Best of Switch Indies – 09 Jan 2022

With 35+ new releases on the Nintendo Switch eShop last week, you’d be forgiven for thinking things were returning to normal after the holidays. However, the number of quality games was still relatively low in comparison. With that said, I did still find 3 games that are more than deserving of being added to my Best Of Switch indies list.

Crumble

Released: 04 January 2022

Price: AU$22.99 / US$14.99 / GB£14.99 + 20% additional launch discount (which has sadly ended by the time of publishing)

Genre: Platformer / Action / Adventure

Developer: Brute Force

Publisher: Brute Force

Crumble is a dynamic physics platformer where you move as a slime, bounce like a ball, and swing like Spider-Man.

“Move as a slime” if slimes weren’t slow.

Why this excites me

Crumble is a game that every 3D Sonic game wishes it were. If you thought he was the Blue Blur, wait until you see Crumble’s slime ball in action!

This frantically paced, 3D platforming game sees you traverse levels at breakneck speed as they crumble around you while utilising your stretchy, sticky tongue to lache around like a globular Ninja Warrior.

I love that the level design isn’t completely linear. With a quick flick of your tongue, you may be able to continue your journey on a different plane if you accidentally fall off, or you might accidentally attach to a firing cannonball and fly off into oblivion. Either/or.

Heaven Dust 2

Released: 06 January 2022

Price: AU$22.50 / US$14.99 / GB£13.49 + 10% additional launch discount

Genre: Adventure / Shooter / Puzzle / Action

Developer: One Gruel Studio

Publisher: indienova

Deep inside the mysterious First Research Centre institute, you wake from your cryogenic pod to find yourself trapped in a living hell, surrounded by zombies once again.

Why this excites me

The first Heaven Dust was a cult-classic, low-budget survival horror game, which appealed to the crowd of the first Resident Evil games, albeit being more puzzly in nature.

The sequel promises a higher production value, twice the content, evolved combat and inventory systems, more monsters, a better plot and multiple endings. That sounds like what every good sequel should be!

I can’t wait to join Steve in this isometric survival puzzler and pump a few zombies full of lead! For Carl… Coral… Carrrl.

Theatre of Sorrows

Released: 06 January 2022

Price: AU$15.00 / US$6.99 / GB£8.99 + 30% additional launch discount

Genre: Adventure / RPG

Developer: Cat-astrophe Games

Publisher: Ultimate Games

When a dark cult abducts his sibling, Eileen, there’s nothing Killian can do but comply with their demands. So to save her, he travels to the mysterious island of Esha—a place forgotten even by the gods.

Go on a deadly journey and dive into Esha’s dark secrets through a Lovecraftian rogue-lite with a branching narrative and resource management.

Why this excites me

With 136 games published and many sadly being quite forgettable, Ultimate Games rarely live up to their name. However, they have a few gems in their repertoire, and Theatre of Sorrows is one.

Playing out like a tabletop RPG, visual novel adventure game, every run through Esha’s procedurally generated map and randomised events allows you to experience something new every time.

As you scavenge throughout the world, you’ll find new outfits, and craft and equip talismans to help survive against the 20 unique monsters.

And with 5 different endings, the choices you make throughout the game have consequences and ensure replayability.

Each of the 3 games featured here are very different, so hopefully, there’s something that takes your fancy. But if not, check out my complete Best Switch indies list because there’s a large New Year sale on the eShop right now, so you’ll no doubt be able to grab an excellent bargain.

Read last week’s round-up

Read my round-up of the best, underrated indies on the Nintendo Switch of 2021