Today’s Indie World Showcase, presented in all-digital livestream format by Nintendo, provided fans with nearly half an hour of exciting indie game announcements. The focus was on the Nintendo Switch console as viewers saw everything from brand new titles to unexpected ports to exciting updates making beloved favorites even more fun to play with family and friends. Even better, a number of these titles are available to download from the Nintendo eShop starting today — no waiting required! Better STILL, Nintendo is also holding an eShop sale featuring discounts on several indie titles, including several revealed during the stream.
If you missed the stream, you can still check out the video on Nintendo’s official YouTube channel. Plus, here’s a recap of everything revealed during the announcement-packed indie event:
First up was Hades, a rogue-like dungeon crawler from Supergiant Games. Play as the Prince of the Underworld as you team up with Greek gods and heroes of legend to fight your way through the many levels of Hell. Can you escape the underworld and free yourself from the clutches of the God of the Dead himself? Hades will debut for Nintendo Switch this fall — but if you can’t wait that long, don’t worry. The game is currently available for PC via Steam, and all progress made can be effortlessly transferred to the Switch version once it launches.
Journey back to the “internet of the 90s” with Hypnospace Outlaw, a collaboration between multiple indie developers and publisher No More Robots. Visit old Web sites, bizarre forums, and more as you defeat the hackers, content thieves, cyberbullies, and other villains who lurk within the darkest corners of this alternate-history version of the World Wide Web. Hypnospace Outlaw, which first released for PC in early 2019, is coming to the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 on August 27. A demo is available to download from the eShop beginning today.
Described as “a cozy management game about dying,” the highly anticipated Spiritfarer finally sails onto the Nintendo Switch. Thunder Lotus Games’ adorable title lets players take on the role of a ferry operator who takes spirits of the dead to the afterlife. In a game designed to be relaxing and feature minimal time pressure, ferry-master Stella can upgrade her boat, befriend her passengers, make lasting memories, enhance various skills, and even do a little platforming as she explores the mystical lands beyond the world of the living. To the surprise of fans, Spiritfarer will be releasing today and is available to purchase via the Nintendo eShop.
It was one downright adorable title after another as viewers were next treated to a look at Garden Story, developed by Picogram and published by Rose City Games. Concord, a young and inexperienced grape, has recently been appointed Guardian of the tight-knit plant-based community called “the Grove.” It’s Concord’s job to collect resources, repair buildings, and bring the townspeople together as they fight off the invasion of the deadly “Rot.” Picogram designed the game to highlight the importance of coming together and building a sense of community during troubled times — a message which is especially relevant during the current global struggle. Garden Story will release in 2021.
Popular underwater open-world survival title Subnautica, developed by Unknown Worlds Entertainment, will be receiving its long-awaited Nintendo Switch port in early 2021. This innovative game takes the classic elements of the beloved survival genre — harvesting resources, finding shelter, fending off enemy creatures — and transplants them into a unique setting, a wholly flooded planet. But that’s not all! The Indie World Showcase had one even more unexpected announcement to make. Subnautica’s sequel, titled Below Zero, will also be making its way to the Switch! Below Zero offers players an entirely new planet to explore, this one with a dangerous yet beautiful Arctic environment. Talk about redefining chill gaming!
Oink Games brought to the stream the charming, claymation-inspired Takeshi & Hiroshi, which provides a look at the game development process from a whole new angle. Aspiring game designer Takeshi is showing his latest project off to his younger brother Hiroshi, hoping to give Hiroshi the perfect balance of entertainment and enjoyment without making him stressed or sad. Playing as Takeshi, gamers will be given the unique role of choosing which monsters and challenges Hiroshi will face. This beautiful story of the close relationship between brothers is available to purchase via the Nintendo eShop starting today.
India-based developer Nodding Heads presented their very first title, a beautiful adventure game entitled Raji: An Ancient Epic. This tale of a girl tasked by the gods to save her homeland from a horde of demons is inspired by Hindu and Balinese mythology, as well as featuring an art style based around Rajasthani architecture and Pahari, miniature paintings originating from the hill kingdoms of India. Travel through this one-of-a-kind world as you help Raji collect and strengthen divine weapons she will need for her ultimate confrontation against the demon lord. Raji is yet another title available today as a timed console exclusive. Also, future Steam and Xbox console releases are currently planned.
Gummy Cat and Armor Games have teamed up to create the most “un-bear-lievable” of management games, Bear & Breakfast. Innkeeper Hank might be a huge, intimidating brown bear, but he’s got a gentle heart – all he wants is to establish the best bed-and-breakfast in the entire forest! As Hank, players will customize rooms, attract guests, improve their inn’s reputation, and even discover the secrets of the deep forest as their property expands. In addition to its cute art style and chill gameplay, Bear & Breakfast features a sense of humor perfect for the modern gamer, ranging from jokes about TvTropes to guest names taken from media ranging from Harry Potter to Hamilton. Another timed console exclusive, Bear and Breakfast is currently scheduled for a 2021 release.
The nature theme continued with A Short Hike, from developer adamgryu and Whippoorwill Limited. Play as Claire, a young bird with a taste for exploration, as she visits the gorgeous natural paradise of Hawk Peak Park. Hike, fly, glide and even steer a boat through the park along the path of your choice; you can follow the marked-off trails or strike out into the wilderness, as it’s entirely up to you! Along the way, you’ll meet other hikers, witness gorgeous natural views, and perhaps even find some hidden treasure. The relaxed pace and open environment of A Short Hike makes it perfect for all types of gamers. Plus, like many other exciting titles announced during this event, it’s available for Nintendo Switch starting today! A previously released PC version is also available.
There’s been plenty of games that feature card-playing as a key mechanic necessary to progress, but Nerial and Devolver Digital’s Card Sharks takes this to another level entirely! Set in 18th-century France, the player takes on the role of an eager social climber who wants to join the King’s inner circle. However, to do so, you won’t merely have to win card games — you’ll have to cheat at them! In order to up the social ladder, players must master moves inspired by real-life card tricks and win more high-stakes games ever — all without being caught. This unique upper-class journey will launch for Nintendo Switch in 2021.
There are many words you could use to describe Perfect World’s Torchlight series. Action. Role-playing game. Hack and slash. Oh…and one more thing: getting a new entry. That’s right! Torchlight III has officially been announced to be coming to the Nintendo Switch in Fall 2020. This latest installment will force players to delve into deeper and darker dungeons to collect more powerful gear than ever before. You can also now build a fort to store, display, and even upgrade your favorite items. Plus, the adorable Pets will be returning from Torchlight II — choose a dog, bird, alpaca, or even a mythical creature to accompany and help you on your journey. Players who purchase the game for Nintendo Switch will also receive a free Red Fairy pet!
Joining the lineup of titles available from the eShop today is physics puzzler Manifold Garden, designed by sculpture artist William Chyr and initially released for PC and mobile devices. Inspired by the physics-defying artwork of M. C. Escher, Manifold Garden transports players into a world where the rules are quite different from those of our own Earth. You must manipulate gravity to solve several tricky, mind-bending puzzles that require you to think outside the box — quite literally!
Also available to purchase and download today is Evergate, a puzzle-platforming adventure from Stone Lantern Games. Described as “dreamlike” and “otherworldly,” Evergate tells the story of Ki, a soul residing in the afterlife. As she travels through the memories of the many lives she has lived, Ki becomes tasked with saving the afterlife from a deadly storm, which threatens to destroy the cycle of rebirth and reincarnation for good. Ki relies on her unique “Soulflame” power, which allows her to unlock various beneficial effects via collecting crystals scattered throughout the afterlife. From movement boosts to creating new platforms to even teleportation – who knows what sorts of powers Ki will discover during her journey?
The stream was drawing near its end — but Nintendo wasn’t done yet! What followed was a rapid-fire series of updates on several other indie titles planned to release on the Nintendo Switch. Here’s a quick rundown of everything that got a mention:
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- Chill out together with a friend in Haven, a co-op adventure/love story by The Game Bakers, which is planned to release later in 2020 not only for the Nintendo Switch but also the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5
- Explore the ruins of failed startup companies in Going Under, a twist on the standard “dungeon crawler” model from Aggro Crab and Team17 Digital, coming September 24
- Take on the Iditarod dogsled race and survive the frozen wilderness in Timberline Studios’ Red Lantern, dashing onto the Switch in Fall 2020
- Construct a train track that travels through a procedurally generated cubic world in the multiplayer co-op Unrailed!, developed by Indoor Astronaut and releasing on September 23 (with a demo available later today)
- Team up with a friend to battle physics in Chasing Rats’ Struggling, a game chronicling the journeys of a bizarre and somewhat grotesque creature, coming August 27
- Seek out answers with Inmost, from Hidden Layer Games and Chucklefish, a narrative-driven puzzle platformer telling the story of a young girl and a tormented knight, arriving on August 21
- Defeat nightmares and escape from dreams into reality as you explore the twisted landscape of Studio Zevere’s She Dreams Elsewhere, debuting sometime in early 2021
- Match colorful monsters and traverse up a dangerous mountain as Viking warrior Jorj in arcade-inspired puzzler Grindstone from Capybara Games, expected to arrive Fall 2020
- Lose your head (don’t worry, it’s totally normal; in fact, it’s a necessary part of gameplay) in Gonner2, the sequel to Art in Heart and Raw Fury’s 2016 procedurally generated rogue-like/platformer/shooter hybrid, which sees protagonist Ikk forced to help Death clear enemies from her lair, following its predecessor onto Nintendo Switch in Fall 2020
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Nintendo reveal event without “just one more thing” — and the Indie World Showcase certainly delivered! Heralded by a chorus of honking, the stream ended with the announcement that developer House House’s popular stealth puzzle game, Untitled Goose Game, will be receiving a long-awaited multiplayer mode. Players will now be able to team up, controlling two horrible geese who will work together to cause as much chaos as possible. Even if you’ve already played through Goose Game, this brand-new multiplayer mode will offer brand new methods of solving its puzzles and crossing off items on the goose’s to-do list.
The multiplayer version of Untitled Goose Game will be released via a free update on September 23. It will be available for all platforms on which the game can be played, including PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Also, the game will be releasing a physical release for the Nintendo Switch sometime in the future.
Interested in grabbing some of these “available today” games? Well, you’re in luck! These and other titles will be featured as part of the “Nintendo eShop Indie Sale,” going on now. Make sure to check out all the fantastic indie games available for Nintendo Switch!
Which of these fantastic indie titles are you most excited for? Which will you be purchasing and adding to your library today? Let us know!
