Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for January 12th, 2023. It’s more of a normal Thursday this week, with a good dozen or so new releases to look at. A few of them are very, very good. We’ve got summaries of all of them, plus the latest sales and expiring discounts for the day. There’s a lot to look at, so let’s get to it!
New Releases
Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider ($16.99)
This one comes from the makers of Oniken, Odallus, and Blazing Chrome. If you’ve played any of those games, this probably has your attention already. It’s another side-scrolling action game, and it has vibes of things like Ninja Gaiden, Shinobi, Strider, and more. Battle through eight awesome levels as a well-equipped cyber ninja, slicing and dicing whatever gets in your way. I’ll have a review of it soon, but I can already tell you that it’s very good.
Terror of Hemasaurus ($14.99)
If you like Rampage, you need to have your eyes on this game. It takes all the fun parts of that game and expands on them with bigger stages, more gameplay mechanics, and a ton more carnage. Up to four people can enjoy this one via local multiplayer, too. Punting an incoming car into a building to knock it down just might be a thing that never gets old. I should have a review of this one early next week, but it’s another game I feel very comfortable calling a full-on winner.
Breakers Collection ($19.99)
Visco Corporation’s cult favorite fighting game returns thanks to QUByte, and as the price tag may indicate the publisher has put a bit more into this package compared to their usual retro re-releases. You get both Breakers and its enhanced follow-up Breakers Revenge, well-emulated with rollback netcode for online multiplayer. The extra features aren’t going to have Digital Eclipse sweating or anything, but there is a little bit to look at here including an interesting interview. Yes, I will be reviewing this one too. Business is picking up already.
Arcade Archives Senjyo ($7.99)
Last week’s Arcade Archives release was the big-name Galaga, so it’s perhaps only fitting that this week is a bit of a deeper cut. Senjyo is a gallery shooter of sorts that was released in 1983 by Tehkan, now known as Koei Tecmo. I don’t have a whole lot of knowledge of this one, but it’s always nice to see the lesser-known bits of arcade gaming history show up.
Back To Brother ($4.49)
This is a platforming adventure that sees you traversing treacherous lands in order to get back to your brother. Just like the title says! He isn’t just down the street or anything either. You’ll have to travel through a wide variety of areas, each with their own theme and style. If nothing else, it’s affordable.
Drago Noka ($19.99)
Here’s a village builder where the gimmick is that you’re building the town on the back of a dragon. For the most part, you’re doing the usual things. Invite new villagers, socialize with them, make use of their skills, and maybe even find romance. Farm, blacksmith, fish, and so on as you watch your little town grow. But do keep in mind that the dragon you’re on isn’t the only one in the world, and there may come a time where you clash with others. An interesting twist, I suppose.
Fight of Steel: Infinity Warrior ($14.99)
This is not this game’s fault, but whenever I see a fighting game about robots, I start having Rise of the Robots flashbacks. At the very least, I’m sure this game is better than Rise of the Robots. Build your own fighter in terms of appearance and moves and battle against the CPU or other plays in local or online multiplayer. The online play uses rollback netcode, which is nice to see with a lower-profile release like this. Those big-pants fighters that aren’t using it really are getting short on good reasons, I think.
Lone Ruin ($14.99)
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: a roguelite twin-stick shooter. We used to get these pretty much every week, but it has slowed down enough that fans of the genre will likely be happy to see this one. It’s straightforward and doesn’t really try anything new, but it plays well enough. One of those games that is hard to know what to do with, because it’s neither good enough to recommend with much vigor nor bad enough to tell people not to buy. It’s here, it’s fine.
Chasing Static ($14.99)
Here’s a brief first-person horror adventure that sees you exploring a countryside town in Wales. After a grisly murder with supernatural circumstances, the main character Chris must try to survive and figure out what is going on. As the title implies, there’s an audio component to the gameplay wherein you have to rely on a special device to track down anomalies. Reviews on other platforms were somewhat middling, but perhaps the game can find a warmer reception on Switch.
Suhoshin ($18.99)
This visual novel is set in Korea during the Joseon period. You play as Yuri, a young guardsman who has returned home after a long time away. People have started to die through mysterious circumstances, and Yuri is tasked with investigating the situation. Make your choices in this branching story and see which ending you arrive at. We don’t see this kind of setting often in visual novels, so that’s already one thing going for this one. The art looks nice, too.
Burrow of the Fallen Bear: A Gay Furry Visual Novel ($19.99)
I mean, the title does a lot of the job for me here. This is another visual novel, this time with a gay furry theme. The protagonist is a feline rogue named Krile, and his journey will take him up against one of the most dangerous foes he could possibly face. Make your choices and explore multiple romance options, ultimately winding up with one of eighteen endings.
Japanese Escape Games The Abandoned Schoolhouse ($9.99)
Well, this is the twelfth one of these so far, so you should know what they are about by now. You wake up in an abandoned schoolhouse and have to do escape game-like things to get out. Solve the puzzles and enjoy the eerie feeling of a place that normally looks lively being run down and quiet.
Touhou Fan-Made Virtual Autography ($14.99)
There are a ton of Touhou games on the Switch, but we’re surprisingly thin on pure shoot-em-ups under the label. Well, here’s one. I wish I could say it was a great one, but it’s actually kind of broken mechanically. It also lacks a proper scoring system, which is a major blow to a shooter. Probably best left to big Touhou fans, I think.
Sales
(North American eShop, US Prices)
A decent list of games to get started with ahead of what is likely going to be a bigger list tomorrow. Gnosia and Record of Lodoss War will be the drums I bang, but have a look through that list yourself and seer what catches your eye. The outbox is also substantial and worth looking at, so maybe settle into your chair and give it all a nice slow once-over.
Select New Games on Sale
Broken Universe: Tower Defense ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/18)
reky ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/18)
Gum+ ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/18)
Space Raiders in Space ($1.99 from $12.99 until 1/18)
Floogen ($1.99 from $3.99 until 1/18)
OMG Police Car Chase TV ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/18)
Gem Wizards Tactics ($1.99 from $12.99 until 1/18)
Roundguard ($6.39 from $19.99 until 1/19)
Sail Forth ($17.59 from $19.99 until 1/19)
Cozy Grove ($8.91 from $14.99 until 1/19)
Riverbond ($6.24 from $24.99 until 1/19)
Tumblestone ($1.99 from $14.99 until 1/19)
Freshly Frosted ($7.29 from $9.99 until 1/19)
Jade Order ($1.99 from $2.99 until 1/25)
Nosferatu Lilinor ($13.71 from $17.14 until 1/26)
RazerWire: Nanowars ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/1)
Crowdy Farm Rush ($1.99 from $5.99 until 2/1)
Mr Maker 3D Level Editor ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/1)
Striker Modes ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/1)
Super Snake Block ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/1)
Shmup Mania ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/1)
Invert ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/1)
Dobo’s Heroes ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/1)
Crossroad Crash ($1.99 from $4.98 until 2/1)
SCATch: The Painter Cat ($1.99 from $9.99 until 2/1)
Record of Lodoss War: DiWL ($17.49 from $24.99 until 2/2)
Mighty Goose ($9.99 from $19.99 until 2/2)
Croixleur Sigma ($5.99 from $19.99 until 2/2)
Noel the Mortal Fate ($12.49 from $24.99 until 2/2)
DEEEER Simulator: Average Deer Game ($11.99 from $19.99 until 2/2)
ibb & obb ($1.99 from $14.99 until 2/2)
Strange Telephone ($4.99 from $9.99 until 2/2)
Vertical Strike Endless Challenge ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/2)
Tasomachi Behind the Twilight ($13.99 from $19.99 until 2/2)
Orangeblood ($7.99 from $19.99 until 2/2)
Bright Memory IG Edition ($15.99 from $19.99 until 2/2)
The Good Life ($27.99 from $39.99 until 2/2)
Astebreed ($3.99 from $19.99 until 2/2)
Hakinowa Explorer Plus ($5.99 from $11.99 until 2/2)
YumeNikki Dream Diary ($7.99 from $19.99 until 2/2)
TorqueL PM Edition ($1.99 from $4.99 until 2/2)
One Way Heroics Plus ($8.99 from $14.99 until 2/2)
Legal Dungeon ($5.99 from $9.99 until 2/2)
Mad Father ($5.99 from $9.99 until 2/2)
Kero Blaster ($2.99 from $9.99 until 2/2)
Gnosia ($17.49 from $24.99 until 2/2)
Replica ($2.49 from $4.99 until 2/2)
Idol Manager ($19.99 from $24.99 until 2/2)
LiEat ($5.99 from $9.99 until 2/2)
Gas Station Simulator ($13.99 from $19.99 until 2/2)
Sherlock Holmes: Devil’s Daughter ($11.99 from $29.99 until 2/2)
Potato Flowers in Full Bloom ($14.38 from $17.99 until 2/2)
The Sealed Ampoule ($11.99 from $19.99 until 2/2)
Sales Ending Tomorrow, Friday, January 13th
4×4 Offroad Driver ($6.49 from $12.99 until 1/13)
A Little Lily Princess ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/13)
Anodyne 2: Return to Dust ($7.99 from $19.99 until 1/13)
Apple Slash ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Astroneer ($19.49 from $29.99 until 1/13)
Bai Qu: Hundreds of Melodies ($3.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
Barry the Bunny ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Bone Marrow ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Bouncy Bullets 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
C14 Dating ($7.99 from $19.99 until 1/13)
Citizen Sleeper ($13.99 from $19.99 until 1/13)
Cross the Moon ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Crystal Goddess ($4.01 from $5.99 until 1/13)
DEEMO Reborn ($15.00 from $25.00 until 1/13)
Demons of Asteborg ($7.19 from $17.99 until 1/13)
Detective Case & Clown Bot ($1.99 from $5.99 until 1/13)
Devious Dungeon ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/13)
Devious Dungeon 2 ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/13)
Devious Dungeon Collection ($2.59 from $12.99 until 1/13)
Dojoran ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Don’t Touch This Button ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Donuts’n’Justice ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Dreaming Sarah ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Even the Ocean ($4.49 from $14.99 until 1/13)
Fingun ($2.49 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Forgotten Hill Disillusion ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Freddy Spaghetti ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Gardener’s Path ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Glitchhikers The Spaces Between ($9.09 from $12.99 until 1/13)
Guard Duty ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
Gutwhale ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Heal: Console Edition ($2.79 from $6.99 until 1/13)
How to Take Off Your Mask ($4.49 from $14.99 until 1/13)
I Am The Hero ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
I and Me ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
Infestor ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Jet Set Knights ($2.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
Kansei: The Second Turn HD ($3.19 from $7.99 until 1/13)
Kinduo ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Kraken Academy ($7.19 from $17.99 until 1/13)
Legend of the Skyfish ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/13)
Life Goes On ($2.59 from $12.99 until 1/13)
Loopindex ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
LoveChoice ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Mages & Treasures ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Magi Trials ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
MO: Astray ($7.49 from $14.99 until 1/13)
More Dark ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Nicole ($5.69 from $18.99 until 1/13)
Night Lights ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
OMNO ($4.79 from $15.99 until 1/13)
One Escape ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
One More Dungeon ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/13)
One-Eyed Lee & the Dinner Party ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Paw Paw Paw ($2.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
Pinkman+ ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Rabisco+ ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Railways ($2.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Ravensword Shadowlands ($2.79 from $6.99 until 1/13)
Reflection of Mine ($2.39 from $7.99 until 1/13)
Reminiscence in the Night ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Roommates ($5.99 from $19.99 until 1/13)
Sakura Angels ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
Sakura MMO ($6.69 from $9.99 until 1/13)
Sakura MMO 2 ($6.69 from $9.99 until 1/13)
Sakura MMO 3 ($6.69 from $9.99 until 1/13)
Sakura Swim Club ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
Shadow of Loot Box ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/13)
She Wants Me Dead ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
Shing! ($1.99 from $19.99 until 1/13)
Shinrai: Broken Beyond Despair ($5.99 from $14.99 until 1/13)
Spacejacked ($1.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
Staxel ($7.49 from $24.99 until 1/13)
Strawberry Vinegar ($2.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
Sumatra: Fate of Yandi ($2.79 from $6.99 until 1/13)
Sun Wukong vs Robot ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Super Destronaut DX-2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Super Onion Boy 2 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Suzerain ($7.19 from $17.99 until 1/13)
Takorita Meets Fries ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Tales of Djungarian Hamster ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
The Language of Love ($3.59 from $11.99 until 1/13)
The Prince of Landis ($3.19 from $7.99 until 1/13)
The Song Out of Space ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Thunderflash ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Thy Sword ($2.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
Tip Top: Don’t Fall ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
Trails & Traces: TToTT ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Truck Simulator 3 ($9.74 from $12.99 until 1/13)
Twin Robots UE ($1.99 from $7.99 until 1/13)
Two Parsecs from Earth ($2.39 from $7.99 until 1/13)
Virtuous Western ($1.99 from $4.99 until 1/13)
Witch College Bundle ($6.02 from $8.99 until 1/13)
Within the Blade ($4.39 from $10.99 until 1/13)
Would You Like to Run an Idol Cafe 2 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 1/13)
That’s all for today, friends. I’ll be back tomorrow with the remaining new releases of the week, plus what I’m fairly certain is going to be a healthy list of new sales to dig into. That will probably be it, but you never know when some big news might come stomping in. I hope you all have a thrilling Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!