Nintendo has had an on-again-off-again relationship with indie support on their platforms. Game systems like the N64 and WiiU were often harder to develop for a variety of reasons. Luckily. Nintendo’s current generation console, the Switch, has found a home for many indie developers. Sometimes nicknamed “Nindies”, these titles are from smaller studios, but they represent a large selection of the title available on the Nintendo Switch. Nintendo has its flagship “Nintendo Directs” where they discuss first-party titles and hardware, and they also have “Indie World” presentations. Today, an Indie World presentation was broadcasted and we have a list of what to expect for indie titles on the Nintendo Switch in the next year or so.
Road 96
The presentation started off with a look at Road 96. This game presents you with a number of options to select, and each decision will lead out down a different path. The developers said they wanted the game to be modeled after road movies, and it seems to play like a point-and-click/visual novel type of adventure. This title will be releasing in late 2021.
Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield
A second game was announced with a very different art style and control mechanics: Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield. This is a free runner with parkour action movies. What stands out the most in this title is the soundtrack. Funky hip-hop beats lay the foundation for what should be a memorable soundtrack. Aerial_Knight’s Never Yield is set to release on May 19th, and a demo will be available later today on the eShop.
New Annapurna Games
Annapurna is the publisher of some very memorable titles like Donut County, What Remains of Edith Finch and Florence. They have announced two new titles that are releasing on Switch this year — Last Stop and Hindsight. A quick trailer was shown for each of these games, with the former set to come out July 2021, and the other sometime later on in 2021.
OlliOlli World
This is the newest entry to a series that began on the Playstation Vita in 2014. OlliOlli World is an action platformer skateboarding game, chock full of characters, side quests and interesting environments to keep you skateboarding. The game will be released on Nintendo Switch during winter 2021.
The Longing
As the last servant waiting for your king to return, your task in this game is to wait 400 days. The concept for this game is one that is not new, but it is explored in a different way. This game has a wonderful art style for what was shown in the trailer. It is available today on the Nintendo eShop.
There Is No Game
Yes, the title of this game is There Is No Game. It is a point-and-click experimental project that should keep you guessing until the end. There Is No Game will be released on the Nintendo eShop later today.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge
This game was announced on March 10th, but the Indie World presentation gave us the opportunity to see some gameplay and a full trailer. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge is being developed by the same studio responsible for Streets of Rage 4. They are hoping to honor the classic Beat-em-ups in the style like Turtles In Time, while also adding a contemporary flair to this new entry. The newest TMNT game should be available to play on Switch later this year.
Cris Tales
Indie Ranger has covered this title in the past, but in today’s Indie World Showcase, we were given a solid release date. This love letter to classic RPGs was delayed out of last year’s projected release window. We are happy to see that Cris Tales will be available this summer, on July 20th, for the Nintendo Switch.
GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon
With Japanese-inspired esthetics, you can hack-and-slash your way through battles in GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon. Use a wide range of weapons to hone your skills against a variety of monsters and bosses in this rogue-like adventure. GetsuFumaDen is set to released on the Nintendo Switch sometime next year.
Aztech Forgotten Gods
This game looks very similar to Immortals Fenyx Rising, but with a new age Azetch theme. From the trailer, it seems to be an open-world experience, with multiple ways of traveling the beautiful landscape on offer. Your fight against the deities in Aztech Forgotten Gods begins in the Fall of 2021.
Skul: The Hero Slayer
If you have had enough of the same action story where the protagonist sets out to defeat the bad guy, this game might be a refreshing twist on that classic. In Skul, you play as the King’s henchman in a 2D roguelike where you are tasked with saving the King from his captor, the hero. You will have to home your skills and abilities in Skul by switching heads to activate your powers. Sounds interesting? Check out our review here. Skul: The Hero Slayer is set to come out this summer on the Switch.
One Last Thing – Oxenfree II: Lost Signals
Nintendo loves to add one last thing to any digital presentation they put out. The trailer was very mysterious, and it featured a character using a compass to create a portal above a waterfall. The game featured is Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, a sequel to the popular Oxenfree game for a release sometime this year.
Nintendo also mentioned that a sale will be occurring on select indie titles on the eShop until April 25th. If you have been waiting to fill out your Nindies library, now might be a great time to do so.
Lastly, Nintendo also mentioned a number of indie games coming to Switch soon:
- Art of Rally
- KeyWe
- Labyrinth City: Pierre The Maze Detective
- Weaving Tides
- House of the Dead Remake
- Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights
- Beasts of Maravilla Island
- FEZ
You can check out the full Indie World Presentation here.
Annie is a seasoned journalist with a passion for indie games. In the early 1990’s, Annie received an original Nintendo GameBoy with a copy of Tetris for Christmas. This is where the love of video games began. It seemed a natural fit to start writing about these games someday. She has always had a way with written words – she often wrote short stories as a child just for fun. She has written news articles and published reviews since 2005 at her university newspaper and she is thrilled to continue the fun at Indie Ranger.
As the News Editor at Indie Ranger, Annie is dedicated to covering the latest developments, trends, and releases within the independent gaming scene. Her keen editorial eye ensures that only the most exciting and noteworthy stories make it to the forefront, providing readers with insightful analysis and engaging content.
With a finger on the pulse of the indie gaming community, Annie is known for her ability to spot emerging talent and highlight innovative projects that might otherwise go unnoticed. Her commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in gaming shines through in her coverage, amplifying the voices of underrepresented developers and advocating for a more inclusive gaming landscape.
Annie’s favorite types of games are JRPGs, cozy games, strategy games and puzzle games.
