Switch Weekly - Fire Emblem is engaging

Web version · Unsubscribe

Issue #‍316 | January 22, 2023 · I bought those GameCube JoyCon

Hello, Chris here with issue #316 of Switch Weekly — your Nintendo update.

The big release this past week was Fire Emblem Engage, and it seems to have reviewed rather well. There seems to be plenty of consensus on the welcome changes to the combat systems, and generally more compelling turn-based gameplay. I've linked a review in the issue below.

As for next week, there's just under 30 games hitting the Switch — the full list is below for you as ever.

Thanks for reading.

Cheers,
Chris ✌️

REVIEW Fire Emblem Engage: Tactical genius with plenty of spirit — "it’s hard to imagine this fantastical tale won’t be included in game of the year talks later in 2023".

James Daly // Gaming Bible

▶ 25 upcoming Nintendo Switch games to look forward to in 2023

Nintendo Life // YouTube

Nintendo Switch successor due out in 2024, according to Nikkei

Alberto Garrido // Gamereactor

In its 7th year, Nintendo is reportedly planning to increase Switch production

Tom Ivan // VGC

▶ Has Switch run out of steam - Does it need a next-gen successor? — A good discussion on the current issues Nintendo's hybrid is facing in terms of ports, suggesting that the base level at which third-party developers are now looking to work at cross-platform has moved beyond the Switch.

Digital Foundry // YouTube

Switch topped US console unit sales in 2022 as wider industry sales declined 5%

Tom Ivan // VGC

REVIEW Persona 3 Portable — "probably the best game in the Persona series, even if it feels a little dated at times".

Oliver Brandt // Vooks

Persona 3 Portable's female protagonist is a misogynistic relic of its time

Jade King // The Gamer

REVIEW Persona 4 Golden — "a thoroughly enjoyable and engrossing RPG. [..] Although its visuals might be a bit dated, the gameplay and story presented here do more than enough to justify the purchase".

Mitch Vogel // Nintendo Life

▶ nOS — Nintendo Operating System — What if you could use your Switch as a personal computer? That's what 'nOS' from Red Deer Games is offering. Looks fun — the sorta thing I think I woulda loved when I was kid. It's out next week.

Red Deer Games // YouTube

Gulikit's 'Hall Joystick' promises to eliminate drifing for your Switch Joy-Con — Very curious to try these "no drift" sticks.

Ollie Reynolds // Nintendo Life

REVIEW A Space for the Unbound review – Indonesian school adventure has a fantastical twist — "demonstrates a flair for the dramatic and will keep you guessing right up to the end". Joe DeVader at Nintendo World Report calls it a "must play for those that enjoy getting an emotional experience from their games".

Lewis Packwood // The Guardian

REVIEW NeverAwake

Kayleigh Partleton // Pocket Tactics

No Zelda game is closer to Breath of the Wild than the 1986 original

Oli Welsh // Polygon

INTERVIEW Johan Vinet: It never occurred to me that LUNARK could be something else than a cinematic platformer — A chat with Johan Vinet, creator of the upcoming cinematic platformer LUNARK.

Bartek Wanot // Nindyki

The case for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope DLC to bring back the Yoshis

Gozie Ibekwe // Game Rant

Wahoo! Single-player Mario is pretty boring

Kayleigh Partleton // Pocket Tactics

🎮 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

Sat

Demolish & Build Classic — A 3D open-world construction/demolition game.
Magic Klondike — Card game, but with a rather nice aesthetic.

Tue

Right and Down — A roguelike dungeon crawler card game that is played with only two buttons — I'll let you guess which.

Wed

⭐️ Clunky Hero — A story-driven Metroidvania with a touch of RPG and hack n'slash gameplay.
Grammarian Ltd — An educational game set in 2099 where you must communicate with correct grammar, or else.
Sissa's Path — Budget spacial puzzler featuring a cat and yarn.
Sunwards — A fantasy 3D action adventure game. (Jan 26 in U.S.)
The Excavation of Hob's Barrow — An English folklore point and click adventure with puzzles. M for mature.
Velone — Intricate mechanical puzzles to solve using logical thinking.

Thu

7 Ways to End with You — A puzzle game in which you have to learn an unknown language.
Bike Clash — A 3D mountain biking racing game with local multiplayer.
Cubic Light — A budget minimalistic puzzle game in which you play with light and colour.
Ginnung — Looks like a fast-paced, tight controlling 2D platforming game.
Japanese Escape Games: The Room with Sturdy Door — But just how sturdy? Mystery adventure game.
Mars Base — What if Stardew Valley was on Mars?
⭐️ OddBallers — This looks like a fun dodgeball-themed party game.
Onion Assault — An old school platformer from the creator of Gunman Clive and Mechstermination Force.
Pixelbot Extreme — A side-scrolling 2D shoot 'em up with a colour coded mechanic.
Poker Legends: Omaha Champions — Card game sim.
Startup Company: Console Edition — A strategy/sim game about running a startup company.
Uphill Rush Water Park Racing — Some sorta water park arcade surfing game.
Wonderland Nights: White Rabbit's Diary — A visual novel set in the world of Alice in Wonderland.
Yeah! Fighting Girl — An arena fighting game with roguelike elements.
Zodiacats — Budget puzzles and astrology fun.

Fri

⭐️ Atone: Heart of the Elder Tree — Nordic lore narrative 2D adventure.
Dance of Death: Du Lac and Fey — An award-winning mystery game set in Victorian London.
Farming Life — It's a farming sim.
⭐️ nOS: new Operating System — I just think this is a fun idea, and something I would have loved when I was like, 8.

⚡️ Quick Links

Could a Nintendogs game be coming to mobile? A patent suggests as much.
Playing Fire Emblem Engage? Here are some tips and tricks to get you started.
Fun fact: Over 10% of the French population own a Nintendo Switch.
The Goodnewsletter is the daily email designed to leave you feeling more hopeful and better equipped to do more good. #Ad
Ok, there are still things about Breath of the Wild you probably don't know.
Here's a speedrun from AGDQ with someone completing Breath of the Wild in under 30 minutes.
If you could ask thousands of Switch owners and Nintendo fans a question, what would it be?
I pre-ordered a set of those GameCube style Joy-Con from NYXI.
An early Donkey Kong design doc from Miyamoto showcases 'Popeye' origin.
ICYMI: This story on the Switch's "sad" 2023, and this post on Donkey Kong 64 proved popular in last week's issue.

💌 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, Pobble, TomNinetyTwo, 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.

Key phrases

US console unit sales REVIEW Fire Emblem Engage wider industry sales Indonesian school adventure Red Deer Games Nintendo Operating System Nintendo World Report compelling turnbased gameplay No Zelda game upcoming cinematic platformer Nintendo Switch successor

Older messages

I want these GameCube Joy-Con already

Friday, January 20, 2023

Web version · Unsubscribe Switch Weekly Issue #‍315 | January 15, 2023 · Time to engage with Persona ports Hey, issue #315 of Switch Weekly here with your Nintendo update. Many thanks to those of you

Your Nintendo Update

Monday, January 9, 2023

Web version · Unsubscribe Switch Weekly Issue #‍314 | January 8, 2023 · Engaged Emblem Hello, Chris here with issue #314 of Switch Weekly — your Nintendo update. Hope you had a great weekend. It feels

Predicting Nintendo's 2023

Sunday, January 1, 2023

Web version · Unsubscribe Switch Weekly Issue #‍313 | January 1, 2023 · Zelda is out this year 💚 Hey, Chris back in your inbox with the very first issue of Switch Weekly for 2023 — here again for

Your Nintendo Update

Sunday, December 18, 2022

Web version · Unsubscribe Switch Weekly Issue #‍312 | December 18, 2022 · Toot time Hello, issue #312 of Switch Weekly here with your Nintendo update. I hope you're well. This marks the last issue

Awards, Movie Clips, and Mario Tracks

Sunday, December 11, 2022

Web version · Unsubscribe Switch Weekly Issue #‍311 | December 11, 2022 · A trip to Merry Mountain Hey, here's issue #311 of Switch Weekly, your Nintendo update. This week saw the return of The

NYU Online Film & TV Course