Games

Published on April 20th, 2023 | by Adrian Gunning

EXPLORE THE ADVENTUROUS INDIE GAMES HEADED TO NINTENDO SWITCH IN LATEST INDIE WORLD SHOWCASE

Nintendo debuted a new Indie World Showcase today, which featured a roster of more than 20 indie games coming to Nintendo Switch in 2023 and beyond. Among the presentation’s many highlights was the reveal of Blasphemous 2, along with the game’s first trailer and launch reveal of winter 2023. The showcase also dropped the news that the slapstick RPG Shadows Over Loathing, which is chock-full of mobsters, monsters and mysteries, has slunk its way onto Nintendo eShop today.

Other games featured included Mineko’s Night Market, the adventure-sim about a curious girl exploring her lively new home at the base of Mount Fugu, launching for Nintendo Switch 27^th September; My Time at Sandrock, the captivating sequel to My Time at Portia, which launches this winter; OXENFREE II: Lost Signals, taking place five years after the events of OXENFREE, coming to Nintendo Switch on 13^th July, and the free Relics of the Old Faith update for Cult of the Lamb, which launches 25^th April, featuring new challenges, enemies and ways to keep non-believers in line for the “cult” hit colony-simulation game.

To view the Indie World video in its entirety, visit Indie World Showcase – 20/04/2023 (Nintendo Switch).

See below for more detailed information regarding the featured games:

• Mineko’s Night Market from Meowza Games and Humble Games: As the adorable Mineko in this narrative adventure-sim, you’ll do various jobs, befriend the townsfolk and craft all sorts of doodads for the weekly Night Market. There are a ton of things to do, like joining parades, entering cat races and performing on stage. And if you’re just itching to explore, the island has many secrets to uncover and puzzles to solve. Stop by Mineko’s Night Market, setting up shop on Nintendo Switch 27^th September.

• My Time at Sandrock from Pathea Games and PM Studios: Through a captivating story rife with dozens of characters and side quests, you’re tasked with restoring a post-apocalyptic desert community to its former glory in this sequel to My Time at Portia. You’ll gather resources to assemble machines and transform a derelict workshop into a finely-tuned facility. Why not venture into ancient ruins and scavenge for relics? Or say hi to the locals and make some friends? This town’s popular with the monsters, so take ’em down in melee combat. Plus, if you have the main game, a separate online* multiplayer version will be available after the game launches, so you and your friends can help Sandrock thrive together. My Time at Sandrock launches on Nintendo Switch this winter.
• PlateUp! from It’s happening and Yogscast Games: Create, decorate and automate the restaurant of your dreams in the roguelite management-sim PlateUp!, the game where lots of hungry customers clamour for meals at lightning-fast speeds. Manage both the kitchen and front of house to keep your customers happy. At the end of every randomly generated shift, you can acquire new high-tech appliances like turbo ovens to upgrade your kitchen and make your next restaurant venture even more successful. Up to three friends can join you locally** or online* to help run your culinary empire. Serve up some deliciousness when PlateUp! launches on Nintendo Switch in October.
• Quilts and Cats of Calico from Monster Couch: Make a purr-fect quilt from patterned pieces of fabric in this adaptation of the tabletop game Calico. Place pieces on a board and sew buttons to score points and attract adorable cats. Each cat has a preferred pattern, so stitch in style to become an expert quilt maker. You can also take some time to customise your cats and give them a paw-sitively great look. Get cosy with up to three friends in local** and online* multiplayer, join ranked matches against online players or try your hand at weekly challenges. Cuddle up with Quilts and Cats of Calico, launching on Nintendo Switch this spring.
• Rift of the NecroDancer from Tic Toc Games and Brace Yourself Games: In this spin-off of Crypt of the NecroDancer, move to the rhythm with a new musical twist to lane-based combat. Monsters will come flying at you, so match the on-screen prompts to kick ’em to the curb. Each one has a different movement pattern, and some take multiple hits to defeat. Look forward to boss battles that’ll really get you groovin’ and a special minigame to play for each of the five character storylines. Keep the beat alive when Rift of the NecroDancer launches on Nintendo Switch this year.
• A Little to the Left Cupboards & Drawers from Max Inferno and Secret Mode: More puzzles await in the paid Cupboards & Drawers DLC*** for A Little to the Left. Get tidying across 25 new puzzles as you explore a world of small spaces, secret compartments and surprising bits and bobs stuffed into every drawer. Charming new illustrations and scenarios are also included in this DLC, which launches on Nintendo Switch this June.
• Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon Puzzler’s Pack from Vine and Yacht Club Games: Dig into more roguelite puzzle action in the free Puzzler’s Pack DLC*** for Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon. Venture forth as two newly playable characters, test your puzzle prowess with Quandary Challenges and make your way through the perplexing halls of Castle Quandary. You can also pay Mr. Hat a visit for over 20 in-game hats to modify runs or pick up some nifty new relics in Chester’s Shop. This DLC shovels its way onto Nintendo Switch this autumn.
• Cult of the Lamb Relics of the Old Faith from Massive Monster and Devolver Digital: Expand your flock in this free update**** to Cult of the Lamb. Dozens of new items, relics and enemies are scattered across remixed dungeons, guarded by new versions of the four guardian bishops. Take your spoils back to the cult with new buildings to construct and followers to recruit, plus a new unlockable quest. And after beating the game, keep the faith going with the new Permadeath, Gauntlet and Boss Rush modes. Relics of the Old Faith launches on Nintendo Switch on 25^th April.
• ANIMAL WELL from Shared Memory and Bigmode: In this atmospheric pixelated world, you’ll search for treasures as you gradually uncover a dense environment. Where you go is entirely up to you. Many interesting creatures live here, but some might be hostile, so stay alert. Any items you’ve picked up can be used in a number of ways, like making a quick getaway or even having friendly creatures help you out in a pinch. There’s a lot to uncover, so get crafty with your items and see what you find. Summon your courage and curiosity for ANIMAL WELL, launching on Nintendo Switch this summer.
• Crime O’Clock from Bad Seed and Just For Games: There’s no time to waste in this puzzle-exploration game; you’ve got over 40 cases to solve across time and space. There are many eras to visit, from the Lost Age to a cybernetic future. In each era, you’ll see how crime scenes develop for different time ticks, and taking action in one era can change events in another. By travelling through time, meeting characters and resolving each case, your map will change and more adventures will be unlocked. Set your alarms to Crime O’Clock when it launches on Nintendo Switch on 30^th June.
• Teslagrad 2 and Teslagrad Remastered from Rain Games and Modus Games: Harness electromagnetic powers to solve physics-based puzzles and move seamlessly through Scandinavian-inspired environments. Yet, this land holds many dangers, as fearsome beasts stand in your way. Master the art of Teslamancy and defeat them to discover additional areas to explore. Plus, play a remastered version of the first Teslagrad with enhanced visuals and 10 extra challenge levels in the Teslagrad Power Pack Edition featuring both games on Nintendo Switch, available now. You can also purchase Teslagrad 2 and Teslagrad Remastered separately.
• Shadows Over Loathing from Asymmetric Games LLC: Set in the 1920s within the West of Loathing universe, Shadows Over Loathing is a slapstick RPG full of silliness and stick figures. Venture through a sprawling black-and-white world filled with talking frogs, sentient math and eldritch horrors. There are also a ton of roles to play, from marching to the beat of your own nefarious schemes as a Jazz Agent to holding the curds of the cosmos in your hands as a Cheese Wizard. The digital version of Shadows Over Loathing is available now on Nintendo Switch
• Blasphemous 2 from The Game Kitchen and Team 17: Calling all calloused and wounded souls: return to follow The Penitent One again through a mysterious land filled with nightmares in this sequel to the nightmarishly fun hack-’n-slash platformer Blasphemous. Explore a dark world that’s faithful to the original game with its skill-based combat and tricky platforming elements, that also improves upon its signature pixel art style and the range of abilities at your disposal. Featuring progression systems, custom builds and an expanded player move set, your judgment awaits on Nintendo Switch this winter.
• OXENFREE II: Lost Signals from Night School Studio and Netflix: Set five years after OXENFREE, Riley returns to her hometown of Camena to research strange electromagnetic waves. Tune the radio to communicate with supernatural beings, manipulate the world around you and watch out for a shadowy cult attempting to open a reality-altering portal. While exploring the town, use the new walkie-talkie conversation system to connect with local contacts. Your choices will have an impact on Riley’s development, relationships and the story. Tune in to OXENFREE II: Lost Signals, launching on Nintendo Switch on 13^th July. Pre-orders are available now on Nintendo eShop.

This Indie World Showcase also included an exciting montage of several more indie games arriving in the future for Nintendo Switch:

• Paper Trail from Newfangled Games, an adventure game where you fold, twist and rotate the world itself to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles, launching in August.
• Little Kitty, Big City from Double Dagger Studio, in which a peaceful catnap turns into a whimsical adventure full of sandbox exploration and plenty of customisable kitties, launching in 2024.
• Chants of Sennaar from Runedisk and Focus Entertainment, which launches on 5^th September and features an endless labyrinth where ancient languages are both the lock and the key.
• Brotato from Blobfish and Seaven Studio, a top-down arena shooter roguelite that lets you play a potato wielding up to six weapons at a time to fight off hordes of aliens, launching this year.
• Escape Academy: The Complete Edition from Coin Crew Games and iam8bit, featuring hand-crafted escape-room puzzles that can be played locally** or online* with friends, launching this spring.
• Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach from Steel Wool Studios and ScottGames:  In the latest instalment of the family-friendly horror games you’ll play as Gregory, a young boy trapped overnight in Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex. With the help of Freddy Fazbear himself, Gregory must survive the near-unstoppable hunt of reimagined Five Nights at Freddy’s characters – as well as new, horrific threats. Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach is available now.
• Bomb Rush Cyberfunk from Team Reptile, a game where you can dance, paint, pull off tricks, face off with the cops and reach new heights of graffiti, launching on 18^th August.

The latest Indie World presentation featured reveals, announcements, and updates on more than 20 titles coming to Nintendo Switch. Highlights of the presentation included the reveal of Blasphemous 2 (launching this winter), the release date for Mineko’s Night Market as 27^th September, and the news that Shadows Over Loathing, Teslagrad 2,Teslagrad Remastered and Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach are all available now.

Related videos:

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About the Author

Adrian Gunning Adrian lives in Melbourne Australia and has a huge passion for gaming, technology and pop culture. He recently finished his a Bachelor of Journalism and is currently focusing on games journalism. When not writing and playing video games, Adrian can be found in Comics 'R' Us debating the pros of the DC Universe and cons of the Marvel Universe.

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