of nature to expand your map, using animals and their various abilities to facilitate this task. There are eight different animals and nine different types of tiles, and since the maps are procedurally generated you could conceivably just play this game forever. Well, I imagine the heat death of the universe will put an end to your fun, but close enough. And you might just want to, because this game is quite good. Definitely worth chilling with.

Backroom: Constructions ($9.99)

This game is… odd. It’s partly an isometric action game, and partly an isometric Minecraft-style crafting game. The art style is certainly distinctive. Well, that’s really all I can say about it. I haven’t had much of a chance to play into it, so it’s a big question mark and I think it wants to be. The only decision is whether or not you care to resolve that mystery by buying it and playing it.

20 Minutes Till Dawn ($4.99)

Well, it’s been at least a day or two since the last Vampire Survivors-style game released on Switch, I suppose we’re due for another one. This is a solid one, at least. It has a cool theme to it, though those who are photosensitive will want to give it a pass since it can be a bit flashy. If you need something to play while we wait for the latest Vampire Survivors update to hit the Switch version, this game just might scratch the itch.

Arcade Archives Mystic Warriors ($7.99)

While I’m sure some of you reading this have played this 1993 Konami game, I’m willing to bet many of you have not. That’s because this arcade game has never come to a home console until now. This is a wild four-player action game in the vein of things like Sunset Riders, and that’s probably all I need to say. If you like 90s arcade games, you’ll want to add this one to your collection.

Eggconsole Silpheed PC-8801mkIISR ($6.49)

It’s always nice to see a magic trick in action, and Silpheed is one heck of a show. This is a game from 1986, and yet it’s pulling off a fairly convincing 3D effect. Once you get past the visuals, this is a rather standard shoot-em-up. It plays well enough and the spectacle helps the entertainment value. Of course here in 2023 this isn’t going to knock off any socks, but students of gaming history will find plenty to enjoy with this.

Eggconsole Hydlide PC-8801 ($6.49)

Last week we had Xanadu, and now here’s another one of the grandfathers of Japanese RPGs: Hydlide. This series isn’t terribly well-regarded in the West, and I think that’s partly because the games it inspired ended up beating it to the market outside of Japan. You certainly don’t get the Ys series if this game hadn’t existed, and you can spot its fingerprints all throughout the history of Japanese action-RPGs in particular. Like most trailblazers, it can be a bit rough to play today. Nevertheless, it’s nice to have an official option to play it today. Perhaps it can wash the bad taste of the NES port out of the mouths of those who played it?

Rough Justice ’84 ($19.99)

Not sure how I missed the first eighty-three installments in this series. I hope I can understand the story. Oh, what? It’s referring to the year 1984? Well, I’m rather embarrassed now. Yes, in a novel turn this game takes inspiration from the 1980s, which is sure to please the underserved audience nostalgic for that era. This is a single-player game inspired by board games, which means you’re going to be using dice. Use the right agents in the right places to solve crimes, but be warned: it’s going to take a loose cannon to bring justice to these streets.

Bulanci ($9.99)

Pillows doing violence upon other pillows in this arena shooter for up to eight players via local multiplayer. You get a variety of modes and customization options, with a lot of weird humor packed in. Some might find this game familiar; it was originally released as a freeware game on computers back in 2001. Nothing I’d run down the street shouting about, but if you have regular gaming nights with lots of people this might be a good pick.

Cape’s Escape Game 6th Room ($9.80)

Welcome to Cow Moo Land!

SokoWinter ($4.99)

One hundred levels of ice block pushing fun, for those who can’t get enough of Sokoban-style puzzles. Played from an isometric view, just for that extra bit of challenge.

Cleaning Queens ($5.99)

Yet another hidden object game. This one looks a lot more modest than the usual fare in this genre, but I suppose the price is also rather modest. Do what you must.

Courageous Reasoning Nori 4 Crossing Sea Street 4 ($1.50)

A short visual novel that is presented exclusively in Japanese. I’d throw it in the Bin Bunch, but I continue to be amused enough by these oddly translated titles to keep it in the regular listings.

The Bin Bunch

Sniper – Elite Shooter Squad ($8.99)

Anime Tank Blitz – Warbound Legends ($11.99)

Bike Courier: Bistro Express Delivery ($11.99)

The World of War II: Frontlines of History ($13.99)

Santa’s World ($2.99)

I Seek! Where is “Picto"-San? ($8.99)

Aery – Calm Mind 4 ($9.99)

My Lovely Dog Adventure ($9.99)

Breakout Birdie ($2.99)

Breakout Birdie 2 ($2.99)

Breakout Birdie Adventure ($2.99)

Sales

(North American eShop. US Prices)

Quite the list there today. I’ll immediately point at the Arcade Archives games, as they rarely go on sale and most of them will only ever have one sale. Little Noah is at a new low price, and the arcade-like Raindrop Sprinters is also offering a decent discount. Check through both lists carefully, friends. You never know what might grab your eye. But if it does, tell it to put it back. Very rude to grab someone’s eye like that.

Select New Sales

Hamster on Rails ($11.99 from $14.99 until 1/1)
Kind Heart Defenders ($3.19 from $3.99 until 1/1)
Mail Time ($15.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Dreamscaper ($7.49 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Hello Goodboy ($9.89 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Dark Deity ($6.24 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Gunscape ($2.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
One More Island ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
War Tech Fighters ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Projection: First Light ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Spidersaurs ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
River City Girls ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Shantae ($6.99 from $9.99 until 1/4)
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Shantae & the Seven Sirens ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)

Death Becomes You ($3.99 from $7.99 until 1/5)
The Bridge Curse: Road to Salvation ($19.49 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Mugen Souls Z ($31.99 from $39.99 until 1/5)
Lost Epic ($8.99 from $17.99 until 1/5)
Rainbow Skies ($12.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
SENSEs: Midnight ($9.74 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Another World Mahjong Girl ($7.49 from $9.99 until 1/5)
Omen of Sorrow ($12.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Working Hard Collection ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/5)
Sephonie ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Ashina: The Red Witch ($5.99 from $9.99 until 1/5)
Embraced By Autumn ($11.39 from $18.99 until 1/5)
Moto Roader MC ($3.49 from $6.99 until 1/5)
Gynoug ($3.49 from $6.99 until 1/5)
Avenging Spirit ($2.99 from $5.99 until 1/5)

Bone Marrow ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/5)
Gleylancer ($3.49 from $6.99 until 1/5)
Mrs Cat Between Worlds ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/5)
Super Ninja Miner ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/6)
Gimmick: Special Edition ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/6)
Little Noah: Scion of Paradise ($5.24 from $14.99 until 1/6)
Backpack Twins ($8.39 from $11.99 until 1/6)
Camped Out! ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Prizma Puzzle Prime ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/6)
Lost Snowmen ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/6)
Nostalgic Train ($9.79 from $13.99 until 1/6)
Last Labyrinth: Lucidity Lost ($20.99 from $29.99 until 1/6)
Pronty ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/6)
Arcade Archives Rabio Lepus ($3.99 from $7.99 until 1/6)
Arcade Archives Seicross ($3.99 from $7.99 until 1/6)

Arcade Archives Saboten Bombers ($3.99 from $7.99 until 1/6)
Arcade Archives XX Mission ($3.99 from $7.99 until 1/6)
Arcade Archives Hacha Mecha Fighter ($3.99 from $7.99 until 1/6)
ACA NEOGEO Metal Slug 2 ($3.99 from $7.99 until 1/6)
ACA NEOGEO Samurai Shodown III ($3.99 from $7.99 until 1/6)
ACA NEOGEO Aero Fighters 2 ($3.99 from $7.99 until 1/6)
ACA NEOGEO World Heroes 2 Jet ($3.99 from $7.99 until 1/6)
ACA NEOGEO Blue’s Journey ($3.99 from $7.99 until 1/6)
ACA NEOGEO Real Bout Fatal Fury ($3.99 from $7.99 until 1/6)
The Atla Archives ($2.09 from $14.99 until 1/7)
Aeternum Quest ($2.49 from $9.99 until 1/7)
Wathitdew Record Game Studio Battlefield ($3.49 from $9.99 until 1/7)
Adventure Field 4 ($2.49 from $9.99 until 1/7)
West Water ($2.74 from $10.99 until 1/7)
Project Knight 2: Dusk of Souls ($2.24 from $8.99 until 1/7)

Raindrop Sprinters ($6.09 from $8.70 until 1/8)
Angel Whisper ($6.59 from $9.99 until 1/8)
Cyjin: The Cyborg Ninja ($2.99 from $9.99 until 1/8)
Primal Light ($4.49 from $14.99 until 1/8)
Lies as a Starting Point ($4.00 from $8.00 until 1/8)
Shinobi Non Grata ($11.99 from $14.99 until 1/10)
Picontier ($22.49 from $24.99 until 1/10)
The Missing: JJ Macfield ($7.49 from $29.99 until 1/10)
Guilty Gear ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
Railed Up ($2.39 from $5.99 until 1/10)
Escape First ($3.24 from $4.99 until 1/10)
Escape First 2 ($3.24 from $4.99 until 1/10)
Escape First 3 ($3.24 from $4.99 until 1/10)
The Experiment: Escape Room ($2.59 from $3.99 until 1/10)
Curious Cases ($3.24 from $4.99 until 1/10)

Escape 2088 ($2.60 from $4.00 until 1/10)
Great Ambition of the Slimes ($10.79 from $11.99 until 1/10)
Worldless ($15.99 from $19.99 until 1/10)
Syberia 3 ($1.99 from $24.99 until 1/10)
Kamiko ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/10)
Stay Cool, Kobayashi-San! ($1.99 from $13.99 until 1/10)
Longhead ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
DEEMO ($11.99 from $29.99 until 1/10)
Fairune Collection ($3.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
Transiruby ($10.49 from $14.99 until 1/10)
Once Upon a Time on Halloween ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
Mariozza Cops ($1.99 from $9.80 until 1/10)
emoji Music ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
UFS League ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
SubOcto ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)

Ninja Striker ($1.99 from $3.99 until 1/10)
Ninja Smasher ($6.39 from $7.99 until 1/10)
Alchemic Dungeons DX ($3.19 from $7.99 until 1/10)
Damascus Gear Operation Tokyo ($2.99 from $14.99 until 1/10)
Fantasy Hero: Unsigned Legacy ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
Gear.Club Unlimited 2 ($1.99 from $24.99 until 1/10)
Santa Throw ($1.99 from $9.89 until 1/10)
Dissolved: Chapter One ($3.99 from $9.99 until 1/10)
The Smile Alchemist ($12.99 from $19.99 until 10/11)
RPGolf Legends ($14.99 from $29.99 until 10/11)
Cross Tails ($22.49 from $29.99 until 10/11)
Raging Bytes ($10.49 from $14.99 until 10/11)
Overrogue ($9.74 from $14.99 until 10/11)
Q.U.B.E. 10th Anniversary ($5.99 from $19.99 until 1/11)
Jack Axe ($2.99 from $14.99 until 1/11)
Gemini ($3.49 from $4.99 until 1/11)
Birdie Wing: Golf Girls Story ($13.99 from $19.99 until 1/11)
Rumble Sus ($3.49 from $4.99 until 1/11)
Clive ‘N’ Wrench ($17.99 from $29.99 until 1/11)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, Friday, December 22nd

4×4 Dirt Track ($1.99 from $13.99 until 12/22)
4×4 Offroad Driver ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
4×4 Offroad Driver 2 ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Archery Club ($1.99 from $11.99 until 12/22)
Base Jump Wing Suit Flying ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Baseball Club ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Bike Jump ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Bomb ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Camper Van Simulator ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Camper Van Simulator 2 ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Car Dealer Driver ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Car Driver Ultimate ($1.99 from $13.99 until 12/22)
Car Factory Driver ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Car Parking Club ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Car Parking Simulator ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)

Car Racing Trials ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Cargo Crew Driver ($1.99 from $11.99 until 12/22)
Carnage: Battle Arena ($1.99 from $15.99 until 12/22)
City Stunt Driver ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
City Traffic Driver ($1.99 from $13.99 until 12/22)
City Traffic Driver 2 ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Coast Guard: Beach Rescue Team ($1.99 from $11.99 until 12/22)
Construction Ramp Jumping ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Construction Simulator 3 ($6.99 from $19.99 until 12/22)
Construction Site Driver ($1.99 from $13.99 until 12/22)
Construction Site Driver 2 ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Crazy Plane Landing ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Detective Driver: Miami Files ($1.99 from $11.99 until 12/22)
Drift & Drive ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Driving Quest ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)

Driving World: Aspen ($1.99 from $11.99 until 12/22)
Driving World: Italian Job ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Driving World: Nordic Challenge ($1.99 from $13.99 until 12/22)
EchoBlade ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Emergency Driver Simulator ($1.99 from $13.99 until 12/22)
Extreme Car Driver ($1.99 from $11.99 until 12/22)
Firefighting Simulator The Squad ($27.99 from $34.99 until 12/22)
Gas Station: Highway Services ($1.99 from $11.99 until 12/22)
Idle Inventor: Factory Tycoon ($1.99 from $10.99 until 12/22)
Inertia 2 ($3.70 from $4.39 until 12/22)
Jump Into The Plane ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Jump the Car ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Monster Truck XT Airport Derby ($1.99 from $13.99 until 12/22)
Moving Out 2 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 12/22)
Mugen Souls ($31.99 from $39.99 until 12/22)

Multi Race: Match the Car ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Multilevel Parking Driver ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
New York City Driver ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Offroad Night Racing ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Paradise Island Driver ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Quarry Truck Simulator ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Race Track Driver ($1.99 from $11.99 until 12/22)
Ramp Bike Jumping ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Rayland ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/22)
Roof Jump Stunt Driver ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Shopping Mall Parking Lot ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Ski Resort Driver ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Slingshot Stunt Driver & Sports ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Sports Car Driver ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)
Super Car Driver ($1.99 from $13.99 until 12/22)

Super Hero Driving School ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Super Hero Flying School ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Through the Years ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/22)
Under the Warehouse ($3.89 from $5.99 until 12/22)
Venice Taxi Boats ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/22)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow to wrap up the remaining releases and sales of the week, and if I have time we should have some specials for you soon as well. I really messed up my back somehow, so I’m not very mobile at the moment. I’m going to be glad to send this year packing, to be honest. It’s been a bad one. I hope you all have a nice Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!

First of all, there are fourteen days of nice login rewards. If you’re finding out from this story, you’ve probably missed the first one. It was just 250 Credits, so don’t worry too much. Hop on there today and you’ll get 65 random Boosters, which is cool. Keep on checking in and you’ll get more Credits, some Gold, more Boosters, a few Variants, a new Title, and a new Avatar. Check the picture below for the schedule, complete with what rewards you can expect on which days. Free stuff! What a concept!

Next up, the Winterverse Shop Takeover. On Christmas Day and the day we in Canada call Boxing Day (December 26th), the in-game shop will be stuffed full of Winterverse variants. Abomination, Debrii, Devil Dinosaur, Ebony Maw, Patriot, Rock Slide, and Rogue will be properly dressed for the weather and waiting for you to add them to your collection. I already have Devil Dinosaur from last year and I can certify that he is absolutely adorable.

Lastly, there are some new Twitch Drops. Choose your favorite Marvel Snap streamer (you have one, surely?), and watch them for two, four, and six hours to unlock successive rewards. You’ll have to link your Marvel Snap and Twitch accounts to make it work, but it’s all relatively easy and painless. You’ll get random Boosters, Credits, and a random Variant for it. I suggest just putting it on in the background and minimizing it. You’ll have your goodies sharp-ish. I mean, unless you enjoy watching others play Snap. In which case this will be an easy one for you to clear.

That’s about it for the Winterverse event for Marvel Snap. There are probably a few other things, but they’ll likely cost big bucks. Such is how it goes. Something has to keep the multi-colored twinkling lights on. Still, that’s plenty of free stuff to enjoy as you pass the holidays trying to hide from arguments with your relatives. And isn’t that what it’s all about? Yeah. Yeah. As the man says, Happy Snapping!

As we near the end of 2023, many iOS and iPadOS games have been discounted on the App Store. These include the usual suspects, new games seeing discounts for the first time, historic low prices for some premium games, and more. This big iOS games sale list for 2023’s holiday season includes many games I enjoyed, and some I’ve bought after missing out on them first time around. As usual, we will likely see many game deals rolling out over the next few days. This post will be updated with more deals daily and cover the noteworthy games that are discounted on the App Store. Here are some great deals on iOS games:

• 7 Billion Humans ($4.99)
• Ace Attorney Trilogy ($14.99)
• Alien: Isolation ($14.99)
• Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair ($6.99)
• Danganronpa S Ultimate Summer Camp ($6.99)
• Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony ($6.99)
• Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc ($6.99)
• Don’t Starve ($4.99)
• Don’t Starve Shipwrecked ($4.99)
• Donut County ($4.99)
• Door Kickers: Action Squad ($2.99)
• Door Kickers ($4.99)
• Down in Bermuda ($1.99)
• Dungeon of the Endless Apogee ($7.99)
• Endling ($9.99)
• Five Dates (IAP discount) (Free)
• Flower ($4.99)
• Gorogoa ($4.99)
• GRID Autosport ($9.99)
• Hidden Folks ($4.99)
• Human Resource Machine ($4.99)
• Kingdom Rush Origins HD TD ($2.99)
• Kingdom Rush Origins TD ($2.99)
• Kingdom Rush Vengeance TD ($4.99)
• Luck be a Landlord ($4.99)
• Mega Man X ($2.99)
• Mia and the Dragon Princess (IAP discount) (Free)

• Old Man’s Journey ($4.99)
• Paranormasight ($12.99)
• Raycrisis ($4.99)
• Rayforce ($2.99)
• Raystorm ($3.99)
• Resident Evil 4 Remake (IAP Discount) (Free)
• Resident Evil Village (IAP discount) (Free)
• Roundguard ($6.99)
• Rusty Lake Hotel ($1.99)
• Rusty Lake Paradise ($2.99)
• Rusty Lake Roots ($2.99)
• Sentinels of Earth-Prime ($17.99)
• Star Survivor: Premium ($2.99)
• Street Fighter 4 CE ($2.99)
• Suzy Cube ($3.99)
• Telling Lies ($6.99)
• Ten Dates (IAP discount) (Free)
• The Complex (IAP discount) (Free)
• The Isle Tide Hotel (IAP discount)
• The Shapeshifting Detective ($4.99)
• Towaga: Among Shadows ($2.99)
• Undead Horde 2: Necropolis ($9.99)
• Who Muted Uncle Marcus? (IAP discount) (Free)

• 2112TD: Tower Defense Survival ($1.99)
• A Memoir Blue ($3.99)
• Absolute Drift ($2.99)
• Descenders ($9.99)
• Dragon Quest Builders ($17.99)
• ELOH ($2.99)
• Florence ($2.99)
• Gone Home ($4.99)
• Hindsight Game ($4.99)
• If Found… ($4.99)
• Iron Marines RTS Offline Game ($2.99)
• Journey ($4.99)
• Leo’s Fortune ($1.99)
• Niffelheim ($4.99)
• One Deck Dungeon ($6.99)
• Romancing SaGa Minstrel Song Remastered ($17.99)
• Sentinels of the Multiverse ($6.99)
• SpongeBob SquarePants: BfBB ($4.99)
• The Legend of Tianding ($3.99)
• The Past Within ($2.99)
• The Stillness of the Wind ($4.99)
• The Unfinished Swan ($4.99)
• The White Door ($2.99)
• Valkyrie Profile Lenneth ($8.99)
• What Remains of Edith Finch ($4.99)



• Actraiser Renaissance ($9.99)
• Adventures of Mana ($6.99)
• Chaos Rings III ($9.99)
• Chrono Trigger ($4.99)
• Collection of SaGa FF Legend ($9.99)
• Dragon Quest I ($1.99)
• Dragon Quest II ($2.99)
• Dragon Quest III ($6.99)
• Dragon Quest IV ($9.99)
• Dragon Quest V ($9.99)
• Dragon Quest VI ($9.99)
• Dragon Quest VIII ($14.99)
• Final Fantasy Dimensions II ($6.99)
• Final Fantasy Dimensions (Free)
• Final Fantasy III 3D Remake ($7.99)
• Final Fantasy IV 3D Remake ($7.99)
• Final Fantasy IV The After Years ($7.99)
• Final Fantasy Tactics War of the Lions iPad ($7.99)
• Final Fantasy Tactics War of the Lions ($6.99)
• Legend of Mana ($13.99)
• Little Inferno HD ($4.99)
• Romancing SaGa 2 ($3.49)
• Romancing SaGa 3 ($6.49)
• SaGa Frontier Remastered ($12.99)
• SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions ($8.99)
• Secret of Mana ($3.99)
• Trials of Mana Remake ($11.99)

Update: New discounts as of December 22nd are below:



• Bad North: Jotunn Edition ($3.99)
• Battle Chasers Nightwar ($9.99)
• Chameleon Run ($1.99)
• Final Fantasy IX ($9.99)
• Final Fantasy VII ($7.99)
• Final Fantasy VIII Remastered ($9.99)
• Finding Paradise ($3.99)
• FTL ($2.99)
• Hero Emblems II ($2.99)
• Hero Emblems ($1.99)
• ICEY ($1.99)
• Juicy Realm ($1.99)
• Kathy Rain: Director’s Cut ($4.99)
• King of Dragon Pass ($9.99)
• Kingdom 80s ($4.99)
• Kingdom New Lands ($4.99)
• Kingdom Two Crowns ($6.99)
• LEGO Bricktales ($4.99)
• Meteorfall Krumit’s Tale ($6.99)
• Moncage ($3.99)
• One Hand Clapping ($9.99)
• Say No! More ($5.99)
• Six Ages 2: Lights Going Out ($9.99)
• Six Ages: Ride Like the Wind ($9.99)
• SteamWorld Heist ($4.99)
• To the Moon ($1.99)
• Townscaper ($4.99)
• Unreal Life [apprice url="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/unreal-life/id1575502642"]Wreckfest ($9.99)

Update: New discounts as of December 25th are below:



• Darkest Dungeon Tablet Edition ($4.99)
• 20 Minutes Till Dawn Premium ($4.99)
• Afterplace ($6.99)
• Alto’s Adventure ($7.99)
• Alto’s Odyssey ($7.99)
• ATOM RPG ($9.99)
• Bright Reappear ($1.99)
• Candy Disaster TD Full Version ($4.99)
• Convenience Stories ($2.99)
• Daggerhood ($2.99)
• Divinity Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition for iPad ($9.99)
• Dungeon Village 2 ($3.99)
• Fran Bow ($9.99)
• Game Dev Story ($1.99)
• Kero Blaster ($2.99)
• Legend of the Skyfish ($3.99)
• March to a Million ($2.99)
• Morphite ($7.99)
• Pascal’s Wager ($3.99)
• Pocket Academy ($1.99)
• Pocket Skate ($3.99)
• Pocket Stables ($2.99)
• Ravensword: Shadowlands ($6.99)
• Rip Them Off ($3.99)
• Severed ($0.99)
• Shiny Ski Resort ($2.99)
• Swim Out ($2.99)
• The Deer God ($4.99)
• The Ramen Sensei ($2.99)
• The Room Old Sins ($4.99)
• The Room Three ($3.99)
• The Room Two ($1.99)
• Tomb Toad ($3.99)
• Tropical Resort Story ($3.99)

As usual, if you spot a deal I missed, post in the comments and I’ll add it here when I update the list. I’m not sure how many more games will be discounted each day, but I will be updating this with more noteworthy deals. Happy holidays and thanks for reading!

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/21/best-app-store-games-2023-discounts-christmas-deals-iphone-ipad-game/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/21/best-new-iphone-games-december-21st/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/21/best-new-iphone-games-december-21st/#respond Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:10:17 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316376 Continue reading "Out Now: ‘Resident Evil 4’, ‘Grand Theft Auto Trilogy – The Definitive Edition’, ‘The Longing Mobile’, ‘Ebenezer & the Invisible World’, ‘Pocket Trucks: Route Evolution’, ‘Mini Mini Golf Golf’, and More"
]]> 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!

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Born Again Online (Free)



iTunes Description

Fight, Die, and Repeat in the realms of Born Again! A thrilling permadeath, rogue-like, MMORPG where every life is full of challenges and rewards at every turn. Embark on a fateful journey to defeat the enemies bringing disorder to the Outer Realms. Face off against kings, rulers, and deities all fighting for their reign in this pixel-art world filled with charm and excitement.

Forum Thread: Born Again Online (by Unnamed Studios)

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CrossCraft: Custom Crosswords (Free)



iTunes Description

Welcome to CrossCraft, where your imagination meets the classic charm of crossword puzzles! This innovative app transforms the traditional crossword experience, offering an unparalleled level of customization and personalization.

Forum Thread: CrossCraft: Custom Crosswords (by Cihat Guenduez)

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Derby Madness (Free)



iTunes Description

Derby Madness offers a unique real time simulated driving experience with full of actions such as pile ups, crashes, overthrows, push outs, spin outs, slaloms and destructions.

* Unique gameplay with many actions and crashes
– fast and hard actions with push outs, spin outs, overthrows and pile ups
– real time simulated car deformations and crashes
– with skill tests and destruction series
– a lot of cars in one race (up to 32)

Forum Thread: Derby Madness (by Dimension Technics)

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Ebenezer & the Invisible World ($8.99)



iTunes Description

Join Ebenezer Scrooge and a team of spectral allies as they battle to save London from the clutches of the wealthy industrialist, Caspar Malthus, and his militant Private Guard. With each Ghost lending their unique abilities, explore the dark corners of London and uncover the sinister influence of the Dark Spirit and an army of Unrepentant Ghosts. Will you have the courage to confront Caspar and stop his malevolent plans before it is too late?

Forum Thread: Ebenezer & the Invisible World (by Play on Worlds)

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Endless Wander (Free)



iTunes Description

Fight epic battles in the ultimate offline action roguelike. Explore a beautiful pixel art world and experience infinite replayability even while offline!

“A mysterious Portal sealed for years reopens, offering a chance for Novu to save his sister trapped inside and to rebuild the Wanderer’s Guild."

Endless Wander is an offline roguelike RPG in a pixel art style. It features satisfying and challenging gameplay with infinite replayability and an indie soul.

Forum Thread: Endless Wander (by First Pick Studios)

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Fatal Fury Special ACA NEOGEO ($3.99)



iTunes Description

FATAL FURY SPECIAL is a fighting game released by SNK in 1993.
FATAL FURY SPECIAL is a powered-up version of FATAL FURY 2 which brings a faster game speed, introduces combo attacks for the first time in the Series, and welcomes more returning characters for a total of 15 fighters.
Clear the game with specific conditions and Ryo Sakazaki from ART OF FIGHTING will appear.

Forum Thread: Fatal Fury Special ACA NEOGEO (by SNK)

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GPixel – Turn-Based Racing (Free)



iTunes Description

Are you up for a challenge?

GPixel is a turn-based race on a pixel grid, simulating a car race on a sheet of squared paper.

Plan your move in advance: choose your gear, set your steering angle and push on the accelerator!
Strategy is important, don’t go too fast before curves or you won’t have space to brake.

Compete in the World Tour and climb the leaderboard, are you ready to be the best driver?

Forum Thread: GPixel – Turn-Based Racing (by Jacopo Guanziroli)

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Grand Theft Auto III – Definitive Edition (Netflix) / ($19.99)



iTunes Description

Experience the epic open-world adventure that started it all updated for a new generation with across-the-board enhancements including brilliant new lighting and environmental upgrades, with high-resolution textures, increased draw distance, Grand Theft Auto V-style controls and targeting, and much more.

It all starts in Liberty City. With revolutionary freedom to go anywhere and jack anyone, Grand Theft Auto III puts the center of the criminal underworld at your fingertips, if you have enough guts to take it.

Forum Thread: Grand Theft Auto III – Definitive Edition (Netflix and Standalone)

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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – Definitive Edition (Netflix) / ($19.99)



iTunes Description

Experience the genre-defining classic, updated for a new generation with across-the-board enhancements including brilliant new lighting and environmental upgrades, with high-resolution textures, increased draw distance, Grand Theft Auto V-style controls and targeting, and much more.

Welcome to the 1980s. From the decade of big hair and pastel suits comes the story of one man’s rise to the top of the criminal pile. Grand Theft Auto returns with Tommy Vercetti’s tale of betrayal and revenge in a neon-soaked tropical town full of excess and brimming with possibilities.

Forum Thread: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City – Definitive Edition (Netflix and Standalone)

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Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – Definitive Edition (Netflix) / ($19.99)



iTunes Description

Experience the blockbuster classic, updated for a new generation with across-the-board enhancements including brilliant new lighting and environmental upgrades, with high-resolution textures, increased draw distance, Grand Theft Auto V-style controls and targeting, and much more.

Five years ago, Carl ‘CJ’ Johnson escaped the haze of Los Santos, San Andreas … a city tearing itself apart with gang trouble, drugs, and corruption. Now, it’s the early ’90s. CJ’s got to go home — his mother has been murdered, his family has fallen apart, and his childhood friends are all heading towards disaster. On his return to the neighborhood, a couple of cops frame him for homicide, forcing CJ on a journey that takes him across the entire state of San Andreas, to save his family and to take control of the streets in the next iteration of the series that changed everything.

Forum Thread: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas – Definitive Edition (Netflix and Standalone)

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The Longing Mobile ($4.99)



iTunes Description

An unusual mix of adventure and idle game. In utter loneliness deep below the surface, it’s your task to wait for the awakening of your king… for 400 days.

Play as a lonely Shade, the last servant of a king who once ruled an underground kingdom. The king’s powers have faded and he falls asleep for 400 days to regain his might. It is your duty to stay in the earthen palace until he awakens. As soon as you start, the game inevitably counts down the 400 days – even when you stop playing and exit the game. It is now up to you to decide what to do with your solitary existence beneath the soil. Don’t stress yourself, you have plenty of time.

Forum Thread: The Longing Mobile (by ASH Software)

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MC Fire ($1.99)



iTunes Description

You’ve equipped an automatic gun. Your adventures are on Jump and Run through the strange World. Each World contains Rooms with Enemies and Traps. Try your luck with gun type and equipment upgrade offering at the end of each room.
Collect XP Level to ranking your name on the World Leaderboard. You gain it when finishing each room.
Hence you reach a certain Level of XP, you’ll get StarterKit right on the start of your adventure permanently.

Forum Thread: MC Fire (by Ronnakrit Sriyen)

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Mini Mini Golf Golf ($2.99)



iTunes Description

Fluffy and elegant Minigolf with local multiplayer and scoretracking

Mini Mini Golf Golf combines the nostalgic flair and straightforward gameplay of Retro-Games with contemporary features.
Contains 12 classic handcrafted minigolf courses.

Forum Thread: Mini Mini Golf Golf (by Three More Years GmbH)

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Pocket Trucks: Route Evolution (Free)



iTunes Description

Get in control of 18 wheels and transport cargo across the country from New York to San Francisco! Manage all routes and become the best truck tycoon in the world in Truck Express!

Embark on your epic journey! Take on the role of a truck driver and transport cargo across the United States in classic American trucks. Upgrade your machines to improve speed, comfort, and mileage, and complete tasks to earn rewards and progress through the game.

Be prepared for the unpredictable! With a map of the entire country at your fingertips, you’ll traverse diverse landscapes and encounter unexpected obstacles like frosty roads, traffic jams, and closed routes.

Forum Thread: Pocket Trucks: Route Evolution (by NimbleBit LLC)

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Resident Evil 4 (Free)



iTunes Description

Six years have passed since the biological disaster in Raccoon City. Agent Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors of the incident, has been sent to rescue the president’s kidnapped daughter. He tracks her to a secluded European village, where there is something terribly wrong with the locals. And the curtain rises on this story of daring rescue and grueling horror where life and death, terror and catharsis intersect.

Featuring modernized gameplay, a reimagined storyline, and vividly detailed graphics,
Resident Evil 4 marks the rebirth of an industry juggernaut.

Forum Thread: Resident Evil 4 (by Capcom)

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]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/21/best-new-iphone-games-december-21st/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/20/city-connection-shmups-eshop-sale-deathsmiles-batsugun-price-nintendo/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/20/city-connection-shmups-eshop-sale-deathsmiles-batsugun-price-nintendo/#respond Wed, 20 Dec 2023 23:02:45 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316329 Continue reading "SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘The Rumble Fish +’, Plus Today’s Other New Releases and the Latest Sales"
]]> Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for December 20th, 2023. It’s another slow Wednesday today, and on top of that I had to go to the fancy hospital so I’m shorter on time than usual. With all that said, what I have for you today are summaries of the few new releases that hit the eShop today, and then the usual lists of new and outgoing sales. Thankfully that list of new sales is fairly robust, so we’ve certainly got a fair bit to read over. Let’s get to work!

New Releases

The Rumble Fish + ($7.99)



The 2004 arcade fighter from DIMPS is now available on Switch, complete with online rollback netcode support. This was quite the looker for its era, and while it might not be quite as flashy by today’s standards it’s still a fun, fast, cool fighting game. Throw a very affordable price on the thing, and I think many fans of the genre will be picking this one up today.

My Child Lebensborn Remastered ($9.99)



I don’t know how to feel about getting “remasters" of games we already have on Switch. My Child Lebensborn is an interesting experience, and one worth trying out. What new things are in this version that merit a distinct release instead of an update to the already existing My Child Lebensborn is a question I’m afraid I can’t answer. Well, do what you will with it.

Ravva and the Phantom Library ($9.99)



Guess who’s back? Back again? Ravva’s back, tell a friend. This platformer sequel improves nicely on the first game, and you’ve got seven big new stages to explore. Make use of the talents of four different companions, battle big bosses, and keep your eyes peeled for some secrets. If you enjoyed the first game, this is an easy recommendation. I don’t think there’s a single element of it that doesn’t outdo its predecessor.

The Bin Bunch

Princess Puzzle Adventure ($9.99)



Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

City Connection is doing a sale across most of its stuff, and that means you can grab its SEGA Saturn emulated titles at very reasonable prices. Puzzle Bobble‘s a particularly good pick. Akai Katana Shin and Deathsmiles I-II are worth your attention if you like shooters, too. The Loathing games hit new low prices, and if you’re looking for something funny they’ll serve you well. Not much of note in the outbox, but as usual you’ll want to look over both lists yourself to be sure.

Select New Sales



Dormitory Love ($26.24 from $34.99 until 12/29)
Animal Kart Racer 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Kickback Slug: Cosmic Courier ($5.99 from $11.99 until 1/3)
Abarenbo Tengu & Zombie Nation ($5.99 from $11.99 until 1/5)
Game Tengoku CruisinMix Special ($8.97 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Guardian Force: Saturn Tribute ($8.99 from $17.99 until 1/5)
Cotton 2: Saturn Tribute ($8.99 from $17.99 until 1/5)
Cotton Boomerang: Saturn Tribute ($8.99 from $17.99 until 1/5)
Deathsmiles I-II ($27.99 from $39.99 until 1/5)
Akai Katana Shin ($20.99 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Batsugun Saturn Tribute Boosted ($17.99 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Cleopatra Fortune S-Tribute ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Puzzle Bobble/Bust-A-Move S-Tribute ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Nova-111 ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/8)


West of Loathing ($4.40 from $11.00 until 1/9)
Shadows Over Loathing ($16.10 from $23.00 until 1/9)
Hercule Poirot: The London Case ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/9)
Noob: The Factionless ($27.99 from $39.99 until 1/9)
The Sisters 2: Road to Fame ($26.99 from $29.99 until 1/9)
Dino Ranch: Ride to the Rescue ($31.99 from $39.99 until 1/9)
Little Devil: Foster Mayhem ($3.74 from $14.99 until 1/9)
Blacksad: Under the Skin ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/9)
My Universe: Green Adv. Farmer’s Friends ($9.99 from $24.99 until 1/9)
Marsupilami: Hoobadventure ($5.99 from $29.99 until 1/9)
Asterix & Obelix Slap Them All 2 ($17.49 from $24.99 until 1/9)
Earthlock ($2.99 from $29.90 until 1/9)
Adventure World: Around the World ($9.74 from $14.99 until 1/9)


Xiaomei & the Flame Dragon’s Fist ($9.74 from $14.99 until 1/9)
World War: D-Day Part One ($12.74 from $14.99 until 1/9)
World Class Champion Soccer ($2.30 from $10.99 until 1/9)
Dead Rain: New Zombie Virus ($3.84 from $10.99 until 1/9)
Counter Recon: The First Mission ($2.69 from $14.99 until 1/9)
Counter Recon 2: The New War ($5.24 from $14.99 until 1/9)
Counter Crossline: Crime War ($2.69 from $14.99 until 1/9)
Crime Busters: Strike Area ($5.24 from $14.99 until 1/9)
Counter Delta: The Bullet Rain ($3.14 from $14.99 until 1/9)
Counter Delta 2: Eastern Crisis ($9.74 from $14.99 until 1/9)
Haunted Zombie School ($3.14 from $14.99 until 1/9)
Dungeon Limbus ($2.69 from $14.99 until 1/9)
World War: Tank Battle ($3.14 from $14.99 until 1/9)
World War: Combat Guardian ($8.24 from $14.99 until 1/9)
World War: Prologue ($8.24 from $14.99 until 1/9)
Modern War: Tank Battle ($3.14 from $14.99 until 1/9)
ANIMUS: Revenant ($4.13 from $22.99 until 1/9)
Haunted Zombie Slaughter ($5.24 from $14.99 until 1/9)
Haunted Zombie Slaughter 2 ($9.74 from $14.99 until 1/9)
Bunker Life ($8.24 from $14.99 until 1/9)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, December 22nd



Billy 101 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Cat Souls ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Cattails: Wildwood Story ($17.99 from $19.99 until 12/21)
ChronoBreach Ultra ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Cyber Citizen Shockman ($4.19 from $5.99 until 12/21)
DoraKone ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Dungeon Slime Collection ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Garlic ($8.99 from $14.99 until 12/21)
Gematombe ($5.99 from $14.99 until 12/21)
Gruta ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Gunma’s Ambition ($1.99 from $9.99 until 12/21)
Headbangers in Holiday Hell ($2.39 from $5.99 until 12/21)
Kuroi Tsubasa ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Light of Life ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Light Tracer ($2.99 from $14.99 until 12/21)


Little Disaster ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Project Highrise: AE ($7.99 from $39.99 until 12/21)
Replikator ($3.99 from $9.99 until 12/21)
Sherlock Holmes The Awakened: Deluxe ($19.99 from $49.99 until 12/21)
Steel Defier ($2.99 from $4.99 until 12/21)
The Fairy’s Song ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/21)
Tricks Magician ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Ultra Pixel Survive ($1.99 from $4.99 until 12/21)
Wonderland Nights: White Rabbit’s Diary ($2.79 from $6.99 until 12/21)

That’s all for today, friends. Tomorrow is Thursday and it’s looking like there will be quite a few games hitting. A real quantity over quality situation, or at least that’s what my first glance tells me. We’ll see tomorrow when I summarize them. The usual lists of sales will also be here, along with any big news that rolls in. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/20/city-connection-shmups-eshop-sale-deathsmiles-batsugun-price-nintendo/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/20/resident-evil-4-remake-free-download-out-now-iphone-15-pro-max-ipad-macos-launch-discount-unlock/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/20/resident-evil-4-remake-free-download-out-now-iphone-15-pro-max-ipad-macos-launch-discount-unlock/#respond Wed, 20 Dec 2023 14:05:28 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316346 Continue reading "‘Resident Evil 4’ Remake Now Available on iPhone 15 Pro, iPad, and macOS With Launch Discount"
]]> Resident Evil 4 Remake (Free) from Capcom is now available on iPhone 15 Pro series, iPad (M1 and later), and macOS (M1 and later) as a free to start release. Read my review of the iPhone 15 Pro version here. Resident Evil 4 Remake launched on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam earlier this year priced at $59.99 with extra DLC and an expansion that released recently. For the Apple device launch, Capcom has a launch discount until January 17th bringing the unlock price and DLC to match the PC and console sale price. Watch the new Resident Evil 4 Remake Apple Devices launch trailer below:

Resident Evil 4 Remake’s full game unlock is 50% off and the DLC bundle (to upgrade to the Deluxe Edition on PC/console) is 25% off. This brings the full game unlock to $29.99 and the DLC bundle to $14.99. The full game unlock also includes some bonus pre-order content. The Separate Ways price is $9.99 just like on other platforms. If you’d like to try it and have a supported device, grab it here on the App Store. Resident Evil 4 Remake is a universal purchase including iOS, iPadOS, and macOS together with save syncing. If you haven’t already, read my Steam Deck review of Resident Evil 4 Remake here and Separate Ways here. Will you be trying out Resident Evil 4 Remake on Apple devices today and what did you think of Resident Evil Village if you tried it on iPhone and iPad?

Update: Added new launch trailer and early purchase bonus information.

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/20/resident-evil-4-remake-free-download-out-now-iphone-15-pro-max-ipad-macos-launch-discount-unlock/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/20/geometry-dash-version-2-2-update-download-out-now-iphone-android-steam-ios-mobile-pc-patch-notes/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/20/geometry-dash-version-2-2-update-download-out-now-iphone-android-steam-ios-mobile-pc-patch-notes/#respond Wed, 20 Dec 2023 10:13:44 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316334 Continue reading "‘Geometry Dash’ 2.2 Update Finally Available on Mobile and Steam Bringing New Game Modes, Levels, Music Library, and Tons More"
]]> Six years after its last major update, the legendary Geometry Dash ($1.99) has gotten its long-awaited 2.2 update bringing in new game modes, levels, music, collectibles, icons, and more. This update has been in the works for a while now, and was set for launching a few months ago before seeing a bit of a delay. All that is now behind us because Geometry Dash 2.2 is out now on iOS, Android, and Steam. It should have rolled out worldwide by now, but it is out on iOS and Steam in all regions already. The update also brings in new art, 30 new Gauntlets, new shards, new secrets to discover, 100 new achievements, shader effects, and so much more. Read the full list of additions in the patch notes on the Geometry Dash Steam page here. Watch the Geometry Dash 2.2 update launch trailer below:

If you’ve somehow not gotten Geometry Dash yet, it is available on the App Store for iOS here, Google Play for Android here, and PC via Steam here. I’m glad the update managed to ship before the holidays because there no doubt will be delays in patches on certain platforms over the coming days as everyone takes a holiday break. The update seems to be doing amazing on Steam already as shown here. If you’ve been playing Geometry Dash from the start or are new to it, let us know what you think of the game in the comments below. If you also want a blast from the past, check out our massive forum thread for the game here. Once you do get around to playing the new update, let me know what you think of it in the comments or in our forum thread.

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/20/geometry-dash-version-2-2-update-download-out-now-iphone-android-steam-ios-mobile-pc-patch-notes/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/20/new-super-mario-run-event-wonder-flowers-toad-rally-golden-goomba-stamps-iphone-android/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/20/new-super-mario-run-event-wonder-flowers-toad-rally-golden-goomba-stamps-iphone-android/#respond Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:02:51 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316323 Continue reading "New ‘Super Mario Run’ Event Brings In the Wonder Flowers From ‘Super Mario Bros. Wonder’ for a Limited Time"
]]> Super Mario Run (Free) recently celebrated the launch of the brilliant Super Mario Bros. Wonder Switch game with a free unlock campaign on iOS and Android that ended last month. Today, Nintendo has announced (thanks to MondoMega on Twitter for the tip) a new celebration event for Super Mario Run from now until March 15th, 2024 bringing in the Wonder Flowers from Super Mario Bros. Wonder into Toad Rally. This event has been added with today’s 3.1.0 update, and it will have a meter filling up as you perform certain actions in Toad Rally. Once the meter fills up completely, the Wonder Flower appears and it transforms coins into Golden Goombas. You can use these to unlock stamps and get special buildings in the Kingdom Builder mode. Check out the Wonder Flowers in Super Mario Run Toad Rally in the gameplay video below:

If you haven’t played Super Mario Run in a while, now is a good time to try it on iOS and Android with this new event ongoing. The in app purchase full game unlock is the only purchase available for the game on iOS and Android. Grab the game for free here on the App Store for iOS and here on Google Play for Android. If you’d prefer playing a premium experience over Super Mario Run, you owe it to yourself to play the superlative Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Read my review of it here. Have you been playing Super Mario Run recently and did you play Super Mario Bros. Wonder?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/20/new-super-mario-run-event-wonder-flowers-toad-rally-golden-goomba-stamps-iphone-android/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/20/ghost-trick-ios-version-delisting-2024-hd-remaster-release-date-capcom/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/20/ghost-trick-ios-version-delisting-2024-hd-remaster-release-date-capcom/#respond Wed, 20 Dec 2023 06:42:51 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316316 Continue reading "‘Ghost Trick’ on iOS From Capcom Will Be Delisted on March 25th, the HD Remastered Version With No Save or Purchases Carrying Over Will Be Released"
]]> Surprising almost no one, Capcom has announced that it will be delisting Ghost Trick (Free) on iOS on March 25th, 2024. Purchasing the game or in-app content will no longer be supported after that date. If you already own it or grab it before then, you should be able to play it and unlock achievements or re-download. One thing to note is compatibility with future versions of iOS isn’t guaranteed. Ghost Trick in particular out of Capcom’s mobile releases has been delisted on iOS many times to be updated for new versions of iOS and fixed. This version debuted back in 2010 so it will have had 14 years of support (not counting when it was delisted multiple times before of course), so a new HD version arriving is a good thing assuming this one will be supported.



After how the publisher brought the new version of the Ace Attorney Trilogy to mobile replacing the original game, I knew this would happen to Ghost Trick as well, and fully expect the remaining Ace Attorney games to follow this pattern in 2025. If you’ve not kept up with the news, Ghost Trick hit Switch, Steam, and other consoles earlier this year as a full remaster and it is fantastic. Read Shaun’s review here. I like this version a lot more than the current iOS version, but it is still disappointing that there’s no upgrade path or save transfer offered. Watch the trailer for the new version of the game coming to iOS in the future below:

With Ghost Trick confirmed to come back to iOS after it is delisted in March 2024, I hope Capcom can bring The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles to iOS and also I have not forgotten about Monster Hunter Freedom Unite. While Capcom has recently been great on iOS with the premium ports of Resident Evil 4 Remake and Resident Evil Village, hopefully the publisher remembers to bring some of its other IP to mobile as well through ports or resurrecting older games. A price point for the new HD version hasn’t been announced yet, but it is priced at $29.99 on console and PC right now. I expect the iOS price point of the new release to be about $20. Did you play Ghost Trick on iOS, Nintendo DS, or any of its modern platform versions?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/20/ghost-trick-ios-version-delisting-2024-hd-remaster-release-date-capcom/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/19/switcharcade-round-up-reviews-featuring-raccoo-venture-plus-terra-nil-and-todays-other-releases-and-sales/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/19/switcharcade-round-up-reviews-featuring-raccoo-venture-plus-terra-nil-and-todays-other-releases-and-sales/#respond Tue, 19 Dec 2023 22:49:37 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316273 Continue reading "SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘Raccoo Venture’, Plus ‘Terra Nil’ and Today’s Other Releases and Sales"
]]> Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for December 19th, 2023. In today’s article, we have one review for you to enjoy. I take a look at Raccoo Venture from QUByte Interactive and Diego Ras, and then head into the summaries of the new releases of the day. Following that, we do our usual thing and present some lists of new and outgoing sales. A fairly normal Tuesday, in most regards. Well, that’s nice sometimes. Let’s get to it.

Reviews & Mini-Views

Raccoo Venture ($14.99)



We see a fair number of 3D platformers these days, with even indie developers getting in on the action. They vary in scope and where they draw inspiration from, and some are certainly more successful than others. Raccoo Venture comes to us by way of developer Diego Ras and publisher QUByte Interactive, and it’s certainly a big swing for the latter. You play as a little raccoon who is on a quest to get all of his chess pieces and board back from some jerks who took them. It’s a very familiar pair of shoes if you were playing games during the collectathon heyday of the late 1990s and early 2000s, even if it doesn’t quite fit the mold in every way.

For starters, levels are a fair bit more linear than some of those classic games. Indeed, they feel a bit more like levels from Super Mario 3D World in how they play out. A little bit of room for exploration, but you’re largely going to be funneled from one little area to another. You can’t move the camera around, but the game is mainly designed in consideration of that. There are hidden things to find in each stage, and you’ll need to have sharp eyes, a bit of wit, and some manual dexterity to find them all. You can also get new costumes which are simply cosmetic but are still welcome.



Broadly speaking, Raccoo Venture plays well enough. The jumping is a bit stiff, and the ground pound attack feels a little awkward to use at times. The penalty for falling off an edge is fairly severe compared to taking hits, and it’s really easy to mess up until you become extremely well acquainted with how the main character moves. The way the enemy AI behaves is also a bit strange, something that again takes some getting used to. Still, once you do it’s all very workable. Nothing amazing, but you’ll have a decent enough time with it if you enjoy the genre.

That’s really how I would sum up Raccoo Venture on the whole. It’s a solid, but not spectacular, entry into the 3D platforming genre. I think if you’re a fan of 3D platformers, you probably won’t be disappointed with what you get here. Those less interested in the genre likely won’t find much to change their minds. I also don’t imagine it will stick in anyone’s memories all too often. It does its job, and maybe that’s enough.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

New Releases

Terra Nil ($24.99)



This game describes itself as a reverse city builder, and that seems like a fun way to sum it up. You’re trying to restore nature to a lifeless landscape using advanced eco-technology, and with procedurally generated maps you can keep on doing it as many times as you like. Create a balanced ecosystem and move on to the next place that needs your help. I’ll have a review of this one as soon as I can swing it.

Twin Mind: Murderous Jealousy Collector’s Edition ($14.99)



Yes, we just had one of these last week. No, this one doesn’t do anything different. Just another case for the twin detectives, this time involving a murder at a theater. Look for hidden objects, play some mini-games, you know how it goes.

All I Want for Christmas are Subgames CE ($9.99)



This is a collection of more than twenty mini-games with a strong emphasis on Christmas themes. Think things like crosswords, spot the differences, and other such fare from actual puzzle books. Might be what you’re looking for to get yourself more into the seasonal mood.

The Bin Bunch

Airport ($9.99)



Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

A few goodies today. RPG fans might want to look into Trails into Reverie, while shoot-em-up enjoyers would do well to check out RayStorm X RayCrisis HD Collection. Those who want to relive the Amiga years can grab the Turrican sets on the cheap, and if you like exploratory platformers but have somehow missed the Ori games up until now, you can get those at great prices as well. There are some things to see in the outbox, but I’ll let you deal with that on your own.

Select New Sales



Snow Madness ($2.09 from $2.99 until 12/25)
Age of Sokoban ($2.09 from $2.99 until 12/25)
Jigsaw Tetra ($3.49 from $4.99 until 12/25)
Retro Space Fighter ($3.49 from $4.99 until 12/25)
Minepull ($2.09 from $2.99 until 12/25)
Alone Music ($3.49 from $4.99 until 12/25)
Zumba Garden ($1.99 from $2.99 until 1/1)
Silt ($6.89 from $14.99 until 1/1)
Little Friends: Puppy Island ($23.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Lifeslide ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/1)
TLoH: Trails into Reverie ($44.99 from $59.99 until 1/1)
Mad Rat Dead ($23.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Kamiwaza: Way of the Thief ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
CRYMACHINA ($47.99 from $59.99 until 1/1)
Disgaea 7 Complete Edition ($87.99 from $109.99 until 1/1)


Jitsu Squad ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/3)
RayStorm X RayCrisis HD Collection ($27.99 from $39.99 until 1/3)
Cursed to Golf ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/3)
Lonely Mountains: Downhill ($7.99 from $19.99 until 1/3)
Wavetale ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/3)
Taito Milestones 2 ($31.99 from $39.99 until 1/3)
Turrican Flashback ($8.99 from $29.99 until 1/3)
Turrican Anthology Vol. I ($10.49 from $34.99 until 1/3)
Turrican Anthology Vol. II ($10.49 from $34.99 until 1/3)
Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! ($29.99 from $39.99 until 1/3)
Ori & the Blind Forest: Definitive ($6.59 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Ori & the Will of the Wisps ($9.89 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Side View Golf ($4.79 from $5.99 until 1/7)
Pan-Dimensional Conga Combat ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/8)
Void Scrappers ($2.39 from $3.99 until 1/8)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, December 20th



A Knight’s Quest ($3.74 from $24.99 until 12/20)
American Fugitive ($2.99 from $19.99 until 12/20)
Autonauts ($6.79 from $19.99 until 12/20)
Beholder: Complete Edition ($2.24 from $14.99 until 12/20)
Bomber Crew ($2.99 from $19.99 until 12/20)
Chenso Club ($6.69 from $9.99 until 12/20)
Embr ($4.99 from $19.99 until 12/20)
For The King ($6.24 from $24.99 until 12/20)
From Space ($6.74 from $14.99 until 12/20)
Hotshot Racing ($2.99 from $19.99 until 12/20)
Hue ($2.49 from $9.99 until 12/20)
Human: Fall Flat ($5.99 from $19.99 until 12/20)
Just Die Already ($3.74 from $14.99 until 12/20)
LocO-SportS ($2.15 from $5.99 until 12/20)
Manual Samuel ($2.49 from $9.99 until 12/20)


Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle ($13.99 from $39.99 until 12/20)
Motorsport Manager ($3.74 from $14.99 until 12/20)
Pumped BMX Pro ($2.24 from $14.99 until 12/20)
Serial Cleaner ($2.24 from $14.99 until 12/20)
Smoke and Sacrifice ($2.99 from $19.99 until 12/20)
Space Crew: Legendary Edition ($7.49 from $24.99 until 12/20)
Space Warrior ($4.99 from $9.99 until 12/20)
The Swindle ($2.24 from $14.99 until 12/20)
Velocity 2X ($2.99 from $19.99 until 12/20)
When Ski Lifts Go Wrong ($2.24 from $14.99 until 12/20)
You Suck at Parking ($13.99 from $19.99 until 12/20)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with a handful of new releases, the usual lists of sales, and perhaps a review or some news items. I actually have to go to the fancy hospital tomorrow for a check-up, so my time is going to be a bit shorter than the average Wednesday. I’ll do my best anyway. I hope you all have a terrific Tuesday, and as always, thanks for reading!

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/19/switcharcade-round-up-reviews-featuring-raccoo-venture-plus-terra-nil-and-todays-other-releases-and-sales/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/19/best-nintendo-switch-game-remakes-remasters-list-top-10/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/19/best-nintendo-switch-game-remakes-remasters-list-top-10/#respond Tue, 19 Dec 2023 20:37:22 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315854 Continue reading "The Best Nintendo Switch Remakes – SwitchArcade Special Edition"
]]> Over the last few years, we’ve published many features covering the best games in specific genres on Nintendo Switch. I’ve enjoyed putting together our end of year posts focusing on the best ports and remasters quite a bit. With Super Mario RPG out now, I decided to put together a list of the best remakes on Nintendo Switch. This will cover games available on older platforms that have been redone for Switch. Note that I’m avoiding basic ports here regardless of how good they are. This list will cover both first and third party games, and it isn’t in any particular order.

Before getting into the games, I want to cover what makes a remake good or even great. While a lot of remasters and remakes aim to bring older games to modern platforms, my favorite ones also make said games feel good enough to play for newcomers. I experienced many of the games below for the first time through the new remakes, and then checked out the originals when possible to see how things changed for the better. Let’s get into it then.

Metroid Prime Remastered ($39.99)

Despite the name, Metroid Prime Remastered is basically a remake of the GameCube classic with redone visuals, new control options, smoother performance, and more. This release is notable for also being a budget-priced title. We’ve seen publishers charge a lot more for remakes or remasters that do a lot less. Metroid Prime Remastered feels like an anomaly in a good way, and an essential for anyone who owns a Switch. It is that good, and I hope Nintendo lets us experience Metroid Prime 2 and 3 on Switch in similar releases in 2024 or 2025. Metroid Prime Remastered is an action adventure masterpiece.

STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R ($49.99)

Square Enix, that’s a name you will be seeing a lot here. Despite the publisher releasing many remasters and remakes across platforms, I feel like the ones we’ve gotten in recent years have been better than ever before thanks to games like STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R. A full remake of STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY for Switch and other platforms brought a new aesthetic that blended 2D with 3D, offered multiple music and portrait options, and delivered a stunning action RPG for modern platforms that is not only a great entry point for newcomers, but also a brilliant STAR OCEAN game on its own.

Famicom Detective Club: The Two-Case Collection ($59.98)

Both Famicom Detective Club games in the single Two-Case Collection package are surprisingly great adventure games. While some elements of the gameplay are a bit obtuse, these are gorgeous releases with fantastic music and a great story. I’m glad Nintendo took a chance and released this globally for the first time through the Nintendo Switch remakes, and still hope they do a physical release for North America in the future. A lot of the games in this list have been discounted, but the Famicom Detective Club: The Two-Case Collection is yet to see a single discount. Trust me. It is worth full price.

LIVE A LIVE ($49.99)

Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler saw the company strike gold with a superb JRPG that I still think about today for its music, visuals, and characters. That HD 2D aesthetic was taken and applied to an unlocalized SNES gem with LIVE A LIVE for its Nintendo Switch remake simply titled LIVE A LIVE. LIVE A LIVE with its varied stories, fantastic payoff, and superb aesthetic shines on the Switch OLED screen. It also has one of Yoko Shimomura’s best soundtracks. This one has a demo and I urge you to try it out to see how creative it is.

Pocky & Rocky Reshrined ($29.99)

Pocky & Rocky AKA Kiki Kaikai, was another SNES game I didn’t know about until its remake was announced. Pocky & Rocky Reshrined, a fantastic remake of the run and gun shooter debuted on PS4 and Switch before coming to Steam and also Xbox platforms recently. Now, some folks who played both versions will likely already be a bit annoyed at me calling this a remake, when it does things differently, and becomes its own new game in ways. After gorgeous recreations of classic elements, it changes things up. Reshrined in a lot of ways could also stand for remixed or re-arranged while also remaking things. Splitting hairs aside, Pocky & Rocky Reshrined is fantastic, and I will call it a remake for this list. Out of all the versions, I’ve been revisiting it on Switch and Xbox Series X quite a bit lately. It really is a gem. I’ve linked the Digital Foundry analysis video showcasing how much better this version is above.

Super Mario RPG ($59.99)

The most recent release on this list is Nintendo’s Super Mario RPG. I had heard so much about this one over the years, but never played it. As a huge fan of the Mario and Luigi games on DS and 3DS, I figured I’d end up enjoying Super Mario RPG when I got around to it. I waited and experienced it directly through the Switch remake. In a lot of ways, I wasn’t sure if this was worth including because it didn’t do much extra over the original based on what I was seeing, but as a faithful remake that brings a classic to modern times with a fresh coat of paint, Super Mario RPG is absolutely worth it. It even serves as a nice introduction to the genre for newcomers. Now that Super Mario RPG’s remake is out, hopefully Nintendo and Square Enix can add the original to Nintendo Switch Online in the future so both versions are playable on modern platforms.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn ($49.99)

Square Enix’s Tactics Ogre: Reborn, an enhanced remaster/remake of Tactics Ogre: Let us Cling Together which itself served as a remake of the SNES game, was one of the more shocking releases from the publisher in a good way. It felt like a ton of care and attention was put into making it feel great for newcomers and veteran fans. Tactics Ogre: Reborn on Switch is also the rare Square Enix remake that has no issues at all. It just feels perfect to play in handheld and docked, and fits the hybrid nature of the platform. Tactics Ogre: Reborn is one of Square Enix’s best releases in years, and an essential for tactical RPG fans.

STORY OF SEASONS: A Wonderful Life ($49.99)

Marvelous has brought quite a few Story of Seasons and Rune Factory games to Switch, but some of them have suffered technical issues. STORY OF SEASONS: A Wonderful Life, a remake of the GameCube and PS2 game, arrived on Switch and other platforms earlier this year. I hadn’t played the original release, so STORY OF SEASONS: A Wonderful Life felt like a brand new game for me. Not only is it a lovely remake, but it also serves as the best entry point into this legendary series on Switch.

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe ($59.99)

After Kirby Star Allies disappointed me, I longed for a return to form for the series’ 2D entries from the 3DS days. When I played Kirby and the Forgotten Land, I was blown away by how good it was, but I still hoped to have a great 2D entry. When Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe released, it was my first time playing the game, and it felt like the successor to the 3DS 2D games I always wanted, despite being a remake of a Wii game. The new content is also great, and Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is one of my favorite Kirby games.

Risk of Rain Returns ($14.99)

Risk of Rain Returns does enough to feel fresh, but manages to nail what I loved about the original with my rose tinted memories of it from back in the day on PS Vita. I adored playing Risk of Rain Returns on both Switch and Steam Deck recently, and it is the best version of a true indie classic for modern platforms. I hope it gets a Switch physical release soon, and can’t wait to play more of it over the years just like I did the original.

There are still so many great remakes like Blaster Master Zero, Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap, and more. I’d likely have been able to put together 25, but I wanted to keep this to just the best 10. With so many newer remakes as well, hopefully you found something you hadn’t played yet. If you think I missed something notable, please let me know in the comments below. As always, thanks for reading.

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/19/best-nintendo-switch-game-remakes-remasters-list-top-10/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/19/vampire-survivors-emergency-meeting-dlc-review-iphone-steam-deck-xbox-series-x-among-us-switch/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/19/vampire-survivors-emergency-meeting-dlc-review-iphone-steam-deck-xbox-series-x-among-us-switch/#respond Tue, 19 Dec 2023 19:12:56 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316292 Continue reading "‘Vampire Survivors’ Emergency Meeting DLC Review – Another Essential Purchase"
]]> Both Vampire Survivors (Free) from poncle and PowerWash Simulator (not on mobile yet) from FuturLab are games that delivered an immense amount of value, and kept going with free and paid content. While the former has had two superlative DLC packs, the latter has started faltering recently as we saw with the Back to the Future pack. When poncle announced the Vampire Survivors Emergency Meeting DLC, the first collaboration DLC, I was a bit concerned. Vampire Survivors continues to feel too good to be true with value and fun, so I keep thinking it might falter somehow. Would the first collaboration be that? Thankfully not. This review will cover the iOS, Steam Deck, and Xbox Series X versions.



On paper, the Vampire Survivors Emergency Meeting DLC was already worth it at just $2.49 even if it only added the one big map. The fact that it brings in 9 new characters, 15 new weapons, new music, and even and Adventure is just icing on the sus cake. As someone who hasn’t played much of Among Us, I was curious how I’d find this DLC. It turns out, it is still superb, and I feel like the possibilities here are even crazier than before just in the Adventure, let alone main modes.

In many cases, developers release DLC and expect you to only access it after playing a significant amount of the base game. With the Vampire Survivors DLC, you get access to the new maps directly thankfully, so if you’ve not played a lot of the main game, you can still access the new stage, Polus Replica. This is where you begin with whatever character you’ve unlocked from the base game, and work your way to unlocking the new content.



Developer poncle has made things better with it being very easy to see what you need to do to unlock new content. You no longer need to constantly keep a tab open on your browser for some guide. The new stage features new enemies, bosses, and a plethora of possibilities as you mix and match new and old items. Things get a bit too crazy, and I wish Valve had fixed the Steam Deck capture so I could show you how much the frame rate can drop after a complex run towards the end. Either way, I love how fun things are with the characters and weapons in the Vampire Survivors Emergency Meeting DLC.

Out of the new weapons and characters, Imposter Rina is definitely my favorite followed by the Scientist Mina. The Science Rocks and Vent are the funniest new items for sure, but the evolutions in this DLC really elevate it to a whole other level. I definitely recommend experiencing it through the Adventure when you can, because the team did a fantastic job with that.



Visually, Vampire Survivors Emergency Meeting DLC almost seamlessly transitions Among Us content and animations into its aesthetic. It just works and makes complete sense when you play the DLC level and start unlocking characters. While I haven’t played much of Among Us, the new music in Vampire Survivors Emergency Meeting DLC is really great. This soundtrack continues to be the gift that keeps on giving just like the game. It is complemented by the lovely new sounds for the weapons and items included in the DLC.

If you’re new to Vampire Survivors and haven’t gotten the prior DLC yet or played it in co-op, read my co-op impressions of the Steam version here, my Nintendo Switch review here, Steam Deck review of Vampire Survivors 1.0 here, Legacy of the Moonspell DLC review here, iOS review here, and Tides of the Foscari DLC review here. I’m a big fan, and I’m glad to see poncle continue the high quality free updates and DLC with 1.8 and the paid Vampire Survivors Emergency Meeting collaboration DLC.



Even if you don’t care or know about Among Us, the Vampire Survivors Emergency Meeting DLC is an essential purchase. It is just wild and crazy in the funniest possible ways while delivering so much through the characters, weapons, stage, and adventure included. I can’t wait to see what poncle does next for collaboration DLC, and Vampire Survivors Emergency Meeting is something I’m going to play a ton over the coming weeks as I try and unlock everything on all platforms. If you’ve not played Vampire Survivors in a while, grab this DLC (and prior DLC) and get back. Vampire Survivors deserves it. Hats off to poncle for this one. Both figuratively and in-game.

Vampire Survivors Emergency Meeting DLC review score: 5/5

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/19/vampire-survivors-emergency-meeting-dlc-review-iphone-steam-deck-xbox-series-x-among-us-switch/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/19/alien-isolation-mobile-price-discount-iphone-ipad-grid-autosport-feral-interactive/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/19/alien-isolation-mobile-price-discount-iphone-ipad-grid-autosport-feral-interactive/#respond Tue, 19 Dec 2023 09:57:42 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316266 Continue reading "‘Alien: Isolation’ for iOS Down to $9.99 From $14.99 for the First Time, ‘GRID Autosport’ Also Discounted"
]]> Ahead of the holidays, Feral Interactive’s superb iOS versions of Alien: Isolation ($14.99) and GRID Autosport ($9.99) are discounted. While there’s no mention of a discount on the App Store or socials, I’m unsure if this is a price cut or a limited time discount so keep that in mind. This is seemingly the first discount ever for Alien: Isolation on iOS. If you’ve not gotten it yet, read my glowing review of it here. We featured it as our Game of the Week as well when it launched. Watch the trailer for Alien: Isolation on mobile below:

Alien: Isolation on mobile includes all seven DLC packs in its usual price of $14.99. It is now down to $9.99. I don’t know when the price will or will not change, but now is a great time to grab it if you haven’t already. GRID Autosport is down to $7.99 from $9.99. Both are excellent showcases for your new phones if you’ve bought an iPhone 15 or 15 Pro series device recently. I enjoyed the former on iPad Pro quite a bit. You can buy Alien: Isolation on the App Store here. Check out our forum thread here. You can buy GRID Autosport on the App Store for iOS here. Have you played either of them on mobile yet?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/19/alien-isolation-mobile-price-discount-iphone-ipad-grid-autosport-feral-interactive/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/19/tiny-wings-2023-game-update-iphone-apple-arcade-new-levels-birds-unlock-missions-dlc/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/19/tiny-wings-2023-game-update-iphone-apple-arcade-new-levels-birds-unlock-missions-dlc/#respond Tue, 19 Dec 2023 05:28:58 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316262 Continue reading "New Surprise ‘Tiny Wings’ Update Brings In Over 100 Multicolored Birds To Unlock, 15 New Missions, and More"
]]> Back in 2021, the legendary Tiny Wings ($1.99) got its 10th anniversary update bringing in the new Manta Island to Flight School with 5 new levels, modern iPad support, and more. 2021 was also when Andreas Illiger’s classic released on Apple Arcade as Tiny Wings+. Today, it has gotten a surprise update with over a hundred multicolored birds to unlock, 15 new missions, new AI for the Flight School portion, and more. The update also adds an optional in app purchase to the standalone game. Watch the original gameplay trailer for it from many years ago below:

If you’ve still not played this somehow and own an iOS device, read our original 2011 review of it, the massive version 2.0 update from 2012, the Tuna Islands update from 2014, and the arrival of the Apple TV version from 2016. There are loads of amazing iOS games from a decade ago and now, but Tiny Wings remains timeless. It is great to see it still get support all these years later. It is worth trying if you haven’t already. Check it out on the App Store for iOS here and on Apple Arcade as Tiny Wings+ here.

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/19/tiny-wings-2023-game-update-iphone-apple-arcade-new-levels-birds-unlock-missions-dlc/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/a-highland-song-nintendo-switch-review-steamworld-build-update-eshop-price/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/a-highland-song-nintendo-switch-review-steamworld-build-update-eshop-price/#respond Mon, 18 Dec 2023 21:47:23 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316194 Continue reading "SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘SteamWorld Build’ & ‘A Highland Song’, Plus Today’s Releases and Sales"
]]> Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for December 18th, 2023. We’re kicking off the final week before Christmas with a few reviews, as I desperately try to clear my backlog before the end of the year. Today we’ve got evaluations of SteamWorld Build, A Highland Song, and While the Iron’s Hot. After that, we have some new releases to check out. A few decent platformer things and a couple not-so-good things. Then we have the usual lists of new and outgoing sales for you to consider. More than usual for a Monday in that new list. Let’s get to it!

Reviews & Mini-Views

SteamWorld Build ($29.99)



This is certainly an interesting turn for the SteamWorld series, but one that somehow manages to fit well. This series has been all over the place in terms of genres. We’ve had a tower defense game, a digging game with Metroidvania elements, a turn-based strategy game, a Metroidvania game with digging elements, and an RPG. And now with SteamWorld Build we have a city builder with digging elements. Sure, why not? It’s set in the same world as the other games, which can best be described as a mix of Steampunk Western and Steampunk Sci-Fi. You’re building your own robot mining town, while also exploring the underground for fortune and the answers to a mystery or two.

I think the SteamWorld games do a good job of being accessible and charming, and that’s exactly what you get here. Even if you don’t usually play city builders, you’ll find this one easy to get into. I also think the UI is quite well done for a console game, which is something a lot of games in this genre mess up when they make the hop to Switch. The tutorial walks you through everything you need to know, and you can skip it if you feel you don’t need it. The city building part of the game works very similarly to most other games in the genre, where you need to make use of your limited resources to try to keep your citizens happy along various parameters. As you go, you’ll unlock new types of buildings and what-not so that things are always staying fresh.



The underground part is an interesting twist. You’re basically having to dig out the mines to find materials and resources. But there are dangers down there, and you’ll need to build defenses to keep your workers safe. This ends up feeling like a cousin of the classic Dungeon Keeper, and that’s a peanut butter I’ll let into my chocolate any day of the week. The pacing is really nice in this game, and one thing always seems to lead into the next quite smoothly. There is an ultimate goal to the game, and it’s one you’ll get to almost inevitably in about ten hours. There are a few different types of maps you can play on, plus you can make the underground procedurally generate each time, adding a bit of replay value to the game.

SteamWorld Build is, like the other games in this series, a very friendly and well-paced game. I think that’s a double-edged blade, as veterans of the genre might find it all a bit too streamlined and deterministic. Still, the game is a really good time while it lasts, and I appreciate all the attempts to mix things up without losing the basic enjoyment this genre offers. The game plays really well on Switch, too. If you’re looking for a fun entry-level builder, you might want to give this a look.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

While the Iron’s Hot ($19.99)



I believe there to be a good idea at the core of While the Iron’s Hot. It’s an action-adventure game of sorts with a blacksmithing theme. It has really charming pixel art, and at first I really got into the way the game was progressing. There’s a pleasant mix of gameplay elements here, with a real attempt to keep things fresh by throwing some different mini-games and such at you. It almost has a puzzle-platformer vibe at times when you’re out gathering resources, and that’s something that could have been built on in interesting ways.

Unfortunately, I just found this game to get tiresome by a certain point. The story is one we’ve seen a million times before, the requests you have to fill for the NPCs just feel like an unending grind, and while the blacksmithing is fun it’s not really enough to carry the whole game on its back. Throw in a fair number of unpleasant bugs like randomly disappearing inventory items, and While the Iron’s Hot seems like it needed a bit more time in the fire.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

A Highland Song ($17.99)



It’s always comforting to see the inkle name on a game, because that is one publisher I know will never let me down. The visuals are going to be gorgeous, the soundtrack is going to be amazing, the writing is going to be excellent, and the gameplay will always be thoughtful even if it doesn’t fully click. A Highland Song is all of those things, and I’m happy to have it. At first I was expecting a good-looking narrative game, completely linear but a good enough ride that I wouldn’t care. But that’s not what A Highland Song is, really. Despite being a 2D affair, there’s a fair bit of exploration to this game and a lot of mysteries to uncover. While not exactly the same kind of thing, it gave me a lot of the same feelings that A Short Hike did.

You play as a girl named Moira who decides to run away from home after a letter from her uncle urges her to come to the lighthouse by the seaside where he lives. She sets off with only a few items in her backpack, determined to make her way across the highlands to see him. There’s a time limit in play, so you’ll not want to lollygag too much. At the same time, the path there isn’t as direct as you might initially expect. It branches at various points, and you’ll need to pick up hints and search out paths to find the best route. Some paths will only open after you solve puzzles, while others might require an item you could have found along your travels. You’ll come across little bits of lore and other points of interest, and can take in the view whenever you reach one of the many peaks of the Scottish Highlands.



Sometimes you’ll come across a deer, which results in Moira picking up speed and chasing after it. You’ll play a mini rhythm game of sorts as one of a selection of fine musical pieces plays. Successfully completing one of these will make Moira stronger, and they just feel good to play. But this isn’t simply a nice little outing. You’ll need to manage Moira’s health, stopping to rest when you can and sleep when you must. There’s a fair bit of rain that will make things a lot more miserable for Moira and might even prevent you from taking some paths.

You can’t just hunker down anywhere, either. You need to find proper shelter to sleep under unless you want to make things even worse. It’s possible you could get lost or wander around in circles, and once I found myself in a very tough situation due to Moira being exhausted and the way out being extremely treacherous. There’s a lot to see in A Highland Song, and not all of it will be along the optimal or easiest path. It is, nevertheless, worth seeing all of it. This is a case where the journey is the finest reward, and there are many different rewards awaiting those who poke around.



A Highland Song is another winner from inkle, and despite being a complete genre shift from 80 Days it has a lot of the same things going for it. It’s a beautiful game to be sure, and the writing is both meaningful and a pleasure to parse. But the gameplay itself uses what are fairly basic mechanics to create a surprisingly complex journey, one that offers so many secrets and branching paths that you’ll almost certainly want to play through it again the minute you arrive at the conclusion for the first time. A real joy, in every sense of the word.

SwitchArcade Score: 4.5/5

New Releases

The Monty Mole Collection ($6.99)



Well, it doesn’t get more British than this. You get emulated versions of the original trilogy of Gremlin’s Monty Mole games, plus two Monty-related bonuses in the form of Moley Christmas and Sam Stoat: Safebreaker. I can’t be 100% sure which versions of each game are here, but the smart money is on all of them being the Commodore 64 ones given the developer behind it. I suppose I’ll know once it unlocks for me. (Shaun of the Future here. It includes the Spectrum and C64 versions of all games where such options exist.)

Gates of the Mind ($14.99)



This doesn’t look like particularly fancy dining, but I like do like to give the benefit of the doubt with publishers that don’t ring a bell. Anyway, this is just a 2D platformer. Its main stand-out point is that the main character is a Canadian logger, and that’s certainly unusual. Not sure I’d gamble that fifteen bucks on Canuck power alone, but you do you.

Fireball Wizard ($9.99)



Well, I guess it’s one of those days. This is a rather modest-looking game, but it plays fairly well. You’re a wizard who needs to make their way through more than forty stages spread across four worlds. You get new abilities as you go and can upgrade your wizard’s powers. You might have played this one before on mobile, and if you haven’t you can always use that version to get a little taste of what you can expect. Decent five-dollar Switch platformer energy, but you know how inflation is recently.

The Bin Bunch

Tennis 2024 Simulator ($5.99)



Escape From The Island ($9.99)



Hentai Golf ($21.99)



Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

That is one mighty list for a Monday, friends. Lots of new low prices to consider, particularly on a few games that maybe cost a little too much for some at their regular prices. I’ll let you decide which games those are as you scan through the inbox. To counter the massive list of new sales, we only have one wrapping up. Easier to read!

Select New Sales



Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection ($26.99 from $29.99 until 1/2)
WorldWide FlightSimulator ($11.99 from $14.99 until 1/2)
Aireo FlightSimulator ($19.99 from $24.99 until 1/2)
Corpse Factory ($7.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Timelie ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Monster Harvest ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Spirit of the North ($4.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Aragami: Shadow Edition ($5.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Rogue Glitch Ultra ($9.59 from $11.99 until 1/5)
Blair Witch ($7.49 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Cloudpunk ($4.99 from $24.99 until 1/5)
Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Bramble: The Mountain King ($14.99 from $29.99 until 1/5)
No Place Like Home ($12.49 from $24.99 until 1/5)
Hirilun ($7.99 from $9.99 until 1/5)
Bulldozer Tycoon: Construction Simulator ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/5)


Aragami 2 ($15.99 from $39.99 until 1/5)
Pumpkin Jack ($7.49 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/5)
Spells & Secrets ($20.99 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Cry Babies Magic Tears: The Big Game ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/5)
Package Inc ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/5)
Time on Frog Island ($6.24 from $24.99 until 1/5)
Necrosmith ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/5)
Vaporum ($2.49 from $24.99 until 1/5)
Foreclosed ($2.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Deathrun TV ($2.24 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Buildings Have Feelings Too ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
UNBOX: Newbie’s Adventure ($2.99 from $29.99 until 1/5)
Bounty Battle ($2.49 from $24.99 until 1/5)
PAWfectly Designed ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)


Morbid: The Seven Acolytes ($3.74 from $24.99 until 1/5)
Ping Pong Arcade ($3.74 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Slaycation Paradise ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Truberbrook ($1.99 from $29.99 until 1/5)
FerroSlug ($2.26 from $5.67 until 1/5)
Bridge Constructor Ultimate ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Bridge Constructor Portal ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/5)
Super Mabus Mania ($3.15 from $7.89 until 1/5)
Nape Retroverse Collection ($2.79 from $6.99 until 1/5)
WarriOrb ($1.99 from $12.99 until 1/5)
Darker Skies ($2.69 from $17.99 until 1/5)
Rytmos ($6.00 from $15.00 until 1/5)
Fresh Start ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/5)
Operation Wolf Returns: 1st Mission ($17.99 from $29.99 until 1/6)


Vernal Edge ($15.39 from $21.99 until 1/6)
Mari & Bayu: The Road Home ($10.19 from $16.99 until 1/6)
Healer’s Quest ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/6)
Astrologaster ($3.99 from $9.99 until 1/6)
Skelittle: A Giant Party ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/6)
Ashwalkers ($8.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Burly Men at Sea ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/6)
Lost Phone Stories ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/6)
Foretales ($13.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Pompom: The Great Space Rescue ($5.49 from $9.99 until 1/6)
Instant Sports Winter Games ($12.49 from $24.99 until 1/6)
Instant Sports Plus ($16.24 from $24.99 until 1/6)
Instant Sports Summer Games ($5.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Instant Sports ($4.49 from $14.99 until 1/6)
My Universe: My Baby Dragon ($11.99 from $29.99 until 1/6)


My Universe: Puppies & Kittens ($4.99 from $24.99 until 1/6)
Letters: A Written Adventure ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/6)
Ruggnar ($8.39 from $13.99 until 1/6)
Gravity Circuit ($16.49 from $21.99 until 1/6)
Skabma: Snowfall ($18.74 from $24.99 until 1/6)
Abandon Ship ($9.99 from $24.99 until 1/6)
Elypse ($14.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Nocturnal ($13.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Ghost of a Tale ($8.74 from $24.99 until 1/6)
Linelight ($3.49 from $9.99 until 1/6)
Children of Zodiarcs ($3.59 from $17.99 until 1/6)
Before I Forget ($4.39 from $7.99 until 1/6)
They Always Run ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Double Kick Heroes ($8.79 from $21.99 until 1/6)
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure ($6.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)


Revita ($11.89 from $16.99 until 1/6)
Out of Space: Couch Edition ($2.99 from $9.99 until 1/6)
Piczle Cross Adventure ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/6)
PictoQuest ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/6)
ScourgeBringer ($5.94 from $16.99 until 1/6)
Lethis: Path of Progress ($6.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Chroma Squad ($2.99 from $14.99 until 1/6)
Astria Ascending ($17.99 from $39.99 until 1/6)
The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk ($17.99 from $39.99 until 1/6)
Guild of Ascension ($7.64 from $16.99 until 1/6)
Cassiodora ($11.04 from $16.99 until 1/6)
Run: The World In-Between ($5.99 from $9.99 until 1/6)
Souldiers ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)
Iris and the Giant ($5.24 from $14.99 until 1/6)
Scrap Riders ($7.99 from $19.99 until 1/6)


Old School Musical ($2.59 from $12.99 until 1/6)
Spirit of the Island ($19.99 from $24.99 until 1/6)
KnifeBoy Rebooted ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/7)
Red Colony ($3.49 from $6.99 until 1/7)
Red Colony 2 ($3.49 from $6.99 until 1/7)
Red Colony 3 ($3.49 from $6.99 until 1/7)
Killer Frequency ($12.49 from $24.99 until 1/7)
Retro Revengers ($8.90 from $9.90 until 1/7)
Retro Mystery Club Vol.1: Ise-Shima Case ($8.90 from $9.90 until 1/7)
Menseki: Area Maze Search ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/7)
Epic Chef ($2.49 from $24.99 until 1/7)
Crown Trick ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/7)
King of Seas ($2.49 from $24.99 until 1/7)
Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/7)
Neon Abyss ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/7)
The Survivalists ($2.49 from $24.99 until 1/7)
Yooka-Laylee & the Impossible Lair ($2.99 from $29.99 until 1/7)
Monster Sanctuary ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/7)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, December 19th



Retro Rollers Bundle ($2.99 from $9.99 until 12/19)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with more reviews, more new releases, more sales, and perhaps some news. The weather has been all over the place lately, with some days I’d say have been nearly summer-like this month. Today, however, is quite chilly. I didn’t dress for it, so I’m the fool now. That’s how it goes sometimes. I hope you all have a magnificent Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/a-highland-song-nintendo-switch-review-steamworld-build-update-eshop-price/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/best-iphone-game-updates-diablo-immortal-jetpack-joyride-gubbins-mortal-kombat-and-more/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/best-iphone-game-updates-diablo-immortal-jetpack-joyride-gubbins-mortal-kombat-and-more/#respond Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:50:37 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316229 Continue reading "Best iPhone Game Updates: ‘Diablo Immortal’, ‘Jetpack Joyride’, ‘Gubbins’, ‘Mortal Kombat’, and More"
]]> Hello everyone, and welcome to the week! It’s time once again for our look back at the noteworthy updates of the last seven days. We’re right on the door step of Christmas, and that means most of the updates will have a certain gingerbread and wrapping paper tinge to them. I’ve gathered up a bunch for you to look over today. Of course, you can keep an eye out for updates yourself by participating in the TouchArcade forums. This weekly summary is just here to fill you in on the things you might have missed. Let’s go for it!


GUBBINS — It's a word game, Free A cute little update for this cute little word game. There are some limited-time Christmas-themed stickers and postcards you can use. Some new accessibility options, a new Daily Streak counter, and some updates to the UI and dictionary. There are also a whole mess of bug fixes, which is nice to see. I didn’t really run into any so far, but now that they’re fixed, I’ll double not run into them!



Jetpack Joyride, Free And now it is time for the Jetpack Joyride Christmas event. Collect flying baubles to earn some cool seasonal prizes, like the Cozy Cuddles, the Holiday Hues Jetpack, the Party Crown, and of course, the Ugly Sweater. Everything is nicely decked out in holiday style, so put on your toque and down jacket and get collecting! Or just spend money! Both are appropriate for the season.



MARVEL Future Fight, Free Oh right, What If Season 2 starts airing on Disney Plus soon. Cool. Looks like Marvel Future Fight is the only game doing a tie-in with it, giving us the new hero Kahhori and some new uniforms for Hela, Wenwu, and Super Nova Nebula. Hela gets her Tier-4 advancement, and Wenwu goes Tier-3. A Kahhori-themed Event Battle has been added, and there’s a new What If themed comic card collection. No Spider-Mans though, so I’m keeping my coveted award for now.



Disney Magic Kingdoms, Free To introduce this update, that’s what I’m here to do, and so I’m very honored, to introduce to you… Kermit the Frog! And many other Muppets, including Rowlf, The Swedish Chef, Animal, and of course the elegant Miss Piggy. The new attractions include Kermit’s Swamp and Muppet*Vision 3D, and there are some new concessions in the form of the Animal Mask Stand and the Sam Eagle Sipper Stand. It’s all capped off with the Muppets Parade Float. I do love the Muppets. Might be a generational thing, not sure.



Injustice 2, Free An exceptionally rare Injustice 2 update, but I suppose with Aquaman 2 around the corner it was to be expected. There’s a new Realm Klash Solo Raid event that sees Scorpion crashing the DC party, some new Winter Login bonuses, some stuff related to the Aquaman movie, a new Legendary Hero in the form of Ocean Master Orm, and some bug fixes. Well, that should keep the engine purring until the next DC movie. When is that again?



Mortal Kombat, Free Mortal Kombat also got an update, which I guess is appropriate given what’s going on with its sister game. This update sees Edenian Blood Sindel join the game, finishing up the Edenian Blood team. She’s a nasty piece of work, so team her up with Edenian Blood Rain and Edenian Blood Kitana to see some sparks really fly. There are some new Kombat Pass seasons, returning Tower Events, a Holiday Advent Calendar, and a bunch of bug fixes and performance improvements. Sounds pretty good.



Diablo Immortal, Free A big update for Diablo Immortal, for those of you still playing. It’s called Splintered Souls, and it features a brand new zone to explore, five new Helliquary bosses to battle, a new event to join in on, some new mystical companions, and plenty of winter-themed shenanigans to partake of. Some of it went live last week, while other bits of it will spill out as this week goes on. Be sure to check in and see what’s new, if you’re that-way inclined.



Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Alright, time to use my executive powers here. I’m giving the coveted UMMSotW award to Hello Kitty Island Adventure this week without so much as looking at the update because I like the game so much. Let’s see what I’ve awarded it to. The Lighttime Jubilee has arrived on the island, and the whole gang is going to celebrate the end of year with a lovely light display. But to do that, you’re going to need a lot of lights. Explore the island and collect them to help out and you’ll be rewarded with some new furniture and decorations to fit the season. There are also some new visitors rolling up to the island: My Melody’s Mama, Papa, Grandma, and Grandpa to be exact. Ah, family for the holidays. Poor My Melody.



Angry Birds Reloaded, It might be winter, but these birds aren’t planning on heading south anytime soon. The Snowball Showdown episode gives you thirty new levels to play in the Secret Area, and Ice Bird and Matilda are dressed for the season with some new winter-themed skins. Throw in a jaunty holiday theme song and that’ll about do it for the Angry Birds for this year. Or at least, I think so?



Subway Surfers, Free Alright, let’s wrap this one up with a look at the latest version of Subway Surfers, which naturally sees the kids head to the North Pole. Clockwork Johnny and Captain Flash are the toy robots all the kids want, and you can unlock them and their sweet boards by completing some festive challenges. Bob the Blob also has some new threads to show off, and I think that’s adorable. There are various freebies and not-so-freebies available for the season as well, so fill your boots if you want.

That about wraps it up for last week’s significant updates. I’m sure I’ve missed some, though, so please feel free to comment below and let everyone know if you think something should be mentioned. As usual, major updates will likely get their own news stories throughout this week, and I’ll be back next Tuesday (I’m taking Christmas Day off) to summarize and fill in the blanks. Have a great week!

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/best-iphone-game-updates-diablo-immortal-jetpack-joyride-gubbins-mortal-kombat-and-more/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/monster-hunter-now-happy-hunting-new-year-event-pink-rathian-black-diablos-boosted-appearance-rate-events-zinogre-huntathons-bundle/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/monster-hunter-now-happy-hunting-new-year-event-pink-rathian-black-diablos-boosted-appearance-rate-events-zinogre-huntathons-bundle/#respond Mon, 18 Dec 2023 11:46:34 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316217 Continue reading "‘Monster Hunter Now’ Happy Hunting New Year Event Announced With the Return of Black Diablos, Pink Rathian, and Zinogre Hunt-a-thons"
]]> Niantic and Capcom just revealed a new event in Monster Hunter Now (Free) on iOS and Android to bring in 2024. If you’ve not played the game in a while, they recently added Hunt-a-thons which are raid-like experiences balanced for multiplayer, but playable solo. This was around the time Radobaan, Banbaro, Barioth, and Zinogre were added to the game in the first major title update. The Monster Hunter Now Happy Hunting New Year event sees a boosted appearance rate for Zinogre hunt-a-thons and the return of Pink Rathian and Black Diablos. Pink Rathian will be coming back from December 23rd at 9 AM until December 31st at midnight while Black Diablos will be returning from January 1st 2024 at 00:00 until January 8th 2024 at midnight.

Zinogre’s hunt-a-thons will see boosted appearances throughout. The highlight of the event for me is more monsters appearing in shorter intervals between 1 PM and 6 PM from December 23rd until January 8th. There will also be some new in-game bundles available to buy. Details are here.



If you are planning to start playing the game, I put together some (newly updated) tips and tricks for the game, details on the weapons, special skills, the current monsters list, my wishlist for future update monsters, and more. You can grab Monster Hunter Now on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. The in app purchases include different sets of gems and upgrades. Check out the official website here. What do you think of Monster Hunter Now if you’ve been playing it and did you try a Hunt-a-thon yet?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/monster-hunter-now-happy-hunting-new-year-event-pink-rathian-black-diablos-boosted-appearance-rate-events-zinogre-huntathons-bundle/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/death-stranding-directors-cut-iphone-15-pro-release-date-delayed-early-2024-ipad-pro-m1-macbook/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/death-stranding-directors-cut-iphone-15-pro-release-date-delayed-early-2024-ipad-pro-m1-macbook/#respond Mon, 18 Dec 2023 10:55:05 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316141 Continue reading "‘Death Stranding Director’s Cut’ Release Date for iPhone 15 Pro, iPad M1, and Mac Delayed to Early 2024"
]]> At Apple’s iPhone 15 event, it was confirmed that Resident Evil 4 Remake and more games including Kojima Productions’ Death Stranding Director’s Cut are coming to the iPhone 15 Pro series of devices. Kojima Productions then confirmed that Death Stranding Director’s Cut would also hit M1 powered iPad and Mac devices. Originally set for release by the end of this year, Death Stranding Director’s Cut is now set for early 2024 as confirmed by publisher 505 Games in a Tweet which you can view below:

Here at @505_Games and @KojiPro2015_EN, we are excited to launch #DeathStrandingDC on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. We just need a little more time!

Stay tuned for a new release date in early 2024.

We can't wait to welcome more Porters to DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT. pic.twitter.com/zCa9Tcecd4

— 505 Games (@505_Games) December 15, 2023

Death Stranding Director’s Cut pricing has not yet been revealed for iPhone and iPad, and it is unknown whether it will be free to try like the new Resident Evil releases. On Steam, this version is priced at $39.99 while it is $49.99 on PS5. I’m very curious to see what pricing it uses, but I expect it will match Steam with some launch discount. How this scales on iPhone 15 Pro since it uses Guerrilla Games’ Decima engine is also going to be interesting. Speaking of how it scales, I was impressed with it on Steam Deck, and I included Death Stranding Director’s Cut in last year’s best Steam Deck games article which you can read here as well. Have you played Death Stranding on any platform yet?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/death-stranding-directors-cut-iphone-15-pro-release-date-delayed-early-2024-ipad-pro-m1-macbook/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/vampire-survivors-among-us-dlc-adventures-update-download-out-now-iphone-android-price/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/vampire-survivors-among-us-dlc-adventures-update-download-out-now-iphone-android-price/#respond Mon, 18 Dec 2023 09:33:27 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316199 Continue reading "Vampire Survivors Among Us DLC Out Today on Mobile With Adventures Update Included, Switch Update Coming Later"
]]> Developer poncle recently announced the first collaboration DLC for Vampire Survivors (Free) with the Emergency Meeting Among Us pack that was announced for xbox and PC release today. The Switch and mobile versions were to get the update later. poncle confirmed that iOS and Android will be getting the DLC today, and it should be rolling out now for $2.49 with a discount on select platforms. This DLC adds a big map, 9 new characters, 15 new weapons, and of course new music as well. Vampire Survivors on iOS and Android also gets the big Adventures Update today. If you’ve not tried it on any platform yet, here’s how to access the new content. Watch the Vampire Survivors Emergency Meeting DLC launch trailer below:

The Vampire Survivors DLC is up as an in app purchase on iOS and Android, but it won’t be available in-game until the big update has rolled out. Grab it on Steam here. The full FAQ about the DLC is also live here. If you’ve not played the game in a while, read my co-op impressions of the Steam version here and my Nintendo Switch review here. You can also read my Steam Deck review of Vampire Survivors here, Legacy of the Moonspell DLC review here, iOS review here, and Tides of the Foscari DLC review here. We featured it as our Game of the Week as well when it launched. You can get Vampire Survivors on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. Check out our forum thread here for more discussion and impressions around the game. Have you been playing it recently on any platform?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/vampire-survivors-among-us-dlc-adventures-update-download-out-now-iphone-android-price/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/gta-san-andreas-vice-city-gta-3-cheats-definitive-edition-netflix-mobile-iphone-android-ipad-guide-how-to-use/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/gta-san-andreas-vice-city-gta-3-cheats-definitive-edition-netflix-mobile-iphone-android-ipad-guide-how-to-use/#respond Mon, 18 Dec 2023 07:25:00 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316134 Continue reading "How To Use Cheat Codes in ‘Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – the Definitive Edition’ on Mobile With a Controller and Touch Controls – San Andreas, Vice City, and GTA III"
]]> Last week, Rockstar Games’ remake/remaster of the classic trilogy finally hit on iOS and Android through Netflix Games and as standalone releases for $19.99 each. This got me nostalgic about the good old days when games had cheat codes. Remember those? It turns out Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition for mobile and Netflix does support cheat codes, and there are two ways to input them. This guide will cover both, but will not list all the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition mobile cheat codes. The cheats are the same as before. Yes, that includes “PROFESSIONALTOOLS" and “NUTTERTOOLS" in Vice City, “WHOATEALLTHEPIES" and “INEEDSOMEHELP" in San Andreas, and “GUNSGUNSGUNS" in GTA III.



How to use cheat codes in Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition?

This part covers touch controls. Once you’ve loaded your save and are in-game, you need to tap the map on the corner of the screen. Then tap options and go to the accessibility tab on the right. Below the Color Blind Mode, there’s an Enter Cheat Code button. Tapping this brings up the keyboard and you can use the same PC cheats from years ago. I haven’t tested them all, but the ones I remember all work.



How to use cheat codes in Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition with a controller?

This is a bit easier. Once you’ve loaded your save and are in-game, you can input the same button combinations as before for the console cheat codes. This can be used for cheats like “250k money, full health, and armor" in San Andreas by inputting: “RB, RT, LB, A, Left, Down, Right, Up, Left, Down, Right, Up" on an Xbox controller. You can also use the same method for the PC ones, but you will have to type using the on-screen keyboard. The screenshots included will make it easier for you.



If you’d like to play Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition and have an active Netflix subscription, you can grab Vice City here, GTA III here, and San Andreas here. If you want to buy them standalone for $19.99 each, check out Vice City here, GTA III here, and San Andreas here. The discounted bundle for the original releases is also available on iOS. What do you think of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition if you played them on PC and consoles before and will you be trying them on mobile?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/gta-san-andreas-vice-city-gta-3-cheats-definitive-edition-netflix-mobile-iphone-android-ipad-guide-how-to-use/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/genshin-impact-version-4-3-update-download-size-preinstall-resource-package-iphone-android-pc-ios/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/genshin-impact-version-4-3-update-download-size-preinstall-resource-package-iphone-android-pc-ios/#respond Mon, 18 Dec 2023 06:40:43 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316179 Continue reading "‘Genshin Impact’ Version 4.3 Update “Roses and Muskets” Pre-Installation Is Now Live, Download Size Revealed for Mobile and PC"
]]> The next major Genshin Impact (Free) update is due this Wednesday for iOS, Android, PS5, PS4, and PC platforms, and pre-installation has just gone live on mobile and PC. Genshin Impact 4.3 “Roses and Muskets" will bring in Navia and Chevreuse, reruns (Ayaka, Raiden Shogun, and Yoimiya), the Fontinalia Film Festival, new Fontainian features for the TCG, quality of life improvements, and more. If you’re on mobile and PC, you can predownload the update now. The download size is 2.3GB on iOS and about 12GB on PC. In addition to the update, HoYoverse showcased the full Shanghai Performance Recording of the concert. I’ve linked it below the trailer. Watch the Genshin Impact 4.3 Navia character trailer below:

Watch the “Genshin Impact Orchestral Concert 2023" Official Shanghai Performance Recording full video below:

If you’ve not gotten it yet, you can download Genshin Impact for free on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. The PC version is available on the official website here and the Epic Games Store. If you play on iOS, with iOS 14.5 or iPadOS 14.5 and later, you can use PS5 and Xbox Series X|S controllers to play Genshin Impact. We featured Genshin Impact as our Game of the Week when it released and awarded it our 2020 Game of the Year. I also featured it as one of the best iOS games to play with a controller. What do you think of Genshin Impact 4.3 so far from what’s been shown and will you be watching the concert?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/18/genshin-impact-version-4-3-update-download-size-preinstall-resource-package-iphone-android-pc-ios/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/17/resident-evil-4-remake-iphone-15-pro-discount-price-launch-ipad-macbook-m1/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/17/resident-evil-4-remake-iphone-15-pro-discount-price-launch-ipad-macbook-m1/#respond Mon, 18 Dec 2023 04:24:48 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316130 Continue reading "‘Resident Evil 4’ Remake Launch Discount Price Revealed for iPhone 15 Pro, iPad Pro, and macOS"
]]> Over the weekend, Capcom released a new promotional video for the upcoming Apple device port of Resident Evil 4 Remake (Free) ahead of its launch on December 20th worldwide. Resident Evil 4 Remake debuted on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam earlier this year priced at $59.99, and the unlock price on mobile was confirmed to be the same with similar DLC pricing. This new video from Capcom confirms a release celebration sale for the unlock pricing on the App Store. Resident Evil 4 Separate Ways is also confirmed to be released on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. If you haven’t already, read my Steam Deck review of Resident Evil 4 Remake here and Separate Ways here. Watch the new Resident Evil 4 Remake Apple Devices promo video below:

Resident Evil 4 Remake’s full game unlock will be 50% off and the DLC bundle (to upgrade to the Deluxe Edition on PC/console) will be 25% off. This brings the full game unlock to $29.99 for a limited time. An end date hasn’t been revealed yet. Resident Evil 4 Remake launches on Wednesday. I’ll be reviewing this and comparing it to the Steam Deck and console versions of the game soon. You can pre-order it here on the App Store for free. Resident Evil 4 Remake is a universal purchase including iOS, iPadOS, and macOS together with save syncing and more. The additional DLC is the Separate Ways, DLC bundle (weapons and cosmetics), and upgrade tickets just like on PC and consoles. Will you be trying out Resident Evil 4 Remake on Apple devices this week and what did you think of Resident Evil Village if you tried it on iPhone and iPad?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/17/resident-evil-4-remake-iphone-15-pro-discount-price-launch-ipad-macbook-m1/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/toucharcade-game-of-the-week-little-nightmares/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/toucharcade-game-of-the-week-little-nightmares/#respond Sat, 16 Dec 2023 01:43:22 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316116 Continue reading "TouchArcade Game of the Week: ‘Little Nightmares’"
]]> I can still remember how gobsmacked I was when I first laid eyes on Little Nightmares from Tarsier Studios. It was a trailer from one of the game’s very early reveals, 7 or 8 years ago, and during some manner of gaming event that I can’t quite recall. E3? Gamescom? Who knows. What I do remember vividly was a small child in a raincoat, wandering through some incredibly creepy environments, trying not to draw the attention of some seriously grotesque-looking individuals. The lighting, the depth-of-field trickery, the overall aesthetic of Little Nightmares was something that just spoke to me, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.

Well, this is a story as old as time at this point, but I did not in fact ever get my hands on it. Too many games, too little time, yadda, yadda, yadda. Little Nightmares somehow escaped into my backlog of shame, and now some six-plus years after it initially released and I still hadn’t gotten around to it. It’s not like it’s inaccessible to me, I own it! On two platforms no less, but it’s just never found its way in front of my eyeballs. However, what’s a surefire way to force me to finally try a game I’ve been meaning to try for years? Release it on mobile! Which is exactly what Playdigious has done with Little Nightmares this week. And unsurprisingly I’m kicking myself for not trying this game sooner.

There’s no polite way to put this: Little Nightmares is messed up. Right from the gate this game is filled with all sorts of disturbing imagery, made all the more disturbing by the juxtaposition of you playing as a helpless child. A child trapped in an awful place called The Maw, filled with awful people and awful things. This is a horror game, first and foremost. The actual mechanics fall somewhere between platformer and puzzle game, and if I’m being honest those are the least interesting bits for me. Some of the platforming is kind of awkward, some of the puzzling kind of obtuse, and in general I’m enjoying the parts where I’m just exploring new areas and being freaked out by whatever might be around the next corner more than I’m enjoying the “gamey" bits.

I would say these same criticisms are true of games like LIMBO and Inside as well, which Little Nightmares is very analogous to. Those games are all about the atmosphere, which Little Nightmares has in spades. The occasionally clunky gaming bits don’t really detract from the overall experience, and Playdigious has done a marvelous job of coming up with a unique gesture-based control system to clear the screen of clutter so you can focus on the great atmosphere and visuals (and not to be overlooked, the killer sound design). There’s also an option for more traditional virtual buttons as well as full controller support. Whatever way you choose to tackle Little Nightmares you’re covered, and it’s awesome having an experience like this available in my pocket.

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/toucharcade-game-of-the-week-little-nightmares/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/super-mario-bros-wonder-tetris-99-theme-event-download-now-available-switch/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/super-mario-bros-wonder-tetris-99-theme-event-download-now-available-switch/#respond Fri, 15 Dec 2023 22:27:14 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316058 Continue reading "SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘Hirilun’, ‘Piyokoro’, Plus Today’s Other Releases, News, and Sales"
]]> Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for December 15th, 2023. It’s the last day before the weekend, and that means we have to mop up the remaining releases of the week. As you might expect this close to Christmas, we’re not exactly swimming in banner titles today. Still some decent ones, though. We’ve also got a little news for you to snack on, plus the usual lists of new and outgoing sales. Plenty of new sales today, by the looks of it. Let’s get to the games!

News

The ‘Super Mario Bros. Wonder’ Event in ‘Tetris 99’ Is On Now

The final Maximus Cup event of 2023 for Tetris 99 officially kicked off today. The subject this time is Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and the accompanying theme for it is pretty cool. A little distracting, but cool. As usual, you’ll earn event points by playing while the event is on, with the number of points corresponding to how high you rank. If you earn one hundred event points before the event finishes, you’ll get to keep the theme and use it whenever you like. The event runs through the end of this weekend, so don’t wait around too long to get it done if you want the theme.

New Releases

Hirilun ($9.99)



This is a first-person platformer with a distinctive style to its visuals. Each stage offers multiple routes, and your best times are saved so that you can try to outdo them on your next go around. Some power-ups add a bit of extra something-something to the fun. I haven’t had a chance to play it yet, so I can’t say if it’s as good as it looks, but I will concede that it does look rather nice.

Piyokoro ($8.99)



Oh hey, this is a cute one. You have these little round birds, and you have to roll them to the goal using various platforms and blocks. It sort of, extremely vaguely, reminds me of Kirby Canvas Curse, and that’s a good thing to be reminding me of. You an also make your own stages, if that’s a thing you like to do. Yes, this seems perfectly nice for what it is. Puzzle fans could do worse today, for sure.

All of Us Are Dead ($19.99)



A visual novel based on a webcomic series that was popular enough to have a live-action drama made of it. A bunch of students are trapped in their school after a zombie virus breaks out and turns their friends and teachers into the living undead. Make your choices and try to keep everyone alive. I’ve been over this kind of premise for more than a decade now, but if you still can’t get enough of zombies and enjoy visual novels, here you go.

Japan Train Models – JR West Edition ($13.99)



Like the previously released JR East Edition, this isn’t really a game so much as a virtual toy set of sorts. You can make little scenes and what-not using officially licensed Japan Rail trains and various other parts. This isn’t for me, but it’s definitely for someone.

Reef Escape ($14.99)



You play as a little worm in a bubble who is trying to escape from the reef it fell into after getting out of a fisherman’s bait can. Avoid the obstacles, search for secrets, and see if you can make it through without being eaten. This doesn’t look terribly fancy for the price, but that’s just my feeling.

Sakura Agent ($9.99)



Another Sakura visual novel, and I imagine we all know what to expect by now. The theme this time is that the cute ladies are secret agents, and there are some extra-dimensional forces attacking our world. I don’t know. Make choices, get smooches. Maybe save everyone? Your call.

The Bin Bunch

Stickman’s Arena ($4.99)



Poly Shooting Simulator ($7.99)



Never Be Afraid Slam Dunk ($19.99)



Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Lots of indies on sale today, and there are many more besides what I’ve put here. Head on to the eShop and see if anything from your Wish List is on sale, or sift through this list for some goodies. There is practically nothing in the outbox, so you don’t have to worry too much there.

Select New Sales



Tadpole Treble Encore ($4.49 from $8.99 until 12/29)
Loco Parentis ($4.09 from $9.99 until 12/29)
BDSM Big Drunk Satanic Massacre ($5.19 from $19.99 until 12/29)
Rento Fortune Monolit ($5.99 from $9.99 until 12/29)
Puddle Knights ($3.39 from $9.99 until 12/29)
Robotry ($4.99 from $12.49 until 12/29)
Vostok 2061 ($4.05 from $9.90 until 12/29)
Tape: Unveil the Memories ($8.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
The Last Worker ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Elta7 ($3.09 from $15.49 until 1/1)
Pupperazzi ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Tiny Troopers: Global Ops ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Light Fingers ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Tin Hearts ($17.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)
Boyfriend Dungeon ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)


Hellboy Web of Wyrd ($18.74 from $24.99 until 1/1)
art of rally ($13.74 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Sandream ($4.99 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Kittengumi: The Sakaboto’s Thief ($7.49 from $9.99 until 1/1)
Arcade Paradise ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Paper Dash: Ghost Hunt ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/2)
Golazo! 2 ($3.74 from $14.99 until 1/3)
Fall of Porcupine ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Ultimate ADOM: Caverns of Chaos ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Oaken ($5.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Pizza Tycoon ($2.09 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Far: Lone Sails ($2.09 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Super Planet Life ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/4)
Orbital Bullet ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
The Testament of Sherlock Holmes ($8.74 from $24.99 until 1/4)


A Juggler’s Tale ($2.15 from $17.99 until 1/4)
Castle on the Coast ($2.24 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Big Pharma ($3.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Effie ($2.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Interrogation: You Will Be Deceived ($2.07 from $12.99 until 1/4)
May’s Mysteries: Secret of Dragonville ($4.94 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Weedcraft Inc ($14.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Itorah ($5.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Minute of Islands ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Dungeon and Gravestone ($4.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Ginsha ($14.95 from $17.80 until 1/4)
BlockQuest Maker Complete ($4.99 from $24.97 until 1/4)
DoDonPachi Resurrection ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Espgaluda II ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Mushihimesama ($11.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)


Whispike Survivors ($1.99 from $2.99 until 1/4)
Dolphin Spirit: Ocean Mission ($23.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Watch ($4.19 from $5.99 until 1/4)
Everybody’s Home Run Rush ($2.00 from $5.00 until 1/4)
Kung Fury: Street Rage Ultimate ($4.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Inspector Gadget: MAD Time Party ($27.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Mercenaries Rebirth: Call of the Wild Lynx ($13.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Heist Force ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/4)
BROK the InvestiGator ($14.99 from $24.99 until 1/4)
Earth Defense Force: World Brothers ($19.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Pub Encounter ($6.79 from $16.99 until 1/4)
Destiny’s Princess: A War Story, A Love Story ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Office Lovers ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Dangerous Relationship ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Secrets of Me ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)


THE Bass Fishing ($2.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
THE Card Perfect Collection ($8.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Samurai Maiden Deluxe Edition ($44.99 from $74.99 until 1/4)
Forest Golf Planner ($7.20 from $12.00 until 1/4)
Dream Park Story ($7.00 from $14.00 until 1/4)
Pocket Academy 3 ($7.00 from $14.00 until 1/4)
Zoo Park Story ($7.20 from $12.00 until 1/4)
Dungeon Village 2 ($6.00 from $12.00 until 1/4)
Game Dev Story ($2.80 from $14.00 until 1/4)
Astronite ($10.49 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Neighbours Back From Hell ($4.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Spitlings ($2.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Radiant Silvergun ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Dicey Dungeons ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
The Creepy Syndrome ($3.49 from $4.99 until 1/4)


Createscape Town Nyanzou & Kumakichi ($2.00 from $4.90 until 1/4)
Prepare the First RPG Village Nyanzou & Kumakichi ($2.00 from $4.90 until 1/4)
Escape from Mirrorland Nyanzou & Kumakichi ($2.00 from $4.90 until 1/4)
Let’s Get Changed! Nyanzou & Kumakichi ($9.80 from $19.80 until 1/4)
Cape’s Escape Game 3rd Room ($2.00 from $9.80 until 1/4)
Marco & The Galaxy Dragon ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Hashihime of the Old Book Town Append ($30.82 from $61.64 until 1/4)
Steam Prison ($32.74 from $65.49 until 1/4)
Ephemeral: Fantasy on Dark ($18.99 from $37.99 until 1/4)
Hypnospace Outlaw ($6.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Nowhere Prophet ($2.49 from $24.99 until 1/4)
The Crimson Flower that Divides ($23.44 from $46.89 until 1/4)
Rad Rodgers Radical Edition ($4.49 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Warm Snow ($13.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Agatha Christie: The Orient Express ($27.99 from $39.99 until 1/4)
Cats on Streets ($1.99 from $3.99 until 1/4)

Sales Ending This Weekend



Demon Turf ($12.49 from $24.99 until 12/16)
Demon Turf: Neon Splash ($3.49 from $4.99 until 12/16)
Sunwards ($7.50 from $15.00 until 12/17)
Yeah! Fighting Girl ($7.50 from $15.00 until 12/17)

That’s all for today and this week, friends. We’ll be back next week with more reviews, more new releases, more sales, and perhaps some news. I suppose I’d better get to wrapping the presents this weekend. Time is ticking on that particular task. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and as always, thanks for reading!

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/super-mario-bros-wonder-tetris-99-theme-event-download-now-available-switch/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/metal-slug-2-mobile-game-review-aca-neogeo-iphone-android/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/metal-slug-2-mobile-game-review-aca-neogeo-iphone-android/#respond Fri, 15 Dec 2023 20:08:33 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316089 Continue reading "‘Metal Slug 2 ACA NEOGEO’ Review – Double the Action, Double the Slowdown, Double the Releases"
]]> I think Hamster and SNK might be speedrunning these now. Another week has passed, and we’ve got another ACA NEOGEO release that essentially replaces an existing app. That’s all well and good, since the older versions of these apps are over a decade old. They need to either be overhauled or replaced, and in light of pretty much the entire first-party library of the NEOGEO being released through the brand-consistent ACA NEOGEO line, it’s not surprising SNK has opted for the latter choice. I do wish the old apps would be removed from sale when this happens, but what can you do? The latest game to get the treatment is Metal Slug 2 ACA NEOGEO ($3.99), the first sequel in the popular run-and-gun franchise.

If you’ve read any of my recent reviews of games that follow in this pattern, you can skip ahead to the next paragraph. This is just my general recommendation that you avoid picking up Dotemu’s conversion of Metal Slug 2 that at the time of this writing remains on the store. Yes, it’s a dollar cheaper. But it’s only a dollar, and I think the differences here more than make up for that extra buck you spend. This new version is not only likely to have a far longer future, but also is designed for modern devices and their displays, which are things we cannot say for the older version. You get more options and extra features with the new version, and greater compatibility with external controllers. Spend that extra dollar, you deserve the treat.



Metal Slug was likely a pretty big surprise to SNK when it released back in 1996. Nazca Corporation, the developer behind the game, was a team formed by ex-Irem employees who had left the company to pursue their ambitions. This was a seasoned bunch, having worked together on games at Irem such as Air Duel, Undercover Cops, GunForce II, and perhaps most famously, In The Hunt. Nevertheless, its first efforts as Nazca Corporation proper went far beyond most expectations. A pair of NEOGEO titles, published by SNK themselves: NEO Turf Masters and Metal Slug. The former is one of the finest arcade-style golfing games ever made, and the latter? Well, it soon became a staple of every NEOGEO MVS around.

SNK made what was for this time in its history a rare wise business decision: it bought Nazca Corporation lock-stock. You don’t want to lose talent like that. Its first mission as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company was to follow up on the ultra-hot Metal Slug, a mission that it would more or less carry out for the rest of its unexpectedly short lifespan. But how can you top something as wild as Metal Slug without losing what brought people to the game in the first place?



Metal Slug 2 offers the same number of stages, with six in total. The game goes a bit more over the top with its themes than the first game, and there’s more variety in general. The playable roster has doubled with the additions of Fio and Eri. They play the same as the guys, but it’s nice to have the choice. There are a few new weapons, and one of the returning ones has been upgraded. The titular Metal Slug vehicles also see their selection expanded, with the SV-Camel, Slugnoid, and Slug Flyer showing up in set places during the game. The original SV-001 tank is here too, of course. There are some other fun extra bits in here too, like how your character can be turned into a mummy or how one of the prisoners will follow you around throwing fireballs after you save him.

All of this ambition comes at a cost, however. Metal Slug 2 is notorious for the severity of its slowdown when the action picks up. And pals, the action picks up often. It’s so bad that Nazca actually opted to revisit the game the following year, using the improvements of the engine of the then-in-development Metal Slug 3 to remove many of the technical issues plaguing the game. The team also added some new goodies in while they were at it, and that revised version became Metal Slug X. That is not this game, but I’m sure we’ll see it soon. This game is as it ever was, and that means you’re going to be running, jumping, and shooting through some molasses at times. History isn’t always pretty.



I think to a great degree Metal Slug X negates this game, but for the serious Metal Slug fan I think the differences can be interesting enough to make Metal Slug 2 worth keeping around. If you’re not into that kind of hair-splitting or aren’t planning to catch them all, you might just want to be patient and wait for Metal Slug X‘s ACA NEOGEO version. I imagine it will come in a matter of weeks, simply because Hamster and SNK don’t have too many other games to touch on at this point. From a gameplay perspective Metal Slug 2 loses to Metal Slug X in every way. On its own merits, it’s quite a lot of fun despite the issues. And hey, it’s not likely you’re going to have a second player on screen gumming things up even worse.

Yes, I have to bang my usual drums here. First up, playing this game with touch controls is not ideal. It can be done, and you’ve got unlimited credits to work with here so it doesn’t particularly matter if you keep on dying. But a challenging game like this really works best if you can use an external controller to play. If you have one, this is just as fun to blast your way through as it is on any other platform. You’ll probably have to go it alone, because multiplayer requires external controllers and a display you feel comfortable hunkering down around. Well, you could do a lot worse on iOS even with all this baggage in tow.



You get the usual ACA NEOGEO options here. Game settings, control mapping, virtual control adjustments, audio and video options, and so on. You can play the Japanese version with all the blood spurts or the Overseas version with all the sweat spurts, and you also get the usual Score Attack and timed Caravan modes. Those extra modes are pretty fun here, especially the Score Attack. This is a game you can get through on one credit if you practice enough, and it’s a good challenge to see how far you can go while accumulating the most points possible. You get your online leaderboards as well, allowing you to compare your feats with those of other players. The extras supplement the game well, even if the necessary sacrifices of the mobile format don’t.

Look, if you’re going to buy Metal Slug 2 on mobile, this ACA NEOGEO release is the one you want. And if you’re trying to collect all the Metal Slug games or even all of the Arcade Archives releases, don’t let me stop you. But even setting aside the usual issues with Metal Slug games on mobile, I have to recommend the average player simply wait for Metal Slug X to get a rerelease. It’s everything this game is and more, with the improvement of the egregious slowdown being no small favor. A good game, but one made largely redundant by another entry that will be here soon.

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/metal-slug-2-mobile-game-review-aca-neogeo-iphone-android/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/one-punch-man-world-release-date-3d-online-action-game-opm-crunchyroll-games/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/one-punch-man-world-release-date-3d-online-action-game-opm-crunchyroll-games/#respond Fri, 15 Dec 2023 16:44:37 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316096 Continue reading "3D Action Game ‘One Punch Man: World’ From Crunchyroll Games and Perfect World Launches on January 31st for Mobile and PC With Cross Progression"
]]> One Punch Man: World () from Crunchyroll Games and Perfect World will launch on iOS, Android, and Windows beginning January 31st, 2024. The game is an adaptation of the first season of One Punch Man the anime, and it includes Saitama, Genos, Mumen Rider, and more playable characters. The free to play 3D action game also has multiplayer support with cross platform play and progression. This version is set to launch in the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and more. Watch the new One Punch Man: World trailer below:

If you’d like to play it at launch, you can pre-order or pre-register for it now. It is free to play with in app purchases, and the various pre-registration reward tiers are detailed on this page on the official website. You can pre-order One Punch Man: World on the App Store for iOS here, Google Play for Android here, and the official website for Windows PC here. The 3D online action game launches on January 31st, 2024 through Crunchyroll Games. What do you think of One Punch Man: World and will you be playing it next month?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/one-punch-man-world-release-date-3d-online-action-game-opm-crunchyroll-games/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/apple-arcade-holiday-2023-christmas-event-games-updates-list-hello-kitty-cooking-mama-cuisine/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/apple-arcade-holiday-2023-christmas-event-games-updates-list-hello-kitty-cooking-mama-cuisine/#respond Fri, 15 Dec 2023 14:34:22 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316070 Continue reading "Apple Arcade Weekly Round-Up: Major Updates and New Events for Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Jetpack Joyride 2, Angry Birds Reloaded, Cityscapes, and More Are Out Now"
]]> Over the last few days, a few notable Apple Arcade games have gotten updates and events on the service. In a few weeks, Apple will release a trio of games on the service. If you’ve not seen what’s coming next, read this. These include Hello Kitty Island Adventure () which has its Give & Gather Celebration on right now, the Lighttime Jubilee, and new visitors on the island. This update also brings in exclusive clothing rewards from the Reward Calendar. Jetpack Joyride 2 has its Save Christmas event on that has you rescuing Santa’s reindeer, a new powerup, and more. Cut the Rope 3 brings in 18 new levels, 6 new Nommies, and Apple Pencil support today.



SEGA’s Angry Birds Reloaded adds in 30 new snow-themed levels, Ice Bird and Matilda getting new skins, and a new seasonal song with this week’s update. Simon’s Cat – Story Time version 1.33.0 has 50 new levels coming, rewards for finding tree-toppers in the gardens, and visual improvements added to the game. Sneaky Sasquatch, a regular in Apple Arcade update round-ups, brings in a hospital to let you work as a doctor, an ambulance, new music, sasquatch damage, and some surprises with more updates coming soon. Gear Club Stradale brings in the Acura NSX in the Super Carta Stradale today. A huge update for Cityscapes: Sim Builder brings in the holiday season with snow appearing on maps, special holiday messages, performance improvements, and more today. The final notable update is Cooking Mama: Cuisine! with its holiday event on from now until 2nd January with a new event-exclusive ingredient and daily presents.



With the updates done, check out our forum threads for Hello Kitty Island Adventure here, Jetpack Joyride 2 here, Cut the Rope 3 here, Angry Birds Reloaded here, Simon’s Cat – Story Time here, Sneaky Sasquatch here, Gear Club Stradale here, Cityscapes: Sim Builder here, and Cooking Mama: Cuisine! here. Make sure to head over to our dedicated Apple Arcade forum for discussions on the new and older releases on the service. It is going to be interesting to see more of what arrives on Apple Arcade following January’s new games. What do you think of the state of Apple Arcade right now and do you play games on other services like Netflix and Crunchyroll?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/apple-arcade-holiday-2023-christmas-event-games-updates-list-hello-kitty-cooking-mama-cuisine/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/honkai-star-rail-version-1-6-release-date-free-character-dr-ratio-ruan-mei-banner/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/honkai-star-rail-version-1-6-release-date-free-character-dr-ratio-ruan-mei-banner/#respond Fri, 15 Dec 2023 12:58:07 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316082 Continue reading "‘Honkai Star Rail’ Version 1.6 Release Date Set for December 27th, Brand-New Area and Characters Included"
]]> HoYoverse just detailed the upcoming Honkai Star Rail version 1.6 update titled “Crown of the Mundane and Divine" in a livestream, while confirming that all players will be able to recruit Dr Ratio for free. This update will bring in a brand-new area, the Herta Space Station’s Seclusion Zone, alongside a Critter Pick Scavenging event, a new event within the Simulated Universe, Ruan Mei (5-star), Dr. Ratio (5-star), Xueyi (4-star), Kafka, and more. If you missed the recent 2.0 update news for the game, read this. Watch the new Honkai Star Rail version 1.6 “Crown of the Mundane and Divine" update trailer below:

If you’d like to watch the full livestream, check it out below:

Honkai Star Rail won Apple’s App Store Award for iPhone Game of the Year and it won best mobile game at The Game Awards 2023. If you’ve not gotten Honkai Star Rail yet, you can download it on the App Store for iOS here, on Google Play for Android here, and here on the Epic Games Store in addition to its regular PC version. Check it out here on PS5. Have you been playing Honkai Star Rail regularly since it launched on mobile, PC, and more recently on PS5?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/honkai-star-rail-version-1-6-release-date-free-character-dr-ratio-ruan-mei-banner/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/saga-emerald-beyond-release-date-gameplay-stream-iphone-android-switch-steam-ps5/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/saga-emerald-beyond-release-date-gameplay-stream-iphone-android-switch-steam-ps5/#respond Fri, 15 Dec 2023 12:20:41 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316077 Continue reading "‘SaGa Emerald Beyond’ Launches on April 25th, 2024 Worldwide for iOS, Android, Steam, Switch, PS5, and PS4"
]]> During the Square Enix SaGa Glimmerfest 2023 Livestream, the company announced the release date and showcased more of one of my most-anticipated releases of 2024. Square Enix’s brand-new SaGa game, SaGa Emerald Beyond, launches in April 2024 for mobile, Switch, Steam, PS5, and PS4 worldwide with pre-orders going live (I assume for select platforms) from later today. SaGa Emerald Beyond includes 17 worlds that can be explored in any order. If you’re new to the series, grab SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions. It is available on everything but Xbox right now.

If you missed the stream, you will be able to watch it featuring developers Masanori Ichikawa and Akitoshi Kawazu and also localization director Neil Broadley. It will go up on YouTube and Twitch. As of this writing, pre-orders and pre-registrations are not up on mobile, but you can wishlist SaGa Emerald Beyond on Steam here. Read Shaun’s reviews for Romancing SaGa Minstrel Song Remastered here, Romancing SaGa 2 here, Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend here, Romancing SaGa 3 here, SaGa Frontier Remastered here, and also SaGa Scarlet Grace Ambitions here if you’re curious about the mobile versions. Have you played a SaGa game before on any platform, and what do you think of SaGa Emerald Beyond so far?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/saga-emerald-beyond-release-date-gameplay-stream-iphone-android-switch-steam-ps5/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/20-minutes-till-dawn-new-character-katana-unlock-christmas-update-iphone-android/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/20-minutes-till-dawn-new-character-katana-unlock-christmas-update-iphone-android/#respond Fri, 15 Dec 2023 10:04:30 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316053 Continue reading "Vampire Survivors-Like 20 Minutes Till Dawn Adds Katana as a New Playable Character Today in Its Christmas-Themed Update"
]]> The Vampire Survivors-like 20 Minutes Till Dawn ($4.99) recently got a major update on mobile bringing in three new weapons with unique evolution paths and more. Today, it has added in a new playable character: Katana and some Christmas-themed festivities in-game in addition to bug fixes. Katana’s special is summoning a Magic Sword that deals 22 damage and lasts for five seconds after reloading. It is great to see 20 Minutes Till Dawn still get updates on mobile. It is one of the better games in the genre, and I can’t wait to see what it adds next:

If you haven’t gotten it yet on mobile, 20 Minutes Till Dawn is available on the App Store for iOS here, Google Play for Android here, and also on Steam here. If you’ve already played this to completion and want more, there’s a new 20 Minutes Till Dawn series game in the works as well. Check it out here. I hope 20 Minutes Till Dawn: Emberpath hits mobile alongside or soon after the Steam version releases. Make sure to head over to our forum thread 20 Minutes Till Dawn here for more discussion around the game on mobile. Have you played 20 Minutes Till Dawn yet on any platform?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/15/20-minutes-till-dawn-new-character-katana-unlock-christmas-update-iphone-android/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/14/powerwash-simulator-santas-workshop-update-switch-release-date-delay-pokemon-the-indigo-disk-download-eshop-palia-disney-illusion-island-patch/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/14/powerwash-simulator-santas-workshop-update-switch-release-date-delay-pokemon-the-indigo-disk-download-eshop-palia-disney-illusion-island-patch/#respond Thu, 14 Dec 2023 22:33:08 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316016 Continue reading "SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: The Indigo Disk’, Plus Today’s Other Releases, News, and Sales"
]]> Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for December 14th, 2023. We’re getting dangerously close to the end of the year now, but that hasn’t really slowed the flood of new releases much. We have a bunch of new games to check out today, but before that I am handing the mic to our pal Mikhail to deliver a bit of news. After that, we’ll get to the summaries and then close things out with the lists of new and expiring sales. Let’s go!

News

PowerWash Simulator: Santa’s Workshop Free Update Coming January 8th

Well this is a bit awkward isn’t it? FuturLab and Square Enix will release a holiday themed update for PowerWash Simulator on January 8th for Nintendo Switch. I’m not sure what caused the delay, but all other platforms have this update out now bringing in a whole new map, festivities, and more in the excellent game. I hope future content updates arrive at the same time, and this gives me an excuse to beat the new level on PS5 and then replay it on Switch in a few weeks. Watch the trailer for it above. -Mikhail Madnani

Disney Illusion Island Keeper Up Update Now Available

The Nintendo Switch exclusive Disney Illusion Island just got a huge update today bringing in the Mavens of Monoth Time Trials feature, quality of life updates, new accessibility options, additional gallery unlocks, and more. I’m not sure if I’d call this a hidden gem of a game because Disney, but it definitely is one I think more folks should try out. Watch the trailer for the update above.-Mikhail Madnani

 

New Releases

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet: The Hidden Treasures of Area Zero – Part 2: The Indigo Disk DLC ($34.99)



The second and final part of the Pokemon Scarlet/Violet expansion, The Hidden Treasures of Area Zero, is now available for those who purchased it. In The Indigo Disk, you’ll travel to Blueberry Academy, a school built in the sea. Given that this is the last part of the DLC, you can count on it to deliver on the promise of the title. Do note that you have to have completed The Teal Mask before you can start on this one. It’s a linear story across the two parts. We’ll have a review of this one soon. I certainly hope it can nail the landing.

Palia (Free)



I don’t know a whole lot about Palia, but it’s apparently an MMO slow-life adventure. Some marketing people would call it “cozy". I’m getting tired of that word, so that’s the only place I’ll use it here. But yes, do some farming, fishing, and chilling out with a bunch of other players in a mysterious world. It’s free to try, so if you’re curious go ahead and do that little thing.

Metro Quester ($19.99)



KEMCO has a formula, if nothing else. So when I see something from the publisher that looks different from that formula, it grabs my attention. This is a turn-based dungeon crawler RPG, featuring twenty four characters and eight job classes. The world design was done by Kazushi Hagiwara, creator of the manga Bastard!!, and the gameplay system was created by Hironori Kato, most known in Japan for his work in tabletop RPGs. Throw in a very distinctive look and you’ve got a game I’m eagerly jumping into. When I come up for air, I’ll have a review for you to read.

Koumajou Remilia II: Stranger’s Requiem ($29.99)



While I wasn’t exactly bowled over by the Castlevania-inspired Koumajou Remilia: Scarlet Symphony, I didn’t have a bad time with it either. So I’m sure I’ll have a nice time with this remaster of its follow-up, which essentially promises another heaping platter full of the same Touhou action. I’ll have a review of this one as soon as I can make my way through it. If nothing else, it’s dressed to the nines.

Arcade Archives Aero Fighters ($7.99)



Aero Fighters 2 and 3 have been around on the eShop for ages now, but the first game in the series has been absent until now. That’s likely since it doesn’t use NEOGEO hardware and it has proven a bit tricky for Hamster to emulate in the past. Well, it’s here now and it’s working great. This is something of a historic game for the shoot-em-up genre since most of the team jumped ship after making this to form Psikyo. It’s not quite as silly as its successors, but the gameplay is excellent. Definitely one for the shooter fans.

EGGCONSOLE Xanadu PC-8801 PC-8801mkIISR ($6.49)



This 1985 Nihon Falcom action-RPG was a very, very, very big deal in Japan in its time. Pretty much every side-scrolling Japanese action-RPG of the era was inspired by this game, up to and including Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. It got a heavily modified NES port called Faxanadu, but don’t buy this expecting something as streamlined as that game. Like many pioneers, it’s not quite in the form you might expect for this genre. I like it anyway, though. Despite the fact that it was only released in Japan on the PC-8801, most of the text is in English. That means that although no new translation work has been done here within the game itself, it’s fully playable for English speakers. Neat!

Mechblaze ($9.99)



This looks like one for the Assault Suits fans out there. Control a mech and blast your way through six scrolling stages, using an arsenal of thirteen different types of weapons to blast away the invading alien army. I could think of far less amusing ways to spend ten bucks than this. Heck, that barely gets you half a ticket to a bad movie these days.

Pan’orama ($19.99)



This is a chill puzzle sim game where you lay down different tiles to build a little world. Kind of reminds me of Dorfromantik, and that’s good company to be in. As you place the pieces, you’ll form a pretty little animated landscape complete with animals you can interact with. You’ll get points at the end based on how well you did, though I’m not sure how the systems work here. Yes, it sounds quite a lot like Dorfromantik. Perhaps coincidence, perhaps inspired. Either way, we’re not up to our elbows in games like this so I won’t complain.

Rising Dusk ($9.90)



At first I read the title as Rising Duck, which might have been pretty cool. Well, we’ll just have to make the best of what we have here. It’s a side-scrolling platformer where you’re meant to avoid coins if you want to move forward. That certainly turns things on its head. There are more than twenty stages to play, with a nicely done supernatural Japanese setting to the action. Sure, it feels a bit like a five-dollar Switch platformer, but inflation is very real these days.

Raccoo Venture ($14.99)



QUByte’s been pouring a lot into this 3D platformer, and I’m hoping its efforts have yielded fruit. Collect special costumes for a fresh new look, solve puzzles, look for secrets, and enjoy the sights and sounds. I’ll be doing a review of this game early next week to let you know if it’s worth picking up.

Nekomin ($15.00)



This is an odd one, for sure. You have to use the Joy-Cons to play it, so handheld-only players will want to give it a pass. Basically, you have to use your Joy-Con like it’s a cat wand to guide the cats to their dens in each stage. I’m not sure how much staying power this has, but I’ll give it points for originality.

-Math, BFF, and Notes- ($19.90)



CyberStep is back with another poorly-localized visual novel. I mean, the word wrap issue still hasn’t been fixed, so I don’t think this publisher really cares. This one is about a guy who is only interested in older, married women. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are a few such ladies hanging around in his life. Smooch your favorite, you home-wrecker.

Aztec Tiki Talisman ($5.99)



A 3D platformer, and I always get suspicious when they’re around this price point. You get fifty levels to play, set entirely in the same jungle-themed location, and specifically on and around what are meant to be Aztec structures. Regrettably, this one matched my expectations. Despite being highly affordable, the game just isn’t worth it. You’re better off holding on to your money to get something better. That’s my take on it, anyway.

Winter Games Challenge ($24.99)



It’s wild how reliable a concept this has been in video games for my whole life. Make a bunch of mini-games around a collection of sports, make sure it’s multiplayer-ready, then send it out. Up to four people can join in on this one via local multiplayer, and you get eight different events to play: freestyle skiing, snowboard, curling, giant slalom, alpine skiing, ski jumping, luge, and bobsled. I suppose it could be amusing to pull it out and play with family during the holiday season, should you need some manner of distraction from discussing who would win in a fight between Superman and Goku. That old talk!

Yuletide Legends: Who Framed Santa Claus ($14.99)



Artifex Mundi has a season-appropriate hidden object mystery for you to solve, should that be a way you want to spend your holiday time. Santa’s had his voice stolen and has been framed for a crime he did not commit. You’d think old Saint Nick would get the benefit of the doubt on such things, but apparently you have to prove he wasn’t engaging in petty pilfering and maybe get the guy’s voice back for him along the way. Well, have fun with that.

The Bin Bunch

ToyBox Christmas ($3.99)



Western Slot Machine ($4.50)



Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

There will probably be quite a few more sales by the time you read this, but the old time lag rears its head again. At any rate, there’s a rare sale on Baba Is You there in case you don’t have it yet. That’s probably the only thing in there I really want to call out, but do check the list yourself to be sure. As for the outbox, I’m afraid I’ll have to instruct my people to give no comment.

Select New Sales



Baba Is You ($10.50 from $15.00 until 12/27)
Q Remastered ($2.72 from $6.80 until 12/27)
Cat Quest ($3.89 from $12.99 until 12/28)
Twice Reborn: A Vampire Visual Novel ($7.49 from $14.99 until 12/29)
RedRaptor ($3.49 from $4.99 until 12/29)
Diorama Dungeoncrawl ($6.99 from $9.99 until 12/29)
Undead’s Building ($1.99 from $5.99 until 1/2)
Invasion of Alien X: Earth in Crisis ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/2)
Gem Crash ($1.99 from $5.99 until 1/2)
Golf With Your Friends ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/2)
The Wardrobe: Even Better Edition ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/3)
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger ($3.99 from $19.99 until 1/3)
Train Station Simulator ($5.49 from $21.99 until 1/3)
Regency Solitaire ($2.99 from $11.99 until 1/4)
Forklift Simulator 2023 ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/4)
FAR: Changing Tides ($5.99 from $19.99 until 1/4)
Hana Awase New Moon ($29.03 from $36.29 until 1/4)
Struggling ($4.49 from $14.99 until 1/4)
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 CE ($8.99 from $29.99 until 1/4)
Catlord ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Punch a Bunch ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/4)
Spiral Memoria ($13.74 from $24.99 until 1/4)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, December 15th



Ammo Pigs: Cocked & Loaded ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/15)
Catana ($3.49 from $6.99 until 12/15)
Circus Pocus ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/15)
Death or Treat ($13.32 from $19.99 until 12/15)
Dr. Oil ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/15)
Enchanted Portals ($13.32 from $19.99 until 12/15)
Evil Diary ($3.99 from $4.99 until 12/15)
Ghost 1.0 ($2.49 from $9.99 until 12/15)
Hyper-5 ($6.49 from $9.99 until 12/15)
Laserpitium ($9.74 from $14.99 until 12/15)
MADiSON ($24.98 from $34.99 until 12/15)
NASCAR Heat Ultimate Edition+ ($14.99 from $24.99 until 12/15)
Neko Journey ($6.49 from $9.99 until 12/15)
Restless Night ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/15)
Richy’s Nightmares ($2.49 from $4.99 until 12/15)
Starlight Drifter ($15.99 from $19.99 until 12/15)
Teratopia ($3.49 from $9.99 until 12/15)
The Sorrowvirus: A Faceless Short Story ($5.24 from $14.99 until 12/15)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with the remaining releases of the week, a healthy list of new sales, and whatever else rolls in over the course of the next twenty-four hours or so. I’m a little behind my schedule today because I went shopping with Mrs. Musgrave, but it’s important to take some breaks now and then. Make sure you give yourself a little break today, too. I hope you all have a thrilling Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/14/powerwash-simulator-santas-workshop-update-switch-release-date-delay-pokemon-the-indigo-disk-download-eshop-palia-disney-illusion-island-patch/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/14/bomb-rush-cyberfunk-interview-game-director-dion-koster-career-soundtrack-vinyl-physical-release-switch-iam8bit-skybound/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/14/bomb-rush-cyberfunk-interview-game-director-dion-koster-career-soundtrack-vinyl-physical-release-switch-iam8bit-skybound/#respond Thu, 14 Dec 2023 18:58:53 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315609 Continue reading "‘Bomb Rush Cyberfunk’ Interview – Team Reptile’s Dion Koster on His Career, Game UI, the New Physical Release, Soundtrack, & More"
]]> A few months ago, Team Reptile finally released Bomb Rush Cyberfunk on consoles and PC platforms. Many consider it a spiritual successor to Jet Set Radio, and it does a lot to look and feel amazing and fresh throughout. I’ve played it on multiple platforms, and it is a superb experience for portables that shines on the Steam Deck. While Bomb Rush Cyberfunk was a digital release at launch, it screamed for a good physical edition. That finally happened with iam8bit and Skybound Games. Following that launch, I got to chat with Team Reptile’s Dion Koster about his career, the game, music, his dancing, the future, and more.

TouchArcade (TA): For those unaware, tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do at Team Reptile.

Dion Koster (DK): Hello, I am Dion Koster, game director and co-founder of Team Reptile. I’m hands-on with many facets like character design and modeling, gameplay design and programming and writing the story. For the rest, I provide direction to the team and pick the music for the soundtrack and such.

TA: How has the Dion Koster who worked on Awesomenauts back in 2012 changed from the one who directed Bomb Rush Cyberfunk?

DK: Now that is a question I did not expect! It’s true, I worked on Awesomenauts as a game design intern. Although it was in mid-development in 2009, before Team Reptile started in 2011. The best way to describe it is that at that time I kept my personal style and life mostly separated from work, it only subconsciously seeped in. From a young age, I have been dancing, skating and writing graffiti, over the years it became a theme in my work before finally becoming the subject with Bomb Rush Cyberfunk.



TA: As Game Director, what was your core philosophy during the project’s development?

DK: Formulated into an interview answer there is not enough room for nuance, but I strongly believe we should make things that are loudly personal. The uncomfortability of loudness only needs to be limited by the point of frustration. As long as it then actually comes from life and self expression it will have a high impact.

TA: While the aesthetic and graffiti art is all amazing, the one area I want to highlight is the user interface. This is one area a lot of games falter on, but Bomb Rush Cyberfunk absolutely nails it. Tell us a little bit about how the interface evolved over the course of the game’s development.

DK: Thank you for the kind words! Sem Graham is an amazing artist who does the graphic design. Think billboards, props, all the mascots. He had designed a preliminary version of the UI, but well, it turned out too ‘videogamey’. Looking at the first illustrations I did of the game, I remembered my obsession with fluid dynamics. These marbling patterns took the style away from simply retro and added a dreamy, brain fluid-like layer that spoke of the themes in the story. Realizing this I had Sem and programmer Niels Vriezen make it a recurring motif throughout the game.

pic.twitter.com/EyzYqwiDu0

— Team Reptile (@ReptileGames) June 28, 2023

TA: I’ve seen clips of your dancing used in-game. Was that mo-capped during development?

DK: That is correct. I just danced on my own when I was young, but started getting into it around the end of 2003. So by now, I have been dancing for 20 years. It is breaking and locking that I do most and basically my whole circle is involved in street culture. Downstairs in our Team Reptile office ‘De Bass’ there’s a studio where there are dance sessions every week and we do some recording. Everybody is happy to provide mocap of course and I had to jump in myself too.

TA: While obviously these are important for all games, I feel like art, music, and gameplay feel even more important for a game like Bomb Rush Cyberfunk. How did you approach curating the soundtrack for the game?

DK: I wanted the music to have some technologic or cyber elements mixed with funk or hard beats and preferably really danceable. So I let my dance ear guide me a lot. Only some tracks were made specifically for the game, most of them were already out there. Which is another thing I went for, music that says something more than just ‘this is a videogame’. It has its own voice. People often came to me with music inspired by the game and I had to reject them sadly. Because then the layer of extra meaning is removed and the whole thing is flat.



TA: Obviously the game is in an amazing place right now, but do you want to do more with it?

DK: Before Bomb Rush Cyberfunk we made Lethal League and Lethal League Blaze. Both these titles were online and competitive. Of course, this required a lot of attention constantly. Bomb Rush Cyberfunk stands in stark contrast being a singleplayer game with an ending – a rarer thing these days. I believe that its story has been concluded and there is no artistic reason to reanimate it. There are many more experiences to be expressed, but they would shine only in a completely new game.

TA: How have you felt about the response and feedback from players and the media?

DK: I am very happy to receive so much positive feedback. But there is one thing that goes above and beyond. It is when people tell me they have picked up skating, dancing or going out because of the game.

TA: We are now getting two Bomb Rush Cyberfunk physical releases through iam8bit and Skybound. Did you always plan to have a physical release?

DK: I think we presumed it, but when you are working hard to finish a game, it is sometimes difficult to step back and actually make moves to get it sorted.



TA: How did you decide what to include in the physical release and in the vinyl soundtrack?

DK: Adding stickers was one of the quickest decisions to make. It just fits in line with the idea of the game. I felt like the graffiti booklet in the iam8bit Exclusive Edition was also really good to show that there are voices behind all the styles we are featuring. They stand on their own too, you know. And the vinyl, of course vinyls are actually represented in the game. Both in and outside the game I wanted the records to look like proper club-spun records. Fun fact: on the cover is a photo of a big fungus we found.

TA: Digital Foundry mentioned great keyboard and mouse controls in Bomb Rush Cyberfunk (on Steam). This isn’t a game I’d expect to have good keyboard and mouse support at all, so I wanted to know how much work went into optimizing it for multiple control options.

DK: In the early days of Team Reptile it was way easier to release on PC than consoles, even though we liked making action arcade-like experiences. So we became used to dealing with keyboard and mouse for our type of games. Still, during healthy development the input layout switches around so we had a bunch of that too. My decision to remove all important actions from the face buttons on gamepads and replace them all with just tricks and jumping was a big one. Same for the mouse buttons. But it worked cause even if they weren’t the most important, it is the stuff you are doing most of the time.



TA: What were your major gaming influences for Bomb Rush Cyberfunk outside of the obvious Jet Set Radio.

DK: Honestly I could fill the page with influences outside of gaming! But if you are going to limit it like that… I looked a lot at the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, SSX and many other trick games. Grand Theft Auto too. If I stretch the definition, I can mention the graffiti minigame is inspired by a phone unlock screen. Story-wise, Ghost Trick is the greatest of all time, it might not be apparent, but I think it has influenced my work too.

TA: What have you been playing this year?

DK: I feel like there have been a lot of mid releases this year for me personally. I have more so been enjoying myself watching my girlfriend do interior design in Sims 4.

TA: What’s next for Team Reptile after the physical launch of Bomb Rush Cyberfunk?

DK: We are already creating the next game to be honest! Making Bomb Rush Cyberfunk was really fun so we are doing more in the same vein. Leveled up and wilder. At this moment it is mostly pre-production. There are so many things to show and stories to tell when it comes to the meeting of futurism and street culture, I am excited!

I’d like to thank Dion Koster from Team Reptile and Jordan Boyd from fortyseven communications for their time and help with this interview.

You can keep up with all our interviews here including our recent ones about Sonic Dream Team, Football Manager 2024, Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and more.

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/14/bomb-rush-cyberfunk-interview-game-director-dion-koster-career-soundtrack-vinyl-physical-release-switch-iam8bit-skybound/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/14/grand-theft-auto-the-trilogy-the-definitive-edition-mobile-download-iphone-android-netflix-games-standalone-premium-price/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/14/grand-theft-auto-the-trilogy-the-definitive-edition-mobile-download-iphone-android-netflix-games-standalone-premium-price/#respond Thu, 14 Dec 2023 15:34:57 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316039 Continue reading "‘Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition’ Now Available on iOS and Android As Standalone Premium Games and Also via Netflix Games"
]]> After multiple delays and me almost giving up hope for them to hit mobile, Rockstar Games’ remake/remaster of the classic trilogy is now available on iOS and Android through Netflix Games and as standalone releases for $19.99 each. Yes, I’m as confused as you are. All three games were to be Netflix exclusives or at least it seemed that way, but they can be bought standalone as well from today. As a value add to the service, this is easily the biggest get for Netflix Games on mobile so far. This trilogy was released in a rough state on consoles and PC, but has since been improved a lot on everything but Switch. It isn’t terrible on most platforms anymore, but some still prefer the originals.



As of this writing, the original games (non “Definitive") are still on mobile and have not been delisted. I’m looking forward to digging into Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition on iPhone and iPad later today. Note that you may need to download additional data within the games after grabbing them from the App Store. Today, GTA: Vice City – NETFLIX (Free) , San Andreas, and GTA III with their new engine remake are now out on mobile. Read my review of the trilogy on Switch here. I’ll definitely be reviewing these new mobile versions soon. Check out the trailer below:

If you’d like to play Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition and have an active Netflix subscription, you can grab Vice City here, GTA III here, and San Andreas here. If you want to buy them standalone for $19.99 each, check out Vice City here, GTA III here, and San Andreas here. The discounted bundle for the original releases is also available on iOS. Read our reviews of Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto Vice City, and Grand Theft Auto San Andreas for the standalone original releases. What do you think of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition if you played them on PC and consoles before and will you be trying them on mobile today?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/14/grand-theft-auto-the-trilogy-the-definitive-edition-mobile-download-iphone-android-netflix-games-standalone-premium-price/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/14/mega-man-x-dive-offline-free-demo-download-android-steam-iphone-price-discount-capcom/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/14/mega-man-x-dive-offline-free-demo-download-android-steam-iphone-price-discount-capcom/#respond Thu, 14 Dec 2023 07:23:12 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316011 Continue reading "‘Mega Man X DiVE Offline’ Free Demo Now Available on Android and Steam, Game Discounted for the First Time"
]]> Back in September, Capcom released Mega Man X DiVE Offline ($19.90) on iOS, Android, and Steam worldwide. Mega Man X DiVE Offline an offline version of the free to play online game with most of the game’s content included in its base premium release. This includes Zero, Proto Man, Bass, Sigma, and Mega Man.Exe and over 900 stages, fan-favorite bosses, and more. Today, Capcom has released the free Mega Man X DiVE Offline demo on Android and Steam letting people sample the game. The game itself is also discounted for the first time on mobile and Steam bringing it down to about $20 or regional equivalent. Watch the new Mega Man X DiVE Offline demo trailer below:

If you’d like to grab the demo, it is available on Google Play for Android here and on PC via Steam here. Check out the official Mega Man X DiVE Offline Demo website here. Hopefully an iOS demo releases soon. Check out the official website for Mega Man X DiVE Offline here. You can buy Mega Man X DiVE Offline on Steam here, on the App Store for iOS here, and on Google Play for Android here. What do you think of Mega Man X DiVE Offline so far if you’ve played it, and will you be trying the demo?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/14/mega-man-x-dive-offline-free-demo-download-android-steam-iphone-price-discount-capcom/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/14/best-new-iphone-games-december-14th/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/14/best-new-iphone-games-december-14th/#respond Thu, 14 Dec 2023 05:30:44 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315983 Continue reading "Out Now: ‘Little Nightmares’, ‘SpongeBob – The Cosmic Shake’, ‘Revelation M’, ‘My Little Blood Cult’, ‘Aerofly FS Global’, ‘M.A.D. Cows’, ‘Rayceptor’ and More"
]]> 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!

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Aerofly FS Global ($2.99)



iTunes Description

Aerofly FS Global is a highly realistic Flight Simulator in PC-quality for your mobile device for beginner and professional flight sim pilots. Explore the world of flying with extremely detailed and accurately simulated airliners, fully interactive 3D cockpits and realistic aircraft systems. Fly with complex airliners, helicopters, business jets, fighter jets and warbirds, general aviation aircraft, aerobatic stuntplanes and gliders across the photorealistic landscape.

Forum Thread: Aerofly FS Global (by IPACS)

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Hoops Basketball ($1.49)



iTunes Description

Basketball – on your wrist! Flick, tap, swipe and shoot Hoops with 3 different game modes. Hoops is the perfect watch game, with amazing graphics, physics, and sound effects. There are 3 game modes in Hoops:

– Classic. 60 seconds to shoot as many Hoops as you can.
– Time Attack. Start with just 5 seconds on the clock and the pressure is on. Each Hoop will net you an extra 3 seconds or 5 seconds for a Fire Hoop.
– Hoop Or Die. The ultimate in high pressure. If you miss, you’re outta here, but if you’ve got the skills, keep Hooping to stay in the game.

See if you can master all 3, and that cross-court fire shot!

Forum Thread: Hoops Basketball (by Lumen Digital)

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The King of Fighters ’97 ACA NEOGEO ($3.99)



iTunes Description

THE KING OF FIGHTERS ’97 is a fighting game released by SNK in 1997.
Featuring popular characters from FATAL FURY and ART OF FIGHTING, these fighters will battle to determine who is the strongest.
The ADVANCED and EXTRA modes of gameplay offer an even deeper level of tactics.

Forum Thread: The King of Fighters ’97 ACA NEOGEO (by SNK)

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Little Nightmares ($7.99)



iTunes Description

Immerse yourself in Little Nightmares, a dark whimsical tale that will confront you with your childhood fears!
Help Six escape The Maw – a vast, mysterious vessel inhabited by corrupted souls looking for their next meal.
As you progress on your journey, explore the most disturbing dollhouse offering a prison to escape from and a playground full of secrets to discover.
Reconnect with your inner child to unleash your imagination and find the way out!

Forum Thread: Little Nightmares (by Playdigious)

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M.A.D. Cows ($1.99)



iTunes Description

Militant. Armed. Domestic. Cows!

For centuries, the aliens mutilated cattle with little to no consequence. Finally, the cows had enough. They organized. They trained. Now they are ready… for their revenge!

MAD Cows is an exciting, retro, action platform game. Mow down aliens. Buy better guns. Rescue cows, dogs, raccoons, and more.

Forum Thread: M.A.D. Cows (by Cascadia Games)

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Metal Slug 2 ACA NEOGEO ($3.99)



iTunes Description

METAL SLUG 2 is an action game released by SNK in 1998.
Players can choose from Marko, Tarma, Eri and Fio, with the aim of defeating Morden’s Rebel Army which is plotting a coup once again. In addition to the Heavy Machine Guns and Shotguns from the previous games, new weapons such as laser guns have been added for even more battle variations.

Forum Thread: Metal Slug 2 ACA NEOGEO (by SNK)

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My Little Blood Cult (Free)



iTunes Description

Introducing, My Little Blood Cult, a new addictive cult classic about fishing for demons.

WHAT THE H*LL?

Basically, you’re about to lead a demon hunting cult in a demonic fishing adventure.
Your followers are currently waiting in the app for your command.
They’re ready to obey you & embark on an extraordinary quest of fishing demons, monsters, and other undefined creatures.

Forum Thread: My Little Blood Cult (by Dillo Games)

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Rayceptor ($0.99)



iTunes Description

Complete the path from the laser to the receptor using portals and mirrors to navigate the game board.

Over 50 levels of increasing challenge, with no in-app purchases or annoying advertising!

Simple to pick up and play, with challenges and new concepts gradually introduced.

Forum Thread: Rayceptor (by Ian MacAskill)

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Retro Commander (Free)



iTunes Description

Retro Commander is a post-apocalyptic real-time strategy wargame (RTS). Take command and fight it out in a world where a cataclysmic timeline has transpired on Mother Earth. Wage wars solo, against the AI, or take on your gaming comrades and friends in cross-platform multiplayer matches. Form teams and clans and fight co-op style with the AI and other players for ultimate victory.

As opposed to other real-time strategy game, Retro Commander tries to focus on both, a fun single player and a thrilling multiplayer experience. The game strives to be easy to learn with a modern user interface. Single player comes with skirmish matches against the AI as well as a comic-based story campaign. Multiplayer can be played cross-platform and includes a ranking and rating system.

Forum Thread: Retro Commander (by Noble Master Games)

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Revelation M (Free)



iTunes Description

“Revelation M" is fantasy MMORPG with a stunning three-dimensional world where you are free to explore the sky and travel through the sea. Your brightest dreams will come true in the game; there are surprises everywhere, and you can discover the hidden truth in rich adventures; there are challenges and difficult dungeons that will require all of your skills and courage; you will find an elaborate system of profession development, which will help your character to unlock its potential in the best possible way; new face creating system gives you a wide range of options for selecting details and customization!

Forum Thread: Revelation M (by HaoPlay Limited)

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SpongeBob – The Cosmic Shake ($9.99)



iTunes Description

Wish-granting Mermaid’s Tears in the hands of SpongeBob and Patrick… What could possibly go wrong?
Sure, the very fabric holding the very universe very together could come very undone, opening up portals into Wishworlds full of knights, cowboys, pirates, and prehistoric snails.
But that’s nothing everyone’s favorite sponge can’t handle – with the right cosmic costume! Everybody do the Cosmic Shake!

Forum Thread: SpongeBob – The Cosmic Shake (by HandyGames)

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Star Survivor: Premium ($2.99)



iTunes Description

SURVIVE the swarm in this rogue-lite + survivors + asteroids bullet heaven mashup! Exterminate as many space invaders and alien drones as you can. Upgrade your ship from the crafted deck of equipment and power-ups. You are the Last ship against the Endless… Will your choices be enough to overcome the thousands hunting you in this offline action shoot’em up game?

Forum Thread: Star Survivor: Premium (by Erabit Studios)

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Subliminal Words (Free)



iTunes Description

Discover all the hidden words that are cleverly camouflaged, and with each level, unlock a sentence of an unfolding story.

Like those magic eye pictures that used to hold our gaze, this game has subliminal words that emerge from the chaos, forming part of the image—a secret message that becomes clear as you look “closer".

Forum Thread: Subliminal Words (by Indest)

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Ticket to Ride: The Board Game ($4.99)



iTunes Description

Join millions of fans worldwide on an epic train adventure that started a new era of modern board games! Play now!

Travel around the world in an epic adventure that redefined the modern board game genre! Build a railway empire that connects the most popular cities, claim the most exciting routes, and dominate your competitors in this fan-favorite classic!

Forum Thread: Ticket to Ride: The Board Game (by Marmalade Game Studio)

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Words Cubed ($1.99)



iTunes Description

Introducing “Words Cubed", a captivating word game that will test your vocabulary skills and keep you entertained for hours! Unleash your inner wordsmith as you embark on an exciting journey through challenging levels and experiences.

In Words Cubed, your objective is simple yet addictive. Spin the cube and form words using the letters on each side. With one carefully selected letter per side, you’ll need to brainstorm and arrange them strategically to discover the hidden words.

Forum Thread: Words Cubed (by Shane Masters)

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]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/14/best-new-iphone-games-december-14th/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/art-of-rally-mobile-release-date-delayed-2024-iphone-android-australia-dlc-noodlecake/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/art-of-rally-mobile-release-date-delayed-2024-iphone-android-australia-dlc-noodlecake/#respond Thu, 14 Dec 2023 04:00:03 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=316003 Continue reading "‘Art of Rally’ for iOS and Android Has Been Delayed to January 18th, Includes Australia DLC"
]]> Funselektor’s Art of Rally () was announced for iOS and Android recently through Noodlecake Games, and it was set to launch today. The gorgeous racer recently saw new paid DLC arrive on PC and consoles as well. A few hours ago, Funselektor announced that the mobile release date has been delayed to January 18th, 2024. This delay is to improve controls and fix some bugs according to the announcement. What’s worth noting, is that the mobile release of Art of Rally includes the Australia DLC as well. I’ve been playing Art of Rally on Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch in anticipation of the iOS version. Watch the mobile trailer for Art of Rally below:

If you’d like to try out the gorgeous top-down and stylish racing game, you can pre-order Art of Rally on the App Store for iOS here for $4.99. Pre-registrations are currently live on Google Play for Android here for it. Check out the official Art of Rally website here. You can grab it on Steam here as well. I’m looking forward to checking out the iOS version when Art of Rally hits mobile in about a month. Have you played Art of Rally on any platform yet?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/art-of-rally-mobile-release-date-delayed-2024-iphone-android-australia-dlc-noodlecake/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/turok-3-switch-review-eshop-deals-holiday-2023/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/turok-3-switch-review-eshop-deals-holiday-2023/#respond Wed, 13 Dec 2023 22:51:02 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315956 Continue reading "SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion’, Plus the Latest Releases and Sales"
]]> Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for December 13th, 2023. Yes, it’s another Wednesday, and that means there isn’t a whole ton going on. I’ve got a couple of reviews for you to dig into, with looks at Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion and Make Way. There are two new releases to check out, and both have something to offer. After that, we close things out with the lists of new and expiring sales for the day. Let’s jump over the hump!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion Remastered ($29.99)



Can an excellent remaster make an average game shine? And how should such a thing even be reviewed? Questions that need answers here and now, friends. I genuinely can’t find much negative to say about Nightdive’s work in remastering this Nintendo 64 game from the year 2000. It has kept up to its usual standards, and I can safely say that if you’re going to play Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion at all, you’ll want to do it via this remaster on your platform of choice. The Switch port has been handled well, so if this is the console you like to game on, you’re fine to do so here. The game looks and plays better than it ever has before, and you have all kinds of options to tailor your experience to your preferences. The multiplayer has been cut in this remaster, so do keep that in mind.

I suppose to the extent that there is any issue here, it’s that Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion itself isn’t a particularly exceptional game. You’ll notice there’s nothing about dinosaur hunting in the title, and that’s because you don’t do much of it in this game. Instead it feels a lot like Half-Life with a bow and arrow, thematically speaking. Add in the fact that it’s twenty-three years old, and this might not be something you want to jump to pick up at full price. It sits in that awkward zone between the speedy action-first games in the genre and the more cinematic style of game that focused on set pieces and open-ended encounters. The levels often feel like they’re too big for what’s in them, giving the game the feeling of being all dressed up with no place to go.



Part of the reason behind that, I suspect, is the unique idea of allowing the player to choose between two characters. One of them is more agile and has a grappling hook for getting around, while the other is more about hunkering down and crawling through dark spaces. It’s not a completely different game when you play as the other character, but I imagine the levels had to be carefully built to handle both of them. You get different cut-scenes with each of them, so it’s worth playing through with both. They also get different weapon upgrades, and that’s fun to mess around with. The weapons here aren’t quite as creative as those in Turok 2, but they’re still pretty good.

I don’t know. I think for its time and place, Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion is fine. It’s probably the least exciting entry in the trilogy, but if you can get yourself in the Nintendo 64 mindset, I feel it’s a good time to play through. It’s a shame it gave up just about every unique point of its identity, but there are certainly worse shooters from the era you could be playing. Compared to more modern games in the genre, even Nightdive’s extensive sprucing-up can’t quite get it up to speed.



In the end, I’ve decided to give this game a slightly stronger recommendation than I otherwise would have simply because of how good the remaster quality is. As a first-person shooter, Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion has never been anything more than decent, and it lacks much of the character of the first two entries. But I respect that Nightdive gave it the royal treatment to finish out this rather unexpected yet welcome set of remasters, and I think if you found a lot to love in its previous efforts with Turok you’ll find enough to carry you through this one as well.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Make Way ($14.99)



I have some affection in my heart for top-down racers. You know, the kind that went from Super Sprint to RC Pro-Am to Micro Machines to Rock ‘n Roll Racing and so on. Make Way certainly has the vibe of Micro Machines about it, and like that game it is at its best when you’re playing with others. You have lots of options for that, with support for up to four players locally or online. The game is actually quite thin in general, so if you’re going to play solo I’m not sure you’ll get a lot out of it. The CPU opponents can only go so far.

The main gimmick here is that you are building the tracks as you go. Each racer picks a piece from the random selection, then must quickly slap those pieces together to form the track. You’ll race on that short track, then go back to pick some more pieces and build the track out further. Repeat the process, and then head back out again. At each step you’ll earn points based on how well you placed at checkpoints, whether or not you won the race, and so on. At the end the racer with the most points takes home the crown. That’s it. Do it again until you’re ready to call it a night. You’ll unlock new things as you go, like new track pieces and additional features. This is kind of troublesome because you have to play a while to unlock some of the fun stuff that makes the multiplayer as fun as it can be. You might find yourself having to grind a bit solo.



Still, when you get the conditions just right, Make Way is a lot of fun. It’s not something you want to spend hours on at a time, and you’ll want to have some local players to play with because online is a bit of a ghost town at the moment. You’ll also want to play the game a bit on your own before you pull it out at a party so that you’ll at least have weapons, power-ups, and some of the more fun track pieces unlocked. But if you’re okay with all of that, Make Way makes for a pleasant choice to keep in the regular party night rotation.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

New Releases

Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator ($19.99)



This potion-making simulator came out last year on computers, and the general consensus seems to be that it’s one of those titles that grabs you hard in the beginning and is all-consuming for a while, but gets a bit repetitive before the end of the game is in sight. I haven’t played it yet, but it does look to be a rather clever crafting game, one that actually has you put some thought into what you’re doing and how you’re doing it. You will of course have to procure ingredients, whether it be by growing them or buying them, and you’ll also be looking to sell your potions to make a profit in the end. At least conceptually, it looks like a lot of fun to me.

Hell Well ($4.99)



I’m squinting at the footage here and it really looks like a Vampire Survivors-style game to me. There are some light tower defense components in the mix, too. You collect fallen spirits and resurrect them as demonic defenses, which is at least something to separate it from the pack. The usual upgrades and such are here, and you can also unlock new color palettes. I like when games do that.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

That’s a small list. Howl is a nice pick-up on sale, and Kao the Kangaroo has never been cheaper. The outbox looks equally tiny, but you might want to grab the slightly wacky Yeah You Want Those Games Right? if you in fact do want those games. Something tells me a big holiday sale is going to pop soon, so you might want to hold on to some of your money.

Select New Sales



Chippy&Noppo ($14.99 from $19.99 until 12/26)
GigaBash ($21.24 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Yum Yum Cookstar ($11.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)
Crash Drive 3 ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/2)
Howl ($11.99 from $14.99 until 1/2)
Wingspan ($9.99 from $19.99 until 1/2)
Kao the Kangaroo ($11.99 from $29.99 until 1/2)
Kao the Kangaroo Oh Well DLC ($2.74 from $4.99 until 1/2)
Kao the Kangaroo Bend the Roo’les DLC ($5.19 from $7.99 until 1/2)
Kao the Kangaroo A Well Good Bundle ($13.19 from $32.99 until 1/2)
Kao the Kangaroo Anniversary ($20.34 from $36.99 until 1/2)
Headbangers: Rhythm Royale Deluxe ($22.49 from $29.99 until 1/2)
Creepy Tale 2 ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/3)
Ib ($10.49 from $14.99 until 1/3)
Fury Unleashed ($2.99 from $19.99 until 1/3)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, December 14th



Georifters ($1.99 from $29.99 until 12/14)
Kid Tripp ($1.99 from $3.99 until 12/14)
Pixel Puzzle Makeout League ($5.99 from $14.99 until 12/14)
Samurai Maiden ($38.99 from $59.99 until 12/14)
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments ($7.49 from $29.99 until 12/14)
Witch’s Garden ($27.99 from $39.99 until 12/14)
WW2: Bunker Simulator ($10.49 from $14.99 until 12/14)
Yeah You Want Those Games Right? ($7.99 from $9.99 until 12/14)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with the big list of Thursday releases. I’m sure there will be plenty to enjoy there. Beyond that, we’ll cover any major sales or new items that roll in over the course of the next day. No more reviews for this week, though. I’m spent. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/turok-3-switch-review-eshop-deals-holiday-2023/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/hitman-blood-money-reprisal-nintendo-switch-release-window-frame-rate-mobile-features-iphone-android/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/hitman-blood-money-reprisal-nintendo-switch-release-window-frame-rate-mobile-features-iphone-android/#respond Wed, 13 Dec 2023 18:10:24 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315611 Continue reading "‘Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal’ Interview – Feral Interactive Discusses ‘Hitman’, Nintendo Switch Performance, Future Mobile Ports, and a Lot More"
]]> Following the recent launch of IO Interactive’s Hitman: Blood Money on mobile as Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal ($14.99) through Feral Interactive, I had a chance to talk to Feral about why they chose this game as the team’s next mobile release, the Switch release date, prioritizing features for mobile, learning from prior releases, Nintendo Switch resolution and frame rate targets, future game teases and more. If you’ve not read our other interviews with Feral Interactive, I spoke to the team about Company of Heroes on Switch and also Sid Meier’s Railroads this year.



TouchArcade (TA): Tell us what led to picking this as Feral Interactive’s next major project for mobile and Switch?

Feral Interactive (FI): We’ve had a long history of working with IO Interactive, starting with Mini Ninjas almost 15 years ago on Mac. Before that many of us played the original “Hitman: Codename 47” when it was released, and we’ve been fans of the franchise ever since.

When the opportunity arose to bring Hitman to mobile and Nintendo Switch the first choice was Blood Money. It is one of the most loved games of the series, and we believed that there were some interesting opportunities to enhance it with some of the modern features from the World Of Assasination games.

TA: A lot of Hitman fans consider Hitman: Blood Money the best game in the series, but it hasn’t really been very accessible on modern platforms outside that HD version for PS4 and Xbox from a few years ago. The PC version doesn’t even have proper controller support natively. What were your priorities when approaching Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal’s feature set?

FI: We reviewed the game’s features and functionality and how users interact with it. When you think of the great games you have played, your memories will be of the game, and not about how you controlled things. So we put a lot of time and effort into designing, developing and tuning the controls so that the game would be equally fun regardless of whether you are using touchscreen, gamepad or keyboard and mouse.

Beyond that, we also looked at what features might be lacking when compared to later releases in the series. The most obvious features we have added are Instinct Mode and the on-screen mini-map, but a lot of our time was actually spent on all less obvious improvements that combine to enhance the entire experience. For example, we optimized traversing through windows, hiding bodies and the strangling takedown, all of which were tricky to trigger or time consuming in the original game.



TA: The modern Hitman World of Assassination trilogy is amazing, and I’m glad to see some useful features from those games included in Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal. Was there any rebalancing done on each difficulty for those playing with the new quality of life features compared to how the original game was back in the day?

FI: We feel that this an important distinction to make, so we’re glad you asked! The modern quality of life features in the HITMAN games are primarily designed to help the player get the information or items more quickly.

For example, in the original game you might walk up to every window or drainpipe to see if you can interact with them, in Reprisal you can use Instinct Mode to look around the area and see if they are interactable. This will save time searching, but the actual tactical decisions remain the same. For the purists who’d like the original experience we’ve made the larger quality of life features – such as Instinct Mode and the mini-map – optional.

There is also a second set of changes related to the game now being played on a mobile device. We have auto-aim, auto-reload and weapon hotswap features that are designed to help the experience when playing on touch screen devices. As before, if players don’t want to take advantage of them they can be disabled in the game’s options.

The one balance change we implemented is to the “Last Stand” mode. In the original game it could be difficult to succeed in headshotting three enemies before time runs out. With Reprisal we have implemented a sliding scale, so the easiest difficulty only needs one headshot, scaling up to the original game’s three headshots on the hardest Pro difficulty.

Other than that we did not touch the existing difficulty settings, instead we focused on making the game more accessible to new players, providing additional options that allow for a gentler learning curve, while maintaining the same peak difficulty as the original.



TA: Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal includes quite a few control options as I covered on TouchArcade already. It even displays PlayStation button prompts when I use my DualSense controller on my iPad. Can you discuss how you approached the touch controls in Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal compared to your other games with controller support like Alien: Isolation.

FI: Every game builds on what we learned from our prior releases, plus a constant review of other mobile games for good solutions. We felt the system we had for Alien: Isolation was a good starting point for the core elements, but it needed to be adapted for the different gameplay of Hitman. We also had a number of improvements based on feedback from Alien: Isolation players.

For touch controls in Reprisal, we focused on giving players greater freedom and ability to customize. This includes making the UI as context-sensitive as possible, so that it does not clutter the screen with too many buttons.

For keyboard and mouse controls, we offer two options – Classic and Modern – and stay as close as possible to the original mappings for both so that they are familiar to all players.

For gamepads we kept to that principle and again offer two options, Classic and Modern. Beyond that, we just followed our usual principle of testing all the major gamepads and making sure that they work correctly and have the correct on-screen button prompts.



TA: Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal also includes multiple graphics options depending on the device. Performance+ targets 90fps, but I was curious if the new M2 iPads can do 120fps without issues. I don’t have one to test, but played the current build on my iPhone 15 Pro in Performance+ mode and on my iPad Pro (2020) in Performance mode. I was wondering if there were plans to add any additional anti-aliasing or texture filtering like the HD version on PS4 and Xbox One.

FI: Texture Filtering on the mobile version is set to the maximum settings the game supports (16x Anisotropic Filtering).

Most iOS devices will be running at native resolution, so Anti-Aliasing is less important, but we don’t rule out a future patch with additional improvements should the technology allow it.

TA: Can you tell us how Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal looks and runs on Nintendo Switch compared to modern mobile devices? Will it have a 60fps mode?

FI: The Nintendo Switch shares the same Blood Money HD codebase as the mobile game, so it is very similar in terms of visuals. However, due to Nintendo Switch not being as powerful as modern mobile devices, we’ve optimized the visuals at a locked 30fps and it doesn’t have the 60fps performance mode that the mobile release has.

On Switch, the title runs at a native 720p in handheld mode and 1080p when in docked mode.

Feral Interactive also confirmed to us that Hitman: Blood Money – Reprisal will launch in late January 2024 on Nintendo Switch.

TA: Are there any plans for a Switch physical release?

FI: We are aware that there is always a demand for a physical release on Switch. Unfortunately the economics are tricky, but it is under active consideration.



TA: Did you work with IO Interactive in any way during the development of this project? Did they have any input in the enhancements and improvements?

FI: We have a long and happy history of working with IO Interactive and they have always been very supportive. We had discussions about the quality of life improvements and discussed updating the experience for the modern World Of Assassination player.

TA: Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal feels like one of Feral Interactive’s most impressive conversions yet making it yet another case where mobile has the definitive version of a PC and console game. Were there any features that couldn’t be implemented in the launch version that will be added through patches?

FI: We don’t have any major features planned post-release. We try to make sure the initial release has everything including final polish.

That is not to say the game won’t be patched, but that will be mainly directed by user feedback, or even new functionality that might not have been possible when the original development was happening. For example, our Rome: Total War update to use Metal instead of OpenGL, or our addition of extra graphics modes to GRID Autosport. Both of these updates took advantage of new features that became available after the initial release.



TA: It won’t be a Feral Interactive interview on TouchArcade without me asking about future plans so let’s get into that. Are there any unannounced games from Feral Interactive planned for release in the first quarter of 2024 on mobile or Switch?

FI: Yes! We can give TouchArcade the exclusive news that Feral do have games planned for early 2024… but we’d be tempting fate if we said any more.

TA: Is there any chance Hitman World of Assassination is a project Feral Interactive would bring to mobile?

FI: Interesting suggestion… let’s see how Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal is received.

TA: Are there any plans to bring Reprisal to macOS?

FI: No plans right now, but we have had some requests, so we may see.

TA: Are there plans to bring Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal to PC in any form? The PC version right now is really not fun to play compared to Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal.

FI: No plans right now, but we see the requests across our social media channels.



TA: Tell us what you’ve been playing recently and what games you’ve enjoyed this year so far.

Edwin (Design): I’ve been working through my backlog recently completing Borderlands 3: Game Of The Year and most of the way through the first game of the Mass Effect Trilogy. I’ve also been playing a little bit of Mario Wonder with my daughter.

Sam (Design): I recently completed a co-op play-through of Wasteland 3 as well as the LASO Challenges on Halo: The Master Chief Collection. Though I’ve been constantly revisiting Deep Rock Galactic when I’m a bit low on time! (Rock & Stone!)

Sam (Dev): Destiny and Factorio have probably taken most of my time this year. A few of this year’s highlights have been Shadow Gambit and Chants of Sennaar, and most recently I’ve been revisiting Dark Souls 3.

Valeria (Design): I have not played any new games recently but I have been playing a lot of HITMAN games for inspiration.

I’d like to thank everyone at Feral Interactive for their time here.

You can keep up with all our interviews here including our recent ones about Sonic Dream Team, Football Manager 2024, Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and more.

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/hitman-blood-money-reprisal-nintendo-switch-release-window-frame-rate-mobile-features-iphone-android/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/sonic-mania-plus-mobile-release-date-2024-netflix-games-game-dev-tycoon-iphone-android-cozy-grove-camp-spirit/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/sonic-mania-plus-mobile-release-date-2024-netflix-games-game-dev-tycoon-iphone-android-cozy-grove-camp-spirit/#respond Wed, 13 Dec 2023 16:00:30 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315970 Continue reading "Netflix Reveals Even More Games Coming in 2024 Including Sonic Mania Plus, Game Dev Tycoon, Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit, and More"
]]> If you’ve not kept up with Netflix Games in a while, we have the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition finally hitting mobile tomorrow through the service. 2024 will see Hades, Katana Zero, and more arrive. Today, Netflix revealed even more games coming to the service in 2024 including some surprises. Today’s announcement has four new reveals. Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit, the sequel to Cozy Grove hits mobile through Netflix in 2024 bringing new ghost stories and more. The highlight port announcement is the brilliant Sonic Mania Plus coming to mobile through Netflix in 2024. This version includes the Plus encore DLC pack from the get go. This will be one of Netflix’s best additions yet.

Game Dev Tycoon is already on mobile, but it will also be available now through Netflix. The final announcement is FashionVerse letting you become a trendsetter in an AI-enhanced 3D mobile fashion game. I probably won’t play this one, but I will definitely be using the mobile port as another excuse to replay Sonic Mania. No specific dates are available, but the four games will be out in 2024 alongside Hades and more. Netflix continues to impress with its selection of ports, and I can’t wait to play most of these games. What do you think of the Netflix announcements?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/sonic-mania-plus-mobile-release-date-2024-netflix-games-game-dev-tycoon-iphone-android-cozy-grove-camp-spirit/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/granblue-fantasy-versus-rising-steam-deck-review-pc-port-online/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/granblue-fantasy-versus-rising-steam-deck-review-pc-port-online/#respond Wed, 13 Dec 2023 14:59:41 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315708 Continue reading "Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Steam Deck Review – A Superb Follow-Up and Brilliant Fighter"
]]> When Cygames announced Granblue Fantasy Versus, a fighting game developed with Arc System Works for PS4 and PC, I was excited even as someone who didn’t play Granblue Fantasy on mobile back then. I trust Arc System Works fighters, and Granblue Fantasy Versus ended up becoming a fantastic game held back by its online. It was accessible, gorgeous, and packed with single player content. It also excelled in its music and aesthetic. When Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising was announced, it seemed to be addressing all complaints I had with the original. I’ve been playing Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising on Steam Deck and PS5 for over a week now, and it is fantastic in just about every way.



If you’ve already played Granblue Fantasy Versus, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising feels like a blend of an enhanced re-release and a sequel combined. In Guilty Gear terms, to me this feels like going from Xrd Sign to Xrd Rev 2 directly. There are visual upgrades, gameplay enhancements, new characters, story content, and a ton of modes offline and online. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising also includes the full story from the original game so this is the version to get if you’re new to the series.

On the single player side of things Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising includes an arcade mode, versus mode, training mode (with a lot of useful data options in the UI), story mode (including the original game’s story), replay mode, journal (gallery), and a figure studio letting you pose specific characters for screenshots in different situations. The arcade mode also has its own requirements to unlock another path which I will not spoil here.



Before playing the second open beta to test the online on PS5, I wasn’t sure how different Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising’s gameplay would feel. I’m glad the team added enough to make things fresh with the Brave Point system for the Raging Strike and Brave Counter mechanics, and how it makes you strategize on the fly with its risk system. This is all complemented by the meter changes and dash system as well. It really feels like Arc System Works managed to get everything they could to Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising. After spending a week playing Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising, I tried playing Granblue Fantasy Versus with a friend. It was quite a difference.

I’ve now tested the online in the final build on both PS5 and Steam Deck for a few days. Everything is holding up well, and the only issues I’ve had, are to do with some lobby instability against a handful of fights out of the many I’ve played so far. There are no Mortal Kombat 1-like high ping issues, or anything. The online feels great, and I’ve even tested against friends and randoms in different countries over a wired connection on Steam Deck. The Grand Bruise Legends mode is a lovely blend of Fall Guys-style gameplay with Granblue, and it has its own unlock system. Barring that, you can create a lobby or opt to do ranked/casual matches. You can also create your own room to invite friends and more. My one complaint is the lobbies have 30fps movement that doesn’t feel good at all. I hope this can be fixed for PS5 and PC.



Granblue Fantasy Versus was already a gorgeous game, but the developers have outdone themselves with Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising. I adore how it looks and feels to play. The skill animations, character designs, cut-scenes, and stages look fantastic. It also runs really well on Steam Deck and PS5. Revisiting the original game alongside this one really shows how polished Rising feels. It isn’t a huge change, but has improvements in many areas.

I was also glad to see this release continue to offer an English dub option. I played both English and Japanese voiceover options equally in the original, and stuck to English so far. The new character voices are at par with the rest of the characters. This is definitely one of the better dubs in a Japanese fighting game. Barring the voices, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising continues to have amazing music. Despite a lot of older songs, I love the soundtrack. The one oddity that I kind of expected, is the Uma Musume partner characters like Gold Ship who I immediately unlocked when servers went live, do not have dubs. I was curious if Cygames would dub them, but right now, it seems like there is no dub for the Uma Musume partner characters. Also make sure you claim the rewards so you can unlock Gold Ship immediately like I did. She’s beyond amazing with her dialogue here.



Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising’s PC graphics options include resolution (864×486 to 1440p for my monitor), display mode (fullscreen, borderless, windowed), v-sync, graphics quality presets, resolution scaling (20-100), anti-aliasing quality, post-processing quality, texture quality, shadow quality, and VFX quality. These quality settings go: low, mid, high, and highest. You can also use the optimize display settings option for the game to auto detect for your PC or Steam Deck.

On Steam Deck, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising has no issues running and looks great in every mode I could test barring the pre-rendered cut-scenes in story mode. I tested these on default Proton, Proton Experimental (bleeding edge), and 3 versions of GE including 8-25 with no luck. GE gets them to display a static image at least, while the others show a color bar pattern. Barring that issue, it plays flawlessly, and I even used my Hori Fighting Stick Alpha and Razer Kitsune on it wired. On the visual side, if you play at 720p, everything at high will result in no performance issues. I forced 1080p and downsampled, and saw some dips in performance during special moves only. The actual gameplay had no issues in my testing, but I will be doing more testing on this front through the week. It feels like it was made taking into account handheld PCs, and I hope the cut-scenes can be fixed in updates or by Valve.



If you own a PS5 and Steam Deck, having played it on both, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is better on PS5 visually and has faster load times. Barring that, the experience holds up brilliantly on the small Steam Deck screen, and this setup is great for portable play with or without an arcade controller. I got the original Granblue Fantasy Versus on both PS4 and Steam, and would do the same here given the option. Since there’s a free version, I’d recommend trying it out on your PC and PS5 to see where you find it better. Since the game has crossplay, there’s no real disadvantage to the online population.

Having now seen the launch day DLC available, I’d recommend buying the Deluxe Edition if you want to buy the full game. Getting the standard edition now and then upgrading will cost a lot more. I know some publishers encourage you to buy more expensive editions rather than standard and then upgrading, but this price difference is much higher than I’ve seen with other fighting game publishers.



Having now tested the netcode and multiplayer modes on Steam Deck, Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is chock full of amazing gameplay, characters, music, and a robust online experience. This feels like the complete package right from the get go, and is a great new option for any newcomer to fighting games with its low barrier of entry. If you aren’t sure if Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is for you, give the free version a shot. In its current state, I can see myself playing this for a long time on Steam Deck and PS5. Cygames and Arc System Worked nailed everything I had hoped for here, and delivered one of the best fighting game day one releases in years.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Steam Deck review score: 5/5

Update: This review has been updated to reflect the online experience on Steam Deck.

As usual, you can read all our past and future Steam Deck coverage here. If you have any feedback for this feature or what else you’d like to see us do around the Steam Deck, let us know in the comments below. I hope you all have a great day, and thanks for reading.

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/granblue-fantasy-versus-rising-steam-deck-review-pc-port-online/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/all-you-need-to-know-about-gunship-battle-total-warfares-new-pvp-mode-and-loyalty-program/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/all-you-need-to-know-about-gunship-battle-total-warfares-new-pvp-mode-and-loyalty-program/#respond Wed, 13 Dec 2023 14:00:36 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315942 Continue reading "All You Need to Know About ‘Gunship Battle: Total Warfare’s New PvP Mode and Loyalty Program"
]]> It has been quite the generous festive season from Joycity so far, as they mark the fifth anniversary of their massive military mayhem game Gunship Battle: Total Warfare. After a host of giveaways and events, it is time to unwrap the anniversary big present; a new PvP mode called Elysium.

‘Tis the season of togetherness, and what better way to honor this than gathering 29 of your Alliance members and engaging in chaotic, otherworldly combat in the new co-op mode? The first battles will be ready for combatants on December 20th and teams can register now to take part in the inaugural wars.

Engage in epic-scale PvP battles

Elysium will see teams face-off in explosive engagements over a variety of buildings, with the aim of capturing them to tally up points. After a grueling one-hour slobberknocker, the Alliance with the most points will be crowned the victors and recipients of a bounty of rewards.

To take part in these battles, teams will have to register in advance. This will then kick off a preparation phase for players to put together whatever tactics they can ahead of one hell of a fight. If you are thinking that you can just bring in that overpowered Spitfire you have sitting around, then hold your proverbial horses.



A fair and balanced way to play

In order to make sure these contests bring out the best in players, you won’t be able to select the units you take into battle. Instead, everyone will be given the same units and equipment, with battle being decided by the only thing they should be; brains, brawns, and maybe a little bit of luck.

Whilst this may come as a bit of a kick to those hoping to just steamroll their way to the prizes and show off that army they worked so hard to amass, it is the best way to ensure everyone has a fair shake at the title. This way, even those busy people with only two hours to play a week have a chance. A true competitive challenge.

Earn new rewards by simply playing

If you can tear yourself away from this new method of carnage and chaos, Joycity has also launched a new reward problem alongside Elysium. The Joy Lounge is for players of any of the company’s games and is a brand new way to amass extra rewards as you play, so there is every reason to join and none to miss out. Simply sign up for the Lounge, and link your game account to it.

When you have done this, you will start amassing Joy Points on your account whenever you make any digital purchase from the Joycity online storefronts; APK, PC or Web Shop, so there is some investment required. When you have built up enough points, it is time for the next step; redeeming them.



Digital and physical options galore

The Joy Lounge will host a marketplace for you to spend your points, with a myriad of in-game packages to choose from. Most interestingly, however, there will also be physical, real-world items available. Joycity has also announced the ongoing release of Seasonal items, so there will be an ongoing evolution of items to collect.

Finally, if you manage to stand out, most likely through constant spending and perhaps dominating Elysium, then you could be one of the lucky few to be invited to the Top Honors program. There will be a special channel on the Joy Lounge for these, with the contents shrouded in mystery, only accessible to those elite Admirals.

Download Gunship Battle: Total Warfare now from the App Store and Google Play to start preparing for this new 60-man PvP extraordinaire, and don’t forget to sign up for the Joy Lounge to start collecting those points.

 

Sponsored Content

This article is sponsored content written by TouchArcade and published on behalf of Joycity to promote the latest update for Gunship Battle: Total Warfare. For questions or comments, please email ads@toucharcade.com

 

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/all-you-need-to-know-about-gunship-battle-total-warfares-new-pvp-mode-and-loyalty-program/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/metal-slug-2-aca-neogeo-android-iphone-download-now-available-hamster-snk/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/metal-slug-2-aca-neogeo-android-iphone-download-now-available-hamster-snk/#respond Wed, 13 Dec 2023 06:39:13 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315949 Continue reading "1998-Released Classic Run and Gun Game ‘Metal Slug 2’ ACA NeoGeo From SNK and Hamster Is Out Now on iOS and Android"
]]> Last week, I missed posting about it, but we had the awesome KOF 97 hit iOS and Android through Hamster’s ACA NeoGeo series. Check it out here. This week, the 1998-released classic run and gun game Metal Slug 2 [appprice url=""] has released on iOS and Android as the newest ACA NeoGeo series release. We had Metal Slug ACA NeoGeo recently, and Shaun reviewed it here. Metal Slug 2 lets you choose Marko, Tarma, Eri and Fio t otake on Morden’s Rebel Army. This release added laser guns and more in addition to the Heavy Machine Guns and Shotguns from the prior release. Watch the trailer for Metal Slug 2 ACA NeoGeo from its console release below:

You can buy Metal Slug 2 ACA NeoGeo on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. As with prior releases on mobile, this costs half of what it does on consoles at $3.99. If you aren’t sure if this one is for you, I’d recommend going with one of the games Shaun recommended in his best games list. If you’ve not played an SNK re-release from Hamster you can read Shaun’s article here covering the 10 best games in the series on mobile.



Shaun has reviewed most of the releases so far in the ACA NeoGeo series on iOS. Check out his older reviews for Sengoku 2 here, Top Hunter Roddy & Cathy here, Samurai Shodown IV here, Alpha Mission II here, Metal Slug 5 here, Shock Troopers here, NAM-1975 here, ZED BLADE here, PUZZLED here, The King of Fighters 2002 here, Big Tournament Golf here, King of the Monsters here, Last Resort here, Aero Fighters 2 here, Burning Fight here, Robo Army here, Mutation Nation here, Twinkle Star Sprites here, Aero Fighters 3 here, Prehistoric Isle 2 here, Sengoku 3 here, Samurai Shodown III here, Ghost Pilots here, Stakes Winner here, Baseball Stars Professional here, Top Players Golf here, Ninja Combat here, Riding Hero here, Savage Reign here, and The Super Spy here. Check out the official website for the series on mobile here. What’s your favorite recent ACA NeoGeo release and are you grabbing today’s release?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/13/metal-slug-2-aca-neogeo-android-iphone-download-now-available-hamster-snk/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/wingspan-oceania-expansion-digital-download-out-now-iphone-android-switch-xbox-steam-deck-pc/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/wingspan-oceania-expansion-digital-download-out-now-iphone-android-switch-xbox-steam-deck-pc/#respond Wed, 13 Dec 2023 04:30:01 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315937 Continue reading "‘Wingspan’ Oceania Expansion Now Available on iOS, Android, Switch, Xbox, and PC"
]]> Following its release date reveal, the digital version of Wingspan has finally gotten its newest expansion from Monster Couch with the Oceania Expansion. This is now live as DLC or an in app purchase on iOS, Android, Switch, Steam, and Xbox platforms. The expansion brings in nectar, a new board, nearly 100 new birds, challenges, and more. It follows the European Expansion. On PC and consoles, there’s a new bundle available to get the game and all DLC at a discount. On mobile there’s no bundle, but the game is discounted if you haven’t grabbed it yet. Watch the Wingspan Oceania Expansion launch trailer below:

I’m looking forward to trying this on Switch, Steam Deck, and iPad later today. If you’ve not played the base game yet, Wingspan based on the original physical board game designed by Elizabeth Hargrave, is available on consoles, PC, and mobile. Read my review of the iOS release of Wingspan here. You can buy the Oceania expansion on Steam here. Wingspan is usually priced at $9.99 on mobile and $19.99 on consoles and PC platforms with it being discounted rightn ow. Check it out on Google Play for Android here and on the App Store for iOS here. Head over to our forum thread for the game here. Check out the official website for the game here. Have you played Wingspan yet on any platform yet?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/wingspan-oceania-expansion-digital-download-out-now-iphone-android-switch-xbox-steam-deck-pc/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/snakebird-complete-switch-review-fashion-dreamer-update-patch/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/snakebird-complete-switch-review-fashion-dreamer-update-patch/#respond Tue, 12 Dec 2023 22:55:23 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315894 Continue reading "SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring ‘Snakebird Complete’, Plus Today’s New Releases and Sales"
]]> Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for December 12th, 2023. In today’s article, we get things started with a pair of reviews from our pal Mikhail, who is taking a look at Snakebird Complete and Fashion Dreamer. I’ve got one review myself, for the tactical RPG Arcadian Atlas. After that, we’ve got the list of new releases including Hammerwatch II and more. Then we move into the lists of the newest sales and expiring discounts, as we always do. Let’s get to the games!

Reviews & Mini-Views

Snakebird Complete ($14.99)



Over here at TouchArcade, we’ve been fans of Snakebird ever since it hit iOS in 2016. You can read our review of Snakebird on iOS here. Since that release, Noumenon Games released Snakebird Primer in 2019, a more accessible follow-up that built on the original with many more levels. Fast forward to now, Snakebird Complete has arrived on Nintendo Switch bringing both Snakebird and Snakebird Primer together in a seamless package for Nintendo’s hybrid system.

I’ve been chipping away at it since getting review code, and it has honestly made it hard to play my other review games. When I get sucked into a good puzzle game, I spend too much time thinking about levels and the game when I’m not playing. In fact, I spent 2 hours on it this morning when I wanted to finish writing about 4 other games then. Snakebird Complete is so good, I want to keep playing more of it instead of writing about it. Put that on the box.



If you’ve never heard of Snakebird before, your aim is moving like you would in the classic game, Snake, while collecting fruit to grow in size, but also trying to reach a specific objective or location in the superbly designed levels. The progression in Snakebird Complete is non-linear. You slowly start unlocking more of the map, opening up multiple puzzle options for when you inevitably get stuck and need to try something else or need a break. As you progress further, new mechanics and more birds join the action.

Beyond superbly designed levels and intuitive levels, I love the attention to detail in the little things. The animations are lovely, and the birds’ expressions as you reach the goal or are near a fruit are things most wouldn’t even pay attention to. This is all complemented by a relaxing soundtrack and charming sound effects.



If you do get stuck, there’s an interesting hint system, but I’d really recommend doing what I do when I get stuck in a puzzle game like this: go and do another puzzle or take a break. The solution will come to you. Give it time.

On Nintendo Switch, the game looks great, and I was very happy that touchscreen support is included. I played most of it with touch controls in portable mode, but also tried it docked. The controller support is well-implemented.



Snakebird was amazing on iOS, but Snakebird Complete feels perfect on Nintendo Switch. If you enjoy the likes of Baba is You and even A Monster’s Expedition, Snakebird Complete is essential. They nailed the touch controls and it looks so good on the OLED screen. If you still aren’t sold on it, try the demo. Snakebird Complete is the real deal. -Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 5/5

Fashion Dreamer ($49.99)



Fashion Dreamer‘s announcement left me conflicted. I was super happy to see syn Sophia back, but it didn’t seem like a new Style Savvy game. Since that reveal, Xseed Games has been slowly revealing more of what you actually do in Fashion Dreamer, and it finally hit me that this is a creativity focused dress up game with some online elements rather than a true follow up to Style Savvy, and that isn’t a bad thing, but the game’s current state leaves a lot to be desired even after its first major update.

Fashion Dreamer has you playing as a Muse in a world full of Muses. Your aim is to grow your influence with followers, your own brand, your own showroom, and more. There’s a lot of customization possible here, but I enjoyed interacting with random Muses to dress them up through what the game calls Lookits. You can also interact with a Muse to absorb the new clothes and accessories.



Speaking of clothes and accessories, the more you progress into earning more followers and doing Lookits, the more in-game items you get. These can be used to use the gacha machine or bingo tickets to unlock more items and basically the more you give Fashion Dreamer, the more you get out of it, but there isn’t really a story as I hoped when it was originally announced. The best analogy I have is Fashion Dreamer is the Happy Home Designer to Animal Crossing‘s Style Savvy.

The online mode is quite nice as well, but you can play Fashion Dreamer offline completely. Day one, I had complaints with the sorting and many aspects of the actual dress up part because you couldn’t even zoom in save sets properly. Those have been fixed, but the biggest non-performance related issue I have is the lack of being able to use any accessories and clothes on any body type. I don’t get why a game about dressing up limits this. As of this writing, I haven’t been able to test the time-limited event since it was taken down soon after the update hit.



Visually, Fashion Dreamer can look excellent, especially when you’re doing poses to show off your Muse and take photos. The rest of it looks a bit basic but nice and colorful. This isn’t an issue on its own, but the performance is not good. Scrolling through items or even walking across the area results in stuttering or freezing. I tested this on 2 Switch consoles to be sure. I hope this can be improved over patches, but right now some portions remind me of Pokemon and not in a good way.

After its first update, Fashion Dreamer still needs work. While the performance is my biggest problem with it, some design decisions need to be addressed like letting any body type wear any clothes or accessories. I’m going to revisit it through each update, but right now this feels more like what we got in Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer rather than a true Animal Crossing experience as an example. There’s a lot I like, but this needed more time. –Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

Arcadian Atlas ($19.99)



You know, sometimes I think Final Fantasy Tactics doesn’t get its full due in terms of its importance in gaming history. It is certainly well-loved and considerably revered, of course. But if we consider that one angle of a game’s place in history is how influential it is, Final Fantasy Tactics is starting to look like it’s on some kind of short list. You don’t see many games in the turn-based tactical RPG genre in recent years that aren’t paying a debt to it in some form or another, and many of them are outright doing their best to succeed it. Unfortunately, like with its Square Enix stablemate Chrono Trigger, most of these love letters fall a bit flat in some form or another. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but flattery will only get you so far.

Arcadian Atlas really has Final Fantasy Tactics on its mind, and in some ways that plays out really well. The sprites are fantastic, and indeed might be even more expressive and fun to look at than those of the game it pays homage to. The soundtrack is quite good, even if it doesn’t quite live up to one of the finest efforts of Hitoshi Sakimoto. The story has plenty of intrigue and is quite well-written. The battles are smaller in scale than those in Final Fantasy Tactics, but still big enough to be interesting. There is a satisfying number of character classes to play around with and a fair number of skills to make use of. Indeed, I think it does its job well enough that fans of the genre will be sufficiently entertained for their money.



But there are problems here, too. Features and elements that Final Fantasy Tactics had that would be welcome here but are nowhere to be found. The maps have a lot of details on them that make them look natural, but sometimes that stuff blocks your view. Unfortunately, you can’t change the viewpoint in this game so you just kind of have to deal with it. Same if any elevated parts of the terrain are in the way. There are certain complexities to the combat you would expect to find that aren’t in here either, and it’s all very unbalanced and not in the good way. I also feel like it’s far too content to be an homage, not really doing anything to reach beyond what the genre was doing twenty-five years ago. It reminds me a lot of the Mercenaries Saga games, for better or worse.

I think if you love Final Fantasy Tactics, Arcadian Atlas will give you something to chew on. It will also likely irritate you in a variety of ways. It’s every bit the game it’s trying to be, a passionate expression of adoration for one of the genre greats. It’s just a shame that it is content to only be that, since the sparks that do light up properly here show such promise. Perhaps we might see some of those become proper flames in the next game from this team, but for now this is really just one for those heavily thirsting for any tactical turn-based intrigue they can get.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

New Releases

Hammerwatch Anniversary Edition ($19.99)



This is a remaster of Hammerwatch, which has been available on the Switch for long enough that we now have a remaster to buy. It makes a number of improvements on the original version, but is that enough for you to drop twenty bucks if you already own that one? I’m not the guy to tell you yes or no on that, but I think if you really enjoyed Hammerwatch you’ll probably appreciate the improvements here to some extent. You may, however, want to save some money for the next item on our list.

Hammerwatch II ($24.99)



Hey, it’s Hammerwatch II. Go on some new adventures on your own, or team up with other players online in a group of up to four players. Explore an open world, complete quests, and build up your hero as you push back the forces of darkness. This has been out for a minute or two on other platforms and the general consensus seems to be that if you liked the first one, you’ll have a pretty good time here too.

Petit Petit Petit ($12.99)



A Vampire Survivors-style game that takes place inside of a body and tasks you with using antibodies to defend against invading pathogens and diseases. It’s a clever premise, but reviews of the game on other platforms have been fairly lukewarm. Proceed at your own risk, in other words.

Super Bear Adventure ($9.99)



I think this came out on mobile several years back, where it found an audience thanks to the relatively low number of 3D platformers around. I… don’t think it will enjoy such benefits here and now, but who knows? Maybe there is some hidden charm to it that I’m just not picking up on.

Twin Mind: Power of Love Collector’s Edition ($14.99)



Why yes, it’s another hidden object adventure game. The twin detectives are looking to solve yet another case. I have nothing much to say about any of these games at this point, but if you’re looking for one of them, here it be.

Wood Guy ($9.99)



This is absolute borderline Bin Bunch stuff, but it seems like it could be an actual earnest effort so I’m not going to stick it in there. Yet. Anyway, it’s a pretty clunky action game with hundreds of levels and a local co-op feature if you want to exercise it. There’s also a battle mode in there so that they can technically say the game is for up to four players.

The Bin Bunch

SNQZ ($1.49)



Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

There are a bunch of games hitting new low prices today, and while I don’t know that any of them are ultra barn-burners, the prices are low enough that you might want to bite anyway. Over in the outbox, there’s almost nothing going on. Some days are like that. At any rate, check both lists such as they are and see what catches your eye.

Select New Sales



RiMS Racing ($4.99 from $49.99 until 12/27)
Shooting Star Island ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/1)
Earthen Dragon ($4.00 from $9.90 until 1/1)
Heart Chain Kitty: All Screwed Up ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/1)
Hidden Gems: Volume One ($3.49 from $6.99 until 1/1)
Sixtar Gate: Startrail ($19.99 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Operate Now: Hospital ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/1)
Railbound ($8.99 from $12.99 until 1/1)
Figment 1 + Figment 2 ($15.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Murder Mystery Machine ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/1)
Alfred Hitchcock Vertigo ($5.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Syberia ($1.99 from $12.99 until 1/1)
Metamorphosis ($1.99 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Agatha Christie Collection ($11.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)
The Quest for Excalibur: Puy du Fou ($8.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)


Smurfs Kart ($15.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
The Gardens Between ($2.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
My Universe: Fashion Boutique ($2.49 from $24.99 until 1/1)
My Universe: Cooking Star Restaurant ($2.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)
Immortal Realms: Vampire Wars ($9.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Arkanoid: Eternal Battle ($2.99 from $19.99 until 1/1)
Vampire: TM – Shadows of New York ($2.59 from $12.99 until 1/1)
Survivor Castaway Island ($20.99 from $29.99 until 1/1)
Everdream Valley ($12.49 from $24.99 until 1/1)
WRC Collection ($9.99 from $99.99 until 1/1)
The Smurfs 2 ($27.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
Bang-On Balls: Chronicles ($14.99 from $24.99 until 1/1)
Grand Mountain Adventure: Wonderlands ($10.49 from $34.99 until 1/1)
Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch ($15.99 from $39.99 until 1/1)
TT Isle of Man RotE 3 ($19.99 from $49.99 until 1/1)
Cabela’s The Hunt: CE ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/1)
Cricket 22 ($19.99 from $49.99 until 1/1)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, December 13th



Football Cup 2023 ($2.99 from $9.99 until 12/13)
Glitch’s Trip ($1.99 from $12.99 until 12/13)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with more new releases, more reviews, more sales, and perhaps some news. This was another one of those days where I didn’t get as much done as I would have liked to, but I suppose there isn’t much you can do about that. I hope you all have a terrific Tuesday, and as always, thanks for reading!

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/snakebird-complete-switch-review-fashion-dreamer-update-patch/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/lords-mobile-x-dreamworks-shrek-is-live-right-now-with-valuable-prizes-on-offer/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/lords-mobile-x-dreamworks-shrek-is-live-right-now-with-valuable-prizes-on-offer/#respond Tue, 12 Dec 2023 20:49:36 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315929 Continue reading "Lords Mobile x Dreamworks Shrek is Live Right Now, with Valuable Prizes on Offer"
]]> Lords Mobile, the vastly successful strategy MMO from developer IGG, has teamed up with the Shrek franchise for a two-month collaboration, bringing one of the world’s biggest mobile games together with one of the world’s most popular movie series.

You’ve heard of Shrek. Don’t even try to pretend you haven’t. But on the off-chance that Lords Mobile has somehow passed you by, all you need to know is that it’s a polished fantasy MMO with a wide range of RPG and strategy elements.

It’s also worth mentioning that Lords Mobile has been downloaded more than 640 million times globally, while the total number of hours played is comfortably in the billions.

The Lords Mobile x Dreamworks Shrek event, which began on December 1st and is set to last until the end of January, sees a host of characters from the Shrek universe taking a trip to the perpetually wartorn Kingdoms of Athena.



Those characters include Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, and Puss in Boots, and to make the event extra special IGG and Dreamworks have arranged for Oathkeeper and Shrek to appear as snow sculptures.

Yep. Real life, glistening, looming snow sculptures. You can visit them at the Jingyuetan National Scenic Spot in Changchun, China, if you happen to be in the neighborhood.

It gets better. There’s a special Guild Fest event between December 4th and December 10th (GMT-5), and if your guild makes it into the top ten you’ll be immortalized alongside these legends of the small and big screen.

Back in the game, Lords Mobile x Dreamworks Shrek consists of several different events.



For instance, Shrek’s Adventures sees you searching for page fragments and completing puzzles in order to win rewards such as a Shrek castle skin, collab avatars, exclusive artifacts, and more.

The Far Far Away Shop, meanwhile, will be open throughout the event so that you can exchange your collaboration-exclusive digital items for skins, avatars, emotes, and artifacts.

Other events include Fantasy Faction War, Lords Homecoming, and Adventure Puzzle. Between them they give you the chance to win an Apple Watch Ultra 2, a Lords Mobile Logitech keyboard, an iPhone Pro Max, a PS5, Amazon Gift Card, and a ton of merch.

You can read all about it on the Lords Mobile x Dreamworks Shrek website and the official Lords Mobile Facebook page.

To join in the fun, download Lords Mobile for free right now on the Google Play Store, the App Store, Steam, or PC (via the game’s official site).

 

Sponsored Content

This article is sponsored content written by TouchArcade and published on behalf of IGG to promote the Shrek crossover event in Lords Mobile. For questions or comments, please email ads@toucharcade.com

 

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/lords-mobile-x-dreamworks-shrek-is-live-right-now-with-valuable-prizes-on-offer/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/john-romero-sigil-2-download-doom-mobile-iphone-android-switch-xbox-ps4-pc-bethesda/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/john-romero-sigil-2-download-doom-mobile-iphone-android-switch-xbox-ps4-pc-bethesda/#respond Tue, 12 Dec 2023 18:16:29 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315924 Continue reading "John Romero’s SIGIL II Now Available as a Free Add-On in ‘DOOM’ and ‘DOOM II’ To Celebrate DOOM’s 30th Anniversary"
]]> If you missed the excellent 30th anniversary stream for id Software’s DOOM ($4.99) featuring the legendary John Romero and John Carmack and former TouchArcade author and now documentary maker, author of many books, and more David L Craddock yesterday, it is absolutely worth watching. John Romero released SIGIL II, a free nine level episode for both DOOM and DOOM II on mobile and all platforms where the current build of the game is available: Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and PC including PS5 and Xbox Series X through backwards compatibility. You need to be signed in to Bethesda.net to get this add-on, and the download size is small as usual.



Bethesda also interviewed John Romero here about SIGIL II’s story, where it fits into the universe, and much more. It is worth reading. If you’ve not gotten the game yet on mobile, the iOS version also supports 120fps gameplay and is great to play even now. I played a bit of SIGIL II and it is amazing as expected. SIGIL II follows The Troopers’ Playground for both DOOM and DOOM II. Read about it here. Did you play DOOM back in the 90s or more recently and what’s your favorite memory of this legendary game?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/john-romero-sigil-2-download-doom-mobile-iphone-android-switch-xbox-ps4-pc-bethesda/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/apple-arcade-january-2024-new-games-best-games-of-2023-according-to-apple/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/apple-arcade-january-2024-new-games-best-games-of-2023-according-to-apple/#respond Tue, 12 Dec 2023 17:09:18 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315918 Continue reading "Apple Reveals January 2024 New Apple Arcade Games and Top Apple Arcade Games of 2023"
]]> Apple has revealed the new Apple Arcade games for January 2024 and also the top games of 2023 on the service today. Next month on January 4th, 2024, two Apple Arcade Originals will arrive alongside one App Store Great. The previously-delayed Cornsweeper is finally launching next month bringing a blend of classic gameplay with a new aesthetic, lo-fi inspired music, and more. I really like how this looks and will definitely be checking it out. You can sign up to be notified and have it download here on Apple Arcade. The other Apple Arcade Original is Bandai Namco Entertainment’s Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom () which actually had its name revealed in a trademark. This adventure game promises many locations in the world of Tamagotchi, Tamagotchi friends, customization, decorations, and more with content set to be added regularly. I’m curious how this plays because I figured it would just be a small simulation game based on being a Tamagotchi game.



The App Store Great for next month is Blackjack by MobilityWare+ which joins many other games by the developer on the service. This launches on January 4th, 2024 as well. Sign up here to be notified and have it download if you’ve set your system to auto download. Just like MobilityWare’s other Arcade games, this is the full game without any extra purchases.

Apple also today revealed the top Apple Arcade games. Check out the list below:

• NBA 2K23 Arcade Edition
• Cooking Mama: Cuisine!
• Bloons TD 6+
• Angry Birds Reloaded
• Sneaky Sasquatch
• Warped Kart Racers
• Hello Kitty Island Adventure
• Snake.io+
• Fruit Ninja Classic+
• Solitaire by MobilityWare+

For all Apple Arcade things, check out our dedicated Apple Arcade forum for discussion on the service and every game included here. What do you think of Apple’s newly revealed games and the top games of 2023 on the service?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/apple-arcade-january-2024-new-games-best-games-of-2023-according-to-apple/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/little-nightmares-mobile-download-iphone-android-price-available-now-controller-support/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/little-nightmares-mobile-download-iphone-android-price-available-now-controller-support/#respond Tue, 12 Dec 2023 12:59:25 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315912 Continue reading "‘Little Nightmares’ Mobile Is Now Available on iOS and Android"
]]> The critically-acclaimed puzzle adventure horror game Little Nightmares ($7.99) was announced for mobile back in September last year. After a bit of a delay, it has now launched worldwide as a premium release on iOS and Android. Little Nightmares was originally developed by Tarsier Studios and released on consoles and PC back in 2017 through Bandai Namco Entertainment. I enjoyed my time with it on Switch. Little Nightmares for mobile has a revamped interface, Game Center achievement support, controller support, iCloud, and more. Watch the mobile trailer for Little Nightmares launch trailer below::

Little Nightmares is priced at $8.99 on mobile after its launch discount ends on December 19th. The launch / pre-registration discount was 30% off bringing it down to $6.99. You can now buy Little Nightmares on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. Little Nightmares is not be the first time this series has been on mobile. We saw Very Little Nightmares, a made-for-mobile spinoff released in 2019, developed by Alike Studios. Hopefully today’s launch does well enough for Playdigious to bring the sequel to mobile as well. Have you played Little Nightmares before on any platform and will you be checking it out on mobile today?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/little-nightmares-mobile-download-iphone-android-price-available-now-controller-support/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/monster-hunter-now-gifting-system-friends-item-box-expansion-new-purchase-iphone-android-xmas/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/monster-hunter-now-gifting-system-friends-item-box-expansion-new-purchase-iphone-android-xmas/#respond Tue, 12 Dec 2023 10:41:08 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315905 Continue reading "New ‘Monster Hunter Now’ Update Out Now Adds Gifting for Friends, Additional Item Box Expansions, and More"
]]> Niantic and Capcom pushed out a new update for Monster Hunter Now (Free) on iOS and Android following the recent Fulminations in the Frost title update. If you missed that update, it added in the two weapon types: Lance and Dual Blades, new monsters: Radobaan, Banbaro, Barioth, and Zinogre, and much more. Today’s update adds a new gifting system, additional item box expansions available for purchase, and more. The gifting system right now lets you buy a Potion Gift Set or a Paintball Gift Set for friends. The store also has a new gift tab for these purchase. It is unclear if new ones will be added regularly. Watch the Monster Hunter Now Fulminations of the Frost Zinogre update launch trailer below:

If you are planning to start playing the game, I put together some (newly updated) tips and tricks for the game, details on the weapons, special skills, the current monsters list, my wishlist for future update monsters, and more. You can grab Monster Hunter Now on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. The in app purchases include different sets of gems and upgrades. Check out the official website here. What do you think of Monster Hunter Now if you’ve been playing it so far on iOS and Android?

]]> https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/monster-hunter-now-gifting-system-friends-item-box-expansion-new-purchase-iphone-android-xmas/feed/ 0 https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/honkai-star-rail-version-2-0-new-features-black-swan-character-demo/ https://toucharcade.com/2023/12/12/honkai-star-rail-version-2-0-new-features-black-swan-character-demo/#respond Tue, 12 Dec 2023 09:12:28 +0000 https://toucharcade.com/?p=315888 Continue reading "New ‘Honkai Star Rail’ Version 2.0 Features Detailed, Black Swan Showcased for Upcoming Update"
]]> This Friday, HoYoverse will detail the upcoming Honkai Star Rail [app version 1.6 update titled “Crown of the Mundane and Divine". Ahead of this stream, we also have details on upcoming 2.0 update through a new Developer Radio blog post. A few of the recent features revealed will be arriving with 2.0 as well. These include the Relic system optimization launching, new universal path material, the orlay crossroads system to check past missions on a tree diagram, new light cone manifest store items, and more. You will be able to watch the Honkai Star Rail 1.6 program below:

HoYoverse also revealed Black Swan, an upcoming character for a future update. Check out the reveal and Tweet below:

"Extraterrestrial Satellite Communication" Black Swan

"If I can identify and encapsulate a fragment of memory before it's unveiled to the world, those solitary moments of delight are my most favored and unique memories."
A Memokeeper of the Garden of Recollection. A mysterious… pic.twitter.com/TLeK5fnjTx

— Honkai: Star Rail (@honkaistarrail) December 12, 2023

Honkai Star Rail won Apple’s App Store Award for iPhone Game of the Year and it won best mobile game at The Game Awards 2023. If you’ve not gotten Honkai Star Rail yet, you can download it on the App Store for iOS here, on Google Play for Android here, and here on the Epic Games Store in addition to its regular PC version. Check it out here on PS5. Have you been playing Honkai Star Rail regularly since it launched on mobile, PC, and more recently on PS5?

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