An all new track is coming to Mario Kart 8

Web version · Unsubscribe

Issue #‍293 | July 31, 2022 · Blushy Crushy

Hello, Chris here with this week's Nintendo round-up.

I'm a little late writing this week's edition as I've spent the last few hours watching England win the Women's Euros. 🤩

Anyway, last week's big release was Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and oh boy did this one review well. I've shared a fair few Xeno-related links in the issue below, including my own review round-up. I gotta tell ya, I've never dipped me toe into the Xenoblade universe, but the praise here is making me want to check things out... it's just such a massive time commitment though (with some saying you can get 140+ hours out of Monolith Soft's latest), and that's what is making me hold back — I just know I wouldn't be able to give it the time it needs.

The other notable bit of news: extra Mario Kart tracks! More on this below, but yes, the second wave is only a few days away. That makes it around four months between the first and second wave for those keeping tabs.

Next week we've got just over 20 games landing on the Switch, including one from publisher Annapurna Interactive.

Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you have a great week.

Cheers,
Chris ✌️

🎮 Currently Playing: Into the Breach, Mini Motorways

REVIEW Xenobalde Chronicles 3 gave me emotional damage — "While I enjoyed exploring the world and mechanics of Xenoblade 3, the story is what stuck with me. [..] When Xenoblade Chronicles 3 wasn’t bringing a smile to my face, it was breaking my heart over and over again. There’s no doubt this will go down as one of the year’s best JRPGs.".

Hayes Madsen // Inverse

▶ What the reviews say about Xenoblade Chronicles 3 — I take a look at the critical consensus from over a half-dozen reviews, bringing you the choice quotes from each.

Switch Weekly // YouTube

▶ Xenoblade Chronicles 3: The Digital Foundry tech review — The usual excellent analysis by the DF team — they also ponder on just what tech seen here may potentially be spotted in the BotW sequel (which developer Monolith Soft are helping out on).

Digital Foundry // YouTube

▶ What lore you need to know before playing Xenoblade 3 (from someone who's already finished it) — Going in fresh on XC3? This half-hour guide from John Rairdin runs through what you need to know.

Nintendo World Report // YouTube

Wave 2 of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s DLC tracks comes out next week — Eight additional tracks are landing in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Thursday, including an all new course — here's a video from me running through each one and what you need to know.

Chris Scullion // VGC

REVIEW Arsonist Heaven shows why retro-style devs should do their homework — For a budget release, I thought this one had some potential — this review says otherwise: "Arsonist Heaven is not good.".

Pete Davison // Rice Digital

REVIEW Citizen Sleeper’s first DLC recontextualizes the RPG’s tough decisions

Nicole Clark // Polygon

REVIEW Train Valley

Rachel Poli // Pure Nintendo

Nintendo Switch manufacturing partner reports supply chain struggles

James Batchelor // gamesindustry

Square Enix’s HD-2D style lets classic games be themselves

Oli Welsh // Polygon

The 10 best card-based games on the Nintendo Switch

Jom Elauria // Screen Rant

Did Nintendo make a mistake discontinuing the Game Boy?

Cameron Eittreim // SUPERJUMP

▶ How Mini Motorways quickly scratches that city builder itch — This game has been out on the Switch for a few months now, but I finally took some time to quickly share my thoughts on this addictive endurance puzzler. What "starts as an almost zen-like experience and evolves to be a tricky, and eventually stressful game of real-time plate spinning".

Switch Weekly // YouTube

🎮 Upcoming Releases

All releases are digital, Europe & U.S. unless otherwise stated.
Release data sourced in collaboration with Switch Scores.

⭐️ = Ones to Watch · 📦 = Physical release · 🎮 = Demo available

Mon

Hot Lap League: Deluxe Edition — Arcade 3D racing ala TrackMania. (Already available in U.S.)
Wavecade — Arcade shooter with a 80s sci-fi aesthetic (looks a bit Geometry Wars to me).
Kells — Lemmings-esque puzzler with over 100 levels and a gravity mechanic.
Viki Spotter: Megapolis — Spot the difference puzzler for kids.
Fightro — 2D arcade fighting game - single player.

Tue

📦 Frogun — Fun looking 3D adventure platformer featuring a frog-shaped grapple hook. Also getting a physical release.
Pure Crosswords — I'll let you guess what this one is. (Aug 3rd in U.S.)

Wed

⭐️ South of the Circle — An 'emotional narrative experience' set in Cold War Antartica.

Thu

Massage Freaks — Work out the kinks in this rhythm game. M for mature.
Gale of Windoria — RPG that looks visually similar in style to Chrono Trigger.
Kokoro Clover Season 1 — 2D platformer based on 'Japanese Sunday morning anime'.
Japanese Escape Games: The Retro House — Another escape-room mystery, this time in an old house.
⭐️ Hindsight — Annapurna Interactive are publishing this one. Narrative exploration puzzler in which physcial object are a window to the past. Interesting concept.
After Wave: Downfall — 3D arcade shooter set on a battleship. Has local co-op.
Roll the Cat — A spatial logic puzzle game in which you roll cats about. (Aug 5th in U.S.)
QUByte Classics: Thunderbolt Collection by Piko — Compilation of two vertically-scrolling shoot 'em ups from the 90s Thunderbolt series.

Fri

Sofiya and the Ancient Clan — 2D side-scrolling action platformer about a witch. M for mature.
90" Soccer — Top down arcade football, with multiplayer and online.
Toy Soldiers HD — Not the 1991 film, but a spruced up Xbox Live Arcade game from 2010.

⚡️ Quick Links

You can finally send friend requests from the Nintendo Switch Online app.
Kenichi Okuma, a composer behind several tracks for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, has passed away at the age of 56.
The delayed Minecraft amiibo (Steve and Alex) are launching in September.
The excellent Grindstone has a free Cosmic Darkside update, and it's out now.
Wanna drive a bus? You can give it a go in this sim game coming in October.
Watch me explain what tracks are coming to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe next week.
The Sample sends you an article from a random blog or newsletter that matches up with your interests. #Ad
Huh. The Switch version of Catan is losing its online multiplayer...
The creator of Metroid II fan remake AM2R shares what they liked about Dread.
A Switch Sports datamine has revealed its upcoming unlockable costumes.
Monolith Soft actually had real flutes made to create a unique sound for XC3.
This crafty DIY Mario Odyssey miniature turns trash into treasure.

Switch Weekly remains both accessible and sustainable thanks to the ongoing support of my amazing patrons, including:
PC, CapnGoat, SB, FrozenTrout, JR, MindFad, Greg, Michael Fairley, Chris D, Andrew E, and others — why not join them?

Curated by Chris Brandrick

Support Switch Weekly on Patreon

Switch Weekly is sent once weekly. Unsubscribe if you're no longer interested.

This newsletter may contain affiliate links, which help keep the newsletter sustainable.

🌳 In an effort to offset the carbon of sending this newsletter a tree is planted for every issue sent.

Older messages

Live A Live A Switch

Sunday, July 24, 2022

Web version · Unsubscribe Switch Weekly Issue #‍292 | July 24, 2022 · Melting Hi, I'm back with another issue of Switch Weekly — your friendly Nintendo update. There's over 20 games coming to

Kirby goes Fall Guys, Bayonetta 3 dated

Sunday, July 17, 2022

Web version · Unsubscribe Switch Weekly Issue #‍291 · July 17, 2022 · Witching season Hi, Chris here with issue #291 of Switch Weekly — your Nintendo update. So, who needs a Direct? After last

Ink on the OLED

Sunday, July 10, 2022

Web version · Unsubscribe Switch Weekly Issue #‍290 · July 10, 2022 · Ink on the OLED Hey, Chris here with issue #290 of Switch Weekly — sporting a fresh new look. I hope you've had a great week.

Persona finally comes to Switch (properly), plus Nintendo's Joy-Con repair subscription

Sunday, July 3, 2022

Your Nintendo digest for the week ending July 03. Candid size. Web version | Unsubscribe Switch Weekly Issue 289— July 03, 2022 Persona 5 Royal Hey, Chris here with issue #289 of Switch Weekly. How are

Your Nintendo Update

Sunday, June 26, 2022

Your Nintendo digest for the week ending June 26. We call 'em Autumn Chaps over here. Web version | Unsubscribe Switch Weekly Issue 288— June 26, 2022 Fire Emblem Warriors Three Hopes Hi, Chris

breaking through the noise

Monday, August 15, 2022

Trapital Memo: how older music popularity impacts newer artists ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

GOP Senate Campaign Arm Is Pulling Ads in Three Key Races; How Does One Song Have 24 Writers?

Monday, August 15, 2022

View on web New reader? Subscribe August 15, 2022 Politics News GOP Senate Campaign Arm Is Pulling Ads in Three Key Races Blake Masters in Arizona, Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania, and Ron Johnson in

Here Are All the Hot 100 Records That Drake Has (And Hasn't) Broken

Monday, August 15, 2022

View on web Subscribe The Daily Monday, August 15 Chart Beat,Music Here Are All the Hot 100 Records That Drake Has (And Hasn't) Broken Thanks to his new collab with DJ Khaled and Lil Baby, he

How Karina Longworth Brought Sex and Sleaze Back to Hollywood History

Monday, August 15, 2022

View on web New reader? Subscribe August 15, 2022 Culture Features How Karina Longworth Brought Sex and Sleaze Back to Hollywood History Chasing golden-age ghosts and Los Angeles' forgotten secrets

The Metaverse is Already Here, on Spotify; Airtel Floats Wynk Studio to Monetize Indie Music; Kirby 30th Anniversary Music Festival to Stream Online

Monday, August 15, 2022

View online The Metaverse is already here, on Spotify The Metaverse is already here, on Spotify It's the tiny things you miss the most, the things you take for granted until they're gone and

Jon Hassell

Monday, August 15, 2022

Good morning. Today we're listening to Jon Hassell, an American trumpet player and composer from Memphis. Hassell studied music composition in New York and Cologne, learning from avant-garde

Nintendo share Splatoon 3 details, plus is Switch piracy on the up?

Monday, August 15, 2022

Web version · Unsubscribe Switch Weekly Issue #‍295 | August 14, 2022 · Big Man Hello, Chris here with issue #295 of Switch Weekly. Lots of Splatoon details this week, thanks to the dedicated Direct (

Trump's Allies Have No Clue How to Respond to Report of Nuclear Docs at Mar-a-Lago

Friday, August 12, 2022

View on web New reader? Subscribe August 12, 2022 Politics News Trump's Allies Have No Clue How to Respond to Report of Nuclear Docs at Mar-a-Lago Republicans in Congress and the conservative media

longevity over everything

Friday, August 12, 2022

Trapital Memo: the strategy behind Post Malone's success ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

100 Weeks of the Billboard Global Charts

Friday, August 12, 2022

View on web Subscribe The Daily Friday, August 12 Chart Beat,Music 100 Weeks of the Billboard Global Charts: The No. 1s A run-down of all the No. 1 songs since the Global 200 and Global Excl. US