Following a relatively quiet week for digital releases, the virtual floodgates have flung themselves open as a deluge of exciting new software roars onto the North American eShop. And there are some big names making themselves known, too. We've got the excellent The Escapists 2 bringing its jail-hopping antics to the party; the punishing yet invigorating platforming of Super Meat Boy and the charming sketch world of Draw A Stickman; EPIC 2.
There's even a new addition on the Wii U eShop for our American and Canadian chums in the form of Jolt Family Robot Racer. Who says we don't have the old school fans covered as well?
Switch eShop
The Escapists 2 (Team17, $19.99) - Bust out anywhere, with anyone on the Nintendo Switch. Team up with another inmate for local two player split screen mode, taking a Joy-Con each to either team up to break out, or work against one another to determine who’s the quickest convict to make an escape. Find out more in our The Escapists 2 review.
Furi (The Game Bakers, $19.99) - Fight your way free in this ultra-responsive, fast-paced sword fighting and dual-stick shooting game. Feel the tension and adrenaline of one-on-one duels against deadly adversaries: you will need absolute focus and skill to defeat each of the guardians. Find out more in our Furi review.
Super Meat Boy (BlitWorks, $14.99) - In this tough as nails platformer you play as an animated cube of meat who's trying to save his girlfriend (who happens to be made of bandages) from an evil fetus in a jar wearing a tux.
Rally Racers (System 3, $9.99) - Wacky cartoon racing at its best, Rally Racers is an action packed family racing game that's fast and furious fun for all. Cars bash and battle each other to racing glory, picking up special weapons, boosts, recruiting race mates from the opposition team, performing stunts and completing challenges to be first over the finish line.
Of Mice and Sand -Revised- (Arc System Works, $9.99) - This game puts you in charge of a desert craft and its rodent crew. Brave an alien planet, and turn your squeaking subordinates into first-class shipmates, all in the name of adventure!
Moorhuhn Knights & Castles (Young Fun Studio, $29.99) - Finally, Moorhuhn strikes back! Get set, aim, fire ... and never neglect your own cover. Fight against the AI, your friends ... or your enemies! Pure Moorhuhn action!
Energy Invasion (Evgeniy Kolpakov, $2.99) - Energy Invasion - an arcade game inspired by the classic Breakout. Unlike the original game, your ball does not break blocks on its own, but can launch missiles in a chosen direction.
Draw a Stickman: EPIC 2 (Hitcents, $6.99) - Imagination is the key, as you enter a magical storybook land full of mystery and wonder, unusual creatures and enigmatic puzzles!
ACA NEOGEO Art Of Fighting 2 (HAMSTER, $7.99) - Twelve fighters compete to be crowned as the strongest one in the "King of Fighters" ultimate fighting championship. We didn't quite feel that the game lived up to its immense promise when we reviewed it back in 2008 when it landed on the Wii Virtual Console, but we'll take another look now that its made the jump to the Switch.
BRAWL (QubicGames, $9.99) - Step into the darkness of The Emporium with 8 unique characters, each with a rich back story and a surprising plot-twist. Fight your way to the end using different play styles, from pure brutality as a Wrestler to hiding in shadows as an elusive Thief. (Available from 12th Jan)
Azkend 2: The World Beneath (10tons, $7.99) - Step aboard a fantastic adventure! Enjoy amazing match-three gameplay and discover one of the most astonishing worlds ever imagined. (Available from 12th Jan)
Gunhouse (Other Ocean Interactive, $14.99) - Load your guns! Rain death from above! Protect your valuable orphans! Defeat giant, improbable bosses! Gunhouse is part puzzle, part active tower defense, as you make big combos to launch a hail of bullets and special attacks at the alien invaders who would like nothing better than to consume your delicious orphan friends. (Available from 15th Jan)
InnerSpace (Aspyr Media, $19.99) - InnerSpace is an exploration flying game set in the Inverse, a world of inside-out planets with no horizons. Soar through ancient skies and abandoned oceans to discover the lost history of this fading realm, where gods still wander. Your greatest journey is within. (Available from 16th Jan). This looks like it's shaping up to be a great game, find out more in our interview with the developer PolyKnight Games.
Nightmare Boy (Badland Games, $9.99) - This story takes place in Donorok, in the state of Noctum. After the King of Noctum, Aster, disappears, chaos rules over the world. The relationships between Monsters, Mongos and Dreamers are completely unstable, and Donorok - the land so heavily affected by the chaos - slowly absorbs terrain from the surrounding regions. (Available from 16th Jan)
Energy Balance (Evgeniy Kolpakov, $2.99) - Energy Balance is a number puzzle. You have to swap power units in such a way that their sums form correct chains both vertically and horizontally. The game is easy to learn, but very hard to master. So, are you ready to peep under the hood of an alien spaceship? (Available from 16th Jan)
Switch Demos
Dragon Quest Builders (Square Enix, Free) - Gather, craft, and build the kingdom of your dreams to restore the ruined world of Alefgard! As the legendary Builder, you’ll construct rooms, towns and defenses while fighting monsters. The full version of Dragon Quest Builders launches for Nintendo Switch on 9 Feb.
3DS eShop
Operation COBRA (StickBit, $2.99) - You find yourself stranded in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by mud. You have no chance of escaping this zombie-filled island. Your only chance of survival is to fight off the zombies.
3DS Pre-Orders
Pokémon Crystal Version (GAME FREAK Inc) - 17 years from its original release, the 2D Nintendo eShop release invites you to explore the Johto region again – or for the first time. The Pokémon Crystal Version game is now available for pre-purchase in Nintendo eShop, with a launch date of 26 Jan.
Wii U eShop
Jolt Family Robot Racer (Cooply, $5.99) - The game at its core is a competitive platformer that’s all about maintaining momentum with skillful navigation. The players compete to be the last robot standing.
DLC / Add-On Content
Nintendo Switch
- Pokkén Tournament DX Battle Pack (Nintendo) - $14.99
As always Nintendo Of America wants you to browse the eShop and check out the official sales and deals website for discount details.
We weren't lying when we said this is a big week for digital downloads. Question is, which games from the vast list above are you looking to add to your collection? Sound off below and let us know which new software will be keeping your Switch or Wii U in constant use...
Comments 32
Dang, that’s a ton of releases... debating on diving back into Super Meat Boy again.
Wow, quite the list. Seems we are back to our typical manic release schedule after a post-holiday lull.
Briefly played the first Escapists on XB1 for the free.99 and I gotta say, it was not a fun time. Overly convoluted game play.
Again, too much to keep up on.
Hopefully there will be a review for Innerspace shortly after release instead of weeks after.
thank you for the vote :}-~
Thank goodness nothing for me. I went overboard after Christmas as it is with Indies. I really need to take more time to play Heist, Stardew, BrawlOut...
Just the Dragon Quest Builders demo for me this week.
Been waiting for super meat boy to come out on a Nintendo console since it was teased for the Wii..
Nothing for me this week played the DQ builder demo already. It was good, but I just couldn't stop playing BotW when I first got the demo. So maybe I will pick it up the game later.
Oh my god - check out the trailer for the 3ds game.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07Y9Q-vUe3M
Nothing this week for me since we still have no word on Dragon: Marked for Death.
Also, I hope SNK gets the ACA's for Metal Slug going. I never got to play 4 or 5.
can't say anything there looks remotely interesting to me. I already played Dragon Quest Builders on Vita, so I know what to expect and don't need the demo there
Moorhuhn Knights & Castles looks like a super overpriced reskin of Angry Birds?
@zackata (watches video) Let me check my glasses, I need to make sure this is real. (watches video again) You can't be serious. They aren't serious, are they? This isn't real.
I see lots of potential, but just no time on my part, so I'm a "nothing this week". I finally bought Xenoblade Chronicles 2 last night and also got Oxenfree while it was on sale, so my life is gone for the next few months.
Just the Dragon Quest Builders demo for me this week.
Nothing except the DQ Builders demopolopolis
SUPERRRRR MEAT BOY!
@zackata Wow that is a complete abomination. I don’t like jumping to conclusions but I sure hope Switch doesn’t start getting games that are so horrible you can tell how bad they are from video. Those are terrible optics for your console.
May finally get Super Meat Boy after all these years...
Crazy Climber is absent? This will be two missing ACA releases including Double Dragon. Not good.....
Of Mice and Sand seems interesting, same with InnerSpace but both need a review.
@zackata so, this is how the 3DS dies?
Finally got a Switch so I'm getting the Dragon Quest Builders demo. I have it on PS4 and it's one of my favorite games so this will probably be a Day 1 buy for me.
Gonna try out DQ Builders and most likely get the Pokken DLC.
With Meat Boy, Axiom Verge, and Furi out and Owlboy and Rivals of Aether on the way, I want to go all out with the indies but the Switch storage size is so puny I have to shell out more money for an SD card because I’m almost out of storage. I love this system, but that storage size is a real problem
@gatorboi352
I got it cheap on PSN and I agree. Not that fun at all. Good concept but really flawed execution.
Crazy climber? Double dragon?? 😲
I want Super Meat Boy. Still wondering where is Double Dragon? Lol
Another week and Gunbird still hasn't returned to the eShop.
Anyone tried the Jolt game on Wii U eShop yet?
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