Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 29th, 2024! Today's roundup features a hefty serving of new game releases, forming the core of our discussion, as is typical on Thursdays. We'll also dive into a substantial list of new sales. Unfortunately, we can't have a Nintendo Direct every day! Let's get to the games.

Notable New Releases

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club ($49.99)

The Famicom Detective Club returns after a long hiatus! This new entry stays true to the originals, for better or worse. A fresh mystery unfolds, presented in a style reminiscent of the recent Switch remakes. Can you crack the latest serial killer case? My review is coming soon.

Gundam Breaker 4 ($59.99)

Mikhail's already penned an in-depth review, so I'll direct you there for a complete gameplay and performance breakdown. In short: build and battle Gunplas! While the Switch port understandably lags behind other versions, it's perfectly playable. Read Mikhail's review – it's excellent.

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)

Tengo Project continues its string of successful remakes. Following Wild Guns Reloaded, The Ninja Saviors, and Pocky & Rocky, they tackle an 8-bit classic. This is a more significant departure from the source material than their previous efforts. However, if you crave classic-style action-platforming, this is a solid choice. My review drops early next week.

Valfaris: Mecha Therion ($19.99)

A Valfaris sequel, but with a twist! This is a 2.5D side-scrolling shooter, a departure from the original. While some might be surprised by the genre shift, it's still enjoyable. Embrace the change, and you'll find plenty to like. Review coming soon!

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

I'll admit, I'm a bit puzzled by this one. The food imagery is stunning, but the gameplay is unclear. Photography? Secret-finding? Perhaps Mikhail will investigate further – it seems right up his alley.

Monster Jam Showdown ($49.99)

If you’re a monster truck enthusiast, this might be for you. It’s a Monster Jam game with local and online multiplayer, and various modes. Reception on other platforms was mixed, but monster truck fans have limited options.

WitchSpring R ($39.99)

I believe this is a WitchSpring remake, but I could be mistaken. It always felt like a mobile alternative to Atelier, and at its original price point, it fulfilled that role. However, at this price, it's closer to an actual Atelier game, making the value proposition less clear. Still, it looks like the best-looking WitchSpring yet.

Depths of Sanity ($19.99)

An underwater exploration game with a fantastical horror twist. You're searching for your missing crew in a dangerous, interconnected underwater world. Combat is involved. Well-received on other platforms, it should find a home on Switch.

Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire ($19.99)

Voltaire, a vegan vampire, rebels against his bloodthirsty father. This translates into farming and action as you fend off your dad's attempts to derail your lifestyle. I'm a bit tired of the genre, but if you're not, give it a look.

Marble Abduction! Patti Hattu ($11.79)

A marble roller game with 70 stages and 80 marbles to collect, featuring secret collectibles and challenges. If you enjoy high-speed marble rolling, this is for you.

Leo: The Firefighter Cat ($24.99)

A kid-friendly firefighting game with 20 missions. While other firefighting games aim for realism, this one caters to a younger audience.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage ($21.99)

A grotesque action game starring a hoverboarding, blade-wielding cat. The game itself is decent, but the Switch version suffers from technical issues impacting the experience.

Arcade Archives Finalizer Super Transformation ($7.99)

A 1985 Konami vertical shooter featuring a transforming robot protagonist. A charming post-Xevious title.

EGGCONSOLE Xanadu Scenario II PC-8801mkIISR ($6.49)

An early expansion pack featuring the debut of Yuzo Koshiro. Gameplay is similar to the first game, but more challenging.

The Backrooms: Survival ($10.99)

Horror, survival, and roguelite elements combine in this online multiplayer game (up to 10 players). Solo play is more niche due to its repetitive nature.

Can of Wormholes ($19.99)

A clever puzzle game where you're a sentient can dealing with worms. 100 handcrafted puzzles with constantly evolving mechanics.

Ninja I & II ($9.99)

Two NES-style microgames with a ninja twist. Competitive, local multiplayer focused.

Dice Make 10! ($3.99)

A surprisingly fun game with two modes: falling blocks and wood block puzzles. The goal is to make dice combinations adding up to ten.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

The King of Fighters' 30th anniversary is celebrated with a sale on the entire Arcade Archives series. Many Pixel Game Maker Series titles are also at their lowest prices yet. Check out the full list below.

Select New Sales

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 30th

That's it for today! We'll be back tomorrow with more new releases, sales, and news. Reviews are also possible. A major typhoon is hitting, so there's a slight chance I might miss tomorrow's article. Thanks for reading!