A new Indie World Showcase from Nintendo has arrived here at the end of 2023, spotlighting the independent projects headed to the Nintendo Switch. Sorry Silksong fans, today was not your day.
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Despite the noticeable lack of Hollow Knight updates, though, there were quite a few games that caught my eye. This didn’t feel like a big showstopper, but it’s definitely tacked a few more games onto my watch-list. And heck, with a few available today, it’s added onto my increasingly large 2023 backlog.
Here’s all we saw at today’s Indie World Showcase.
All announcements from the November 2023 Nintendo Indie World Showcase
- WayForward is preserving more of Shantae’s legacy with Shantae Advance, an updated version of the lost-in-development GBA game Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution. This layer-shifting, world-spinning adventure is set to arrive in 2024.
- Core Keeper looks to bring some co-op mining and base-building next summer on the Nintendo Switch. It looks fairly in-depth, for those looking to dig into a co-op adventure with friends.
- For something a bit different, On Your Tail blends mystery with card systems, all set in a world full of anthropomorphized animals. Take or leave the art style, but it’s certainly distinct. That’s set to hit Switch in 2024.
- My first big pleasant surprise of the show is Howl, a gorgeous-looking strategy game about a hunter and some wolves. Everything about this seems super interesting, and you don’t need to wait to try it out. Both the full game and a demo of Howl are available on Switch today.
- The Star Named Eos is a photography-driven adventure title arriving in spring 2024. Definitely seems like those that love narrative adventures should keep an eye on this one.
- Space-management roguelike Backpack Hero is heading to the Switch later today. I’ve played the demo of this on PC, and it’s really fun. Definitely one to pick up if you like roguish games or autobattlers.
- Here’s another pleasant surprise: Blade Chimera looks like a ‘Vania fan’s type of game. While the setting is very neon and futuristic, the action reminds me of Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth. Keep an eye out for this in spring 2024.
- I’ll pay attention any time that Inkle’s name is brought up, and A Highland Song is indeed an Inkle project. A story about a girl exploring the Scottish highlands, this certainly has a memorable aesthetic and mood. Look for that to hit Switch on December 5.
- Moonstone Island has just about every genre buzzword you could feasibly smash together: creature collecting, card battles, farming, life-sim, and more. It sounds like a lot to juggle all at once, but hey, if someone can pull it off, it could be special. We’ll find out when Moonstone Island hits Switch in spring 2024.
- Enjoy solving murders? Then Death Trick: Double Blind might be one to watch. This mystery adventure is from some self-professed fans of the genre, and it’s got quite an art style to match its macabre subject matter. It’s due out in 2024, but a demo arrives for Switch later today.
- Outer Wilds: Archaeologist Edition finally sets a date for December 7, with a physical version out in 2024. Do I need to tell you this? Play Outer Wilds. Do it already. Seriously.
- The sizzle reel closes out our show kicks off with a series of trailers and dates:
- Planet of Lana – Spring 2024
- Enjoy the Diner – Later today
- Heavenly Bodies – February 2024
- The Gecko Gods – Spring 2024
- Passpartout 2: The Lost Artist – Later today
- Urban Myth Dissolution Center – 2024
- Braid, Anniversary Edition – Spring 2024
That’s all for today’s show. Not quite a blockbuster, but a good few games that I’m keen on following towards their eventual release dates. Anything catch your eye? Let us know down below.
