Nintendo is known for some of the greatest things in gaming. Including bringing gaming back to the US after the crash of ’83. However, in recent generations, they’ve been slow to pick up other big gaming trends. Online play was one, and indie games was the other. With the Wii and Wii U, they did make strides in making indie games important to them, even getting some amazing games made exclusively (at the time) for them like Lost Winds, and Shantae: 1/2 Genie Hero.
However, today, Nintendo took their biggest step ever in making indie games (called Nindies by many) a big part of the upcoming Nintendo Switch launch. They held a Nintendo Direct for it.
Now, you might be confused as to why this matter. After all, Nintendo has shown off indie games in their Nintendo Directs before. And that’s true! BUT, they’ve never had their own spotlight. They were always “tagged on”, only rarely getting more than a montage of video footage or certain name drops. But today, that changed.
In the course of 18 minutes, numerous indie games were announced for Nintendo Switch, starting off with the reveal of Steamworld Dig 2.
https://youtu.be/2u0xHuDyEgo
But not just that, there was plenty of games both old and new. What was surprising, though, was that a lot of these games are going to either be exclusive Nintendo Switch titles or, going to be timed exclusives.
This matters, as it means that for the first time in a while, Nintendo is going to be ahead of Microsoft and Sony in regards to indie games. More than that, though, Nintendo stated happily that many of these indie games will have features that you can only experience on the Switch, such as more robust local co-op, and of course the HD Rumble Feature. Stardew Valley, for example, will have multiplayer available first for the Nintendo Switch.
What’s even more impressive? A lot of these games are coming out soon, some are even releasing in the week of the Nintendo Switch launch. Add that to the bold statement that there will be new indie games “every week” on the Nintendo eShop? And this console just got a lot more robust.
Heck, they’re even bringing back classic games like Blaster Master with new modes and attitude. Behold, Blaster Master Zero.
As if that wasn’t enough, Nintendo made sure that a lot of the games were different genres. From platformers to fighting games, to the Advance Wars-like title War Groove, and even a game that invites you to be the Grim Reaper. Check out Flipping Death.
And this is just the beginning. Between launch titles like Fast RMX and Shovel Knight, to upcoming titles like Runner 3, Mr. Shifty, and much more, Nintendo Switch is going to be packed with fun indie games for you to enjoy both by yourself, and with friends.
When the Switch was announced, the common “consensus” was that the console didn’t have many games to start. Well, if this Nindie Showcase has proven anything, those people are wrong, and this console has a LOT more in store than we expected.
