Nintendo Direct: Every Game Announcement During April’s Indie Showcase

That’s another Nintendo Indie Showcase in the books. As the name implies, these smaller Nintendo Direct-style events are solely aimed at smaller indie games, so don’t glance through this roundup expecting to hear what’s happening with The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or (sadly) Hollow Knight: Silksong.

Below, we go over every announcement and include every trailer revealed during the Direct, including a handful of Switch games that are out today and release dates for anticipated sequels like Oxenfree II: Lost Signals and Blasphemous 2. We’ve organized announcements in the order they occurred during the Direct.

Mineko’s Night Market

The showcase kicked off with a new look at Mineko’s Night Market, a fun-looking life sim with a release date that’s been “coming soon” for a while. It looks like that soon is 2023, as the Direct revealed Mineko’s Night Market is coming to Switch on September 26. We also got another look at some of the activities you’ll be able to complete at the titular night market (like cat races!) as well as some scary agents who have something to hide.

My Time At Sandrock

Up next, the Direct revealed that My Time at Sandrock is getting a Switch port that will be released this summer. Taking place in the same charming post-apocalyptic world as its predecessor, My Time at Portia, Sandrock delivers a more wild west vibe as you become the newest resident builder/farmer/fighter in a desert community.

Plate Up

You may remember hearing GameSpot video producer Jean-Luc Seipke talk up this cooperative-focused roguelite cooking simulator on the After Dark podcast. This frenetic cooking game sees you (and some friends!) frantically serve customers to the best of your ability, unlocking permanent upgrades for future restaurants when your current venture inevitably goes under. Previously only available on PC, Plate Up is coming to Switch in October.

Quilts And Cats Of Calico

Up next, the Direct showcased gameplay for Quilts and Cats of Calico, a digital adaptation of the tabletop game, Calico. The game features both solo and multiplayer modes. Previously only announced for PC, Quilts and Cats of Calico will now also be launching for Switch this fall.

Rift of the NecroDancer

Previously only announced for PC (via Steam), Rift of the NecroDancer is a rhythm game spin-off of roguelike rhythm game Crypt of the Necrodancer. The Direct revealed that the game is coming to Switch as well, launching alongside the PC version in 2023. We also got a more detailed look at NecroDancer’s gameplay, including boss battles, burger-making, and yoga.

More DLC Coming To Switch

After NecroDancer, the Direct took a break from announcing release dates for games to reveal when we’re getting post-launch DLC expansions to existing Switch titles. Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon Puzzler’s Pack is getting DLC this spring, A Little to the Left in June, and Cult of the Lamb on April 24.

Animal Well

Animal Well was a standout at Summer Game Fest 2022, and its puzzle box world looks just as spookily atmospheric now that we’ve gotten another look at it. We got to see more of the unsettling action-adventure game during the Direct, as well as an announcement that it will now be coming to Switch alongside PS5, PS4, and PC. The Direct also revealed a release window for the game: early 2024.

Crime O’Clock

A new gameplay trailer for Crime O’Clock revealed during the Indie Direct showcased how this black-and-white mystery game interconnects its 40 different cases, with your actions in one having the possibility of affecting the others in a domino effect. We also now have a release date–Crime O’Clock is coming to Switch and PC on June 30.

Teslagrad 2

To our surprise, Teslagrad 2 is out! Revealed to be launching April 19–alongside a remaster of the original Teslagrad–during the Direct, this physics-based action-adventure game features electrifying puzzles and Norse myth-inspired enemies and locations.

Shadows Over Loathing

Teslagrad 2 and Teslagrad Remastered weren’t the only games revealed to be launching on the day of the Direct. Shadows Over Loathing’s Switch port is now out as well on the Nintendo eShop. A physical version of the Switch port will be out this fall.

Blasphemous 2

The Direct provided a more in-depth look at the gameplay for Blasphemous 2 as well. We also have a more specific release window for the game: Summer 2023.

Oxenfree II: Lost Signals

And the sequels just keep coming! Following the new look at Blasphemous 2, the Direct showcased more of the story and gameplay for Oxenfree II: Lost Signals. The Direct also revealed a release date–July 12 on all paltforms–and preorders are now available.

Looking Forward

The Direct concluded with Nintendo teasing what folks can expect to see at future Indie Showcases. Going forward, you can expect to hear more about the following games on Switch:

• Paper Trail – August 2023
• Little Kitty, Big City – 2024
• Chants of Sennaar – September 5, 2023
• Brotato – 2023
• Escape Academy: Complete Edition – Fall 2023
• Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach – today
• Bomb Rush Cyberfunk – August 18, 2023