Indie Games Explode on Nintendo Switch Offering Cozy Vibes, Adventure, and Curious Cat Mischief

Nintendo unveiled a colorful lineup of games from indie publishers and development partners during a recent Indie World presentation. These titles will be available on the Nintendo Switch family of consoles through 2024.

A release date for the much-anticipated game Little Kitty, Big City—a delightful adventure in which players take control of an inquisitive cat trying to find its way home—was one of the video’s many highlights. The 3D action-platformer Europa, which releases in 2024, will allow players to explore the ruins of a fallen utopia and discover the tale of the last human alive. This summer, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate, a roguelike brawler, will welcome back the beloved heroes in a half shell, who must travel through time to save their mentor Splinter, who has been abducted.

Along with a wide range of unique gaming experiences ranging from cozy to cosmic, the showcase featured titles like Yars Rising, a side-scrolling action-adventure game that follows the popular classic Atari game Yars’ Revenge, and the turn-based tactical shooter SteamWorld Heist II, the newest addition to Thunderful’s popular SteamWorld franchise, which launches on August 8. Another title in the adorable action-RPG series, Cat Quest III, invites players to set sail across the Purribean in search of mythical treasure and launches on August 8.

Double Dagger Studio’s Little Kitty, Big City: As you play as an inquisitive kitten on a charming trip to find your way home, a quiet catnap transforms into a fanciful adventure. Along the journey, there are lots of things to do, like explore the energetic city, finish missions, give other animals a helping hand in sticky circumstances, and make friends with talkative strays. In addition, you can wrangle chaos in a tinier, surprise-filled open-world playground while donning more than forty adorable headgear. On May 9, Little Kitty, Big City will be available on the Nintendo Switch. Preorders go live in the Nintendo eShop later today.
Helder Pinto’s Europa from Future Friends Games and Novadust Entertainment: An android called Zee sets out to discover the solutions to the riddle of a vanished civilization on the moon Europa. Use Zee’s Zephyr jetpack to glide, soar, and boost across breathtaking landscapes filled with lakes, meadows, and mountains in this 3D action-platformer game. Discover the tale of the last human alive as you solve puzzles and avoid hidden hazards amidst the ruins. Later this year, Europa gets released on the Nintendo Switch. Later today, a free demo will be accessible on the Nintendo eShop.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate from Super Evil Megacorp: In their first roguelike adventure, the brave Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles must battle the Foot Clan while navigating reality-bending portals to free their master Splinter, who has been kidnapped. Every level might be different thanks to boss modifiers, randomly assigned power-ups, and altered chamber designs. Spend in-game money on ability-enhancing artifacts to permanently augment and upgrade your Turtle powers. Then, use your enhanced abilities to take on increasingly difficult runs. Take a solo tour of famous New York City spots or play drop-in/drop-out cooperatively online* with up to three other people. This July, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate will launch as a limited-time Nintendo Switch exclusive.
SteamWorld Heist II from Thunderful: In SteamWorld Heist II, the much anticipated follow-up to the critically acclaimed SteamWorld Heist, get ready for an incredible voyage across the ocean. The corrosive waters of SteamWorld are eroding the metal bodies of its robotic inhabitants, indicating that not everything is well on the waves. You will navigate through fierce turn-based gunfights where bullets can ricochet with deadly precision as the leader of a motley crew of Steambots. This time, players can explore a globe map that shows active naval warfare taking place in real time versus opposing ships. A job system with extensive character customization choices is also new for this sequel. When paired with over 150 weapons, utility items, and ship equipment parts, you can carefully assemble your team to best suit the task at hand. On August 8, when SteamWorld Heist II for Nintendo Switch debuts, dive right into the action.
Cat Quest III from The Gentlebros and Kepler Interactive: You’ll take on the role of a daring feline privateer in the adorable, lighthearted action-RPG Cat Quest III, as you sail the Purribean in pursuit of the North Star, a long-lost mythological treasure. But exercise caution! The Pi-rat-King has given the oceans overflowed with Pi-rats who are on a mission to find you. Discover a stunning new environment on your own or in local cooperative play, and engage in intense combat with the recently improved combat system (which now includes weapon swapping and more precise strike combos). Additionally, for the first time in the series, take to the seas in your own ship and engage in combat. On August 8, Cat Quest III for Nintendo Switch will release, giving you the opportunity to explore the Purribean. Later today, the Nintendo eShop will open for preorders. A free demo is also accessible.
Yars Rising from WayForward Technologies and Atari: Yars Rising is a side-scrolling action-adventure game developed by WayForward, the well-known development team behind Shantae and River City Girls. It explores Yars’ Revenge, one of Atari’s most well-known classic titles. Take control of Emi Kimura, a young hacker hired to penetrate the secretive QoTech firm by an unidentified sponsor. Move quickly, leap, hide, and use hacking techniques to defeat waves of robotic and extraterrestrial foes while gradually delving into a convoluted mystery. A number of difficult retro minigames that pay homage to the original Yars’ Revenge are also included in the game. Later this year, Yars Rising will make an appearance on the Nintendo Switch.
Sticky Business from Spellgarden Games and Assemble Entertainment: You manage a sticky shop in the cute business simulation Sticky Business, where you make stickers and send them to clients. You can choose from more than 400 design elements, and for even more alternatives, you can obtain upgrades that include effect foils. As you fulfill each customer’s specific requirements, you get to know them better. In addition, over 100 additional sticker pieces and ten additional customer stories with a journaling theme are included in the Plan With Me paid DLC. Launch your own sticker business in Sticky Business right now! The game and DLC** will only be available for the Nintendo Switch for a limited period of time. Later today, a bundle including the game and DLC will be accessible!
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes from Simogo and Annapurna Interactive: The creators of Sayonara Wild Hearts have created a non-linear puzzle game where a woman is called to take part in a project in an old hotel located in central Europe. However, she is entangled in a series of progressively bizarre and terrifying illusions. With more than 100 carefully designed puzzles with changing mechanics and views, the third-person adventure brings players one step closer to solving the mystery. In Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, which debuts on the Nintendo Switch on May 16 for consoles, everything is a mystery.
stitch. from Lykke Studios: In stitch., solve puzzles of various sizes and difficulties to create lovely embroidered patterns. These puzzles are called Hoops. Finish the Hoops in whatever sequence you choose. They all provide a soothing and tranquil experience, with multiple accessible choices and a helpful hint feature. You can replay a Hoop in Free Stitch mode after finishing it. stich. debuts as a console exclusive on Nintendo Switch later today. The weekly Hoops are inspired by real-life events and full of trivia, while the Daily Shikaku puzzles are challenging and don’t provide any hints.
ANTONBLAST from Summitsphere: In ANTONBLAST, a dynamic action-platformer that blends destructive action with exquisite hand-drawn pixel art, the devil himself has taken your valuable spirit collection, and you’re on a rampage to get it back. You can take on tough bosses and destroy absurd worlds by wielding the Massive Mace as Dynamite Annie or the Mighty Hammer as Dynamite Anton. Break up the landscape to create your own route and discover new places to discover. A detonator will start to count down as soon as you finish each level, so you must quickly return to the beginning to avoid everything blowing up. On November 12, ANTONBLAST, a timed console exclusive, will premiere exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. Get ready for a destructively fantastic time. Later today, a free demo will be accessible on the Nintendo eShop.
Refind Self: The Personality Test Game from Lizardry and PLAYISM: You play as an android in this exploration-based adventure game, created by a doctor who has since passed away. Every choice you make on this trip reveals a bit more about who you are; there are no right or incorrect answers. Discover locations from your past, engage with other characters, and piece together the future your creator had planned for you one little bit at a time. Your personality type will become clear at the conclusion of your adventure. There are 23 personality types to identify, so you can explore and make new decisions with each game to see where they take you. You can also compare your selections and share your findings with other gamers. Refind Self: The Personality Test Game will be available as a limited-time console exclusive for the Nintendo Switch this summer. Play it to discover who you truly are.
Valley Peaks from Tub Club and Those Awesome Guys: In the first-person platformer Valley Peaks, players ascend rocks in a pastel mountain range populated by sly locals. Explore to your heart’s pleasure as the new technician assigned to the peaks, and try to overcome obstacles that appear insurmountable. In between climbing, you can engage in conversation with the froggy people and complete little side missions like completing stamp cards to earn gear. Alternatively, take a seat and unwind while playing minigames and attending to the needs of the people living in the valley. This year, Valley Peaks is ascending onto the Nintendo Switch as the mountains call out to it.

The presentation showed a montage of even more independent games planned for the Nintendo Switch, in addition to the highlighted titles mentioned above:

ANIMAL WELL, a May 9 release action-adventure game that asks players to investigate a complex, networked labyrinth and try to discover all of its many secrets.
Another Crab’s Treasure, where, starting on April 25, you take on the role of a hermit crab attempting to recover your valuable shell in a thrilling treasure quest across a dirty ocean.
SCHiM, a 3D platformer that launches on July 18 and incorporates light and shadow directly into the gameplay.
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami, a narrative experience that will only be available on the Nintendo Switch on May 23. Players will need to utilize their de-duck-tion skills to examine the evidence, fill in the gaps, and refute the case.
BZZZT, a retro-futuristic platformer with a quick speed that will be out in the summer of 2024.

Visit HERE and follow the Indie World X account @IndieWorldNA for the most recent information about independent games on the Nintendo Switch.

You can watch the Indie World Presentation HERE

Nathan Stevens

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I have always enjoyed playing video games and am a programming team lead for a video game company. I co-founded Gaming Cypher because I enjoy the gaming community and would like to provide the best news service around. Feel free to ask me any questions and I will make sure to get back to you quickly.