Suika Game Gets A Special Christmas-Themed Update, Here's A Look

Downloads hit five million

by Liam Doolan Fri 22nd Dec 2023

The viral sensation Suika Game (Watermelon Game) has quickly shot to the top of the charts since it launched on the Switch eShop here in the west, and now to keep fans coming back for more, developer Aladdin X has released a Christmas-themed update.

This bumps the game up to Version 1.0.7, with the mode available for a limited-time similar to the Halloween event earlier this year. This latest update includes a new theme, and there is also new seasonal music to go with it. To access this theme, on the main menu, you need to press the 'R' button on your controller.

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube765k

Watch on YouTube

This update follows on from the recent news Suika Game has now surpassed five million downloads worldwide.

Have you tried out Suika Game on Switch yet? Tell us in the comments.

[source siliconera.com]

Liam is a news writer and reviewer for Nintendo Life and Pure Xbox. He's been writing about games for more than 15 years and is a lifelong fan of Mario and Master Chief. He's also got a soft spot for Sonic the Hedgehog.

1
rainbowtick
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

My first eShop cross country adventure (via Switch settings) was to download this game (right before it hit stateside, of course). Do I regret getting it? Nope. Would I get it again? Nah. I do like the themes, though. If only to mix up the mundane music.

2
Joeynator3000
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

...I kinda wished the themes just stayed instead of being a limited thing.

3
HammerGalladeBro
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

For whatever reason Nintendo is promoting this game, the recent NSO trial, and in Japan they had the comedy duo Yoiko play it.
Hopefully this means more content is on the way.

That recent trial convinced me to get it.

4
FishyS
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

I was about to show this game to my mother over the holidays; she'll appreciate the theme.

There is also a non-zero chance I will play this game for 4 hours straight on the airplane. 😝

@Joeynator3000 It would be fun if there were a bunch of themes to choose from (or unlockable). Even though I love this game, the UI is sooo bare-bones.

5
Joeynator3000
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

@FishyS Yeah, hopefully they'll add some more stuff, like new modes, or something...I dunno, anything. >.<

6
MirrorFate2
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

Wait, you can't keep the themes?

7
FishyS
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

@Joeynator3000 New modes... Imagine Suika 99 where other people could drop fruit in your box. 👀

8
Quarth
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

This game is lovely, but I'd wish for some permanent upgrades: to be able to change themes and music would be nice. The music just being on a constant loop with an awkward pause in between feels kinda cheap. I know it's a low budget game, but now that it has hit fame, some extra effort would be nice.

I also think it is annoying that the M in "my score" on the Rankings screen is not capitalized, lol.

Edit: Just noticed that it says "Daily Raning No. 1", not "Daily Ranking No. 1" on the Rankings screen. Seems the translation was rushed.

9
PinderSchloss
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

This game is super addictive but it needs some work.

There should at least be the option to turn the music off, and there should be at least 5 different songs playing at random.
I'd also like to see just a little bit more complexity with the option to perform combo's.
You really shouldn't get a game over because a berry catapults out of the box.

10
Patendo
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

10/10 game for me! Love it

11
CaleBoi25
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

I downloaded the NSO Trial thinking “OK, lemme prove the bandwagon trend followers that this is a mobile game that should be F2P…” And ended up with my whole family spending 5 hours trying to set high scores. (Including myself.) Safe to say it is addictive. However, even my Mom asked, “Do we get anything for buying the full version? Like music, or the option to shake the box?”

12
FishyS
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

@PinderSchloss The berry rockets that make you lose because they are 40 feet above all other fruit are rage-inducing, although in a slightly hilarious way. There are a couple obvious ways to fix that — for example, if a fruit is outside the box but not touching any other fruit or within a certain distance apart from other fruit wait until it touches fruit or give it some extra time to fall before you potentially lose.

The really crazy ones are rare enough I feel like they could make that type of change without significantly changing gameplay. I mean... the ultra players could probably abuse that change somehow by making purposeful rockets to briefly clear space, but if you are that good at predicting the crazy physics, you deserve that high score.

13
geshem
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

@Joeynator3000 yeah, gives you another music track most importantly.

14
PinderSchloss
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

@CaleBoi25 Shaking the box would be a great reward for growing a cherry into a watermelon!

15
RupeeClock
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

The event themes seem to be controlled by the software version.
Which means installing an update is done just to remove access to a theme, and therefore you can keep the theme if you don't enable automated updates.
This might prevent you from taking part in online rankings though?

Like others said, I'd like to see some small improvements like the option to disable music, and finer cursor control when using the analogue stick.

16
Princess_Lilly
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

That Christmas theme is kinda repetetive, and it kinda looks slapped together hastily. But its nice to see continous support for the game. Imagine in 5 years people getting flashbacks seeing a watermelon in a grocery store

17
BTB20
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

It's only three bucks. For that pocket change price I don't really think there's much reason to expect a lot more content.

18
Jack_Goetz
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

I tried the Christmas theme last night and by the end of the first game I was sick of it. The music loop is far too short.

19
FiveDigitLP
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

This game is more addictive than it has any right to be!
I downloaded it to get the NSO points, but didn't think I'd care for it. Man, was I wrong!

20
Yosher
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

@PinderSchloss Couldn't agree more, especially with your last point. I lost so many games just because a fruit launched out of the box even when the box wasn't even half full yet.

21
masterLEON
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

I still can’t make 2 watermelons

22
FishyS
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

@BTB20 The game is 3 bucks which I agree is cheap but it also means this very low budget game may have unexpectedly earned 15 million dollars (assuming the 5 million downloads doesn't mean NSO trials). A few very small quality of life features or a little more content would be a nice sign and also potentially get it to sell even more.

23
imadeanaccount
Fri 22nd Dec 2023

You know, although I haven't actually tried it, for one of those 'viral' games, it doesn't look half bad, especially for the price.

24
shoeses
Sat 23rd Dec 2023

Can this one stay and the Halloween one come back? Just the fact they have different tracks that play help so much with your sanity than the single one that loops real fast.

25
sanderev
Sat 23rd Dec 2023

@FishyS remember, Nintendo also takes a 30% cut (4.5 million). And then you have to take away taxes and other costs as well. There isn't going to be much left of that 15 million dollars.

26
nocdaes
Sat 23rd Dec 2023

Yes... I know it's free and yes I know they don't have to do these updates... BUT...

It's the 23rd December. You've thrown together a quick tune and uploaded a new background. Shouldn't this have been done a month ago?!