SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘Emio: The Smiling Man’, ‘Gundam Breaker 4’, Plus Today’s Other Releases and Sales

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for August 29th, 2024! We've got a hefty serving of new releases to dive into today, forming the core of this Thursday's column. We'll also explore a sizable list of new sales, and that's pretty much it for today. Let's get to the games!

Select New Releases

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club ($49.99)

The Famicom Detective Club returns after a long hiatus! This new case stays true to the originals, both in its strengths and weaknesses. A fresh mystery awaits, presented in a style similar to the recent Switch remakes. Can you crack the latest serial murder case? My review is coming soon.

Gundam Breaker 4 ($59.99)

Mikhail's already penned a comprehensive review, so I'll direct you there for a detailed look at the gameplay and Switch performance. In short: build and battle Gunpla! While the Switch version naturally lags behind others in performance, it's perfectly playable. Check out Mikhail's excellent review!

Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn ($19.99)

Tengo Project continues its impressive streak of remakes/reimaginings. Following successful updates to Wild Guns Reloaded, The Ninja Saviors, and Pocky & Rocky, they now tackle an 8-bit classic. This one diverges more significantly from its source material. If you crave a classic-styled action-platformer, this is worth a look. My review drops early next week.

Valfaris: Mecha Therion ($19.99)

A Valfaris sequel, but with a twist! This is a 2.5D side-scrolling shoot 'em up, a departure from the original. While the genre shift surprised some, it's a solid entry in its own right. Embrace the change, and you'll find much to enjoy. Review coming soon!

Nour: Play With Your Food ($9.99)

I'll admit, I'm not entirely sure what's going on here. The food imagery is lovely, though. Play with your food? Take photos? Hunt for secrets? Perhaps Mikhail will investigate further—it seems right up his alley.

Monster Jam Showdown ($49.99)

Monster trucks! If that's your jam (pun intended!), this might be for you. Features local and online multiplayer, plus various modes. Reception on other platforms was mixed, but monster truck fans have limited options.

WitchSpring R ($39.99)

I believe this is a WitchSpring remake, but I could be wrong. The original was a solid mobile "budget Atelier" experience. At this price point, however, it's approaching the cost of a full-fledged Atelier title, making it a tougher sell. Still, it looks like the best-looking WitchSpring yet.

Depths of Sanity ($19.99)

An underwater exploration game with a fantastical horror twist. Unravel the mystery of your missing crew in a vast, dangerous underwater world. Expect combat. Well-regarded on other platforms, and likely to find a Switch audience.

Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire ($19.99)

Voltaire, a vegan vampire rebelling against his bloodthirsty father, must farm his way to freedom. Yes, farming. But with action elements, as he fends off his father's attempts to derail his lifestyle change. Not my usual genre, but might appeal to others.

Marble Abduction! Patti Hattu ($11.79)

A marble roller game with 70 stages and 80 marbles to collect. Secret collectibles and challenges add replayability. If you enjoy fast-paced marble rolling, this delivers.

Leo: The Firefighter Cat ($24.99)

A firefighting game aimed at a younger audience, with a focus on fun and accessible gameplay. Features 20 missions.

Gori: Cuddly Carnage ($21.99)

A grotesque action game starring a hoverboarding cat who slices and dices enemies. While the core gameplay is decent, the Switch version suffers from technical issues affecting the overall experience.

Arcade Archives Finalizer Super Transformation ($7.99)

A 1985 Konami vertical shooter featuring a transforming robot protagonist. A charming, retro shooter experience.

EGGCONSOLE Xanadu Scenario II PC-8801mkIISR ($6.49)

An early expansion pack, adding a new underworld to explore in Xanadu. Gameplay is similar to the original, but with increased difficulty. Notable for featuring the debut work of legendary composer Yuzo Koshiro.

The Backrooms: Survival ($10.99)

A blend of horror, survival, and roguelite elements. Best experienced with up to ten online players. Solo play caters to a more niche audience.

Can of Wormholes ($19.99)

A clever puzzle game where you, a sentient tin can, must deal with worms. Features 100 handcrafted puzzles with consistently fresh ideas.

Ninja I & II ($9.99)

Two NES-style microgames with a ninja twist. Competitive, ideal for local multiplayer or against the CPU.

Dice Make 10! ($3.99)

A surprisingly fun puzzle game with two modes: falling blocks and placement-based. The goal is to create rows or columns where dice faces add up to ten or multiples of ten.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

It's The King of Fighters' 30th anniversary, and Hamster and SNK are celebrating with a sale on every Arcade Archives title in the series! Many Pixel Game Maker Series games are also at their lowest prices yet. Several other noteworthy indie titles are also on sale.

Select New Sales

Kamitsubaki City Ensemble ($3.59) Floogen ($1.99) Rolling Car ($1.99) Fluffy Horde ($1.99) Gum+ ($1.99) Stunt Paradise ($5.19) My Time at Portia ($4.49) SpongeBob Krusty Cook-Off ($4.94) PPA Pickleball Tour 2025 ($29.99) Talisman: Digital Edition ($2.99) Mystic Vale ($4.99) Baron of Blood ($4.95) Fighting Fantasy Legends ($4.99) Deathtrap Dungeon ($4.99) White Eternal ($3.24)

(Numerous ACA NEOGEO King of Fighters titles) ($3.99 each) Kittey 64 ($2.49) Last Bloody Snack ($1.99) (Numerous PGMS titles) (Various prices)

(Numerous PGMS titles) (Various prices)

(Numerous PGMS titles) (Various prices)

Sushi Battle Rambunctiously ($13.99) My Incubi Harem ($2.99) Hot Blood ($7.49) Jenny LeClue Detectivu ($2.99) Asterix & Obelix Slap Them All ($12.49) The Sisters 2 Road to Fame ($14.99) Noob: The Factionless ($19.99) New Joe & Mac: Caveman Ninja ($11.99) Garfield Lasagna Party ($15.99) Muv-Luv Remastered ($26.99) Muv-Luv Alternative Remastered ($35.99)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, August 30th

#BLUD ($19.99) 8th Millennium: WAtPG ($7.49) Alpha Particle ($3.39) Batman: The Enemy Within ($7.49) Batman: The Telltale Series ($7.49) Empire of Angels IV ($6.79) Enter Digiton: Heart of Corruption ($2.39) Forager ($6.99) Hell Well ($2.49) Midnight Fight Express ($11.99) Mineko’s Night Market ($13.99) Moonscars ($13.99)

OBAKEIDORO ($9.99) Puddle Knights ($2.99) Roxy Raccoon’s Pinball Panic ($6.99) Slay the Spire ($8.49) Space Mercenary Defense Force ($3.49) Super Woden GP ($5.99) Supraland ($9.99) Surmount ($9.89) The Last Dragon Slayer ($3.74) The Last Worker ($3.99) Thunder Ray ($7.49) Unpacking ($9.99) Void Bastards ($8.99)

That's all for today, friends! We'll be back tomorrow to wrap up the week with remaining new releases, sales, and news. Maybe some reviews? We'll see. A major typhoon is hitting, so there's a chance I might miss tomorrow's article. We'll cross that bridge if we have to. Have a great Thursday, and thanks for reading!