While we imagine a fair few of you reading this are already tucking into this month's mega Mario release, there have been plenty of wonderful games also appearing on the humble eShop. With the month of June now officially coming to an end, it's time once again for the Nintendo Life eShop Select awards!
These awards aim to celebrate the best of Nintendo's digital store, giving some love and attention to the games that could so easily be missed in the Switch's ever-growing library.
So, let's get started! Here are the best Switch eShop games of June 2019!
Honourable Mentions:
While these titles didn't quite make our top three this month, they're still certainly worth checking out.
- Contra Anniversary Collection | Review: 9/10
- Slay the Spire | Review: 9/10
- Citizens of Space | Review: 8/10
- Cybarian: The Time Traveling Warrior | Review: 8/10
- Timespinner | Review: 8/10
- Blade II - The Return Of Evil | Review: 7/10
- We. The Revolution | Review: 7/10
- Warlocks 2: God Slayers | Review: 7/10
3. Rolling Gunner (Switch eShop)
Taking third place in our list this month is Rolling Gunner. Directed by ex-Cave dev Daisuke Koizumi, this is one of the most addictive, accessible and downright fun shmups currently available on Nintendo’s system. We recently gave it a glowing 9/10 review, praising it for welcoming newcomers into the genre while simultaneously offering a blisteringly difficult challenge for veterans. Like shmups? Go and check this one out.
2. My Friend Pedro (Switch eShop)
Next up is My Friend Pedro, an utterly bananas title that had us seriously intrigued since it was first announced. It isn't perfect by any means - we noted some not-so-friendly controls and unwanted repetition as slight downers in our review - but its ludicrously over-the-top violence and comedy elements still won over enough members of the team to see it reach second place in our list this month. We had fun with this one, and we hope you do too.
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1. Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda (Switch eShop)
It almost feels unfair including this one in a list of eShop titles which might have slipped under the radar - you know, what with the whole Zelda element and all - but its very existence also sums up exactly why we love the eShop so much. Yes, Cadence of Hyrule takes our number one place by some margin this week, with almost every staff member shoving it right to the top of their lists.
And for good reason, too; from the unique style of gameplay and the nostalgic Zelda content to the unbelievably good soundtrack that'll have you groovin' to the beat as you play, this is one seriously entertaining ride. This isn't just a brilliant game, it's a brilliant Zelda game, and one that you won't want to miss.
< Nintendo Life eShop Selects - May 2019
What was your favourite eShop game last month? (147 votes)
- Cadence of Hyrule
- My Friend Pedro
- Rolling Gunner
- Contra Anniversary Collection
- Slay the Spire
- Citizens of Space
- Cybarian: The Time Traveling Warrior
- Timespinner
- Blade II - The Return Of Evil
- We. The Revolution
- Warlocks 2: God Slayers
- Something else (comment below)
Please login to vote in this poll.
How we decide our eShop Selects top three: As we reach the end of every month, the Nintendo Life staff vote on their favourite titles from a list of games selected by the editorial team. To qualify for this list, these games must have been released primarily as a digital Nintendo Switch eShop title in that particular month, and must have been reviewed on Nintendo Life; we select the qualifying games based on their review scores.
Staff are then asked to vote for three games that they think deserve to sit right at the very top of that list; first choice gets 3 points, second choice gets 2 points, and third choice gets 1 point. These votes are then tallied to create a top three list, with the overall winner taking that month's top prize.
Comments 32
Why is a game you gave 7/10 at number 2 yet games you gave 9/10 aren’t?
I knew i was correct in saying the Contra Anniversary Collection was the best. As it got 100% of the votes. Wait??? Am i the only one who has voted as of the time of this posting?
@fozzyrock1986 I was wondering the exact same thing, crazy
Why ask why @fozzyrock1986? Nintendo Life sometimes lives in a black hole next to the singularity where all reason and laws of physics as we know them don't exist.
Timespinner was a joy to play. I enjoyed it more than Cadence of Hyrule, though Cadence is more fun. Timespinner had a nifty little story, some interesting mechanics and gorgeous art. Recommended for all of your Metroidvania needs
@fozzyrock1986 because individual reviews aren't written by the whole staff team. They are written by one reviewer per game. It even says in the description "but its ludicrously over-the-top violence and comedy elements still won over enough members of the team to see it reach second place in our list this month". It'd be insane if one reviewer's review were considered indicative of a whole website's views on a game.
Cadence of Hyrule is probably my favourite but Slay the Spire, Muse Dash and Nekopara Vol.3 are all pretty close. Great month of eShop releases.
@fozzyrock1986
Maybe other members of the team would have given it an eight or nine. This list is a great way of getting a feel for how the whole team views a game.
Eventually I'll get around to Slay the Spire. Pretty good month for the eShop
I agree with #1 😃 as it's a top 10 zelda game for me, but where's collection of mana on the list @ryancraddock?
Edit: I think I answered my own question here but probably because itll be physical eventually?
The only criticism of Cadence I might have is length... but it's a helluva ride while it lasts.
Slay the Spire ate up most of my game time this month. That game is addictive.
I don't often buy games full price ever anymore (the last one was the Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze) and average out at two a year, but Cadence of Hyrule was absolutely one of those immediate purchases. It's amazing.
Yeah cadence of hyrule for me.
I intend to get citizens of space soon though. After I’ve done everything there is to do in mario maker 2...
Contra for me, I had a blast romping through Contra Hard Corps on my big 4K TV. I still haven't had my retro hardware fitted to run on modern displays so it was really cool to see Castlevania and Contra games on such a clear display with barely any lag. M2 are Gods among us.
Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda
really this game........lame
@sleepinglion for some reason, this game is completely off my radar. How does it compare to games like hollow knight?
@Mr_Persona have you tried it yet?
@Ooyah That explains how that happens. One individual reviews it, then possibly 3 other people think it's way better. So Nintendolife could give it a mediocre review, but the group of all writers for Nintendolife could give it an average review that puts it at number one. Cool, I like understanding the independence of each reviewer.
I love Cadence! I can't wait to try Pedro and Spire, but I guess I can because I'm waiting for a sale. Slay the Spire sounds so good though! Oh, and I also think I'm going to adore Rolling Gunner whenever I get it.
Apart from an hour of virtua racing, I have played nothing but slay the spire this month!! Its got its hooks in me, and so replayable. Once you get through it with each character it unlocks ascension levels with extra elite fights and I cant stop- last game I played as much was dead cells. It's got that one more run feeling nailed- its stolen a fair few hours of my sleep this month...
@NintendoByNature
yes on my friend's console and it was weird, imo it feels like its a common type of game now.
anyways gtg
also l'm shock that the Pedro game is on the list, l was thinking no one wouldn't care about the game. its a funny game imo xD
@Mr_Persona fair enough. I liked it alot. So i was just wondering if you gave it a try
@Mr_Persona I'm with you. Unpopular opinion but Cadence does not look interesting in the slightest. I wouldn't even download it if it were free.
@invictus4000
same
This month is crazy on the eShop. I haven't bought any of the new releases yet - I actually just bought the Octo Expansion for Splatoon 2 - but I have my eye on Slay the Spire and Cadence AND Rolling Thunder.
The western release of Virtua Racing wasn’t a winner or even honorable mention? Your list is broken!
Contra Anniversary colecction & ZCOH for me! The rest is history and a piontless gaming discussion! X
@Onion Well said Onion! 1 up for you! X
I'm playing Scrap Rush on my Switch right now.
@NintendoByNature Yep, you're right. It's not a digital-only release so we had to exclude it sadly
@erv Atmospherically you can't really compare them. Before buying I read a few reviews and watched some playthrough/review footage on YouTube, helped a lot. I enjoy Timespinner more. It's not as dark and has beautifully done pixel art. I've played through it a few times. Has a few alternate endings and plays with cause and effect in fun ways. I loved it
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