Nintendo Download: 5th January (North America)

The latest Nintendo Download update for North America has arrived, and it's bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy!

Switch eShop - New Releases

12 Labours of Hercules VI: Race for Olympus (JetDogs, 2nd Jan, $7.99) - A crime has been committed on the Mount Olympus! Something triggered the alarm and it can only mean trouble! The first hero to respond to the call is Hercules - he quickly arrives to the scene to discover that Zeus been abducted. . . There is no time to waste: brave hero sets out on the search for Zeus! Hercules needs to act fast: without Zeus Olympus is facing a political crisis as lesser Gods are trying to take over the reigns! Tag along and visit the places you’ve never seen before as you clear roads, construct buildings, vanquish beasts and investigate the mysterious disappearance. Can you prove your detective skills and unravel who's behind Zeus' abduction?

ABC Follow Me: Food Festival (Prison, 26th Dec, $9.99) - An educational game for preschool children that will develop their motor skills and introduce them to the basics of writing letters and numbers in a child-friendly design. Once this is mastered, you can move on to a more challenging game mode where children learn food products in English! This will be a great introduction to learning languages and cuisines across the world. Maybe even certain products will encourage your kids to discover new flavors?

ABC Kids Bundle (Prison, 26th Dec, $24.99) - ABC Follow Me: Animals An educational game for preschool children that will develop their motor skills and introduce them to the basics of writing letters and numbers in a child-friendly design. Once this is mastered, you can move on to a more challenging game mode where children learn animals from A to Z in English! This will be a great introduction to learning languages and getting to know many fascinating animals. Maybe one of them will even become your child's favorite?

Age of Heroes: The Beginning (Green Sauce, 5th Jan, $19.99) - Age of Heroes - The Beginning takes matching 3 to a whole new level. A terrible villain has escaped from prison and his evil is released upon the world once more. The peace and beauty of the land have turned to fear and darkness. It’s up to you to stop him and help the poor peasants who had their homes destroyed. Match your way through this incredible journey, meet great heroes and use their skills to help you save the day in Age of Heroes: The Beginning.

Aircraft Carrier Survival (Forever Entertainment, 29th Dec, $19.99) - Welcome to Aircraft Carrier Survival, a strategy game set in the merciless reality of World War II, where your prowess as a commander decides the fate of a naval behemoth. Take control of the aircraft carrier, its crew, officers and planes during WW2. Give an example of military prowess by choosing the right equipment, crew, and escort for the mission. Assign a crew and choose what your officers should focus on. Your ship has many stations to man, and proper management will be the key to executing your plan. Your damage control teams can handle fire outbreaks, torpedo strikes, hull flooding, enemy bombardment, airstrikes, and suicide attacks from enemy planes, but not all of them at once. Assess which threats need to be dealt with first in order to survive. Use maneuvers, aircraft, anti-aircraft turrets, and whatever else you can to survive the enemy attack. Make sure that any enemy who dares to attack you will end up in the depths of the Pacific.

AlphaLink (Black Hive Media, 5th Jan, $19.99) - Pick a faction, find some friends, and engage in the fight of your life in local or online matches! Earn XP and Galactic Credits to unlock new cosmetics like armor, helmets, guns, and more! Other features in the final game: - Hub area to engage with NPCs to reveal lore in the Kova universe. - Multiple game modes for online and local play - Faction standings and leader boards - Various weapon pick ups - XP and progression system - Wide range of cosmetics to personalize your player - Beautiful array of hand-painted levels

Animal Golf – Battle Race (Pancake Games, 2nd Jan, $7.99) - Customize your adorable golfer and pack your bag with all sorts of power-ups in this super sweet golf game. Roll through wildly creative courses, avoid crazy obstacles. Compete with friends in up to 4-player race and be the first in the hole to win. Super easy controls gives you fun & intuitive gameplay. Ready, Steady, GOOOOLF!

Arcade Archives BUBBLE BOBBLE (HAMSTER, 29th Dec, $7.99) - 'BUBBLE BOBBLE' is an action game that was released from TAITO in 1986. Players control the twin Bubble Dragons that are called 'Bubblun' and 'Bobblun', and travel through one hundred different stages. The game became popular and led to a long series of sequels and spin-offs. The main goal of the game is to rescue their girlfriends from the Cave of Monsters.

Arcade Archives Metal Hawk (HAMSTER, 22nd Dec, $7.99) - "Metal Hawk" is a shooting game released by NAMCO (Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. ) in 1988. Earn points by operating your aircraft while changing its altitude and destroying the targets displayed on the radar within the time limit. Search for enemies at a high altitude, and if you find an enemy or enemy base, descend to range and destroy them. The "Arcade Archives" series has faithfully reproduced many classic Arcade masterpieces. Players can change various game settings such as game difficulty, and also reproduce the atmosphere of arcade display settings at that time. Players can also compete against each other from all over the world with their high scores. Please enjoy the masterpiece that built a generation for video games. The options menu and manual are available in Japanese, English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.

Balls of Fame Holiday Bundle (FarSight Studios, 2nd Jan, $29.99) - The Balls of Fame Holiday Bundle features 6 games developed by FarSight Studios!

Boxer (Sabec, 26th Dec, $9.99) - Boxer is an easy-to-play arcade, pick up and play first person, fast-action boxing game. Fight three hard-hitting rounds against one of the seven (Ai) artificial intelligent rival boxers without getting knocked out. Improve your boxing skills in the training gym equipped with a dummy and a punch bag. Beat the the rival boxers and become the ultimate Boxing legend!

Breakfast Bar Tycoon Premium Edition (Baltoro Games, 30th Dec, $5.99) - Have you ever wondered what it’s like to run your own breakfast kitchen? In Breakfast Bar Tycoon, you'll learn that it's no easy task! You will take on the role of a breakfast bar manager and try your best to serve the hordes of hungry customers as quickly as possible. Take orders, prepare dishes and fight for tips! Invest your earnings into upgrading your restaurant and become a breakfast magnate! This bundle includes base game and expansion pack #2.

Checkers Quest Bundle (Prison, 26th Dec, $14.99) - Checkers for Kids is a traditional and inspiring board game which attracts the attention of younger audience. There are lots of unique toys you can choose to play with and customize even further with your favorite addons. Black and white is too boring for you? Change up your playground however you want. And if you are tired and want to relax, just play with your pet fish which will cheer for you during your games against family and friends! If there's no one around to compete with, no need to worry: a skillful AI player will gladly play with you. To make it more accessible for players all over the world, the game offers a lot of settings to test all possible modes of checkers. Grab your favorite toy and improve your logic thinking while having fun!

Children of Silentown (Daedalic Entertainment, 11th Jan, $19.99) - Lucy is afraid of the forest, just like any other child: every night, the echoing roars rob her of her sleep. Not even her dreams are a safe place where she could play. People disappearing is nothing uncommon in the village, but this time, Lucy is old enough to investigate on her own. Or so she thinks. Children of Silentown is a point & click adventure game telling a mysterious and endearing story. Explore the town and its dangerous surroundings, meet its quirky inhabitants, solve puzzles and master minigames. Accompany Lucy on her adventure to get to the bottom of what is haunting the strange Silentown. . . if you dare.

Clumsy Rush: Ultimate Guys Definitive Edition (RedDeerGames, 2nd Jan, $6.19)- Clumsy Rush: Ultimate Guys Definitive Edition is a fun-centric party game which throws you (along with your friends) into a series of challenges and races throughout randomly generated tracks.

CRYGHT (TOYURO, 26th Dec, $1.50) - Get crystals! Over 130 stages! Crystal + Kingdom = Cryght. The purpose of the game is to get the crystals on the stage.

CRYSTORLD (TOYURO, 2nd Jan, $1.50) - The goal is to get the crystals on the 3D stage by making full use of jumps and dashes. When you get the crystal, the stage is cleared! There are two modes: normal and hard mode. Local multiplayer with split-screen for up to 4 people! You can use items to increase your speed and change your jump height.

Everybody’s Home Run Derby (Edia, 26th Dec, $5.00) - The popular casual baseball game has been ported to the Nintendo Switch™ with a special focus on the Home Run Derby and a multiplayer mode! A simple and easy-to-understand party game inspired by the Home Run Derby. The perfect tempo and game balance will keep you entertained time and time again! Play with others and you're sure to have a blast! Be the Home Run King!

Extreme Snowboard (Pix Arts, 4th Jan, $7.99) - Ride your snowboard at high speed down the slopes of the best ski resorts in Europe and America. Set the fastest times solo, or against a friend/family in the super fun multiplayer mode. You will be able to perform numerous tricks with the help of obstacles on the slope. Each trick you perform will give you time bonuses that will improve your final time. Extreme Snowboard, with its hyper-realistic physics engine, will provide you with strong sensations and long hours of fun with rock music.

Flipped On (Ultimate Games, 9th Jan, $1.99) - Each level is a new and exciting challenge starting from easy and getting harder as you go on. Jump over gaps in the road with ramps. Crash into roadblocks to move them out of the way. Get flipped over by crazy hydraulic bollards and loads more. Flipped On a simplified car obstacle course physics simulation game. Take control of your car and go have a blast!

Grabitoons! (Entalto Studios, 26th Dec, $7.99) - Compete in this galactic test of skill with your own customizable Grabitoon. Bring your friends and smack 'em over the head in this physics-based party game for up to four players! Grab, throw, smack and whack your way through more than 15 different mini-games, conquer the different variants and unlock new pieces to build your own Grabitoon!

Gravity Thrust (Sprakelsoft, 2nd Jan, $4.99) - "Gravity Thrust" lets you fly a spaceship through caves so you need to be cautious to survive!

Guntech 2 (Utopos, 2nd Jan, $14.99) - It’s a twin-stick shooter in space. You can play in single-player, or couch co-op with up to 4 players! Use the Left Stick to steer and thrust your ship, and the Right Stick to control the railgun. Your ship has a total of three different weapons. The L Button and R Button fire the two additional, more powerful weapons which always fire in the direction of your ship's nose. This gives you the ability to shoot in any direction using the railgun, with extra firepower when you position your ship toward the enemy. Guntech 2 has 5 distinct worlds: Tutorial, Virus, The Dark Worlds, Space Jungle, and Cargo Hauler. Each world has 8 levels plus a boss level at the end. Additionally, there are seasonal levels that are funny and silly little missions themed for seasons like Christmas and Halloween. You have a fresh set of lives for each level. Each level has three different goals. The first is mandatory for passing the levels and will earn you one star.

HEROish (Sunblink, 2nd Jan, $19.99) - In HEROish, players can enjoy single-player adventures with three campaigns filled with campy storytelling, sweeping musical scores and hand-crafted environments. Or they can dive into fast-paced battles with friends and family in competitive 1v1 or 2v2 matches. Players can build custom decks and upgrade cards to create monstrous combinations of troops and spells as they aim to defeat their opponents, destroy the Soul Gem that gives them power and move to the top of the leaderboards.

Hollow World: Dark Knight (T-Bull, 5th Jan, $7.99) - Fight hordes of enemies for the freedom of the whole world! Defeat waves of dangerous opponents, and collect consumables during combat to create upgrades for your hero. Develop your character to unlock different spells you can use in the battle. You must prepare yourself properly because dangerous bosses who want to destroy the entire universe will appear at the end of each stage. Only you can resist their strength. Use your skills to defeat any rival standing in your way to freedom!

Humongous Classic Collection (UFO Interactive, 26th Dec, $59.99) -The Humongous Classic Collection includes 6 titles on Nintendo Switch™. These games will provide limitless hours of fun and replay-ability with full animation, professional voice acting, award-winning music and tons of mysteries to solve!

Hyper Gunsport (Necrosoft Games, 22nd Dec, $24.99) - Hyper Gunsport is cyberpunk volleyball with guns - it's all about that hot arcade action! You can play 2v2 or 1v1, with a co-op and single player circuit mode as well. Each of the 7 teams has a light story, unique weapons, and a stage with its own gimmick. As you progress, new rulesets change the game, and there's an unlockable AI mode as well. This is a hardcore action game, but we are hardcore about our accessibility options too, ensuring the game is playable by anyone. Hyper Gunsport is arcade action with fighting game vibes, a pulsing soundtrack, a unique cast of characters, and unlockables to discover. As a unique feature to Nintendo Switch™, you can play with four individual Joy-Con™ on one screen. This is Future Millennium Sporting Action!

Infected run to Survive: Zombie Apocalypse Survival Story Shooter Dead Cry (VG Games, 29th Dec, $4.99) - Run or die! Can you reach the final survival point? along the way you will meet numerous obstacles and difficulties. A game that sends you into the cruel world of the zombie apocalypse where the dead are teeming all around. A lot of weapons will help you get through the crowds of zombies. Some elements of parkour that are present in the game will make it easier for you to move towards the goal. A variety of maps and quests will not let you get bored. Also in our store you can buy different types of guns from pistols to sniper rifles. We also have a little surprise for you in the form of a hand grenade that will easily clear the path in front of you. In this game, you can and should do anything in order not to stop and run, run and run again to survive. - Beautiful graphics - Interesting story - Many locations - Large selection of weapons - Thoughtful story with moments of intrigue

Kids Puzzle – 2 in 1 Bundle (Baltoro Minis, 26th Dec, $7.99) - Kids Puzzle 2-in-1 bundle offers unique, fun, and relaxing jigsaw puzzles! This bundle consists of Kids: Zoo Puzzle and Kids: Farm Puzzle games.

League of Enthusiastic Losers Ultimate Edition (RedDeerGames, 2nd Jan, $9.19) - This bundle includes the first Art Book for League of Enthusiastic Losers. Vitya and Volodya - two best friends and heroes of our story - swim with a struggle in everyday life and try to stay afloat. Facing an eviction, they decide to find a treasure that will help with debt repayment. In the course of the adventure, they will meet many new friends, witnessing unaverage (or in the eyes of some very average) events for a typical housing complex. Decide the fate of your heroes and guide them towards happily ever after. Thanks to the charming graphics you will be transported straight back to the time when the internet was a western invention.

Lost Dream Stars (Ultimate Games, 10th Jan, $4.99) - Lost Dream Stars: Play as the fox and traverse the land collecting quest items and competing puzzles! Are you ready to save the world with the help of the stars? The World: Like all the games in the series, this one has many unique and different levels to explore as well. Run through the Frosted fields, Magical forests, Foggy mountains and many more levels! Soundscape: The whole game is filled with highest quality sound clips all the way from birds to water flowing alongside the calming music made to fit the scene.

Lost Snowmen (Silengames, 5th Jan, $4.99) - A puzzle-platformer starring three characters with different skill sets, who will have to assist each other during their adventures in order to fulfill a variety of level objectives. - Controls and switches between three different characters with unique abilities - Solve puzzles and defeat enemies to complete levels - The storyline will reveal through the funny dialogues of the characters

Maximus 2 (Four Fats, 5th Jan, $4.99) - MAXIMUS 2 is a fantasy beat-em-up (brawler) that focuses on crunchy and satisfying combat. We captured the spirit of some of the best classic beat-em-ups, melding them into one memorable experience. Fight solo or with up to 4 players cooperative multiplayer! STORY Is a single, continuous shot. This hasn’t been done since the 80's, rather than simply cutting from one stage to the next, the players enter an animated transition to the next area, creating the illusion of a fantastic journey. MULTIPLAYER co-op in real time, fight together with up to 4 players! HEROES with their own roles and weapons. The tank, the wrestler, the magician, the outlaw, the healer and the ninja. TEAMWORK If you work together, you survive. Players can revive a fallen teammate, support or heal them and gang up to juggle enemies off each other in the air.

Melatonin (Half Asleep, 22nd Dec, $14.99) - Melatonin is a rhythm game about dreams and reality merging together. It uses animations and sound cues to keep you on beat without any intimidating overlays or interfaces. Harmonize through a variety of dreamy levels containing surprising challenges, hand-drawn art, and vibrant music. - Read our Melatonin review

Merge Your Room Extended Edition (Prison Games, 23rd Dec, $11.99) - After a day of fun and games with friends and family, it's time to clean it all up! Find pairs of items scattered around the apartment and merge them, putting them in their places. Every day there are more toys, so finding them becomes even more difficult! Will you manage to collect more of them than your friends?

Neon Souls (Ratalaika Games, 6th Jan, $4.99) - Neon Souls is a fast-paced platformer where you paint invisible platforms with neon ink. Use your parkour skills including jumping, double jumping, wall jumping, and sliding to paint everything around you. The game offers 50 levels of challenge, including 4 enormous bosses to defeat. The challenge gradually builds over time, and your puzzle solving and precision will be put to the test.

Otoko Cross: Pretty Boys Klondike Solitaire (eastasiasoft, 26th Dec, $6.99) - Saucy card games aren’t just for pretty girls anymore. The boys take the spotlight with a brand-new take on classic solitaire in Otoko Cross: Pretty Boys Klondike Solitaire, a card game where cute male characters will challenge you with increasingly strict rules and dress up in daring feminine attire as you win them over! Butlers become maids, cowboys appear as cowgirls, doctors dress as nurses and more! It’s crossdressing fanservice fun exploring the “otokonoko” subculture of Japan, featuring five original characters to meet and adore.

Pancake Bar Tycoon Premium Edition (Baltoro Games, 6th Jan, $5.99) - Do you like pancakes? Enjoy their taste? Do you want to make them yourself? Well... why not give it a try? Let's make one right away! Scoop up some pancake batter and drizzle it on a frying pan. Watch as it turns golden brown. Add some ingredients – syrup, fruit, whipping cream... Don't forget a thing! When you get everything ready... serve! That's it!

Pid Deluxe Edition (RedDeerGames, 2nd Jan, $19.19) - Pid is a platforming puzzle game set in an unfamiliar land, full of unique enemies and unlikely allies. One of which is the force of gravity! Play alone or along with a friend. Sink into the calming soundtrack and enjoy the easy to understand gameplay of Pid. The only way to win is through cracking all of the puzzles which will not be easy.

Pixel Boy – Lost in the Castle (AppsGears, 2nd Jan, $11.99) - Pixel Boy: Lost in the Castle is a classic 2D pixel art game similar to games from the 80's. The mission is simple: Move the red box to the target and find a way out! Creative thinking and problem solving is more than necessary to solve all levels. But do not worry! If you get stuck, you can always use the golden crown to skip a level.

Pixel Family Fun (RedDeerGames, 26th Dec, $19.99) -It's nothing like a classic coloring book. This game is all about taking your mind off things, following the numbers and filling each pixel with the right color. Immerse yourself in the gameplay loop. Choose your theme and enjoy the creative process. Don't forget that every pixel matters.

Pixel Game Maker Series Pearl Vs Grey (Gotcha Gotcha, 5th Jan, $7.99) - Story Pearl and Gray find a treasure map. The two rivals compete with each other. . . Take control of Gray and clear 100 stages to reach the treasure first! Game System An easy-to-learn puzzle action game with lots of variety! Collect key items and open the door in puzzle stages. Face off against Pearl in battle stages! Controls Left/Right: Move Up/Down: Move up/down ladders B: Jump X: Hook shot (when held in inventory) +: Pause R & +: Game menu (Volume and language settings) The "Pixel Game Maker Series" is a series of games created using the action game creation software "Pixel Game Maker MV" that can be enjoyed on the Nintendo Switch™.

Quest Hunter: Deluxe Edition (2 Zombie Games, 2nd Jan, $37.99) - Includes Quest Hunter game and Strangewood DLC. Quest Hunter is an isometric action-RPG where your choice drives the story. Find tons of treasures and secrets, solve puzzles, equip your character, level up your skills and finish off enemy bosses. Play on the couch, alone or with friends, or make it an online party for up to four players! Strangewood is a story addition to Quest Hunter. Explore new locations, fight with new enemies, solve puzzles with new mechanics. Level up new skills and get new weapons and equipment.

Risk your life to get your dinner back -Nyanzou action game- (AlignmentSharp, 22nd Dec, $1.00) - Nyanzou is hungry after playing a lot today. I came home to eat dinner. However, dinner was robbed by the "Dinner Stealers" who are planning to conquer the world. Go Nyanzou! Stop the ambitions of the "Dinner Stealers" and eat dinner! This Nyanzou game series is a jump action. Let's clear all 3 stages by skillfully operating Nyanzou who won't stop once he starts running.

Scrap Riders (Microids, 9th Jan, $19.99) - Scrap Riders is a pixel art adventure game set in a futuristic cyberpunk universe. You are Rast, a member of the outlaw biker gang called the Scrap Riders. Fight your way through the wastelands and large corporate-controlled metropolises. Embody this smuggler with a caustic sense of humor to survive in this post-apocalyptic world...

Slots Royale: 777 Casino Games (T-Bull, 5th Jan, $9.99) - Bet, Spin, Win! In Slots Royale, everyone has a chance to win. Various slots you can draw will increase your winnings! Test your skills in different settings: Pirate Slot, Bonus Slot, Modern Slot, Donuts Slot, and many more! Show who's in charge here, the slot machine will allow you to get rich and gain exceptional fame. This place suits you perfectly!

Super Puzzle Pack 2 (Mindscape, 26th Dec, $29.99) - Experience six unique puzzle types in one pack stacked with more than 800 different puzzles. Challenge yourself with a wide variety of puzzles and various difficulty levels. If you are playing solo or with friends and family, Super Puzzle Pack 2 offers hours and hours of fun. From challenging match 3 games to colorful and challenging puzzles, Super Puzzle Pack 2 has it all!

Syndrome Ultimate Edition (RedDeerGames, 2nd Jan, $24.19) - Along the base game, you also get access to the Soundtrack DLC. In space, no one can hear you scream. EXCEPT FOR THE MONSTERS. Something from the abyss of space is kidnapping and killing the crew of the ship. And it doesn't stop hunting. The enemies are strong and they outnumber you. Unfortunately, sooner or later you will have to face them. Remember that ammunition is not easy to obtain… Strange things start happening. Will you trust the voice in your mind? Explore the dark corridors of Valkenburg and discover the mystery behind the disappearance of your crewmates.

Tumbleweed Destiny (KIMIDORI SOFT, 5th Jan, $2.99) - Why do tumbleweeds tumble? Where are the best tumbling fields? What lies beyond the tumbled. . . ? "Hey, do you want to tumble with me? " Game overview: The game system is similar to a clicker game. The difference from clickers is that you do not earn points by clicking, but by tumbling weed and breaking cacti. Operate tumbleweeds and explore the wilderness. Through their adventures, they grow, learn new truths, meet new friends, and experience a variety of things. Tumbleweeds earn TP (Tumble points) by moving. Use the TP you earn to gain abilities and increase your TP even more efficiently. Feature: Online multiplayer: Up to 16 players can play together. There are quick matches and friend matches, both of which you are free to enter and exit at any time. In Quick Match, soaps from all over the world are trying to reach the soap holder at their own pace. In Friend Match, you can easily play with specific friends only by using one keyword.

World War Battle Heroes Field Armies Call of Prison Duty Simulator (VG, 5th Jan, $4.99) - A game in which you can get acquainted with the hardships faced by soldiers in the world war. Being in the role of a strategic general, you will be instructed by type: blow up the strategic reserves of opponents, destroy enemy aircraft, artillery, radio towers, and also help your allies in killing the enemy general. You will be given more than 10 types of weapons to choose from, including grenades and the possibility of hand-to-hand combat. The ability to select up to three weapons in the in-game overlay, as well as the choice of hand-to-hand combat. The third-person view gives you more enjoyable control of the main character. The shop will allow you to buy everything you need to complete the game, from buying new weapons to buying additional first-aid kits or grenades. A variety of locations will allow your eyes not to get bored, as well as a convenient and understandable inventory.

WRC Generations (Nacon, 26th Dec, $39.99) - 2022 will see the WRC transition to the hybrid era. This is a revolution for the rally world, significantly affecting performance, changing strategies and making drivers and teams adapt. In terms of gameplay, new mechanics have been integrated to represent the demands of the hybrid engines. In order to win, you have to carefully manage your battery by adapting your engine mapping throughout the special stages you take part in. As community satisfaction is always a priority, you can now share customised livery and stickers with other players. The best creations will be rewarded and highlighted. For fans of competition, the new Leagues mode lets players challenge opponents with a similar level online. Finish ahead of your competitors to move up the ladder in the Legends category. - Read our WRC Generations review

Zombie Survival (Cooking And, 22nd Dec, $3.99) - When an apocalypse begins, making the right decisions is crucial to survive. Choose between 4 different characters and discover their stories throughout this terrifying game. Be careful, all the decisions you make will have consequences. Keep a cool mind and get all 4 protagonists to survive to the end of their story You will find up to 20 alternative endings!

So that's your lot for this week's North American Nintendo Download. Go on, be a sport and drop a vote in the poll above, and comment below with your hot picks!