Latest Reviews of Ratalaika Games Games
Mini Review Heroes Trials (Switch) - A Solid Little RPG (Emphasis On The Little)
Trial of the sentry
This game was originally covered as part of our Nindie Round Up series that sought to give coverage to a wider breadth of Switch eShop games beyond our standard reviews. In an effort to make our impressions easier to find, we're presenting the original text below in our mini-review format. Sometimes, simplicity and a healthy...
Mini Review I Am The Hero (Switch) - A Well-Presented, Retro-Style Beat 'Em Up
Hero of crime
This game was originally covered as part of our Nindie Round Up series that sought to give coverage to a wider breadth of Switch eShop games beyond our standard reviews. In an effort to make our impressions easier to find, we're presenting the original text below in our mini-review format. I Am The Hero is an interesting beat em’...
Positively shocking
Confusion abounds with this one. This isn’t the same Shockman that was originally released for the TurboGrafx-16 back in 1991, which was a localisation of Japan's Shubibinman 2. This, Cyber Citizen Shockman, is a new 2023 translation of the original Shubibinman game from 1989; and frankly, that’s the most special thing about...
Mini Review Save Room (Switch) - RE4 'Inventory Tetris' Writ Large, Though Not Large Enough
Packing heat
Ever thought inventory management in 2005’s Resident Evil 4 is like a game in its own right? Well, in the internet age, everything happens eventually, so here's that game. In Save Room from Fractal Projects, you have a limited and specifically shaped inventory space on the left and a load of guns and stuff on the right. Simply slot...
Mini Review Klang 2 (Switch) - A Noisy But Satisfying Rhythm Adventure
Pitch please
There isn’t exactly an abundance of rhythm games available on the Switch (certainly not recently), so it goes without saying that Klang 2 sticks out a bit from the pack simply by catering to this oft-overlooked genre. We’re not sure why Tinimations decided to bring Klang 2 over to the Switch before its predecessor, but from what...
Mini Review Gynoug (Switch) - Switch Takes Another Fine Shmup Under Its Wing
Flappy bird[man]
It’s obvious from the moment you start Gynoug that this is another release from the same team that recently re-gifted the world Gleylancer, presenting players as it does with the same options using the same interface, just with a different Mega Drive shmup running underneath it all. This is great. As we mentioned in our other...
Mini Review Gleylancer (Switch) - A Brilliant 16-Bit Shmup Sparkles With Mod Cons
Stick to it and believe in your power!
Retro re-releases falling outside the familiar safety of the M2, Hamster, or Code Mystics stables are usually one thing and one thing alone — a plain ROM bundled with some inoffensive but unspectacular emulation options. It’ll work, it’ll be official, and... that’s about it. If those bland goals had...
Mini Review Kingdom Of Arcadia (Switch) - A Pleasant Little Not-Quite-Metroidvania
Metroidvania-lite
Kingdom of Arcadia’s premise should be familiar to everyone who loves gaming. Admit it, we’ve all imagined being sucked into one of our favourite gaming worlds at one point or another. That’s exactly what happens to Sam, a normal boy who is suddenly pulled inside his father’s arcade cabinet. Now stuck inside the Kingdom of...
Mini Review Mekorama (Switch) - It May Look Like Captain Toad, But Don’t Let That Fool You
Dior-iffic
Mekorama looks a lot like Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. There’s no getting around this, but in the same way that Metroid Prime looks a lot like other FPS titles, it doesn’t quite play the same. In fact, Mekorama is played entirely on the Switch’s touch screen (or with an on-screen cursor, if you wish), and feels completely...
Strategy fans will get a kick out of this
The beautiful game of football (or soccer for those across the pond) is generally known for its face-paced, high octane action. The players are constantly moving, constantly searching for that one crucial opening to find the back of the net. Ganbare! Super Strikers is an odd little duckling, then, as its...
Latest Ratalaika Games Articles
News Retro-Style Platformer 'Ninja 1987' Isn't Shy About Its Inspirations
A gaiden to a gaiden
Ratalaika Games is bringing SEEP's 8-bit platformer Ninja 1987 to Switch this Friday, 13th December 2024. Besides the NES-style visuals, the inspiration for this one is pretty clear — it's a tribute to Ninja Gaiden, Shinobi, and other retro ninja platformers of the '80s and early '90s Developer SEEP is a studio formed by two...
News Even More Aero The Acro-Bat Games Are Heading To Switch This Year
Including Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel
Aero the Acro-Bat returns to the Big Top tomorrow, 2nd August 2024. But that isn't the end of the acrobatic bat's return to the stage. Ratalaika Games has revealed that it's rereleasing every single Aero the Acro-Bat game on Switch (and other consoles) over the next few months. Following the first game's...
News Obscure '90s Mascot Platformer 'Aero The Acro-Bat' Makes Surprise Return
Coming to Switch in August
It seems like we're in the age of weird, oft-forgotten platforming mascots making a return. We say that because today, Ratalaika Games announced that "the bat is back!" No, not that bat — Aero the Acro-Bat. The circus performer will be making his grand return on Switch (and all other consoles) on 2nd August 2024...
News Go! Go! PogoGirl Is A Cute And Colourful Platformer With Serious Retro Sega Vibes
Stick it to them
Ratalaika Games has revealed a rather quirky little platformer that's springing its way onto Switch next week. Go! Go! PogoGirl, developed by Ohsat Games (which consists of just one person, Andrej Preradovic!), follows a pogo champion whose prize pogo stick is stolen, and she must use another in order to track it down. The game...
News Forgotten Gem 'Avenging Spirit' Is Making Its Way To Nintendo Switch
Game BOOy Horror
Right, get this — you're out on a nice date with your girlfriend until, annoyingly, you get horribly murdered by a crime syndicate. Now you're a ghost, and you have to team up with your girlfriend's dad to rescue her from said syndicate, but wait! There's more! The syndicate are one step ahead of you, because they're researching...
News Techno-Alien Shmup 'Remote Life' Launches On Switch Later This Month
It's a hard life
Indie publisher Ratalaika Games has today announced that it is bringing Next Game Level's hit Steam shoot 'em up Remote Life to Switch later this month. Launching on PC back in 2019, and sitting at a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam, Remote Life was created by one person who was inspired to create a shmup with a few of his own...
News PC Engine Classic 'Moto Roader MC' Is Getting Resurrected On Switch
The 1992 title gets a new lease of life
Ratalaika Games has announced that it is resurrecting the classic PC Engine / TG-16 top-down racer Moto Roader MC for Switch this month. Originally released in 1992, Moto Roader MC is actually the third game in NCS' Moto Roader series. The first title was released on the standard PC Engine in 1989, with Moto...
News The Horrifically Brilliant Mega Drive Shmup 'Gynoug' Is Coming To Switch
Body horror
If you're a fan of classic Japanese shmups then you might be pleased to learn that Masaya's 1991 Mega Drive title Gynoug (Wings of Wor in the US) is coming to Switch, thanks to publisher Ratalaika Games. Boasting some truly amazing (and often horrifying) 2D pixel artwork by Satoshi Nakai and a fantastic Noriyuki Iwadare soundtrack,...
News Cycle Your Way To Victory As Medieval Comedy Game Balancelot Launches On Switch This Week
Surely You Jest
We've seen some bizarre indie games come to Switch in the last few years, but few of us would've had "medieval physics-based unicycle adventure" on the bingo card. Remarkably, that's exactly what Balancelot is bringing when it launches on January 22nd. Developed by AnvilBird Interactive, you play a lowly squire who is looking to...
News Minimalist Flying Adventure Bird Game + Lands On Switch This Friday
Bird game devs really struggle with titles, don't they?
The black-and-white art you can see in the trailer above and screenshots below is coming to Switch this Friday 3rd May in Bird Game +. Described by the developer Bryan Tabor as a 'sweet fly 'em game', you control the aforementioned bird as it glides through an illustrated world that comes to...
News Retro-Style Shmup FullBlast Is Making A Comeback On Switch Next Month
Previously released on Wii U eShop
Being able to place the Switch in a vertical position is very handy considering how many shoot 'em up games continue to get released on the Nintendo eShop on a regular basis. According to a PR from Ratalaika Games, the next one due out sometime in September is FullBlast by UFO Crash Games. If the name...
News Shinyuden and Ratalaika Games Announce Heroes Trials Is Coming To The Switch
Arrives this summer
In partnership with Ratalaika Games, Japanese-based studio Shinyuden has announced it will be bringing its brand new adventure game – Heroes Trials – to the Nintendo Switch this summer. Heroes Trials promises to incorporate only the best elements of traditional role-playing games in order to deliver a compact and frantic...
News Looks Like Inksplosion Is Bringing Colourful Bullet Hell To Switch Next Week
War is hell, except when it's fun
Publisher Ratalaika Games has teased something that's coming to the Nintendo Switch eShop next week, and if that logo is anything to by, it's almost certainly going to be the single-screen bullet hell of Inksplosion. This twin-stick shooter will also be launching on PC and other consoles. The colourful...
News Devious Dungeon's Randomised Medieval Mayhem Will Hit Switch On 30th March
Knight and day
Barely two weeks ago publisher Ratalaika Games revealed its mobile hit, Devious Dungeon, would be heading to Nintendo Switch at a later date - and now we finally have that date. And it's this week! Yes, the randomised levels and medieval combat will be heading to Nintendo Switch this Friday on 30th March. Ratalaika Games is working...
News Devious Dungeon Will Soon Plunder Switch's Depths For Loot
Level randomisation, bags of loot and more
Publisher Ratalaika Games has confirmed the mobile antics of Devious Dungeon are coming to Nintendo Switch, bringing with it a ton of randomised levels spread across five unique worlds. The console port will include lots of weapons and gear to take with you into battle, RPG-styled upgrades, plenty of boss...
News Fling Cubes Like Golf Balls As Midnight Deluxe Hits Switch On 8th March
A hole in one
Golf-like platformer Midnight has been out on PC since January 2016, but with many an update and a slew of new content, developer Petite Games has decided to bring a retooled version - known as Midnight Deluxe, no less - to Nintendo Switch. And, best of all, it's due out next week on 8th March. With its Limbo-esque shadowy art style,...
News Twin Robots: Ultimate Edition Brings Its Mechanical Platforming To Switch
The 2.5D Wii U platformer returns
Thrice Games' 2.5D platformer Twin Robots is getting a sequel-cum-remake on Nintendo Switch with publisher Ratalaika Games bringing an extended port to Nintendo Switch. Twin Robots: Ultimate Edition, which is currently in development, will include twice as many levels as the original version so you're getting a lot...
News Squareboy Vs. Bullies Lands On Switch This Week
You can't beat a bit of bully
Bullies, they are just the worst, aren't they? If they aren't giving you an atomic wedgie then they are trying to flush your head down the toilet. In Squareboy Vs Bullies: Arena Edition the titular Squareboy has had enough of the bullying and sets out to put them in their place in this old school...
Video Check Out This League of Evil Trailer for Switch
Every Villain Is Lemons
There’s no shortage of fantastic indie games to pick up on the eShop, and that catalogue continues to grow with each passing week. One standout indie game that’s due out this week is League of Evil, a tough as nails retro platformer that follows in the vein of games like Super Meat Boy and The End Is Nigh. It came out on...
News I and Me Will Be All About You This Week on the Switch eShop
Ratalaika Games has League of Evil on the way soon, too
A little while ago we told you about I and Me, developed by Chinese studio Wish Fang and being published on the Switch eShop by Ratalaika Games. Set for a July release previously it's now confirmed for a 6th July arrival in Japan and Europe; the North American release date is still pending...
News Mystery And Horror Adventure The Count Lucanor Is Coming To Switch
A mix of Zelda, Silent Hill and Dark Souls
Ratalaika Games is bringing Baroque Decay's The Count Lucanor to the Switch eShop, it has been revealed. Previously available on Steam, the game is inspired by the likes of Zelda, Silent Hill and Dark Souls, and is billed as a "mystery and horror adventure" set in a fantasy world. The Count Lucanor...
News I and Me Will Have Switch Owners Feline Good in July
A puzzle game in which you control two cats at the same time
The Switch eShop is, slowly and surely, accumulating a range of well-regarded Indie games; perhaps I and Me will add to that list in July. A game made by small Chinese studio Wish Fang, it's being published by Ratalaika Games on Switch and is set for a global release in July. It's a...
News Ratalaika Games Bringing 0000 And League Of Evil To Nintendo Switch
Two more promising eShop titles on the way
Ratalaika Games has revealed that it is bringing two new titles to the Switch eShop: 0000 and League of Evil. 0000 has already been confirmed for release on the 3DS but the Switch version is going to be a bit more special. The gameplay is based around jumping to the music and Ratalaika has stated that it's...
News Retro-Style Platformer 'Ninja 1987' Isn't Shy About Its Inspirations
A gaiden to a gaiden
Ratalaika Games is bringing SEEP's 8-bit platformer Ninja 1987 to Switch this Friday, 13th December 2024. Besides the NES-style visuals, the inspiration for this one is pretty clear — it's a tribute to Ninja Gaiden, Shinobi, and other retro ninja platformers of the '80s and early '90s Developer SEEP is a studio formed by two...
News Even More Aero The Acro-Bat Games Are Heading To Switch This Year
Including Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel
Aero the Acro-Bat returns to the Big Top tomorrow, 2nd August 2024. But that isn't the end of the acrobatic bat's return to the stage. Ratalaika Games has revealed that it's rereleasing every single Aero the Acro-Bat game on Switch (and other consoles) over the next few months. Following the first game's...
News Obscure '90s Mascot Platformer 'Aero The Acro-Bat' Makes Surprise Return
Coming to Switch in August
It seems like we're in the age of weird, oft-forgotten platforming mascots making a return. We say that because today, Ratalaika Games announced that "the bat is back!" No, not that bat — Aero the Acro-Bat. The circus performer will be making his grand return on Switch (and all other consoles) on 2nd August 2024...
News Go! Go! PogoGirl Is A Cute And Colourful Platformer With Serious Retro Sega Vibes
Stick it to them
Ratalaika Games has revealed a rather quirky little platformer that's springing its way onto Switch next week. Go! Go! PogoGirl, developed by Ohsat Games (which consists of just one person, Andrej Preradovic!), follows a pogo champion whose prize pogo stick is stolen, and she must use another in order to track it down. The game...
News Forgotten Gem 'Avenging Spirit' Is Making Its Way To Nintendo Switch
Game BOOy Horror
Right, get this — you're out on a nice date with your girlfriend until, annoyingly, you get horribly murdered by a crime syndicate. Now you're a ghost, and you have to team up with your girlfriend's dad to rescue her from said syndicate, but wait! There's more! The syndicate are one step ahead of you, because they're researching...
News Techno-Alien Shmup 'Remote Life' Launches On Switch Later This Month
It's a hard life
Indie publisher Ratalaika Games has today announced that it is bringing Next Game Level's hit Steam shoot 'em up Remote Life to Switch later this month. Launching on PC back in 2019, and sitting at a 'Very Positive' rating on Steam, Remote Life was created by one person who was inspired to create a shmup with a few of his own...
News PC Engine Classic 'Moto Roader MC' Is Getting Resurrected On Switch
The 1992 title gets a new lease of life
Ratalaika Games has announced that it is resurrecting the classic PC Engine / TG-16 top-down racer Moto Roader MC for Switch this month. Originally released in 1992, Moto Roader MC is actually the third game in NCS' Moto Roader series. The first title was released on the standard PC Engine in 1989, with Moto...
News The Horrifically Brilliant Mega Drive Shmup 'Gynoug' Is Coming To Switch
Body horror
If you're a fan of classic Japanese shmups then you might be pleased to learn that Masaya's 1991 Mega Drive title Gynoug (Wings of Wor in the US) is coming to Switch, thanks to publisher Ratalaika Games. Boasting some truly amazing (and often horrifying) 2D pixel artwork by Satoshi Nakai and a fantastic Noriyuki Iwadare soundtrack,...
News Cycle Your Way To Victory As Medieval Comedy Game Balancelot Launches On Switch This Week
Surely You Jest
We've seen some bizarre indie games come to Switch in the last few years, but few of us would've had "medieval physics-based unicycle adventure" on the bingo card. Remarkably, that's exactly what Balancelot is bringing when it launches on January 22nd. Developed by AnvilBird Interactive, you play a lowly squire who is looking to...
News Minimalist Flying Adventure Bird Game + Lands On Switch This Friday
Bird game devs really struggle with titles, don't they?
The black-and-white art you can see in the trailer above and screenshots below is coming to Switch this Friday 3rd May in Bird Game +. Described by the developer Bryan Tabor as a 'sweet fly 'em game', you control the aforementioned bird as it glides through an illustrated world that comes to...
News Retro-Style Shmup FullBlast Is Making A Comeback On Switch Next Month
Previously released on Wii U eShop
Being able to place the Switch in a vertical position is very handy considering how many shoot 'em up games continue to get released on the Nintendo eShop on a regular basis. According to a PR from Ratalaika Games, the next one due out sometime in September is FullBlast by UFO Crash Games. If the name...
News Shinyuden and Ratalaika Games Announce Heroes Trials Is Coming To The Switch
Arrives this summer
In partnership with Ratalaika Games, Japanese-based studio Shinyuden has announced it will be bringing its brand new adventure game – Heroes Trials – to the Nintendo Switch this summer. Heroes Trials promises to incorporate only the best elements of traditional role-playing games in order to deliver a compact and frantic...
News Looks Like Inksplosion Is Bringing Colourful Bullet Hell To Switch Next Week
War is hell, except when it's fun
Publisher Ratalaika Games has teased something that's coming to the Nintendo Switch eShop next week, and if that logo is anything to by, it's almost certainly going to be the single-screen bullet hell of Inksplosion. This twin-stick shooter will also be launching on PC and other consoles. The colourful...
News Devious Dungeon's Randomised Medieval Mayhem Will Hit Switch On 30th March
Knight and day
Barely two weeks ago publisher Ratalaika Games revealed its mobile hit, Devious Dungeon, would be heading to Nintendo Switch at a later date - and now we finally have that date. And it's this week! Yes, the randomised levels and medieval combat will be heading to Nintendo Switch this Friday on 30th March. Ratalaika Games is working...
News Devious Dungeon Will Soon Plunder Switch's Depths For Loot
Level randomisation, bags of loot and more
Publisher Ratalaika Games has confirmed the mobile antics of Devious Dungeon are coming to Nintendo Switch, bringing with it a ton of randomised levels spread across five unique worlds. The console port will include lots of weapons and gear to take with you into battle, RPG-styled upgrades, plenty of boss...
News Fling Cubes Like Golf Balls As Midnight Deluxe Hits Switch On 8th March
A hole in one
Golf-like platformer Midnight has been out on PC since January 2016, but with many an update and a slew of new content, developer Petite Games has decided to bring a retooled version - known as Midnight Deluxe, no less - to Nintendo Switch. And, best of all, it's due out next week on 8th March. With its Limbo-esque shadowy art style,...
News Twin Robots: Ultimate Edition Brings Its Mechanical Platforming To Switch
The 2.5D Wii U platformer returns
Thrice Games' 2.5D platformer Twin Robots is getting a sequel-cum-remake on Nintendo Switch with publisher Ratalaika Games bringing an extended port to Nintendo Switch. Twin Robots: Ultimate Edition, which is currently in development, will include twice as many levels as the original version so you're getting a lot...
News Squareboy Vs. Bullies Lands On Switch This Week
You can't beat a bit of bully
Bullies, they are just the worst, aren't they? If they aren't giving you an atomic wedgie then they are trying to flush your head down the toilet. In Squareboy Vs Bullies: Arena Edition the titular Squareboy has had enough of the bullying and sets out to put them in their place in this old school...
Video Check Out This League of Evil Trailer for Switch
Every Villain Is Lemons
There’s no shortage of fantastic indie games to pick up on the eShop, and that catalogue continues to grow with each passing week. One standout indie game that’s due out this week is League of Evil, a tough as nails retro platformer that follows in the vein of games like Super Meat Boy and The End Is Nigh. It came out on...
News I and Me Will Be All About You This Week on the Switch eShop
Ratalaika Games has League of Evil on the way soon, too
A little while ago we told you about I and Me, developed by Chinese studio Wish Fang and being published on the Switch eShop by Ratalaika Games. Set for a July release previously it's now confirmed for a 6th July arrival in Japan and Europe; the North American release date is still pending...
News Mystery And Horror Adventure The Count Lucanor Is Coming To Switch
A mix of Zelda, Silent Hill and Dark Souls
Ratalaika Games is bringing Baroque Decay's The Count Lucanor to the Switch eShop, it has been revealed. Previously available on Steam, the game is inspired by the likes of Zelda, Silent Hill and Dark Souls, and is billed as a "mystery and horror adventure" set in a fantasy world. The Count Lucanor...
News I and Me Will Have Switch Owners Feline Good in July
A puzzle game in which you control two cats at the same time
The Switch eShop is, slowly and surely, accumulating a range of well-regarded Indie games; perhaps I and Me will add to that list in July. A game made by small Chinese studio Wish Fang, it's being published by Ratalaika Games on Switch and is set for a global release in July. It's a...
News Ratalaika Games Bringing 0000 And League Of Evil To Nintendo Switch
Two more promising eShop titles on the way
Ratalaika Games has revealed that it is bringing two new titles to the Switch eShop: 0000 and League of Evil. 0000 has already been confirmed for release on the 3DS but the Switch version is going to be a bit more special. The gameplay is based around jumping to the music and Ratalaika has stated that it's...