Golf Story screen.JPG

Well, this week's North American Nintendo Download Update is a bit of a beast. It's absolutely jam packed with games, especially on the Nintendo Switch; there's a mix of notable retail releases and some rather promising download titles. The 3DS and Wii U don't entirely miss out, either, so let's get to it.

Switch Retail Downloads

FIFA 18 (EA, $59.99USD) - A game that's attracted plenty of attention since its reveal; the Switch is getting a 'custom' version that lacks the story mode but does include a Switch-specific local multiplayer option and a full Ultimate Team mode on the go. We're aiming to get our shots on target to bring you a review soon. Available from 29th September.

One Piece Unlimited World Red - Deluxe Edition (Bandai Namco, $39.99USD) - A title that previously made its mark on 3DS and then Wii U, it arrives on the Switch with previous DLC included along with improved visuals and performance. We gave it a recommendation in our One Piece Unlimited World Red - Deluxe Edition review. Available from 29th September.

Switch eShop

Golf Story (Sidebar Games, $14.99USD) - A rather intriguing and stylish game that blends retro-style RPG gameplay with golf, with visuals and music that have certainly fired up some gamers' imaginations. It promises eight diverse environments and a sizeable cast of characters; we're on the course right now in order to bring you a review soon, but our chums at Eurogamer have recommended it already.

Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime (Asteroid Base, $14.99USD) - A hit on other systems, this is a colourful title in which up to four players frantically rush around a spaceship to control various weapons and systems in order to hold off enemy attacks. Perhaps best in co-op, you can also play solo with AI companions helping you out. Available from 3rd October.

Picross S (Jupiter Corporation, $7.99USD) - From the same developer / publisher that brought us numerous Picross titles under the 'e' name to 3DS, we have the first entry on Nintendo's latest hardware. With over 300 puzzles (including standard and Mega Picross stages), it also allows two players to tackle puzzles together if they wish. We'll try to form a picture in a review.

Deemo (Flyhigh Works, $29.99USD) - Deemo is a touch-based musical rhythm game and has made a strong reputation on mobile, with the publisher claiming in excess of 10 million downloads. As with VOEZ, however, this Switch release will ditch the free-to-start model and include a lot of content for one cost, with more songs (and physical control options) promised for a free update later this year. We'll get one of our resident musicians on the case with a review.

Conga Master Party! (Rising Star Games, $9.95USD) - Developed by Undercoders, this is a Snake-like game where you try to dance around various stages adding more people to your conga line. Naturally you have to dodge obstacles, and beyond single player modes there are multiple minigames for local multiplayer, two of which are Switch exclusives. With amiibo support also included this seems promising; our review will be with you soon.

Binaries (Ant Workshop, $12.99USD) - A challenging BAFTA-nominated platformer, this has over 100 demanding stages in which you guide two balls through tricky challenges. It aims to fill the experience with humour and a "funky adaptive music score"; it looks like it could be a good game for playing on the go, in particular.

BUTCHER (Crunching Koalas, $9.99USD) - Developed by Transhuman Design, this is a fast-paced and brutally violent 2D shooter with retro-styled visuals. As well as running and gunning the game also encourages you to use hooks, lava pits, saws and more to your advantage for creative kills. Crikey.

INVERSUS Deluxe (Hypersect, $14.99USD) - It has a simple aesthetic but aims to deliver compulsive, fast-paced gameplay, as you dash around arenas trying to blast away your foes. Rather well received on Steam (PC), for example, it's also getting some updated content for its eShop iteration including new maps and unlockables. We'll get on the case for a review.

Pankapu (Plug In Digital, $11.99USD) - A title that previously arrived on Steam in episodic form and seems to have been well received, it's a "narrative and episodic platform/action game that takes place in the dreams of Djaha'rell, a child once troubled by a tragic incident." It promises upgrades to skills and a story told "in the manner of a fable read to a child".

Brave Dungeon + Dark Witch Story:COMBAT (INSIDE SYSTEM, $8.99USD) - This is an intriguing double release; it includes a Switch version of the 3DS dungeon-crawling RPG Brave Dungeon. Dark Witch Story:COMBAT features a range of characters from the previous 3DS and Switch titles in the series and puts them into a turn-based card battling game. We'll see whether this double header is worth the investment.

Astro Bears Party (QubicGames, $4.99) - Playing as bears in outer space, you dash around planetoids trying to catch out your opponent in a quirky spin on TRON. It's all about taking out your opponents by making them collide with the lines you create, though there is a solo mode if that's more your speed.

Burning Fight (HAMSTER, $7.99USD) - The ACA series continues with what was SNK's answer to Final Fight, in which you take on the Yakuza in Osaka. Unfortunately we didn't think too much of it back in 2008 when it popped up on the Wii Virtual Console.

Tower of Babel (EnjoyUp Games, $9.99USD) - This looks somewhat quirky in footage, as a knight auto-runs up and down sort-of 3D towers, with your goal being to dodge obstacles and grab collectibles through jumping, ducking and adjusting your dash speed.

Sparkle 2 (10tons, $7.99USD) - Another new genre for the Switch eShop, with this being a 'marble shooter' seemingly in in the vein of games like Puzz Loop. It promises four different modes and 90+ levels in its story, which sounds like decent bang for your buck. We'll take aim and let you know what we think in a review.

Physical Contact: Picture Place (Collavier Corporation, $4.99USD) - Another in this series of relatively simplistic games that encourages local multiplayer. We're having a tricky time figuring out the concept from available information, and it's fair to say we were distinctly unimpressed with this one's predecessors on the eShop.

3DS Retail Downloads

Yo-kai Watch 2: Psychic Specters (Nintendo / Level-5, $39.99USD) - This is pitched as 'the ultimate version of Yo-kai Watch 2', adding in new creatures and content from the first two variations in this run. We have a review all ready to go, and we think EMBARGOED. Our review will be with you on release day. Available from 29th September.

Culdcept Revolt (NIS America, $39.99) - A series with a very sporadic history in the West, this blends fantasy, card battles and board game play for what could certainly be an interesting release. We have a review pretty much good to go but will test online play (and explore some much-discussed microtransactions) before issuing our full thoughts. Available from 3rd October.

Wii U eShop

Hive Jump (Graphite Lab, $14.99USD) - Originally funded on Kickstarter and once given prominence in official Nindie events, this four-player run 'n' gun blaster involves taking down hordes of aliens while avoiding traps and picking up gear. The developers previously confirmed that the Wii U GamePad will be put to good use in the game with a mini-map and vital information.

Super Ultra Star Shooter (Ultra Dolphin Revolution, $1.99USD) - From the same studio that brought us Shadow Archer, this is "an endless retro shoot’em up inspired by the classic arcade games of the time".

Wii U Virtual Console

Double Dungeons (Konami, $5.99USD) - The run of TG-16 games continues with this ambitious (for its time) attempt and 3D dungeon crawling. Unfortunately we were left distinctly unimpressed in our Wii Virtual Console Double Dungeons review.

As always Nintendo of America wants you to browse the eShop and check out the official sales and deals website for discount details.

It's also worth reminding you that Arcade Archives Mario Bros. (review here) and Sine Mora EX (review here) arrived earlier in the week, but they were included in last week's download update details.

There are a lot of options to consider this week - let us know what you'll be downloading in the poll and comments below.

What will you be downloading this week?

(You can select up to 22 answers)