New Indie World Showcase uncorks the bottle on more than a dozen upcoming Nintendo Switch games
17 November 2023
Highlights of the Presentation Include Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, Mining Sandbox Adventure Core Keeper and Narrative Life Sim On Your Tail.
In the latest Indie World showcase, live-streamed earlier today, Nintendo presented an exciting line-up of indie games that will be arriving on Nintendo Switch in 2023 and beyond. Opening the showcase was the announcement that Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, a direct sequel to the original Shantae game – and an adventure more than 20 years in the making – will be launching on Nintendo Switch in 2024. The presentation also revealed that Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition, including the critically acclaimed open-world mystery Outer Wilds plus its expansion, Echoes of the Eye, will be touching down on Nintendo Switch on 8th December.
Other highlights included Core Keeper, a mining sandbox adventure in which up to eight players No can explore together in online multiplayer, launching for Nintendo Switch in winter 2024; On Your Tail, a charming, Italian-flavoured narrative life sim with a sleuthing twist, launching for Nintendo Switch as a timed console exclusive in 2024; Backpack Hero, an inventory management roguelike in which organising your backpack is the key to unleashing mighty powers, available now on Nintendo Switch; and Moonstone Island, a creature-collecting, open-world life sim with 100 islands to explore, coming to Nintendo Switch as a timed console exclusive in autumn 2024.
See below for more detailed information regarding the featured games:
Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution from WayForward: Shantae, the fan-favourite Half-Genie, is back in this authentic retro follow-up to the 2002 original, completed and released after 20 years. This action-adventure-platformer features all of the hair-whipping, belly-dancing action that Shantae fans have come to expect, along with multiple chapters, numerous towns and labyrinths, six creature transformations, fierce bosses and a four-player versus mode*. A new play mechanic allows Shantae to create new paths through each area by repositioning the foreground and background layers, and to move between layers to navigate and explore. Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution launches for Nintendo Switch in 2024.
Core Keeper from Pugstorm and Fireshine Games: Explore a vast cavern full of creatures, relics and resources in this mining sandbox adventure, where up to eight players can work together in online co-op multiplayer**. As an adventurer drawn towards a mysterious relic, it’s up to you to uncover the secrets of this long-forgotten world. Whether you choose to take it slow, by gathering resources, growing crops and building bases, or dive into the action by levelling up your skills, battling ancient bosses and exploring the ever-changing landscape, Core Keeper invites you to play the game your own way when it launches for Nintendo Switch in winter 2024.
On Your Tail from Memorable Games and Humble Games: As the intrepid young detective Diana, players explore the charming seaside village of Borgo Marina in this narrative life sim. But mysteries await behind the village’s idyllic exterior. Search the streets and shops for leads and collect Clue Cards to help unmask the thief who’s menacing this once-peaceful town. When not solving mysteries, players can enjoy their personal seaside vacation by hitting the beach, hanging out with friends, playing games in the arcade, fishing and more. On Your Tail launches on Nintendo Switch as a timed console exclusive in 2024.
Howl from Mi’pu’mi Games and astragon Entertainment: A fairytale world is being ravaged by the Howl, a sinister plague spread through sound alone. Only a deaf prophet can find the cure and bring peace back to the realm. You will need to use both your weapons and your wits to progress in this turn-based, tactical folktale illustrated in a beautiful ‘living ink’ art style. Engaging combat challenges you to foretell the actions of your enemies, planning up to six moves in advance and using the interactive environments to your advantage. Defeat monsters to collect resources and upgrade your ever-expanding arsenal of abilities, then plot your route on the world map to find secret paths and uncover new skills. Howl is available now on Nintendo Switch. A free demo is also available on Nintendo eShop.
The Star Named EOS from Silver Lining Studio and PLAYISM: Delve into a beautiful hand-drawn panoramic world and immerse yourself in a first-person storytelling puzzle adventure game that explores photography and the ways we can capture the fleeting moments that shape our lives. Play as Dei, a young photographer tracing the footsteps of his mother. Find and collect items filled with memories, and help Dei find the truth behind his mother’s absence. The Star Named EOS releases for Nintendo Switch in autumn 2024.
Backpack Hero from Jaspel and Different Tales: Backpack Hero is a deck-building roguelike with a twist. It isn't just about what you carry, but how you organise the items in your backpack – find them the right spot to unleash their true power. Explore the ancient Dungeon, fight foes in turn-based battles, and encounter a variety of colourful allies. Play as one of five Backpack Heroes, each with unique powers, mechanics, and items. With the loot you nab in the Dungeon you can help your hometown, Haversack Hill. Rebuild, expand and decorate it, earning the gratitude of the locals and becoming a true hero in the community. Backpack Hero is available now on Nintendo Switch.
Blade Chimera from Team Ladybug/WSS playground and PLAYISM: In a future dystopian Osaka, a group known as the Missa Association is charged with protecting the city from demon attacks. One of their members heads out on this deadly assignment when things take an unexpected turn in this 2D action pixel art game. Wield the powerful Lumina Sword, a demon transformed into a deadly weapon. This blade not only cuts down foes but can also interfere with time itself – restoring once-destroyed stairs, bridges, and platforms to reach new areas. Can you master the Lumina Sword’s powers? Blade Chimera slashes onto Nintendo Switch as a timed console exclusive in autumn 2024.
A Highland Song from inkle: Guide Moira as she runs, jumps, climbs and scrambles her way forward in this narrative-led 2.5D platformer with rhythm-action elements. Journey through the peaks and valleys of the Scottish Highlands, using hundreds of different routes, and discover shortcuts and surprises along the way. Time is a factor as you try to reach the sea as quickly as possible, with rain, storms and snow attempting to slow you down. Some valleys contain exciting ‘music runs’, where players must jump in time to fast-paced Scottish music in order to progress quickly. A Highland Song launches on Nintendo Switch on 6th December. Pre-orders are available now on Nintendo eShop.
Moonstone Island from Studio Supersoft and Raw Fury: This creature-collecting, dungeon-crawling, deck-building life sim features 100 procedurally generated islands in the sky to explore with the goal of becoming a world-renowned alchemist. There are over 60 adorable Spirits to collect in compelling card-based combat. While kicking back and becoming part of the community, players can craft items, tend to their farm, brew potions, decorate their home, befriend the local villagers and even fall in love. Moonstone Island launches on Nintendo Switch as a timed console exclusive in autumn 2024.
Death Trick: Double Blind from Misty Mountain Studio and Neon Doctrine: In this non-linear detective visual novel set in Morgan’s Traveling Circus, star magician Hattie has gone missing. An unlikely duo, one a fellow magician, the other a private eye with a bout of amnesia, investigate Hattie’s disappearance alternatively, each using their own perspective and information. With only a limited number of actions, players must carefully decide which leads to pursue, looking out for contradictions in the evidence. Sorting through clues and getting to know each whimsical character, they must crack the case by challenging anyone who seems deceitful. Death Trick: Double Blind launches first for consoles on Nintendo Switch in 2024. A free demo is available on Nintendo eShop.
Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition from Mobius Digital and Annapurna Interactive: In this open-world adventure, scour multiple planets in search of clues, strange signals, and ancient alien texts to decipher. But the whole solar system is trapped in a time loop, and each planet changes dramatically during each loop. Delve into an underground city before it’s swallowed by sand, dodge sky-high cyclones, and more. Find the keys to unlock the mysteries of this solar system in the most hidden and dangerous of places, then unravel the deepest secret of them all in the included Echoes of the Eye expansion. Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition touches down on Nintendo Switch, December 8th. Pre-orders are available now on Nintendo eShop.
In addition to the featured titles listed above, the showcase also included a montage of yet more indie games in the pipeline for Nintendo Switch, including:
Planet of Lana, a cinematic puzzle adventure framed by an epic sci-fi saga that stretches across centuries and galaxies, launching on Nintendo Switch in autumn 2024.
Enjoy the Diner, a mysterious narrative adventure with point and click elements, available now on Nintendo Switch.
Heavenly Bodies, a delightfully frustrating physics-based space puzzler that challenges players to complete a series of seemingly simple tasks aboard a 1970s space station, arriving on Nintendo Switch in February 2024.
The Gecko Gods, a relaxed puzzle-platformer starring a tiny gecko who must explore a set of mysterious islands and temples on a mission to save its friends, releasing on Nintendo Switch in autumn 2024.
Passpartout 2: The Lost Artist, a painting adventure in which players are invited to explore the charming town of Phénix while creating and selling works of art, available now on Nintendo Switch.
Urban Myth Dissolution Center, a captivating mystery game in which players are tasked with investigating curses, haunted houses and other urban myths, coming to Nintendo Switch in 2024.Braid, Anniversary Edition, a remaster of the acclaimed puzzle-platformer, with new puzzles, repainted graphics, reimagined sound and developer commentary, coming to Nintendo Switch on 30th April 2024.
Indie game fans have plenty to look forward to on Nintendo Switch, with the latest Indie World showcase featuring a range of new titles that are set to launch on the platform in 2023 and beyond. Highlights include Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition, releasing on 8th December, Core Keeper, releasing in winter 2024, and Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution, releasing in 2024. Four of the games included in the presentation are available now on Nintendo eShop: Backpack Hero, Howl, Enjoy the Diner and Passpartout 2: The Lost Artist.
* Any Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required for online features. Membership auto-renews after initial term at the then-current price unless canceled. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. nintendo.com.au/switch-online
** Additional accessories may be required for multiplayer mode. Sold separately.