Nintendo Direct Indie World Stream: Biggest Announcements And Games

While it was not a proper Nintendo Direct, the latest Nintendo stream has concluded, and it brought with it a look at a lot of games. As the Indie World name suggests, this was focused entirely on third-party independent games, a few of which are even surprise-releasing today. Read on for a look at all of the games and trailer showcased during the event.

Ooblets

The adorable farming and life sim is coming to Nintendo Switch, following its early access release on PC and Xbox platforms. You’ll be able to plant, explore, and dance-battle your way around the peaceful idyllic town this summer.

Batora: Lost Haven

We got a new look at Batora: Lost Haven, a previously announced multiplatform action-RPG that is described as being “deeply story-driven.” Your choices and morality appear to be a big focus of the game, which features both hack-and-slash gameplay and twin-stick shooter segments. It releases in Fall 2022.

ElecHead

ElecHead is coming to Nintendo Switch. Previously released on PC, it’s a 2D puzzle-platformer where you’ll navigate a sort of power plant or warehouse, restoring electricity along the way. You’ll have access to electric powers and the ability to detach your head to cross gaps, although it’ll need to be reattached within 10 seconds to avoid dying. It launches on Switch this summer.

Wildfrost

Wildfrost is a new tactical roguelike deckbuilder, a genre that has become increasingly popular over the last few years. Wildfrost attempts to set itself apart with a counter system that looks like it aims to make combat feel more dynamic, as well as the ability to expand a hub town to continue unlocking more cards and story over the course of the game. It releases for Switch in Holiday 2022.

Totally Accurate Battle Simulator (TABS)

The ragdoll physics fighting game TABS is coming to Switch this summer, letting you wage “totally accurate” battles with wobbly characters from history and fantasy. You can fight as samurai, knights, or cavemen, or just make your own units.

Gunbrella

Gunbrella is the new game from the creators of Gato Roboto, the beloved cat-in-a-mech-suit action game. Like that, this is a 2D sidescrolling action-platformer, which is described as being a “noir punk action adventure.” It looks somewhat reminiscent of Katana Zero as you embark on a quest in a world that is rapidly losing its resources. The titular gunbrella is used for a variety of things, including shooting, dashing, swinging, and gliding. It releases in 2023.

We Are OFK

The heartfelt narrative game We Are OFK will begin this summer, with new episodes rolling out each week. It follows the real-life indie band OFK in Los Angeles, as it argues over lyrics and puts out an album.

Silt

Silt is a visually striking game, featuring all hand-drawn black-and-white art, giving it a Limbo- or Inside-style feel that also extends to the gameplay. It was made by a research scientist and an artist, and you’ll be able to possess and harness the power of sea creatures in this puzzle-adventure game. It releases in June 2022.

Mini Motorways — Available Today

The mobile hit Mini Motorways is coming to Nintendo Switch today. The sequel to the subway planning game Mini Metro (which was previously ported to Switch), you’ll build freeways and roundabouts to help direct the flow of city traffic between residential and commercial areas, and it features areas inspired by real cities from around the world to introduce new twists on the gameplay.

Wayward Strand

Wayward Strand is set in alternate history 1970s rural Australia aboard an airship hospital. The stories it tells unfold in real time, meaning you’ll need to pick and choose which you want to pursue–it’ll require multiple playthroughs to go back and see everything. A notebook is used to keep track of what happens and to unlock more stories, and you’ll be able to solve mysteries as you walk around the ship. Unlike most everything else we saw during the stream, Wayward Strand has a precise release date: July 21, 2022.

Cult of the Lamb

The farming sim and dungeon crawler Cult of the Lamb received a new trailer, showing off the frenetic action from the dark action game starring a cute little lamb. It’s coming to Nintendo Switch this year.

Another Crab’s Treasure

Another Crab’s Treasure was one of the standout games from the broadcast. It’s a Souls-like–or a Shells-like, as developer Agrocrab (Going Under) joked–where you play as a crab and fight giant monsters. Your goal is to buy back your repossessed shell; in the meantime, you’ll be able to salvage various items to use as your temporary shell, with 50 different options available. The segment indicated one of the intentions is to make this difficult genre more approachable for newcomers. It releases sometime in 2023.

… And The Rest

A compilation video near the end of the Indie World presentation showcased a number of other games coming to Nintendo Switch. Those included:

• OneShot: World Machine Edition — available this summer
• Gibbon: Beyond the Trees — available later today
• Idol Manager — August 25
• Card Shark — demo available later today, full game June 2
• Cursed to Golf — available this summer
• A Guidebook of Babel — available this fall
• Opus: Echo of Starsong — available later today