It’s the end of another great year for gaming, but that doesn’t mean all the excitement is over. Not only did we get the Sony State of Play this week, but the Nintendo indie showcase has revealed a bunch of the indies that’ll hit the Switch next year! The release dates are a bit vague, mainly range from early to late 2020… but a few of them surprised us with a release date of the same day as the showcase! Let’s dive in and take a look!
Sports Story (Sidebar Games)
The Nintendo indie showcase started with a bang, or rather with a ball, with Sports Story. Sidebar Games, creators of Golf Story, takes things one step further by reminding us that other sports exist too. Sam has done a full write-up of this new quirky sequel here, so go check it out!
Available: mid 2020
Streets of Rage 4 (Dotemu, Guard Crush Games, Lizardcube)
It’s been a long 15 years since we’ve hit the streets with epic, knuckle-busting action. Now Streets of Rage 4 so close we can almost taste it! This long-awaited sequel updates the classic Streets of Rage with a flashy new look, while staying true to the heart of the series. Thats is, beating the tar out of random punks in the street while eating food off the ground.
Available: first half of 2020
Gleamlight (D3PUBLISHER)
Gleamlight gives us some serious Hollow Knight vibes with its metroidvania gameplay and 2d animated style. Coming from the developers of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, this is a beautiful stained glass adventure that tells an emotional tale.
Available: early 2020
Bake n’ Switch (Streamline Media Group)
Don’t get too attatched to those cute, cuddley dough animals! Working as a team, you and up to 3 others will need to punch, combine, and bake those animals into tasty treats for the guardians of dough. This party brawler looks a little reminicent of the chaotic Overcooked, but with a variety of different games and modes to master.
Available: Winter 2020
SuperMash (Digital Continue)
What’s better than a good old mashup? Not a lot, and SuperMash knows this very well. Set in a game shop owned by a brother and sister, this is a game that makes other games by combining genres together to create something different each time. It’s got a cool random element that’ll keep the gameplay fresh, plus you can share your creations with others similar to Super Mario Maker. One of the developers have challanged us to try out his favourite genre mash-up, by using the code ZYX1W1. We’ll be sure to try that one out!
Available: May 2020
The Talos Principle: Deluxe Edition (Croteam, Divolver Digital)
3D puzzle games that make us question our existance in the universe seems to be its own genre these days. We’ve got Portal, the Witness, and of course The Talos Principle, which released in 2014. It recieved widely positive reviews, and the Deluxe edition (which includes the Road to Gehenna expansion) has been out for PS4 for some time. The Deluxe Edition is the version that’s been announced during the Nintendo indie showcase, so you can break your brain on those laser puzzles on the go.
Release: today!
Sail Forth (David Evans, The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild)
Sail the vast open seas in Sail Forth, which offers a presedurally generated ocean full of pirates, islands, and loot. This adventure combines classic naval action with exploration on both sea and land. It’s filled with a plentiful bounty of quests that will reward any brave and daring sailor. Most importantly, you can customise your boat and gather your very own fleet.
Release: TBD 2020
Dauntless (Phoenix Labs)
Dauntless is a free-to-play action RPG that released in September this year. In a post-apocalyptic fantasy world, creatures called Behemoths threaten the remaining population with extinction. As slayers, you can now join millions of players around the world on every console with cross-play. Exclusive to the Nintendo Switch version is the Skyfighter Armor and Skymetal Weapon set, including weapon skins for all 7 weapon types. Dauntless is one of the fastest-growing online RPGs, with regular updates and new content.
Available: today!
Murder by Numbers (Mediatonic)
This one could get weird, folks. Maybe you’ve heard of the pigeon dating simulator Hateoful Boyfriend? Well, Mediatonic is one of the studios behind that deceptively frivolous game. This new game stars a Hollywood actress thrown into a conspiracy filled with murder, lies, and… picross? It features some cool looking character designs plus music by Masakazu Sugimori, the composer behind Phoenix Wright. If it’s anything like Hateoful Boyfriend, Murder by Numbers will be an entertaining and wild ride with hidden, terrifying depths.
Available: Early 2020
Oddworld: Strangers Wrath (Oddworld Inhabitants Inc)
Here’s another old classic making its way to the Nintendo Switch. In this action-adventure game originally for the Xbox, the protagonist Stranger brings a new meaning to using live ammo – his crossbow fires anything from bugs to rodents. The Switch version will be the definitive edition of the game, including updated first-person aiming and gyroscopic controls. It’s already up for pre-purchase.
Available: January 2020
SkateBIRD (Glass Bottom Games)
Get it? Skate BIRD? Move over Tony Hawk, there are some new skate masters in town. Grind, Ollie, and kick-flip your way around your owner’s room as a birdie that’s too-cool-for-school. This one just looks like plain fun, where you can kick back and watch these colourful fellas take to the skies… on their boards, of course.
Available: Late 2020
Liberated (Atomic Wolf, Walkabout)
Liberated blends a cool noir comic style with a Cyberpunk setting to create a unique world under oppression. But it’s no visual novel: in the trailer we can spot 3D action, car chases, puzzle gameplay, interaction, and 2D exploration. The action will change from panel to panel, flowing with the story to create a seamless experience. Follow each character’s perspective as they work to get to the bottom of their rotten society.
Available: TBD 2020
Boyfriend Dungeon (Kitfox Games)
Boyfriend Dungeon has finally solved the mystery that has stumped experts for millenia: what makes a perfect boyfriend? Of course, the answer was weapons! In this dungeon crawler, the weapons by your side ARE your dating prospects. Take your chosen companion down into the depths and lay waste to monsters before returning to saefty to develop your budding romance. And despite its name, not all of the dangerous cuties are men. There’s nome non-binary representation too!
Available: TBD 2020
Dreamscaper (Afterburner Studio)
Trapped inside a young woman’s dreams is a nightmare world full of monsters born of her anxious mind. Using a mix of an expansive combat system to beat them back. It’s a combination of a brawler and a top-down shooter, with dreamlike environments littered with precious artifacts and dastardly puzzles. While she’s awake, the woman can use the friendships she makes with others to “despell the darkness within”, but when night falls she must return to her nightmares.
Available: Early 2020
The Survivalists (Level 17)
Washed up on an island with nothing but your wits, what else can you do but… survive? Set in the Escapists universe, The Survivalists is a crafting, base-building and monkey-training adventure. Play alone or with friends in this pixelated sandbox, both local and online, and build up your skills of survival.
Available: TBD 2020
Axiom Verge 2 (Thomas Happ Games)
The Nintendo indie showcase had one last surprise announcement in store for us. The sequel to the critically acclaimed Axiom Verge tells the origin story of its world. Though we didn’t get much with this reveal, we did see a bunch of awesome new locations with those beautiful pixel art style. I’m sure the one-man development team will have more details for us very soon.
Available: Spring 2020
About the Author
Edie W-K
she/her
If it isn't video games, Edie doesn't care about it. She's been playing games since the N64 era, and only spent enough time away from her 3DS to earn a Bachelor in Games Design from RMIT.
