Can this week’s UK Switch eShop line-up topple last week’s double-whammy of Wolfenstein and Fire Emblem? In short: no. There are a few bits and pieces of note though, even if some are knocking on a bit.
As for stuff shiny and new, there’s the strategic shooter Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden, which includes the Seed of Evil expansion and a new character – Big Khan the Moose. Word has it this Switch conversion is rather rough visually, especially in handheld mode. The physical release apparently requires an additional 3GB (approx.) download too, so also be wary of that.
Nintendo Life still felt it deserving of 8/10 despite the visual downgrade. “Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden is one of the best additions to the tactical RPG genre years; a well-written and rewarding experience that combines the creative use of stealth found in the legacy of its ex-Hitman developers with a world that’s full of interesting characters and ideas,†they said.
Anime-style RPG Omega Labyrinth Life favours tactical turn-based combat as well. It’s also on the raunchy side, so…there’s that. For the seriously dedicated, the deluxe edition – launching at an eyebrow-raising £71.99 – includes new costumes and other exclusive items.
Despite looking magical, reviews of Solo: Islands of the Heart – a colourful island-hopping puzzler with love as a central theme – are rather mixed so far. Vooks opted for a 3.5/5 (“an interesting experimentâ€) to a sloppy 4/10 from Nintendo World Report: “I admire Solo: Islands of the Heart for its ambition, but virtually every aspect of the game falls short of the noble goals of making an introspective puzzle game centered on love and relationships.â€
We’re still waiting on reviews for the intriguing The Church in the Darkness, an adventure set in the late ‘70s which entails infiltrating a shady religious cult. Outlook: hopeful. Pixel art base-builder Forager is review shy too but should be a safe purchase – the PC version went down exceedingly well. It may even be the best new release out this week.
Then there’s The Tower of Beatrice, which we reviewed ourselves. It’s a point ‘n click puzzler, minus the pointing ‘n clicking – all items must be cycled through manually, which is fatiguing in places. Still, it’s a decent way to blow a fiver, providing plenty of puzzles to mull over. Bear With Me offers more traditional point and clicking, being a noir adventure starring a young boy and a gruff bear detective.
Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power – aka the one nobody liked due to going full 3D – also lands on Switch this week. That’s joined by the 2015 indie hit Plague Inc: Evolved, a belated conversion of the 2D Power Ranger-style parody RPG Chroma Squad – which Nintendo World Report enjoyed – and the ZX Spectrum classic Saboteur II: Avenging Angel, which dates all the way back to 1985. It was a Crash Smash, don’t you know?
Switch Retail – New Releases
Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden – Deluxe Edition – £39.99
Includes the SEED OF EVIL expansion DLC which continues the story of Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden by adding several hours of gameplay and a new mutant character: Big Khan the Moose. Explore new locations and embark on a mission to save the Ark from a mysterious invasion.
Omega Labyrinth Life – £53.99
Take it easy in the latest addition to the series, Omega Labyrinth! Now, in addition to adventuring through dungeons, you can enjoy the finer things in life. Taking care of flowers, rebuilding the academy, having a little fun on the side…
Chroma Squad – £13.49
Cast actors, purchase equipment and upgrades for your studio, craft weapons and giant Mechas out of cardboard and duct tape. Once the cameras are rolling, you will control your cast of five coloured-jumpsuit-clad warriors in dramatic, turn-based battles!
Plague Inc: Evolved – £11.99
Plague Inc: Evolved is a unique mix of high strategy and terrifyingly realistic simulation. Your pathogen has just infected ‘Patient Zero’ – now you must bring about the end of human history by evolving a deadly, global Plague whilst adapting against everything humanity can do to defend itself.
Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power – £17.99
Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power is a 3D platforming game of action, puzzles and adventure. The heroes try to return their extraordinary gifts to the Artifact called Trine, and so they meddle with powers beyond their understanding: Trine shatters, and a heartless ancient sorcerer escapes.
Catch a Duck- £3.81
Face the challenge of catching ducks in a funny hand-drawn forest. Outsmart hunters, cause a brawl between a wolf and a bear, use hideouts, move through underground tunnels, avoid traps but make enemies fall into them! Be a sly fox!
Forager – £17.99
Forager is a 2D open-world game inspired by your favourite exploration, farming and crafting games.- Gather, collect and manage resources.
Raiders of the North Sea – £16.19
It’s Raiding Season! Assemble a crew and outfit a longboat to raid settlements for gold and fame! Impress your Chieftain in glorious battle and win your place among the legends of the North Sea in this digital adaptation of the award-winning board game!
Bear With Me: The Lost Robots – £3.99
The noir episodic point and click adventure series Bear With Me is back! Introducing Bear With Me: The Lost Robots – an all-new prequel chapter featuring Amber’s brother Flint and the callous detective Ted E. Bear.
The Messenger – Picnic Panic Bundle – £17.99
This bundle includes: The Messenger + The Messenger – Picnic Panic
The Tower of Beatrice – £5.39
Working on a contract for a mysterious client, you’ll need to infiltrate the tower of the powerful sorcerer Beatrice, steal her Book of Recipes, and get out alive.
Bear With Me: The Complete Collection – £11.99
Bear With Me: The Complete Collection features all previously released episodes as well as the new prequel The Lost Robots. This collection is the definitive way for players to experience the franchise.
Arcade Archives VICTORY ROAD – £6.29
VICTORY ROAD is an action game released by SNK in 1986. RALF and CLARK, after finishing their mission in IKARI WARRIORS, suddenly find themselves dragged into an alternate dimension.
Dungeon Warfare – £6.99
Dungeon Warfare is a challenging tower defence game where you become a dungeon lord to defend your dungeon against greedy adventurers. As you successfully purify your dungeons throughout the world from the pesky invaders, you will gain access to more powerful traps and devious utilities.
Hamsterdam – £7.99
Play as the hamster hero Pimm and harness the mightiest martial arts powers. Kicktail through district after district on a heart-pounding journey to take down the Vermin Gang, save Grandpa, and restore peace to Hamsterdam. The once peaceful town of Hamsterdam is in danger!
Illusion of L’Phalcia – £10.52
Experience epic 3D battles and customize characters with Runes & Gems in a fantasy RPG with an adventure awaiting in search of the legendary Sword of Amal! The Sword of Amal, a legendary treasure said to grant any wish. Ryser is travelling around the world as a seeker with his buddy, Cougar, from the Leopard clan, in search of this artifact of legend.
M.A.C.E. Tower Defense – £3.59
M.A.C.E. Tower Defense is a classic tower defense game with unique towers and enemies and an in-game shop system for getting better towers, upgrade existing towers and buy special items (Atom Bomb, Splash Bomb, Air supply).
Omega Labyrinth Life – Omega Labyrinth Life Deluxe Edition – £71.99
The Omega Labyrinth Life Deluxe Edition includes the main title and a set of DLC, including costumes to dress characters up in on the home screen, items to change academy BGM into character songs from the series, and more. The deluxe edition also boasts exclusive items.
Pandemic – £17.99
Humanity is on the brink of extinction. As members of an elite disease control team, you’re the only thing standing in the way of the four deadly diseases spreading across the world. You must travel the globe protecting cities, containing infections from spreading, and discovering the cure for each disease.
Pelican and Medjed – £6.29
Go to the exciting 8-bit-Exotic worlds! To reach to the goal, break blocks and take bananas! Try speedrun, and get the best rank! Enjoy the Action puzzle from 16 stages, and more SPECIAL stage! Can you reach the Final boss?
Robbie Swifthand and the Orb of Mysteries – £15.99
Robbie Swifthand and the Orb of Mysteries is a 2D platformer consisted of mind intriguing psychology-based level design, epically unique boss fights accompanied by groovy and mystifying music. Plan ahead your every move and outsmart the traps that are lurking in the temple or get dissected in hilarious ways!
Solo: Islands of the Heart – £11.99
Love is a universal feeling, but each of us experiences it in a different way. Solo: Islands of the Heart explores the theme of love in an introspective way, allowing players to identify and reflect on their own experiences. The world is divided into archipelagos, with each island representing a unique puzzle.
STANDBY – £4.49
Escape the glitched-out world in this high-octane fast-paced platformer – do it as fast as you can! STANDBY is an ‘easy to learn, hard to master’ adrenaline rush precision platformer, with devious levels that will challenge your reactions and concentration.
Shinobi Spirits S: Legend of Heroes – £4.68
The flames of war run rampant. Ieyasu Tokugawa has been made general of the Edo Shoganate. However, General Yukimura Sanada and his Beast Brigade head the resistance against Ieyasu! But then one day, Saizo Kirigakure returns from a mission to find Yukimura and the entire Beast Brigade missing…
Sudoku Relax 2 Summer Waves – £4.13
popular “Sudoku Relax” title is coming out with a sequel, “Sudoku Relax 2”. This new title is filled with bright cool colours and brings a sense of calm. Choose from EASY, NORMAL, or HARD modes with over 300 puzzles. Exercise your brain and wind down to the relaxing gameplay and music.
Burger Chef Tycoon – £4.49
Like going into town for a bite to eat? Everybody does! But perhaps you’d like to see that from the other side? Not everyone can, so don’t waste the opportunity! Manage the preparation of burgers, french fries, crispy chicken and a multitude of other treats!
Saboteur II: Avenging Angel – £5.66
Saboteur II: Avenging Angel is the second part of the classic retro game hit made by Clive Townsend in 1985 for the ZX Spectrum 8-bit computer. In 1985 Saboteur! received the prestigious award “The Crash Smash” from Crash magazine and was high-rated with a 93% score.
Swallow Up – £6.29
Swallow up is a relaxing, hyper-casual game. Just clear the board! No fancy user interface, no music but a simple game sound that makes you idle, relaxing. Enjoy the massive objects falling scene. Not only can use a joystick to enjoy all levels but also can control the ball by touching screen at the same time.
Super Wiloo Demake – £3.99
Wiloo and Agatha need to rescue their dog from the clutches of Dr.ETvaldo! Roll, fly, jump, and shoot your way across a variety of different platforming levels using unique power-ups to reach the end of the level. Can you defeat all 5 bosses and rescue your buddy?
Swaps and Traps
£4.04 for owners of Robonauts, Jumping Joe & Friends, Escape Doodland, or Geki Yaba Runner Anniversary Edition
Mike is a decent man. An ordinary one, you might say. But he is no pushover when it comes to capturing the enchanted hat from his nemesis, Divider.
The Church in the Darkness – £14.39
In the late 1970s, the charismatic Isaac and Rebecca Walker lead the Collective Justice Mission. Labelled radicals and feeling persecuted by the US government, they relocate their followers to the one place they believe they can create a socialist utopia: the jungles of South America.
Wreckin’ Ball Adventure – £3.14
Wreckin’ Ball Adventure is a 2.5D platformer with physics-based puzzles cleverly incorporated in 60 levels. Beat story mode solo or bring up to 3 friends! You can roll, jump or swing using your trusty grappling hook.
New on 3DS eShop
Pinball Breakout 3 – £5.99
Pinball Breakout 3 is a breakout game which combines the game mechanics of a traditional breakout game and a flipper game. Play through 15 exciting levels as you aim for a high score.
Cube Creator DX – £10.79
Cube Creator DX is a creative, action-adventure game with a freedom to explore the world of cubes with the look and feel stemming from Japanese gameplay origins. Fight against monsters, gather resources, and craft new materials in this enhanced Cube Creator adaptation.
New Switch demos
- The Mystery of Woolley Mountain
- Wordsweeper by POWGI
New Switch pre-orders
- Spyro Reignited Trilogy
- Root Letter: Last Answer
- Exception
- Escape from the Universe
- Bubsy: Paws on Fire!
- Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark
- Oh!Edo Towns
- Sudoku Universe
- Pix the Cat
- #RaceDieRun
- The Pyraplex
- Wordsweeper by POWGI
- Agent A: A puzzle in disguise
- VASARA Collection
Next week: Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition, #RaceDieRun, Oh!Edo Towns, The Pyraplex, Doughlings: Invasion, UglyDolls: An Imperfect Adventure, Epic Clicker Journey, The Forbidden Arts, Damsel, FIA European Truck Racing Championship, Subdivision Infinity DX, Welcome to Hanwell, Taimumari: Complete Edition, and Turok 2: Seeds of Evil.