Hello fellow gamers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 29th, 2024! Today's update brings a hefty serving of new game releases, forming the core of this Thursday's column. We'll also explore a substantial list of new sales. Unfortunately, Nintendo Directs aren't a daily occurrence, but let's dive into the games!

Featured New Releases

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

The Famicom Detective Club returns after a long hiatus with a brand-new case. This entry stays true to the originals, both in its strengths and weaknesses. A fresh mystery unfolds, presented in a style reminiscent of the recent Switch remakes. Can you crack the latest serial murder case? My review is coming soon!

Gundam Breaker 4 ($59.99)

Mikhail's comprehensive review provides an in-depth look at the gameplay and Switch performance. In short: build and battle Gunpla! While the Switch port understandably lags behind other versions in performance, it's still a solid experience. Check out Mikhail's review – it's excellent.

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)

Tengo Project continues its impressive streak of remakes/reimaginings. Following successful updates to Wild Guns Reloaded, The Ninja Saviors, and Pocky & Rocky, they now tackle an 8-bit classic. Expect a more significant departure from the source material compared to their previous projects. Fans of classic-style action-platformers should find much to enjoy. 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 its predecessor. While the genre shift might surprise some, it's a worthwhile experience. Review coming soon!

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

I'll admit, I'm a bit puzzled by this one. Stunning food visuals are prominent, but the gameplay remains unclear. Photography? Secret-finding? Perhaps Mikhail will investigate further.

Monster Jam Showdown ($49.99)

For monster truck enthusiasts, this game offers local and online multiplayer, along with numerous modes. Reception on other platforms has been mixed, but it might appeal to those seeking monster truck action.

WitchSpring R ($39.99)

A WitchSpring remake (I believe!), previously known as a mobile alternative to Atelier games. However, the price point now approaches that of a full-fledged Atelier title, making it a tougher sell. Still, it looks to be the best-looking WitchSpring yet.

Depths of Sanity ($19.99)

An underwater exploration game with a fantastical horror twist. Investigate your missing crew's fate in a vast, dangerous underwater world. Combat is involved. Well-received on other platforms, it's likely to find a dedicated following on Switch.

Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire ($19.99)

A vegan vampire rebelling against his bloodthirsty father. Farming and action combine in this title. While I'm personally somewhat fatigued by the genre, those with more enthusiasm for farming sims might find this appealing.

Marble Abduction! Patti Hattu ($11.79)

A classic marble roller game with 70 stages and 80 marbles to collect. Secret items and challenges await. If you enjoy high-speed marble rolling, this is a great option.

Leo: The Firefighter Cat ($24.99)

A kid-friendly firefighting game with 20 missions. A more lighthearted take on the firefighting genre.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage ($21.99)

A hoverboarding cat slices and dices enemies in this grotesque action game. While the core gameplay is decent, the Switch version suffers from technical issues impacting the overall experience.

Arcade Archives Finalizer Super Transformation ($7.99)

A 1985 Konami vertical shooter featuring a transforming robot protagonist. A charming, retro shooter experience.

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

An early expansion pack featuring new content and the debut of legendary composer Yuzo Koshiro.

The Backrooms: Survival ($10.99)

Horror, survival, and roguelite elements combine in this multiplayer-focused game. Best experienced with online friends.

Can of Wormholes ($19.99)

A clever puzzle game starring a sentient tin can battling worms. 100 handcrafted puzzles offer a consistently fresh experience.

Ninja I & II ($9.99)

Two NES-style microgames featuring ninja-themed challenges. Local multiplayer or CPU competition is available.

Dice Make 10! ($3.99)

A surprisingly fun puzzle game with two modes: falling blocks and classic block placement. The goal is to create rows/columns adding up to multiples of ten.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

The King of Fighters 30th anniversary is celebrated with a sale on the entire Arcade Archives series. The Pixel Game Maker Series also sees significant discounts. Several other indies are also on sale.

Select New Sales

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 30th

That's all for today! We'll return tomorrow with more new releases, sales, and news. See you then!