As the festive season is just around the corner and we near the end of the year, it seemed like there wouldn’t be any more exciting news or game showcases to look forward to. However, Nintendo caught everyone off guard by presenting an Indie World Direct yesterday. This showcase unveiled a plethora of upcoming Indie games, ranging from games that will be released immediately to games that are planned for release as far ahead as 2024. The showcase included a diverse range of games, catering to different tastes and preferences, and it was certainly an exciting event for Indie game fans.
During the showcase couple of games caught my attention that I am looking forward to checking out either this year or the next. One of them is A Highland Song which will be coming around the holiday of this year, you never see many games that take place in the Scottish Highlands which is one of my favorite places that I have visited.
Everyone knows you need at least some cozy simulator game to be announced during any Indie World direct no matter what, and well I got that wish during the direct with Moonstone Island, a game that is currently available on PC and it is one of the coziest beautiful games that I ever played, and I can’t wait to play this on the switch. Any game that makes you explore hundreds of islands and has alchemy always catches my attention.
If you missed the direct, you could view the entire showcase on their website https://www.nintendo.com/us/indie-world/ Here are the games that got announced during the Indie World Direct:
- Shantae: Risky Revolution from WayForward: Shantae is back in an adventure 20 years in the making! The nefarious pirate Risky Boots has a “groundbreaking” new plan that will leave Sequin Land spinning — by rotating the continent, she can move any town right to the coast for easy plundering! As Shantae, turn the tectonic tables on Risky by taking control of the land itself: shift, twist, navigate, and explore by swapping between mix-and-match multilayered levels! Hair-whip and belly-dance your way through scrambled lands, misplaced towns, monster-filled crypts, and daunting labyrinths. Six creature transformations, fierce boss battles, and a 4-player versus mode await! Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution launches for Nintendo Switch in 2024.
Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution – Announcement Trailer – Nintendo Switch (youtube.com)
- Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition from Mobius Digital and Annapurna Interactive: Outer Wilds is an open-world mystery about a solar system trapped in an endless time loop. You’re the newest recruit of Outer Wilds Ventures, a fledgling space program searching for answers in a strange, constantly evolving solar system. Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition touches down on Nintendo Switch on Dec. 7. Pre-orders begin today in the Nintendo eShop.
Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition – Pre-order Trailer – Nintendo Switch (youtube.com)
- On Your Tail from Memorable Games and Humble Games: Embark on an intriguing getaway you’ll never forget in On Your Tail™, a sleuth story-driven life sim of relaxation, investigation, and knowing how to play your cards right. On Your Tail launches on Nintendo Switch as a timed console exclusive in 2024.
On Your Tail – Announcement Trailer – Nintendo Switch (youtube.com)
- A Highland Song from Inkle: A wild adventure through the Scottish Highlands, with open platforming and dynamic storytelling from the creators of 80 Days and Heaven’s Vault. Pre-orders are currently live on the Nintendo e-shop for a special Discount price of USD 16.19, the game is releasing on December 5th, 2023.
A Highland Song – Announcement Trailer – Nintendo Switch (youtube.com)
- Backpack Hero from Jaspel and Different Tales: Backpack Hero is a twist on your standard deck-building roguelike. It isn’t just about what you carry, but how you organize the items within your bag! Their placement has a huge impact on their performance. Find them in the right spot in your backpack to increase their power! Explore ancient dungeons, caves, swamps, and more! Meet colorful friends and fight deadly foes! Don’t get lost! Backpack Hero launches on Nintendo Switch with a special launch discount price of USD 16.99 for a limited time.
Backpack Hero – Launch Trailer – Nintendo Switch (youtube.com)
- Howl from Mi’pu’mi Games and Astragon Entertainment: Howl is a turn-based tactical folktale set in medieval times. A sinister “howling plague” has ravaged the land, turning all who hear it into feral beasts. You play a deaf heroine plunging into danger in search of a cure. Howl arrives on Nintendo Switch at price of USD 14.99, a free demo will also be available in Nintendo eShop at the same time.
Howl – Launch Trailer – Nintendo Switch (youtube.com)
- Blade Chimera from Team Ladybug/WSS playground and PLAYISM: In Blade Chimera, you play as Shin, a Demon Hunter who has lost his memories and is now exploring the world together with his sword—the transformed Lumina demon Lux—recollecting memories about yourself, your missing wife, and skills you’ve forgotten. Each time you recollect a lost skill, Lux changes form according to the will of her wielder, making Shin stronger and granting access to more areas of the world. Death Trick: Double Blind launches first for consoles on Nintendo Switch in 2024. A free demo will be available in Nintendo eShop later today.
Blade Chimera – Announcement Trailer – Nintendo Switch (youtube.com)
- The Star Named EOS from Silver Lining Studio and PLAYISM: The Star Named EOS is a story-heavy puzzle adventure game with an emphasis on photography. The young photographer Dei sets out on a journey to follow in the footsteps of his absent mother. The Star Named EOS released for Nintendo Switch in the spring 2024.
The Star Named EOS – Announcement Trailer – Nintendo Switch (youtube.com)
- Moonstone Island from Studio Supersoft and Raw Fury: Moonstone Island is a creature-collecting life-sim set in an open world with 100 islands to explore. Make friends, brew potions, collect Spirits, and test your strength in card-based encounters to complete your Alchemy training! Moonstone Island launches on Nintendo Switch as a timed console exclusive in spring 2024.
Moonstone Island – Announcement Trailer – Nintendo Switch (youtube.com)
- Core Keeper from Pugstorm and Fireshine Games: Drawn towards a mysterious relic, you are an explorer who awakens in an ancient cavern of creatures, resources, and trinkets. Trapped deep underground will your survival skills be up to the task? Drawn towards a mysterious relic, you are an explorer who awakens in an ancient cavern of creatures, resources, and trinkets. Trapped deep underground will your survival skills be up to the task? Launches for Nintendo Switch in summer 2024.
Core Keeper – Announcement Trailer – Nintendo Switch (youtube.com)
In addition to the titles that were announced and featured above, this Indie World presentation also included a montage of even more indie games in the works for Nintendo Switch, which includes the following below:
- Planet of Lana, a cinematic puzzle-adventure framed by an epic sci-fi saga that stretches across centuries and galaxies, launching on Nintendo Switch in spring 2024.
- Enjoy the Diner, a mysterious narrative adventure with point-and-click elements, available on Nintendo Switch for USD 10.99
- The Gecko Gods, a relaxed puzzle platformer starring a tiny gecko who must explore a set of mysterious islands and temples on a mission to save its friends, launching on Nintendo Switch in spring 2024.
- Passpartout 2: The Lost Artist, a painting adventure in which you’re invited to explore the charming town of Phénix while creating and selling works of art, available on Nintendo Switch today with a special launch discount price of USD 19.99.
- Braid: Anniversary Edition, a remaster of the acclaimed puzzle-platformer, with updated graphics and sound, plus newly added developer commentary, launching for Nintendo Switch on April 30, 2024
- Urban Myth Dissolution Center, a captivating mystery game in which you’re tasked with investigating curses, haunted houses, and other urban myths, coming to Nintendo Switch in 2024.
- Heavenly Bodies, is a delightfully challenging physics-based space puzzler that asks you to complete a series of seemingly simple tasks aboard a 1970s space station, arriving on Nintendo Switch in February 2024.
For the latest news and updates about indie games on Nintendo Switch, follow the Indie World X account @IndieWorldNA and check out https://www.nintendo.com/us/
One game that is currently available now I will be checking out is Passpartout 2: The Lost Artist, which is a game that I can see myself enjoying playing on a cozy day while drinking a nice cup of hot chocolate. Games that make you explore a town and learn more about the history while running your own business which in this case is artwork make me smile.
From the Indie World Direct that was showcased what games are you looking forward to playing? Hopefully the majority of these games that were announced there might be some physical release as well, and if so, we will update all the physical release editions for any games that were announced during this direct.
