Nintendo does a great job with showcasing upcoming games in both their Nintendo Directs and Indie World showcases. My Nintendo Switch is my indie machine. I’m not saying I only use it to play Indies, because Nintendo’s first party games are also great fun on the Switch. It just also happens to be the place I prefer to play my Indies (both new and old).

I used to be a big PC for Indies person since my PC was older and couldn’t handle many new games. Before the Switch came along in 2017, I played games like Super Meat Boy, Bit.Trip Runner, Castle Crashers, Bastion, Ori and the Blind Forest and many others on my PC. Many of these games that I previously owned elsewhere I also now own on my Nintendo Switch because that’s the best place to play them (keyword: convenience!).

So, I’m always excited for an Indie World showcase since these are my favorite games for my Switch. Today’s showcase was filled with all types of goodies. Usually there’s a few games I’m interested in, some I’m not so interested in and one or two big surprises. There’s also just some silly, goofy, fun stuff that I know I will never play but I’m happy it’s out there.

Let’s go through a quick recap of the games shown during today’s 20 minute-long presentation, or the games that I’m mostly interested in because the list was pretty long:

ROAD 96

We started off with Road 96, the first of a couple of Road Trip games shown in the presentation. I don’t know if it’s the pandemic and everyone staying at home that made “the Road Trip game” a new thing. Road 96 reminds me of the many “choose your own adventure” books I bought at the Scholastic Book Fairs of the 90’s. It’s a procedural story-driven game created by DigixArt in Montpellier, France.

At first, it seems like a pretty chill adventure game, but the choices you make can lead to some wild rides. There are thousands of different paths to take in this story, which may make the story very replayable.

Road 96 “drives” onto Nintendo Switch later this year (2021).

Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield

Seeing Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield pop up on the Indie World showcase was very exciting for me. I got to interview Neil Jones (aka Aerial_Knight) for the first episode of the myVGBC podcast, not too long ago. We talked about the Switch a bit, but his game coming to Nintendo Switch was a secret that he understandably had to keep to himself.

I really love endless runners and have been waiting for this game for quite some time. The art-style and music are super fresh. After trying out the demo on Steam earlier this year, my hype levels for this game instantly intensified. That’s when I reached out to Neil for an interview and he generously accepted.

I recommend everyone go download and try out the Never Yield Demo on the Nintendo eShop right now.
We also finally got a release date, May 19th!

OIliOlli World

I tried out one or two of the Olli Olli games before. I love how each game has the same basic mechanics of an skateboarding action platformer but the art style changes drastically throughout. In the first Olli Olli the style was pixelized. In Olli Olli two, we had more of a stylized design with bright colors, and now in Olli Olli World we’re seeing a more hand-drawn look with lighter tones.

I’ve always been a fan of skateboarding and skateboard games. This game seems fun because you can choose your own way to play. You can go for high scores and big combos and create insane lines, or you can chill out and just skate through each level at your own pace.

Olli Olli World launches on Nintendo Switch this Winter (2021).

The Longing

The Longing is a passion project by Anselm Pyta from Studio Seufz in Germany. This game is all about the passage of time. How much time? 400 days.

The game takes place in real time so there is a timer on the top of the screen counting your 400 days. You perform mundane tasks in a cave as you wait for your time to expire. If you want to play this game I suggest you go to the eShop and download it right now.

Yes, The Longing is available today on the Nintendo eShop.

There is No Game: Wrong Dimension

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There is No Game is a game about not being a game? It’s a point and click experimental comedy adventure where you just keep breaking the game by trying to play the game. It’s full of puzzles, riddles and surprises.

If you’re curious for something different and strange There is No Game is out right now on the eShop.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

This is the game I’ve been waiting to hear more about and we finally did get some more info. I grew up playing side-scrolling Beat ‘Em Ups (Double Dragon, Battletoads & Double Dragon, Final Fight, TMNT IV: Turtles in Time) and I still love them today. I also grew up loving the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, from the cartoons to the toys. In fact, my friend has gotten me Ninja Turtle themed birthday gifts for the past few years.

I love that they’re creating a brand new Turtles game in the style of the classic arcade-style Beat ‘Em Ups rather than a remaster or remake. This game seems to keep that old school pixel art look, while playing like a game of today. I can’t wait to play this with my friends, online and hopefully in person!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is coming to Nintendo Switch later this year.

GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon

Getsu Fuma Den: Undying Moon is a side-scrolling, Hack-and-Slash, Heavy Metal Roguelite taking place in Hell. The game has a distinct Japanese art style to it.

Make your way through tough dungeons and take on big bosses with intense combat. This game seems like a mix of two games I’ve really enjoyed in recent years, Hades and Dead Cells.

Getsu Fuma Den: Undying Moon will be released on the Nintendo Switch next year (2022).

Aztech Forgotten Gods

Aztech Forgotten Gods is a fantasy, action-adventure game that takes place in the ancient times. Take down the Aztech gods with your future tech weapons as Ashley and uncover the secrets of this forgotten world. The combat looks fast and fun.

The game is being developed by Lienzo, a studio in Mexico who created Mulaka.

Aztech Forgotten Gods will be available Fall 2021.

Skul: The Hero Slayer

Skul: The Hero Slayer is a Roguelite 2D fast-action platfomer created by SouthPAW games from South Korea. Something interesting about this game is that you play as the “bad guy.” Instead of trying to save the world in this adventure, you’re just destroying the world as you try to rescue your demon king.

There is also the mechanic of interchangeable character heads in this game. There are 90 playable heads in the game, all with different special abilities.

Skul: The Hero Slayer launches on Nintendo Switch during the Summer of 2021.

FEZ

This one was featured in the “here’s some more games all at once” part of the showcase. FEZ instantly stood out to me. I know it’s an old game. It’s almost 10 years old, but I’m excited to finally play it on my Nintendo Switch.

Back when it was first released, the mechanics in this game were ground-breaking. I remember watching Indie Game: the movie a documentary that chronicled the release of FEZ along with some other indie games.

FEZ is a side scroller where you make your way through levels by moving to different spots and changing the perspective. I tried to play FEZ on my old MacBook back when I first heard of it, on Steam. I remember it crashing so many times that I just ended up quitting and only getting a small taste of the game.

But now, Fez is on the Nintendo Switch eShop today!

ONE MORE THING! OXENFREE 2

Oxenfree by Night School was one of the first mystery adventure story games I have ever played through. Many of these type of games are too slow for me, but I was very interested in the story while playing Oxenfree (Firewatch was another one that I thoroughly enjoyed).

This was the first “one more thing” reveal that I was actually able to get excited about because I knew what it was from the very beginning. Usually, I sit there with a confused look trying to figure out what I’m seeing and by the time the reveal is over I think, “Never heard of it” (Bugs Bunny voice).

This one got me real excited, I think it’s time to finally play After Party (also by Night School). I’ve been holding out on that one.

Oxenfree 2 is coming sometime this year (2021).

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Also, there is an indie game sale happening right now on the Nintendo eShop. From today until 4/25.

I only wrote about the games I was most excited about, there were some that didn’t make the cut above but still were pretty neat. So, If you’d like to see the entire Indie World showcase, you can check it out right here: