Earlier today we had a rather short presentation from Nintendo focused entirely on indie developers to better give us an idea of what we can expect to see on the Switch eShop in the Spring of 2018 and beyond.

Below is a list of each title which was announced in seasonal order, the indie studio who's developing or publishing and little bit about each game.

NINTENDO SWITCH

Spring 2018

Lumines Remastered by Enhance Games

Originally made by Rez creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi (who is making new music tracks with this remaster) Lumines is an engrossing music-based Puzzle game where you must group together as many blocks of the same colour before the bar moving horizontally across the screen goes over them, which will make them vanish from play if they are joined together.

I personally fondly remember this from the launch of the PS Vita as it was one of the few games I would find myself returning to regularly on the system, so hearing that it will soon be available for the Switch makes this the highlight for myself and it will surely be an asset to the eShop, especially with the use of HD rumble to boot.

Bomb Chicken by Nitrome

I'm just going to leave this PR here...

Who doesn’t love chicken… especially when it’s smothered in delicious blue hot sauce? After a freak accident, a seemingly ordinary chicken becomes a bomb laying free range hero. Explore the versatile mechanic of laying bombs in this explosive exploration platformer.

Discover the darkest kept secret of the fast food giant known as BFC, their bestselling addictive blue hot sauce, and answer the ultimate question: Which came first the chicken or the bomb?

Coming to Switch first.

Pode by Henchman & Goon

A co-operative exploration puzzle game deeply inspired by Norwegian art and culture.

Garage by tinyBuild Games

A top-down shooter set in a gritty underworld, releasing first on Switch.

Light Fall by Bishop Games

A potentially tough platformer, in similar vein to Celeste but with a style that seems to set it apart and some very interesting mechanics, one to watch I reckon.

West of Loathing by Asymmetric Publications

A Wild-West themed RPG which stars Cowboys which are stickmen... there are over fifty hats! What more could you want?

Reigns: Kings & Queens by Nerial (Published by Devolver Digital)

Combines two games in one package, both of which have you ruling over a kingdom, responding to requests by simply swiping left or right which will shape the kingdom and allow you to continue your reign for a time.


Summer 2018

The Messenger by Sabotage (Published by Devolver Digital)

Ninja game which is both an 8-bit platformer and a 16 bit one involving time-travel? Day one surely.

Fantasy Strike by Sirlin Games

A fighter where anything can be a weapon, you might want to check the PR...

Be an archer with fiery arrows, a colorful painter, a martial arts master who can transform into a dragon, and more! Fantasy meets martial arts in this vibrant world.

The streamlined controls get you to the fun decision-making part of fighting games as soon as possible. All moves are just a single button press, combos are easy, move lists are concise. Though Fantasy Strike is easy to get into, it's designed as a competitive tournament game with an emphasis on depth and balance. It's a mental sport that's difficult to master—just not difficult to control.

This could be an interesting title for anyone interested in a new type of Fighting game.

Bad North by Raw Fury

PR reads...

Bad North is a charming but brutal real-time tactics roguelite. Defend your idyllic island kingdom against a horde of Viking invaders, as you lead the desperate exodus of your people. Command your loyal subjects to take full tactical advantage of the unique shape of each island. Everything is at stake: fail, and watch the blood of your subjects stain the ground red.

It's charmingly brutal, with beautiful procedurally-generated islands and adorable soldiers juxtaposed against the blood-stained realities of war. You control the broad strokes of the battle, giving high level commands to your soldiers who try their best to carry them out in the heat of the moment. It’s accessibly deep, with simple player inputs masking a dynamic combat simulation that make it inviting to new players while challenging veterans.

Keep fighting, warriors. Not for power or riches or glory, but for hope of peace to come once again in the harsh lands of the Bad North.

It's a timed-exclusive for Switch as well, which is nice.

Just Shapes and Beats by Berzerk Studio

A musical bullet hell game where you navigate deadly shapes in solo, multiplayer or online to a soundtrack composed by twenty chiptune artists AND is a timed-exclusive on Switch? Sign me up!

The Banner Saga 3 by Stoic

A seemingly very popular tactical role-playing series on other platforms (one which has passed me by personally) the third entry in the Banner Saga series will be released on Switch plus Banner Saga 1 & 2 are launching soon apparently.


Autumn 2018 or later

Mark of the Ninja Remastered by Clay Entertainment

Side-scrolling stealth based game which originated on Xbox Live Arcade, this will be the games first time on a Nintendo console or any other console, let alone one which offers portable play so this remaster could be one to watch.

Pool Panic by Rekim (published by Adult Swim)

Pool Panic frees billiards from the table and unleashes it into a world where everything from jungles and deserts to cities and swamps is a living pool game! You already know that sinking eight balls is the ultimate goal, but can you succeed while contending with monster balls chasing you, or ballerina balls leaping away from your well-aimed shots?

Take on the role of the mischievous, and dare we say, oblivious cue ball in Pool Panic's unique world comprised of 100+ levels while enjoying the single-player campaign, or invite your friends to join you for a multiplayer panic.

And the rest...

In breaking news, seperate from the presentation, it seems that Hyper Light Drifter, Nidhogg II and Crashlands have been announced for the Switch as well, three very welcome ports indeed which prove that Game Maker is clearly a very good base program for moving games across to Nintendo's latest platform.

Are you excited about anything shown today? If so then please comment below or on our forum. Perhaps you haven't seen the presentation yet or would like to see it again, if so then please take a look at the video below.