All of the indie games announced at the Nintendo Indie World Showcase

Nintendo’s Switch has always been somewhat of a haven for indies. Despite it’s shoddy eShop interface, software sales have been generally strong for software from smaller development teams as the console’s audience looks for interesting things to play between landmark releases from the Big N.

Since the launch of the hybrid console, the first question most players tend to ask developers of a new indie game on any platform has been “when is it coming to Switch?” —so it’s no surprise that the Japanese company has started to give Nintendo indie games their own spotlight Directs, now known as Indie World Showcases.

Here are the biggest releases from the smallest teams that Nintendo chose to put the spotlight on as a part of their August 11, 2021 showcase video.

Bomb Rush Cyberfunk

A spiritual successor to Jet Grind Radio and Jet Set Radio Future, this cel-shaded skating adventure is a timed console exclusive for the Nintendo Switch. The game features brand new songs by Hideki Naganuma, which we think will be pretty sweet.

 

Toem: A Photo Adventure

Something We Made’s quirky adventure game involves going around and talking to interesting people that need you to photograph stuff around the Scandanavian countryside. It should be out alongside other indie games on Nintendo Switch before the end of the year.

 

Loop Hero

Previously a PC exclusive, Loop Hero is a card game RPG where you craft the world around an adventurer and try to keep him alive. This one was one of the biggest indie games of the start of the year, so it’s nice to see it get exposed to a new audience on consoles.

 

FAR: Changing Tides

Okomotive’s sequel to FAR: Lone Sails is a 2.5D adventure platformer set in a post-apocalyptic world. Unlike the first game, this one has an almost meditative focus on water and exploring the ocean, a feat aided by a new boat that replaces the giant tank from the original.

 

Necrobarista: Final Pour

Necrobarista is a visual novel game with an anime-ish art direction. It explores both coffee culture and people’s attitudes to death. We’ve not played the original version, but we hear that there’s also necromancy involved. This is a Director’s Cut, so probably still worth a look even if you played the original.

 

Garden Story

Garden Story is a game that reminds us a lot of the Game Boy Advance, though we do wonder if that’s just because of its stunning visuals. It’s a bit of a town sim, and a bit like 2D Zelda, from what we can gather. It surprised everyone with a same-day-as-the-event shadow drop, which means that it’s out now, and we’re eager to get our hands on it.

We mentioned this one in our Games Like Stardew Valley feature, if you’re interested in learning more.

 

Boyfriend Dungeon

Kitfox Games definitely thought outside the box with Boyfriend Dungeon, a game that sometimes is an isometric hack-and-slash like Bastion and other times is a visual novel where you hit on different types of anime boys that can turn into weapons. It was released the day of the Indie World Showcase event and is also on Xbox Game Pass, if you’ve got a PC, an Xbox or have an xcloud enabled smartphone.

 

Axiom Verge 2

The eagerly anticipated search-action game Axiom Verge 2 showed off a new trailer and surprised everyone with the reveal that it was actually coming out that day. This is probably a good move, as it means gamers will play it before Nintendo’s own Metroid Dread can steal it’s thunder later on in the year.

 

Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeon

This puzzle game from Yacht Club Games takes 10 characters from the Shovel Knight universe and puts them into what looks like a game somewhere between Mr Driller and Puzzle League (also known as Panel de Pon and Tetris Attack). Sadly, it seems like the multiplayer mode won’t have online play.

 

Islanders: Console Edition

This game has you develop an island in a SimCity sort of way. It’s focus on islands means that it’s well suited to short game sessions. This version finally breaks it free of the shackles of PC exclusivity and lets you play it on whatever console you’d like.

 

Metal Slug Tactics

MS Tactics turns the classic run-and-gun SNK shooter franchise into a turn-based strategy game like Advance Wars or Tiny Metal. It looks and sounds very pretty and we very much appreciate the attempt to do something new with the Metal Slug franchise.

 

Tetris Effect Connected

This enhanced version of Tetris Connected from Tetsuya Mizuguchi was a launch title for Xbox Series X/S. It’s one of the best versions of Tetris, and we suggest you play it in a dark room with the screen pretty close to your face for the maximum effect. That said, our opinion may not match that of your optometrist and we take no responsibility for if you choose to listen to us.

You can currently also play this one on Xbox Game Pass, though it may end up leaving soon because it’s been on there a while.

 

Astroneer

Space exploration game Astroneer comes to Nintendo Switch, with all of the base building and resource gathering that comes with it. This one is pretty fun, so if the port is decent then a lot of people will probably play it on Nintendo’s hybrid console.

 

Hundred Days – Winemaking Simulator

This is a sim game where you run a vineyard and make wine. It seems like a good way to spend most of a lazy sunday. Probably with a glass of red wine, for maximum immersion.

 

Slime Rancher: Plortable Edition

This is a port of Slime Rancher with a cheeky title. In Slime Rancher you raise slimes (like the ones from RPGs like Dragon Quest) and collect their plorts (… basically poop) to improve your ranch and it’s equipment. It’s more fun than it sounds, with a satisfying gameplay loop and feeling of overall progression.

 

Lumbearjack

In Lumbearjack you’re a cute bear with an axe. Sold.

 

Curious Expedition 2

CE2 is an adventure game that was previously a PC exclusive. It is mostly notable for its art style that reminds us of old comics and children’s activity books like Where’s Wally. It has a heavy focus on narrative, with roguelike elements that change things every time you do a new run through the 19th century fantasy adventure.

 

Gang Beasts

This game is fairly old, but remains a multiplayer staple for many people. It’s a wrestling game where everyone looks a bit like they’re made out of playdough and half of the fun is in it’s loosey-goosey controls. It’s nice to see it come to the Nintendo Switch, though we’re not sure if there’s anyone left that likes indie games who doesn’t just own it already.

 

Eastward

Eastward is the newest game with gorgeous pixel art from Chucklefish. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, the action RPG with dungeon puzzles tells the story of a man named John that finds a young girl in an underground facility. It will be a timed exclusive for the Nintendo Switch when it releases on September 16, 2021.

 

Which of these Nintendo Indie World announcements got you most excited? Let us know in the comments section below.