‘Pepper Grinder’, ‘Missile Dancer 2’, ‘Open Roads’, Plus Today’s Other Releases and Sales – TouchArcade

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for March 28th, 2024. This… is quite the Thursday for new releases. More than two dozen new games, and surprisingly few of them are bin fodder. That means we have a lot of summaries to go through, and that’s going to be the bulk of today’s article. We also have the usual lists of new and expiring sales, in case you can’t find enough things to blow your cash on in the new release section. Let’s get to those games!

New Releases

Pepper Grinder ($14.99)

It’s hard not to look at this game and think Drill Dozer, but the world just isn’t ready for a follow-up to that game yet. Instead, the developer cites things like Dig Dug and Ecco the Dolphin as sources of inspiration, and having spent some time with it I can say that definitely tracks. The movement in this game is a joy, and your Grinder machine has a lot of tricks up its sleeve to help you solve puzzles and make your way past the many obstacles you’ll encounter. I’ll be reviewing this one very soon, so do look forward to that.

Missile Dancer 2 ($14.99)

If you’re familiar with the first Missile Dancer, this screenshot might be something of a shock to you. Instead of doing another vertical shoot-em-up, developer Terarin decided to try his hand at a Super Scaler-style behind-the-ship shooter. There’s certainly a whiff of After Burner and Galaxy Force about it, but the developer’s love of score chasing also plays heavily into the game. If you miss those old SEGA arcade games and want to try something along similar lines, this is a fine pick-up. I’ll be doing a review of this game as well, but I can already give it an enthusiastic thumbs-up for fans of this type of game.

Outward Definitive Edition ($39.99)

This survival RPG has been through the wringer and back, but the general consensus seems to be that this Definitive Edition sands off just enough of the rough edges to make for a decent experience. Not a great one, but one that some people nevertheless find themselves getting into. It supports two players via online multiplayer, and I would say that those able to take advantage of that are most likely to find the fun in this unusual game.

Open Roads ($19.99)

A short narrative adventure about a family dealing with tragedy, Open Roads follows a mother and daughter as they take a road trip to search for a treasure near the Canadian border. They’ll end up finding a lot more than that along the way, and not all of it might be wanted. Engaging stuff to be sure, but it is very much a short story that is all about relationships, and it might leave some feeling less than satisfied with its brevity and somewhat low stakes. Not for everyone, but maybe for you. Our pal Mikhail is doing a review of this one, so stay tuned for that.

Felix the Cat ($24.99)

Sometimes it’s a mystery as to which classic games make a comeback and why. Felix the Cat is a decent little NES platformer made by Hudson, but not much more than that. You also get the Game Boy version of the game in here, plus the Japanese version of the NES game. They’re all running in Limited Run Games’ Carbon Engine, and if you’ve played any of the other collections or releases using that, you’ll find the presentation and list of features quite familiar here. I’ll be offering up a review of this collection early next week, but if you have happy memories of either of the games included here then I think you’ll find they’ve been done a reasonable amount of justice.

Touch Detective 3 + The Complete Case Files ($39.99)

I feel like the naming on this could be better, but I’m also not sure how I would go about it. This is actually a complete collection of the three mainline Touch Detective games, with the third game being made available in English for the first time. If you haven’t played them before, they’re funny little adventure games with a lot of character to them. Considering all you get here, I think this is a solid pick-up for the price. You know, provided you like mystery games. If you don’t, then I doubt these will be the games to sway you.

Contraptions Collection ($29.99)

While this isn’t classified as a bundle on the eShop, that’s really just what this is. You get all three of the Contraptions puzzle games released on the Switch so far in one handy package. Use the objects you’re given to create a chain reaction and defeat all of the monsters on each level. Mysteriously, this package of the three games costs more than simply buying them individually. If you’re interested in the idea, I therefore really must recommend avoiding this collection and grabbing them a la carte.

Zombiewood: Survival Shooter ($9.99)

That name doesn’t exactly inspire confidence, but this is a Gameloft release so we can at least say it’s not bottom-tier junk. It is, however, an absolutely mindless action game. Use an arsenal of over thirty weapons to take out the undead as you slaughter your way across Los Angeles. There’s a full story mode to play through, and you can even bring along a friend for some local multiplayer zombie-killing entertainment. As you play, you’ll unlock a variety of goofy costumes you can adorn your character in. I could not possibly be more spent on this type of game, but I know that’s a “me” thing. Some of you will have a real blast with it, I’m sure.

Right and Down and Dice ($11.99)

Take Right and Down and add some dice, and that’s pretty much what this is. So yes, you’ve got procedurally-generated card dungeons where you can only go right or down, but this time you’ll resolve encounters by rolling some dice. There are six heroes in total to play, more than a hundred artifacts to equip, and thirty different dungeons to play. If you liked the first game, why not give this one a go?

One Last Breath ($17.99)

Well, humanity finally did the thing. We polluted the Earth so much that we drove ourselves to extinction. There’s no hope for us, but can the world make a comeback? That’s up to you as you play as the last child of Mother Nature in this game. Gaia’s powers might be able to bring the planet back from the brink of destruction, but it’s not going to be an easy road by any means. She’ll have to deal with deadly mutants, tricky hazards, challenging puzzles, and a whole lot more. I’ll be doing a review of this one as soon as I can, but it certainly nails its atmosphere if nothing else.

The World After ($9.99)

A full-motion video adventure game, eh? Well, I know some folks out there are into these. This one is set during a pandemic, following a writer who heads to the countryside to work on his book. He starts having some weird dreams, and he soon finds himself wrapped up a supernatural mystery. A deadly monster called the Nightwatcher is stalking him, and if he can’t find some answers quickly his deadline will be the least of his worries. There are three different endings, and there’s even a full visual novel packed in here as an unlockable bonus.

Stasis: Bone Totem ($19.99)

You wouldn’t generally associate the somewhat relaxed genre of point-and-click adventure games with horror, but the combination has proven compelling in the past and it works here, too. Or so I’m told. As I’ve mentioned many times, I’m a full-on coward when it comes to anything scarier than The Neverending Story. And friend, this game is definitely scarier than The Neverending Story. Reviews have been quite favorable on other platforms, mostly citing its foreboding atmosphere and interesting narrative as its chief strengths. If the premise sounds cool to you, then it’s probably worth investigating this one further.

OTXO ($14.99)

This is a slick top-down shooter with a noir vibe that helps it stand out a bit from the small crowd it’s part of. Think Hotline Miami meets a roguelite with a style and sensibility that calls the John Wick movies to mind. Throw in an excellent soundtrack, and you’ve got a cool action experience all around. It’s been fairly well-received on other platforms, and I’m sure Switch owners will like it just as much.

Cricket 24 ($59.99)

Arguably the finest ongoing cricket simulation on the Nintendo Switch returns with a few new features and improvements. By and large you get a familiar experience, with all the licensed players and teams, a full career mode, cross-platform online play, and more. I know nothing about cricket, so I can’t really speak to how well this captures the sport. But it’s been around for ten years, so it must be reaching the audience to some extent, right? Well, it’s in your hands now.

Arcade Archives Volfied ($7.99)

Ah, this is a fun one. Taito took their enjoyable QIX structure and instead of adding naked ladies to it like everyone else, it added a cool sci-fi aesthetic, weapons, and so on. Volfied is still about trying to capture as much of the screen as possible without getting clipped, but the extra mechanics add a lot of spice to the action. If you like QIX, this is going to be right up your alley.

EGGCONSOLE Xak PC-8801mkIISR ($6.49)

Here’s the latest game release in the EGGCONSOLE line, and it’s a rather obscure one even by the standards of this line-up. It’s an action-RPG that was originally released in 1989 by Micro Cabin, and I don’t think you would be going wrong by calling it a game that is heavily inspired by Ys. Still, it’s not too shabby as that sort of thing goes. Unfortunately, the in-game text is as usual only offered up in Japanese, and unlike with Ys I don’t think English walkthroughs are exactly a dime a dozen. Keep that in mind before buying.

Blind Shot ($4.99)

A turn-based shooter starring a blind commando who is battling zombies for some reason. Certainly unconventional, but those looking for some fancy dining might want to keep looking.

Junior Labyrinth ($9.99)

Up to four players can join in via local multiplayer in this junior version of the board game Labyrinth. This is obviously aimed at the younger set, so parents with age-appropriate little ones might enjoy playing this one together as a family.

Nyanzou & Kumakichi Bomb Cave ($9.80)

Well, that’s just Minesweeper.

Escape Game The Kitty School ($9.99)

Solve the puzzles and make your escape… from the kitty school!

Akatsuki: Lord of the Dawn ($9.99)

A real-time battle RPG, or so its description says. It seems like a cute, fast-paced, light strategy game with RPG mechanics. There are forty-eight different characters to fill your team up with, and ten different formations to line them up in. You won’t just be battling the whole time, as there is also a building component where you’ll develop research and gather resources to beef up your army. I haven’t had a chance to play this yet, but I kind of like the look of it.

Soul Dog TD ($10.99)

Do we need another fairly by-the-numbers tower defense game? Maybe we do. I don’t get to be the judge of that. The main gimmick here is that you need to collect the souls of fallen foes to use as resources, which requires you to deploy the titular soul dog. You’ll be vulnerable while doing that though, so timing is key. You also need to alternate between attacking and training, as only by training will your forces become stronger. If you love the genre, this might be fun.

Monster Panic ($11.99)

Sure, why not another Vampire Survivors-style game? Pile them up, chum.

The Bin Bunch

Hentai Girls: Naughty Gamer ($5.99)

Out Racing: Arcade Memory ($14.99)

NightGhast ($3.49)

Old Coin Pusher Friends 2 ($3.99)

100 Doors – Escape from Prison ($9.99)

Escape Fear: Hide And Seek Horror ($4.99)

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

A few things to point out today. The Hammerwatch games are at their lowest prices since they came out, and so is Double Dragon Gaiden. The latter is getting a free update soon, so this might be the time to buy. In the outbox, Square Enix is finishing up its latest big sale. Lots of good games to consider there, and a few non-Square Enix games you might be interested in too. Check those lists!

Select New Sales

Roller Coaster Tycoon 3: CE ($10.49 from $29.99 until 4/10)
Caveman Ransom ($3.49 from $4.99 until 4/11)
Prisonela DX ($3.49 from $4.99 until 4/11)
Dr. Frank’s Build a Boyfriend ($3.49 from $4.99 until 4/11)
The Adv. of Panzer Legacy Collection ($6.29 from $8.99 until 4/11)
Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break ($2.99 from $29.99 until 4/11)
Gordian Quest ($11.99 from $19.99 until 4/11)
Paleo Pines ($20.99 from $29.99 until 4/11)
Hammerwatch Anniversary Ed. ($13.99 from $19.99 until 4/11)
Hammerwatch II ($17.49 from $24.99 until 4/11)
Cris Tales ($3.99 from $49.99 until 4/11)
Double Dragon Gaiden: RotD ($14.99 from $24.99 until 4/11)
Afterimage ($14.99 from $24.99 until 4/11)
Lost Words: Beyond the Page ($1.99 from $14.99 until 4/11)
Override 2: SML ($2.99 from $29.99 until 4/11)

Moto Roader MC ($3.49 from $6.99 until 4/11)
Gynoug ($3.49 from $6.99 until 4/11)
Aquadine ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/11)
Avenging Spirit ($2.99 from $5.99 until 4/11)
Gleylancer ($3.49 from $6.99 until 4/11)
Rustler ($2.99 from $29.99 until 4/11)
Another World Mahjong Girl ($6.99 from $9.99 until 4/12)
Marble Maid ($3.99 from $9.99 until 4/12)
Crimson Spires ($6.99 from $19.99 until 4/12)
Kingdom of Arcadia ($1.99 from $5.99 until 4/12)
Blazblue Cross Tag Battle ($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/16)
Blazblue Centralfiction SE ($12.49 from $49.99 until 4/16)
Stay Cool, Kobayashi-San! ($1.99 from $13.99 until 4/16)
Torn Away ($12.75 from $15.00 until 4/16)
Sunny Cafe ($13.49 from $14.99 until 4/17)
Final Vendetta ($9.98 from $24.95 until 4/18)
Battle Axe ($7.49 from $29.99 until 4/18)
Clive ‘N’ Wrench ($14.99 from $29.99 until 4/18)
Terraformers ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/18)
IIN ($4.00 from $10.00 until 4/18)
Goroons ($4.00 from $10.00 until 4/18)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, March 29th

Actraiser Renaissance ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/29)
Ball laB II ($2.99 from $4.99 until 3/29)
Betomis ($2.99 from $4.99 until 3/29)
Chrono Cross Radical Dreamers ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/29)
Collection of Mana ($19.99 from $39.99 until 3/29)
Collection of SaGa FFL ($9.99 from $19.99 until 3/29)
Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion ($29.99 from $49.99 until 3/29)
Danmaku Unlimited 3 ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/29)
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince ($40.19 from $59.99 until 3/29)
Dragon Quest Treasures ($35.99 from $59.99 until 3/29)
Escape From Terror City ($4.99 from $9.99 until 3/29)
Excessive Trim ($2.99 from $4.99 until 3/29)
Final Fantasy VII ($6.39 from $15.99 until 3/29)
Growth ($6.69 from $9.99 until 3/29)
Harvestella ($29.99 from $59.99 until 3/29)

Hell Pages ($2.96 from $8.99 until 3/29)
I Am Setsuna ($11.99 from $39.99 until 3/29)
Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest ($40.19 from $59.99 until 3/29)
Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory ($23.99 from $59.99 until 3/29)
Legend of Mana ($14.99 from $29.99 until 3/29)
Let’s Build a Zoo ($8.99 from $19.99 until 3/29)
Let’s Build a Zoo: Ultimate Bundle ($16.99 from $33.99 until 3/29)
Life is Strange 2 ($15.99 from $31.99 until 3/29)
Life is Strange Arcadia Bay Collection ($19.99 from $39.99 until 3/29)
Life is Strange True Colors ($17.99 from $59.99 until 3/29)
Million Shells ($3.00 from $15.00 until 3/29)
Moe Waifu H ($2.49 from $4.99 until 3/29)
Nephenthesys ($4.19 from $5.99 until 3/29)
Oninaki ($14.99 from $49.99 until 3/29)
Paranormasight: 7 Mysteries of Honjo ($11.99 from $19.99 until 3/29)

PowerWash Simulator ($19.99 from $24.99 until 3/29)
Pumpkin Jack ($7.49 from $29.99 until 3/29)
Quintus and the Absent Truth ($3.49 from $9.99 until 3/29)
Rigid Force Redux ($4.99 from $19.99 until 3/29)
Romancing SaGa Minstrel Song Remastered ($17.49 from $24.99 until 3/29)
SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions ($8.99 from $29.99 until 3/29)
Seduction: A Monk’s Fate ($2.79 from $7.99 until 3/29)
Sir Questionnaire ($1.99 from $4.99 until 3/29)
SnowRunner ($19.99 from $39.99 until 3/29)
Star Ocean First Departure R ($6.29 from $20.99 until 3/29)
Star Ocean The Second Story R ($39.99 from $49.99 until 3/29)
Tactics Ogre Reborn ($24.99 from $49.99 until 3/29)
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line ($24.99 from $49.99 until 3/29)
Three Minutes to Eight ($7.49 from $14.99 until 3/29)
Thunder Ray ($8.99 from $14.99 until 3/29)
Tools Up Ultimate Edition ($4.99 from $34.99 until 3/29)
Voice of Cards Trilogy ($34.99 from $49.99 until 3/29)
What The Duck ($1.99 from $19.99 until 3/29)
Xatrom Command ($4.79 from $5.99 until 3/29)

That’s all for today, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow for a lean Good Friday of new releases to close out the week, plus whatever sales and new releases roll in over the next twenty four hours. I’m running late for dinner again, so I’ll just go ahead and sign off now. I hope you all have a thrilling Thursday, and as always, thanks for reading!