Limited Run Games Will Publish Physical Copies of Indie Titles On Switch Next Year

Oh no, my bank account...

I buy retail physical whenever I can, and I'm sure some of the titles I bought digitally this year will be released as physical editions, which is a little bit disappointing. At least they aren't typically large games, storage wise.

I buy them when i can if i dont have the digtal already but depends.

Sonic Mania, Namco museum, some other game I'm forgetting the name of, The list goes on.

Already bought digitally but would double dip on a physical version:
1.Sonic Mania
2.Shovel Knight Treasure Trove
3.Blaster Master Zero
4.Steamworld Dig 2 (Preferably the entire Steamworld Collection)
5.Fast RMX
6.Golf Story

1. Thimbleweed Park
2. Earth Atlantis
3. Golf Story
4. Bulb boy
5. Blaster Master

Awesome news! I always try to get physical versions of games when they're available. I haven't bought much on the eshop yet because I've been busy with other games, so I think I'll continue to wait and see which ones are getting physical releases.

I'm fine with digital games.

1. Stardew Valley
2. Thimbleweed Park
3. Golf Story
4. Moon Hunters
5. The Flame In The Flood - Complete Edition
6. Slime-San
7. Revenant Saga
8. Wulverblade
9. Oceanhorn
10. Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap

Should probably credit Paul for the photo =)

Thimbleweed Park will come for sure

Whilst I've been a happy customer of LRG for some time now, they've been "expanding" a bit too quickly in recent months with numerous releases in a single month with multiple cover variants on top. I've heard from many collectors who have had to give up on owning full sets due to the continuous releases and the need to order immediately due to low quantities.

A more recent "issue" is that this has resulted in the overall value of certain games plummeting with some even reselling on eBay for less than their original cost.

The plus side to all this is that hopefully those who will order the games actually want to own them and not resell them. Of course, certain titles are likely to remain sought after and valuable. I'd guess Switch releases of Shantae and Wonderboy would be highly desired. Roll on the Friday 3PM rush orders.

seems like they ought to do this as pre-orders not just "release a thousand and hope you get one"

I hope they give us a good list in advance. I am simply not willing to double dip. If I have the game already downloaded, I really can't justify buying a physical copy.

Can't wait to get my physical copy of Vroom in the Night Sky.

Gollum types rejoice. I'm far happier - the price being right - with digital. Convenience and space saving.

Stardew Valley and Thimble weed park would be very nice releases for sure. Excited to see what they will publish.

Excellent! I'd like Resident Evil Revelations 2 please

@BensonUii
This gif is amazing. (Dov'eri tutto questo tempo?)

I don't get it. Isn't being a downloadable, cheap, and small game the point (consumer-wise, of course) behind indies? So why making them retail instead?

[EDIT: See comments 31 and 34.]

I will try to own as many physical games as possible. But i wont try too hard. Retro city rampage dx is definitely too hard. Not gonna pay more than 100% of its original price. I think i wont buy store exclusive stuff at all if the price is high.

I'll admit that I'm preferring download versions of indie games on Switch, as I can easily boot up any smaller game without having to dig out a cartridge.
Though I did buy a physical copy of TBOIsaac, but only because it's one of my favourite games of all time.
There's nothing really announced or released so far that has me excited for a physical version, personally.

@gordjscott
"I'll admit that I'm preferring download versions of indie games on Switch, as I can easily boot up any smaller game without having to dig out a cartridge."
My point exactly. Same reason behind my choice to download most of Nintendo's 3DS output (via eShop, in case you were wondering).

I will always opt for a physical version if possible even if the price is higher, but I hope games like Stardew Valley have a physical release outside of LGR so I don't have to scramble for a copy.

I have to be honest I can't say I'm happy about it. The title should be revised to 'scalpers rejoice.' Despite their claims only less than 1% end up being put up on ebay, given how much has landed there many times over their asking price I seriously doubt it. Hopefully some of the stuff they scrape up is regionally english outside the NA market like Setsuna and a few others were so honest gamers don't get screwed.

@AlexSora89 They're not making them retail instead; they're making them retail as well, and it's because there's clearly a market for it.

The world needs a deluxe $30 release of Astro Bears Party

@PanurgeJr
Yep, I acknowledge the very poor wording of my comment. I'll edit a note in.

Well that's good. I don't buy many indies at all, but I'll always prefer them physical when I do.

I hope this means that some of Zerodiv's Psikyo eShop games can get a physical release.
Not releasing a physical collector's edition of Zero Gunner 2 would be incredibly stupid considering how expensive the JP Dreamcast versionis nowadays.

Also, i'd definitely buy a physical version of Gunbarich.
The game REALLY deserves a physical release, i bet it would have come out on the Dreamcast in 2002 had Sega not left the console market.

@milliag yacht club is already planning a physical release of shovel knight once king of cards is done

Oceanhorn is the one I'm interested in. I've held off on buying any Switch eshop games because I have so many Wii U digital games already.

Would really like to see Earthlock: Festival of Magic come to Switch too. It was great fun on Wii U, technical issues aside. I just made it to the boss but my party wasn't set up right to handle it. It's a bargain for $10, though you're virtually guaranteed to have some freezing, possible corrupted saves or general lost progress. I'd like to see them correct those issues and they could charge their normal price of $20 for the game.

I've been going digital for all small purchases. Can't see this tempting me. But I can see the appeal for collectors.

Life is Strange Before the Storm, preferably on the PS4 to go along with my physical copy of Life is Strange for the PS4.

"With so many wonderful games gracing the eShop over the last few months"

Only on nintendo's platform would an endless parade of retro games would be considered "wonderful games"

I guess it be good it is next year when the likes of Flipping death, hollow knight, BattleChasers, earthlock (And RIME, Plague Road this year) will hopefully change the eShop landscape away from tons of pixelart.

Would also be amazing if the indie box joined the fun. The typoman box was amazing

https://store.theindiebox.com/collections/collectors-editions/products/typoman-revised

We're gonna need the following:

FAST Racing RMX
Stardew Valley
Hollow Knight
Wargroove
Super Meatboy Forever
Runner 3
Pocket Rumble
Steamworld Dig 2
Sonic Mania
Golf Story
Mighty Gunvolt Burst
Wonderboy Dragon's Trap
Monster Boy Cursed Kingdom
Terraria
Rive
Celeste
Towerfall Ascension
Inside
Slime-san
Guns, Gore & Cannoli 1/2
Hover: Revolt of Gamers
Indivisible
Mantis Burn Racing
Mummy Demastered
Nine Parchments
Shakedown Hawaii
Severed
Splasher
Teslagrad
Tiny Metal
World to the West
Portal Knights (already getting physical)
Retro City Rampage (already getting physical)
Mutant Mudds Coll. (already getting physical)
Ittle Dew 2+ (already getting physical)
The End Is Nigh (already getting physical)
Blade Strangers (already getting physical)
This Is The Police (already getting physical)
Azure Striker 1/2 (already getting physical)
Gear.Club (already getting physical)
Axiom Verge (already getting physical)
Bloodstained (already getting physical)
Shovel Knight Complete (already getting physical)
Shantae Half Genie Hero (already getting physical)
Snipperclips (already getting physical)
Redout (already getting physical)
Rime (already getting physical)

As long as it doesn't bump up the digital price for parity's sake as has been the case nearly every other time an indie has released a physical version. I don't understand why anyone is happy paying $29.99+ for a game which would normally cost around $14.99.

@JaxonH it’s already confirmed super meat boy forever is getting a physical release. It’s just coming out way later.

Welp, Time to build another bookshelf.

This... could be a blessing for GameFly if they stock these limited run physical copies, meaning I'd get a shot to rent games I'd otherwise HAVE to buy. I won't overdo my hope, but this is could be big as I mostly like to play games rather than own. Definitely something to watch for.

@BensonUii how do you post gifs again? I always forget

@faint
Uhh, that's not actually confirmed. The developer said "probably" but that's no guarantee.

Ugh, collectors... disgusting. 😉

I can see the Ebay prices for Golf Story shooting through the roof.

Shovel Knight, Wulverblade, Steam World Dig 2, Fast RMX

I prefer physical copies, but like others here, I’m not a fan of limited releases. I’ve already missed a couple PS4 games with limited release.

Collectors and scalpers rejoice

Forget it if your in EU, NA snap them up quick time then put them on eBay for stupid prices. Also when they say limited they ain't joking, lucky if they release more than 5k per game, some even less. Can't see why they can't just supply on demand instead of limiting stock, mainly to the states. Also they are helping scalpers, bad practice imo. 99% of users on here won't get the games cause they sold out in minutes, that's LRG for ya

@JaxonH he did just say probably. Tommy has also expressed interest in doing the same with the og edition. I’ll be here to remind you of this conversation when the release date hits.

@Oat
[img] <copy/paste gif here> [/img (I purposefully omitted the last bracket)

Sweet, as someone who loves the Switch's cases, I'm very glad I held off on several Indie games. Will absolutely be picking some of these up.

I prefer physical, but having a good amount of digital on my Switch is nice just so I have stuff to play on the go without having to bring carts. I probably won't get many, between the double-dipping, price increases and pain of trying to actually be able to buy a LR game. But I don't buy digital for games more than $20, so for stuff like VOEZ, this'll be nice.

I wish if physical copies of games were to come out that they would come out the same time as the shop versions. I already bought a bunch of shop games but would rather get physical if they exist. Just don't want to buy an shop game then find out later on it gets a physical release.

This is brilliant news!

@faint
What for? I never said it's not going to happen- statistically speaking it likely will. But that still doesn't mean it's confirmed and it still doesn't mean it's a guarantee.

I would like these but I refuse to wait there with a trigger finger at like 5am.

Do preorders give people a month or so to buy and then make however many people buy.

I'd like a physical release of Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap. I know it's already being published in the middle east, but I'd like a more local physical release here too.

Shovel Knight would be nice too.

Hope you all enjoy when they sell out and scalpers want $100 a game for them all.

Its a great idea in theory, but as usual scalpers have to ruin it....

I’m committed to going 100% digital on Switch (it’s working so far...), but stuff like this might make it tricky, haha.

I’ve somehow avoided all of those nice Nicalis bundles though.

@BinaryFragger I missed out on PS4 Night Trap on the LR site- seemed I had no chance...had to go grab it on eBay. Haven’t tried LR since 🤔

@faint When was this confirmed (Shovel Knight physical release)? I only remember them saying they would consider it, not that it would happen for sure.

Jeez there’s a ton I’d love to see at retail for Switch. Fast RMX, Sonic Mania, Strikers 1945, Namco Museum, Stardew, Shantae, The Mummy, SteamWorld Dig 1&2, Snake Pass, Wonder Boy, Rouge Trooper, Wulver Blade, Yono, Flame in the flood, Tumblestone, Golf Story, Beach Buggy Racing, Overcooked, Oceanhorn, Shovel Knight complete edition & Little Inferno for me. I would also add any Neo Geo game but that’s not happening!

Let me give my top 5 a try:

1. Thimbleweed Park
2. Thimbleweed Park
3. Thimbleweed Park
4. Thimbleweed Park
5. Thimbleweed Park

Uuuuuugh, I have a love-hate relationship with LRG.

Do they HAVE to number their individual releases to grate my obsession across all consoles? It's personal, I get it... But daaaaamn that leaves a hole in my heart.

Bear in mind, their Twitter mentioned they want to focus on Switch exclusives. So that narrows the selection somewhat.

@BinaryFragger NT is not the greatest game in the world but not the worst either. Would love LR to get it on Switch and then after, read a quote from Howard Lincoln on seeing It’s Switch release lol.

......... who?

Noooooo! Leave my wallet alone, you vampires! Sigh, more overtime

I like what they are doing, but I am not going out of my way to race against scalpers. I love physical media, but I know this will end up being a scalpers paradise.

Well, Time to get another job.

Sucks if their games are sold out 2 minutes after release (like the physical Switch version of Retro City Rampage DX), but it also means I will most likely never be able to spend money on any of their games.

If their prints are so small in numbers that they can't even reach the demand for a single month, let alone a single day, then I think I'll have other physical games to buy for my Switch elsewhere.

Also, there is a difference between retail and physical, and these are definately not retail games.

@OorWullie because the resell value is incredible- I bought the night trap PS4 for 30 quid and sold it for nigh on 90. I wasn't going to and held onto it for a while but I desperately wanted rebooteroids on the Atari jaguar which was 70 bucks and you can only get it stateside. I buy LRG titles for the long term investment. Night trap is the only one I've ever sold. The rest I'll hold onto for future years.

@Fearful-Octopus they arent that hard to get- every title I've gone for I've managed to get.

@EDF I'm in the uk and every title for vita or PS4 I've tried to buy I've got.

@tanookisuit Forgive me if someone else has stated this already but scalpers aren’t a huge issue with LRG releases. The LRG staff is very forthcoming with info other publishers won’t release. If they say 1% of copies make it to eBay, et al I’d trust that figure.

The bigger issue, and a data point they haven’t released to my knowledge, is the number of collectors who double or even triple dip on LRG releases. This is an issue that kinda forms the core of LRG’s business model. Excluding special editions they will also print “variant” versions which is the same standard release except with the alternate cover art facing out.

Someone going for a complete sealed collection then finds themselves in the position of having to buy 3x copies (Collector’s edition and 2x standard editions to have each cover). At the very least I’d say most people buy at least two copies. Even I’m guilty of this with Night Trap (1 CE, 1 SE) and I’m not a completionist.

@MonkiPlays then you are missing out on many, many ace switch titles.

Wulverblade and Stardew Valley. Maybe Golf Story.

I am very excited for this since I prefer physical games.

So most people prefer physical games (myself included) and yet Nintendo continually pushes for digital only. That’s pure greed. They won’t charge less for the games that are digital, and they often don’t even give us a chance to get physical games (including many third party published games). I can understand if it’s a budget title but when people are paying $30 and up for digital games, that’s horrible.

It would be too much wasted money to buy most indies as physical, especially when I can get cheaper versions on Steam for half off usually. I will be buying a few Switch physicals like Shantae, Monster Boy, and Gunvolt Collection but also holding out and will double dip for Blaster Master, Shovel Knight, and Wonderboy III.

@CheezIt If Nintendo pushes for digital only, why did they approve Limited Run Games to publish retail games?

@darthstuey I might try and snag a few titles hopefully I can get stardew valley, golf story, and shovel knight: treasure trove!

@BinaryFragger Lol I feel the same way, but hopefully I can get a few here and there.

@NinNin why were they not publishing physical copies since day one?!

@GrailUK Thanks for the reply

@GrailUK Perfect video, you maked me so laught!! Thanks man.

I'd like physical copies of digital games as long as it is from anyone -BUT- LRG.
Because from what I hear about LRG they only print enough so that the scalpers pretty much keep them in business. Which is why they reportedly sell out in like 10 minutes.
I remember having an argument on another forum with someone who obviously has the money and scheduling to sit on their phone and buy everything the instant it's released, as if everyone should be like that and those with other immediate obligations for their time/money should be SOL.

@CheezIt They did. Breath of the Wild, 1-2-Switch, Just Dance 2017, Skylanders: Imaginators, Super Bomberman R, Disgaea 5, Dragon Quest Heroes I & II for Nintendo Switch, and Puyo Puyo Tetris S have physical releases. Your post doesn't make any sense. If Nintendo pushes for digital only, why don't they make the digital releases cheaper?

Yay I can't wait to not be able to buy them

Play-Asia already have a physical version of Wonderboy The Dragons Trap listed for pre order, it's Asia region exclusive due November.

@darthstuey
Happy for you, when i have tried, everytime i failed, stopped trying now, yeah i can get some on eBay but prices are higher than normal. Your in the minority, find it hard to believe that every single game you bought from LRG at release you was always there for them, always sold out in minutes, unless you sit there at the right time when they release them, which many of us don't have time for that, we have other things going on. Like i said it's easy to buy them later on when they pop up on eBay but i won't buy them at extra cost. Their all like £60 upwards for a simple indie game when i can buy most of them in sales digitally for next to nothing

Stardew Valley.
Rogue Trooper.
I am Setsuna.

Will they be published in Europe as well, or just in America?

I always get physical versions of games I want to play where I can, but not when they're basically made for scalpers only. Limited Run games? May as well be called Scalper Run Games.

I prefer digital. I don't understand the preference for physical copies.

Fast RMX
Stardew Valley
Sonic Mania
Disney Afternoon Collection (Yeah, they gotta port that one first lol)

My ready is body.

Limited Run Games makes multiple physical versions with different boxart? That's devaluing their own games, milking (or peeing off) collectors. They should make a reversible cover. Their management seems horrible.

Well, they aren't the only ones making digital games physical.

Merge Games is out there bringing Unbox, Lucanor, and Long Reach.
Rising Star is out there bringing Lumo and 88 Heroes.
Greybox is bringing Rime.
Headup Games brought us Binding of Isaac Afterbirth+.
Nicalis publishes almost their whole catalog physical (at least in the US).
Nighthawk Interactive releases the Azure Striker Gunvolt - Striker Pack.
Bad Land Games publishes Axiom Verge.
NIS America has Penny Punching Princess and The Longest 5 Minutes under its wing.
THQ Nordic releases games like Sine Mora EX, Battle Chasers Nightwar, and This Is The Police.
I guess Team17 is also looking into bringing Overcooked, The Escapists 2, Yooka-Laylee, and Worms W.M.D to retail.

Fortunately we don't depend on Limited Run Games entirely to get our favourite games physically. There are lots of other publishers out there turning digital games into real retail games instead of scalper's paradise.

@SKTTR
Also playAsia and eastasiasoft, many are starting to release their own games and now starting to also bring other developers games aswell. I guess they have to start somewhere, watchout for some of these devs come publishers, they will be huge in the future

@EDF I was stating a fact from my point of view- why would I lie about getting the games- I’ve no stake in their company. You said if you’re in the EU you have no chance well I’ve had a different experience. Sorry if I upset you. I’ve tried to buy five games this year and got them all but yes I was with my phone at the time they went on sale.

Plus since its on cartridge, the games would cost a lot more than they do on the eshop, so it's really not worth it.

Sonic Mania
Rocket League
Fast RMX
Yooka Laylee if it ever releases
Minecraft

Pretty much the only digital releases I can think of that I would like to have a physical copy of.

Not a big fan of these limited releases to be honest. Wherever I read, there seem to be more people unhappy because they couldn't get them than people happy because they got them.

I don't know, but making things purposedly limited just to make them a "hot item"...I think it's going to work against them in the long run. People are eventually going to get tired of not getting this stuff.

I've seen countless companies do the same thing with vinyl in the past and they all died out after a few years cos people stopped supporting them.

@darthstuey
No problem, lol i thought you must have been right there on release, otherwise no chance in EU let alone if your in NA. Like i said your in a minority but we'll done anyways, hopefully you can get more

@speedracer216 I agree, though pre-order may not be the exact terminology, it would be nice if they took orders prior to production (to satisfy everyone who wants a copy at the time), and then print an extra set amount of like an extra 30-40% of that number for others who may've not put in an order but may want one down the line.

That ensures you don't over produce, yet also satisfy the hardcore/collector/demand.

@spizzamarozzi "People are eventually going to get tired of not getting this stuff."

How do those people matter? They aren't the customers.

Also:
"How do you decide a print size?

The print sizes are determined by the developer. We will always push for a bigger run, but ultimately it is their decision."
https://www.limitedrungames.com/pages/faq

@Juma009 you van get the jap physical version of I am Setsuna now

The people who are complaining about LRG need to understand that they use this "limited" business model to be able to publish games physically that otherwise couldn't get a physical release at all.

Well, I'm looking forward to listening to everyone complain when they get screwed over by LRG. Go search some LRG Night Trap stories. If they keep their current model, it will be very bad news for all of us.

Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy , this is great but also ultimately at some point will be hugely disappointing.

@MedusaMadman77 I have my own personal one to cherish forever.

Truly the vinyl of vidya.

@BensonUii
Well, that explains everything...

Namco Museum please.

@KnightRider666 how have you been? Nice to see you it's been a while.

Golf story, Retro City Rampage......

Would love to see them put Fatal Frame 4 in a retail package for North America.

@Windy: I'm good, yourself? Yeah, I've been absent from the forums for quite some time. I bought a Switch for the Mario Bros. arcade game believe it or not. Here's to hoping for DK Jr, DK 3, & DK.

@KnightRider666 I bought and sold the Switch. I was feeling to much like I had to download 90% of the software for the system. So I'm back to playing my Wii and 3ds. I have no interest in the new systems.

Please LRG! Do a collector's edition for blaster master!

I don't typically go for indies much, but I prefer my Nintendo game collection to be physical as much as possible aside from VC titles. With the Xbox One it doesn't really matter unless you can get a physical game cheaper.