Another year has passed and we have witnessed a positive smorgasbord in Switch eShop releases. We also see a handful of new games being launched each week.
We’re not able to cover all of it. Everything It’s the same thing that graced the Nintendo Switch in 2022.However, we have tried our best to locate any lost games and made every effort to retrieve them.
We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of excellent indie titles released this year. It has often left us wondering how we should spend our limited time and resources, particularly during busy times. Things will inevitably slip through our net, unfortunately, and we’ve put calls out for reader recommendations of titles that we missed — and you lovely readers have consistently risen to the task.
We’d like today to show you a bunch of games we feel may have missed your radar due to their launch at the wrong time or simply because they are a bit unknown. It consists mostly games that we have reviewed and feel need a little more love. We also include a few titles we enjoy after the fact, but didn’t cover on the site.
Let’s get started.
Publisher: DANGEN Entertainment / Developer: Future Cat
A short, compelling point-and-click adventure game originally developed in 2014, OneShot: World Machine Edition has an endearing, sombre story in which developer Future Cat makes you – the player – a character. As Nico, a cat-like child is on the hunt for Nico, the game installs on a PC and acts as both a narrative and menu device. Niko will often break the fourth wall and address you by your Nintendo Switch username as she guides you through a dying world.
We found that none of the puzzles were difficult, which is a stark contrast to the adventure games from two or three decades back. Yet, we felt the dopamine rush every time things fell into place, just like the adventure games. The credits were over before we knew what, and we just sat back, contemplative of its bittersweet ending. A Very Good Video Game™.
Haiku the Robot has all the characteristics of non-linear platformers like Metroidvania (enter a area, find an upgrade and use it to access new zones), but also features a stellar world-building experience and a GBA-inspired style. Haiku’s post-apocalyptic journey plays out as any Metroidvania. There is a new game mode that was added within the first months of the game’s release. Robots are more adorable than ever, nuts and bolts are less irritating, and the apocalypse looks better than ever.
This will be a good place to start if you are looking for an entry point into the genre. However, Metroidvania lovers will have a lot of fun here.
Publisher: No More Robots / Developer: Springloaded
Let’s Build a Zoo has a lot of great features. The game allows players to be hands-on with the management of their zoo. Or they can choose to relax and take a more laid back approach to building an animal kingdom. The variety of animals and charming visuals more than make up for the lackluster tutorials and monotonous music. If you are looking for something to do at a low price, this is the right choice.
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Publisher: Iceberg Interactive / Developer: Bad Viking
Strange Horticulture’s biggest struggle is shoehorning itself into the Switch’s little screen and thumbstick controls. Although it does this well enough to keep its wonder, it might be more enjoyable if you have a PC to use. It starts from a very basic place, a single-screen playfield with simple, scripted interactions. But that is the perfect backdrop to throw the player’s new discoveries into sharp relief and bring an eerie world and gripping mystery to life. This irresistible immersion stems eventually from a quiet and unassuming start, so stick with it – it’ll grow on you.
Publisher: Vectorpark / Developer: Vectorpark
Patrick Smith’s charming Windosill is a fun, lighthearted, and quite magical journey through a series enchanting puzzles. It has a unique aesthetic that clearly influenced Donut County’s art style. Monument Valley. The wonderfully laid-back and often trippy vibe here elevates what is actually a rather simple and short experience — you can blast through it all in less than an hour — into something that really does have the power to stay with you long after you’ve completed its charming collection of challenges.
Publisher: X.D. Network / Developer: Freebird Games
Finding Paradise, a worthy successor of the superlative To The Moon, is a worthy sequel. While this sequel may not be as emotional as the first, it is still worth the effort. It’s a rich, complex, well-told, thoughtful, and engaging adventure that will last a lifetime. RPG Maker XP can have a few issues with traversal, transitions between scenes and other minor issues. However, these are minor problems that are well worth the experience you’ll have over the five-hour duration.
Publisher: tinyBuild / Developer: Splashteam
Tinykin as a whole is more than a wholesome and stress-free 3D platformer. Tinykin doesn’t feel cluttered or overwhelming, despite the many collectibles available and a storyline that is easy to follow. The game feels a lot similar to a Nintendo series, but it has enough uniqueness to be its own. It offers a refreshing, pure platforming spin on Pikmin, despite feeling like a Nintendo series.
Publisher: Secret Mode / Developer: Ghostbutter
Despite its repetitiveness and short length, Penko Park is still a wonderfully charming ‘successor’ to Pokémon Snap. Penko Park succeeds in both honoring its heritage and creating its identity. Fans of Pokémon Snap would be remiss to overlook this game and will surely have a great time discovering everything that Penko Park has to offer.
Publisher: PLAYISM / Developer: Ladybug Team
Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth doesn’t take too long to beat — even the most curious/thorough/careful player is unlikely to go over the 10-hour mark — but when the adventure’s this much fun and as densely packed with creativity, does it matter? At the end of it all you’re far more likely to feel satisfied than short-changed, and Deedlit’s tale is a surprisingly touching one regardless of how much or little you already know about Lodoss. This is an excellent alternative if you want Symphony of the Night without feeling like a cheap imitation.
Publisher: Fellow Traveller / Developer: Hidden Spot Games
Beacon Pines is a rich, thoughtful world with charming characters. It is a delightful experience thanks to the beautifully-crafted artwork and the soundtrack that sets the mood. Although it might not appeal to action-lovers, the story is compelling and Luka, Rolo and Beck explore a variety of unusual situations. You might finish it in less than a workday, but it’ll stay with you for much longer.
Publisher: Secret Mode
Have you ever wished you could breed dogs? Most likely not. Wobbledogs fulfills this dream, but instead of beautiful little puppies, you make cuboid abominations using comedically-bizarre breeding practices that involve dogs regularly laying eggs and going into cocoons. If you do it right, you can have your dogs with six legs and wings or one leg and a look in the eyes that says, “Why have you done this, dad?” Although it sounds like mad science, Wobbledogs can be the best way to have selective breeding without having to consult an ethics committee.
