
Another week begins, and as always there are the European Nintendo Download Update details to tease us about goodies on the way. This week has some potential beauties, it must be said, across both Wii U and 3DS. Download-only games, retail downloads and DLC all feature, and naturally some discounts are also thrown in. Let's get to it.
Wii U eShop
SteamWorld Heist (Image & Form, €14.99 / £10.99 at launch, or $13.39 / €13.39 / £9.99 for those that own SteamWorld Dig on Wii U or 3DS, normally €19.99 / £14.99) - The follow-up to breakthrough title SteamWorld Dig, this adopts a turn-based 2D strategy approach for the highly stylised steambot IP. A lengthy campaign is delivered along with plenty of weapons and hats, because robots wearing hats are surely irresistible; we loved this in our SteamWorld Heist review for the 3DS eShop, and will take another look at this HD iteration. Available from 30th September.
Soul Axiom (Wales Interactive, €14.99 / £11.99 or €12.74 / £10.19 until 15th October for those that have the Nindies@Home demo) - Similar in stylistic approach to Master Reboot, this nevertheless has its own story and twists on puzzle-based stages. With a relatively surreal style and the ability to phase objects in and out of existence, this certainly has plenty of potential. We'll explore its mysteries for our upcoming review.
Quest of Dungeons (Upfall Studios, €8.99 / £7.99 or free if you own the 3DS version on the same Nintendo Network ID) - A turn-based dungeon-crawling roguelike, this one has the choice of four character classes, with the key challenge being to tackle randomly generated dungeons, accumulate loot and then boost your abilities. Throw in boss encounters, permadeath and multiple difficulty levels and this is full of promise. We'll have a review with you soon.
SDK Spriter (HullBreach Studios, €12.50 / £10.50 or €10.00 / £8.40 if you own SDK Paint on the same Nintendo Network ID) - An app that may be tempting for creative retro enthusiasts, this aims to be a tool for "creating retro video game assets, including character sprite sheets, tile sets, maps, and full levels", which can be shared on Miiverse or the app's official site.
Wii U DLC
FAST Racing NEO: NEO Future Pack (Shin'en Multimedia,€4.99 / £4.20) - This will include eight new tracks, ten new vehicles and 18 new music tracks; we'll check this out and share some impressions. Available from 30th September.
SteamWorld Heist: The Outsider (Image & Form, €4.99 / £4.49) - Available from 30th September.
SteamWorld Heist - Hatbox: Hatful Eight + 2 (Image & Form, €1.99 / £1.79) - Available from 1st October.
SteamWorld Heist - Hatbox: Three 4 Free (Image & Form, free) - Available from 2nd October.
Wii U eShop Temporary Discounts
BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien (Gaijin Games, €5.99 / £4.99 until 3rd October, normally €11.99 / £9.99)
Gravity Badgers (Wales Interactive, €2.49 / £2.49 until 29th October, normally €4.99 / £4.99)
Bit Dungeon+ (Dolores Entertainment, €4.00 / £3.60 until 6th October, normally €4.99 / £4.99)
Dual Core (Gray Fin Studios, €6.99 / £5.99 until 13th October, normally €9.99 / £8.99)
Midnight 2 (Petite Games, €1.59 / £1.43 until 20th October, normally €1.99 / £1.79)
99Seconds (EnjoyUp Games, €1.49 / £1.34 until 27th October, normally €2.49 / £2.29)
Darts Up (EnjoyUp Games, €1.49 / £1.34 until 27th October, normally €2.49 / £2.29)
Rock 'N Racing Off Road (EnjoyUp Games, €2.99 / £2.69 until 27th October, normally €5.99 / £5.39)
Run Run and Die (EnjoyUp Games, €1.99 / £1.79 until 27th October, normally €3.99 / £3.59)
Hot Rod Racer (ZeNfA Productions, €1.49 / £1.34 until 27th October, normally €2.99 / £2.69)
ZaciSa: Defense of the Crayon Dimensions! (ZeNfA Productions, €1.49 / £1.14 until 27th October, normally €2.99 / £2.29)
Epic Dumpster Bear (Log Games, €3.89 / £2.99 until 27th October, normally €6.49 / £4.99)
Nintendo Selects eShop Permanent Discounts (from 30th September)
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Nintendo, €24.99 / £19.99, previously €39.99 / £34.99)
Mario Party 10 (Nintendo, €24.99 / £19.99, previously €39.99 / £34.99)
Pikmin 3 (Nintendo, €24.99 / £19.99, previously €49.99 / £39.99 )
Super Mario 3D World (Nintendo, €24.99 / £19.99, previously €59.99 / £49.99 )
3DS eShop
River City: Tokyo Rumble (Natsume, €29.99 / £24.99) - A title that originally seemed to be destined as a Japan-only release, credit is due to Natsume for bringing this to the West, albeit it's download-only in Europe. This side-scrolling brawler is the latest in a diverse series that's been known as Renegade, River City Ransom, Street Gangs, Crash 'n The Boys, and Double Dragon depending on region, and this modern day iteration continues some of the traditions seen in games like those; it also has two minigames, a free-for-all arena brawler and a dodgeball game. We'll check it out in a review, but until then you can learn more about it in our first impressions article from E3.
Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 (Inti Creates, €11.69 / £9.99 until 5th October, normally €12.99 / £11.10) - A much-anticipated sequel to a critically acclaimed eShop release, this looks set to include more of the same enjoyable gameplay with a few extra twists, including Copen as a playable character. We'll let you know what we think soon.
Ninja Usagimaru - The Mysterious Karakuri Castle (Aksys Games, €5.99 / £5.00) - We rather enjoyed this one's predecessor, which blends a lovely Japanese aesthetic with tricky and clever puzzles. 60+ levels are promised in this new entry, and it'll be interesting to see whether it matches the quality of the original.
Quest of Dungeons (Upfall Studios, €8.99 / £7.99 or free if you own the Wii U version on the same Nintendo Network ID) - The same game but on the go, albeit with StreetPass included; the idea is that if you pass others you may come across the ghost of one of their failed attempts, which you can try to kill and loot.
Noah's Cradle (CIRCLE Entertainment, €4.99 / £3.99) - An action flying game that brings the Ace Combat series to mind. It promises six levels and has a heck of a backstory, so could be promising.
3DS Retail Downloads
Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice (SEGA, €39.99 / £34.99) - The Sonic Boom brand is tainted in some eyes by its disastrous Wii U game, but an initial 3DS release and the TV series are reasonable (and in the latter case popular) efforts. This 3DS sequel gives Sonic and friends the ability to switch between fire and ice elements, and features some solid (and occasionally pacey) gameplay. We'll have a review with you before release, but in the meantime you can learn more about this one in our Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice preview. Available from 30th September.
3DS DLC
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice: Special Episode (Capcom, €5.99 / £5.39)
3DS eShop Temporary Discounts
Art of Balance TOUCH! (Shin'en Multimedia, €5.20 / £4.70 until 20th October, normally €6.99 / £6.29)
Epic Word Search Collection (Lightwood Games, €5.99 / £4.49 until 6th October, normally €7.99 / £5.99)
Epic Word Search Collection 2 (Lightwood Games, €5.99 / £4.49 until 6th October, normally €7.99 / £5.99)
Demon King Box (CIRCLE Entertainment, €2.99 / £2.39 until 20th October, normally €3.99 / £3.19)
Parking Star 3D (CIRCLE Entertainment, €1.99 / £1.69 until 20th October, normally €2.99 / £2.49)
Quell Reflect (CIRCLE Entertainment, €2.99 / £2.39 until 20th October, normally €3.99 / £3.19)
Football Up Online (EnjoyUp Games, €1.99 / £1.79 until 27th October, normally €3.99 / £3.59)
Crazy Construction (Joindots, €5.59 / £3.99 until 6th October, normally €6.99 / £4.99)
Alien on the Run (Joindots, €3.99 / £3.35 until 6th October, normally €4.99 / £4.19)
3DS HOME Themes
The Legend of Dark Witch 2 - Herbert Theme (CIRCLE Entertainment, €0.99 / £0.99)
The Legend of Dark Witch 2 - Icke Theme (CIRCLE Entertainment, €0.99 / £0.99)
The Legend of Dark Witch 2 - Klinsy Theme (CIRCLE Entertainment, €0.99 / £0.99)
The Legend of Dark Witch 2 - Kuito Theme (CIRCLE Entertainment, €0.99 / £0.99)
The Legend of Dark Witch 2 - Litty Theme (CIRCLE Entertainment, €0.99 / £0.99)
The Legend of Dark Witch 2 - Mari Theme (CIRCLE Entertainment, €0.99 / £0.99)
The Legend of Dark Witch 2 - Rudy Theme (CIRCLE Entertainment, €0.99 / £0.99)
The Legend of Dark Witch 2 - Sola Theme (CIRCLE Entertainment, €0.99 / £0.99)
The Legend of Dark Witch 2 - Urken Theme (CIRCLE Entertainment, €0.99 / £0.99)
The Legend of Dark Witch 2 - Zizou Theme (CIRCLE Entertainment, €0.99 / £0.99)
Encave II Theme (Bergsala, €1.99 / £1.79)
Encave III (Bergsala, €1.99 / £1.79)
Shantae Beach (Bozon, €1.99 / £1.79)
That's everything for the European Nintendo Download Update this week - let us know what you're planning to download in the poll and comments below.
Comments 65
I think it's bad form of Image & Form to charge for DLC on the day that SteamWorld Heist comes out. It creates a bad image. Wii U owners have waited ages for this game and this is how we're rewarded? Day 1 DLC?
I'll buy both SteamWorld Heist and Fast Racing Neo in physical form eventually. I just wish their boxart hadn't been tarnished with the fugly Selects branding.
If you're a digital only gamer I highly recommend Pikmin 3 from the games added to the Selects range. And avoid Mario Party 10.
The Wii U discounts are once again terrible this week. Not a decent game amongst the lot besides BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien.
I'll take Steamworld Heist and Azure Striker Gunvolt 2, but I'll wait for a while and buy them physical.
Just about to finish Spirit of Justice, perfect timing with that new episode!
NEO Future Pack is well priced, and I'm really excited for it. I'd like to get SteamWorld Heist as well, but I currently have some other games to play.
River City Ransom TR... I want to get it, but 30€... Damnit man, it's a little downloadable game, I will get it when it is priced correctly (i.e. < 15€).
Might get the FR Neo DLC... But I have to admit that I would prefer a real F-Zero Game. FR Neo is fun, but it does feel a bit clumsy sometimes...
I have just enough money left on my eShop account for that Ace Attorney episode, and I'll finally get Heist somewhere down the line. Good week!
Just the NEO Future pack for me, annoying there's no VC for a 2nd consecutive week though.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE
i think this reaction shows a bad form of Nintendo users. We are not entitled to get new content for free. That was work for Image & Form. Everytime developers want to charge for their work they get this reaction especially from Nintendo fans. So, would you want to release your work exclusively on a platform where you have to deal with this bullock more than verywhere else? As a developer i would go to other platforms, Ps4 and XBONE looks way more attractive. And before anybody is mad about my comment, this situation doesn't get worde by my comment nor was it initiated by it. This Anti-DLC mentaly hurts us Nintendo fans in the long run or already has.
I eventually caved and got Steamworld Heist on a PSN sale. I must say I got bored very quickly. Which is a shame, since I thought Steamworld Dig was incredible. Heist seems like a good game, all the bits are there, I just couldn't get into it.
I was interested in River City, but damn that's a bit pricey...
I wonder if the Fast Racing DLC will be playable at once after download or must be unlocked by winning previous cups. Because I haven't won the last cup yet.
@Legromancer It's not work they're doing post release. It's ready now and should be included in the main game. "This acceptance of Day 1 DLC mentality hurts us Nintendo fans in the long run or already has."
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Image & Form's Brjann Sigurgeirsson actually explained their decision about paid DLC in an interview;
"DLC: Yes, The Outsider will be available day one on Wii U. Some people think day-one DLC is a nuisance, and that the content should have been included in the game - preferably at no cost. I don't agree. We've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars (even pounds!) making The Outsider, and we obviously have to charge for our content, so that we can continue making new stuff. Including DLC content as part of the game and raising the price point is also a matter of taste. I think providing DLC outside the game gives players the choice whether they want to spend additional money on a game or not. It's pretty fair."
Fast Racing Neo DLC for me.
I own Art of Balance on Wii U, but i would buy it on 3DS too if the discount were better on this 4 year old game.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Thanks for your feedback! I understand you're point of view, definitely. I have nothing to add other than agreeing with what @KoopaTheGamer wrote. That's our stance on launch day DLC.
I'm glad to hear you're considering the physical version of SteamWorld Heist. It comes with The Outsider included.
Let me know if you have any further questions! /Julius Guldbog, community manager at Image & Form Games
@KoopaTheGamer Their reasoning sounds like crap. "We've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars (even pounds!) making The Outsider". Please! And I spent a million dollars making this comment.
@imageform Thank you for clarifying that because that was a question I had and wanted to ask. I was wondering was this DLC included in the physical version and a way of encouraging people to buy it this way instead. See it makes even less sense this way for digital owners. You've to pay €27 for the game and the DLC content digitally. Or buy it physically with all DLC included for £20. And not just that but you also get SteamWorld Dig included. By the way I bought that on the Wii U eShop day 1 and it is a fantastic game.
Azure Striker looks amazing, looking forward to a review
@polarbear You only have to come third to unlock subsequent cups. But anyway, I'd be extremely surprised if they locked DLC tracks behind completing the main game.
Seriously considering double dipping for Gunvolt 2 just because even if the Striker Pack is going to happen in EU, I don't think I can deal with waiting for it to release when they still don't have it confirmed at this point.
First Gunvolt is definitely one of the best games available on eShop, when they manage to get the cut voice acting and story bits back in it.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE Glad I could help!
For all those that waited like I did. GET Super Mario 3D World!!
Quite a few things i'm interested in, but i'm no sure i'll get them day one.
Fast Racing Neo DLC plus I plan to get the disc version anyway. Gunvolt 2 is also likely though also want the Strike Pack that Inti is currently "looking into" for Europe. Although I got bored by the Jewel searching for the true ending in the first.
WRT the Day 1 DLC argument, I can understand it sometimes as there is some development time between a game going Gold and when it actually goes on sale. But so still think if that's the case, then just hold back on the DLC for a few weeks. At least that way it can extend the game's appeal and feel more like an expansion of content rather than a left out and sold separately. I personally think Day 1 DLC should not exist in a perfect world as it creates the fallacy and feeling of an incomplete core game.
Im sure ive read on here many times thats the Fast Racing Neo update DLC will be free for those that have already purchased the game ?
@SLIGEACH_EIRE it just truly sucks for those who don't have access to a retailer to buy it physically (sad that in 2017 this still an issue in some parts of the world).
EDIT: It depends on if you buying from the UK or Not, the UK is pretty much getting the same price as physical for the same price, just those in the EU who are going to pay extra, if the physical version there will be priced lower.
@FX102A The DLC that is available in no way has anything to do with the core game being incomplete. Heist was solid before the DLC and much more so afterwards.
No VC again.
Ace Attorney DLC, but also will keep an eye on River City. Having imported one of the Japanese 3DS releases of the series I know it's worth the money, I just don't HAVE the money right now.
Nothing for me this week, but I'll probably grab the Phoenix Wright DLC and Captain Toad eventually.
gdi, my wallet is gonna take a beating this week... SWH, FAST, Soul Axiom and Quest of Dungeons... all at once?! why?! D:
can't wait to finally play Heist in HD and try the new tracks for FAST tho!! xD
I highly recommend Super Mario 3D World to anyone who hasn't got it yet.
Heist and Captain Toad for me somewhere down the line. I'm in no hurry though.
@A01 They could be re-skins with adjusted stats. That would fit the word 'profile' better. I'm not that bothered really, the existing vehicles are all fairly same-y so there wouldn't be that much they could do with new ones.
I'm hoping the lack of VC is due to an imminent subscription service for the NX that includes VC games.
A boy can dream...
Ill get River City and I would get Azure Striker Gunvolt 2 but im waiting on a physical version.
Mario 3D world and Captain Toad are amazing games!
Mario party 10 has some great laughs too...me and my family have some good times playing that one. And plenty of arguments 😂
Not a bad week. The DLC for Fast Racing NEO is welcome, as is the Phoenix Wright episode. And Azure Striker Gunvolt 2! First one was ace! More of you should buy it!
@SLIGEACH_EIRE ok, to clarify, THIS IS NOT day one dlc, the game has been out for a while now, this is only "day1" of the WiiU version being available... SWH was a beautiful and solid game way before the release of The Outsider's dlc and the fact that it is available has NOTHING to do with the phenomenon called "day one dlc" it is utterly wrong to even make a comparaison...
if you wanted to make a ligitimate complain you could have highlighted the fact that it would have been great for SWH to be a cross-buy software, or that, at the very least, the ppl who already possess the game should have a discount for the WiiU version... instead of making up some fallacy about day 1 dlc...
@imageform btw, i gotta ask: will we eventually get some kind of discount if we already own HEIST and its dlc for the 3ds, or the other way around?!
Azure Striker 2 for me when i get the money.
@whodatninja

As long as they don't notice the hands shaking money in front of them...
... the Virtual Console, as far as the 3DS goes, has pretty much reached the limit of its game library.
.....Jeez, even EU doesn't even have anything I want...Also, they're not even getting VC games, WTF?
@chiptoon why pricey? Is the retail vetsion cheaper?
gunvolt 2 for £10(about £11 without discount) , will get it!
@JacquesLecornu Not sure about retail, just imagined it would be cheaper, more in line with Gunvolt (which I will now get first )
@chiptoon well so do I. I just wanted to know if you would pay 40€ for retail while the download has to be under 15€. In that case I wouldn't have seen any logic in your comment. But now I see where you coming from.
Hi all! @SLIGEACH_EIRE, I'm glad we can all have different opinions on DLC and still be friends. I'm not joking about the dev cost for The Outsider. It's simply brilliant and cost a fortune to make. @huxxny, about launch discounts etc: There is more info coming here on Nintendo Life in an article later this week, but rest assured there's going to be a very pleasant launch discount AND cross-buy benefits when Heist launches on the Wii U eShop! There have been some technical hoops to jump through to get it in place, but there's a nice surprise for our existing fans. About the physical/digital price differences: we can't really influence retail prices, and we can't sell DLC separately to retail customers, so we included The Outsider in SteamWorld Collection. At the same time it would be strange to include The Outsider in the digital Wii U release, since "3DS Heist owners" couldn't get the same. Anyhow, with the tasty two-week eShop launch offer our "digital customers" will not end up with the short end of the stick. /Brjann, I&F
@SLIGEACH_EIRE
You would prefer that I&F just make WiiU owners wait unnecessarily? Or you would prefer that the game and DLC be bundled together for $25?
It's a great game, for a very fair price...
@SLIGEACH_EIRE the game came out months ago on the 3ds. It doesn't count as day one dlc of the game is already that darn old. Would you rather them release it tomorrow?
Shantae Beach? Didn't see that coming. Anyone know if it's based on the speed run wallpaper from Pirate's Curse?
I'm very tempted by River City: Tokyo Rumble, although £24.99 is quite expensive.
@XyVoX
If the FAST DLC were free for people who bought the game, who would it not be free for?
@SLIGEACH_EIRE part of the reason it price that way is Nintendo is publishing it in the Europe under the selects program $20 and a different company is publishing in the us $30. The us pays ten dollars more for a physical copy. Look at the retail version as a deal in the Europe.
What is all this new DLC for SteamWorld Heist, I've never heard of any of it except for The Outsider DLC, and is The Outsider the only DLC that will come with the physical disc version?
Looking forward to Fast Racing NEO getting more tracks and cups Maybe more people will play the online multiplayer again. And hopefully Shinen will fix the rankings and remove records set by exploiting glitches!
Good week overall. Phoenix Wright DLC for me, since I've been waiting for Turnabout Time Traveller for quite some time.
The irony of River City's price being a ransom is not lost on me. The game is, at the very least, ten quid too much.
@cmk8 Wow so we'll get to pay thousands a year for VC ala-PS Now?! No thanks I'd rather skip NX if that's a requirement as I'm not Mr. Moneybags and please don't say something stupid like "I should quit gaming if it becomes too expensive" that's a really dumb response I hear too often, especially considering there are far more low to middle income gamers then there are upper income gamers...
Gunvolt, river city, fast racing dlc...
And if captain road becomes a Nintendo select in North America.
Soul Axiom, SteamWorld Heist, and Dual Core for me.
Heist, Axiom, River City and Gunvolt 2 for me this week.
@Rukiafan7
I find it ridiculous that these subscription services offer "free" games monthly, but you don't get to keep them if your subscription lapses. Hardly makes them free, more like rent. I prefer Nintendo's method.
woo-we! look at all that virtual console you guys get!
Overall an awesome week.
I will buy Mario Party 10 when it becomes a Nintendo Select in the US.
@Rukiafan7 I never suggested a price and really can't see £1000 / year as a viable option.
Thanks so much for the instruction not to say something stupid, hope I obliged.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...