SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘Super Smash Bros.’ Celebrates the 2010s, Plus ‘Doki Doki Literature Club’ and Today’s Other New Releases and Sales

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for June 30th, 2021. In today’s article, we’ve got a little morsel of news to look at related to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Also, Kazuya is now available in Smash through the latest update, so go get him if you want him. As for new releases, there are quite a number of them today. Rather surprising to see so many on a Wednesday, really. We’ve got summaries of all of them for you to look at, like always. Finally, we’ve got the lists of new and expiring sales for you to take a good look at. Let’s get to work!

News

Celebrate the 2010s in This Week’s ‘Super Smash Bros.’ Event

Remember the 2010s? It feels like it was just two years ago. Pretty rough decade, and expectations were high on the 2020s improving matters. Ah, youthful naivety. Oh well. The latest Super Smash Bros. Ultimate weekend event is a tournament dedicated to characters, stages, and items from games that released in the 2010s. Minecraft, Splatoon, Xenoblade 2, and Persona 5 are featured among others. The event will kick off on Friday as usual and run for three days.

New Releases

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus ($14.99)

SwitchArcade Highlight!

Given this game’s notoriety, I probably don’t need to say this, but just in case: this is not the fluffy school-themed dating sim/visual novel it appears to be. It goes hard to the paint on psychological horror. That’s the warning. Anyway, it’s Doki Doki Literature Club! Now on your Nintendo Switch! How does it handle that one thing? You know, that part? I can’t say yet, but I will be able to explain a little more in my review early next week. This game really stuck with people in its original form, even those who aren’t normally into this genre. I expect it to have a similar effect on Switch players.

Merrily Perrily ($4.99)

This is a rather odd top-down adventure game of sorts about a hapless fellow named Perry who seems to wander from one troublesome situation to the next. It’s a brief game, but there are six different endings to seek out. It’s quite amusing, somewhat challenging at first, and full of so many bees. So very many bees. It’s good for a laugh but once you’ve got the hang of how it all works you’ll be finished with it very quickly. Worth five bucks if you’re looking for something unusual today.

Moto Rider GO: Highway Traffic ($8.99)

Take to the highway on actual licensed motorcycles as you dodge through traffic in a first-person viewpoint. You can upgrade your bike and other parameters as you play through four locations, racing down highways, the interstate, and even the autobahn. The races are endless, so you’re just meant to last as long as you can. Frankly, I’m impressed they actually got the licenses for some real bikes. It’s at least one way it differentiates itself from similar efforts.

A Tale of Synapse: The Chaos Theories ($17.99)

This puzzle-platformer puts you in control of Sci and Nero, two unusual heroes. Travel through forty-eight levels set across four different worlds, using logic and mathematics to solve puzzles and defeat the enemies you see along the way. There’s a really nice sense of style to the presentation, which is the most immediately striking thing about it. I haven’t had a chance to dig into the game yet, so I can’t speak to the quality of the gameplay at this point. If I find it to be anything particularly special, I’ll let you all know.

Snake It Til You Make It ($6.99)

That’s a good title. Nice work there. Behind the snappy title is yet another spin on the classic Snake. Guide your snake around, eat the goobers, and try not to run into a wall, another snake, or your own tail. There are four different modes to play, with three of them offering local multiplayer support to some degree. If you’re flying solo, try out the Obstacle Course mode. Got one friend? Head into the Marathon Battle and see if you can be the last snake slithering. Need to entertain a party? Up to four players can enjoy the Battle Royale and Apple Grab modes. It has a bit of a cheap presentation, but I at least appreciate the different ways to play. Not enough to recommend it, but such is life.

Arkan: The Dog Adventurer ($4.99)

Ah, I see. He’s Arkan, like in Arkanoid. You take control of the titular adventurer and use platforming controls to smack a ball at the wall of enemies and other objects. Avoid the enemy bullets and make use of some special abilities to give yourself the edge. If nothing else, I appreciate that the developer tried to do something different with the old concept. Some nice sprites in here, too. Less keen on the way the ball moves, as it doesn’t seem to follow the usual rules. If you like brick-bashers but need something a little different in the genre, you could probably do worse than gambling a fiver on this.

Anna’s Quest ($19.99)

This is a decent adventure game that hit computers several years back. Anna is on a quest to do… something. She has a lot of assets that are useful for an adventure: telekinesis, black magic, instruments of torture… you know, the usual. Yes, she’s not as sweet and friendly as she looks. Help her make her way through a fantastical world of dark humor and quirky characters, solving challenging puzzles as you go. Reviews for this on other platforms were positive, but not overwhelmingly so. I’d say fans of point-and-click style adventures might want to give it a look, but those not already into the genre probably won’t find anything to change their mind here.

Mina & Michi ($4.99)

Take control of two characters at once in this top-down puzzle action game. Alternatively, grab a friend and play in two-player local co-op. Travel through areas inspired by the four seasons and make use of six different relics that will give you new abilities. You also find health and stamina upgrades by searching around carefully. You’ll have to defeat enemies, avoid traps, and solve puzzles. It’s all wrapped up in a colorful, charming pixel-art aesthetic. I’m into this kind of game, but I’ll come right out and say this one doesn’t come off as terribly inspired. Not that it has to be, but usually there’s some kind of gimmick to these. Well, what can you do?

MARIOZZA COPS ($9.80)

This is a bit of a hybrid between a beat-em-up and run-and-gun game for up to two players via local multiplayer. You play as one of two police officers as you battle cyborgs, I think? You can upgrade your weapons as you go, and there are some bosses to battle here and there. Big five-dollar game energy, so I leave it up to you if you want to pay almost double that amount for it. Those who are photosensitive will want to be careful with this one. Like, even the trailer has a bit of dangerous flashing in it.

FLATLAND Vol. 2 ($3.99)

Flatland Vol. 1 was a fun little platformer for the price, and I’d imagine the sequel will offer more of the same. Play as a little square as you make your way through the flooded wells of Flatland, an area that isn’t exactly safe for Sunday strolls. There are goodies to collect and modes to unlock but by and large you’re just going to be running, jumping, and dying for the duration of the game. By now many of you know what to expect from these low-priced QUByte games. Solid enough, somewhat forgettable, but cheap enough that you won’t care.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

The inbox is once again a bit on the shorter side today. Highlights include Manticore: Galaxy on Fire, Evoland, and FUSER. The list of outgoing sales is quite a bit larger, but it has a lot of games that get discounted every couple of weeks. You should at least consider Blossom Tales, Oceanhorn, and other FDG-published games as they are cheaper than they’ve ever been. Do that usual good-time thing and scan those lists with your own peepers, pals. I’m sure you’ll find something to tempt you to whip out that wallet.

Select New Games on Sale

Gurgamoth ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/6)
#Funtime ($5.99 from $14.99 until 7/6)
Almost There: The Platformer ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/6)
The Bridge ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/6)
Tumblestone ($1.99 from $14.99 until 7/6)
Breakpoint ($2.44 from $4.99 until 7/6)
Fracter ($3.42 from $6.99 until 7/6)
Deleveled ($4.49 from $9.99 until 7/6)
Space Otter Charlie ($11.24 from $14.99 until 7/6)
The Ambassador: FT ($5.99 from $14.99 until 7/6)
Manticore: Galaxy on Fire ($3.99 from $19.99 until 7/7)
Windbound ($17.99 from $29.99 until 7/7)
Relicta ($12.99 from $19.99 until 7/7)
FUSER ($29.99 from $39.99 until 7/10)
FUSER VIP Edition ($69.99 from $79.99 until 7/10)

Evoland: Legendary Edition ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/11)
Northgard ($13.99 from $34.99 until 7/11)
My Memory of Us ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/12)
BFF or Die ($4.79 from $7.99 until 7/13)
Flatland Vol.2 ($2.99 from $3.99 until 7/14)
Polyroll ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/19)
Depth of Extinction ($6.59 from $14.99 until 7/19)
Croc’s World 3 ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/20)
Mina & Michi ($3.99 from $4.99 until 7/21)
Induction ($6.29 from $8.99 until 7/21)

Sales Ending Tomorrow, Thursday, July 1st

112th Seed ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/1)
Arcanoid Breakout ($2.99 from $4.99 until 7/1)
Archery Blast ($2.79 from $3.99 until 7/1)
Battle Axe ($23.99 from $29.99 until 7/1)
Black Paradox ($4.49 from $14.99 until 7/1)
Black Rainbow ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Blacksea Odyssey ($3.24 from $12.99 until 7/1)
Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King ($3.74 from $14.99 until 7/1)
Braveland Trilogy ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/1)
Brightstone Mysteries: PH ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Chaos on Deponia ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/1)
Country Tales ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Delicious! Girls Mahjong Solitaire ($4.19 from $5.99 until 7/1)
Demon Pit ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Deponia ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/1)

Deponia Doomsday ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/1)
Divine Ascent ($2.99 from $4.99 until 7/1)
Emily Archer & Curse of Tutankhamun ($6.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Faircroft’s Antiques: THoGK ($6.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Fall of Light: Darkest ($4.49 from $14.99 until 7/1)
Family Tree ($1.99 from $7.99 until 7/1)
Farm Mystery ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Football Cup 2021 ($6.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Football Manager 2021 Touch ($19.99 from $39.99 until 7/1)
Frost ($3.89 from $12.99 until 7/1)
FUZE4 Nintendo Switch ($9.99 from $19.99 until 7/1)
Ghoulboy ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Golem Gates ($7.49 from $24.99 until 7/1)
Goodbye Deponia ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/1)
Grizzland ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/1)

Gunma’s Ambition ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Ice Cream Surfer ($2.80 from $8.00 until 7/1)
inbento ($3.49 from $4.99 until 7/1)
Inversus Deluxe ($2.24 from $14.99 until 7/1)
Julie’s Sweets ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Kiai Resonance ($2.99 from $4.99 until 7/1)
Kid Tripp ($1.99 from $3.99 until 7/1)
Kirakira Stars Idol Project Ai ($8.00 from $10.00 until 7/1)
Kuukiyomi 3: Father to Son ($3.74 from $4.99 until 7/1)
Letter Quest Remastered ($2.99 from $11.99 until 7/1)
Monster Boy & the Cursed Kingdom ($15.99 from $39.99 until 7/1)
Monster Slayers ($3.74 from $14.99 until 7/1)
Mushroom Heroes ($2.09 from $5.99 until 7/1)
Mysterious Case of Jekyll & Hyde ($6.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Nefarious ($3.74 from $14.99 until 7/1)

Niffelheim ($3.99 from $19.99 until 7/1)
Nongunz: Doppelganger ($11.24 from $14.99 until 7/1)
Notes ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Oceanhorn 2: KotLR ($22.49 from $29.99 until 7/1)
Oceanhorn: MoUS ($5.99 from $14.99 until 7/1)
Odallus: The Dark Call ($3.59 from $11.99 until 7/1)
Oniken: Unstoppable ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Piczle Colors ($2.40 from $12.00 until 7/1)
Piczle Cross Adventure ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Piczle Lines DX ($2.99 from $14.99 until 7/1)
Piczle Lines DX 500 More Puzzles! ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Piczle Lines DX Bundle ($3.99 from $19.99 until 7/1)
Q.U.B.E 2 ($14.99 from $19.99 until 7/1)
Red Crow Mysteries: Legion ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Return of the Obra Dinn ($14.99 from $19.99 until 7/1)

Reverse Crawl ($3.24 from $12.99 until 7/1)
Robots Under Attack! ($1.99 from $5.99 until 7/1)
Sable’s Grimoire ($11.99 from $14.99 until 7/1)
Shalnor Legends: Sacred Lands ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Shieldwall Chronicles: SotN ($5.59 from $7.99 until 7/1)
Shmubedi Boo ($3.39 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Six Sides of the World ($3.50 from $10.00 until 7/1)
Skee-Ball ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/1)
Skelly Selest ($2.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Slain: Back From Hell ($4.99 from $19.99 until 7/1)
Slayaway Camp: Butcher’s Cut ($3.74 from $14.99 until 7/1)
Slayin 2 ($2.99 from $11.99 until 7/1)
Snakeybus ($7.19 from $11.99 until 7/1)
Spaceland ($6.79 from $19.99 until 7/1)
Straimium Immortaly ($3.59 from $11.99 until 7/1)

Super Blood Hockey ($7.49 from $14.99 until 7/1)
Team Troopers ($6.20 from $15.50 until 7/1)
The Drama Queen Murder ($4.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
The Gardens Between ($4.59 from $19.99 until 7/1)
The Seven Chambers ($6.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
The Tiny Bang Story ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Toridama: Brave Challenge ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/1)
Under Leaves ($7.79 from $12.99 until 7/1)
UnExplored ($4.50 from $15.00 until 7/1)
Valfaris ($9.99 from $24.99 until 7/1)
Venture Kid ($2.50 from $10.00 until 7/1)
Verlet Swing ($4.49 from $14.99 until 7/1)
Void Gore ($2.49 from $4.99 until 7/1)
Vosaria: Lair of the Forgotten ($1.99 from $9.99 until 7/1)
Without Escape ($1.99 from $4.99 until 7/1)
XenoRaptor ($4.49 from $14.99 until 7/1)
Yoga Master ($17.49 from $24.99 until 7/1)

That’s all for today and this month, friends. We’ll be back tomorrow to enjoy a nice Canada Day SwitchArcade, with a bunch of new releases to check out including The Procession to Calvary, Alphadia Genesis 2, Arcade Archives Raiden, and more. Yes, it seems like a bit of an anticlimax after the last few days, but it is what it is. Whatever sales come in will also be included, and if there’s any earth-shaking news I might squeeze that in as well. I hope you all have a great Wednesday, and as always, thanks for reading!