Nintendo held a 22 minute Nintendo Direct this morning to show off 20 different indie games that will all (tentatively) be released by the end of 2018. There were some pretty big games shown, but as is natural with a smorgasbord of indie titles, there’s gonna be some weird cheese in the mix. Here’s every game shown off at the Nindies Summer Showcase, from the biggest to the ones we had to watch the stream again to comprehend.
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes
Suda 51 and Grasshopper Manufacture return again for a third No More Heroes, coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch in 2018. Seven years have passed since the original No More Heroes, and Bad Girl’s father, The Bat, is seeking revenge on Travis Touchdown for the death of his daughter. The two get sucked into a phantom game console, the Death Drive Mark 2. They have to fight through 6 different games inside the console, and defeat each respective boss to escape. Using Unreal Engine 4, Travis Strikes Back will combine classic Suda 51 style gameplay with other indie collaborations, like one with Devolver Digital and the Hotline Miami series.
Super Meatboy Forever
Super Meatboy and Bandage Girl are back for more punishment in Super Meatboy Forever. Their daughter, Nugget, has been stolen by Dr. Fetus, and the two go on a deadly sidescrolling platform adventure to get her back. So far only announced for the Switch, the long awaited sequel will release some time in 2018.
Shovel Knight: King of Cards
Shovel Knight: King of Cards is fourth and final campaign in the Shovel Knight Series. Following Plague of Shadows and Specter of Torment, King of Cards allows the player to assume the role of King Knight over the course of four worlds and 30 new courses. These boss campaigns were part of Shovel Knights’ super successful Kickstarter stretch goals, which started back in 2013. You can pick up this sidescrolling action-platformer for the Switch in early 2018.
Morphies Law
Morphies Law is one of the more ridiculous games showcased at the Nindies Summer Showcase. It’s a “body morphology driven 3D shooter.” Unpacking that description, the player participates in a competitive mode where, after shooting a body part of an opponent, that part shrinks on the opponent, but grows on the player. Make a lot of head shots? Your head’s gonna be massive. Butt shots? Get ready to have some cake. The more successful you are, the bigger your avatar becomes, making you an easier target. Inversely, if you aren’t having much luck, you’ll be much smaller, not only making you a harder target to hit, but you’ll be able to fit into spaces large players are unable to go.
Each team has a massive body off in the distance that gets bigger the more body mass the team gains. Whichever team has the biggest body in the end wins. Oh, also, every character has a sugar skull design and everything adheres to a traditional Mexican aesthetic. What’s not to love? Morphies Law is coming to the Switch this winter.
Steamworld Dig 2
The direct sequel to 2013’s Steamworld Dig, SD2 is a 2D platform action-adventure game by Image & Form. It’s a Metroidvania-style game, where Dorothy the mining robot digs deeper and deeper into the earth, uncovering power ups that will allow her to reach previously inaccessible locations. It will release on September 21st on the Nintendo Switch, and a few days later the PC and PS4.
Mulaka
Mulaka is a 3D action adventure game made by Liendo, and it’s coming to the Switch in 2018. It features combat, puzzle solving, and animal transformations where players can assume the form of bears, eagles, and more. Set in Northern Mexico, the game follows the Tarahumara indigenous culture and uses their rich history and mythologies to set up a unique gaming experience. Mulaka is also set to hit the PC, Xbox One and PS4 some time this year.
Golf Story
Golf Story is a sprite-based, golf-centric role-playing game made by SideBarGames, and it’s coming exclusively to the Switch this September. We don’t really know much about it, but it seems jolly as all heck, and looks like Stardew Valley and Tiger Woods had an illegitimate child. Sign us up.
Battle Chef Brigade
Do you love the Food Network? How about hand drawn art styles? Side-scrolling combo-based action RPG’s? Well, do we have good news for you! Adult Swim Games and Trinket Studios have thrown these random ingredients into a pot, and it seems like they didn’t go overboard with the truffle oil. Using ingredients obtained while playing through levels, the player can improve three characters by cooking meals to buff them up. It’s coming to the Switch, PS4, and Steam Holiday 2017.
Polybridge
Polybridge! It’s available on every possible machine, from mobile phones to PCs to toaster ovens (probably). And now it’s coming to the Nintendo Switch this Holiday season. It’s a bridge-building, physics based puzzle game, and what’s better than being able to play it on the go (with legitimate, tactile controls)? Nothing, that’s what.
Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition
Kentucky Route Zero is coming to the Nintendo Switch in early 2018 with all five acts available. KRZ is a “magical realist indie episodic point and click adventure game” that came out back in 2013 with its first episode. This fifth episode is yet to be released on any system, and Switch owners will be able to play through the entire series uninterrupted on the go.
Wulver Blade
Wulver Blade is a 90’s arcade style beat ‘em up game that depicts real people and places from ancient Britain. Its cartoon style is complemented by up to two player cooperative play. It will release on the Switch, as well as PS4, Xbox One, and Steam, this September.
Nine Parchments
Nine Parchments is a four player, local and online cooperative “blast ‘em up” game. Developed by Frozenbyte, the game takes place in the world of the Trine series and includes high fantasy elements like wizards, magical creatures, and more. This top-down adventure is coming to the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC this holiday.
Light Fingers
Light Fingers is a 3D, dice-based board-game-style title from Numismatic games. It features procedurally generated game boards that are built around a circular center that you and multiple friends can play on. Light Fingers is coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch in 2018.
Yono and the Celestial Elephant
Huh. Yono is an isometric, puzzle-platformer that is too adorable for human eyes. We’re also not entirely sure why anyone decided to have it star a tiny elephant, but bless them for it. It’s coming to the Nintendo Switch and PC on October 12th.
Earth Atlantis
Earth Atlantis is a pencil-drawn style, monochromatic sidescroller in which the player pilots a submarine, taking down aquatic monsters and creatures of the deep. It began as a Steam Greenlight game, and now it’s headed to the Switch this Fall.
Next Up Hero
Next Up Hero is a “community driven online action game” where dead players can be revived and used as AI companions. It’s an isometric action game featuring nine different characters. It’s coming to Steam this year, and the Switch, Xbox One, and PS4 in early 2018.
Dragon Marked For Death
A side-scrolling action RPG, Dragon Marked For Death can be played single player, or with up to three friends online. It looks a bit like a classic PS1 side scroller, and it’s coming exclusively to the Nintendo Switch this Winter.
Floor Kids
It’s a breakdancing game, and we have no idea how it works. Looks cool, though. And it has a soundtrack from Kid Kohala (whoever that is).
Sausage Sports Club
What.
Mom Hid My Game
Um… Mom Hid My Game is a… puzzle solving game? Maybe? In it, your mom hid your handheld console, and you have to break things around the house to find it. We think. I mean, we’ve all been there before. Here’s late-game footage of it running on an iPhone. We still have no idea what’s going on.
And that’s it for the Nindies Summer Showcase 2017. There was a lot packed into a 22 minute window, and almost all of it looked like a decent way to spend your time at home or on the go.
Which games are you most excited about? Are you mad we snubbed something you love? Do you know what the heck is going on in Mom Hid My Game? Let us know in the comments. And for all your gaming news, reviews, and more, stay tuned to The Game Fanatics.
