Dungeons of Dreadrock is a simple little game with a Minish Cap-style aesthetic that's been compared to a dungeon crawler, but this is really a puzzler with swords ‘n’ sorcery set dressing.
It's well-designed and cleverly builds on its formula throughout its brief run. Those looking for a good game to wind down with before bed may want to give this a look.
An indie adventure with a lush world, fun characters, and enjoyable battles, Earthlock brings the soul of PS1-era JRPGs to the Switch with excellent results.
Inconsistent dialogue and notable load times are among its few missteps, but as a package, it captures the appeal of the epoch wonderfully. If you’re looking for a fresh-feeling JRPG that still calls back to the classics, this is a lovely choice.
You can't really beat that price for one of the greatest roguleikes of our time, and while we don't love Exit as much as Enter, they're still worth picking up together.
In terms of Enter, this is an endlessly replayable twin-stick roguelike that sits right up there with the very best indie games on Nintendo Switch. With satisfying combat, random levels, and an endless supply of inventive weapons, items and secrets, it's always a total joy to play. Yet another modern indie classic has found a natural home on Nintendo's console.
Exit isn't always a flawless transition, and this is a significantly less rich and rewarding experience than the original. But those after a retro-tinged arcade challenge should by all means lock and load.
Alana has been with Nintendo Life since 2022, and while RPGs are her first love, Nintendo is a close second. She enjoys nothing more than overthinking battle strategies, characters, and stories. She also wishes she was a Sega air pirate.
Pretty decent selection! I personally won't be buying anything in this sale since none of my wishlist games are present, but it's nice that other people may get to cross some games off of theirs!
After more than 8 years I think it’s finally time to get ARMS. Now is a good time for game collectors to get those Switch 1 physical copies before they start sky rocketing in price once the Switch 2 era is in full swing
I really recommend TMNT: Splintered Fate (which is on sale for $14.99) if you like hades but want to play a game like that with a friend (and don’t mind that it isn’t as hard as hades and probably doesn’t have as much variety). I’ve been having a good time with it!
Might pick up ARMS and / or the Age of Calamity DLC, both have been kind of, "Ehhhh, maybe," for me for awhile and there's nothing else on the horizon I'm super interested in until Shuten Order.
I might end up shelling out for either ARMS or the Age of Calamity DLC, not sure. Kind of things I consider every time they're on sale but have yet to take the plunge on, though isn't helping that I ended up getting Iwakura Aria so not super looking to buy more games right now.
Though ARMS is so routinely easy to find cheaper physically that I might just end up going that route on that one.
Thinking about picking up Might & Magic for $10, my wife wants to replay it she has it on her 3DS, and thinking about Penny Breakaway for $15. I'll ask the kids.
@The_Nintend_Pedant I think they're hoping to get a few ARMS sales for $42 from all the people talking about how much better that game seems than Drag X Drive. Only half joking. 🤑 If ever a game should be a $20 or even $30 Player's Choice Selects it's ARMS. (I know that's a week old comment but the article is on the front page again.)
Nintendo is getting seriously outclassed by indies, for me, for the last 10 or so years. When I want what I consider a 'Nintendo' like experience I'm better served elsewhere, for much less.
PS - btw I actually really like it when people @ me later, I usually forgot what I even said a week ago 😂
@The_Nintend_Pedant Or equal amounts, in the case of Astrobot. Which I haven't played yet, but the first 2 were good.
I had a long conversation about Nintendo w/ my wife at dinner. Told her how GameCube was the best hardware of it's generation. How Starfox Adventures was 1 of the best looking video games for about a decade. Then the Wii was 1 1/2 GameCube duct taped together w/ motion controls. Then the Wii U was the Wii in wide-screen HD, then the Switch was the Wii U as a handheld, and now the Switch 2 is a Switch w/ 1080p and possibly some 4k. And if you look at games like Paper Mario, Smash and MK they still basically look like the same game since the GameCube. Nothing looks like an N64 games except N64 games, I'm not blind. But the main series games since Melee, Double Dash, TTYD and Twilight Princess really haven't changed all that much. Yeah WW was a GC game too and TP was on Wii but since TP on GC. Yes the games look better in HD on HD TVS but stylistically pretty much the same.
OK it was mostly me talking but my wife has thoughts, she bought me my PS1. 😂
So yeah, indies stepping up and stepping in. Drag X Drive not helping at the moment. Is GameCube also the birth of both Pikmin and Luigis Mansion? I know neither series is huge but I feel like they were both innovative. SPlatoon has that too on Wii U, and Sports on Wii, but it feels mostly samey. Which is the case for most of the industry I guess. I suppose I just want more. 🤷♂️
your observations are spot-on, and yes, I too "want more." I am getting myself a Steamdeck for my birthday in October and soldiering forward without Nintendo for the first time in my life. (we'll keep our switch of course. ❤️)
We plan to buy a second one for her, as well, which I think will be a lot of fun.
we have no plans to get a Switch 2 at this time. 😕 I'm feeling nothing for it and AFAIK none of my close friends are either, and we each have all the Nintendo consoles, essentially.
@The_Nintend_Pedant The Switch 2 is PS5 deja vu. PS5 had R&C and Switch 2 has DKB. PS5 had PS4 dual ports galore, Switch 2 has MP4 and I'm sure some others will follow once Nintendo has a Direct show up so we actually know about some more games.
1 big difference, it took a long time for PS5 to be on store shelves, I saw 5 or 6 Switch 2 in Target yesterday. So I don't think you're the only 1 bailing on Switch 2. I have 2 college age kids who will never move out b/c jobs are low paying but rent is sky high so our Switch 2 will get plenty of use, no regrets, but it's not exciting. Hopefully the next Direct has something. That Spkatoon solo game looks good.
Do you have a PS? I'm not a PC gamer, Sony is my 1, even if the PS5 is just the PS4 Pro Pro w/ not much to show for itself. Free to play games look nice on it. I'm probably done gaming after this gen. Hopefully my kids will get jobs and move out some day and I'll just retire with my backlog. Not sure I can afford a new console on Social Security anyway. I turned 60 last month, it makes you think.
an action game that I can play with my wife is about the best thing in the world. 👍 I wish I could rent it lol.
"I kind of hate this new Mario Kart."
I haven't played it yet (plan to, vaguely, but there's not a S2 in my orbit yet) but I have no faith at all that I'm going to like it. I considered MK8 an essentially perfect game if they'd just change a couple pretty simple things, and they did... other stuff.
I did play shredders revenge for a very long session one night with my wife and a handful of friends. we had a great time, but I never felt compelled to pick it up again and neither did any of them AFAIK.
I'm sure I'd have fun again if I did play, but these days I'm realizing that my time after work is finite and a game has to be a little more compelling to compete with, you know, staring at the wall until bed time, or eating a bowl of cereal while staring at the kitchen wall, until bedtime. so many options.
Comments 30
I might try to pick up Portal, nothing else I really want to get.
How do portal 1 and 2 run on switch 2?
Not a new low but think I may finally grab Captain Toad.
Pretty decent selection! I personally won't be buying anything in this sale since none of my wishlist games are present, but it's nice that other people may get to cross some games off of theirs!
if i had money i would get captain toad, cause it looks just sooo charming, and cuphead.
Looks like it’s finally time for Sifu. I’ve been interested ever since it was shown in a direct, but I just haven’t gotten around to it
@Pirate1 really well. 100% recommend.
@Pirate1 There's no ray tracing (obviously) but otherwise, they're terrific.
After more than 8 years I think it’s finally time to get ARMS. Now is a good time for game collectors to get those Switch 1 physical copies before they start sky rocketing in price once the Switch 2 era is in full swing
I really want to play ARMS, but do you know how many excellent indie classics that I've yet to play could be bought with 42 bucks?!
PS - bring back Player's Choice games @19.99 on the eShop ✌️ it'll be a huge hit.
I really recommend TMNT: Splintered Fate (which is on sale for $14.99) if you like hades but want to play a game like that with a friend (and don’t mind that it isn’t as hard as hades and probably doesn’t have as much variety). I’ve been having a good time with it!
Might pick up ARMS and / or the Age of Calamity DLC, both have been kind of, "Ehhhh, maybe," for me for awhile and there's nothing else on the horizon I'm super interested in until Shuten Order.
I end up getting Astral Ascent
How. How is ARMS still so expensive. It's been almost a decade, I'm not paying over 40 bucks for it.
Big Helmet Heroes is not on sale, but I recommend it to everyone who liked Castle Crashers. Great fun in co-op on couch.
@Pirate1 Perfectly as far as I've been able to tell, having played both on the Switch1 for awhile.
I might end up shelling out for either ARMS or the Age of Calamity DLC, not sure. Kind of things I consider every time they're on sale but have yet to take the plunge on, though isn't helping that I ended up getting Iwakura Aria so not super looking to buy more games right now.
Though ARMS is so routinely easy to find cheaper physically that I might just end up going that route on that one.
Thinking about picking up Might & Magic for $10, my wife wants to replay it she has it on her 3DS, and thinking about Penny Breakaway for $15. I'll ask the kids.
@The_Nintend_Pedant I think they're hoping to get a few ARMS sales for $42 from all the people talking about how much better that game seems than Drag X Drive. Only half joking. 🤑 If ever a game should be a $20 or even $30 Player's Choice Selects it's ARMS. (I know that's a week old comment but the article is on the front page again.)
@rjejr
Nintendo is getting seriously outclassed by indies, for me, for the last 10 or so years. When I want what I consider a 'Nintendo' like experience I'm better served elsewhere, for much less.
PS - btw I actually really like it when people @ me later, I usually forgot what I even said a week ago 😂
@The_Nintend_Pedant Or equal amounts, in the case of Astrobot. Which I haven't played yet, but the first 2 were good.
I had a long conversation about Nintendo w/ my wife at dinner. Told her how GameCube was the best hardware of it's generation. How Starfox Adventures was 1 of the best looking video games for about a decade. Then the Wii was 1 1/2 GameCube duct taped together w/ motion controls. Then the Wii U was the Wii in wide-screen HD, then the Switch was the Wii U as a handheld, and now the Switch 2 is a Switch w/ 1080p and possibly some 4k. And if you look at games like Paper Mario, Smash and MK they still basically look like the same game since the GameCube. Nothing looks like an N64 games except N64 games, I'm not blind. But the main series games since Melee, Double Dash, TTYD and Twilight Princess really haven't changed all that much. Yeah WW was a GC game too and TP was on Wii but since TP on GC. Yes the games look better in HD on HD TVS but stylistically pretty much the same.
OK it was mostly me talking but my wife has thoughts, she bought me my PS1. 😂
So yeah, indies stepping up and stepping in. Drag X Drive not helping at the moment. Is GameCube also the birth of both Pikmin and Luigis Mansion? I know neither series is huge but I feel like they were both innovative. SPlatoon has that too on Wii U, and Sports on Wii, but it feels mostly samey. Which is the case for most of the industry I guess. I suppose I just want more. 🤷♂️
That Contra collection usually goes for cheaper!
@rjejr
sounds like our wives have a lot in common 😂✌️
your observations are spot-on, and yes, I too "want more." I am getting myself a Steamdeck for my birthday in October and soldiering forward without Nintendo for the first time in my life. (we'll keep our switch of course. ❤️)
We plan to buy a second one for her, as well, which I think will be a lot of fun.
we have no plans to get a Switch 2 at this time. 😕 I'm feeling nothing for it and AFAIK none of my close friends are either, and we each have all the Nintendo consoles, essentially.
@The_Nintend_Pedant The Switch 2 is PS5 deja vu. PS5 had R&C and Switch 2 has DKB. PS5 had PS4 dual ports galore, Switch 2 has MP4 and I'm sure some others will follow once Nintendo has a Direct show up so we actually know about some more games.
1 big difference, it took a long time for PS5 to be on store shelves, I saw 5 or 6 Switch 2 in Target yesterday. So I don't think you're the only 1 bailing on Switch 2. I have 2 college age kids who will never move out b/c jobs are low paying but rent is sky high so our Switch 2 will get plenty of use, no regrets, but it's not exciting. Hopefully the next Direct has something. That Spkatoon solo game looks good.
Do you have a PS? I'm not a PC gamer, Sony is my 1, even if the PS5 is just the PS4 Pro Pro w/ not much to show for itself. Free to play games look nice on it. I'm probably done gaming after this gen. Hopefully my kids will get jobs and move out some day and I'll just retire with my backlog. Not sure I can afford a new console on Social Security anyway. I turned 60 last month, it makes you think.
Do NOT buy:
Diablo 2 or 3!!!!
They do not work on Switch 2!!!!
@The_Nintend_Pedant
Arms is great!
My wife and I play it!
@The_Nintend_Pedant
I've got a an N$2.
There's not really anything for it right now.
I kind of hate this new Mario Kart.
I gave my best friend my original Switch and sent him a 1yr online (basic) and TMNT Shredder's Revenge
It's fun.
@Spider-Kev
"Arms is great! My wife and I play it!"
an action game that I can play with my wife is about the best thing in the world. 👍 I wish I could rent it lol.
"I kind of hate this new Mario Kart."
I haven't played it yet (plan to, vaguely, but there's not a S2 in my orbit yet) but I have no faith at all that I'm going to like it. I considered MK8 an essentially perfect game if they'd just change a couple pretty simple things, and they did... other stuff.
I did play shredders revenge for a very long session one night with my wife and a handful of friends. we had a great time, but I never felt compelled to pick it up again and neither did any of them AFAIK.
I'm sure I'd have fun again if I did play, but these days I'm realizing that my time after work is finite and a game has to be a little more compelling to compete with, you know, staring at the wall until bed time, or eating a bowl of cereal while staring at the kitchen wall, until bedtime. so many options.
@The_Nintend_Pedant
I'm thinking of selling my physical copy...
Let me know if you want it...
@The_Nintend_Pedant
Well, we could play online, me, my wife, you and yours and my friend and his...
@Spider-Kev https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhrYfASpgyo
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...