Nintendo Indie World Showcase April Recap

Just take all of my money

It’s time for another Indie World Showcase where we can see indie games planning to make their way onto the Switch. And hopefully, we get a release date to go along with it. As always, here is the full livestream and a recap off all the games that were announced:

Road 96

This one certainly had an interesting trailer. This is a procedural narrative game inspired by 90s road trip movies. You’ll be playing as different teenagers hitting the road where you’ll be meeting different characters where you can learn their backstory, ones that will help you, and those that set out to stop you. You’ll also be faced with multiple decisions, whether what you plan to do or dialog choices, that can effect how your trip goes. This doesn’t have a solid release yet, but it’s planning to release sometime this year.

Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield

Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield is set in a futuristic Tokyo-styled Detroit where you play as Wally set on exposing the truth behind what was taken from him. However, the road isn’t going to be easy. This is a 3D side-scroller that plays like an endless runner where players will be able to avoid hazards by running, jumping, sliding, or dashing their way through levels. You’ll be able to pick this up on May 19 and the demo is available now if you can’t wait.

Last Stop

Set in present day London, you’ll be playing as three separate characters where their stories interconnect due to a supernatural crisis. You’ll be able to play as the spaced-out high schooler Donna who gets more than she bargains for as she and her friends become accidental kidnappers; an overworked single dad John who’s jealous over his neighbor having a free lifestyle, but finds himself and his neighbor against a stranger and a cursed artifact; and the ambitious professional Meena who’s trying to get a crucial promotion as something stirs in her workplace’s basement. This is set to release this July.

Hindsight

What if our closely held objects were windows to the past? In Hindsight, we’ll be able to look into the memories of a woman’s life, from birth to present day, by sorting through her personal belongings as she’s revisiting her childhood home. This doesn’t have a set release date yet, but it’s set to come sometime later this year.

OlliOlli World

Do you like skateboarding? Well, this is the game for you! Being the third entry in the OlliOlli series, you’ll be able to grind, trick, and air your way through the vibrant world of Radland where you aim to find the mystical skate gods. Though, you’ll also be coming across new friends, missions, challenges, and multiple paths for every level as you continue on your journey. This is set to release this Winter.

The Longing

Available now, you’ll play as a lonely Shade waiting for his king to wake up. However, this is going to take 400 days for your king to regain his strength. There are numerous things you can do in The Longing as you wait, as it’s made to be relaxing, but the days will still count down even if you don’t open up the game.

There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension

A point and click comedic adventure that will take you through silly and unexpected video game universes. Though, this isn’t a game…. Or is it? It’s time to think outside the box as this is out now.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

It’s almost time to reunite with your favorite turtles! This is an arcade-style beat ‘em up that blends retro and modern visuals together where up to four players will face off against Shredder and his faithful Foot Clan. This has a loose release date of sometime this year.

Cris Tales

After being delayed earlier this year, we finally have a solid release date of July 20! If you haven’t heard about Cris Tales yet, this is an indie love letter to classic JRPGs where you’ll be able to peer into the past, present, and future all at the same time. This will certainly help you see how your actions will effect the future as well as help you stop the powerful Time Empress. The combat also takes this into account as well as you’ll be able to put your enemies into the past or future, synchronize your group’s attacks, and you’ll have to master the attack and defense timing. If you’d like a sneak peek, the demo is also now available on the Switch.

GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon

Releasing next year, this is a dynamic hack-and-slash roguelite set in a dark fantasy world stylized in traditional Japanese art. Chosen as the leader and guardian of the land of the living, you’ll be descending into the depths of Hell to eradicate the source of the cataclysm.

Aztech Forgotten Gods

Inspired by Aztec mythology, you’ll play as a young Aztec woman named Achtii who sets pit to fight the colossal Forgotten Gods to keep her city protected. You’ll be using the power of the Gods against them as she discovers some mysterious technology that lets her soar and launch herself, allowing her easy ways to explore and fight. This is set to release sometime this Fall.

Skul: The Hero Slayer

Coming this Summer, we’ll be able to play this action-platformer with roguelike features where we play as Skul during his quest to single-handedly take on the Imperial Army and rescue his King from captivity. Though, Skul isn’t just a regular skeleton as he can switch up his skull to change up not only how he looks, but how he fights.

Art of Rally

You’ll be able to race during the golden era of rally this Summer as you’ll be able to drive iconic vintage cars through stylized environments, inspired by real locations, where you’ll race to show off your skills or aim for the top spot.

KeyWe

I hope you’re ready for some cuteness as KeyWe is a co-op postal puzzle where two kiwi birds are working in a whimsical post office where they must jump, flap, peck, and slam their way through puzzles if they want everyone’s mail to be delivered in time. Though, if you can’t get a buddy to play with, there is a single player mode available where you’ll control both kiwi birds instead. This has the launch month of August.

Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective

Oh wow, if you thought this was going to be a hidden object game, you’d be correct. Adapted from the children’s book series Pierre the Maze Detective, you’ll play as Pierre as he’s trying to solve a terrible crime where the Museum’s Maze Stone falls under Pierre’s sworn enemy. This, of course, causes the city to become a labyrinth. Instead of just looking at the screen for what you need to find, it looks like you’ll be taking control of Pierre who must run through the environment to find the object and interact with the world. This doesn’t have a release date yet.

Weaving Tides

I’m so excited that this one is getting a Switch release! In Weaving Tides, you’ll be able to dive into a magical woven world on the back of your own carpet dragon. You’ll be able to use your dragon to stitch and cut your way through puzzles and face enemies that don’t want you to continue. This has a release month of May.

The House of the Dead: Remake

We only got a few seconds look at this one, but umm it looks surprisingly good? Like the name suggests, this is a remake of the 1997 arcade rail-shooter game that is now receiving a whole new look, new characters, and new gameplay changes to suit modern standards while still staying true to the original gameplay. This doesn’t have a set release date other than it possibly releasing this year.

Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights

Arriving on the Switch on June 21, we’ll be able to play this dark fantasy 2D action RPG where you’ll be unraveling the mysteries of a destroyed kingdom. You play as Lily who just woke up in the depths of a church who seems to have a guardian knight who will conquer themselves to help Lily traverse her surroundings and serves as her only way to defend herself besides dodging out of the way.

Beasts of Maravilla Island

Oh yes. Take the role of a young wildlife photographer as you travel through Maravilla Island’s magical ecosystems and discover extraordinary creatures, learn their behaviors, and photograph them. This looks like it’ll be a good alternative to Pokemon Snap for those that want a cheaper experience than $60 and don’t want an on-rails experience. Beasts of Maravilla Island can’t come soon enough as it’ll drop on the Switch in June.

Fez

Available now, you’ll be able to jump into this 2D world hiding a 3D world on the go. You’ll be playing as Gomez who believed he lived in a 2D world until the 3D dimension is revealed. You’ll use this ability to navigate this 3D world by switching between 2D perspectives to find secrets, solve puzzles, find treasures, and help Gomez on his journey.

OXENFREE 2: Lost Signals

Well, I’m sure no one was expecting this. Right at the end, we got a teaser for a sequel to OXENFREE called OXENFREE 2: Lost Signals. This is said to take place five years after the events of OXENFREE where Riley returns to Camena to investigate mysterious radio signals. Of course, from what we’ve seen from the first game and from the trailer, she’s in for some adventure.