As of now, a Heaven Burns Red English release date hasn’t been announced, but I imagine we will learn about it soon following today’s Anime Expo 2024 announcement. Hopefully Heaven Burns Red releases on iOS, Android, and Steam in the West with cross progression. I’ve heard a lot about the story and the music in Heaven Burns Red, so it will be good to experience it in-game directly when it hopefully comes to iOS and Steam. Check out the official English website for Heaven Burns Red here. The official English announcement post is also here. Have you played Heaven Burns Red through its current release and will you be trying the English version when it arrives in the future?

Zenless Zone Zero supports cross-progression and cross-play across all platforms. As usual, there are web and social media events on for the game with in-game rewards. If you’d like to play Zenless Zone Zero at launch, you can download it on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. Check out the links to the PS5 and PC versions here. I hope the Zenless Zone Zero iOS version gets a 120hz option in the future. It is currently 60fps on iPhone 15 Pro. Check out more about the game on the official website here. Will you be playing Zenless Zone Zero today?

Antstream Arcade (Free)

iTunes Description

Discover a lifetime of gaming, the ultimate retro gaming experience with Antstream Arcade. Dive into a vast collection of over 1300 classic games, with new titles added every week. Travel through countless genres and eras, from arcade legends to cherished console classics, all streamed directly to your phone or tablet without messing around with ROMs or emulators.

Forum Thread: Antstream Arcade (by Antstream Ltd)

Arm Arena (Free)

iTunes Description

Most worry about the day the machines take over. But nobody considers how they will entertain themselves afterward. In a future where machines reign supreme, the ultimate spectacle is arena combat. Not content with mere simulations, they’ve scoured the world’s databases to form the most thrilling combatants. From revered robotic ancestors to the fiercest fantasy warriors. All to challenge the Arena’s central defender.

Forum Thread: Arm Arena (by BP3D)

Battle Crush (Free)

iTunes Description

BATTLE CRUSH is a 30-Player Action Brawl genre game.
Thrilling gameplay set on crumbling terrain.

■ A 30-Player Battle On A Crumbling Field!
30 players compete against each other to be the last one standing! You only have 8 minutes tops! Join the fray that takes place on a crumbling field and quench your thirst for action!

Forum Thread: Battle Crush (by NCSOFT)

Bloobi (Free)

iTunes Description

Unscramble 8 letters and build as many words as possible. Play coop or battle mode with friends!

You have 10 minutes to unscramble a set of 8 unique letters and build as many words as possible. There is always 1 letter that is required to be in the word.

Forum Thread: Bloobi (by For One Red)

Dabble ($0.99)

iTunes Description

Dabble is a fun word game that teases your vocabulary and strategy skills. Using a spin board to create new word possibilities, you hardly get stuck in Dabble. The game is designed to strengthen focus and relax your mind at the same time, what we proudly call word therapy!

Our vision is to connect and bond generations through shared and satisfying interest in crafting words — relaxed minds are primed for togetherness. Dabble in, our journey starts here.

Forum Thread: Dabble – Word Games + Spin (by Parosa)

Game of Splash! (Free)

iTunes Description

Game of Splash! is simple. Tap the drops and all the drops on the board to get to the next level before running out of taps. Get more taps by creating chain reactions.

Forum Thread: Game of Splash! (by Appera)

HOT37 ($4.99)

iTunes Description

An isometric, low-poly, sideways side-scroller tower game inspired by sim games of the nineties.

Running a hotel is easy! Add floors and hotel rooms. As rooms are reserved, income increases. Use income to redecorate, add more floors, and add amenities.
Of course, all this construction costs money. Run out of money, and the game is over.

Forum Thread: HOT37 (by Blake Harris)

Lost Mastery ($7.99)

iTunes Description

Lost Mastery: Roguelike Deckbuilding Meets Memory Game

Dive into Lost Mastery, the unique card battler where your memory is your greatest weapon. Navigate through diverse landscapes, engage in strategic battles, and collect powerful cards and items to enhance your journey. Test your skills and uncover the secrets of your Lost Mastery. Are you ready to rise to the challenge?

Forum Thread: Lost Mastery (by RIINA PAULIINA KUJALA)

Minesweeper (Free)

iTunes Description

Run the numbers and reveal each square with care. Travel the world clearing undersea mines in this fresh spin on the classic logic puzzle game.

Which tiles on the board hide dangerous explosives? Use numeric clues and your powers of deduction to find out, clearing mines in harbors and ports. Complete puzzles to unlock landmarks around the globe. Collect stickers and posters in the retro style of a bygone era as you travel to each beautiful location.

Forum Thread: Minesweeper (by Smoking Gun Interactive)

Otherworld Three Kingdoms (Free)

iTunes Description

A girl obsessed with the Three Kingdoms. One day, she finds herself in the Three Kingdoms era…!

“How about I just reunite the kingdoms myself?"

An average girl joins the generals of the Three Kingdoms to embark on a thrilling idle RPG journey.

Forum Thread: Otherworld Three Kingdoms (by SuperPlanet)

The Pathless ($9.99)

iTunes Description

From the creators of ABZÛ, The Pathless is the mythic adventure of an archer and an eagle in a vast forest.

Become the Hunter, a master of archery who travels to a mystical island to dispel a curse of darkness that grips the world. Forge a connection with your eagle companion and soar through the air. Perform fluid acrobatics and execute awesome trick shots with a unique archery system that allows effortless shooting while moving at high speeds.

Forum Thread: The Pathless (by Giant Squid/Annapurna Interactive)

Resident Evil 7 Biohazard (Free)

iTunes Description

Fear and isolation seep through the walls of an abandoned southern farmhouse. ‘7’ marks a new beginning for survival horror with the “Isolated View” of the visceral new first-person perspective. Powered by RE ENGINE, horror reaches incredible heights of immersion as players enter a terrifyingly new world of fear as they fight to survive.

Forum Thread: Resident Evil 7 Biohazard (by CAPCOM)

VENARI – Escape Room Adventure ($4.99)

iTunes Description

Embark on an epic adventure to an ancient, mysterious island where your escape room puzzle skills will be put to the test!

After a surprising encounter with an old friend, you are handed a secret map revealing the location of a long-lost, mystical object known as the Venari artefact. Intrigued by the mystery and driven by curiosity, you charter a sea plane to an uncharted island shrouded in mystery.

As you touch down at the island’s shore, you quickly realise that this journey will demand every ounce of your puzzle-solving prowess. The island is a labyrinth of ancient ruins, hidden chambers, and intricate puzzles, each guarding clues and secrets that inch you closer to the artefact.

Forum Thread: VENARI – Escape Room Adventure (M9 Games)

Warlock TetroPuzzle (Free)

iTunes Description

Discover innovative block puzzle, unique mix of dungeon solitaire, tile match and board game! Combine tile matching with Tetris-style challenges.

Would you like to become a warlock who controls tetromino magic?
Or you’re a fan of block puzzles and want unique innovative mechanics?

Forum Thread: Warlock TetroPuzzle (by Maksym Matiushenko)

Waven (Free)

iTunes Description

Forge Your Own Destiny! Choose a character, equip your best spells, and sail from island to island in your quest for fame and fortune. Level up and improve your strategy in this cross-platform online RPG with unique and vibrant artistic direction.

Forum Thread: Waven (by Ankama)

Zenless Zone Zero (Free)

iTunes Description

Zenless Zone Zero is an all-new 3D action game from HoYoverse that takes place in a near future, with the world plagued by a mysterious disaster known as “Hollows."

Dual Identities, a Singular Experience
In the near future, a mysterious natural disaster known as “Hollows" has occurred. A new kind of city has emerged in this disaster-ridden world — New Eridu. This last oasis has mastered the technology to co-exist with Hollows and is home to a whole host of chaotic, boisterous, dangerous, and very active factions. As a professional Proxy, you play a crucial role in linking the city and the Hollows. Your story awaits.

Forum Thread: Zenless Zone Zero (by HoYoverse)

News

Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Releases in 2025 from XSEED Games

XSEED Games is bringing Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana to Switch and PS5 in the West in early 2025 following its debut on Switch last year. I adore Ys: The Oath in Felghana so much, I already bought the Japanese Switch release last year and beat it. Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana is a remaster of the PSP and PC game with higher quality visuals, multiple soundtrack options, a turbo mode, accessibility options, a new portrait option, a new voiceover option, and more. I can’t wait to play the English release next year. I’ll definitely be grabbing the physical release at the end of the trailer above.

Gundam Breaker 4 Open Network Test Announced for July 18th to 20th

An open network test for Gundam Breaker 4 is set to arrive on July 18th until July 20th for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation. The full game launches at the end of August for consoles and PC, but I’ll definitely be checking out this test on Switch and PS5. The new gameplay trailer above looks excellent. After enjoying Gundam Breaker 1 and 2 in Japanese and then loving Gundam Breaker 3’s English Asia release, I’m glad this one is officially launching worldwide on multiple platforms from day one.

Reviews & Mini-Views

Metal Slug Attack Reloaded ($9.99)

I can give you a simple two-step quiz to determine if you’ll like this game or not. First off, do you like Swords and Soldiers-style base defense games? Second, are you okay with a structure similar to mobile gatcha games? If you answered yes to both, then you can go ahead and pick this game up. It’s well-made for what it is. The biggest problem is that “what it is" is an echo of what it was, which is to say a very hungry F2P gatcha game. The IAPs have been stripped out and an attempt at rebalancing the game has been made, but some stains just don’t come out no matter how hard you scrub.

I’ll cut to the heart of the issue here. This game has a number of ridiculous difficulty spikes. Levels that you have no hope of completing unless you’ve got some properly leveled-up and kitted-out Rare units of the right type to deploy. Properly leveling those units up and kitting them out takes a whole lot of grinding, but even getting them requires a bit of luck with the game’s gatcha system. Unless you have phenomenally good fortune, you’re going to have to spend a lot of time grinding out stages you’ve already finished again and again to get the necessary resources to make all that happen. And if you do have that kind of luck, you’re still probably going to need to do some grinding for leveling up those fancy units.

Aside from that admittedly major issue, Metal Slug Attack Reloaded is a fine enough example of its genre. The sprites look great, which you would expect given the source, and there are a ton of different units to collect. The controls are easy enough to use, and it sits nicely in that zone where it has enough going on to engage you but not so much as to require your full attention. If you want a game to play while you watch some TV shows on your streaming service of choice, this will do the job. It’s just a shame that the difficulty spikes make the game come across like it still wants to shake you down, despite not having any way to do that.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

River Tails: Stronger Together ($19.99)

A fish and a cat working together? Well, now I’ve seen it all. I’ve even dropped my monocle. Anyway, this is a 3D platformer for up to two players via local multiplayer. You can also play by yourself controlling both characters, if you want. Either way, you’ll be traveling through various environments, tackling the challenges found within. The two characters will have to work together to move forward, and you’d be correct to assume that it’s best with a friend. It’s difficult either way, but on your own it’s really tough. Not bad, though. Not bad at all.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Yoku’s Island Express for two bucks is a deal so good that I can’t imagine anyone passing on it. Seriously, that game should have 140 million units sold by the time that deal finishes. I’ll be counting. There are some other goodies in the inbox, so have a careful look. The outbox also has quite a lot in it. Grab a drink, I guess. Sift through. Find those deals.

Select New Sales

Landflix Odyssey ($3.49 from $6.99 until 7/6)
Rainbows, Toilets & Unicorns ($3.49 from $6.99 until 7/6)
Boreal Tenebrae ($1.99 from $6.99 until 7/9)
Cat’s Cosmic Atlas ($1.99 from $19.99 until 7/9)
Golfinite ($1.99 from $12.99 until 7/9)
Wira & Taksa: AtMoG ($1.99 from $16.99 until 7/9)
Monument ($1.99 from $7.00 until 7/9)
Colsword ($1.99 from $4.00 until 7/9)
Syndrome ($1.99 from $24.99 until 7/9)
Ebenezer & the Invisible World ($15.99 from $19.99 until 7/10)
My Child Lebensborn Remastered ($5.99 from $9.99 until 7/10)
Towers Watch ($7.20 from $12.00 until 7/15)
Zombie Watch ($7.20 from $12.00 until 7/15)

Blasphemous 1 + 2 Bundle ($26.99 from $44.99 until 7/16)
Quell Reflect ($1.99 from $7.99 until 7/16)
Quell Memento ($1.99 from $7.99 until 7/16)
Jump King ($5.19 from $12.99 until 7/17)
Lost Labyrinth: Lucidity Lost ($20.99 from $29.99 until 7/18)
Adore ($11.99 from $19.99 until 7/18)
Oni: Road to Be the Mightiest ($8.99 from $29.99 until 7/18)
Marchen Forest ($6.99 from $34.99 until 7/18)
Demon Gaze Extra ($17.99 from $59.99 until 7/18)
Brigandine Legend of Runersia ($19.99 from $49.99 until 7/18)
O-VOID ($3.99 from $4.99 until 7/22)
ReactorX ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/22)
My Maite ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/22)
Void Source ($1.99 from $5.99 until 7/22)
Dark Grim Mariupolis ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/22)

Taimumari Complete ($3.19 from $7.99 until 7/22)
IN-VERT ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/22)
Bullet Beat ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/22)
Nexoria: Dungeon Rogue Heroes ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/22)
WildTrax Racing ($1.99 from $7.99 until 7/23)
Formula Retro Racing World Tour ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/23)
Kao the Kangaroo Well Good Bundle ($9.89 from $32.99 until 7/23)
Kao the Kangaroo Anniversary Edition ($14.79 from $36.99 until 7/23)
Worms WMD ($5.99 from $29.99 until 7/24)
Killer Frequency ($12.49 from $24.99 until 7/24)
Hokko Life ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/24)
The Serpent Rogue ($1.99 from $19.99 until 7/24)
Batora: Lost Haven ($9.99 from $24.99 until 7/24)
Raging Justice ($1.99 from $14.99 until 7/24)

Yoku’s Island Express ($1.99 from $19.99 until 7/24)
The Escapists Complete Edition ($1.99 from $14.99 until 7/24)
Sheltered ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/24)
Monster Sanctuary ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/24)
Crown Trick ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/24)
Ageless ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/24)
Going Under ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/24)
Overcooked 2: Gourmet Edition ($12.12 from $48.49 until 7/24)
Yooka-Laylee & the Impossible Lair ($2.99 from $29.99 until 7/24)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, July 4th

A Knight’s Quest ($3.74 from $24.99 until 7/4)
Alekon ($2.39 from $15.99 until 7/4)
Alfred Hitchcock Vertigo ($3.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
American Fugitive ($2.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
Ancestors Legacy ($9.99 from $39.99 until 7/4)
Another Crab’s Treasure ($23.99 from $29.99 until 7/4)
Aquadine ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
Arkanoid Eternal Battle ($2.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
Avenging Spirit ($2.99 from $5.99 until 7/4)
Beholder: Complete Edition ($2.24 from $14.99 until 7/4)
Bomber Crew ($2.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
Caveman Ransom ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/4)
Cooking Simulator ($2.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
Dr Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/4)
Dr. Frank’s Build a Boyfriend ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/4)
DragonFangZ: TR&DoT ($9.99 from $24.99 until 7/4)

Dusk Diver 2 ($24.99 from $49.99 until 7/4)
Embr ($3.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
Flooded ($3.24 from $12.99 until 7/4)
For The King ($4.99 from $24.99 until 7/4)
Gibbon: Beyond the Trees ($7.49 from $14.99 until 7/4)
Gigapocalypse ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/4)
Gleylancer ($3.49 from $6.99 until 7/4)
Green Hell ($3.74 from $24.99 until 7/4)
Gynoug ($3.49 from $6.99 until 7/4)
Hard West ($2.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
Hell Pie ($7.49 from $24.99 until 7/4)
Hello Kitty & Friends Happiness Parade ($1.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
Highrise Heroes: Word Challenge ($1.99 from $7.99 until 7/4)
Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch ($13.99 from $39.99 until 7/4)
Hotshot Racing ($2.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)

Hue ($2.49 from $9.99 until 7/4)
Human: Fall Flat ($5.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
Just Die Already ($2.99 form $14.99 until 7/4)
Just Shapes & Beats ($12.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
Krimson ($7.99 from $9.99 until 7/4)
Little Witch Nobeta ($24.99 from $49.99 until 7/4)
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle ($13.99 from $39.99 until 7/4)
MONOBOT ($3.89 from $12.99 until 7/4)
Motorsport Manager ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/4)
My Universe: Cooking Star Restaurant ($1.99 from $29.99 until 7/4)
Panzer Dragoon Remake ($2.49 from $24.99 until 7/4)
Phantom Doctrine ($2.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
Prisonela DX ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/4)
Pumped BMX Pro ($2.24 from $14.99 until 7/4)
Pumpkin Jack ($6.89 from $29.99 until 7/4)
Q-Yo Blaster ($2.49 from $9.99 until 7/4)

Rigid Force Redux ($3.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
River City: Rival Showdown ($17.49 from $24.99 until 7/4)
Runbow ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/4)
Rytmos ($4.50 from $15.00 until 7/4)
Sifu ($15.99 from $39.99 until 7/4)
Silver Chains ($1.99 from $24.99 until 7/4)
Slime-san: Superslime Edition ($2.39 from $11.99 until 7/4)
SUPERBEAT: XONIC ($14.99 from $29.99 until 7/4)
Survivor Castaway Island ($14.99 from $29.99 until 7/4)
Syberia ($1.99 from $12.99 until 7/4)
The Adventures of Panzer Collection ($4.49 from $8.99 until 7/4)
The House of the Dead Remake ($6.24 from $24.99 until 7/4)
The Quest for Excalibur Puy du Fou ($5.99 from $29.99 until 7/4)
The Sinking City: Deluxe ($9.74 from $64.99 until 7/4)
The Smurfs 2 ($19.99 from $39.99 until 7/4)

The Swindle ($2.24 from $14.99 until 7/4)
Thief Simulator ($2.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
Towaga: Among Shadows ($2.24 from $14.99 until 7/4)
Truberbrook ($1.99 from $29.99 until 7/4)
Turnip Boy Robs a Bank ($10.49 from $14.99 until 7/4)
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 4 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
UNABLES ($6.49 from $12.99 until 7/4)
Vambrace: Cold Soul ($2.99 from $24.99 until 7/4)
Velocity 2X ($2.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
Watch ($3.59 from $5.99 until 7/4)
We Need to Go Deeper ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
When Ski Lifts Go Wrong ($2.24 from $14.99 until 7/4)
Zombie’s Cool ($1.99 from $3.99 until 7/4)

That’s all for today, friends. Tomorrow is Thursday, so we should have a fair number of new games to look at. Beyond that, there should be some sales to consider, and maybe some news. Probably not. But maybe! I have some paperwork to attend to, so I’m going to get to that now. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!

TouchArcade (TA): What made you want to revisit The Thing out of all older games?

Larry Kuperman (LK): Many of us at Nightdive are not just fans of the original game by Computer Artworks but also of the 1982 movie and the horror genre overall. We knew that a remaster of this game would be deeply appreciated by IP and genre fans around the world.

TA: I hadn’t heard of this until you announced the remaster. A friend of mine is a big fan of it. I wanted to know what we should expect from the release aside from Nightdive’s usual amazing visual and control enhancements.

LK: We have been fortunate enough to work with two of the original members of the Computer Artworks team: Mark Atkinson and Ron Ashtiani. Expect that the remastered version will be very true to the original and look and play the way that your imagination remembered it. Improvements to character models, textures, and animations have been hand-crafted not just upscaled.

TA: How long have you been working on this project?

LK: Close to a year. During that time, our team was also working on several other projects, such as PO’ed and Killing Time, as well as some unannounced games.

TA: What learnings from past Nightdive remasters have helped with The Thing: Remastered?

LK: You can expect to see more content restored and, wherever possible, the original vision of the development team realized.

TA: Will we be able to play with original visuals and controls?

LK: Not planned at this time.

Nightdive Studios’ Steam store page for the game confirms features like anti-aliasing, per pixel lighting, 4K resolution, and up to 144 fps gameplay support.

I’d like to thank Larry Kuperman, CJ Melendez, and Sean Walsh for their time and help here.

Stay tuned for our second interview covering more of Nightdive’s projects including System Shock.

You can keep up with all our interviews here including our recent ones with Peter ‘Durante’ Thoman about PH3 and Falcom here, M2 discussing shmups and more here, Digital Extremes for Warframe mobile, Team NINJA, Sonic Dream Team, Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and more. As usual, thanks for reading.

If you’d like to try Resident Evil 7 biohazard on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, you can get it on the App Store for free here. If you do grab it, keep in mind that it will take up about 25GB by the end once all data is downloaded. The initial download is about 10GB from within the app after you download it from the App Store. Check out our forum thread for Resident Evil 7 biohazard here. I’m looking forward to playing more of Resident Evil 7 biohazard on my iPhone and MacBook Air later today and also Resident Evil 2 Remake when that arrives in the future. Have you tried Resident Evil 7 biohazard on iPhone 15 Pro or supported iPad and Mac hardware yet?

This week’s notable game updates are Disney Coloring World+ getting a Summer Coloring Fun event, Jetpack Joyride 2 celebrating Independence Day with fireworks, events, and a new Vision Pro feature, LEGO Duplo World+ with its summer music event, and Doodle God Universe celebrating America’s Independence Day as well. If you’d like to play the new games on Apple Arcade, you can grab Outlanders 2: Second Nature here, Punch Kick Duck+ here, and Zen Koi Pro+ here. What do you think of this month’s new Apple Arcade additions and updates from this past week?

Reviews & Mini-Views

Times & Galaxy ($19.99)

This game is awfully clever. It has really sharp writing, and as far as adventure game set-ups go this one is certainly novel. You’re a robot reporter for a galactic newspaper called the Times & Galaxy, just starting out on your career. You’re actually the first robot reporter, so… good luck with that. You head out on assignments where you’ll collect information by investigating the scene and talking to the people there. You’ll then use whatever information you collected to create a story for the paper, and the better the story you write the better things will go for you and your employer.

Each of the stories feels like a little episode of its own, and it’s fun to try to dig for better information and juicier quotes to use in your write-ups. Even setting aside what you’re going to put in your story, it’s enjoyable to try to unravel the truth behind situations that can sometimes seem completely different at a glance. Putting together the story is easy, with a handy tool that lets you set up each part of it based on the info you have collected. The game shows you exactly what each selection will do, so it’s easy to build the Times & Galaxy into the kind of media outlet you want it to be. Great power, great responsibility. The presentation is charming, and the quality of the writing is exactly where it needs to be for a game like this.

The worst thing you can say about Times & Galaxy is that it is very consistent in its mechanics, which means it falls to how well the writing clicks with you to keep your interest. I won’t say that every single scene had me glued to the Joy-Cons, but I think as a whole it’s worth a look for those on the hunt for an unorthodox adventure game. I had a good time with it, and I think it has a nice thing going with its basic loop. If you like the sound of its premise and are in the mood for some silliness, you’ll want to your nearest newssta… er, eShop, and grab a copy.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition ($19.99)

I was there on the frontlines to watch this poor game go out and die. It’s beyond my pay grade to say exactly why; the reviews were good and the few people who picked up the game seemed to like it a lot. But within a few weeks, we were stickering over those $59.99 price tags with $29.99 ones. That’s when I gave the game a shot, and to be honest, it didn’t strike me quite the same way it did others. Stylish, yes. Good pacing, for sure. It’s a good game, but I personally never mourned the lack of a follow-up. That’s just me, of course. I know how much it means to others and I hope they get what they’re wishing for.

One encouraging step towards that is this fine reissue of the original game. Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition gives the game a bit of graphical spit polish, has a new recording of the soundtrack, and adds in some useful quality of life features like autosaves. Otherwise, this is the game as it was. It handles itself well for a game of its vintage, and it’s easy to see why so many people saw something special in it. You’re always doing something new or interesting, and the world building is really solid. Plus, photography! Everyone loves video game photography. What can I say? This is an Ubisoft game from the last era before it really got its annualized ducks in a row, and there is something distinct about its games from this time period.

Mikhail has also been playing Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition on Switch and PS5. While there’s no shortage of information on the platform differences, one aspect he wanted to highlight is the cross progression. When you login to Ubisoft Connect in the publisher’s titles, you usually get some in-game bonus, but the addition of cross progression across all consoles and PC has been excellent. While I played Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition only on Switch, he enjoyed playing it at home on PS5, and then picking up his save on Switch to play on the go. It works flawlessly here as it did in Assassin’s Creed Mirage which he played on PS5 and iPhone 15 Pro.

Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition is a great way to play this beloved cult classic, especially for those who want a portable option. While you’ll get a smoother framerate on other platforms, this Switch version isn’t hard on the eyes by any means. The improvements are welcome without overstepping, making the game very easy to get into despite its vintage. If you haven’t played it before, it’s worth trying out. Who knows? You might join the folks clamoring for that sequel. And if you have played it before, I’m sure I don’t need to twist your arm to convince you of the merits of a return trip.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Tchia ($29.99)

I’ll say at least this much for Tchia: its highs are very, very high. When it’s showing off its New Caledonia-inspired setting, or the distinct culture of its creators, it’s truly captivating. I like that it’s willing to let some moments just stew and really sink in. The soul-jumping mechanic that serves as its main gameplay gimmick is sometimes used in very clever ways. The first time you encounter some of its tricks, it’s fun to solve them. It’s also surprisingly polished for the size of the game and the size of its development team.

Sometimes I’m less pleased with it. Combat isn’t a huge part of the game, but it gets old really fast. Enemy encounters in general just don’t offer a diverse enough range of options to keep them interesting. The islands you explore are gorgeous, but there isn’t enough incentive to fully explore them beyond your own curiosity. I’m not fond of how cumbersome controlling the boat can be. The story doesn’t quite come together as well as the world-building does. There are some technical issues in places that I assume are a Switch thing.

But I’m not sure how much any of this matters. Tchia sometimes fools you into thinking it’s a bigger game than it is. But for all the size of its world and the degree of its interactivity, this feels like a deeply personal game. As I played through this game, soaking in all it had to offer, it made me think how lucky we are to have video games. Each of us can only live one life, and we can never truly know what another life would be like. But through video games, we can share our lives and pull other people into our world for a short while. And that’s how I felt playing Tchia. None of this is familiar to me, and yet I could feel the creators’ passion for their home in every bit of it. Splendid.

Tchia has something to it. I don’t think it’s the most fully-formed and properly fleshed-out open world game by any means, but I also don’t think that’s the main priority of it. This is a window to the place, the life experiences, the culture that the people behind it know so well. This Switch port carries itself well enough, though there are some noticeable visual flaws at times. Don’t come to this looking for a Pacific Island take on Breath of the Wild, because it isn’t that even if it sometimes resembles it. It’s Tchia. And it’s good.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Select New Releases

The Battle Cats Unite! ($19.99)

You like base defense with weirdly-drawn cats? Here’s base defense with weirdly-drawn cats. You may have seen this series on mobile or potentially other platforms before. It’s pretty good as this sort of thing goes. There are over three hundred and fifty different kinds of cats to collect. and more than three hundred stages to challenge. There are also some mini-games to spice things up. Oh, and you can play with another player via local multiplayer or local wi-fi. No in-app purchases in this one, so you can simply enjoy the experience without worrying about your wallet.

Utah Games Presents ($4.99)

This is kind of a nice little thing. It’s an assortment of games created by graduate students from the University of Utah’s Masters of Entertainment Arts and Engineering program, covering a handful of different genres. Supposedly you’re helping out the current and future students by picking this up and playing it, and that isn’t the worst way to spend a fiver.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Another inbox with a lot of good games in it but no sales that get me particularly excited. Ditto for the outbox. Just one of those days, I guess? I’m sure we’ll see more cool sales in a few days, so don’t worry too much.

Select New Sales

OKAMI HD ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/15)
Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate ($8.74 from $12.49 until 7/15)
Game Dev Tycoon ($7.49 from $14.99 until 7/16)
Goonya Monster ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/18)
Mystery Box: Evolution ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/21)
Mystery Box: Escape the Room ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/21)
Mystery Box: The Journey ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/21)
Zotrix Starglider ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/21)
Mechstermination Force ($1.99 from $11.99 until 7/22)
Super Punch Patrol ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/22)
Gunman Clive HD Collection ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/22)
Onion Assault ($1.99 from $7.99 until 7/22)
Fly Punch Boom! ($1.99 from $14.99 until 7/22)
Roombo: First Blood ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/22)
Suicide Guy: The Lost Dreams ($4.39 from $7.99 until 7/22)
TRIOS: lofi beats/numbers ($2.39 from $7.99 until 7/22)
Railway Empire ($19.99 from $39.99 until 7/22)
Commandos 2 HD Remaster ($14.99 from $19.99 until 7/22)
Feather ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/22)
Dungeon Nightmares 1+2 Collection ($1.99 from $12.99 until 7/22)
Shadow Gangs ($14.39 from $23.99 until 7/22)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, July 3rd

Cats & the Other Lives ($14.99 from $19.99 until 7/3)
Cook, Serve, Delicious! 2!! ($2.00 from $12.99 until 7/3)
Death Road to Canada ($4.49 from $14.99 until 7/3)
Die for Valhalla! ($3.59 from $11.99 until 7/3)
DNF Duel: Who’s Next ($14.99 from $49.99 until 7/3)
Fight Club ($4.49 from $14.99 until 7/3)
HunterX ($8.99 from $14.99 until 7/3)
HunterX: Code Name T ($11.89 from $16.99 until 7/3)
Immortal Planet ($4.49 from $14.99 until 7/3)
Retimed ($5.99 from $14.99 until 7/3)
STAB STAB STAB! ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/3)
Steamburg ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/3)
Thea: The Awakening ($5.39 from $17.99 until 7/3)
Wingspan ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/3)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with more new games, more sales, perhaps a review, and maybe some news. My tooth extraction went off without a hitch, so that’s a worry off my shoulders. Now if the pain would subside a little, I’ll be all set. I hope you all have a terrific Tuesday, and as always, thanks for reading!

Zenless Zone Zero will support cross-progression and cross-play across all platforms when it launches. I’ll be playing it on iPhone 15 Pro and seeing how it feels compared to the PS5 version when that goes up as well this week. As of now, the iPhone 15 Pro version is capped at 60fps. I’m curious to see if we get a 120hz option in the future. If you’d like to play Zenless Zone Zero at launch, you can download it on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. Check out the links to the PS5 and PC versions here on the official pre-registration announcement. A Zenless Zone Zero PS5 digital pre-order bundle is now available for $9.99 with in-game items. Check out more about the game on the official website here. What do you think of Zenless Zone Zero and will you be playing it this week?

If you’d like to try Resident Evil 7 biohazard on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, you can get it on the App Store for free here. It is supposed to use MetalFX upscaling from Apple and ship with an auto fire option in addition to enhanced controls. Hopefully these are better than the touch controls in recent releases from Capcom. Thinking back to Resident Evil 7 biohazard’s launch on consoles and PC back in 2017 and how it was a turning point for the publisher leading into almost ever release since being excellent. I also hope we see Resident Evil 3 Remake hit iPhone 15 Pro at some point as it is worth playing despite its high asking price on PC and consoles at launch. Check out our forum thread for Resident Evil 7 biohazard here. As of now, it requires a 10GB or so download when you launch the game for the first time on iPhone 15 Pro. Will you be trying out Resident Evil 7 biohazard today for iPhone 15 Pro and M1 or later iPad and Mac hardware?

Update: Added launch trailer from Capcom Next showcase.

Reviews & Mini-Views

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble ($49.99)

When Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble was announced, I thought it was going to be a multiplayer-focused entry, and didn’t pay much attention to it. I saw the trailers following that, and started getting hopeful. Fast forward to today, I think Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is excellent, but it suffers from some major technical issues. Despite that, the single player content more than justifies the asking price. One thing to note is that this review is based on the game with its day one patch. I saw some folks wondering if the day one patch improved things from what reviewers played, but I’ve been playing it from the start with the patch included.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble‘s main adventure mode ships with 200 stages that you slowly unlock. Even if Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble featured the same gameplay mechanics as Banana Mania, I would’ve been ok with it, but SEGA took things a step further with the new Spin Dash option included. Early on, the Spin Dash feels unneeded, but you will slowly start needing it to complete the missions in each stage or to improve your time.

When I first booted up Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble, I almost dropped it because the camera movement and judder made me want to throw up. I wasn’t sure I’d have been able to review it, but after some tweaking in the settings and getting used to the annoying Unity issue, I started enjoying the adventure mode a ton. Some stages are evil while others are great at introducing you to new layouts and things you will need in future levels. While the levels start ramping up in difficulty, there are a few assist options you can toggle on to make things a bit easier. I also recommend using motion controls for the best experience. I rarely say that, but they felt good in Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble.

I said it before, but just the single player content here justifies a purchase, but SEGA kept showcasing multiplayer so let’s get into that. Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble ships with local multiplayer, online play, and local wireless support in addition to single player. The multiplayer modes see a visible cutback to visuals and performance, but nothing prepared me for how miserable the actual online multiplayer feels.

On paper, a few of the battle modes included are great. Some of them were fun despite the mess of an online experience, but I want to reiterate that it is not worth buying Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble to play online in its current state. My favorite battle modes are race and robot smash. I tested this pre-release and even this morning (as of this writing). Nothing has improved with the online play. It just feels frustrating and sluggish.

After playing and loving Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania as my first experience with the original games through the Switch and PS5 versions, I am disappointed in how Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble feels right now. The performance issues in adventure mode aren’t a dealbreaker, but this is a Nintendo Switch exclusive. It should be better. Hopefully the Unity issue can be addressed at least in patches.

On the audio side, I have no complaints. Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble sounds great across its effects and the music in every stage. I’m glad SEGA released the soundtrack on streaming services already.

There are also quite a few customization options already included, with you earning currency to unlock more at a regular pace. A lot of work went into this aspect of the game, and I’m curious to see whether we see more SEGA collaboration content added as cosmetics.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble also has DLC from the start letting you play as Sonic and there’s even a battle pass. Right now, the battle pass seems to only have a free tier. I want to note this because we’ve seen some publishers bring in paid battle passes in updates. I hope Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble doesn’t get one of those, but keep this in mind.

Despite my complaints with the online multiplayer and technical issue in single player, I’ve come away glad that Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble exists. Hopefully SEGA can fix some of the issues though, because this is a superb Switch exclusive held back right now.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is an excellent game for single player content with varied and challenging stages, great music, and frustrating fun held back by a very annoying technical issue. If you get used to that, it is absolutely worth getting just to play solo. While the multiplayer modes had potential, it is embarrassing how they feel right now online.-Mikhail Madnani

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Fireside ($14.99)

An odd little game, but one with enough charm to carry it. You’re a merchant who is in a shipwreck and ends up on an island where a lot of folks seem to have ended up. You’ve lost all your stuff, but you’re going to make the best of it anyway. The aforementioned folks have things they need. You want to meet those needs, sometimes by trading with another person, sometimes by going out and finding said things yourself. By helping people out, you not only gradually increase your wealth, but also help restore the shrines scattered around the island. At first you can’t wander too far from your camp, but as you play more and more of the island opens up.

Fireside is a simple experience in a lot of ways, but it does what it does to a satisfying degree of quality. It feels a bit plain in terms of presentation, but the amusing characters, strong gameplay loop, and well-formed trading mechanics make it a hard game to put down. If you’re looking for a low-stress game to chill with for a while, you could do a lot worse than this one.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

NeoSprint ($24.99)

I’m in a weird place with these Atari IP revivals, I think. I liked most of the Recharged line well enough. The ones that try to make a modern game out of one of those brands, I’ve had a more mixed experience with. It’s not that any of them are bad or anything, though Atari Mania felt close to that at times. But you have some that are so different from the original games that you wonder why they bothered applying the IP at all, and then some that are playing it a little too safe and end up feeling too quaint. I think they’re all a bit too in love with trying to push Atari, its brands, and its icons too, but I understand the company is trying to re-establish itself right now.

NeoSprint plays things very safe, and I can understand the thinking behind that. It wouldn’t really feel like Sprint at all if it didn’t use the familiar overhead perspective, and I don’t think Atari wants to try to compete in the standard racing space anyway. Things are a little less competitive in the overhead racing segment, though even here the best of the bunch make NeoSprint feel a bit too simple and shallow. The game compensates for that by packing in a very generous amount of content, so if you like what you get mechanically in this game, you’ll have plenty to enjoy. Lots of tracks, lots of modes, lots of unlockables, and so on. Up to eight can race locally, and that’s a hoot if you can set it up.

The track editor in particular is a lot better than I was expecting, and I had a lot of fun making various tracks to race on. You have to be careful as it’s fully possible to make a track with enough detail to bog down performance, which is something you’ll stumble over in the pre-made tracks at times too. Those playing in handheld mode might have trouble making out the action on the screen when dealing with the larger tracks if you want to play zoomed out. Your car becomes quite tiny, and the various things cluttering the track go from annoying to enraging in a hurry. Zooming in helps you see your car but reading the track from this perspective can be a bear. But these are the prices paid for maintaining the iconic perspective, so what can you do?

If you’re a huge fan of the old Sprint games or their many clones, I think you’ll probably enjoy NeoSprint. It does what it needs to, and it’s rather faithful to the core principles of the games that came before it. It’s also filled to the brim with things to do, and if you love to play “Spot the Atari References" then you can look forward to finding a lot to point at. For those without any real attachment to the series or publisher, this is an approachable casual racing game that could probably use a touch more complexity in its mechanics.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

EGGCONSOLE Topple Zip PC-8801 ($6.49)

Topple Zip is a little break from the action-RPGs we’ve been seeing so many of in the EGGCONSOLE line-up. Is it a welcome one? Well, it depends on what you’re after with these games. It’s certainly an interesting game, with some good ideas on paper. You’re in an aircraft race, but not really. Instead you’re trying to find the right path to the end of the game, a process that involves taking the right warps in the right order. Finding those warps is tough without a radar, but you can get one by knocking it out of one of the other racers. They’ll drop all kinds of other items too. But be careful, because they can knock the items out of you.

It’s a bit chaotic but the real problem with Topple Zip is that it’s a scrolling action game on hardware that really isn’t good at that kind of thing. There’s just too much going on here for the game to be running as choppily as it does, and it makes it very unpleasant to play. The good news it that there is very little text to worry about here, though you will need to pay careful attention to the HUD to notice when you have the radar in your inventory.

While I respect Topple Zip‘s unusual design, the PC-8801 probably wasn’t the best platform to realize it. This release is up to the usual standards of the EGGCONSOLE line in terms of the wrapper’s options and extras, and there’s almost no language barrier to worry about either. But the game itself just isn’t very fun to play, so it’s really just one for people who enjoy poking at ancient oddities.

SwitchArcade Score: 2.5/5

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Oh hey, a big Atari sale. And all the Atari-owned studios, too. That means some rare deals on Nightdive’s games in particular, but there are plenty of other goodies to be found too. Inti-Creates and ININ are running some nice sales of their own, so check that inbox list carefully. In the outbox, the incredibly rare discounts on the Metroid games are soon to expire. Check those lists!

Select New Sales

Wizardry ($35.99 from $39.99 until 7/10)
Atari 50: The Anniversary ($27.99 from $39.99 until 7/10)
The Making of Karateka ($17.99 from $19.99 until 7/10)
Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story ($26.99 from $29.99 until 7/10)
Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster ($20.99 from $29.99 until 7/10)
Turok ($5.99 from $19.99 until 7/10)
Turok 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/10)
Turok 3 Remastered ($26.99 from $29.99 until 7/10)
PowerSlave Exhumed ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/10)
Rise of the Triad: Ludicrous Edition ($13.99 from $19.99 until 7/10)
PO’ed: Definitive Edition ($17.99 from $19.99 until 7/10)
Shadow Man Remastered ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/10)
Blade Runner Enhanced Edition ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/10)
Strife: Veteran Edition ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/10)
Head over Heels ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/10)

Swords & Soldiers 2 ($4.49 from $14.99 until 7/10)
Bubsy Paws on Fire ($12.49 from $24.99 until 7/10)
F-117A Stealth Fighter ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/10)
Spirits of Xanadu ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/10)
Haunted House ($13.99 from $19.99 until 7/10)
Lunar Lander Beyond ($23.99 from $29.99 until 7/10)
Tempest 4000 ($5.99 from $19.99 until 7/10)
Akka Arrh ($10.99 from $19.99 until 7/10)
Days of Doom ($16.49 from $29.99 until 7/10)
qomp2 ($15.99 from $19.99 until 7/10)
Pong Quest ($6.74 from $14.99 until 7/10)
Atari Flashback Classics ($17.99 from $39.99 until 7/10)
Atari Mania ($11.24 from $24.99 until 7/10)
Mr. Run and Jump ($13.74 from $24.99 until 7/10)
Kombinera ($6.74 from $14.99 until 7/10)

Berzerk Recharged ($7.99 from $9.99 until 7/10)
Caverns of Mars Recharged ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/10)
Quantum Recharged ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/10)
Yars Recharged ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/10)
Gravitar Recharged ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/10)
Black Widow Recharged ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/10)
Centipede Recharged ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/10)
Asteroids Recharged ($4.49 from $9.99 until 7/10)
Breakout Recharged ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/10)
Missile Command Recharged ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/10)
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 CE ($13.49 from $29.99 until 7/10)
RollerCoaster Tycoon Adv. Deluxe ($31.99 from $39.99 until 7/10)
Hell Blasters ($3.74 from $14.99 until 7/12)
Surmount ($10.04 from $14.99 until 7/12)

Bloodstained Curse of the Moon 2 ($5.99 from $14.99 until 7/12)
Blaster Master Zero 3 ($7.49 from $14.99 until 7/12)
PuzzMiX ($3.19 from $3.99 until 7/12)
Gal Guardians Demon Purge ($13.74 from $24.99 until 7/12)
Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 7/12)
Luminous Avenger iX 2 ($12.49 from $24.99 until 7/12)
Gunvolt Records Cychronicle ($11.24 from $14.99 until 7/12)
Yohane the Parhelion BitD ($20.99 from $29.99 until 7/12)
Cotton Reboot ($11.99 from $39.99 until 7/13)
Spelunker HD Deluxe ($4.99 from $24.99 until 7/13)
Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade ($17.99 from $44.99 until 7/13)
Darius Cozmic Collection Console ($17.99 from $59.99 until 7/13)
Turrican Flashback ($11.99 from $29.99 until 7/13)
The Legend of Steel Empire ($14.99 from $24.99 until 7/13)
Irem Collection Volume 1 ($12.49 from $24.99 until 7/13)

Taito Milestones 2 ($21.99 from $39.99 until 7/13)
Ray’z Arcade Chronology ($29.99 from $49.99 until 7/13)
Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! ($25.99 from $39.99 until 7/13)
Puzzle Bobble 16-Bit Console Vers. ($5.59 from $7.99 until 7/13)
Ikki Unite ($11.99 from $14.99 until 7/13)
Trip World DX ($12.99 from $19.99 until 7/13)
Ninja JaJaMaru Retro Collection ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/13)
Ninja JaJaMaru: Great Yokai Battle ($3.99 from $19.99 until 7/13)
Cannon Dancer Osman ($5.99 from $29.99 until 7/13)
The Ninja Saviors ($5.99 from $19.99 until 7/13)
Wall World ($5.99 from $9.99 until 7/13)
Air Twister ($12.49 from $24.99 until 7/13)
Double Dragon Gaiden RotD ($14.99 from $24.99 until 7/15)
Gordian Quest ($1.99 from $19.99 until 7/15)
Teslagrad Remastered ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/15)
Teslagrad 2 ($5.99 from $19.99 until 7/15)

Saga of Sins ($5.99 from $19.99 until 7/15)
Afterimage ($12.49 from $24.99 until 7/15)
Ganryu 2: Hakuma Kojiro ($1.99 from $19.99 until 7/15)
God of Rock ($2.99 from $29.99 until 7/15)
Crime O’Clock ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/15)
Quadroids ($8.39 from $11.99 until 7/15)
Before the Green Moon ($5.99 from $11.99 until 7/16)
Treasures of the Aegean ($5.99 from $19.99 until 7/16)
New Joe & Mac Caveman Ninja ($8.99 from $29.99 until 7/19)
Asterix & Obelix Slap Them All 2 ($9.99 from $24.99 until 7/19)
Nocturnal Visitors ($3.99 from $4.99 until 7/19)
Noob The Factionless ($15.99 from $39.99 until 7/19)
Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery ($13.96 from $19.95 until 7/20)
Dead in Vinland ($2.79 from $27.99 until 7/21)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, July 2nd

Cook, Serve, Delicious! ($5.19 from $12.99 until 7/2)
Metroid Dread ($41.99 from $59.99 until 7/2)
Metroid Prime Remastered ($33.99 from $39.99 until 7/2)
PlateUp! ($13.39 from $19.99 until 7/2)
Super Mega Baseball 4 Ballpark Edition ($17.99 from $59.99 until 7/2)

That’s all for today, friends. Tomorrow morning I have to go get a wisdom tooth pulled, so that should be fun. Provided everything goes okay, I’ll be back tomorrow with more new games, more sales, more reviews, and maybe some news. I hope you all have a marvelous Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!

What you’ll be getting with Spooky Pixel Hero is 120 levels of hardcore platforming action, all presented in portrait orientation for the first time for an AppSir game. You’ll also be working to solve puzzles and uncover the secrets inside the game’s “code" as you “repair" it, and this of course leads to all sorts of shocking and horrific discoveries. While lots of games pay homage to the 8-bit and 16-bit eras, not all that many elect to dive even deeper into the late ’70s and early ’80s aesthetic of video games, so it’s cool to see Spooky Pixel Hero doing just that. The release date is set for August 12th and ahead of that time you can pre-order the iOS version on the App Store here or pre-register for the Android version over on the Google Play Store here.

Teeny Tiny Town, Free I feel like getting the award out of the way early this week, so I’ll give this update the coveted UMMSotW prize. Teeny Tiny Town is celebrating its anniversary, and it’s introducing a cool new sci-fi theme as a little treat. It costs $1.99, so consider it a present to the developer that also gives you something. Like one of those boss candy bags they used to hand out at birthdays when I was a kid. The presentation has also gotten some nice improvements, and you might see cars or sheep meandering around now. Sheep? That’s the award right there.

Suika Game-Aladdin X, $2.99 Suika Game has an update! It’s bringing an event into the game, but don’t expect it to be a fancy thing. For the month of July (well, until July 27th), the Summer Harvest Festival skin will be available. Just hit the button on the title screen and you’re all set. Other than that, this update also allows you to choose whether or not Poppy loops around when you go towards the edge of the jar. Hey, it’ll do.

Jetpack Joyride, Free Betty Beefpies? Apparently that’s the new skin for the game. Professor Brains is hot on your tail, so you’ll have to do some serious jetpacking… jetpack joyriding? Push screen good. If push screen good maybe new skin get. Maybe not. Shaun tired and needs tooth extracted. Moving on to next game now, after perhaps dragging this paragraph out a bit longer so the formatting doesn’t break.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Well, this game has now been out long enough for an event to return. The Sunshine Celebration is back, and not only are the classic rewards making a return but also a bunch of new ones will be on offer. Collect lemons for lemonade and get some cool citrus-themed goodies. There are also some new horse avatars for people who want to horse around, plus some new music players, stories, visitors, and more. This is one mighty big update with a whole lot in it to play around with. So, you know… go. Play.

MARVEL SNAP, Free Aside from the usual routine of OTA updates, Marvel Snap got a proper update last week to set up the deck chairs for the July Deadpool celebration that will kick in after we get the Eternals to leave. The new season’s title is Maximum Effort, and that sounds compelling. The new cards will apparently include Gwenpool, Hydra Bob, Ajax, Copycat, and Cassandra Nova. The new locations are the Taco Truck and the Weapon X Facility. The details? I’ll let you know when I know! Also, a new game mode will be part of the festivities, and it’s called Deadpool’s Diner. Nifty. Looking forward to finding out what all of this means at the end of this week.

Angry Birds Reloaded, Summer updates are all the rage right now, and Angry Birds Reloaded is going to take its piece of that pie. Midsummer Mayhem 2 is here, with thirty sunny levels to play and a new bird in the form of Tony. Apparently he’s gone on a fishing trip that the pigs have spoiled somehow, perhaps by existing. We know the birds won’t be putting up with that nonsense. There’s a new boss level to tackle, too. I mean, if you already have Apple Arcade, you might as well. Nobody really hates Angry Birds, do they? This is my new idea for promoting engagement in the comments. If you say “nobody does X" then people will post. Unless no one reads it, which would be a chilling realization.

Disney Dreamlight Valley, The Dreamlight Valley has a new Realm to explore. Mulan and Mushu are joining the neighborhood, and you’ll have to help Mushu around the Training Camp while sharpening your skills with Mulan in order to test your might. Let’s get down to business! Who is that girl I see? A girl worth fighting for! True to your heart! You must be true to your heart! Are those all the songs? I haven’t seen Mulan in a while. I should watch it again. I know it has its issues and isn’t considered one of the best Disney movies or anything, but it’s fun. Anyway, this game. Mulan and Mushu. Isn’t that lovely?

Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop, Did I talk last time about how the title of this game tries to combine two of the names this series has been localized under? Well, I just did. This update adds the new Chain Simulator mode that allows you to practice making chains by arranging the Puyos as you like. Six new character episodes have been added to Adventure Mode, and as you clear each one you’ll unlock that character for the playable roster. Finally, six new music tracks from past Puyo games have been added to the shop. Oh, and some little bug fixes. As a little bonus, for being good children.

Brawl Stars, Free Alright, let’s look in on this one. Not directly. That’s dangerous. At any rate, the new Classic Brawl event is here, and there are some new Brawlers joining the bunch as usual. Berry and Clancy. I don’t know who they are, but they’re new. Let’s see… new Hypercharges, some Brawl Pass Seasons, some new seasonal game modes, some reworks of existing characters, and some other bits and bobs. I could look in closer on this, but I’m hungry. I’m sure the fans of this game are all up on it already. Those who don’t know can enjoy the fun exercise of imagining what Clancy might look like.

Royal Match, Free As we often do, let’s end with the obligatory free-to-play matching puzzle game update for the week. You get one hundred new levels to play, and this time the new area is the Air Festival, and I hope they drop that idiot King Robert out of a plane without a parachute. I hate him so much, it’s unreal. New event too, with some challenges and rewards. You know, as events do in this kind of thing. King Robert, go melt in paint thinner like the Judge in Roger Rabbit.

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!

Coffee Stain previously also teased a Switch port. I hope the Goat Simulator 3 Multiverse of Nonsense DLC hits mobile in addition to Switch in the future. If you’d like to play the DLC, you can grab Goat Simulator 3 Multiverse of Nonsense on Steam here. If you’ve not gotten the base game yet on mobile, you can buy Goat Simulator 3 on the App Store for iOS here on Google Play for Android here. If you want to try other games in the series, they are all here on the developer page on the App Store. These include Goat Simulator PAYDAY, Goat Simulator Waste of Space, Goat Simulator MMO Simulator, Goat Simulator GoatZ, and Goat Simulator itself. If you’d rather get them on Steam, check out the full bundle here. Have you played Goat Simulator 3 on mobile yet, and what do you think of today’s update?

If you’d like to grab the Mega Man X DiVE Offline demo and try it for free, 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. An iOS demo is yet to be announced as of this writing. 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 and did you play Mega Man X DiVE on iOS and Android?

If you’ve not played Monster Hunter Now recently or are planning to just start playing, I put together 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 what do you think of this month’s events?

Right off the bat Guncho has a pretty different look from most other Tinytouchtales games. It’s an Old Western themed game, which is kind of a departure from their more medieval-ish fantasy stuff. It’s also a 3D game, which as far as I can tell is a first for Tinytouchtales. However, when you get down to the mechanical stuff, this is a Tinytouchtales game through and through. A hex-based tactical turn-based roguelike? Yeah that checks out.

The unique element in Guncho that sets it apart from similar games is its revolver mechanic. Being a Western game, your main weapon is a six-shooter. You can see the cylinder and bullets at the bottom of the screen. Those six bullets correspond to the six sides of each hexagon tile you’re standing on, meaning you can shoot at enemies that are facing any of those six sides and are within 3 spaces from you (at least for standard bullets).

The tricky part is that each time you move or perform an action, the cylinder rotates one position. You can change whether it rotates clockwise or counterclockwise on the fly, which has tactical uses. Also, once you’ve fired a bullet it’s gone from the cylinder, and so as enemies pop up around the board you need to make sure that you’re moving and using your bullets in such a way that you’re setting yourself up for future turns. You might be moving yourself into a spot that lines up with an enemy only for the cylinder to rotate to an empty bullet for that direction, which means you might be hosed.

You CAN reload your entire cylinder, but you need to either have fired off all your bullets or manually discharged the ones you haven’t used, which sort of acts like a “wait" command and essentially costs you a turn. There are also enviornmental hazards that need to be avoided to keep yourself out of harm, but can also be used to your advantage by luring enemies into them. After each round you can choose between an ammunition upgrade or a new special ability to help equip yourself for the rest of your run.

The goal is to play through six rounds and then fight a boss at the end, all without dying, and if you’re successful you have basically won the game. You can play on Normal or Expert difficulty and there’s also a Daily mode to play. I adore the revolver mechanic in Guncho and feel like the game has a ton of potential to be expanded upon should the developers choose to. As is it feels a little bare bones, but that also makes it a really easy game to just dive into for a quick round here and there. Guncho is free to try with a full game unlock IAP, so why not give it a “shot" for yourself? Get it? Shot like in shooting a gun? Wocka wocka.

Select New Releases

SPY X ANYA: Operation Memories ($49.99)

Anya has been given a most elegant homework assignment: making a photo diary of her memories. You’ll follow her on her daily life, going to school on the weekdays and doing various activities on the weekends. When Anya finds something worthy of attention, take a photo to add it to her book. There are fifteen different mini-games to play, ranging from riding good boy Bond to using Anya’s mind-reading powers to cheat at cards. You can also collect a range of outfits for the whole family and dress them up as you like. Even Bond! Dressing up Bond? That’s worth fifty bucks alone.

Last Night of Winter ($9.99)

This is a top-down action-adventure game where you play as a wandering spirit of a warrior who fell during a siege on a fortress. You need to make your way to the top of the tower to see a fellow who might be able to help you with your current situation. To do that, you’ll need to explore, collect items, solve puzzles, and battle enemies. This is a pretty tough game, so be aware of that before you jump in. One of those games that takes a lot of cues from the Souls series.

Gigantosaurus: Dino Sports ($39.99)

We’re like a month away from the next Summer Olympics, in case you’re wondering about the uptick in event-based sports games recently. Here’s one with dinosaurs! You only get eight mini-games to play, but they’re at least different from what you’ll see in other such games. Up to four players can join in via local multiplayer, so that box is checked. It’s Outright Games publishing it, so adjust your expectations appropriately.

34 Sports Games – World Edition ($29.99)

But hey, maybe you want the big variety pack of sports? You get a whopping thirty-four events to play here, and it has the usual local multiplayer for up to four players. Compete against other countries in the different events, just like in the… you know, that sports event. The one coming next month. You’re paying less than a buck per mini-game here, so there’s a good chance a party-minded individual could get a nice value out of this one.

Nocturnal Visitors ($4.99)

A normal guy named Jamie gets transported to another world one day, where he finds out he is not so normal after all. He’s a Visitor, a rare type of person who can cross the barrier between his world and this new one. He’s soon recruited into an organization that investigates cross-dimensional crimes, and that’s where your skills come into play. Help Jamie investigate scenes and piece together clues to figure out the answers in this adventure game. But keep your eyes open, as all may not be as it initially seems.

CATS BASEBALL ($7.99)

This is a dice-based baseball game about cats who play baseball. There are some different modes on offer, including a story mode that will probably serve as the meat of the experience for most players and a battle mode that sets you against another player via local multiplayer. It’s a very unique game, to say the least. That might be enough to get it into the hands of some players.

Luxor Evolved ($19.99)

One of the more popular rip-offs of Mitchell Corporation’s 1998 classic Puzz Loop, Luxor now has a new game on the Switch. There are sixty-five levels, and it seems to be going for a whole neon vibe that seems fresh out of the late 00s. My favorite Luxor story is when the original publisher asked Apple to take down a similar game from the iOS App Store. The utter gall. Sorry, I’m going on a whole thing here. The current owner of Luxor doesn’t have anything to do with all that. Do what you will with this.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Some oddities in the list today, with quite a few games hitting new low prices. If you don’t mind a little undead cheesecake and like crawling dungeons, Undead Darlings is a steal at 90% off. Levelhead and Crashlands at four bucks and three bucks respectively are also great pick-ups. There isn’t much to worry about in the weekend outbox, so focus your attention on that list of new sales and see what treats you can walk away with.

Select New Sales

Oxytone ($1.99 from $7.99 until 7/5)
Conjured Through Death ($7.49 from $14.99 until 7/8)
DEEMO ($11.99 from $29.99 until 7/11)
Gift ($14.99 from $24.99 until 7/11)
Ninja Smasher! ($6.39 from $7.99 until 7/11)
Spy Bros. ($4.79 from $7.99 until 7/11)
Transiruby ($10.49 from $14.99 until 7/11)
Venba ($8.99 from $14.99 until 7/11)
Claire: Extended Cut ($3.74 from $14.99 until 7/11)
Great Ambition of the Slimes ($9.59 from $11.99 until 7/11)
Astlibra Revision ($19.99 from $24.99 until 7/11)
Grammarian Ltd ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/11)
Sagres ($13.99 from $19.99 until 7/11)
Invercity ($10.49 from $14.99 until 7/11)
Hamster on Rails ($8.99 from $14.99 until 7/11)

Whitestone ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/11)
Ruff Ghanor ($14.99 from $19.99 until 7/11)
Cleopatra Fortune S-Tribute ($10.49 from $14.99 until 7/12)
Redemption Reapers ($21.59 from $29.99 until 7/12)
Jorel’s Brother & TMIGitG Complete ($7.49 from $14.99 until 7/12)
Notebook Artillery ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/12)
Final Exerion ($10.49 from $14.99 until 7/12)
Corbid! A Colorful Adventure ($7.99 from $9.99 until 7/12)
Little Kitty, Big City ($19.99 from $24.99 until 7/12)
Master Key ($10.00 from $12.50 until 7/12)
Layer Section/Galactic Attack S-Tribute ($20.99 from $29.99 until 7/12)
Batsugun Saturn Tribute Boosted ($20.99 from $29.99 until 7/12)
Akai Katana Shin ($23.99 from $29.99 until 7/12)
Samurai Aces III: Sengoku Cannon ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/12)
Deathsmiles I-II ($27.99 from $39.99 until 7/12)

Abarenbo Tengu & Zombie Nation ($5.99 from $11.99 until 7/12)
Strikers 1945 III ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/12)
Hades ($9.99 from $24.99 until 7/12)
We Know the Devil ($1.99 from $6.66 until 7/12)
Gunbird2 ($3.99 from $7.99 until 7/12)
Later Alligator ($4.49 from $17.99 until 7/12)
Clea ($7.49 from $14.99 until 7/12)
Clea 2 ($7.49 from $14.99 until 7/12)
Dragon Blaze ($3.99 from $7.99 until 7/12)
Undead Darlings: No Cure for Love ($2.99 from $29.99 until 7/12)
The Kids We Were ($7.99 from $15.99 until 7/12)
Grabitoons ($5.59 from $7.99 until 7/12)
Manitas Kitchen ($9.09 from $12.99 until 7/12)
The Battle of Polytopia ($7.49 from $14.99 until 7/12)

TOEM ($3.99 from $19.99 until 7/12)
Gothic Murder: Adv. That Changes Destiny ($5.99 from $11.99 until 7/17)
Sword of the Necromancer ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/18)
Levelhead ($3.99 from $19.99 until 7/18)
Crashlands ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/18)
Spacebase Startopia ($14.99 from $49.99 until 7/18)
Unmetal ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/18)
Rhythm Sprout ($3.74 from $14.99 until 7/18)
The Hand of Merlin ($7.49 from $29.99 until 7/18)
Sword of the Vagrant ($2.49 from $9.99 until 7/18)
Tamarak Trail ($11.99 from $14.99 until 7/18)
Squad 51 vs the Flying Saucers ($8.99 from $19.99 until 7/18)
Magical Drop VI ($14.99 from $29.99 until 7/18)
Dungeons 3 Complete Collection ($37.49 from $49.99 until 7/18)
Piczle Cross: Story of Seasons ($6.99 from $9.99 until 7/18)
Crystal Chip Collector e ($2.99 from $4.99 until 7/18)
Cattails: Wildwood Story ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/18)
Seventh Lair ($6.39 from $7.99 until 7/18)
Evidence Destroyer ($1.99 from $3.99 until 7/18)
Mutant Express ($5.99 from $11.99 until 7/18)
Justice Sucks ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/18)
Milk inside a bag of milk inside… ($3.99 from $7.99 until 7/18)
Commandos 3 HD Remaster ($20.99 from $29.99 until 7/18)

Sales Ending This Weekend

Freud’s Bones: The Game ($3.89 from $12.99 until 6/29)
Griftlands ($7.99 from $19.99 until 6/29)
Yonder: Cloud Catcher Chronicles ($5.99 from $29.99 until 6/29)
Among Us ($3.00 from $5.00 until 6/30)
Bakeborough ($1.99 from $5.99 until 6/30)
Brutalism22 ($2.99 from $9.99 until 6/30)
Frogvival ($2.99 from $9.99 until 6/30)
Railbound ($2.59 from $12.99 until 6/30)
Where is Drake? ($2.99 from $9.99 until 6/30)

That’s all for today, this week, and this month, friends. Unless something wild happens, we’ll be back next week with more new games, more sales, more reviews, and some news as it happens. I have some contract work to get through this weekend, so I fear I will be pulling some serious late nights. Can’t be helped sometimes! I hope you all have a restful and relaxing weekend, and as always, thanks for reading!

As usual it’s a mix of nerfs and buffs, but the biggest change here is to Angela. Recently she’s been wreaking havoc with her pals Kitty Pryde, Jeff, Nocturne, and Thena, and apparently she’s been doing a bit too well because today the bat came for her. She’s moving from 2-Cost 0-Power to 2-Cost 3-Power, and her ability will now only give her +1 power per card played at her location instead of +2. She’s still strong, but she’ll cap out a lot lower than before.

The recent rule changes to how Move resolves seems to have not really changed a whole lot, but a couple of cards took it a bit hard and they’re getting some adjustments to try to help them recover. Hercules moves from 4-Cost 7-Power to 3-Cost 4-Power, with no change to his ability. Surfer gang? Surfer gang. The Kingpin is joining the ranks of the 1-Cost cards, moving from 2-Cost 3-Power to 1-Cost 2-Power, and again no change to his ability. Miles Morales is also getting a little buff, gaining a point of power as he moves from 4-Cost 5-Power to 4-Cost 6-Power, with his ability remaining intact.

Things are rounded out with a few other “odds and ends" buffs. Second Dinner seems concerned about how much High Evolutionary decks have dropped off, and while this is just the first step in trying to help that type out, a buff from 4-Cost 4-Power to 4-Cost 6-Power for High Evolutionary himself is a nice start. I find these decks don’t really prioritize playing HE himself, so this might get him into play more often.

Nick Fury has a cool ability, but he’s another character you don’t see played as much as you might hope for how big his presence in Marvel media is. He’s getting a little more power, moving from 4-Cost 5-Power to 4-Cost 6-Power. Hmm, that’s three cards in this OTA that are moving to 6-Power. Maybe something can be done with Cerebro here? Well, I’ll leave that to someone else to figure out. Perhaps Shaun of next week as he puts together the July deck guide.

Finally, poor old Alioth. It’s been getting bounced around hard almost since the minute it was introduced, but this latest change is a positive one. It was 6-Cost 8-Power, and now it’s 6-Cost 10-Power. Its ability is unchanged. You might see a potential disadvantage here as it puts Alioth within Shang-Chi’s strike zone, but if you think about how Alioth’s ability works, you’ll see it’s all good for the big ol’ dust cloud.

And that does it for this batch of balance changes to Marvel Snap. What do you think? Do any of these affect you? Are you going to add any of the buffed cards to your rotation? Feel free to sound off in the comments below, and be sure to keep your eyes open for our newest deck building guide next week!

TouchArcade (TA): Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do at PH3.

Peter Thoman (PT): My name is Peter Thoman, and some of the older people reading this interview – those who played Dark Souls 1 on PC way back when it was released – might know me as Durante. I actually have a background in high performance computing (think supercomputers), but as the CTO of PH3 I primarily work on our games-related projects. I am involved in all of them to some extent, but most of my actual development work over the past year has been in Trails through Daybreak.

TA: PH3’s newest launch is Trails through Daybreak’s PC version. Having played it, it would be a disservice to just say PC port given how much has been improved and added feature wise over the console release. How was it working with this modern Falcom engine’s first title compared to your prior projects from the developer?

PT: That’s a great question – to provide some background, since it might not be common knowledge: Falcom’s previous Trails (Cold Steel and Reverie) and Ys (VII to IX) games were actually on different engines, with a separate one per franchise. Daybreak is the first game on their new, custom engine. These days, it is quite rare for a medium-sized development studio like Falcom to develop and maintain their own engine, so these are quite unique circumstances.

As a port developer, working with a new engine of course requires a lot of additional effort, but also might bring some new opportunities. Especially given the large volume of PC-specific features we pride ourselves on shipping, I was a bit afraid that it might not be feasible to get everything into the first game on a new engine. However, luckily, because of our working relationship with NISA, we could be quite confident that we will also have the opportunity to work on more games on the same engine, which made it more financially viable to put a lot of work into the first entry already.

We also used this switch to a new engine as an opportunity to introduce some new underlying technology which we built for our PC ports, which unifies things such as efficiently dealing with compressed data archives, input, and game settings.

TA: As far as I’m aware, Trails through Daybreak’s PC version is the first Falcom game to have official HDR support. How was it working on implementing HDR here?

PT: Like many of the new features we implement, this happened in no small part because someone on the team really wanted to do it. I got an OLED monitor recently, and while options such as Auto-HDR work, they usually e.g. blow out the UI brightness. Since the game already internally computes everything as 16-bit floating point color, I thought implementing basic HDR support – including configurable UI brightness – should not be too difficult. Of course, the content is not authored for HDR, so outside of some particle effects there won’t be a fundamental difference compared to using some automatic HDR post-processing, but at least you can configure your UI brightness!

One interesting anecdote during HDR development was that the initial version was broken on the OLED Steam Deck. We actually try to consistently test the Steam Deck during PC port development, and when I noticed this we could eventually track it down to an oversight in the DXVK layer in Proton, which was promptly fixed.

TA: You’ve touched on the PC port features on Steam, but I wanted to check in what has been done since the game’s Japanese language release on PC from PH3 and NIS America?

PT: Well, from NISA, obviously the localization – which is always a monumental task for Trails games. From us, we weren’t originally planning to do all that much extra for the English release, as the Japanese release was already quite complete, certainly up to the standards of any other JRPG PC port. However, it turns out that there were actually a ton of things we ended up doing.

Some of the highlights are the aforementioned HDR support, lots of new anti-aliasing modes like MSAA and even SGSSAA, greatly improved UI rendering quality at low resolution (like on Steam Deck), improved shadow quality at no performance cost, and a lot more graphical improvements. We also fixed some animations at high frame rate, and resolved lots of minor visual issues at non-16:9 aspect ratios. Beyond graphics, we added a new BGM info feature, improved mouse UI support in some menus, improved the IO behavior of the game during loading, and implemented dozens of smaller fixes and quality of life improvements.

TA: How do you decide what features to add to a PC port when you initially work on the project’s scope? Do you need to get approval from the Japanese side for things like HDR in Trails through Daybreak?

PT: That’s an interesting question! In general, we have a minimum set of features that we want to include in every PC version we release. This includes things like arbitrary resolution and aspect ratio support, good mouse/KB controls which are fully rebindable, high framerate support, quality settings for basic graphics aspects and of course a FoV slider.

Beyond that, it depends on the specific game, how much time we have to improve it further, and also individual interest. As I said above, HDR support is in primarily because I really wanted to make it work. Also, the new BGM info feature exists in the game because Alex from our team was interested in implementing it.

One of my biggest issues with lots of PC ports, particularly of JRPGs, and even generally well-regarded ones, is when they do not include any draw distance or level-of-detail scaling settings. Pop-in is very distracting for me, so in all the 3D games we work on you’ll notice that there are always settings related to this, and that their top-end goes quite high.

TA: Trails through Daybreak, like Nayuta, was a Japanese language Steam release before getting patched with English support. How was it working on your second Japanese PC release?

PT: Working on a game which has not yet been translated is always a bit more challenging for us, particularly in terms of testing and QA. We can of course get anything we need translated, but there’s always a bit of a delay with that. That said, when you are just talking about basic understanding for development, machine translation is generally good enough, and the code itself is international.

TA: Are you involved in any of the decision making for releasing like this versus launching in Steam Early Access with English coming at 1.0 launch. I’ve wondered about how this affects visibility on launch day.

PT: These are really questions for the publisher – we don’t actually know the sales data, or the reasoning behind these types of decision making processes.

TA: Has there been any consideration for bringing in DLSS, FSR, or XeSS into Falcom games on PC?

PT: Of course. I’d love to do that. However, all of these (at least in the versions worth using) require solid per-pixel motion vector data. In engines where this is already available, integrating these technologies is very much in scope for a PC port. But if you would have to integrate the whole concept of generating such motion vector data from scratch throughout an engine and all its rendering processes, that’s a very different scale of engineering and QA required.

TA: When I played the Crossbell games you worked on for PC and Switch, I was beyond impressed with how much they improved over the PS4 release. Were you able to implement everything you wanted to in Trails through Daybreak’s PC release for launch?

PT: We were already pretty happy with the state of the PC version at the time of the Japanese release, but with all the improvements made since then for the English version I can say that this is, in my opinion, our best PC release ever. Of course there’s always more that could be done – e.g. if you give us a few dedicated man-months I’d love to do the DLSS/FSR/XeSS thing – but if every PC port had the level of quality we’ve achieved with Daybreak I’d be thrilled as a PC enthusiast.

TA: You’ve now worked on a majority of Falcom’s PC releases. Which has been your favorite project to work on so far, and the most challenging one?

PT: For me personally, my favorite was probably Ys IX. It was the last game on that particular engine, and we really boosted its performance throughout the PC development. And I’m particularly proud of the local co-op mode in that game.

The most challenging, at least in some aspects, was actually Trails into Reverie. We underestimated this project, since we considered it “just” another game on the Cold Steel engine, which we worked with a lot already – and we planned and priced the undertaking accordingly. But the sheer amount of new features, minigames, and the volume of optional content Falcom put into this game is staggering, and we didn’t want to compromise the port quality of any of it. Depending on how creative you are with accounting, we either just barely broke even or actually lost money on this project. That said, I’m actually currently playing through it and am very happy that we did not compromise on the features of the port in any way.

On a more technical level, the one challenge so far that we actually had to give up on after investing quite some time into it is implementing true variable FPS support in Nayuta. It is of course possible in principle, but it’s an old game and the number of potentially gameplay-relevant (and breaking) locations in the code where individual frames are counted is very high.

TA: After Trails through Daybreak, PH3’s next announced Falcom and NIS America release is Ys X: Nordics. While we don’t know much of the PC port, can you give us a tease of what PC players should expect with it?

PT: I can’t really say much about it yet, but expect us to provide the level of quality that we are – hopefully – known for!

TA: How has it been working on the Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED with your recent projects? Do you also try and test on other handhelds like the ASUS Rog Ally?

PT: I’m actually a very old-school fan of PC handhelds – I got a first-generation GPD Win when it was launched. That said, after getting a Steam Deck OLED, I haven’t really felt any inclination to switch to another device. It’s such a great, balanced and polished handheld, at both the hardware and software level, and as I personally don’t really play any competitive multiplayer games it’s perfect for me.

In terms of making sure our ports run well on it, most things “just work”, and for the few cases where we uncovered some issue the feedback and support from the DXVK project was excellent. Other than that, there were just a few things to specifically optimize, like making sure the UI renders as decently as possible at the relatively small screen resolution.

TA: Did you end up trying out Trails through Daybreak’s Switch or PS5 versions to see how Falcom handled those platforms compared to the launch PS4 release?

PT: We received the source code for these, but for our purposes on PC only the PS5 version was really relevant. From that, we got a few improved assets which we of course incorporated into our PC release.

TA: Last year was kind of a mess for many AAA PC ports. Did you end up trying any of the bad PC ports like Jedi Survivor, Wild Hearts, or The Last of Us Part 1?

PT: Regarding this issue, I’m in the lucky position that, despite playing a lot of games, I’m actually only very rarely interested in AAA releases. The one game I played last year which I think was somewhat lambasted for its technical quality was Lords of the Fallen, and I didn’t actually run into many issues with that. I assume that it also helps that I play high-end games on my development workstation, which is pretty fast.

TA: When I interviewed you before, we discussed the Elden Ring PC port. How did you find the PC port for Armored Core VI?

PT: I haven’t actually played that yet, but I am very happy to have read that at least they finally decided to support more than 60 FPS!

TA: What have you enjoyed this year when it comes to game releases?

PT: This is a difficult question for me if it refers to games that were actually released in 2024, since I rarely play games at release. Instead, I’ll hijack it to talk about games that were somewhat recently released and which I personally completed in 2024. One of my recent favorites was The Talos Principle 2. It was an almost perfect sequel to one of the best first person puzzle games ever, and the only thing I wish they had done is include VR support.

A less well-known game which I somewhat recently played on the Steam Deck is Afterimage. This is a really excellent and content-rich Metroidvania that deserves to be more widely recognized. Finally, I recently completed Citizen Sleeper, and that was a great combination of a visual novel style with a bit of resource and time management akin to the “raising sim” genre.

TA: While not a question, I would love to see your Crossbell releases come to PS5 natively as a double pack. I enjoyed playing them a ton on Steam Deck and Switch, but it would be amazing to replay them at 120hz on PS5.

PT: Well, we’d be happy to work on that! We actually have been working on PS5 for an unannounced porting project for a while now, so on a technical level we are completely ready for doing something like this. If you want to make it happen, then you need to convince the publisher that it’s worthwhile.

TA: Speaking of the Crossbell Switch releases you did, is there any game that isn’t on Switch that you’d love to work on for the platform?

PT: While I’m very happy with what we accomplished with the Crossbell Switch versions, and while we of course always seek to optimally use whatever target platform we are working with, I don’t really have a personal interest in porting things to console platforms.

That said, I’ve noticed many people saying that they would love to have the Trails in the Sky trilogy available on consoles and particularly Switch with the same level of quality of our Crossbell releases, and as a huge fan of that series I’d be more than happy to work on that.

TA: Have you considered adding 90fps presets for the PC games you’ve worked on for Steam Deck OLED or do you want to let players find the best set of options for their hardware? I remember the “portable" option you added in the first Trails of Cold Steel PC release for the GPD back in the day.

PT: We do have a portable preset in Daybreak, but for the Steam Deck it doesn’t really make much sense to use an in-game frame limiter for this use case. Instead you can use the Deck per-game system-level FPS limiter, which also sets the refresh rate accordingly. For Daybreak, I like to use 45 FPS / 90 Hz as a good tradeoff between energy efficiency and responsiveness/smoothness.

TA: What are your thoughts on the current state of PC gaming across handhelds and in general?

PT: I think that PC gaming is in a better place than ever before. Sure, you have some worrying tendencies in the AAA space, like chasing some genre trend years after it was relevant, trying to increase base prices to silly levels, or restricting releases to platforms no one wants to use. And at the same time hardware costs have gone up (and so have the costs of everything else really), particularly on the high end.

However, I don’t think any of that does much to fundamentally harm PC gaming, or at least the parts of it I care about most. The truth is that you can open up Steam right now and find a tremendous amount of excellent indie to AA-level games fitting almost any preferences of genres or settings that you could ever imagine. And those are generally sold at reasonable prices, and the vast majority of them can be played perfectly well with very affordable hardware such as the entry-level Steam Deck.

So, to me, PC gaming right now is all about offering options for everyone. From affordable handhelds to the most powerful gaming hardware around. And from hundreds of high-quality, innovative indie games being released every year to also including ports of lots of AAA games which would have been console exclusives without question a decade ago.

TA: How do you like your coffee? (feel free to get the others at PH3 to also respond here and go into as much detail as you can).

PT: Not only do I personally almost never drink coffee, the same is also true for everyone else in the PH3 games team! We actually only bought a coffee machine for the office very recently when someone new joined us, but they are not working in the games part of the company currently.

I do enjoy a good cup of tea, and we actually have a (gaming-ready?) RGB-illuminated electric kettle for that purpose.

I’d like to thank Peter Thoman for his time and help here.

You can keep up with all our interviews here including our recent ones with M2 discussing shmups and more here, Digital Extremes for Warframe mobile, Team NINJA, Sonic Dream Team, Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and more. As usual, thanks for reading.

Steam Deck Game Reviews & Impressions

Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster Steam Deck Review

Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster debuted on Switch last year, and was a very good package as a newcomer to both games. I was disappointed by the performance issues and some of the other quirks present. I was hoping we’d see some of the issues resolved in updates, but they are still present on Switch today. Read my review of the collection on Switch here. Last week, Bandai Namco shadow dropped Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster on PC via Steam, and it would’ve been a huge shock of a release had it not been rated in some regions months before. Either way, with Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster on PC via Steam, not only do we have the definitive version of these two games for current platforms, but a fantastic Steam Deck release as well.

In terms of content, Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster is the same as the Switch version that was released last year. This includes both Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean and Baten Kaitos Origins with improved graphics, cheats, quality of life improvements, and more. Read about the Switch port here. What makes this release on PC more interesting, is the fact that the original games were developed by Monolith Soft who are most known now for the Xenoblade Chronicles games under Nintendo. In fact, Nintendo is mentioned in the copyright of both games even on Steam. Something we didn’t see with the Fatal Frame / Project Zero releases that retain Nintendo’s copyright on Switch.

Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster on PC lets you adjust window mode (fullscreen, windowed, and borderless), resolution (320×200 to 4K), toggle v-sync, adjust anti-aliasing quality (low, medium, high, off), and gamma correction. This is pretty bare-bones for a PC port, but not unexpected given this is a port of older games for Switch that has been ported to PC.

Playing at 720 docked sees frame rates well above 100fps and even at 144hz. If you aren’t seeing higher frame rates when you play, make sure you check the v-sync settings in-game and the frame limited from the quick access menu. I opted to play at 90fps on my Steam Deck OLED for the most part and only noticed some drops to the 80s when setting the anti-aliasing option to high. This applies to both Baten Kaitos and Origins. When playing at native 4K though, the game runs at around 30fps and it drops to the mid 20s or lower during combat. I don’t recommend this on Steam Deck even if you play docked. If you play at 1080p, it is always above 70fps thankfully.

On Steam Deck, Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster runs out of the box with one small issue. When you first start a new game, your character has a minor dithering issue. This got resolved after a few minutes of playing after moving to another area, and didn’t happen after that. Aside from that, the gameplay runs at 16:10 correctly, it has Steam Cloud, full controller support, and invokes the on-screen keyboard for text input correctly. Having B for confirm and A to go back is annoying though when playing on Steam Deck. The developers seem to have just left the same positions for face buttons as the Switch version here. The digital artbook included in the Month 1 edition does not work on Steam Deck though.

In its current state, despite some quirks, Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster on Steam Deck is a much better experience than the same release on Nintendo Switch. Not only does it run nearly perfectly even at 90fps, but it also can go above when playing docked. If you skipped the Switch release in the hope of a version with better performance, your wait has been worth it. The quality of life improvements in the Switch version already made that worth grabbing, but Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster on Steam is the one to get right now.

Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster Steam Deck Review Score: 4/5

News and Trailers

Street Fighter 6 begins Year 2 with the arrival of M. Bison on PS5, Steam, Xbox Series X, and PS4. M. Bison is the first of four characters coming this year with Elena, Mai, and Terry following. I’ve played a bit with M. Bison and he seems amazing so far. Check out his launch trailer below:

Square Enix also released the full Final Fantasy XIV 7.0 patch notes with maintenance on for a few hours more. Early access to Dawntrail begins today with the full release set for July 2nd. I’ll be covering it so stay tuned for that. (Edit: Early access is now live for Dawntrail and I will be playing it on Steam Deck)

Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader got its major 1.2 update, which is the biggest update yet for the game with more than 2500 changes. This update also arrives with new animations, cut-scene updates, QOL improvements, and more. Watch the trailer for it below:

This week, Humble Games and Summerfall Studios launched the Stray Gods: Orpheus DLC for Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical. The DLC is out now on Steam and all consoles for $9.99. I’ll have a review of this in the near future. Watch the trailer for it below:

Bandai Namco Entertainment revealed more of the character roster in DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO. The new trailer showcases 10 new additions to the playable roster with the total at 100 with many more to come. This trailer showcased Yajirobe, Super Vegito, Goku Black, Super Saiyan Rosé, Anilaza, Goku (Super), Ultra Instinct -Sign-, Future Trunks, and more. Watch it below:

Capcom teased Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster (DRDR) with a full reveal planned for July 1st during CAPCOM NEXT Summer 2024 showcase. The showcase will also have more news on Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess and a look at Resident Evil 7 Biohazard for iOS and macOS.

Raw Fury announced that it has partnered with Gameclaw Studio to publish the Regions of Ruin games worldwide. The first game is out now while the second one can be wishlisted here. Watch the trailer below:

This week, Velan Studios announced Midnight Murder Club, a new FPS party game featuring hide and seek and shoot in the dark. It is set to launch on Steam this fall. Watch the trailer below:

We are close to EVO 2024 now, and the first set of news is Cygames will have a booth from July 19th to 21st. It will feature a playable build of the 1.50 update for Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising and exclusive rewards.

At Anime Expo 2024, ATLUS and SEGA have a few notable streams. On July 5th, Atlus has The World of Metaphor: ReFantazio featuring Katsura Hashino and Shigenori Soejima. On July 6th, SEGA has A New Era of Shadow featuring Takashi Iizuka (Sonic Team Creative Officer), Kirk Thornton and Stephanie Sheh (English voices of Shadow and Maria), and more. The final event on July 6th as well is the Essence of Fandom Party – Like A Dragon & Yakuza Experience featuring Chief Producer Hiroyuki Sakamoto and Kazuhiro Nakaya (Ichiban Kasuga and Akira Nishikiyama’s voice actor) celebrating the series with activities, guests, and more.

Cygames is bringing Umamusume: Pretty Derby, Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond, Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash, Granblue Fantasy: Relink, and Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising to Anime Expo with hands-on sessions and more. I’m excited to finally see Umamusume: Pretty Derby in English.

The last bit of games news is a demo for the auto chess style PvP battler Claws & Chaos now available on Steam.

Aside from games news, Valve finally added a game recording feature to Steam including Steam Deck via the beta branch. I tested it on my Steam Deck LCD that’s on the beta, and it works great so far. I hope to make use of this a lot for future game coverage and reviews to show off specific performance-related things.

New Steam Deck Verified & Playable games for the week

• Anger Foot – Verified
• Death of a Wish – Playable
• Dragon Is Dead – Playable
• Riven – Playable
• Station to Station – Playable

Steam Deck Game Sales, Discounts, and Specials

The Steam Summer Sale 2024 is now live and I wanted to recommend 10 specific discounts today for Steam Deck owners. They are below:

• Granblue Fantasy Relink – 30% off
• Celeste – 90% off
• Forza Horizon 4 Ultimate Edition – 80% off (this is being delisted so buy it!)
• Street Fighter 6 – 50% off
• The Witcher 3 – 90% off
• VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action – 33% off
• Persona 5 Royal – 50% off
• The Yakuza Collection
• Monster Hunter World: Iceborne Master Edition – 67% off
• The Talos Principle 2 – 50% off

That’s all for this edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. 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.

Select New Releases

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD ($59.99)

More Luigi? Sure, I’m always up for Green Mario’s adventures. This is a port of the Nintendo 3DS sequel to the GameCube launch title, and it’s a good bit of fun. Go through the haunted spaces, catch the ghosts, solve some puzzles, and so on. There’s also an enjoyable multiplayer component that you can enjoy with four players via local wireless or online multiplayer. I’ll have a review of this one soon, but if you enjoyed Luigi’s Mansion 3 you might enjoy stepping back into this one. Tantalus handled the port, so it should be fine on that front.

Tchia ($29.99)

I heard a lot about this open world game when it launched on other platforms last year, and impressions were truly all over the place. Most seemed to agree that its New Caledonia-inspired island setting was refreshing and well-realized, but opinions were more split about whether or not the campaign actually kept the player interested enough to explore it. The main gimmick is that you can soul jump into various creatures and objects, giving you access to whatever abilities they might possess. I’ll have my review of this for you soon, covering both what I think of the game and the port.

NeoSprint ($24.99)

Another Atari brand gets revived with NeoSprint, a top-down racer for up to eight players via local multiplayer. There’s a ton to do here, with a campaign, grand prix, time trials, a course creator, lots of unlockables, and more. The gameplay feels very familiar if you’ve ever played any of the Sprint games or the many games inspired by them. I’m doing a review of this one soon-ish, but I think if you’re a fan of the series and aren’t expecting any radical changes to the formula, you’ll like what you get here.

Arcade Archives Jackal ($7.99)

It has been fourteen years since this game was last released in any form, and it gets far too few rereleases in general for its quality. Jackal is a top-down Commando-style shooter where up to two players take control of combat jeeps on a mission to rescue POWs and defeat the enemy forces. The NES version was particularly popular in the West. While there are a number of differences between the two, fans of that one will find plenty to like here. You get both the Japanese and Overseas versions here, with the former having the jeep’s machine guns fire in the direction it’s facing and the latter having the machine guns always fire forwards. I love this game and highly recommend it.

EGGCONSOLE Topple Zip PC-8801 ($6.49)

Another EGGCONSOLE release so soon? And it’s not an action-RPG with a lot of Japanese text and opaque mechanics? Well, neat. Topple Zip is an odd game all on its own, though. Certainly some opaque mechanics of its own. Part racer, part shooter, with plenty of Druaga-style hidden (but required!) nonsense, Topple Zip is a very distinct work. As ever, I will be reviewing this once I’ve put it through its paces.

Tsukihime -A Piece of Blue Glass Moon- ($49.99)

And now let’s take a step into the visual novel wing of today’s new releases. First up, we have this remake of the 1999 classic Tsukihime, which collects the two stories of the Near Side of the Moon scenario. The setting has been updated to the 2010s, and there’s new art, animations, and music to go with that. Even this remake has been out for a few years in Japan, but this will be the first English release of the game in any form. Sure, it’s considered an important work among Japanese fans, but how does it hold up these days? Our pal Mikhail is looking into this one and will let us know his thoughts soon.

Radiant Tale -Fanfare!- ($49.99)

And here’s a fan disk add-on for Radiant Tale, offering up three new modes of play complete with new routes for two side characters. The usual fan disk rule likely applies here: if you enjoyed the original and want more from its world, give this a look. If you didn’t like the original, I can’t imagine this going over any better. And if you haven’t played the original at all, this is definitely not the place to start.

Planetarian: Snow Globe ($4.99)

We’ve had a remake and a fan disk, so how about a prequel now? See what happened with companion robot Yumemi Hoshino in her earlier days working at the planetarium, before things went completely ca-ca. One day she seems to malfunction and leaves the planetarium to walk around the town. One of the staff members is sent to go and bring her back. I don’t know if this will get the tears jerking like the main game does, but I can tell you this is like the main game in that you won’t be making any choices, just reading along. Don’t play this before the main game, of course.

How to Sing to Open Your Heart Remastered ($14.99)

And we close the visual novel portion of the show today with this, the third entry in the Story of Eroolia series. It follows on from How to Take Off Your Mask and How to Fool a Liar King, and follows the story of previous side character Princess Myana. Will her song finally settle the grievances between the humans and luccretias? Your choices will determine the outcome, but I have to believe the odds are good in one reality or another.

Frogue ($4.99)

It’s kind of a shame to see a cute name like that used on anything other than a traditional roguelike, but nothing can be done about that now. This is a procedurally-generated bullet hell platformer where you can use a quick dash and time manipulation to attack your foes and avoid their attacks. Title disappointments aside, this is an okay little five-dollar game.

Flying Tank ($14.99)

Ahh, this is one of those grindy shooters. Well, I know some people enjoy them. I won’t rain on their parades. And for whatever it’s worth, this does seem to have good reviews on other platforms. You play as a flying tank (like in the title!) and blast your way through the enemy forces to reclaim the Earth. You can play solo or pull in a friend for some local multiplayer fun, but either way you’re going to have a big job ahead of you if you want to complete all twenty-four missions in the game. You’ll have to properly build up and customize your tank to be able to handle the challenges ahead of you using more than thirty different upgrades. You can try it out for free on mobile if you like, where the full game unlocks with an IAP.

Echolocaution ($5.00)

This is really cute. It’s a score attack game where you play as a bat, and your goal is to catch as much prey as you can in each hunt while using your echolocation to avoid incoming threats. You can also find little treasures and baubles to bring back home with you, and each has its own little description. All the little different bats hang out together in a cave with a bat-mom between hunts, and you’ll get to see conversations unfold among them. It’s only an hour or two long, and there is certainly fancier dining to be had today, but this game has a lot of charm and that’s not nothing.

A Street Cat’s Tale 2: Outside is Dangerous ($13.99)

Lots of games recently about cats falling out of their owner’s window and having to try to find their way back home while making their way through an unfamiliar concrete jungle. Here’s another one, and it’s a sequel to a game that I seem to remember as a bit of a sad one. Anyway, you’re a former housecat who has to cope with life on the streets as you try to find your owner. There are puzzles to solve, battles to fight, and fine garbage can cuisine to chow on. I sure hope this one has a happy ending, no one needs sad cat stories in 2024.

Fortress Challenge – Fort Boyard ($39.99)

It is only now, this late in the game, that I realize Fort Boyard must be some kind of licensed property. With Microids handling it, I’m sure it will be of dubious quality. But hey, who knows? This game is for up to four players via local multiplayer, and it features multiple game modes and what I presume are various elements from the… is it a TV show? I’m going to search it now. Okay, yes. TV show. Microids is usually pretty good about making these games look the part and pass on paper, but the execution is where things typically fall apart and that is the one part I can’t speak to as I haven’t played this yet. Proceed with caution, if you must.

Cape’s Escape Game 9th Room ($9.80)

This time around, Cape is escaping to the one place that hasn’t been corrupted by capitalism… SPACE!

Make It! Yakitori ($3.00)

You have to hand it to SAT-BOX. When they find a concept that works, they keep at it until there isn’t a speck of meat left on the carcass. Make some yakitori with your friends!

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

The main sales I want to call out from the inbox today are for Dave the Diver and Megaton Musashi W: Wired. Both great prices for games our pal Mikhail has raved about, so if you’re feeling the inclination to follow in his footsteps, why not hop in? Some decent games in the outbox too, so make sure you have a look at that before moving on with your adventure.

Select New Sales

Brotato ($3.99 from $4.99 until 7/8)
Space Gladiators ($11.99 from $14.99 until 7/8)
Hardcore Mecha ($14.99 from $24.99 until 7/8)
Time Trap: Hidden Objects ($10.49 from $14.99 until 7/11)
Neko Journey ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/12)
Pretty Girls Rivers ($2.39 from $5.99 until 7/12)
The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/12)
Space Mercenary Defense Force ($3.74 from $4.99 until 7/12)
Megaton Musashi W: Wired ($24.99 from $49.99 until 7/12)
Yonesawara Hospital ($9.00 from $18.00 until 7/12)
Saga of the Moon Priestess ($3.89 from $5.99 until 7/12)
Dave the Diver ($13.99 from $19.99 until 7/15)
KORG Gadget ($24.00 from $48.00 until 7/16)
Groove Coaster Wai Wai Party ($35.99 from $59.99 until 7/16)
Dragon Prana ($7.49 from $14.99 until 7/18)
Masquerade Kiss ($17.49 from $34.99 until 7/18)
Finally, in Love Again ($14.99 from $29.99 until 7/18)
Love Letter from Thief X ($7.49 from $24.99 until 7/18)
Our Two Bedroom Story ($7.49 from $24.99 until 7/18)
Metro PD: Close to You ($20.99 from $29.99 until 7/18)
Knights of Grayfang ($11.24 from $14.99 until 7/18)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, June 28th

9 Years of Shadows ($13.99 from $19.99 until 6/28)
Alpha Particle ($3.99 from $9.99 until 6/28)
Burrow of the Fallen Bear ($6.99 from $19.99 until 6/28)
Cozy Hamlets ($4.23 from $5.29 until 6/28)
Cyber Shadow ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/28)
Danmaku Unlimited 3 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 6/28)
Dark Deity ($6.24 from $24.99 until 6/28)
Diorama Dungeoncrawl ($3.99 from $9.99 until 6/28)
Dream Tactics ($14.39 from $17.99 until 6/28)
Empires Shall Fall ($9.74 from $12.99 until 6/28)
Euphoria ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/28)
Freak Crossing ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/28)
Ginnung ($2.24 from $5.00 until 6/28)
Golazo 2: Soccer Cup 2022 ($3.19 from $15.98 until 6/28)
Inertia 2 ($2.85 from $4.39 until 6/28)

Make It! Ikayaki ($1.99 from $3.00 until 6/28)
Monster Outbreak ($11.99 from $14.99 until 6/28)
Monster Tribe ($15.99 from $19.99 until 6/28)
Mugen Souls Double Pack ($45.49 from $69.99 until 6/28)
Rider’s Spirits ($4.79 from $5.99 until 6/28)
Shovel Knight Dig ($12.49 from $24.99 until 6/28)
Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/28)
Shovel Knight Treasure Trove ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/28)
Siralim 3 ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/28)
Siralim Ultimate ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/28)
The Sorrowvirus ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/28)
Thunder Ray ($8.24 from $14.99 until 6/28)
Until the Last Plane ($3.49 from $9.99 until 6/28)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with the remaining releases of the week, plus whatever news and sales roll in over the course of the day. Phew, I’m exhausted again today. These early mornings I’ve been doing lately are going to be the end of me if I’m not more careful about my late nights. I hope you all have a thrilling Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!

Anyway, The Pathless was truly one of the great games on Apple Arcade, and despite being available on other platforms it was a bummer to lose the only way to play the game on mobile devices. Thankfully Annapurna wasn’t going to leave us hanging and today they’ve released a standalone premium version of The Pathless as a regular old App Store release. The game is priced at $9.99 which is cheaper than its regular price on other platforms, but also matches the current sale price of the game on Steam. So if you missed out on The Pathless when it was an Apple Arcade title now is your chance to buy the game the old-fashioned way and see what you’ve been missing.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ($59.99)

And we’ll start with the lowest-hanging fruit of the low-hanging fruit, Mario Kart 8. The best-selling game on the Nintendo Switch and one of the best-selling games of all-time, period. And it’s easy to see why: this game is a good time for almost anyone, regardless of skill level, and the more players you add the better. It’s packed with courses and characters from the get-go, and you can expand it to a wild degree with the DLC course packs. To put it into perspective, almost half of Switch owners have this game in their collections. Wowza.

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

For better or worse, Mario’s 3D outing on the Wii U didn’t make the heaviest of use of the system’s unique features. That made it a good candidate for a Switch release, and when it finally came it had a rather robust extra adventure in tow. Super Mario 3D World is a really fun game that takes a very different approach from Super Mario Odyssey‘s exploration and discovery focus, one that is more about those good old-fashioned obstacle courses. No reason why you can’t enjoy both kinds!

Bayonetta 2 ($49.99)

This was one of the games that tempted me to get the Wii U to begin with, and in the end I didn’t play it much on there. Well, it happens. Bayonetta 2 came to the Switch fairly early on, and it was a welcome addition to the library. It also initially came with a port of the first game, and that’s a bonus we can all get behind. I still think the first game in this series is the best, but Bayonetta 2 is a really fun sequel that is just as irreverent and action-packed as its predecessor.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze ($59.99)

I’m not the world’s biggest fan of Rare’s Donkey Kong Country games, and I had a different but equal set of issues with Retro’s take on the franchise. Still, I have to push my personal issues aside and acknowledge that Tropical Freeze is one heck of a platforming treat for fans of the genre. It’s gorgeous, creative, and fast-paced, and it has a new Funky Mode! How can you resist?

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker ($39.99)

It’s a shame that Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker appears to have swung and missed on three different platforms, because this is a charming and highly compelling puzzle-action game. I’ve bought it three times and played it through three times. It fits the Switch like a glove, and between the new Odyssey levels and DLC there’s plenty here to merit a double-dip for Wii U owners.

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition ($59.99)

Speaking of games that did the three-system tour, here’s Hyrule Warriors in what I believe to be its final form. You know, until the next Nintendo console launches. Not only does this version of the game include all of the content that was added to the game over time, it also runs fairly well on the Switch. Which isn’t a given for any Warriors game, so let’s enjoy that moment. Seriously though, this is a Zelda fan’s dream in a lot of ways. Certainly worth playing, and this is the best way to do that.

LEGO City Undercover ($29.99)

Okay, yes, LEGO. These games are to an extent very similar to one another and lean heavily on their familiar licenses to appeal to the player. So how could a LEGO game with no Marvel or Lord of the Rings or Star Wars license possibly distinguish itself? By being absolutely hilarious, that’s how. This is by some measure among the very best-written of all the LEGO games, and if you have any fondness for classic cop movies or TV shows you’ll have a blast making your way through this game.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe ($59.99)

You never really know, do you? Pikmin seemed like its moment in the sun was limited to a brief window of the GameCube’s life, and the release of Pikmin 3 on Wii U only appeared to back that up. The game was good! The sales were not! How much of that was as a result of the platform, though? Nintendo decided to give this one another go, and it’s a good thing. Pikmin 3 Deluxe did well enough globally on the Switch to get the series rolling again, and it’s probably more popular now than it has ever been. Pikmin 3 Deluxe: a good game. Maybe not as good as Pikmin 4, but still very good.

Rayman Legends Definitive Edition ($39.99)

Okay, I need to include at least one game on here that Nintendo had nothing to do with. Rayman Legends is the follow-up to Rayman Origins, and while it was made multiplatform in the end the game was clearly designed around the Wii U. That multiplatform release meant it had to work on consoles without the Wii U’s unique aspects, and that is perhaps part of why it made a smooth transition to the Switch. This game is regularly on sale for ridiculously low prices, and if you enjoy a good 2D platformer I can’t imagine not owning it.

Pokken Tournament DX ($59.99)

You want Tekken on Switch? Sorry! Harada doesn’t, and that means you get no Tekken. The closest thing we’ll ever get is Pokken Tournament DX, which isn’t exactly Tekken but isn’t exactly not Tekken, either. It’s a fun fighting game that shows us yet another side of the Pokemon world, one where problems are solved in a far more real-time manner than the core series presents. Also, combos. Pokken was another early transplant, and I think it’s one a lot of people missed out on. If you like 3D fighters, what other options do you have on Switch?

And… 5 Wii U Games We’d Like to See on Switch

Xenoblade Chronicles X

This is the top pick on most people’s lists, and I probably don’t need to explain why. We have all three of the mainline Xenoblade Chronicles games on the Switch, and that is fantastic. A really nice trilogy of RPGs, there. But Xenoblade Chronicles X has its own very cool thing going on, and it would be a shame if it didn’t get carried forward to a newer platform at some point. Maybe it’s too late for that to be the Switch, but it would be really nice to have everything in one place.

Yoshi’s Woolly World

Confession time: I actually enjoy all of the Yoshi platformers. Yes, even Yoshi’s New Island. I just think they’re neat. But even as a fan of the series, I can see which ones are better and which ones are worse. I think Yoshi’s Woolly World is probably one of the better games in the franchise. Sure, it’s no Yoshi’s Island SNES. Nothing ever will be. But it’s good looking, enjoyable to play, and hits a decent difficulty curve. The 3DS port is fine, but imagine how nice this game would look playing on the Switch’s screen?

NES Remix 1 & 2

Nintendo World Championship has enough overlap with this that I am almost ready to give up on any prospects of this quirky take on the NES classics resurfacing on the Switch. But I will not completely give up until it’s all over! The off-beat challenges in this game are a lot of the appeal, and the pure speed-running aspect of NWC probably won’t be able to replicate that. It’s really something to have games you’re intimately familiar with turned on their heads. Fingers crossed this isn’t dead. We didn’t even get SNES Remix!

Pushmo World

One thing I miss in the modern era of Nintendo is the small games it was pushing out in the 3DS/Wii U era. There are a lot of good ones from that bunch, but Pushmo was my favorite. A charming puzzle game with a clever gimmick and some serious teeth in its more complicated stages, Pushmo came in strong but seemed to have completely faded by the time this Wii U installment arrived. Maybe the Switch’s bigger userbase could juice it? I just want more Pushmo, friends.

Those Legend of Zelda HD Remakes

Insiders have been calling them for ages. Fans have been asking for them since the start. But will we ever see those fine remakes of Windwaker and Twilight Princess on Switch? The answer is increasingly looking to be in the negative, but there is no harm in keeping our hopes up.

And that’s the list, friends. Are there any Wii U games you enjoy on the Switch? Any you would like to see? Feel free to sound off down in the comments and let us know what you’re thinking! It’s always interesting to hear the opinions of others on this kind of thing. As always, thanks for reading!

Like I said before, if you’re wondering about Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons names and brands, I recommend watching this video to see what led to the brand splitting like that with Marvelous handling Story of Seasons while Natsume Inc handles Harvest Moon. Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home is set to release on iOS and Android in August 2024. A definite release date and price point are yet to be revealed. The new gameplay screenshots show promise, but I’m going to hold judgment until I get to play it myself on iPhone. What do you think of Harvest Moon: Home Sweet Home from Natsume Inc. from its new screenshots and confirmation of no in app purchases?

Out now:

Battle Chasers: Nightwar (Airship Syndicate and HandyGames) – Languages supported: English, French, Russian, Spanish (Spain) Italian, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Polish, Simplified Chinese

Dawn of the Monsters (13AM Games, WayForward) – Mobile debut through the vault featuring support for English, French, Italian, German, Spanish (Spain), and Japanese.

Evan’s Remains (Maitan69) – Languages supported: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese.

Coming soon:

9 Years of Shadows (indie.io) – Mobile debut through the vault featuring support for English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese.

Crypt of the NecroDancer (Brace Yourself Games, Vortex Buffer) – All DLC making debut on mobile through the vault with support for English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese.

Corpse Party (MAGES) – Languages supported: English, Japanese, and Korean

Lunar Lux (indie.io) – Mobile debut through the vault with support for English, Spanish (Spain), Japanese, and Portuguese.

Magical Drop VI (Forever Entertainment) – Recently announced and making its mobile debut through the vault with support for English, French, German, Spanish (Spain), Japanese, and Polish.

MMC KENKEN (Mages) – Mobile debut through the vault with support for English and Japanese.

The Quintessential Quintuplets ~ Memories of a Quintessential Summer ~ (MAGES) – Mobile debut through the vault with support for English, Japanese, and Traditional Chinese.

PictoQuest (PID Games) – Languages supported: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Spanish (Spain), and Simplified Chinese.

PSYCHO-PASS: MANDATORY HAPPINESS (MAGES) – English mobile debut.

RWBY: Arrowfell (WayForward) – Mobile debut through the vault with support for English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish (Spain), Simplified and Traditional Chinese

Spidersaurs (WayForward) – Languages supported: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian,
Spanish (Spain), Simplified Chinese, Arabic, Dutch, Turkish, and Korean.

STEINS;GATE (MAGES) – Languages supported English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese.

It is interesting to see these Mages games arrive with multiple languages because the ones on the App Store right now are separate builds for each language. I hope this leads to Steins;Gate Elite and other titles like that seeing English mobile releases through Crunchyroll Games in the future as well. I also wonder if the older titles will be delisted so that the only mobile versions will be through Crunchyroll Games. If you have an active Crunchyroll Mega or Ultimate membership right now, you will be able to grab the three new games when they release at no additional cost. The others will be releasing soon, and I’ll be sure to post about them when we get a definite release date for each game. What do you think of today’s announcements and release Crunchyroll Game Vault releases so far?

Stitch. has added in even more new Hoops with this week’s update alongside Zookeeper World continuing to add in new puzzle stages with the next set coming July 7th. The final notable update is SongPop Party 3.0 adding in the June content drop with country-themed challenges for exclusive rewards. With the updates done, head over to our forum threads for Crayola Adventures here, Hello Kitty Island Adventure here, Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop here, Stitch. here, SongPop Party here, and Zookeeper World here. Make sure to head over to our dedicated Apple Arcade forum for discussions on the new and older releases on the service. What do you think of the state of Apple Arcade right now?

ArcEmu ($1.99)

iTunes Description

ArcEmu is the first emulator for Apple Watch.
It also works seamlessly on iPhone and iPad, providing a comprehensive gaming experience across all your Apple devices.

Forum Thread: ArcEmu (by Raffaele D’Amato)

Art Inc. 2 (Free)

iTunes Description

Step into the fascinating world of art and history with Art Inc 2! As the Buffalo Museum’s Director, it’s your mission to shape the growth and development of your establishment. This idle game allows you to dive deep into the experience of running a museum and collecting artifacts from all over the world while you enjoy a full-length story filled with plot twists and surprises.

Forum Thread: Art Inc. 2 (by PIXIO)

CookieRun: Tower of Adventures (Free)

iTunes Description

The seal on the oven has broken. Join GingerBrave and his friends on their epic journey to save the Pancake Tower from evil!

Enjoy exploring every corner of the Pancake Tower with friends in a 3D Cookie action adventure! Work together to defeat challenging bosses!

Clear stages to earn sweet equipment and join the Cookies on their adventure as they learn the secrets of what threatens the peace inside the magical tower!

Forum Thread: CookieRun: Tower of Adventures (by Devsisters)

Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit (Free)

iTunes Description

Attention, Spirit Scouts! Something spooky is afoot: A bus crash has left you stranded alone on a mysterious (yet delightfully cute) island. Explore the unique island, meet and befriend cute, ghostly spirit bears who need your help to remember their pasts and find peace. Customize a bustling, beautiful campsite — crafting, decorating, and building furniture to bring life and color back to this cute island — and hopefully reunite with your lost scout troop as you gradually repair your bus.

Forum Thread: Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit (by Spry Fox)

Guncho (Free)

iTunes Description

Guncho is a single player turn based tactical wild west shooter-roguelike. Engage in a unique positional shooting mechanic and fight your way through a series of randomly generated levels. Ride your donkey and use a variety of skills and bullet upgrades to become the ultimate gun slinger.

Forum Thread: Guncho (by Arnold Rauers)

Knight Lancer (Free)

iTunes Description

Welcome to KNIGHT LANCER, an arcade jousting game where your skill is rewarded with epic ragdoll physics!

Your lands have been taken, your family name bismirched. But you have your lance and a horse – what more does a knight need?
Set off on a journey to regain your honour! Toss caution (and your ragdoll enemies) to the wind and become: a Knight!

Forum Thread: Knight Lancer (by ToweringTower)

Letterbox – Daily Word Games (Free)

iTunes Description

Get ready to keep your mind sharp with a collection of unique daily word games! Enjoy new puzzles to solve every day!
Climb the leaderboards, track your progress, and enjoy an ad-free gaming experience.

Forum Thread: Letterbox – Daily Word Games (by AZIO Labs)

Monster Hunter Puzzles (Free)

iTunes Description

The Felyne Isles may seem like a peaceful corner of the Monster Hunter universe, but all is not well… Monsters are rampaging, making life miserable for the residents.

– Solve puzzles and help Felynes get back on their paws!
All of the “Catizens" have their own stories. Listen to what they need and solve their problems to bring the island back to life! There’s drama waiting to unfold on every corner of these isles. Come join these cute Felynes on their soon-to-be island paradise!

Forum Thread: Monster Hunter Puzzles (by Capcom)

New Nobunaga’s Ambition (Free)

iTunes Description

Authorized by KOEI TECMO GAMES, this new SLG game is themed on the Sengoku Period of Japan.

Travel through time into Sengoku. Partner with famous Sengoku Warlords of different classes like Samurai and Ninja, and realize your ambition on the battlefield!

Forum Thread: New Nobunaga’s Ambition (by Hong Kong Black Beard Game Limited)

purple (game) (Free)

iTunes Description

A purple puzzle game for you!

Can you make the screen purple in 50 levels?
Each level has its own logic.

It’s here, the next part of my colour puzzle series! After ‘yellow’, ‘red’, ‘black, ‘blue’, ‘green’, ‘pink’ and ‘orange’ it’s time to solve 50 new conundrums!

Forum Thread: purple (game) (by Bart BONTE)

Retroman – NES Emulator (Free)

iTunes Description

Experience the golden age of gaming by playing your favorite NES classics right on your iPhone or iPad!

Retroman features an advanced emulation engine that delivers ultimate performance, ensuring smooth gameplay with minimal lag, while optimized rendering and audio deliver an authentic NES experience.

Forum Thread: Retroman – NES Emulator (by Konstantinos Papadakis)

Space Gladiators ($4.99)

iTunes Description

Space Gladiators is a 2D hand-drawn roguelite platformer following a bunch of captives fighting their way out of a planet prison. Defeat hordes of aliens in the gladiatorial arenas and earn your freedom!

You’ve been captured and sent to entertain aliens as a gladiator in a faraway planet called Tartarus. You will have to advance through randomly generated biomes with deadly traps and monsters blocking your path. Choose your opponents in the arenas, beat them for items and coins and you might be able to earn your freedom!

Forum Thread: Space Gladiators (by Erabit Studios)

Space Spree (Free)

iTunes Description

In Space Spree, the stakes are high, and the action is intense. Aliens from distant galaxies rush toward you, leaving you with two choices: eliminate them or avoid them at all costs. One wrong move, and they’ll end your mission instantly. The aliens’ health points are displayed, providing crucial information and helping you decide which targets you can eliminate in the limited time you have. Make every shot count!

Forum Thread: Space Spree (by TNTC Studio)

Tarisland (Free)

iTunes Description

The Blight Dragon is here! Tarisland, a new cross-platform game that brings back the fun of iconic MMORPGs, will launch soon. Recreating the challenging dungeons and immersive exploration experience with a classic fantasy art style, Tarisland will be available on both PC and mobile with data-sharing enabled. You may choose from 9 classes and 18 specializations to customize your own builds. Raid with your group and take down epic bosses!

Forum Thread: Tarisland (by Level Infinite)

Welcome to Everdell ($7.99)

iTunes Description

Build your perfect make-believe city in the digital adaptation of the beloved family-friendly board game!

Hear ye, hear ye!
The parade is about to begin! I will give lots of shiny points to the critter with the best things that I like the most!

Join Chip, Sweep, and the kids of Everdell to build the most spectacular make-believe city ever!

Forum Thread: Welcome to Everdell (by Dire Wolf Digital)

Reviews & Mini-Views

Dicefolk ($14.99)

Is adding dice and a bit of creature collecting enough to spice up the Slay The Spire/Darkest Dungeon turn-based roguelite formula? You know, I think it is. To an extent, anyway. Dicefolk has the same basic set-up as other games of this sort. You’ve got your little map for each stage and choose where you’re going to go next, with each spot offering a battle, a shop, or event of some kind. Eventually you’ll have to fight a boss battle, after which you move to the next map. In this game your party is a group of monsters, and you’ll have opportunities to swap in new ones here and there.

When it’s time to fight, things get a little interesting. Each turn, the dice are rolled for both your team and the opposing team. You don’t progress to the next turn until all of those dice have been used up, and the kicker is that you get to choose the order those actions play out in. Both yours, and the enemies’. That… is actually a pretty neat twist. As you play through you’ll be able to customize your dice faces with new actions, and the gear and badges you find will also make a difference in battles. It’s quite enjoyable, even if it does wear thin a little sooner than some games of this type.

While the title of Dicefolk might have you thinking the dice are the most intriguing gimmick of this game, it’s actually the battle system’s set-up of having you control both your party and the enemy party that truly stands out. In other respects, this is a fairly ordinary but well-made example of its genre. If you enjoy turn-based roguelites, you might want to give Dicefolk a bit of your time.

SwitchArcade Score: 4/5

Select New Releases

Go Go Jump!!! ($9.99)

Is this really all we have today? I guess so! This is a platformer with ninety different challenges to complete. It’s not your standard platformer, despite the fact that you’ll just be moving left or right and jumping. Indeed, it’s almost like a series of platforming mini-games. It’s also pretty goofy, which adds a bit of charm to the proceedings. Well, it’s the only new game for today. Do with it what you will.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

It’s one of those days without too much going on sales-wise, but football/soccer fans will find the two big titles for that sport are on sale right now. In the outbox, there’s still time to get some affordable legendary shoot-em-ups at reasonable prices. Check both of those lists and make your choices!

Select New Sales

Backbeat ($17.49 from $24.99 until 7/9)
Hexagroove: Tactical DJ ($13.99 from $19.99 until 7/9)
Ekstase ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/9)
Football Manager 2024 Touch ($24.99 from $49.99 until 7/12)
Hazelnut Hex ($2.39 from $7.99 until 7/13)
Descenders ($6.24 from $24.99 until 7/14)
Hypnospace Outlaw ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/16)
Nowhere Prophet ($2.24 from $24.99 until 7/16)
Yes, Your Grace ($2.99 from $19.99 until 7/16)
Fashion Police Squad ($10.99 from $19.99 until 7/16)
Let’s Build a Zoo ($8.99 from $19.99 until 7/16)
Formula Retro Racing ($1.99 from $14.99 until 7/16)
Pinball Freedom ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/16)
Family Man ($1.99 from $19.99 until 7/16)
EA Sports FC 24 ($14.99 from $59.99 until 7/16)
GeoJelly ($5.00 from $10.99 until 7/16)
Vera Blanc Supernatural Mysteries ($6.39 from $7.99 until 7/16)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, June 27th

20XX ($5.39 from $17.99 until 6/27)
30XX ($13.99 from $19.99 until 6/27)
Alphadia I & II ($14.99 from $19.99 until 6/27)
Amibition Record ($8.24 from $14.99 until 6/27)
Attack of the Karens ($2.99 from $4.99 until 6/27)
Berserk Boy ($15.00 from $20.00 until 6/27)
Dead Cells ($12.49 from $24.99 until 6/27)
DoDonPachi Resurrection ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/27)
Donut Dodo ($2.99 from $4.99 until 6/27)
Espgaluda II ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/27)
Galacticon ($2.99 from $4.99 until 6/27)
Gale of Windoria ($8.24 from $14.99 until 6/27)
Illusion of L’Phalcia ($6.49 from $12.99 until 6/27)
Jinshin ($11.24 from $14.99 until 6/27)
Mushihimesama ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/27)
Rabi-Ribi ($13.99 from $19.99 until 6/27)
Revenant Dogma ($6.49 from $12.99 until 6/27)
Revenant Saga ($6.49 from $12.99 until 6/27)
The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa ($8.99 from $14.99 until 6/27)

That’s all for today, friends. Tomorrow is Thursday, and that should in theory mean a nice assortment of new games for us to look at. Well, we’ll have Luigi even if no one else shows up. Whatever news and sales roll in will also be there. Hopefully we’ll be coming out of this dry spell soon. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!

As you can see from that trailer, there’s a heavy Portal vibe going on as you work your way through and eventually outside the approved confines of this mysterious dream therapy facility, and all the while a computer-voiced narrator is admonishing your actions. I’m digging it. Superliminal will be free to try with a one-time full game unlock IAP that will set you back $7.99, but for the first two weeks of launch you can get that full unlock at a discounted price of just $5.99. You can pre-order the iOS version on the App Store here, or pre-register for the Android version on the Google Play Store here. I’ll be looking forward to getting lost in Superliminal when it arrives on mobile July 30th.

If you’ve not gotten it yet, you can download Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition on Apple Arcade here. It is available as a paid game with the expansion pass sold separately or in a bundle on all other platforms including Switch and Steam. It also plays great on Steam Deck. If you’ve not played Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition or Disney Dreamlight Valley yet and are curious about the expansion pass, check out the official website here. Head over to our forum thread for Disney Dreamlight Valley Arcade Edition here. We also have a dedicated Apple Arcade forum for discussion on the service and every game included here. What do you think of Disney Dreamlight Valley if you’ve been playing it recently on any platform?

First of all, with Marvel’s next movie Deadpool & Wolverine on the immediate horizon, we can expect Marvel Snap (and probably most other Marvel apps) to give some extra love to the titular pair in July. There is a new Character Album feature being introduced that allows you to collect various cards for one particular character, getting some nice rewards as you fill it out. More or less the same deal as the other themed albums we currently have, but focused on one hero. And hey, look at this: the first Character Albums are for Deadpool and Wolverine!

I’m not sure who’s banging the pot lid for Collectible Borders, but you can now find them in many more places. You’ll now see them in the Season Pass, as Conquest Shop items, and even as Login Bonuses. Indeed, they have been appearing as that last thing in the current set of Login goodies. Personally, I don’t really use them and I can’t imagine a case where I would exchange valuable in-game currencies for them, but maybe you love them? If so, here you go.

As to the cards themselves, the only changes are edits to the text to make things more consistent and understandable. No actual balance adjustments at all, which is weird. Real weird. I fear for that next OTA update now. There are some new visual and audio FX here, plus some bug fixes. All par for the course there. And that’s it! Perhaps we’ll get more when the next update hits with the new season, whatever that may be. Snikt.

This is not related to the update, but hey, tips for using Phastos.

What do you think about this update? Did you want to see more balance changes, or are you relieved they didn’t come for your latest deck? Feel free to sound off in the comments below, as usual!

DUSK HD

Do I need another excuse to recommend DUSK? Well, DUSK was already incredible, but New Blood doing DUSK HD as a free DLC pack that is basically a full remaster of the original game, is incredible and they definitely hate money. Either way, if you have DUSK, claim DUSK HD and change compatibility on Steam Deck to Proton Experimental or something else because the native linux version doesn’t include DUSK HD. You need DUSK HD’s windows version on Steam Deck for it. Once you do that, you can experience one of the best shooters ever with even better visuals. Get on it. Also listen to DUSK’s soundtrack from Andrew Hulshult again.

Selaco

Selaco had a very promising demo last year, and I expected the early access release to be good. I didn’t think it would be this good though. Selaco runs on GZDoom but barely feels like a game built on that engine with its immersive experience full of superb gameplay and great visuals. Even in its early access state right now, Selaco is worth more than full price, and it has bespoke Steam Deck optimizations from the get go.

STAR WARS: Dark Forces Remaster

For many people, Nightdive’s remaster of STAR WARS: Dark Forces Remaster will be a remaster of a game they played before. For me, the Steam Deck version of STAR WARS: Dark Forces Remaster was basically my first experience with it ever, and that’s why I’ve included it in my main list here. I love being surprised by games I have never played before, and STAR WARS: Dark Forces Remaster was superb on Steam Deck from start to finish. Even though this is a remaster of an older game, I appreciate the gameplay and interactivity in addition to just everything Star Wars included here. It might be my favorite recent Star Wars release in any media.

POSTAL: Brain Damaged

I hadn’t played POSTAL: Brain Damaged when I wrote the first boomer shooter article, but I’m glad I finally got around to it. It is insane and reminds me of a more over the top Slayers X. I have no experience with the original Postal games, but I loved playing POSTAL: Brain Damaged with its excellent gameplay, movement, and visuals. I liked it enough on Steam Deck to buy it on PS5, and was surprised to see it has 120hz and DualSense features. This one is an easy recommendation, and it even has multiple bundles with other games to get an additional discount.

Ion Fury: Aftershock

The original Ion Fury was very good and it had a lot of potential even from day one. With Ion Fury: Aftershock, the developers basically did everything I wanted from a sequel, but delivered it as a shorter expansion pack. It has one annoying portion that brought the experience down a bit, but if you liked Ion Fury, Ion Fury: Aftershock is an essential. I hope it comes to Switch soon so I can replay it.

AMID EVIL – The Black Labyrinth

I briefly touched on AMID EVIL – The Black Labyrinth when I wrote about AMID EVIL last year, but it deserves its own recommendation here. AMID EVIL – The Black Labyrinth is a prequel to AMID EVIL sold as DLC for the latter. It features new weapons, levels, and much more delivering a stupidly good value proposition for AMID EVIL fans and newcomers who want to get the game and expansion together. This expansion also raised the bar for visuals in AMID EVIL quite a bit, or maybe it is my Steam Deck OLED making things look nicer across the board. Either way, AMID EVIL – The Black Labyrinth is essential and it has new music from Andrew Hulshult so go buy it.

MULLET MADJACK

Mullet Madjack is plain fantastic. It looks gorgeous, feels amazing, and is a sublime boomer shooter with an aesthetic we don’t usually see in the genre. If you have even the smallest interest in the genre and like the 90s anime aesthetic, this one is worth getting right now. I recommend downloading the demo on Steam Deck and enabling gyro controls to see how you find the controls though as that’s the only aspect that might not work for everyone given the fast-paced nature.

Forgive Me Father 2

When I first played the early access launch version of Forgive Me Father 2, I was impressed at how it basically fixed all my issues in the original and delivered a lovely lovecraftian FPS experience unlike most things you see in the genre. Since launching, it has gotten loads of updates but is still in early access right now. It oozes atmosphere and is a lot of fun to play, but keep in mind this isn’t a full game yet. It still has a few teething issues that I hope are addressed before it leaves early access.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun was a lovely surprise of a boomer shooter that I recommend to even those unfamiliar with Warhammer 40,000. I ended up getting it on Steam, PS5, and Switch to replay. It had lovely visuals, gunplay, and just generally was a lot of fun to replay on Steam Deck and PS5 since launch. I had no idea it even had DLC in the works, so Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion was an even bigger surprise. It includes new environments, enemies, and two brand-new weapons that are awesome to use. If you enjoyed the base game, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion is essential.

Zortch

When I was looking for more boomer shooters, my friend said Zortch was the best $5 anyone could spend on Steam. I thought he was exaggerating as usual, but it really is an incredible boomer shooter with elements of both horror and comedy thrown in. You play as Zortch on holiday taking on aliens who want to eat human brains. I couldn’t believe this was on a custom engine. It really is crazy how good the levels and gameplay are for the low asking price.

Beyond Sunset

I can’t remember why I bought Beyond Sunset when it hit Steam, but I grabbed it day one, and do not regret it one minute. It isn’t some huge step forward for the genre, but does a lot of things right with its own charm and excellent aesthetic. It also has more of a story focus than you’d expect for a boomer shooter, but keep in mind that it is an early access release right now. This one has a free demo so give it a shot before buying it. It also has a few bundles with discounts available.

Wizordum

Back when I played the initial early access version of Wizordum, I thought it was well worth buying for its premise, gameplay, and aesthetic. It recently had its new episode arrive as a free update making Wizordum even better. I consider it a lovely blend of Wolf 3DS and DOOM with a colorful aesthetic that shines on the Steam Deck OLED. Give the demo a shot if you aren’t sold on it from the trailer. This is easily one of Apogee’s best releases in a while.

Bonus games

The games below are either not pure boomer shooters or have some caveats with my recommendation. In the case of the latter, I’d wait on a discount before buying them.

PO’ed: Definitive Edition

I hadn’t heard of PO’ed until Nightdive announced the remaster in the form of PO’ed: Definitive Edition. Having played it, I don’t know if it is something I recommend at full price, but the work put in is really good. I recommend getting it on a discount because it is pretty funny, but definitely not one of my favorites on the list.

Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion Remastered

Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion is the final game in the Turok trilogy, and the remaster from Nightdive is amazing. The issues here are I don’t think it is as good as the first two games, and it is more expensive than those. If you can get it on a discount, I recommend it once you play the first two games. Even as someone who only played Turok thanks to the Nightdive releases, Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion Remastered is excellent and worth your time.

Fallen Aces

Fallen Aces is fantastic, but it is unplayable on Steam Deck right now. I know there are some workarounds posted online, but none have reliably worked for me on both my Steam Decks. I want to feature Fallen Aces here so you keep an eye on it for when it does get fixed on Steam Deck. The demo was superlative already, but the full Episode 1 Early Access release is mindblowing on PC. I can’t believe it is so cheap right now. New Blood really does hate money. Either way, I hope it gets fixed soon so I can play it on my Steam Deck. Until then, I recommend buying it to play on your PC.

With that, you have the second yearly (hopefully) best boomer shooters to play on Steam Deck feature. I can’t wait to see what releases in the next few months and with the early access games getting more content and updates leading into 2025. 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.

News

‘Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration’ Expands Later This Year

Regular readers will know that I loved Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration to pieces. It has so much to offer compared to most retro game collections, mostly thanks to the focus on telling the story around the games first and foremost. The game got some games added via a free update a little while back, and at that time Atari said more would be coming. Well, we now know what they meant: Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration Expanded Edition will be launching later this year on October 25th. It adds two more timelines full of information and over a dozen new videos, plus a whopping thirty-nine games.

This includes Berzerk and a selection of M Network games. No word yet on the full list of titles, but the two new topics expand more on Atari’s influence and the first console war between Atari 2600 and the Intellivision. This Expanded Edition will be available in physical form, but owners of the existing Atari 50 will be able to buy the added content as DLCs if they wish. The physical sets are priced at $39.99 for the Standard Edition and $49.99 for the fancy Steelbook version. No price mentioned thus far for the DLCs, but we’ll let you know when we know.

‘Tetris 99’ Has Ninety-Nine Events, and ‘F-Zero 99’ Is One of Them

Okay, it’s more like forty-one events. But I wanted to use that headline, so here we are. The latest Maximus Cup event for Tetris 99 has been announced, and it’s getting a bit meta in here because the theme this time is F-Zero 99. The event kicks off on June 28th and runs through the end of the weekend on July 1st. The rules are the usual. Play the game and get points based on how you place. If you get one hundred event points before the end, you get to keep the special theme permanently. I’ll probably remind you later when the time comes.

Select New Releases

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble ($49.99)

I feel like Super Monkey Ball wasn’t intentionally a great party game; it just kind of happened. Every Monkey Ball game since has tried to some degree or another to recreate the magic, and I don’t know that they’ve found much success in that. Well, here’s a new one that really leans into that end of things, with support for four players locally and sixteen players online. There’s a huge multiplayer focus this time, and I’ll let you know how that pans out when I post my review.

Beyond Good & Evil 20th Anniversary Edition ($19.99)

Wow, this came out faster than I was expecting. Anyway, Ubisoft is reminding everyone that it hasn’t completely forgotten Beyond Good & Evil. Sequel? What? It can’t hear you. But here is the original game, spiffed up and with some new quality of life features to bring it more in line with modern tastes. You know, things like auto-saving. If you haven’t played this game before, it’s kind of similar to a Zelda-style affair, but there’s a bit more to it than that. Just be warned that its story was very much written with a sequel in mind, and we haven’t seen much happening there for a long while. The game itself is worth a romp, no doubt.

Frogun Encore ($12.99)

Renata and Jake return in this follow-up to the low-poly platformer from a couple years back. This standalone adventure supports couch co-op for up to two players, and features a bunch of new stages to play through and plenty of challenge. There’s a particular flavor to Frogun, and I know some folks couldn’t get into it. I don’t know that this game will change their minds, but the people who did like the first will surely appreciate this one.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

A small but steady list today, it seems. Nothing in there I feel particularly strong about, so I’ll let you do your thing. The outbox is similar, with some good games in there that will probably be on sale again soon. Check out both lists carefully and see if anything in there is singing your tune, but do keep in mind that the week is young.

Select New Sales

Orten Was The Case ($11.24 from $14.99 until 7/1)
PlateUp! ($13.39 from $19.99 until 7/2)
Krimson ($7.99 from $9.99 until 7/4)
SUPERBEAT: XONIC ($14.99 from $29.99 until 7/4)
Terror of Hemasaurus ($8.20 from $14.99 until 7/8)
Super Blood Hockey ($3.69 from $14.99 until 7/8)
Cryptrio ($2.99 from $4.99 until 7/9)
Dungeons of Dreadrock ($1.99 from $10.00 until 7/15)
Move or Die: Unleashed ($3.74 from $14.99 until 7/15)
Ankora: Lost Days ($5.99 from $14.99 until 7/15)
Summer in Mara ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/15)
Koa & the Five Pirates of Mara ($11.99 from $19.99 until 7/15)
LIMBO ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/15)
INSIDE ($1.99 from $19.99 until 7/15)
Mortal Kombat 1 Premium Edition ($43.99 from $109.99 until 7/15)
Mortal Kombat 11 ($9.99 from $49.99 until 7/15)
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 ($5.99 from $29.99 until 7/15)
LEGO DC Super-Villains ($8.99 from $59.99 until 7/15)
Moonlighter ($3.74 from $24.99 until 7/15)
Children of Morta ($5.49 from $21.99 until 7/15)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, June 26th

Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX ($2.99 from $19.99 until 6/26)
Aragami 2 ($9.99 from $39.99 until 6/26)
Close to the Sun ($4.99 from $24.99 until 6/26)
Dungeon of the Endless ($3.99 from $19.99 until 6/26)
Forest Golf Planner ($6.00 from $12.00 until 6/26)
Fresh Start ($7.99 from $19.99 until 6/26)
Monster Harvest ($2.99 from $19.99 until 6/26)
Morbid: The Seven Acolytes ($2.49 from $24.99 until 6/26)
Ponpu ($2.24 from $14.99 until 6/26)
Slaycation Paradise ($2.99 from $19.99 until 6/26)
Sparklite ($3.74 from $24.99 until 6/26)
Spells & Secrets ($14.99 from $29.99 until 6/26)
Spirit of the North ($3.74 from $24.99 until 6/26)
Stranded Sails EotCI ($3.74 from $24.99 until 6/26)
The Last Worker ($7.99 from $19.99 until 6/26)
The Sushi Spinnery ($4.62 from $14.00 until 6/26)
Tiny Troopers Joint Ops XL ($2.07 from $12.99 until 6/26)
Vaporum ($3.74 from $24.99 until 6/26)
Whisker Waters ($14.99 from $24.99 until 6/26)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with more new releases, sales, and perhaps some news. I’ll also try to have at least one review for you, and I think our pal Mikhail has some things cooking as well. It was a family member’s birthday today, and it was nice to have something to celebrate for once. It’s been a rough year and I suspect it isn’t going to get better soon. Eat that cake when you can, chums. I hope you all have a terrific Tuesday, and as always, thanks for reading!

I played a bit of it a few days ago, and it feels very good, but I wish the performance on iPhone 15 Pro was a bit better. If you have an active Netflix subscription, you can grab it now. The original Cozy Grove isn’t available on Apple Arcade anymore, but is currently on PC and console with no mobile version. Cozy Grove itself was great despite the few technical issues I ran into, but Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit looks like a nice follow-up. If you’d like to play Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit today, you can grab it on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. Check out the official game website here. Have you played Cozy Grove on Apple Arcade and will you be checking out Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit on Netflix for iOS and Android when it launches?

If you’d like to try Thirsty Suitors on other platforms before it hits mobile, it is available on Steam, Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation right now. I recommend it on Steam Deck over Switch if you have that option. I’m curious to see how it plays with touch on mobile, and whether the mobile version delivers the full experience without any technical cutbacks that we saw on Switch. Check out the official Thirsty Suitors website here. The soundtrack is also great, so consider getting the bundle with the game and soundtrack on Steam if you want to play it on PC here. Have you played Thirsty Suitors before or will you be trying it for the first time on mobile via Netflix?

Alongside Skullgirls Mobile, I’m glad to see the main game also keep getting updates on consoles and PC. I’ve been practicing playing on my Steam Deck with my new leverless controller recently, and I can’t wait to play with friends soon. If you’ve not gotten Skullgirls Mobile yet, you can grab it on iOS and Android right now for free. Skullgirls 2nd Encore is available on PC and all consoles including Xbox, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. I included Skullgirls 2nd Encore in my feature on the best fighting games to play on both Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch in 2024. What do you think of the Skullgirls Mobile 6.3 update?

We really loved the concept of Terra Nil when we reviewed the Netflix and PC versions upon release last year, as well as the Switch version in December, and most of our negative remarks were in regards to the somewhat poor technical performance and numerous glitches we encountered. Without all that the underlying game seemed really solid and enjoyable. Well there have been several updates to the game since that aimed squarely at addressing those issues, and with today’s big content update and overhaul to the wildlife system I’m hopeful that Terra Nil is finally where we wished it would have been when it first came out. The concept and relaxing nature of the game are too good to be spoiled by things like bugs and performance issues, so if you had this one previously and were turned off by such things maybe give this new version a spin, and if this is your first time encountering Terra Nil then let this big update be your reason to check it out.

Reviews & Mini-Views

EGGCONSOLE Tritorn PC-8801 ($6.49)

Hey, we’ve finally got another EGGCONSOLE release that doesn’t require any Japanese language knowledge to play! It’s a shame the game itself is so very much of its era that most people are going to bounce off it, but we take our blessings where we can. Speakers of any language can… enjoy Tritorn equally. But do you want to? If you have an opinion on Hydlide, that will be surprisingly helpful towards answering that question. Tritorn is in a lot of ways Hydlide from the side. Sidelide. A ton of grinding against enemies that can kill you incredibly easily, a lot of opaque “puzzles" to solve, and virtually no story to speak of outside of the set-up and ending. Really not for everyone, or most.

Anyway, you’re the brave warrior Tritorn, and you’re tasked with the job of saving the island of Luwandia from the evil… Pay-Valusa. Sure, why not? You start your journey with little more than the sword in your hand and a small amount of magic balls you can throw to temporarily freeze enemies. Save them for emergencies; you won’t have a way to replenish them for quite a while. Tritorn is woefully inadequate for his task at the outset, as even a mild disagreement with a slime will put him six feet under. Abuse that EGGCONSOLE rewind feature. Abuse the save states. Take full advantage of every tool you’ve got, because the game never stops being able to kill you in two seconds if you let an enemy nudge up against you the wrong way.

Your first job is to grind a hundred slimes to reach the next level. You should also earn an item in the process, teaching you one way to get the things you need in this game: killing a bunch of one type of enemy. It is not the only way to get items, of course. You can also find some in chests, and a few others through some absolute nonsense. It’s not quite Druaga-level in this regard, but at least one required item is hidden behind an action you would never think to do. As you find items, you can explore more of the world, and I think I wouldn’t argue with much vigor against anyone who wants to call this a prototype Metroidvania. It’s just that every time you enter a new area, you have to stop and grind for a half hour. You can’t even abuse the fast-forward feature to make it more painless, because as I have said it is very easy for enemies to get the drop on you and murder you in two seconds.

Ultimately, I wasn’t able to finish Tritorn. I got to the last boss but I couldn’t find one of the necessary items to defeat him. With the relative obscurity of this particular version of the game (and the versions are somewhat different from each other), I couldn’t find my answer among Japanese players. So… everyone, please buy this and try to find that crown for me so I can finish it and delete it from my brain.

I don’t know why I get sucked into games like Tritorn, these Hydlide-likes, but I do. The controls are clunky, the gameplay is unpleasant, the tedium is real, and there is all kinds of pure foolishness standing between the player and the ending. And yet, here I am. Are you like me? This is where you need to be honest with yourself. If you have this same weakness to old, grindy games, you’ll get your money’s worth out of Tritorn. But I imagine most people will just find it annoying and quit playing after five minutes, despite there being no language barrier this time around.

Edit: I found the bloody crown! Demon exorcised, in more ways than one!

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Select New Releases

Lost Pixel ($4.99)

Such is the state of these summer Mondays that I will include this game just so that we have something in the new release section. I mean, at least it isn’t using crappy AI-generated art for its shop thumbnail? Anyway, you control a pixel and go through some pretty standard traps and hazards. The camera angle is skewed, and that’s about the fanciest trick it has up its sleeve.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Some nice sales to start the week off with from folks like Team 17 and QUByte, plus some extra bits and bobs like Elderand, Dorfromantik, and Moon Dancer to spice things up. Not much in the outbox, but if you are craving the cloud version of Guardians of the Galaxy, it’s um… it’s sure there. Check those lists!

Select New Sales

Nekomin ($8.25 from $15.00 until 7/7)
Mustache in Hell ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/11)
Racoo Venture ($9.74 from $14.99 until 7/11)
Bem Feito ($6.49 from $9.99 until 7/11)
Zero Tolerance Collection ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/11)
VASARA Collection ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/11)
VISCO Collection ($13.99 from $19.99 until 7/11)
Doomsday Hunters ($10.79 from $17.99 until 7/12)
GyroGunner ($5.76 from $7.20 until 7/12)
Shakedown Hawaii ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/12)
Retro City Rampage ($4.99 from $14.99 until 7/12)
Viviette ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/12)
Demon Turf ($12.49 from $24.99 until 7/12)
Star Gagnant ($22.80 from $38.00 until 7/12)
Witch Explorer ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/12)
Elderand ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/12)
CosmoPlayerZ ($7.69 from $10.99 until 7/12)

Dorfromantik ($11.99 from $14.99 until 7/12)
Moon Dancer ($13.29 from $18.99 until 7/12)
Metal Mind ($13.49 from $17.99 until 7/13)
Redden: 100denarii ($1.99 from $7.99 until 7/13)
ANIMUS: Revenant ($3.44 from $22.99 until 7/13)
Demong Hunter ($1.99 from $7.99 until 7/13)
Dungeon Limbus ($2.24 from $14.99 until 7/13)
Moving Out 2 ($14.99 from $29.99 until 7/14)
DREDGE ($16.24 from $24.99 until 7/14)
Neon Abyss ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/14)
Blasphemous ($6.24 from $24.99 until 7/14)
Overcooked 2 ($6.24 from $24.99 until 7/14)
The Escapists 2 ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/14)
Life of Slime ($3.49 from $4.99 until 7/14)

Knowledge Keeper ($3.49 from $4.99 until 7/14)
Re:Touring ($6.99 from $9.99 until 7/14)
Cybertrash STATYX ($6.99 from $9.99 until 7/14)
Cat & Ghostly Road ($5.99 from $9.99 until 7/14)
Time Traveler’s Guide to Past Delicacies ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/14)
Edge of Reality ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/14)
Fusion Paradox ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/14)
Hero Survival ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/14)
Earthshine ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/14)
Stranded Deep ($12.49 from $24.99 until 7/14)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, June 25th

Alchemist Adventure ($2.79 from $19.99 until 6/25)
Broken Lines ($3.49 from $24.99 until 6/25)
Chasm: The Rift ($6.99 from $19.99 until 6/25)
Furi ($7.99 from $19.99 until 6/25)
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cloud Version ($14.99 from $59.99 until 6/25)
Haven ($9.99 from $24.99 until 6/25)
Hot Lap League Deluxe ($1.99 from $19.99 until 6/25)
Retro Machina ($2.79 from $19.99 until 6/25)
Slime Rancher Plortable ($9.99 from $24.99 until 6/25)
Squids Odyssey ($2.24 from $14.99 until 6/25)
The Long Dark ($17.49 from $34.99 until 6/25)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with a more robust selection of new releases, plus more reviews and sales. Maybe some news, depending on how the world turns as I sleep. I really hope someone figures out how to find that stupid crown in Tritorn. I just want to beat Pay-Valusa and call it a job done. Oh well. I hope you all have a marvelous Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!

TouchArcade (TA): Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do at Ubisoft.

Krasimira Yakovlieva (KY): My name is Krasimira Yakovlieva and I’m the producer of Assassin’s Creed Mirage for iOS. I joined Ubisoft Sofia almost 8 years ago and, as part of the Project Management team, I’ve had the pleasure to contribute to more than six Ubisoft titles, four of which are from the Assassin’s Creed franchise.

TA: Before discussing Assassin’s Creed Mirage, I wanted to ask what led to this being the first big Ubisoft title to hit iPhone 15 Pro and iPad M1 when we’ve seen a few of the older Assassin’s Creed games come to Switch natively.

KY: We first had the opportunity to create a demo of the game for iPhone 15 Pro, which was a great success and gave us confidence when entering full production. Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the latest installment in the Assassin’s Creed Franchise, was the best fit for a project like this, with its condensed world and story-driven adventure. Bringing the game, initially designed for just consoles and PC, to iPhone and iPad was made possible due to the dedicated efforts and expertise of our talented team of developers and engineers, as well as the excellent performance of the A17 Pro chip combined with the advanced technology of our Anvil engine.

TA: Ubisoft has been a mobile supporter for ages now through standalone premium games, free to play ones, Apple Arcade, and even Netflix. How was it working with Apple for Assassin’s Creed Mirage?

KY: The collaboration with Apple has been a truly beneficial partnership, marked by a shared commitment to innovation and a strategic alignment of goals. Through this collaboration, we exchanged valuable knowledge and expertise leading to successful progress in releasing Assassin’s Creed Mirage for iOS and driving innovation. It was a challenging, yet very rewarding experience for our team to adapt a AAA game for a new mobile device. What helped immensely was that we knew and were very experienced with the Assassin’s Creed’s pipeline which includes our expertise in working with the Anvil engine. We had great collaboration with very talented professionals across Ubisoft and with various teams at Apple, which gave us an opportunity to deliver an authentic Assassin’s Creed experience on iPhone and iPad.

TA: A lot of my friends consider Assassin’s Creed Mirage a “return to form" for the franchise. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve played so far on PS5 and iPhone, but I think I like the Assassin’s Creed Origins and Odyssey formula more. Do you think we could see one of those hit iPhone 15 Pro in the future?

KY: I cannot speak for other games.

TA: Assassin’s Creed Mirage is capped at 30fps on Apple hardware including the M4 iPad. I was wondering if there was a possibility that we would see an uncapped frame rate option in the future?

KY: Right now, we are dedicated to prioritizing the stability and performance of the game on the various compatible Apple devices.

TA: Assassin’s Creed Mirage has very good touch controls compared to the other big AAA ports we’ve seen for iPhone 15 Pro. How much testing went into getting the touch interface right?

KY: A lot! This was a first for us, so the number of iterations we had in nailing the controls both on iPhone and iPad was beyond any reasonable count. We conducted various internal and external playtests in order to make sure that the controls work for a variety of audiences and gaming preferences. After taking the decision to release not only on iPhone but also on iPad, we opted out for the fully customizable controls, so we can ensure that we fit as many playstyles as possible.

TA: Having cross progression through Ubisoft Connect is great. I was glad to bring my PS5 save to my iPhone to check how it feels here. Is this something we should expect in other multiplatform Ubisoft titles on iPhone, iPad, and macOS as well?

KY: I cannot speak for other games.

TA: Ubisoft recently announced Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown for macOS while Assassin’s Creed Mirage is not on macOS but on iPhone and iPad. Are there plans to bring Assassin’s Creed Mirage to macOS and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown to iOS in the future?

KY: Our focus right now is to ensure the stability of Assassin’s Creed Mirage on compatible devices. We are committed to delivering a seamless gaming experience for players on mobile, coupled with visuals that match the quality of consoles.

TA: What Apple technologies were leveraged for bringing the Assassin’s Creed Mirage game engine to iPhone 15 Pro and iPad models?

KY: The Metal API & MetalFX upscaling are core technologies that helped us realize our vision for the game on iOS. To bring Assassin’s Creed Mirage to iPhone and iPad, we took advantage of all available Apple technologies, ensuring an optimized, high-performance experience that leverages the advanced graphics capabilities and seamless integration with the iOS ecosystem.

TA: Are there plans for any post launch updates for the game aside from bug fixes?

KY: We do plan on implementing crash fixes and stability improvements based on feedback from players worldwide.

TA: Did the team working on this port also try out the Resident Evil or Death Stranding iPhone 15 Pro ports?

KY: The dev team of Assassin’s Creed Mirage for iOS are all savvy gamers and try a variety of games available on the market. We appreciate the hard work done by all gaming publishers and their dev teams.

TA: What are you hoping to see from Apple for the next iPhone and iPad models?

KY: With Apple being an innovative company, we are excited to see how they will push boundaries in the future.

TA: Are there plans to bring DualSense haptic feedback or adaptive trigger support to Assassin’s Creed Mirage on iPhone 15 Pro / iPad when using a DualSense controller?

KY: No, we’re not planning on introducing new features. We will remain focused on enhancing stability and improving quality of life features.

TA: Is there anything you’d like to say to our readers for Assassin’s Creed Mirage?

KY: We hope iOS users enjoy Assassin’s Creed Mirage as much as we enjoyed bringing it to them. Our team has worked tirelessly to ensure that the game delivers a memorable experience on iPhone and iPad, leveraging the latest Apple technologies to bring the game’s graphics and gameplay on par with the console version of the game. We encourage everyone to share their thoughts and experiences with us. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you in the game!

TA: How do you like your coffee?

KY: Strong.

I’d like to thank Krasimira Yakovlieva and Ellie Vengala from Ubisoft and Jennifer Tam and Peter Nguyen from Apple for their time and help here.

You can keep up with all our interviews here including our recent ones with M2 discussing shmups and more here, Digital Extremes for Warframe mobile, Team NINJA, Sonic Dream Team, Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and more. As usual, thanks for reading.

Subway Surfers, Free The Subway Surfers are going Hollywood in the latest update to the game. Three new Surfers with three new Boards, plus a spiffy new outfit for Vivienne. You can play the Summer Run and get an exclusive frame for your profile, if that’s something you care about. Some people do! It surprises me, but many things do these days. Like when there’s a guy hiding in the bush with a bottle of seltzer that he sprays at me. I never see him coming.

Tiny Tower: Tap Idle Evolution, Free The days of ice cream making are over, and now it’s back to the same-old, same-old in Tiny Tower. But as a little parting gift, we have a new set of legendary Bitizens to collect. They all seem to be warriors of some description, so that’s fun. Boosters have also been reworked so that you can use them when you like, though some of them are now a lot shorter in duration. Finally, you can now upgrade your Legendary Lounge. You know, in case you needed another resource sink with no real benefit.

Honkai: Star Rail, Free I’m trying to be a mature adult and not giggle at the name of this new update. They’ve gone and called it Farewell, Penacony. Pfft. Farewell. That’s too much. Anyway, new characters. The card says Firefly and Jade, which are perfectly good names. A couple of returning characters, some new Light Cones, some new events, a new story, some new game modes, and a bunch of other odds and ends. It seems like a robust update but since I don’t play this game I am ill-equipped to speak in much detail about it.

AFK Journey, Free This AFK Journey is off on its little journey, though I’ll be honest and say that I actually expected it to update more often than it does. Well, no matter. This latest version has a new S-Level Hypogean Hero, Phraesto – Ayssal Illusionist. Basically Mysterio. Probably less of a loser, but there’s only one way to know for sure. There are also some new Season Artifacts, a new Magic Charm Merchant, some adjustments to combat mechanics and the overall play experience, and some bug fixes to finish things off.

Japanese Rural Life Adventure, You know, can you really say you’ve been living a proper Japanese rural life adventure so far without pottery? In hindsight, it’s so obvious. We need pottery. Lucky for us, the latest update to this Apple Arcade slow life game adds just that. Pottery! Turn the wheel and you can make some nice pottery of your own, as we in the rural areas of Japan often do. I just finished making some pottery a few minutes ago. No, you can’t see it. I won’t show it until I have perfected the craft, but at least I can now practice in this game. Dang, that was smooth. Well done, Shaun.

Asphalt 8: Airborne, Free It’s interesting that Asphalt 8 still keeps getting updates after all these years, and often different updates between this standard free-to-play version and the Apple Arcade version. Both got updated this last week, both with different content. Anyway, new cars. The Lamborghini Huracán STO and McLaren Senna GTR are here and ready to drive, if you can get your hands on them. You can also watch ads for some kind of benefit now, and there are some new ways to spend your real money. You know, just play the Apple Arcade one. You probably have Apple Arcade. You don’t need to put up with this.

Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom, Did you know? Tamagotchi belongs to Bandai, and Bandai and Namco are the same company, and Pac-Man belongs to Namco. And so, here comes Pac-Man! A new mini-game allows you to play some Pac-Man mazes in a new limited-time event where you can earn some exclusive rewards. Exclusive to everyone who plays this event. That’s at least four people, possibly more. There are all sorts of other things that have been added with this mini-game, but some other small changes and adjustments have been made to other aspects. Bug fixes, too. It’s not all Pac-Man and ghosts. Just… mostly.

Solitaire Stories, Wow, this game just keeps the events coming at a regular clip, doesn’t it? This update brings a new story of summer love in the form of Soulmatez, a tale that follows an operator at a matchmaking agency. Along with that, there are three events running. Jupiter relates to the best planet ever outside of Earth, All of Us is a Pride Month event, and Tiki Luau brings a little bit of Hawaiian charm to the game. Yes, that all sounds quite nice. Whatever keeps the cards coming, right?

Adventure To Fate Lost Island, $4.99 We’re almost done for this week, which means I should give out the coveted UMMSotW award before we run out of time. This is the winner this time, and it’s not hard to see why. A new Witch class has been added to the game, and they bring a lot of neat twists to the game. The most interesting is that if your Witch dies five times, they will be permanently deleted. But each death also makes them more powerful, so… push your luck as far as you dare. It’s the first of the new Mystical Classes, which make the game more like a roguelike. There are also two new races, the Leprechaun (Shaun, Shaun) and the Zombie, plus three new pets. Fruit Bat! A bunch of new skills, some UI adjustments, more achievements and leaderboards, and more round this fantastic update out. Play this game!

Toon Blast, Free We’ll finish things out with our obligatory free-to-play matching puzzle game update for the week, this time going with Toon Blast because… I mean, it’s there. It’s fine. Fifty new levels in an episode called No Rush, and that’s all the update notes are giving us to go on. Well, I’m not going to put in much more effort than the person who wrote the notes, so let’s say that’s it right 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!

Watch the first official English promotional video for the game below:

Uma Musume Pretty Derby features horse girl recreations of famous race horses, and the brand has even managed doing a collaboration with the newest Top Gun movie in Japan. While an Uma Musume Pretty Derby English release date hasn’t been announced, the tutorial parts will be playable at Anime Expo 2024 in English. You can currently get Uma Musume Pretty Derby for free on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here in Japan. I know this might not sound like a big deal to many given how there are loads of popular games in Japan on mobile that don’t see a release internationally, but with Cygames expanding and doing global releases, this is great to see, and I hope the game does well for all involved leading to an Arc System Works developed Uma Musume Pretty Derby fighting game. I’ll be covering any new information we get about the English release for Uma Musume Pretty Derby. Stay tuned for more on that. Check out the official English website here. Have you played Uma Musume Pretty Derby or watched the anime?

This is a game that has a very old-school feel, but it’s actually not a whole lot like the point-and-clicks you might be remembering from the ’90s. There’s no inventory or items to muck about with, as all the puzzles are built around the objects and environments in each room of a gigantic tower. You also will come across a small companion creature before too long, and you’ll be able to swap between your main character and this companion at will in order to solve puzzles. Alluding to the game’s title, light and shadows play a key part in this world and there’s some elements of a room that only exist as shadows which your companion can interact with but you cannot.

The puzzles run right up to the edge of being obtuse sometimes, but never really cross that line. Some of the solutions are actually really clever and even help flesh out the world and its lore. There’s no dialogue written or voiced, and everything story-wise in LUNA The Shadow Dust is explained by absolutely gorgeous animated cutscenes or within the game world itself. Some things are well-explained and some left fairly vague, purposely I think, but overall this is a game world that definitely sucks you in and has you wanting to learn more. This is especially true of your character and that cute little companion of yours.

LUNA The Shadow Dust is a very slow-paced game, and there’s not a whole lot of hand-holding when it comes to puzzles or exactly what you’re supposed to do next. It’s a game that you can poke around with and explore and make your way through bit by bit as you enjoy the environments and the world-building. That said the puzzles are very satisfying to solve, so if you for some reason don’t give a lick about aesthetics or story there’s still plenty for your brain to chew on, but really this is a game that should be appreciated for all its parts as an interactive piece of art. If that sort of thing is jam you should be well-served adding LUNA The Shadow Dust to your collection.

Select New Releases

Times & Galaxy ($19.99)

You’re the first robo reporter for the Times & Galaxy, the solar system’s holopaper of choice. You’ll have to prove yourself by writing the best stories you can. Head out on assignments, interview some wacky characters, explore around for clues and info, and then head back to the office and write up your story. Your work will be reflected in the paper, so if it ends up being a rag that’s all on you. I’ll have a review of this one soon, but I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve played so far.

Mouse & Crane ($14.99)

This is a game aimed for the younger set. You take control of the crane in each stage and use it to pick things up and move them around to solve puzzles. There’s a co-op mode included that allows a parent to play with their child, making their way through the stages together. Might be something nice if you have a little one of the right age.

Pogo Stick Champion ($4.99)

A goofy platforming game where you’re on a pogo stick and need to bounce your way to exit of each of the sixty levels in the game. The deeper into the game you go, the more hazards and traps you’ll encounter. I can think of worse ways to spend a fiver today. Like buying a small bag of flour and eating it raw with your bare hand. Why? Why would you do that?

Racine ($9.99)

A fairly straightforward roguelite battle game where you build your deck and engage in a series of battles and other events. Enemies will automatically attack you at regular intervals, so you don’t have a ton of time to think during combat. The dining isn’t exceptionally fancy by any means, and if you’re interested enough in this kind of thing to be reading this far, you probably already own a lot of games like this. It’s up to you whether or not you need another.

Rusted Moss ($19.99)

With so many Metroidvania-style games to choose from these days, it can be hard to stand out from the pack. This one knows what its best foot to put forward is, as the eShop description immediately states that this Metroidvania has a physics-based grapple. Well, okay. That’s pretty good. You also get a nice assortment of weapons to use. Reviews on other platforms look quite positive, so I’d say if the hook works for you, give this one a deeper look.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Not a bad list of sales by any means, with lots of good games in it. None of the discounts are particularly singing to me, but Pocky & Rocky fans might want to dig in on that extremely rare sale on Snow Battle Princess Sayuki. In the outbox: Dadish! Get your Dadish on discount while you can! They’re all pretty fun, and a solid challenge for platforming fans. Check those lists!

Select New Sales

9 Years of Shadows ($13.99 from $19.99 until 6/28)
Siralim Ultimate ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/28)
Siralim 3 ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/28)
Dark Deity ($6.24 from $24.99 until 6/28)
Monster Outbreak ($11.99 from $14.99 until 6/28)
Dream Tactics ($14.39 from $17.99 until 6/28)
Monster Tribe ($15.99 from $19.99 until 6/28)
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle ($13.99 from $39.99 until 7/4)
Just Shapes & Beats ($12.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
Another Crab’s Treasure ($23.99 from $29.99 until 7/4)
Untitled Goose Game ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/5)
Breakneck City ($2.49 from $9.99 until 7/5)
Venus: Improbable Dream ($3.49 from $9.99 until 7/5)
Crime Opera: The Butterfly Effect ($2.49 from $9.99 until 7/5)

Nephenthesys ($3.59 from $5.99 until 7/5)
Turbo Shell ($5.99 from $11.99 until 7/5)
Stickman’s Arena ($2.99 from $4.99 until 7/5)
The Traveler’s Path ($2.99 from $4.99 until 7/5)
Lily in Puzzle World ($2.99 from $4.99 until 7/5)
Giant Wishes ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/5)
Kizuna Ai: Touch the Beat ($20.99 from $29.99 until 7/5)
In the Mood ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/5)
The Diabolical Trilogy ($3.99 from $19.99 until 7/5)
Beat Souls ($2.49 from $9.99 until 7/5)
Snow Battle Princess Sayuki ($4.50 from $15.00 until 7/10)
Nickelodeon All Star Brawl 2 Deluxe ($20.99 from $69.99 until 7/11)
DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing RE ($14.99 from $49.99 until 7/11)
Jubilee ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/11)
DreamWorks Trolls Remix Rescue ($14.99 from $49.99 until 7/11)

Shinorubi ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/11)
Starward Rogue: Complete Edition ($11.99 from $19.99 until 7/11)
Flippin Kaktus ($3.59 from $11.99 until 7/11)
Skull Island: Rise of Kong ($9.99 from $39.99 until 7/11)
NASCAR Arcade Rush ($17.49 from $49.99 until 7/11)
Operation Wolf Returns 1st Mission ($13.49 from $29.99 until 7/11)
Nuclear Blaze ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/11)
WRC Generations Fully Loaded Edition ($9.99 from $49.99 until 7/11)
TT Isle of Man RotE 3 ($14.99 from $49.99 until 7/11)
Inspector Gadget MAD Time Party ($19.99 from $39.99 until 7/11)
NHRA Championship Drag Racing ($4.99 from $49.99 until 7/11)
3 Minutes Mystery 2 ($4.49 from $8.99 until 7/11)
Little League World Series Baseball ($4.99 from $49.99 until 7/11)
Tennis World Tour 2 ($4.99 from $49.99 until 7/11)

Cobra Kai 2: Dojos Rising ($4.99 from $49.99 until 7/11)
Smack ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/11)
Dolphin Spirit: Ocean Mission ($14.99 from $29.99 until 7/11)
One True Hero ($5.24 from $14.99 until 7/11)
Asterix & Obelix: Slap Them All! ($4.99 from $24.99 until 7/11)
My Universe: My Baby Dragon ($8.99 from $29.99 until 7/11)
Sophstar ($6.49 from $12.99 until 7/11)
The Smurfs: Mission Vileaf ($7.99 from $39.99 until 7/11)
Street Outlaws 2: Winner Takes All ($4.99 from $49.99 until 7/11)
Nickelodeon Kart Racers ($2.99 from $29.99 until 7/11)
Monster Boy & the Cursed Kingdom ($9.99 from $39.99 until 7/11)
IIN ($3.00 from $10.00 until 7/11)
Goroons ($3.00 from $10.00 until 7/11)

Sales Ending This Weekend

Dadish ($7.99 from $9.99 until 6/22)
Dadish 2 ($7.99 from $9.99 until 6/22)
Dadish 3 ($7.99 from $9.99 until 6/22)
Dadish 3D ($11.99 from $14.99 until 6/22)
Daily Dadish ($7.99 from $9.99 until 6/22)
Demon Drop DX ($1.99 from $3.99 until 6/22)
Fur Squadron ($3.14 from $6.99 until 6/22)
Gravityscape DX ($1.99 from $3.99 until 6/22)
Molecano ($6.40 from $8.00 until 6/22)
Promenade ($12.49 from $24.99 until 6/22)
Super Fowlst ($7.99 from $9.99 until 6/22)
Super Fowlst 2 ($8.00 from $10.00 until 6/22)
The Cat ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/22)
Blasphemous 2 ($17.99 from $29.99 until 6/23)
Boardwalk Arcade 2 ($19.99 from $29.99 until 6/23)

Citizen Sleeper ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/23)
DREDGE Deluxe Edition ($17.54 from $26.99 until 6/23)
Headbangers: Rhythm Royale ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/23)
Moving Out ($7.49 from $24.99 until 6/23)
Moving Out 2: Deluxe Edition ($16.49 from 32.99 until 6/23)
Neon Abyss Deluxe Edition ($6.99 from $27.99 until 6/23)
Overcooked! All You Can Eat ($15.99 from $39.99 until 6/23)
The Escapists 2 GotY Edition ($5.39 from $26.99 until 6/23)
The Survivalists ($2.49 from $24.99 until 6/23)
Worms Rumble ($2.99 from $14.99 until 6/23)

That’s all for today and this week, friends. We’ll be back next week with more new games, more sales, more reviews, and some news. This has been a very tiring week for me for some reason, and I think I’m going to take some time this weekend to properly rest. That’s important sometimes, I’m told. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and as always, thanks for reading!

Steam Deck Game Reviews & Impressions

ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree Steam Deck impressions

Having played ELDEN RING on Xbox Series X, PC, Steam Deck, and PS5 the year it was released, I’ve since moved to focusing on the game on Steam Deck mainly. While it doesn’t run as well as it does on Xbox Series X with VRR or playing the PS4 version on PS5, I enjoyed how good it looked and played natively on Steam Deck. When ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree was announced, I was most interested to see how the new areas felt on Valve’s handheld, and whether there were any improvements to the PC port that was quite lacking at launch. I now have a Steam Deck OLED, and playing ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree’s opening hours with HDR on it have been pretty amazing.

The original ELDEN RING on Steam Deck was actually a more consistent experience than playing on a desktop PC with Valve having fixed the shader issue. I still hear friends who have top of the line PCs with 4090s complain about random stuttering even today. On Steam Deck, I wasn’t able to get ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree to run at a locked 40fps at all without dropping the image quality or features too much. I opted to aim for a locked 30fps which I capped using the Steam Deck’s quick access menu. I also enabled HDR for playing on my Steam Deck OLED. Based on the few hours I’ve put into ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree on Steam Deck today including on my Steam Deck LCD, aside from one part that caused performance to drop below 30 with too many effects for a few seconds, it is holding its 30fps target well, and looks excellent on the small screen. I left most settings at the auto-detect preset, but turned shadows and volumetric lighting down a bit.

Aside from what I’ve experienced of the new visuals and content of the expansion, I recommend turning on the new inventory features immediately. They help a lot. If you haven’t beaten the main game yet, the change to the final boss makes an unfun fight much better. I say unfun, but that only really is a problem for melee focused builds. I still think the change is good. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers.

If you’re new to ELDEN RING and haven’t bought it yet, but want to play it on Steam Deck, I recommend getting the ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree Edition which includes the base game and the expansion. Buying it that way will work out cheaper than buying the expansion separately later on looking at how FromSoftware game prices have been under Bandai Namco with DLC. You also can’t access the DLC until quite a bit later as well.

I need more time to do a full review of ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree on Steam Deck, but it is very promising so far when I play it offline, and I can’t wait to see how more of the expansion looks on Valve’s handheld. I haven’t tested it online yet, but I can safely say that ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree is gorgeous on Steam Deck OLED so far, and I look forward to being equal parts shocked at how good it looks and frustrated by the inevitable boss walls I run into.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Steam Deck Port Review

A while ago I reviewed Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on the Nintendo Switch and found a charming spiritual successor to the classic Suikoden series brought down by significant technical issues. Well, I’ve had the chance to play the game on Steam Deck now, and while I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s completely free of issues, it’s night and day. I dare say one can properly enjoy the game here. And that means I can speak to the game a bit more, so I’ll do that.

This game is of course the crowd-funded, long-awaited Suikoden follow-up put together by some of the people behind the original game, including the series creator Yoshitaka Murayama, who unfortunately passed away scant months before this game’s release. One can only imagine the pressure the team must have been under to deliver on the hopes and dreams of a dedicated fanbase on such a limited budget, and in a lot of ways you can feel all of that in the end result. This is as close to a new Suikoden game as we’re likely going to get, and it was clearly put together with a lot of passion and not quite enough resources.

Still, if you’re looking to scratch the itch and can accept that this was never going to live up to a full-sized production from a major video game publisher at the height of its powers, I think you’ll find a lot to love in this game. Collecting all of the characters is just as enjoyable here as it was in the Suikoden games, even if most of them are lacking the charm and utility you might hope for. There’s a really interesting battle system at play here, one that you’ll have to properly engage with. The overall story isn’t particularly great, and it has some trouble escaping the shadow of what came before, but it’s engaging enough to keep you going. The game is sometimes loyal to those twenty-five year old games to its own detriment, but if that’s the flavor you’re after I think you’re likely to forgive that.

If you’re looking for a sequel to the classic Suikoden games that can hang comfortably with the best entries in that franchise, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes might not be up to your expectations. But if you’re just trying to get a little of that old magic back, there’s enough pixie dust in this game to carry you most of the way to Neverland. It’s a game brimming with passion, struggling against its limitations, but ultimately a genuine expression, and it’s always nice for something like that to come into this world. -Shaun Musgrave

News and Trailers

The news highlights of the week are mostly from the Nintendo Direct. I’ve included my favorites below.

Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection might be the biggest surprise of 2024 for me in terms of announcement. I kept hearing so much about these games but never got to play them. With this collection on Steam, Switch, and PS4, I’m going to make sure I play it. The games also have rollback netcode thankfully. Watch the announcement trailer from Capcom below:

Capcom also announced the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection for Steam and consoles. It launches on September 6th worldwide with pre-orders now live. While the first game is available on mobile and DS, the second game was never released in English. That changes with this collection. As a huge fan of the series, I’m excited to revisit Ace Attorney Investigations and play the second game for the first time.

Farmagia from Xseed Games and Marvelous USA launches on November 1st alongside an anime. The monster farming game with character designs from Fairy Tail’s Hiro Mashima will also see a physical release on consoles. I’m looking forward to this one. Watch the trailer for it below:

Speaking of Hiro Mashima, Fairy Tail 2 from Gust and Koei Tecmo is also due this year in Winter on Steam, PS5, PS4, and Switch worldwide. It is the follow-up game to 2020’s Fairy Tail for PS4, Switch, and Steam. Watch the announcement trailer below:

Spike Chunsoft is localizing Natsu-Mon 20th Century Summer Vacation for PC this August on Steam. The adventure game from Toybox and Millennium Kitchen is also getting DLC when it arrives on PC in Japanese later this month. I never played the Japanese Switch version, but will be checking this one out on Steam. Watch the Japanese trailer below:

NIS America announced Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero for Steam, PS5, PS4, and Switch set for 2025 release. This is the first new Phantom Brave game in a very long time, and it features more than 50 characters with 300 skills. It is a turn-based strategy game without a grid, and I can’t wait to see how a modern game in this series feels like.

As a surprise to everyone, Bandai Namco launched Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster on Steam this week. It debuted on Switch last year, and I thought it wouldn’t be ported given Nintendo and Monolith Soft’s involvement. It has a month 1 edition including a digital artbook. Read my Switch review here. I’ll be covering the Steam version on Steam Deck as well.

PowerWash Simulator’s Alice’s Adventures Special Pack DLC launches on July 2nd adding Alice in Wonderland to PowerWash Simulator for Steam and consoles. It includes five locations, a new outfit, and much more. Watch the release date trailer for it below:

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical is set to release its Orpheus DLC for $9.99 on June 27th for Steam and consoles. I enjoyed the base game and will be checking this one out to see where it takes the story.

Level-5 is releasing the first major content update for Megaton Musashi W: Wired soon with a 50% off sale on Switch and Steam. This content update arrives in 3.1.0 bringing in UFO Robot Grendizer and much more. Watch the update trailer below:

The amazing Fate/Samurai Remnant has gotten its third major DLC pack this week in Record’s Fragment: Bailong and the Crimson Demon. Check out the launch trailer for the DLC below:

Beyond Good & Evil – 20th Anniversary Edition launches on June 25th for Steam and consoles offering 4K 60fps with improved graphics, control improvements, and more. Watch the trailer below:

I saved the best for last with Square Enix’s announcements from the Nintendo Direct including Fantasian Neo Dimension bringing an enhanced version of the amazing Apple Arcade game to Steam and consoles leading the news. It is due later this year, and it includes a new difficulty option as well.

Square Enix is remaking Romancing SaGa 2 as Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, and it looks incredible. Set to launch on October 24th, this 3D remake is coming to Steam, PS5, and Switch. It feels weird that this remake is such a bigger production than the newest mainline game but here we are. Watch the trailer below:

The final announcement is Dragon Quest III HD 2D Remake coming November 14th for Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Switch worldwide. It looks stunning, and remakes of Dragon Quest I and II will be following in 2025.

New Steam Deck Verified & Playable games for the week

Only a few notable games this week compared to the last few weeks, but some heavy hitters like No Rest for the Wicked (I’m still playing this), Kingdom Hearts, and more are in the newest batch of games tested by Valve.

• Anomaly Collapse – Playable
• FOUNDRY – Playable
• KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX – Verified (via TouchArcade reader Mor)
• KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue – Verified (via TouchArcade reader Mor)
• Mullet Mad Jack – Verified
• No Rest for the Wicked – Verified
• Winning Post 10 2024 – Verified

Steam Deck Game Sales, Discounts, and Specials

Next week, the big Steam sale begins. Ahead of that, you can grab Dragon Age games in the new Dragon Age franchise sale here or grab Everspace 2 and more in the Games Made in Germany 2024 sale here.

That’s all for this edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. 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.

Select New Releases

Operation STEEL ($9.99)

Despite the clear Gradius II homage going on in that screenshot, this is yet another one of those roguelite-ish affairs where the stages are procedurally generated and you have to upgrade your ship, which means a whole lot of grinding. I’m a bit burnt out on these, but I know some of you can’t get enough of them. Perhaps this is what you’re looking for today.

Dicefolk ($14.99)

This is a really interesting and well-made deck (dice)-building roguelite, with the usual strategy you would expect from the genre plus a few interesting twists like being able to control both sides in a battle. There’s a major creature-collecting component the game, which puts a further spin on things. I’ll be reviewing this one soon, but I’ve really enjoyed playing it.

Ylands: Nintendo Switch Edition ($24.99)

One of those Everything Bagel kinds of games, with crafting, exploration, survival, combat, and so on loaded in. You can play the game in Adventure Mode and have fun making your way through six distinct regions, or fire up Creative Mode to roll around in the sandbox a little. While the reviews of this game are quite mixed on Steam, that seems to be largely directed at a pricing issue that I’m fairly sure isn’t relevant here. I have some concerns about the potential technical performance here on Switch, but as I haven’t had a chance to play this version yet I can’t really speak to it.

DarkStar One – Nintendo Switch Edition ($29.99)

Here’s a blast from the past. DarkStar One is a space sim that first released on computers in 2006, which makes it… pretty vintage at this point. It has a bit of the ol’ Elite/Freelancer feel to it, with you rolling around space in your ship and engaging in trading, combat, and so on. It was decent then, it’s decent now, but you can certainly feel some of the weight of its age. Still, we don’t have a ton of games like this on the Switch so you might be interested in it anyway.

EGGCONSOLE Tritorn PC-8801 ($6.49)

This time around in the EGGCONSOLE line it’s Sein Soft’s 1985 release Tritorn, an action-RPG more than a little inspired by Namco’s Dragon Buster. As usual for EGGCONSOLE, the game is presented in its original Japanese form. I can’t speak to how big of a problem that is yet, but I’ll let you know once my review is ready to go. I’m hoping we get a more straightforward game again in this line soon, but I’m still engaged enough with all of these oddball releases to not mind it too much.

Arcade Archives Rastan Saga II ($7.99)

Some innocent soul out there is looking at this and thinking “Wow, I love Rastan! I didn’t know there was a sequel! Cool!", and let me just say that we have all been there once. Hopefully I can save some of you from the disappointment by letting you know that Rastan Saga II is nowhere near as good as the first game. It is, in fact, quite bad. Those big sprites are cool, the music is as good as you would expect from Taito, but the gameplay is clunky and boring. Rastan would get a little redemption in his third and final game, but this one is so bad I’m surprised they made another one. Hamster has given it the usual treatment, so if anyone out there somehow has happy memories of it… here it is.

Everafter Falls ($19.99)

Sure, another slow life game with a mysterious undertone. Never hurts to have more of these. The set-up here is that you had a chill life going on in Everafter Falls, but wake up one day to discover it was just a simulation. Slowly you begin your life anew, and it’s certainly a comfortable place to be. As you play you’ll start noticing some… unusual things. What do they mean? That’s up to you to discover, if you’ve got the gumption to do so. The game supports local co-op with another player, so you can even bring a friend along.

Cave Digger 2 ($14.99)

It’s like Cave Digger, but more Cave Digger. Do you want more Cave Digger? Here you go. That’s about as much as I’ll say about this one, because I did not want more Cave Digger.

Tavern Talk ($21.99)

We’ve had enough games like this by now that I can just say this is another game about mixing and serving drinks while getting to know the patrons of your bar. This game’s gimmick is that it is set in a fantasy world. Seems well-made for what it is, so if what it is is the “is" you’re after, you might want to investigate this further.

Garten of Banban I-IV ($1.99 – $9.99)

Four games built around a story where you’re exploring the mysterious Banban’s Kindergarten facility using a drone. A bunch of people have disappeared, and you need to uncover the secrets of the bizarre location. Solve the puzzles and make your way through the place room by room. Popular enough to have a metric ton of installments, but reviews of it aren’t terribly enthusiastic. Well, do what you will with it.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Not too much in the inbox so far, but if you want the fancy edition of Super Mega Baseball 4 or feel like playing some good ol’ Gynoug, it’s your day. There are a few things in the outbox, so you’ll want to perhaps give that one a closer look.

Select New Sales

Super Mega Baseball 4 Ballpark Edition ($17.99 from $59.99 until 7/2)
HunterX ($8.99 from $14.99 until 7/3)
HunterX: Code Name T ($11.89 from $16.99 until 7/3)
Retimed ($5.99 from $14.99 until 7/3)
Caveman Ransom ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/4)
Prisonela DX ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/4)
Avenging Spirit ($2.99 from $5.99 until 7/4)
Gleylancer ($3.49 from $6.99 until 7/4)
Gynoug ($3.49 from $6.99 until 7/4)
Dusk Diver 2 ($24.99 from $49.99 until 7/4)
Dr. Frank’s Build a Boyfriend ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/4)
The Adventures of Panzer Collection ($4.49 from $8.99 until 7/4)
Little Witch Nobeta ($24.99 from $49.99 until 7/4)
Aquadine ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, June 21st

Apollo Justice: AA Trilogy ($39.99 from $49.99 until 6/21)
Barbie DreamHouse Adventures ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/21)
Big Adventure Trip to Europe 5 ($8.99 from $14.99 until 6/21)
Demon’s Tilt ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/21)
Detective Agency Gray Tie 2 ($2.99 from $14.99 until 6/21)
Encodya ($2.99 from $29.99 until 6/21)
Fall of Porcupine ($7.99 from $19.99 until 6/21)
Finding America: The Pacific Northwest ($7.99 from $9.99 until 6/21)
First Time in Hawaii ($7.19 from $11.99 until 6/21)
I Love Finding Furbabies ($5.99 from $9.99 until 6/21)
Itorah ($3.99 from $19.99 until 6/21)
Just Find It ($5.99 from $9.99 until 6/21)
Lacuna ($1.99 from $19.99 until 6/21)
Magic City Detective Secret Desire ($8.99 from $14.99 until 6/21)
Magic City Detective Wings of Revenge ($8.99 from $14.99 until 6/21)

Maze of Realities Flower of Discord ($8.99 from $14.99 until 6/21)
Maze of Realities Reflection of Light ($8.99 from $14.99 until 6/21)
Mystery Box: Hidden Secrets ($5.99 from $9.99 until 6/21)
Mystery Lover ($7.49 from $9.99 until 6/21)
Nature Escapes 2 ($8.99 from $14.99 until 6/21)
Nature Escapes 3 ($8.99 from $14.99 until 6/21)
Neko Secret Homecoming ($3.99 from $9.99 until 6/21)
Pretty Girls 2048 Strike ($3.49 from $6.99 until 6/21)
Q.U.B.E. 10th Anniversary ($2.79 from $19.99 until 6/21)
Ravva and the Phantom Library ($4.99 from $9.99 until 6/21)
RedRaptor ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/21)
Seven Pirates H ($23.99 from $39.99 until 6/21)
Super Crush KO ($4.49 from $14.99 until 6/21)
Three Minutes to Eight ($2.99 from $14.99 until 6/21)
Thunder Kid II: Null Mission ($1.99 from $7.99 until 6/21)
Turret Rampage ($2.99 from $4.99 until 6/21)
Twin Mind Murderous Jealousy ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/21)
Twin Mind Nobody’s Here ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/21)
Twin Mind Power of Love ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/21)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back next week with more new games, more sales, some reviews, and perhaps some news. Not as much news as this week, most likely. I am ridiculously tired today, and keep falling asleep on my keyboard. Not a great thing, but some days are like that. I hope you all have a thrilling Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!

Monster Hunter Stories ($29.99)

You’re going to see a lot of Capcom on this list, and I suspect it’s because the way it built its 3DS games made them easier to port than most. Monster Hunter Stories is the latest, and it’s a charming and enjoyable RPG based on the publisher’s extremely famous series of action games. While the game certainly has better performance on other platforms, this Switch version at least looks and runs a lot better than the very ambitious 3DS original. The price is nice, too!

Apollo Justice – Ace Attorney Trilogy ($49.99)

Okay, one of the games in this set was a Nintendo DS game rather than a 3DS game. But the other two are 3DS games, so I’m rounding up. The second Ace Attorney Trilogy is perhaps less agreeable than the first, and it’s clearly struggling with trying to respond to fan reactions on the fly, but there’s still a lot of good lawyering to be had here. Follow new protagonists along with original hero Phoenix Wright as they try to navigate the dark age of the law. A solid collection that does these games… justice. NO APOLOGIES!

Snack World: The Dungeon Crawl – Gold ($49.99)

It’s a little hard for me to separate this game from what it was here in Japan. This was supposed to be the next major multimedia hit from the company behind Inazuma Eleven and Yokai Watch, with games, NFC toys, an animated series, and more planned. And it belly-flopped hard. The toys were rotting bins here for ages. This was all the distant past by the time the game made its way to the West via the Switch, of course. There was no such push accompanying it. No, it was just a game, and you know what? It’s not too shabby at all. A bit mindless, but it’s an enjoyable grind.

Resident Evil Revelations ($19.99)

One of the higher-profile early third-party releases for the Nintendo 3DS, Resident Evil Revelations was also one of the more impressive-looking games on the system. Capcom seemed to be dissatisfied with the sales of the game on 3DS however, and it soon made its way to other platforms and found the success it deserved. That improved version is what we have here on Switch, and it’s still quite the game. Its sequel is also very good, but since that was never on the 3DS it is not allowed on this list. At any rate, despite Revelations being very much a spin-off, it plays and feels like a proper Resident Evil game. It goes on sale often, too.

Miitopia ($49.99)

There were a lot of Nintendo 3DS games that perhaps arrived a bit too late to land as well as they might have. Miitopia could be said to be one of those, arriving in Japan scant months before the Switch launch and a similar number of months after the launch in the West. This is basically Tomodachi Life made into a fantasy RPG, and it has that usual Mii charm fused with a decent casual RPG. As usual, half the fun is putting your friends, family, and anyone else you can make a Mii of into ridiculous situations. I feel like this slipped under the radar on the Switch too, so maybe that’s just its lot in life.

The Alliance Alive HD Remastered ($49.99)

A successor to The Legend of Legacy (also available on Nintendo Switch these days), The Alliance Alive sheds some of the quirkier aspects of that game in favor of making a more straightforward turn-based RPG. It still keeps some fragments of the SaGa inspiration driving the previous game, but it’s a lot gentler on the whole. A pleasant RPG to play through on the whole, particularly for those looking for something that doesn’t take a lot of fiddling or fussing.

Rune Factory 4 Special ($29.99)

Sure, the Story of Season games are a lot of fun, but you know what makes them even more interesting? Bolting them on to an action-RPG. That’s the idea behind the Rune Factory series, and this fourth installment proved to be one of the best of the bunch. You can find a few Rune Factory games on the Switch, and I think they’re all fun. Rune Factory 4 was my entry point to the series, however, and as such it has some special meaning to me. Share my nostalgia!

Shantae & the Pirate’s Curse ($19.99)

Yes, this was indeed a Nintendo 3DS game first. This is my favorite Shantae game, as it turns out. I think it hits the right balance between exploration and guiding the player, and it’s a change of pace from collecting genie powers. The story is also a lot of fun as basically any reason to put Shantae and Risky together more often is a good one. The whole Shantae series is basically available everywhere now, but if you’re only grabbing one this is the one you want.

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate ($39.99)

Another Monster Hunter game for good measure. This turned out to be a good opportunity for Capcom, as the 3DS was a bit too long in the tooth by the time the Ultimate version of Monster Hunter Generations would have been ready for Western release. Instead, this is how we got the improved version of one of the quirkier entries in the series. I would recommend Rise over this game, but there’s a certain flavor to Generations I cannot deny that makes it feel distinct from its peers. And hey, for a 3DS port it looks really good.

Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack ($39.99)

In some ways the successor to Inti Creates’ Mega Man Zero games, the Azure Striker Gunvolt series is fast, challenging, and stylish. The Striker Pack includes both of the games that originally hit the Nintendo 3DS, and it’s a great way to get your feet wet before you dive into the newer entries in the series. The sprites look really good on the Switch, too. Just make sure you get a controller with a decent dpad, because you’ll be giving it a real workout.

And… 5 Nintendo 3DS Games We’d Like to See on Switch

Kid Icarus: Uprising

Look, I don’t know if Kid Icarus: Uprising would find more success on the Switch or not, but I do know the game would almost certainly play a lot better than it did on the 3DS. This game screams for dual-stick controls, and pretty much everything else about the it is so well-done that it’s a shame that the core gameplay had to fight against the very controls of the system that hosted it. I think it would make a great choice for the Nintendo Switch or whatever its successor ends up being.

Bravely Default

I’ve enjoyed all three Bravely Default games, but for my money there is only one truly great game in the series, and that is this first one. Both traditional and fresh at the same time, it was the exact tonic many RPG fans needed in the wake of the, er, creative choices of the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy. There are one or two gimmicks to the game that might be difficult to translate without all of the 3DS’s special features, but I think the game could more or less make the trip intact. It would be nice to have this landmark title available more widely, and the Switch would be a good host for it.

Super Mario 3D Land

If you’ve been reading all of these articles I’ve been doing, you are probably noticing a theme. I want all the 3D Mario games on Switch, and we’re so close that I can practically smell it. Super Mario 3D Land isn’t the best 3D Mario, but the post-game content in particular has that spicy flavor that I appreciate. I’m not sure if it would be best served as a stand-alone release or with some other Mario games in a new All-Stars package, but either way I’d love to see it.

Metroid – Samus Returns

This was one of those games that hit in the Nintendo 3DS’s endgame period, and as such I don’t think it quite got the attention it deserved. Sure, it has a few issues with its over-reliance on counters and some overly-long boss battles, but if you enjoyed Metroid Dread then you’ll probably like this audition for it. I think it would scale up really nicely, and a port might give the team a chance to make some little changes to address some of the criticism.

Shin Megami Tensei IV

We have Shin Megami Tensei III and Shin Megami Tensei V on the Nintendo Switch, and if you’re willing to deal with the Japanese Nintendo Switch Online apps and can read Japanese, we have the first two games as well. The one we don’t have is Shin Megami Tensei IV, and if Atlus put it out on the Switch I’d be more than happy to add it to my collection. If Atlus is feeling extra generous, Apocalypse could be packed in with it for the ultimate Shin Megami Tensei IV release. Both are very cool games that deserve wider exposure.

And that’s the list, friends. Are there any Nintendo 3DS games you enjoy on the Switch? Any you would like to see? Feel free to sound off down in the comments and let us know what you’re thinking! It’s always interesting to hear the opinions of others on this kind of thing. As always, thanks for reading!

Dear Reader 5.0.0 adds in a Catalogue section to purchase all books from the game with rotating shelves and more. A new Puzzler difficulty setting is also now available in-game to play without worrying about time. Solitaire Stories version 5.0 adds in the Soulmatez story, the Jupiter event., and the Tiki Luau event today. With the updates done, head over to our forum threads for Japanese Rural Life Adventure here, Simon’s Cat – Story Time here, BEAST here, Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom here, Dear Reader here, Solitaire Stories here, and Warped Kart Racers 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?

If you’d like to try the Japanese release next week, you can pre-order Pand Land on the App Store for iOS here and pre-register for it on Google Play for Android here. Pand Land launches on June 24th for mobile in Japan. An international release date is yet to be announced. I’m curious to see how this one does, and whether it hits Switch as a free to play game in the future as well. It is going to be interesting to see what Game Freak has in the works other than Pand Land and its project with Private Division. What do you think of Pand Land and will you be trying it through the Japanese release next week?

21 Letters (Free)

iTunes Description

21 Letters every day.

Build connecting words and score as high as you can. Once you run out of letters, or can’t make any more words, your daily round is over.

Share your score with your friends and family – since everyone has the same letters for any given day, every day is a competition!

Forum Thread: 21 Letters (by Shallot Games)

A Fragile Mind ($1.99)

iTunes Description

A Fragile Mind is a compact first-person point and click mystery adventure game chock-full of puzzles, secrets, and questions.

Waking up in a courtyard to the sound of an unnervingly familiar voice, you have no memory of how you got there.

You know the drill by now.

Solve puzzles, take photos, read strategically placed notes, press buttons, unlock doors, use items, escape!

Forum Thread: A Fragile Mind (by Glitch Games)

Astral Survivor (Free)

iTunes Description

The latest installment in the “Astral Stairways" series by Firedog Studio! This survival-type game emphasizes diverse combat styles and responsive gameplay, providing an exhilarating and seamless battle experience.

Explore richly detailed maps and utilize the skill tree upgrade system to create the most powerful character builds!

Embark on a brand-new storyline within the “Astral Stairways" universe. As a player, your mission is to save the goddess who was separated from the Starblade hero. Summon powerful followers to annihilate countless void monsters and prevent the world from being consumed!

Forum Thread: Astral Survivor (by Firedog Creative)

Fighters Legacy (Free)

iTunes Description

Unleash your fighting spirit and dominate in Fighters Legacy. A real relaxing fighting …

Game Features
Upon deploying fighters, they will fight for you. The auto-battle mode, skip and smash functions, are to free your hands to kill your time. If you are looking for an idle game, do not miss it. Finish daily quests within 10 minutes, and then focus on improving yourself tactically.

Forum Thread: Fighters Legacy (by PARKER-HANNIFIN HONG KONG, LIMITED)

HexGods: Arena of Destiny (Free)

iTunes Description

Strategize, battle, and ascend in HexGods! Craft your deck, conquer dynamic battles, and rise through ranks. Your legacy awaits in the HexArena!

Dive into “HexGods," a riveting strategy board game that challenges your tactical prowess and card management skills. With over 200 unique cards, from the common Silver to the rare Legendary, build your ultimate deck to dominate the HexArena. Start your journey with 48 unlocked cards, customizing your deck to suit your strategic preferences.

Forum Thread: HexGods: Arena of Destiny (by Tomaz Jerman)

Honor of Kings (Free)

iTunes Description

Honor of Kings International Edition, developed by Tencent Timi Studio and published by Level Infinite, is the world’s most popular mobile MOBA game. Dive into the classic MOBA excitement with 5V5 hero’s gorge, fair matchups; numerous battle modes and a vast selection of heroes allow you to demonstrate your dominance with first blood, pentakills, and legendary feats, crushing all competition! Localized hero voiceovers, skins, and smooth server performance ensure quick matchmaking, teaming up with friends for ranking battles, and enjoying all the fun of PC MOBAs and action games as you ascend to the pinnacle of honor! The enemy is nearing the battlefield—players, rally your allies for team battles in Honor of Kings!

Forum Thread: Honor of Kings (by Level Infinite)

Looped Interactive ($2.99)

iTunes Description

Guide Him and Her through the chapters of their story by solving peaceful mini-puzzles and find a way out of the loop.

Looped is a short interactive story in which you solve mini-puzzles to progress a peaceful story about love, rockets, and time travel.

This is a story of a love-at-first-sight so powerful it creates a wormhole in time. From the end to the beginning and back again, you follow Him and Her and help them with tasks along their way.

Forum Thread: Looped Interactive (by Studio Hamlin)

LUNA The Shadow Dust ($4.99)

iTunes Description

Inspired by the adventure games of old, LUNA The Shadow Dust is a moving tale of two playable companions drawn together in a hand-animated puzzle adventure, featuring a breathtaking original soundtrack and beautiful 2D cinematics.

To light a candle is to cast a shadow
Behind the shadow of reality, an enchanted world awaits illumination. Experience the magical journey of a young boy and his companion as they solve puzzles and trace back the memories of old, brought to life with visually stunning, wordless cinematics.
Enter the ancient tower that stands at the edge of the world and discover the hand-drawn cinematics, intricate puzzles and haunting music of this indie gem.

Forum Thread: LUNA The Shadow Dust (by ASH Software)

Passpartout 2: The Lost Artist (Free)

iTunes Description

Help the town with… art!

Take your art on the go with your handy foldable easel. Explore the charming puppet town of Phénix, get to know its residents and what makes them tick. Help them out with commissions, like drawing a new ad for Steve’s restaurant! Or why not buy a studio so you can work from home, just like the good old days?

Forum Thread: Passpartout 2: The Lost Artist (by Flamebait Games)

Shaporama (Free)

iTunes Description

Tilt your phone and explore unknown shapes.
Take a sip of water, coffee, beer or milk and let it flow.
Type the correct answer and solve the mystery.

Forum Thread: Shaporama (by Tim Kretz)

Subliminal Football Quiz ($0.29)

iTunes Description

Words and faces magically blend into pictures.

Football isn’t just about the words ‘PENALTY’ and ‘GOAL’, or the players ‘MESSI’ and ‘RONALDO’. There’s a whole lot more to it. Explore the lingo and history for a deeper understanding.

Bring your carrots! Super sight needed because there are 100 football terms to find.
Got your chocolate? Excellent memory needed to identify 100 football personalities.

Forum Thread: Subliminal Football Quiz (by Indest)

Vault of the Void ($6.99)

iTunes Description

Vault of the Void is a single-player, low-RNG roguelike deckbuilder designed to put the power into your hands. Continuously build, transform and iterate on your deck as you progress through your run – or even before each battle. Preview which enemies you’ll be battling before each encounter, giving you a chance to carefully plan your strategy. With no random events, your success is in your hands – and your creativity and skill define your chances of victory!

Forum Thread: Vault of the Void (Spider Nest Games)

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest ($9.99)

iTunes Description

The forest beckons, will you answer its call? Choose wisely in this narrative adventure inspired by the legendary tabletop RPG set in the World of Darkness universe.

Transform into a Werewolf in this Narrative RPG Adventure

Dive into the secrets of Europe’s last wilderness in “Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest., a narrative-driven indie RPG that brings the classic tabletop experience to your screen. Play as Maia, explore your ancestry in the mysterious Białowieża Forest, and let your choices guide this adventure of dark secrets and fantasy within the World of Darkness universe.

Forum Thread: Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest (by Different Tales)

News

Holy Smokes, What A Nintendo Direct That Was

I went into this one with low expectations given we’re basically on the last year of the Switch’s life, in all probability. Well, it definitely leapt over that bar. The big first-party highlights were the new Mario & Luigi game, Brothership, and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, along with our long-awaited first glimpse at Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Other games from Nintendo on the schedule include Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, The New Denpa Men, and Super Mario Party Jamboree. Third-party highlights are probably Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D (and the announcement of 1&2 HD-2D!), Ace Attorney Investigations Collection, and Darkest Dungeon II. Well… a lot. Check out the Direct if you haven’t already, it really is looking like quite a solid year.

Four New Games Join Nintendo Switch Online’s Expansion Pack

Among the oodles of news bits from yesterday’s Direct was the announcement of four new additions to the Expansion Pack for Nintendo Switch Online. For two of them, you’ll need to download a new app – the Nintendo 64 Mature 17+ app. Once you’ve got that installed, you’ll be treated to Turok the Dinosaur Hunter and Perfect Dark, a pair of first-person shooters that practically bookended the console’s output in that genre. The other two games are for the Game Boy Advance app. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords and Metroid: Zero Mission are both great games, and I’m happy to see them available on the service. Just update the app and they’ll be waiting for you to play.

Select New Releases

Metal Slug Attack Reloaded ($9.99)

I think this was a follow-up or mutation of Metal Slug Defense? Anyway, tower defense with Metal Slug characters. Very simple and easy to understand, but the game gets quite challenging as you go on. I remember enjoying this for a while on mobile, and I think this is a fair price for the total package here on Switch.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Quest of Memories ($44.99)

Based on one of the more popular of the large number of anime/manga/light novel series about someone who gets isekai‘d into a fantasy world and ends up surrounded by beautiful women who marvel at how amazing he is, this is an RPG where you can use your favorite characters from Mushoku Tensei and go on some dungeon crawling adventures. One for the fans, to be sure. I don’t think it’s going to click for those without a significant investment in the brand, but maybe if you’re hungry enough.

Echo Generation ($24.99)

A turn-based RPG about normal 90s kids going on extraordinary adventures. The game has a voxel art style, which I’m sure most will have feelings about one way or the other. The developer also did Riverbond, and I know some people really dug that one. Echo Generation has been out for a while on other platforms, and I don’t think it really knocked anyone’s socks off but it seems to have found some fans. Maybe you’ll be the next one.

Moonstone Island ($19.99)

Take a Stardew Valley style life sim and mash it up with a creature-collecting turn-based RPG, then douse the whole thing in a rich card battling sauce. That’s the recipe for Moonstone Island, and it’s one that by and large works pretty well. Probably too ambitious for its own good at times, but I think if you like the basic concept then you’ll probably enjoy this well enough.

Scars of Mars ($19.99)

Must be RPG day today or something. This one has a science-fiction theme and the battles are real-time. They take place on a grid, too. Everyone loves grids! Honestly this one didn’t really catch my eye until I saw Acquire was behind it. That’s a developer who makes very interesting games, even if they’re not always good. I’ll have to investigate this one further, and I’ll let you know if it turns out to be something cool.

#BLUD ($24.99)

An animated hack-and-slash dungeon crawler that certainly has its look down, if nothing else. Some business about a vampire-killing hockey stick? Charm in almost equal measure to its rough edges, but if you’re willing to put up with some gameplay annoyances there is assuredly some good times to be had here.

Glyphs of Gitzan ($4.99)

A nifty little puzzle game where you have to push stone pillars into the correct positions in fifty stages of brain-teasing fun. The pillars carry symbols that will give you a hint as to where they need to go, so all you need to do is figure that out and then push them into place. No shortage of good, cheap puzzle games on Switch but it never hurts to have another one in the pile.

Fireside ($14.99)

One of those games where you chill, talk to other characters, help them with their stuff, and explore a relaxed world. Reviews for this one are pretty solid over on Steam, and I imagine it won’t have too much trouble finding an eager audience here on Switch.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Metroid got a lot of attention in the Nintendo Direct, and perhaps to celebrate that both Metroid Dread and Metroid Prime Remastered are on sale. NISA is also running some excellent sales, and if you want to catch up on its classics there is no better time. Meanwhile, in the outbox: a ton of games. Just check through it yourself and see what’s what, is what I say.

Select New Sales

Don’t Starve ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/29)
Griftlands ($7.99 from $19.99 until 6/29)
Metroid Dread ($41.99 from $59.99 until 7/2)
Metroid Prime Remastered ($33.99 from $39.99 until 7/2)
DNF Duel: Who’s Next ($14.99 from $49.99 until 7/3)
Death Road to Canada ($4.49 from $14.99 until 7/3)
River City: Rival Showdown ($17.49 from $24.99 until 7/4)
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 4 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
SNK 40th Anniversary Collection ($14.99 from $39.99 until 7/8)
Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha ($14.99 from $39.99 until 7/8)
Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo ($14.99 from $39.99 until 7/8)
The Silver Case 2425 ($17.99 from $39.99 until 7/8)
Saviors of Sapphire Wings/Sword City ($17.49 from $49.99 until 7/8)
Prinny 1-2 Bundle ($14.99 from $33.99 until 7/8)
NIS Classics 1: Phantom Brave/Soul Nomad ($9.99 from $39.99 until 7/8)

NIS Classics 2: Makai Kingdom/ZHP ($24.99 form $39.99 until 7/8)
NIS Classics 3: La Pucelle/Rhapsody ($24.99 from $39.99 until 7/8)
Raiden III x Mikado Maniax ($14.99 from $29.99 until 7/8)
The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails ($24.99 from $39.99 until 7/8)
Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles ($29.99 from $49.99 until 7/8)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, June 20th

1000xRESIST ($17.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Adventure Bar Story ($15.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Adventures of Ben: Rabbit Run ($11.24 from $24.99 until 6/20)
Aggelos ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Alan Wake Remastered ($14.99 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Alien: Isolation ($14.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Amabilly ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/20)
Anodyne ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/20)
Assassin’s Creed: Ezio Collection ($15.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration ($27.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Axiom Verge 2 ($7.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Balatro ($13.49 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Berzerk Recharged ($5.99 from $9.99 until 6/20)
Blazing Chrome ($5.77 from $16.99 until 6/20)
Bob the Elementalist ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/20)

Bugsnax ($8.74 from $24.99 until 6/20)
Burnout Paradise Remastered ($5.99 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Bustafellows ($5.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium Bundle ($15.99 form $39.99 until 6/20)
Castaway Paradise ($2.79 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Castle Morihisa ($2.24 from $14.99 until 6/20)
COCOON ($14.99 from $24.99 until 6/20)
Contra: Operation Galuga ($31.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Crash Bandicoot 4 ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled ($13.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Crossing Souls ($1.99 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Dead by Daylight ($11.99 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Death’s Gambit: Afterlife ($10.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Diablo II: Resurrected ($13.19 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Diablo III: Eternal Collection ($19.79 from $59.99 until 6/20)

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut ($11.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Disney Classic Games: Aladdin & Lion King ($6.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus ($11.24 from $14.99 until 6/20)
DOOM 1993 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/20)
DOOM 2016 ($7.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
DOOM 3 ($3.99 from $9.99 until 6/20)
DOOM 64 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/20)
DOOM Eternal ($9.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
DOOM II Classic ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/20)
DOOM Slayers Collection ($14.99 from $49.99 until 6/20)
Dragon Ball FighterZ: FighterZ Edition ($14.39 from $89.99 until 6/20)
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen ($4.99 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Earth Defense Force: World Brothers ($15.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Effie ($2.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Evil Nun: The Broken Mask ($11.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)

Fearmonium ($7.79 from $12.99 until 6/20)
Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark ($7.49 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Gargoyles Remastered ($10.49 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Garlic ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Gates of the Mind ($6.74 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Goat Simulator: The GOATY ($5.99 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Grounded ($27.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Hatsune Miku: Project DiVA Mega Mix ($19.69 from $39.39 until 6/20)
Highwater ($3.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Homebody ($3.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Huntdown ($3.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Immortals Fenyx Rising ($7.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Ion Fury ($6.24 from $24.99 until 6/20)
Jack Jeanne ($34.99 from $49.99 until 6/20)
Kaiju Wars ($8.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)

Kentucky Route Zero TV Edition ($9.99 from $24.99 until 6/20)
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning ($15.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
LEGO 2K Drive ($9.89 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Loot Hero DX ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/20)
Lost in Random ($4.49 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope ($19.79 from $59.99 until 6/20)
Mochi Mochi Boy ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/20)
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate ($9.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Monster Hunter Rise ($9.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak ($15.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
moon ($13.29 from $18.99 until 6/20)
Murder Is Game Over ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/20)
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit ($7.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
NeonPowerUp! ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/20)
Nexomon Extinction ($8.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)

Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: GP ($3.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Night in the Woods ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Onirike ($2.24 from $14.99 until 6/20)
orbit.industries ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Outer Wilds ($14.99 from $24.99 until 6/20)
Pentiment ($11.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Persona 5 Strikers ($17.99 from $59.99 until 6/20)
Pirates on Target ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/20)
Quake ($3.99 from $9.99 until 6/20)
Quake + Quake II Enhanced Bundle ($5.99 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Quake II ($3.99 from $9.99 until 6/20)
Quantum Recharged ($5.49 from $9.99 until 6/20)
Return to Monkey Island ($12.49 from $24.99 until 6/20)
Risen ($20.99 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Rogue Legacy 2 ($14.74 from $24.99 until 6/20)

Rose & Camellia Collection ($14.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Runnyk ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/20)
Samba de Amigo: Party Central ($15.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Samurai Maiden DE ($37.49 from $74.99 until 6/20)
Sea of Stars ($26.24 from $34.99 until 6/20)
Shadows of Adam ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Sherlock Holmes: Devil’s Daughter ($4.49 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Slay the Spire ($8.49 from $24.99 until 6/20)
Sonic Frontiers ($20.99 from $59.99 until 6/20)
Sonic Origins Plus ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
South of the Circle ($6.49 from $12.99 until 6/20)
Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II ($34.99 from $49.99 until 6/20)
SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom ($11.99 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Starward Rogue ($8.99 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Streets of Rage 4 ($11.24 from $24.99 until 6/20)

Super Mega Baseball 4 ($14.99 from $49.99 until 6/20)
Super Mega Zero ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/20)
Super Planet Life ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/20)
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition ($9.99 from $49.99 until 6/20)
Tempest 4000 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
TES V: Skyrim ($29.99 from $59.99 until 6/20)
TES V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition ($34.99 from $69.99 until 6/20)
TEVI ($26.24 from $34.99 until 6/20)
The Case of the Golden Idol ($10.79 from $17.99 until 6/20)
The Forgotten Land ($2.09 from $14.99 until 6/20)
The Lara Croft Collection ($19.99 from $24.99 until 6/20)
The Testament of Sherlock Holmes ($6.24 from $24.99 until 6/20)
The Wonderful 101 Remastered ($17.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
TMNT: Cowabunga Collection ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge ($16.74 from $24.99 until 6/20)

TMNT: Wrath of the Mutants ($20.09 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Tomb Raider I – III Remastered ($22.49 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Trek to Yomi ($6.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Tunic ($14.99 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Unicorn Overlord Monarch Edition ($52.49 from $69.99 until 6/20)
Unlife ($6.59 from $10.99 until 6/20)
We Love Katamari Reroll ($7.49 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Wolfenstein II New Colossus ($5.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Wolfenstein Youngblood ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
WRC Generations ($7.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Zomborg ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/20)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with… oh wow, tomorrow is Thursday. Lots of new games, then. We’ll be looking at those, plus whatever sales and big news items roll in over the course of the day. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!

OXENFREE II: Lost Signals, Free Oxenfree II: Lost Signals on mobile through Netflix is my favorite way to play it. Night School exceeded my expectations from the original game and delivered a more mature story despite the supernatural and thriller elements. In a lot of ways, Oxenfree II feels like a reflection of the studio making it with its scope and polish. This is a game I recommend to everyone with a Netflix subscription, and I hope it gets a physical release on console in the future so I can add it to my collection with the first game.

Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon, Free Despite launching on other platforms before, Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon arrived on Netflix with new content included. It has some aspects that don’t work as well as others, but Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is an amazing puzzler bringing in challenging gameplay, tons of polish, and gorgeous visuals to mobile. It is immediately one of the best puzzlers on mobile through its Netflix release.

The Case of the Golden Idol, Free The most recent of the games included here, The Case of the Golden Idol from Color Gray Games and Playstack is phenomenal, but it might not be for everyone. With that out of the way, it is one of my favorite detective games ever, and the Netflix mobile version includes the base game with all DLC making it an insanely good addition to the service. This one is special, and I urge you to just download it and not read much about it.

Hades - NETFLIX, Free Hades on iOS is just incredible. While it has some minor issues, I have no hesitation in recommending it for anyone with a Netflix subscription. The wait for Hades on mobile was very long, but Supergiant Games delivered an excellent version of one of the best games in years with no compromises on iOS here. Just note that while the other games in this feature are also on Android, Hades is just on iOS right now.

TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, Free TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge is a Streets of Rage 4 level release, and if you don’t know what I mean by that, play both games immediately. Jokes aside, I adore TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge and I was super happy to see it come to mobile in a fantastic conversion through Playdigious and Netflix. It is a modern take on a classic Konami style beat ’em up that delivers in spades with its gameplay, visuals, music, and fanservice for TMNT fans.

Kentucky Route Zero, Free Kentucky Route Zero was one of the most fascinating games I played. It took so long for all the acts to release, that I ended up not even having my older saves through the years as I switched computers. The adventure blends surrealism, gorgeous visuals, amazing music, and memorable characters to deliver something that you will either love or drop after an act or two. The Netflix release brings the complete experience with all updates and improvements over the launch version. It also happens to have one of my favorite musical moments in any game. If all of that sounds good to you, give it a shot on iOS or Android through Netflix.

IMMORTALITY, Free Immortality from Her Story developer Sam Barlow is Sam’s best work yet according to most, and while I prefer Her Story, Immortality is a superlative experience for those who enjoy the FMV interactive film genre. The only issue with the mobile version is that you have to download a lot of data in-game. Keep that in mind and you’re good. It is another one of those “Perfect for Netflix" gaming experiences, and I’m glad it did make its way to mobile after its initial launch on console and PC platforms.

Katana ZERO NETFLIX, Free Katana Zero is one of the best games on the service, and a fantastic, and near-perfect, conversion of a magnificent indie. If you have a Netflix subscription, and you likely do if you are reading this, drop everything else and play Katana Zero right now. It is that good. If you don’t want to play it, listen to the soundtrack, but still, go play it now. It is action-platformer perfection.

Into the Breach, Free I’ve been wanting Into the Breach on iPad for years ever since I played FTL from the developer. It seemed like the ship had sailed, but Netflix revealed that Into the Breach is not only coming to iPad, but also iPhone and Android in a new version that would see added content patched into existing versions. Into the Breach on any platform is an essential, but having it on an iPad with such a great port is everything I wanted. This is pure turn-based strategy greatness.

Poinpy, Free Poinpy from the creator of Downwell is one of the best games on mobile right now regardless of paid games, subscriptions, or free games. Instead of going down like the developer’s prior release, you sling yourself up and this release feels perfect to play in short bursts or long sessions. The gameplay is everything you’d want, and there’s a lot of depth included. Poinpy was one of the first “essential" games in Netflix, and even with so many more games added to the service, it is in our top games feature. Hopefully more people check it out.

And there you have it. Some changes and additions to the service warranted a new list, and I hope you find something new to play with your Netflix subscription here. If you’ve enjoyed a game on Netflix that you think I should’ve featured, let me know in the comments so more people will discover great games on the service. If you’d like to see us feature more games in subscription services or anything else, let us know. Thanks for reading.

Fantastico Studio goes on to add: “Thanks to the valuable feedback from our community of players, we have worked hard to enrich the gaming experience both graphically and in terms of gameplay. The pixel art has been completely overhauled, making every detail pop with vibrant color and clarity. The gameplay has been meticulously rebalanced, and the new synthwave tracks are electrifying, setting the perfect mood as you blast through waves of enemies. One of the standout additions is the hardcore boss rush mode – a true test for any seasoned player." Sounds pretty fantastico to me! See what I did there? Black Paradox Reloaded will launch on Steam in October and can be wishlisted now, with console and mobile versions to follow sometime afterward. No dates just yet for the mobile version but it’s something I’ll be keeping a keen eye out for.

News

Check Out Today’s Nintendo Direct Presentation

We can do that amusing thing where I try to pretend I saw the Nintendo Direct already. Maybe I can use some rumors to guess at things, suggesting that I already know about certain RPGs or adventure games getting ported to the platform. But it’s an old joke, and we both know I haven’t seen it. If you haven’t, you can watch it right now! I bet there are some cool games in it. We’ll talk about them tomorrow, for sure. I mean, 40 minutes all on games coming to Switch in the back half of this year? There must be some great stuff in there!

Select New Releases

As I have mentioned above, I’m writing this before the Nintendo Direct presentation. You’ll be reading this after, I’m quite sure. Right now when I look at the new release schedule for today, it is (extremely suspiciously for a Tuesday) empty. There will almost certainly be some shadow drops following the Nintendo Direct, and I will catch up on them tomorrow. Regretfully, that’s the best I can do. See you back here tomorrow, hopefully with some tasty new games to dig into.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

I don’t know how much we’re going to have to allocate to buying some new releases today, but just in case there’s anything left in your pocket, Capcom is looking to fish it out. Good sales on Resident Evil games, and some really good sales on the fighting game bundles. The outbox is even bigger, with sales from the likes of Thunderful and Limited Run Games coming to a close. Buy what you must.

Select New Sales

Chico & the Magic Orchards DX ($2.99 from $4.99 until 6/24)
CounterAttack Uprising ($4.49 from $14.99 until 6/24)
Hot Lap League Deluxe ($1.99 from $19.99 until 6/25)
Rogue Glitch Ultra ($5.99 from $11.99 until 7/1)
Cleaning Queens ($2.99 from $5.99 until 7/1)
Skater XL ($29.99 from $39.99 until 7/1)
Rytmos ($4.50 from $15.00 until 7/4)
Bang-On Balls Chronicles ($9.99 from $24.99 until 7/8)
Everdream Valley ($9.99 from $24.99 until 7/8)
Railway Empire 2 ($39.99 from $49.99 until 7/8)
Figment 2: Creed Valley ($6.24 from $24.99 until 7/8)
Tools Up! ($1.99 from $19.99 until 7/8)
Ready, Steady, Ship! ($8.99 from $14.99 until 7/8)
Mega Man Battle Network Collection ($29.99 from $59.99 until 7/8)
Shinsekai Into The Depths ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/8)

Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection ($9.99 from $29.99 until 7/8)
Resident Evil 0 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/8)
Resident Evil ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/8)
Resident Evil 4 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/8)
Resident Evil 5 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/8)
Resident Evil 6 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/8)
Resident Evil Revelations ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/8)
Resident Evil Revelations 2 ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/8)
Onimusha: Warlords ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/8)
Devil May Cry ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/8)
Devil May Cry 2 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/8)
Devil May Cry 3 SE ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/8)
Ultra Street Fighter II ($19.99 from $39.99 until 7/8)
Capcom Fighting Bundle ($19.99 from $59.99 until 7/8)
Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/8)
Street Fighter 30th Collection ($9.99 from $29.99 until 7/8)
Capcom Fighting Collection ($15.99 from $39.99 until 7/8)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, June 19th

20 Minutes Till Dawn ($3.49 from $4.99 until 6/19)
Arzette: Jewel of Faramore ($13.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
Cloud Gardens ($3.59 from $17.99 until 6/19)
Corpse Killer 25th Anniversary ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/19)
Cosmic Star Heroine ($10.49 from $14.99 until 6/19)
Crowns & Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit ($10.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
Cthulhu Saves Christmas ($6.99 from $9.99 until 6/19)
Curious Expedition ($2.24 from $14.99 until 6/19)
Curious Expedition 2 ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
Deathwish Enforcers ($16.09 from $22.99 until 6/19)
Devil Slayer Raksasi: IoD ($4.89 from $6.99 until 6/19)
Double Switch 25th Anniversary ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/19)
Firegirl: Hack ‘n Splash Rescue DX ($2.69 from $17.99 until 6/19)
Game Type DX ($2.99 from $5.99 until 6/19)
Get Packed: Couch Chaos ($2.99 from $14.99 until 6/19)
Giga Wrecker Alt ($1.99 from $24.99 until 6/19)

Jurassic Park Games Collection ($20.99 from $29.99 until 6/19)
LEGO Bricktales ($10.49 from $29.99 until 6/19)
Lonely Mountains Downhill ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
Night Trap 25th Anniversary ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/19)
Paper Cut Mansion ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
Pictooi ($2.49 from $9.99 until 6/19)
Pig Eat Ball ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/19)
Piggy Gambit ($5.59 from $7.99 until 6/19)
Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties: Definitive ($13.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
Saturday Morning RPG ($2.49 from $9.99 until 6/19)
Savage Age ($10.49 from $14.99 until 6/19)
Save Me Mr Tako: Definitive ($10.49 from $14.99 until 6/19)
Say No! More ($2.24 from $14.99 until 6/19)
Shapeshooter ($1.99 from $3.99 until 6/19)
Shoot 1UP DX ($2.99 from $5.99 until 6/19)

Source of Madness ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
SteamWorld Build ($17.99 from $29.99 until 6/19)
SteamWorld Dig ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/19)
SteamWorld Dig 2 ($3.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
SteamWorld Heist ($1.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
SteamWorld Quest ($4.99 from $24.99 until 6/19)
The House in Fata Morgana ($27.99 from $39.99 until 6/19)
The Last Hero of Nostalgia ($14.99 from $24.99 until 6/19)
This Way Madness Lies ($6.99 from $9.99 until 6/19)
Togges ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)
Wavetale ($10.49 from $29.99 until 6/19)
Weapon of Choice DX ($2.99 from $5.99 until 6/19)
Worldless ($13.99 from $19.99 until 6/19)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with the actual news from the Nintendo Direct, plus new releases and sales. I’m keeping my expectations in check given where we’re at in the lifespan of the Nintendo Switch. Hopefully future Shaun enjoyed what he saw. I’ll know when I am him, I suppose. I hope you all have a terrific Tuesday, and as always, thanks for reading!

You can read what Jared thinks about the game in our Game of the Week feature here and head over to our forum thread for more discussion around the game here. Check out the official website here. You can buy Afterplace on the App Store for iOS here and on Google Play for Android here. You can wishlist Afterplace on Steam here. Apple also did a feature on the design of Afterplace in an interview with Evan. Read it here. Have you played Afterplace yet on iOS or Android and what do you think about today’s update?

TouchArcade (TA): Can you tell us who you are, your role on the game, and what your favorite pizza toppings are?

Remy Siu (RS): My name is Remy Siu and I’m the Creative Director at sunset visitor 斜陽過客. My role on 1000xRESIST was guiding the vision, working as a writer with the writers, leading voice-over direction, working directly in Unity building the game (lighting, level flow, audio implementation, etc.), finding money, doing tax credits, and anything else that needed to get done. We’re a pretty small team, so we all wear a bunch of hats!

My favourite pizza toppings are anchovies – if there is anchovy pizza, you bet I’m going to be ordering it.

TA: How did 1000xRESIST get started?

RS: I started on the prototype in March/April 2020, very soon after Canada entered the COVID-19 lockdowns. I was working on a game about retail theft previously, a kind of millennial Breaking Bad set during the dawn of the HDTV era, but the surreal nature of the lockdown pushed me to put that aside and start something new. That new thing was 1000xRESIST.

The prototype of 1000xRESIST covered the first communion in Chapter 1. It was more dreamlike than the final version, partly because I was working on it mostly between the hours of 1am-6am. Had a lot of trouble sleeping during the pandemic!

After finishing the prototype, we were very lucky to find a publisher in Fellow Traveller and funding with the Canada Media Fund. We started the company right into production, throwing away the prototype and beginning everything from scratch on June 1st, 2021.

TA: How would you describe 1000xRESIST, in ten words or less?

RS: A narrative adventure where you experience the cruelty of time.

TA: What were some of the inspirations for the story and setting of 1000xRESIST?

RS: A lot of the story and setting was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. This feeling of being alienated from the recent past was something that I wanted to explore. A deep nostalgia for…last year. There was also a lot of death in our lives during development – we are at the age where our grandparents started passing. A major mentor in our community passed. Our dear pets. This feeling that time and history was marching forward relentlessly.

TA: I know one shouldn’t choose their favorite child, but which of the sisters is your favorite and, without spoiling, why?

RS: Knower is my favourite sister to write.

I was speaking to a friend of mine about this, and we’ve been “outcast artists” in more traditional arts organizations before, and it’s this thing you have to learn, to play the system to try and achieve something. All the while, being very worried about being absorbed by that system, and perpetuating things you don’t like about it. I think I ultimately failed at this, because I ejected myself and really wasn’t able to make much of a difference in the end.

This tension of being inside an organization, trying your best to survive in it, but then maybe being eaten by it – that was something I really loved about writing Knower. It’s not clear what her intentions are, or her inner desires.

TA: Is the Moodle real?

RS: Hahaha, I don’t think so! Not YET, anyways. Pinki Li, one of the writers, is the one who came up with the recipe and name. Would love to see someone try to make Moodle, as described. Maybe we should try it and release an actual recipe!

TA: Light spoiler, but what’s the deal with the pigeon?

RS: Unfortunately, I must leave the majesty of the pigeon a mystery.

TA: Outside of the character we directly follow, who was the most challenging one to write and why?

RS: Bang Bang Fire (BBF) was always very challenging to write. We cast the actors before beginning the bulk of the writing, so it helped to have Felicia’s voice in our heads. However, BBF-isms are always difficult to come up with. This kind of awkwardness and willingness to say these strange things, as if she’s communicating 100% intelligibly in her mind. These BBF-isms are somewhat based on how a friend of ours talks. Just these strange and hilarious ways they would give us information. When in doubt, we would always try and recount examples that cracked us up to understand how BBF might say something.

TA: What are some of your favorite games? Have you been playing anything recently?

RS: Some of my favourite games: Final Fantasy 7 OG, Final Fantasy X, Grim Fandango, EverQuest, Star Wars: Galaxies (pre-NRE), Portal 2, Kentucky Route Zero, Nier: Automata, Outer Wilds.

More recent favourites: Perfect Tides, Videoverse, The Case of the Golden Idol, Norco, Pentiment, Unreal Life.

What am I playing recently? I play a lot of From Software games with co-op mods, with my friends. I’m still trying to get through FF7: Rebirth. And like everyone else, I have many many indie games that I want to get to, especially now that I have more time (?).

TA: Bloody Sister, Blue Communion, Inside Sunrise, or Dark ‘n’ Sinful? What’s in those, anyway?

RS: This is a dangerous question, as all these “drinks” are meant to be injected directly into you intravenously, hahaha. Don’t want to provide any recipes. Maybe I can say that Bartender is a real maverick and is willing to try anything.

However, for fun, if we were to compare them to real world cocktails:

Bloody Sister = Bloody Mary
Blue Communion = Sapphire Martini
Inside Sunrise = Tequila Sunrise
Dark ‘n’ Sinful = Dark and Stormy

TA: This is your free space to say anything you want to our readers. The floor’s all yours!

RS: I want to thank everyone who has been supporting the game so far, telling others about it, making podcasts, writing articles, writing posts, long forum analyses, videos, fan art, etc! Since the game is somewhat of a strange object, the word of mouth has been so important. We’re so grateful to all of them! Hekki grace!

A big thank you to Remy for his time and answers, and to the Bens of Fellow Traveller for helping set up this interview. 1000xRESIST is currently available on Steam and Nintendo Switch, and I cannot recommend it enough to anyone who enjoys a good story-based game. Seriously, I won’t shut up about it and it’s starting to annoy the people around me. It’s that good. Thanks for reading, everyone!

If you’d like to buy one of the limited controllers, you can sign up on the official website to get notified of when it goes live here. Check out the official Backbone website here. While this will be only on the official website, other Backbone One controllers are available on Amazon and more retailers. While this one looks excellent, I’m going to hold out for a translucent purple controller if we get one. What do you think of the new Backbone One – Post Malone Limited Edition controller, and will you try and order one next week?

Reviews & Mini-Views

RAILBREAK ($19.99)

As regular readers know, I’m not really into horror games in general. Just not my thing. Survival-horror in particular isn’t something I’m into outside of a few of the Resident Evil games. As such, I have very little experience with the Outbreak series. Judging by how many installments there are however, they seem to have found a decent-sized audience. Well, the latest release in the series on the Switch is a spin-off in a genre that is much more enticing to me: an action-packed rail shooter. You know, like that one SEGA game. Alex Kidd or something.

You can choose from several different survivors, each with their own parameters. Head out on your own, bring a buddy for co-op, it’s up to you. If you’re playing handheld you can use touch controls which is a lot of fun, or you can use the analog sticks to point and shoot. Less fun, but it’s fine. There are six scenarios to play through and a handful of extra modes, which adds up to a fairly meaty experience as this kind of thing goes. The gameplay itself is pure House of the Dead-style undead blasting, with (intentionally) terrible voice acting and gore for miles. The pacing is brisk, and you don’t get much time to pick up the many items and power-ups that are strewn about.

Visually, the game looks okay. The character models can look a little plasticky and cheap, and it sometimes feels like the Switch is struggling when things get hot. There are probably better places to play this game, in other words. But if this is your only option, it gets the job done well enough. Honestly, my first impression of the game wasn’t great. I think I was expecting too much. Once I gave it a little time, I found myself enjoying just how… sincere it is? ‘Sincere’ feels like the right word, yes. It knows exactly what it wants to be, and it goes for it like Wile E Coyote after the Road Runner. Like that beleaguered hero (HE IS A HERO), it never quite catches what it’s after, but the journey itself is entertaining.

Railbreak provides an alternative to the House of the Dead Remake for fans of that series on Switch. It offers a decent amount of content, and the core action has a nice feel to it whether you’re playing alone or with a friend. The presentation is where it struggles, and it feels like it might be a bit much for the hardware. I also feel like playing with the sticks is a bit of a pain, but you can obviously only use touch controls when playing solo. If you want a quick hit of zombie-gunning fun, this will do.

SwitchArcade Score: 3.5/5

EGGCONSOLE Sorcerian PC-8801mkIISR ($6.49)

Just once I would like to see a Sorcerian reissue get localized into English. The last time this game saw an English release, and the only time, was with the MS-DOS release in April of 1990. That’s unfortunate, because Sorcerian is both historically important and a lot of fun for a game of its time. Sadly, it has a fair bit of text that you’ll need to be able to read in order to understand the quest goals and puzzle clues, and it’s all in Japanese. There’s a nice little guide in the wrapper that can help you get started with the game, but it’s not really enough this time.

Sorcerian is a good game, albeit one very much of its era. The problem is that like all EGGCONSOLE releases, nothing has been translated in-game from the original Japanese version. Given how much text is involved with this game and how important it is to completing the game’s quests, that’s going to be a hard deal-breaker for many. If you can read Japanese, by all means – the game is enjoyable, and the quality of the wrapper here is as good as other the other releases in the EGGCONSOLE line-up. Everyone else should give this one a pass.

SwitchArcade Score: 3/5

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Some Shovel Knight sales, presumably to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the game’s release. Buy ’em if you don’t own ’em, they’re all pretty good. If you can only get one, Treasure Trove is essential. A few decent games in the tiny outbox, so give that a look too while you’re out and about.

Select New Sales

Fur Squadron ($3.14 from $6.99 until 6/22)
Bloo Kid ($3.49 from $6.99 until 6/24)
Bloo Kid 2 ($3.49 from $6.99 until 6/24)
Cyber Shadow ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/28)
Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/28)
Shovel Knight Dig ($12.49 from $24.99 until 6/28)
Shovel Knight Treasure Trove ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/28)
Freud’s Bones: The Game ($3.89 from $12.99 until 6/29)
Among Us ($3.00 from $5.00 until 6/30)
Brutalism22 ($2.99 from $9.99 until 6/30)
Frogvival ($2.99 from $9.99 until 6/30)
Bakeborough ($1.99 from $5.99 until 6/30)
Where is Drake? ($2.99 from $9.99 until 6/30)
Venatrix ($1.99 from $14.99 until 7/1)
Block Buster Billy ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)

NIGHTGHAST ($1.99 from $3.49 until 7/1)
Exit Slum 11 ($1.99 from $2.50 until 7/1)
Cats & the Other Lives ($14.99 from $19.99 until 7/3)
Rough Justice ’84 ($11.99 from $19.99 until 7/5)
Godlike Burger ($2.99 from $19.99 until 7/5)
Unrailed! ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/5)
Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes ($2.24 from $14.99 until 7/5)
Warpips ($2.99 from $19.99 until 7/5)
Inkulinati ($18.74 from $24.99 until 7/5)
My Horse Stories ($2.99 from $7.99 until 7/5)
Baking Time ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/5)
Froggy Bouncing Adventures ($3.99 from $4.99 until 7/5)
Xeno Crisis ($7.99 from $19.99 until 7/6)
Tiny Little Farm ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/6)
The Forest Quartet ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/7)
Sigi ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/7)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 18th

Batman Arkham Trilogy ($35.99 from $59.99 until 6/18)
Freedom Planet 2 ($19.99 from $24.99 until 6/18)
Frogsong ($11.24 from $14.99 until 6/18)
It Takes Two ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/18)
Mortal Kombat 1 ($27.99 from $69.99 until 6/18)
Penny’s Big Breakaway ($19.79 from $29.99 until 6/18)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with more… whatever we can find. Sales, for sure. It doesn’t look like there are any new releases lined up yet, and I don’t know if I have anything in the review queue. Well, that’s a problem for Future Shaun. Present Shaun is going to head out and play some games. I hope you all have a magnificent Monday, and as always, thanks for reading!

FANTASIAN, Fantasian isn’t going to be for everyone, but it is certainly a powerful monument to what possibilities Apple Arcade held. A full-on proper RPG from the creator of Final Fantasy, packed with gorgeous sights and challenging battles, Fantasian was so big it had to be delivered in two parts. Composer Nobuo Uematsu did his magic with a very unusual but cool soundtrack, and the presence of a number of Final Fantasy veterans could be felt all throughout the gameplay systems. Handily the best RPG on Apple Arcade, and one of the finest original mobile games in the genre. -Shaun Musgrave

Hello Kitty Island Adventure, While Apple Arcade now feels like it brings in more “+" games rather than bespoke exclusives, we still get those once in a while. Hello Kitty Island Advenutre from Sunblink is easily one of the best newer releases on the service. While originally expected to be just a take on Animal Crossing, Hello Kitty Island Adventure is so much more, and it keeps getting regular updates to make things fresh for players. Hello Kitty Island Adventure is one of the best reasons to stay subscribed to Apple Arcade right now.

Ridiculous Fishing EX, Sure, Ridiculous Fishing EX just came out, but I’m more than comfortable putting it on this list. The original Ridiculous Fishing was already one of the best mobile games ever, and this remade and juiced up release just piles more goodies on top. It’s always nice to see games that understand the strengths of a platform and the ways its users like to play on it, and Ridiculous Fishing EX completely gets it as far as mobile is concerned. You’ll probably burn through the main story quickly, but this EX game has plenty more for you to enjoy after that. -Shaun Musgrave

Sneaky Sasquatch, Sneaky Sasquatch was a somewhat thin game when it launched, but this is a fine example of just how much a game can grow over time. The developer must be bonkers here, because there has been a constant stream of cool new stuff hitting this game. At its core, this is a game about the titular sasquatch and his daily life. At first he was just sneaking around swiping food, but now he does everything from taxi driving to politics. If you like open-ended life sim style games, give this one a shot. Its scope is positively admirable. -Shaun Musgrave

Mini Motorways, As a big fan of Mini Metro, I was extremely excited to see a follow-up arrive in the form of Mini Motorways. Would it be able to maintain the same appeal despite the shift in theme? Could it be different enough to justify its existence? Would it hook me the way its predecessor did? The answer to all of those questions is an emphatic yes. A terrific fast-paced puzzle game that sees you trying to run roads all over the map until everything gets way out of hand, Mini Motorways is tense and fun in all the right ways. It looks and sounds great, too. -Shaun Musgrave

Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On!, The people at Game Freak aren’t just about Pokemon, and if you need proof of that then look no further than Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On!, a unique hybrid of solitaire and horse racing. It isn’t something that should work at all, but it’s somehow completely sublime. Pick your horse, train them up, and then play solitaire during the races to push them to victory. Use some special skills at the right moment and you can turn the tides of any race. Cute, clever, and hard to put down, Pocket Card Jockey is a great way to spend a lazy afternoon or wait in a line-up alike. -Shaun Musgrave

WHAT THE GOLF?, I kept flip flopping on whether I wanted to include What The Golf? or What The Car? here. I decided to go with the former as I’ve played that a lot more. Both games are excellent additions to the service, but What The Golf? is the better overall package. If you do get Apple Arcade, play them both so consider this list entry as me cheating with two games instead of one. What The Golf? has humor, great levels, fun gameplay, and tons of quality content. It is worth your time even if you have no interest in golf.

Sayonara Wild Hearts, Some of the best mobile games are the ones that offer up fairly simple mechanics with a strong narrative, and dress it all up in some of the most stylish sights and sounds a screen can deliver. Sayonara Wild Hearts is one of those games. It’s a rhythm game, but between its dazzling visuals, amazing soundtrack, and confident story-telling, it’s quite unlike any game in that genre you’ve likely played. Developer Simogo and publisher Annapurna Interactive individually have an amazing track record on mobile, and this collaboration easily lives up to the reputations of both. -Shaun Musgrave

Taiko no Tatsujin Pop Tap Beat, If you want a more standard rhythm game experience, you can’t go wrong with Bandai Namco’s Taiko no Tatsujin Pop Tap Beat. Tap your fingers to the beat of a list of songs that includes everything from the Indiana Jones Theme to the Sesame Street song. It’s always getting new tracks added across a variety of genres, and while there are bound to be a lot of songs you don’t know here, they’re all worth playing. A great version of a genre classic, this has been one of my quiet favorites of the Apple Arcade line-up since the minute it was added. -Shaun Musgrave

Grindstone, If there’s a poster child for Apple Arcade originals, Grindstone just might be the best choice. This is a terrific puzzler packed with things to do, the sort that normally cajoles you to buy IAP or watch ads on mobile. Yet here, the game is blissfully free of such things, allowing you to enjoy the pleasures of the matching puzzler genre in a very pure form. It’s enjoyable to play and has charm to burn, making it a perfect fit for those little pockets of time you need to fill. -Shaun Musgrave

There you have it. I know Apple Arcade right now feels very different to how things were in the first two or three years, but there are still many excellent games on the service. Hopefully you find something you like if you do end up subscribing to the service in the near future. If you think I should’ve included something that you like a lot, please let me know in the comments below. As usual, thanks for reading.

Bright Reappear, $0.99 Holy smokes, this is a big-pants update. I’m awarding the coveted UMMSotW prize to this, because it’s a dramatic overhaul of a game I already enjoyed. There are some new heroes to use: Red Panda and Orc, each with their own elimination method. This adds a lot to the game all on its own, but there are also some improvements to the UI, some expanded or upgraded features, and a ton of bug fixes. Wow! I love having new reasons to fire up games I haven’t touched in a while.

Jetpack Joyride, Free Hm, the update notes for Jetpack Joyride are getting a lot thinner lately. Not sure what to make of that. Anyway, it’s time for a new event in the game. It’s pirate-themed, so collect those Golden Skulls and get your goodies. I think we’ve had this event before, so it’s not really anything to go running up and down the street shouting at the top of your voice about.

PiKuBo - 3D Nonogram Puzzles, Free I already wrote about this one in its own article late last week, but I’m including it here again because it’s my party until the party is over. At any rate, this new update for puzzler PiKuBo has two main elements to it. First, a new puzzle pack of thirty-six puzzles you can buy for a buck. Next, some UI adjustments to make it easier to read the clues on the bricks and get into puzzles a little faster via double-tapping on them from the menu. A nice update all around, and I’m sure we’ll be seeing more puzzle packs for this one for a long time to come.