Nintendo loves to just drop a ton of upcoming new game release news on us out of nowhere, don’t they? Perhaps most interestingly is that these directs tend to come packed with information and news, but also feature games that are coming within the next 8-10 months, which is possibly even more refreshing given the continued emptiness of most game trailer shows. Let’s dive in.
After a pretty lackluster Gamescom, Nintendo decided to come somewhat to the rescue of gaming news with a Nintendo Indie Direct featuring a whopping 40+ games, tying together the Indie and Partner showcase into one hefty show. In this recap, we’ll take a look at what seemed like the ten most interesting or biggest announcements, but if you’d like to watch the entire showcase, you can do so at the link here.
And no, before you ask, there’s no Silksong. Give up.
Balatro: Friends of Jimbo
Developer: Playstack
Release Date: Today!
Platforms: Switch, Steam
Marcy: Balatro was a big game earlier this year, and if you enjoyed the roguelike take on poker, you might find this little DLC the shot of life needed to spice up the game for you if you found it getting a little boring. Featuring a collection of licensed collaborations, Friends of Jimbo brings themed deck interactions to the game featuring Witcher III, Dave the Diver, Among Us, and Vampire Survivors. Balatro is a fun little game to kill some time with, and this update seems like a great way to extend that, as well as get new people to try it out; if you’re looking for a fun little puzzler at times, give it a shot–I do think the ‘roguelike’ moniker is maybe not super apt here, except in a very minimalist sense–and meet up with Jimbo and pals.
Coffee Talk Tokyo
Developer: Toge Productions and Chorus
Release Date: 2025
Platform: Switch, Steam
Marcy: Coffee Talk is a fun little visual novel that I really enjoyed the first time around. It kind of melded the lo-fi aesthetics and drink mixing elements to make fun a relaxing and thoughtful little experience. Unfortunately, following the first game’s publication, one of the original creators, Mas Fahmi, passed way. The team continued on and with some new members have brought together a second installment in the series, Coffee Talk Tokyo. This one seems to have very similar vibes from the first, and looks like an overall upgrade and continuation of quality from the first game. I’m glad to see the team continuing on and I’m excited to pick this one up when it releases.
Peglin
Developer: Red Nexus .games, Blitworks Games
Release Date: Now!
Platforms: Switch, Steam, Android, iOS
Marcy: Peglin is a fun little game that blends Peggle style gameplay with very light RPG and mostly fantasy elements to produce something that works so well together it’s hard to put down. I loved Peglin when it released due to the hype I heard from other people who loved games like Peggle. Peglin is the type of game that lets you sit down, play for a while, and then end a run or lose a run and go about your day without much excess stress. A very, very fun little comfort game, I’m excited to see it on the Switch, since that means I can take it with me now if I like! If you like that pachinko style gameplay from Peggle, I highly recommend checking out Peglin.
Pizza Tower
Developer: Techland
Release Date: TODAY!!!
Platforms: Switch, Steam
Marcy: Pizza Tower garnered a lot of attention for it’s 16 bit era platformer styling and amazing gameplay, as well as one of the best soundtracks in recent memory (the songs AND their titles are amazing, such as “The Death that I Deservioli”), and the game actually always confused me as to why it didn’t launch on the Switch, since the Warioland vibes were so strong in this game. Whatever the reason was, Pizza Tower has now officially landed on the Switch, meaning you can finally play this amazing platformer if you didn’t already do so on your PC. I’m not going to level any judgment against you for not doing so, I’m just going to say that I am disappointed in your behavior.
Tetris Forever
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Release Date: Late 2024
Platforms: Switch, Steam
Marcy: Tetris is apparently now 40 years old, which gives me some pause in my own life, but who cares about time, really, wen there is always more Tetris we could be playing instead. The Tetris Forever collection is a type of anthology/museum, presenting the original classic and a collection of other games, including the honestly bizarre and oft forgotten Hatris. Tetris Forever also promises a “time warp” mode that will mix up various gameplay gimmicks from Tetris sequels. The trailer also notes that there’ll be some documentary footage about the game, and also that the NES version will be joining the Switch Online catalog later this year too.
Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars
Developer: Konami
Release: 2025
Platforms: Switch, PS5/PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Steam
Marcy: I don’t like to always say this as it feels like it may diminish a reaction, but there is a world in which “Marcy” doesn’t exist beacuse Marcy did not play Suikoden I, a game that really changed my trajectory in taste in games and the types of media I wanted to enjoy and play. I must have played the original Suikoden 20 times over, finding the game and it’s unique cast of characters and gameplay systems fascinating. Suikoden II continued that, and I continued being in love with the series well into the future in which it somewhat lost what made the originals so magical. If you’re the type that is into playing “retro” games and never tried it, this is a fantastic announcement, since prices for Suikoden I and especially II are insane. Do yourself a favor and take a recommendation from Young Marcy: Play these when they release if you never did. Few have ever done it like Suikoden I and II.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
Developer: Square Enix
Release Date: Nov. 14, 2024
Platforms: Switch, Steam, PS4|5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
Marcy:Â Having been announced back during the Summer Game Fest, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake (say that five times fast) got some new previews showing off some of the unique customization and other systems being added to freshen up the classic game. Dragon Quest III holds a very special place in gaming history’s heart, which we discussed before in the other preview, so seeing this classic shaping up so nicely really feels great, and I’m looking forward to playing it again when it comes out later this year, and hope that new players will find the older game charming through the revamped and updated mechanics.
Castlevania Dominus Collection
Developer: Konami
Release Date: Today?!
Platforms: Switch, Steam
Marcy: Listen I’m not going to complain about the increased ‘this game is available… RIGHT NOW’ of Nintendo Directs, but I am going to say that it keeps catching me off guard every time. There’s a really great conversation to be had about the issues of gaming preservation and archival/accessibility of older games, but in the meantime, three frankly amazing Castlevania games have now been rescued from the retro gaming scalpers market with this new collection from Konami. Dawn of Sorrow, Portrait of Ruin, and Order of Ecclesia are bundled together in this set of games and available right now. I have really fond memories of playing all of these on my DS during college classes, and am excited to enroll in new classes so that I can sit in the back and play these all over again. Jokes aside, if you like ‘Metroidvania’ games and never got a chance to play these three, give them a shot: they introduced a lot of unique and interesting mechanics to the series.
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted 2 & Security Breach – Ruin
Developer: Steel Wool Studios
Release Date: 2025(?)
Platforms: Switch
Marcy: Whether you’re a fan of the FNAF series, the horror juggernaut continues, and these two games bring the more recent titles to the Switch. Although these are unlikely to convert you to a FNAF fan, they are two of the most recent titles, and seeing them make their way off PC and onto the Switch is a surefire way to solve some Christmas gifts later this year for the FNAF fan in your social circle.
Yakuza: Kiwami
Developer: Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio
Release Date: October 24, 2024
Platforms: Now on the Switch!
Marcy: Probably the biggest surprise and left for last, Yakuza Kiwami was announced for the Switch, making this the first time the series has debuted on the Switch, and if that was what you were waiting for to begin the legend of Kazuma Kiryu, the time is now. From the trailer, the gameplay looks pretty solid and hopefully the framerate and other aspects will similarly translate well to the Switch hardware. Yakuza is an amazing series that combines so many different aspects into a cohesive whole, from various styles of combat, exploration, mini-games, side missions, and all sorts of frankly fascinating ingredients that make a great overall dish. It’s also great to see the series finally expand itself to the Nintendo ecosystem, and hopefully whatever the Switch successor ends up being will be a place that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio looks to publish their titles on in the future.
Wrap-Up
Marcy: There were a ton more games in this direct, and lots of great looking titles on the horizon. While Gamescom was pretty bland and disappointing, Nintendo has really been knocking it out of the park with their announcements and shows lately, with this one being yet another solid showcase of upcoming games. Something the Switch doesn’t get a lot of credit for is the absolute variety of games available on it; this showcase has a game in almost every conceivable category or genre, meaning that there’s probably a little something for everyone to enjoy here.
We’ll keep our eyes peeled for the future, as Tokyo Game Show looms on the horizon, but for now, I’ve got a ton of games to go start downloading!
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