The Best Black Friday 2023 Nintendo Switch eShop Sales – TouchArcade

Hello, friends. It’s that time of the year again. The most magical of times, when over two thousand Nintendo Switch games get discounts on the eShop that make them very hard to resist. Unless you’re enormously wealthy, you’re going to have to make some hard choices. We here at TouchArcade Towers have decided to help you out with your purchasing decisions by once again presenting what we think are the twenty best pick-ups to grab from this enormous Cyber Deals event. A curated list for you to dig through and take into consideration. These are in no particular order, naturally. Let’s get to those Black Friday eShop sales!

Kirby and the Forgotten Land ($41.99 from $59.99)

I can genuinely say that I have rarely had such a good time playing a game from start to finish as I did with Kirby and the Forgotten Land. It put a grin on my face from the start, and it kept me happily engaged to the very last drop. Then I pulled my son in and we played through everything again in multiplayer. It’s one of the better Kirby games, and deserves a place of honor among the upper canon of Nintendo Switch titles. If you haven’t picked it up yet, this is a perfect time to do so. A little holiday Kirby never hurt anyone.

Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster ($34.99 from $49.99)

If your first experience with Monolith Soft was through the Xenoblade series, then you may have missed out on a pair of sleeper GameCube RPGs from the developer. Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster gives you both Baten Kaitos and its prequel Baten Kaitos Origins in one package, with some nice quality of life features to make them go down a little smoother. When this set launched it had a few issues here and there, but subsequent patches have squashed most of the bugs. RPG fans have a lot of choices right now on the Switch, but don’t overlook this pair of under-the-radar classics.

COCOON ($19.99 from $24.99)

How do you follow up the likes of LIMBO and INSIDE? Apparently by blowing the both of them away with one of the most superb puzzle games we’ve seen come along in quite some time. This is one of those games where it’s best to go in cold, so I won’t spoil too much here. Suffice it to say that if you enjoy the puzzle adventure genre, you’ll want to get in on this one as soon as possible.

Bayonetta Origins: Cereza & the Lost Demon ($41.99 from $59.99)

Despite the combat being a bit repetitive, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a highly enjoyable experience on the whole. The presentation is distinct and fantastically-realized, the story is well-written and genuinely interesting, and the moment-to-moment gameplay is solid. Action-heads looking for their next challenge aren’t going to get what they’re after here, but both fans of adventure games and the Bayonetta characters and world should be more than satisfied. I think it’s a lot more appealing at a sale price, where its experimental nature will likely be more easily forgiven.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening ($41.99 from $59.99)

This is one of the most beloved games in the Zelda series, given an intriguing face lift while remaining rather faithful to the original version mechanically. If you haven’t played it before, this is a great way to experience it for the first time. It has a very different mood from the original, but I absolute love how it looks. The core game is as great as ever, and while some of the additions don’t do a whole lot for the overall experience, I truly believe there’s something valuable in having a slightly different spin on this all-time classic.

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition ($41.99 from $59.99)

This is an outstanding RPG that has almost 100 hours of content to offer for those who want to absorb it all. If you like RPGs and haven’t played this one before, I recommend you do that little thing. The new Future Connected epilogue can be jumped right into without replaying the main story and offers a solid ten or so hours that fans of the original game will not be unhappy with. I rather doubt we’ll be seeing another kick at this particular game for a while, so it’s quite fortunate that its claims of being definitive largely hold water.

Fire Emblem Engage ($41.99 from $59.99)

Fire Emblem Engage is a more single-minded entry in the series than we’ve seen in a while. A lot of the things people may have loved about Three Houses don’t return here, and the battles are left to carry the load. The more focused design is by choice and I respect that, but I wish it didn’t mean the characters and story had to be as diminished as they are. It’s fortunate that the battle mechanics ratchet things up this time, with the new Emblem system and the returning weapon triangle adding compelling strategic layers. Fans of the tactical aspect at the core of Fire Emblem will find a lot to like, if nothing else.

Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society ($29.99 from $49.99)

This one is a little harder to get into than some of the other RPGs in this list, but I have to include it here because I truly enjoyed my time with it. Despite its difficulty in explaining its complex systems, Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society is a fantastic RPG that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre. Its systems are immensely satisfying to learn, its labyrinth floors a treat to explore, its encounters challenging and interesting, and the story is outstanding. It is, to an extent, a game that gives back the more you put in, but the patient player will find a bounty of rewards here for their efforts.

Minecraft Legends ($19.99 from $39.99)

It’s safe to say that this one didn’t exactly blow the doors off for a lot of players, but I think at a reduced price Minecraft Legends has a lot more to offer. It’s a more simplified take on the real-time strategy genre, and I think people who are unfamiliar with the genre or those who love Minecraft a lot will find plenty of charm in this game. Hardcore strategy fans will probably bounce off it hard, but I believe it serves its niche well. Finding out whether or not you are part of the niche is now only twenty dollars.

Grindstone ($7.99 from $19.99)

Grindstone has been one of the shining stars of Apple Arcade, appealing to casual and core players alike. One of the issues I’ve run into with Apple Arcade games outside of the service is that it feels hard to justify the cost of buying them, particularly when you are maintaining your sub as-is. Grindstone is worth twenty bucks, but you know what? It’s even more worth eight bucks. This game offers all the fun of a slick matching puzzle game without all of the annoying free-to-play cruft that plagues the genre across the board these days. And if you pick it up here, it’s yours to keep.

Solar Ash ($23.99 from $39.99)

Something of a spiritual successor to Hyper Light Drifter, Solar Ash finally made its way to the Nintendo Switch a couple of months ago. There are some sacrifices to the visuals compared to other versions, but it plays just as well as it ever did. It’s a very curious game, and it perhaps lacks the more immediate appeal of its predecessor, but if you’re the sort of person that can appreciate ambitious, unusual games then you very well might find your new jam here. It’s a little easier to take a chance on at this deep discount, so if you’re curious then give it a shot while it’s affordable to do so.

Super Mario Odyssey ($39.99 from $59.99)

Super Mario Odyssey brought back the exploration style of 3D Mario that had been absent since Super Mario Sunshine, and it really went for it. The result is a game that almost feels like it has too much stuffed into it at times. Its presentation is top-shelf, its level designs creative and fun, and the amount of tricks and secrets to learn is staggering. Another one of those games that should be in any Switch owner’s library, and a dream come true for Mario fans. If you only have one Mario game on Switch, this is the one to own.

DUSK ($13.99 from $19.99)

DUSK is an amazingly authentic ode to the old kings of the genre, and it’s as fiendishly fun as it is filled with carnage. This Switch port is virtually flawless, allowing you to enjoy this game in a pure, uncompromised form. I’m always skeptical of recommendations about this sort of game, as I often find they don’t quite measure up in one way or another. DUSK? It had me from hello and kept me all the way through to the bitter end. Then I started it up all over again just to have another ride on this ridiculous roller coaster.

Tales of Symphonia Remastered ($23.99 from $39.99)

Tales of Symphonia is an RPG near and dear to the hearts of many Nintendo fans thanks to it making such a splash on the GameCube back in the day. I wish I could say this remaster is the one such a beloved game deserves, but to say that this one came in a bit hot is an understatement. It’s had some patches since then that have addressed the worst problems, but it’s still not where it really ought to be. But what is difficult to forgive at full price is a lot easier to overlook at nearly half the price, and that may be all you need to appreciate the admittedly rusty charms of this reissue.

Persona 3 Portable & Persona 4 Golden Bundle ($23.69 from $39.49)

Even with all the sacrifices Persona 3 Portable makes, it’s still a great RPG. Challenging, compelling gameplay mechanics combined with a strong story and a fantastic soundtrack make it an easy pick-up for fans of the genre and series alike. Meanwhile, Persona 4 Golden is shining its absolute brightest in this Switch port, and it was already a truly brilliant game that any fan of the genre should play. The fact that you can get a pair of RPGs this great for such a low price is wild, and they’re well-worth adding to your collection.

Sonic Superstars ($41.99 from $59.99)

Take Sonic Superstars as a single-player Sonic, and you’ve got a fairly agreeable game that occasionally hits some very real highs but also stumbles over a few fences on the way. It feels a little over-designed at times and the limp soundtrack is a real disappointment. The multiplayer side of it is a total swing and miss, in my opinion. If Sonic Superstars was meant to reinvent 2D Sonic, I think it missed the mark. But it’s a good, solid entry in a series that is always in need of such, and that counts for a lot. I think this star shines a little brighter at this sale price than it does at its usual cost.

The Lara Croft Collection ($19.99 from $24.99)

The Lara Croft Collection brings two excellent games to the Switch in superb form. Only the lack of online multiplayer keeps me from climbing up the nearest mountain and shouting about these, but I’ll gladly scamper up a hill and give a solid yell. If you’ve never played these games before, you really should. And this just happens to be a fantastic way to do so. Whether exploring alone or pulling a friend or three along, you’ll have an awesome time with this scorching duo of games.

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails ($29.99 from $39.99)

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails is a fast-paced action-RPG with plenty of pick-up-and-play appeal, and one that fans of the genre won’t want to miss. The writing is sharp, the characters are interesting, the action is hot, and the boss battles are excellent. Fans of the middle era of Ys games in particular will want to put this at the front of their wishlist, as it does a great job of capturing the spirit of those feisty affairs.

Red Dead Redemption ($34.99 from $49.99)

One of the criticisms that the release of Red Dead Redemption on the Switch most commonly received is that it’s just a fairly direct port of Red Dead Redemption at very near to the price of a brand-new game. If that was your feeling, then maybe you’ll find it a better pick-up at this nice price. The thing is, even a direct port of Red Dead Redemption is still one of the coolest open world games on the platform, and there’s really nothing else quite like it thematically on Switch. If you haven’t played it before, this is a fine way to do it. If you have… well, this is a way to enjoy it on the go, if nothing else.

TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge Bundle ($22.25 from $29.68)

Take one of my favorite beat-em-ups of this generation and combine it with some radical DLC and you’ve got a gnarly bundle no fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles should be without. It’s a fantastic value at full price, but why not save seven bucks while you can and put it towards your pizza funds? After all, nothing goes better with the heroes in a half-shell than a slice or two of pepperoni pizza. Go ahead, be ten years old again for an evening. I won’t tell anyone.

Naturally, there are many other games on sale right now on the Nintendo Switch eShop. If you’ve had your eye on any particular games, it might behoove you to pop onto the eShop and see if they’re also on sale. Happy shopping everyone, and as always, thanks for reading!