Before you ask, no there wasn’t any Hollow Knight Silksong. But yesterday’s Indie World Showcase was still filled with more than enough exciting games that Switch owners can look forward to in the coming months. Missed out or looking for a recap? You can check out the full show, or scroll down to see everything announced during the Nintendo Indie World Showcase on April 19th
Mineko’s Night Market
- Releases: September 26
Help a cute, cat-loving village prepare for its weekly night market by in this heartwarming story packed with Japanese folklore. Explore an island and solve puzzles as you uncover more about the town’s former worship of a cat deity. Also, you can take part in cat races – a terrible idea in real life, but great in video games!
My Time at Sandrock
- Releases: Summer
The followup to My Time at Portia is another life-sim game which unfolds at a relaxing pace. The story this time takes place in a post-apocalyptic desert town. Your aim will be to reclaim the sands and restore the town to its former glory. Building options and customization have been expanded, but you’ll also need to contend with wacky monsters that have taken an unwanted interest in your burgeoning community.
PlateUp!
- Releases: October
A roguelike co-op cooking game, PlateUp! Understandably draws immediate comparisons with Ghost Town Games’ sublime Overcooked series. Frantic service is also on the menu here, but you’ll also have the opportunity to adjust, customize, and decorate your restaurant’s layout to maximize both efficiency and style. It supports four-player co-op both locally and online.
Quilts and Cats of Calico
- Releases: Fall
The delightfully themed board game Calico makes the digital jump this year. Create quilts and aim for high scores as you place down patterned hexes to meet different criteria. It’s a relaxing concept, but if the digital release is anything like the physical game, expect plenty of brain-straining decisions as you attempt to perfect your quilt. The digital version includes cute cats that’ll pad over your board and look for strokes. You can even customize them with different styles and outfits. Local and online play will be available, as well as online matchmaking against random players.
Rift of the NecroDancer
- Releases: 2023
A new rhythm game spinoff from the Cult of the NecroDancer games. Rhythmic battles and WarioWare-style minigames await as you fight your way to fierce boss battles in its new lane-based combat.
A Little to the Left / Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon / Cult of the Lamb DLC
A selection of games had new DLC content announcements during the showcase. A Little to the Left: Cupboards & Drawers DLC brings more arrangement puzzles. Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon Puzzler’s Pack introduces two new characters, quandary puzzles, and more in a free update this spring. Cult of the Lamb: Relics of the Old Faith promises dozens of new items, new buildings to make, and new versions of the bishop bosses to battle.
Animal Well
- Releases: Winter
Delve into a dark labyrinth in this pixel-art Metroidvania game from solo development studio Shared Memories. It promises a deep level of exploration, with the freedom to venture as you will through inventive use of the many items you’ll discover.
Crime O’Clock
- Releases: June 30
Time traveling detective work in a point-and-click adventure? Yes please. Investigating different ages within a universe, your job is to pan across complex maps to identify the culprits of different crimes. Be warned though, changes you make in one era might affect the others! The concept looks highly similar to the MicroMacro board games.
Teslagrad 2
- Releases: Now!
Every good showcase comes with a surprise release or two, and here’s a Teslagrad sequel to fill the spot. It promises more puzzle-platforming via electromagnetic Teslamancer powers. It arrives alongside a remaster of the original. Both can be picked up in a bundle.
Shadows Over Loathing
- Releases: Now!
Stick figure adventures return in the next title from West of Loathing developer Asymmetric. It’s an open-world adventure through a city with an eldritch underbelly and shadowy plots involving governments and mobsters. A physical release is on the way this fall.
Blasphemous 2
- Releases: Summer
One of the surprise big announcements of the show was the reveal of Blasphemous 2. The trailer teased more gothic action platforming and brutally tough fight, and a new selection of weapons to use.
Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals
- Releases: July 12
And finally, developer Night School Studio announced the long awaited release date for Oxenfree sequel, Lost Signals. Mysterious radio signals are being detected near the town of Camena, and investigating them may lead you on a mysterious journey between realms.
Those are all the major announcements from from the Nintendo Indie World Showcase on April 19! Which game was your favorite? Nintendo closed the show with a sizzle reel of other titles including Bomb Rush Cyberfunk’s August 18th release date and confirmation that Escape Academy, Chants of Sennaar, Paper Trail, Brotato, and Little Kitty, Big City are on their way to Switch. All of those mini trailers can be found on the Nintendo YouTube channel
