SwitchArcade Round-Up: Nintendo Direct Recap, New NSO Retro Games, Plus New Releases and Sales

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for June 19th, 2024. Yesterday we had that really nice Nintendo Direct, and I’m late to the party because of those villainous time zones. We’ll quickly run over some highlights from that presentation, go over another bit of news that I wanted to focus in on, then head into the new releases for the day. After that, we finish things up with the usual lists of new sales and expiring discounts. Let’s go!

News

Holy Smokes, What A Nintendo Direct That Was

I went into this one with low expectations given we’re basically on the last year of the Switch’s life, in all probability. Well, it definitely leapt over that bar. The big first-party highlights were the new Mario & Luigi game, Brothership, and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, along with our long-awaited first glimpse at Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Other games from Nintendo on the schedule include Donkey Kong Country Returns HD, The New Denpa Men, and Super Mario Party Jamboree. Third-party highlights are probably Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D (and the announcement of 1&2 HD-2D!), Ace Attorney Investigations Collection, and Darkest Dungeon II. Well… a lot. Check out the Direct if you haven’t already, it really is looking like quite a solid year.

Four New Games Join Nintendo Switch Online’s Expansion Pack

Among the oodles of news bits from yesterday’s Direct was the announcement of four new additions to the Expansion Pack for Nintendo Switch Online. For two of them, you’ll need to download a new app – the Nintendo 64 Mature 17+ app. Once you’ve got that installed, you’ll be treated to Turok the Dinosaur Hunter and Perfect Dark, a pair of first-person shooters that practically bookended the console’s output in that genre. The other two games are for the Game Boy Advance app. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords and Metroid: Zero Mission are both great games, and I’m happy to see them available on the service. Just update the app and they’ll be waiting for you to play.

Select New Releases

Metal Slug Attack Reloaded ($9.99)

I think this was a follow-up or mutation of Metal Slug Defense? Anyway, tower defense with Metal Slug characters. Very simple and easy to understand, but the game gets quite challenging as you go on. I remember enjoying this for a while on mobile, and I think this is a fair price for the total package here on Switch.

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Quest of Memories ($44.99)

Based on one of the more popular of the large number of anime/manga/light novel series about someone who gets isekai‘d into a fantasy world and ends up surrounded by beautiful women who marvel at how amazing he is, this is an RPG where you can use your favorite characters from Mushoku Tensei and go on some dungeon crawling adventures. One for the fans, to be sure. I don’t think it’s going to click for those without a significant investment in the brand, but maybe if you’re hungry enough.

Echo Generation ($24.99)

A turn-based RPG about normal 90s kids going on extraordinary adventures. The game has a voxel art style, which I’m sure most will have feelings about one way or the other. The developer also did Riverbond, and I know some people really dug that one. Echo Generation has been out for a while on other platforms, and I don’t think it really knocked anyone’s socks off but it seems to have found some fans. Maybe you’ll be the next one.

Moonstone Island ($19.99)

Take a Stardew Valley style life sim and mash it up with a creature-collecting turn-based RPG, then douse the whole thing in a rich card battling sauce. That’s the recipe for Moonstone Island, and it’s one that by and large works pretty well. Probably too ambitious for its own good at times, but I think if you like the basic concept then you’ll probably enjoy this well enough.

Scars of Mars ($19.99)

Must be RPG day today or something. This one has a science-fiction theme and the battles are real-time. They take place on a grid, too. Everyone loves grids! Honestly this one didn’t really catch my eye until I saw Acquire was behind it. That’s a developer who makes very interesting games, even if they’re not always good. I’ll have to investigate this one further, and I’ll let you know if it turns out to be something cool.

#BLUD ($24.99)

An animated hack-and-slash dungeon crawler that certainly has its look down, if nothing else. Some business about a vampire-killing hockey stick? Charm in almost equal measure to its rough edges, but if you’re willing to put up with some gameplay annoyances there is assuredly some good times to be had here.

Glyphs of Gitzan ($4.99)

A nifty little puzzle game where you have to push stone pillars into the correct positions in fifty stages of brain-teasing fun. The pillars carry symbols that will give you a hint as to where they need to go, so all you need to do is figure that out and then push them into place. No shortage of good, cheap puzzle games on Switch but it never hurts to have another one in the pile.

Fireside ($14.99)

One of those games where you chill, talk to other characters, help them with their stuff, and explore a relaxed world. Reviews for this one are pretty solid over on Steam, and I imagine it won’t have too much trouble finding an eager audience here on Switch.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Metroid got a lot of attention in the Nintendo Direct, and perhaps to celebrate that both Metroid Dread and Metroid Prime Remastered are on sale. NISA is also running some excellent sales, and if you want to catch up on its classics there is no better time. Meanwhile, in the outbox: a ton of games. Just check through it yourself and see what’s what, is what I say.

Select New Sales

Don’t Starve ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/29)
Griftlands ($7.99 from $19.99 until 6/29)
Metroid Dread ($41.99 from $59.99 until 7/2)
Metroid Prime Remastered ($33.99 from $39.99 until 7/2)
DNF Duel: Who’s Next ($14.99 from $49.99 until 7/3)
Death Road to Canada ($4.49 from $14.99 until 7/3)
River City: Rival Showdown ($17.49 from $24.99 until 7/4)
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger 4 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/4)
SNK 40th Anniversary Collection ($14.99 from $39.99 until 7/8)
Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha ($14.99 from $39.99 until 7/8)
Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo ($14.99 from $39.99 until 7/8)
The Silver Case 2425 ($17.99 from $39.99 until 7/8)
Saviors of Sapphire Wings/Sword City ($17.49 from $49.99 until 7/8)
Prinny 1-2 Bundle ($14.99 from $33.99 until 7/8)
NIS Classics 1: Phantom Brave/Soul Nomad ($9.99 from $39.99 until 7/8)

NIS Classics 2: Makai Kingdom/ZHP ($24.99 form $39.99 until 7/8)
NIS Classics 3: La Pucelle/Rhapsody ($24.99 from $39.99 until 7/8)
Raiden III x Mikado Maniax ($14.99 from $29.99 until 7/8)
The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails ($24.99 from $39.99 until 7/8)
Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles ($29.99 from $49.99 until 7/8)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, June 20th

1000xRESIST ($17.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Adventure Bar Story ($15.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Adventures of Ben: Rabbit Run ($11.24 from $24.99 until 6/20)
Aggelos ($3.74 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Alan Wake Remastered ($14.99 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Alien: Isolation ($14.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Amabilly ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/20)
Anodyne ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/20)
Assassin’s Creed: Ezio Collection ($15.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration ($27.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Axiom Verge 2 ($7.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Balatro ($13.49 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Berzerk Recharged ($5.99 from $9.99 until 6/20)
Blazing Chrome ($5.77 from $16.99 until 6/20)
Bob the Elementalist ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/20)

Bugsnax ($8.74 from $24.99 until 6/20)
Burnout Paradise Remastered ($5.99 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Bustafellows ($5.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium Bundle ($15.99 form $39.99 until 6/20)
Castaway Paradise ($2.79 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Castle Morihisa ($2.24 from $14.99 until 6/20)
COCOON ($14.99 from $24.99 until 6/20)
Contra: Operation Galuga ($31.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Crash Bandicoot 4 ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled ($13.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Crossing Souls ($1.99 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Dead by Daylight ($11.99 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Death’s Gambit: Afterlife ($10.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Diablo II: Resurrected ($13.19 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Diablo III: Eternal Collection ($19.79 from $59.99 until 6/20)

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut ($11.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Disney Classic Games: Aladdin & Lion King ($6.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Doki Doki Literature Club Plus ($11.24 from $14.99 until 6/20)
DOOM 1993 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/20)
DOOM 2016 ($7.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
DOOM 3 ($3.99 from $9.99 until 6/20)
DOOM 64 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/20)
DOOM Eternal ($9.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
DOOM II Classic ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/20)
DOOM Slayers Collection ($14.99 from $49.99 until 6/20)
Dragon Ball FighterZ: FighterZ Edition ($14.39 from $89.99 until 6/20)
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen ($4.99 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Earth Defense Force: World Brothers ($15.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Effie ($2.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Evil Nun: The Broken Mask ($11.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)

Fearmonium ($7.79 from $12.99 until 6/20)
Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark ($7.49 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Gargoyles Remastered ($10.49 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Garlic ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Gates of the Mind ($6.74 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Goat Simulator: The GOATY ($5.99 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Grounded ($27.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Hatsune Miku: Project DiVA Mega Mix ($19.69 from $39.39 until 6/20)
Highwater ($3.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Homebody ($3.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Huntdown ($3.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Immortals Fenyx Rising ($7.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Ion Fury ($6.24 from $24.99 until 6/20)
Jack Jeanne ($34.99 from $49.99 until 6/20)
Kaiju Wars ($8.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)

Kentucky Route Zero TV Edition ($9.99 from $24.99 until 6/20)
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning ($15.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
LEGO 2K Drive ($9.89 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Loot Hero DX ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/20)
Lost in Random ($4.49 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope ($19.79 from $59.99 until 6/20)
Mochi Mochi Boy ($1.99 from $4.99 until 6/20)
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate ($9.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Monster Hunter Rise ($9.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak ($15.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
moon ($13.29 from $18.99 until 6/20)
Murder Is Game Over ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/20)
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit ($7.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
NeonPowerUp! ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/20)
Nexomon Extinction ($8.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)

Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: GP ($3.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Night in the Woods ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Onirike ($2.24 from $14.99 until 6/20)
orbit.industries ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Outer Wilds ($14.99 from $24.99 until 6/20)
Pentiment ($11.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Persona 5 Strikers ($17.99 from $59.99 until 6/20)
Pirates on Target ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/20)
Quake ($3.99 from $9.99 until 6/20)
Quake + Quake II Enhanced Bundle ($5.99 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Quake II ($3.99 from $9.99 until 6/20)
Quantum Recharged ($5.49 from $9.99 until 6/20)
Return to Monkey Island ($12.49 from $24.99 until 6/20)
Risen ($20.99 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Rogue Legacy 2 ($14.74 from $24.99 until 6/20)

Rose & Camellia Collection ($14.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Runnyk ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/20)
Samba de Amigo: Party Central ($15.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Samurai Maiden DE ($37.49 from $74.99 until 6/20)
Sea of Stars ($26.24 from $34.99 until 6/20)
Shadows of Adam ($7.49 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Sherlock Holmes: Devil’s Daughter ($4.49 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Slay the Spire ($8.49 from $24.99 until 6/20)
Sonic Frontiers ($20.99 from $59.99 until 6/20)
Sonic Origins Plus ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
South of the Circle ($6.49 from $12.99 until 6/20)
Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II ($34.99 from $49.99 until 6/20)
SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom ($11.99 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Starward Rogue ($8.99 from $14.99 until 6/20)
Streets of Rage 4 ($11.24 from $24.99 until 6/20)

Super Mega Baseball 4 ($14.99 from $49.99 until 6/20)
Super Mega Zero ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/20)
Super Planet Life ($1.99 from $9.99 until 6/20)
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition ($9.99 from $49.99 until 6/20)
Tempest 4000 ($9.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
TES V: Skyrim ($29.99 from $59.99 until 6/20)
TES V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition ($34.99 from $69.99 until 6/20)
TEVI ($26.24 from $34.99 until 6/20)
The Case of the Golden Idol ($10.79 from $17.99 until 6/20)
The Forgotten Land ($2.09 from $14.99 until 6/20)
The Lara Croft Collection ($19.99 from $24.99 until 6/20)
The Testament of Sherlock Holmes ($6.24 from $24.99 until 6/20)
The Wonderful 101 Remastered ($17.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
TMNT: Cowabunga Collection ($19.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge ($16.74 from $24.99 until 6/20)

TMNT: Wrath of the Mutants ($20.09 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Tomb Raider I – III Remastered ($22.49 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Trek to Yomi ($6.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Tunic ($14.99 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Unicorn Overlord Monarch Edition ($52.49 from $69.99 until 6/20)
Unlife ($6.59 from $10.99 until 6/20)
We Love Katamari Reroll ($7.49 from $29.99 until 6/20)
Wolfenstein II New Colossus ($5.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Wolfenstein Youngblood ($4.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap ($5.99 from $19.99 until 6/20)
WRC Generations ($7.99 from $39.99 until 6/20)
Zomborg ($2.49 from $4.99 until 6/20)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow with… oh wow, tomorrow is Thursday. Lots of new games, then. We’ll be looking at those, plus whatever sales and big news items roll in over the course of the day. I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!