Switch Weekly - No Direct, yet.

Hello, issue #286 of Switch Weekly here, with your Nintendo round-up.

This week has been manic for anyone who covers games, with countless digital presentations to watch and report on. In fact, I've kinda lost count of how many showcases, trailers and sizzle reels that have been hosted this week. However, there is one notable absentee: Nintendo.

Yup, we still (at time of writing) don't have any hint of a Direct announcement from the big N. For context, last year's "E3" Direct (for lack of a better term) took place on June 15th. Maybe Nintendo will go without this year? I mean, they are skipping Gamescom too - typically where they show European press what they revealed at E3. Could them skipping Gamescom be a hint that we shouldn't expect a typical June Direct. I sure hope I'm wrong, and I hope they announce one real soon (there's speculation of course, and Arlo has shared their hopes and dreams nonetheless). But hey, it's weird to watch everyone else make a song and dance about what's coming next, and for Nintendo to be silent.  

In other news Mario Strikers is out now. I opted to skip on picking this one up. The demo didn't grasp me, and the early reviews seemed to suggest it was similar to how the Golf and Tennis games launched — generally a bit lacking. More of this in the issue, including a video from me. (You are subbed to me on YouTube right?) Did you pick it up? I'd love to know how you like it — just hit reply to this email and I'll read it.

Next week sees just over 25 games come to Switch, including the new Turtles game. Full list is below as ever. However, I'll add that there may well be a bunch of shadow drops in the week ahead, so maybe expect more than what's listed?

Big thanks for reading, and hopefully catch you next time post-Direct. 🤞

Cheers,  
Chris

🎮 Currently Playing — Cuphead, Mini Motorways

Monday, June 13

• Jumanji: The Curse Returns — What year is it? Multiplayer party board game.

Tuesday, June 14

• The Hand of Merlin — Turn-based rogue-lite RPG in which Arthurian legend clashes with cosmic horror.

Wednesday, June 15

• Later Daters Premium — Octogenarian romance game, with bonus extras.
• Ye Olde Cribbage Club: A Later Daters Game — Play the card game with seniors.
• Thunder Kid II: Null Mission — A 3D run ‘n’ gun action game controlled from behind the main character — I like the low poly look.
• Dadish 3 — Arcade platformer featuring a radish.

Thursday, June 16

• ⭐️ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge — A new Turtles beat ’em up. Looks radical. Support for up-to six players.
• Overlord: Escape from Nazarick — Dark fantasy parkour action.
• Lines Universe — Budget-friendly numberlink puzzles. 500 to solve here.
• Crazy Chicken Xtreme — Arcade shooter with lots of poultry.
• Autonauts — Farming sim with a sci-fi angle.
• ⭐️ Neon White — Lightning fast first-person action game with a real distinctive vibe, all about exterminating demons.
• Perfect Gold: The Alchemy of Happiness — A short, coming-of-age visual novel.
• Horgihugh and Friends — 16-bit horizontal side-scrolling shooter with animals.
• Zorro the Chronicles — 3D action adventure based on the TV show.
• Neko Secret Room — Puzzler about hacking a computer to see 'certain' images. M for mature.
• Around the World — Hidden object puzzler, and also a great Daft Punk track.
• ⭐️ Cloud Gardens — A chill garden sim/dystopian landscape builder/puzzle game.
• Time Rift — An abstract looking fast-paced 'security' action-puzzle game.

Friday, June 17

• Final Vendetta — 'Hard-hitting' action packed beat ‘em up for 1 or 2 players in the vein of classic arcade titles. Nice pixel art here.
• Oxide Room 104 — Body-horror escape room. M for mature.
• Barn Finders — Search for valubles in old barns. 3D. M for mature.
• Plunder Dungeons — Card-collecting and monster bashing.
• Tales of Aravorn: Seasons of the Wolf — Fantasy RPG that can also be played as a visual novel.