Strange things are occurring in this week’s UK Nintendo eShop line-up

Strange things are occurring in this week’s UK Nintendo eShop line-up, and we aren’t talking about the arrival of a new Wii U game – Horror Stories, a stealthy top-down pixel art affair.  

We are, of course, referring to the launch of Stranger Things 3: The Game. Developed by BonusXP – who were also responsible for the 2017 Stranger Things mobile tie-in – this retro throwback adventure features 12 playable characters and has a focus on co-op play. No reviews are live yet, perhaps due to fear of spoilers as it follows the new season, but you can check out some footage here. Like S3 itself, it goes live today.

Other major new releases for this week are relatively few – “only” 19 Switch release are down for release this week. Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered stands a good chance of climbing the eShop chart – the 2009 original is often referred to as a franchise highpoint.

This conversion apparently has performance issues when docked but in handheld mode it holds up well. Perhaps not the best way to experience it, but for those without a PS4/Xbox One or keen to play on the go, it’s worthwhile.

OVIVO offers an ambient experience, meanwhile, set in a monochromatic world. We found much to enjoy, including some beautiful artwork and an excellent musical score. “It provides something refreshingly different, and you never really get frustrated because retrying a section is so painless and quick,” we said during our review.

Hero Express offers a similar fare – it’s a 2D physics-based driving game also centred around gaining momentum to reach a goal. VideoChums awarded it 3/5, calling it both “worthwhile” and “unique”.

VideoChums has also given Lucah: Born of a Dream the review treatment. This bleak abstract adventure – which features an electronic soundtrack and sketchy minimalistic visuals – garnered a respectable 4/5. “It’s one captivating and enjoyable adventure although it is quite linear which is the only slight issue that I had with it,” they said.

As always, you’ll find the full list of new eShop release below. Other highlights include What Remains of Edith Finch, Arcade Archives Ninja Spirit, and the 16-bit ice hockey homage Super Blood Hockey. Fiiiiight!

New on Switch eShop

Red Faction Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered – £26.99

Set 50 years after the climactic events of the original Red Faction, Red Faction: Guerrilla allows players to take the role of an insurgent fighter with the newly re-established Red Faction movement as they battle for liberation from the oppressive Earth Defense Force. Red Faction: Guerrilla re-defines the limits of destruction-based game-play with a huge open-world, fast-paced guerrilla-style combat, and true physics-based destruction.

Ankh Guardian – Treasure of the Demon’s Temple – £5.89

Ankh Guardian – Treasure of the Demon’s Temple is a side-scrolling action game.

The unique point of this game is how players can interact with their environment: destroy or repair damaged walls in order to progress through the levels.

Arcade Archives Ninja Spirit – £6.29

Ninja Spirit is an action game released by IREM in 1988. The game follows Tsukikage, who was raised in the way of the ninja. As he learns the truth about where he came from, he sets out to travel the land as a rogue ninja to get revenge against the creature that killed his parents.

Asdivine Dios – £11.69

Boasting a voluminous story, an expansive world, treasure filled dungeons, exciting turn-based battles, weapon creation, and more, the all-inclusive RPG experience is here! Plus, limitless enemies and loot, a multitude of subquests, and even bosses that will blow your mind await!

Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator – £13.49

Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator is a game where you play as a Dad and your goal is to meet and romance other hot Dads.

CLANNAD – £40.49

Step inside a heart-warming tale of love, family, and the ties that bind us all together. With gorgeous visuals and a haunting soundtrack, the classic romantic adventure game comes to the Nintendo Switch!

Bus Fix 2019 – £5.39

Accept the repair buses orders.

Diagnose, replace or fix damaged part of buses.

Disassemble for example engine parts, chassis parts, tires.

Hero Express – £4.49

A mad 2D physics based driving game that lets you drive all over the world. Who’s gonna save the day when the hero’s in trouble? Of course the Hero Express! Drive around crazy tracks, powerup your vehicles and save the world.

OVIVO – £6.29

In the world of OVIVO, Black and White exist in harmony. By constantly intertwining and replacing each other, they maintain balance. The main character named OVO was born of these two halves and has the ability to switch between them. OVO travels through the metaphorical world, overcoming dangers and collecting mysterious symbols. These symbols will help you unravel the story of this world, but how you interpret it is completely up to you.

Paradox Soul – £4.99

Paradox Soul is an exploration based, survival Metroidvania that takes hand holding and throws it out of the window. Instead of spelling everything out for the player, the only way for Dr. Alli Rose to figure out what’s going on in a peculiar test facility, is to descend deeper down the rabbit hole and figure it all out by herself.

Pure Mahjong – £8.99

Pure Mahjong is a beautiful, photorealistic Mahjong game that takes the user on a journey through 24 special Chinese events of the solar calendar.

Redneck Skeet Shooting – £4.49

You take role of a country man who loves to shoot. Your objective is simple – shoot any flying object and master your marksman skills. Destroyed items give you gold coins, which you can use to unlock new locations, guns and playable characters. You can earn trophies and try different types of playstyle!

Siralim 3 – £13.49

Siralim 3 is a deep, monster catching RPG. Collect 700+ creatures to fight for you in randomly generated dungeons. Find treasure and use it to craft items, empower your creatures, learn spells, and more.

Stranger Things 3: The Game – £15.99

It’s the summer of 1985 and things are heating up in Hawkins, Indiana. But it’s not just sun, fireworks or summer romance – there’s something below the surface of our characters and Hawkins that’s starting to simmer, but it feels different than before. Very different. After all, change is inevitable.

Super Blood Hockey – £13.49

Arcade sports gaming gets a shot of adrenaline in Super Blood Hockey, a violent homage to classic 8- and 16-bit ice hockey games. Customize your line-up and take to the ice, using fast-paced skills and bone-crunching brutality to dominate.

What Remains of Edith Finch – £17.99

As Edith, you’ll explore the colossal Finch house, searching for stories as she explores her family history and tries to figure out why she’s the last one in her family left alive. Each story you find lets you experience the life of a new family member on the day of their death, with stories ranging from the distant past to the present day.

World Of Riders – £7.19

World Of Riders is the most realistic racing game where you can have a full motorcycle racing experience.

New Switch demos

• Bleep Bloop
• ‘n Verlore Verstand
• Voxel Sword
• OVIVO
• The Charming Empire

New on Wii U eShop

Horror Stories – £3.59

How did you imagine how murders are being committed by serial killers? You find yourself in one of these situations, in which you need not to catch the eye of the killer and try to survive by killing him!

New on 3DS eShop

Pinball Breaker 2 – £5.99

Pinball Breaker 2 is a breakout game which combines the game mechanics of a traditional breakout game and a flipper game.

Next week: GOD EATER 3, DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS 2, SENRAN KAGURA Peach Ball, SolSeraph, Grass Cutter – Mutated Lawns, Professor Lupo and his Horrible Pets, Dead in Vinland – True Viking edition, Doodle God: Crime City, Skulls of the Shogun: Bone-A-Fide Edition, Wayout, Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet, Super Mutant Alien Assault, and LOST ORBIT: Terminal Velocity.