The Nintendo Switch has become the fastest-selling console in U.S. history, and new content and games have been in high demand. The Switch has already had fantastic releases such as Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, while its new roster looks as though it will add to these success stories.
In this article, we go through all of the games that are landing on the Switch in January and what you can expect from these titles.
The Escapists 2
January 11
The original The Escapists, a popular pixel-based prison escape game, first made its debut on August 20, 2014, with the sequel following just over three years later on the 22nd of August 2017. Luckily, due to the success of the Switch and the power of The Escapists, we received a Switch port of that sequel on January 11th.
The Escapists 2 is even bigger and better than its predecessor, and with more prisons to escape from with multiple floors, vents, and tunnels, there are plenty of ways to experience the game. Developer Team17 has also refined the combat system and now allow you to customize your own convict, making the game more intuitive and immersive.
Furthermore, you can now team up with up to three friends cooperatively or play locally with one friend. Team17 has also introduced a new versus mode, so you can show your friends who can escape the fastest out of prison – or not, as the case may be.
InnerSpace
January 16
Be prepared to step into a marvelous exploration flying game with beautiful scenery and an entire world for you to discover. InnerSpace is all about your discovering the world that is soon to be lost, and the gravity of your participation cannot be overstated.
“‘Your greatest journey is within,” is one of the mottos from developer Aspyr about the direction they have taken the game in. Finding the memories and relics of this world before they have been lost or forgotten is incredibly important. There are no horizons, and you can go from exploring the depths of the ocean to flying among plains where gods still walk.
Aspyr has tried to focus the game on player-driven moments and put you in the center of the game; it is about where you want to be and what you want to explore. The Abzu-esque art style brings back the sense of adventure and mystery that will make you long to find the ancient bits of information that have been lost.
World to the West
January 18
World to the West focuses on a group of unlikely heroes who are trying to solve the mysteries of an ancient prophecy while also trying to find their way home. World to the West is a follow-up to the incredibly successful indie title Teslagrad and promises a lot of visual and mechanic improvements.
The game centers around exploration and puzzle solving, both through actions and environmental puzzles. You’ll have to think creatively about how to use each character’s special abilities to get yourself out of certain situations.
With a wide variety of location types, interesting environments, and characters to interact with, World to the West appears to be a very intriguing addition to the Switch’s repertoire.
ChromaGun
January 22
It would be hard not to make Portal comparisons when it comes to ChromaGun, as it has a very similar feel, however ChromaGun brings a colorful element to its puzzle solving. The Portal-esque feel comes from the complexity of the puzzles more than anything else; you may think that you simply color walls and find the exit, but this is not the case.
You color the walls to attract the WorkerDroids, but they’re only attracted to a color that matches their own. Furthermore, once you get to the door, there are problems to solve once there, with mechanisms that change from situation to situation.
Many gamers have been crying out for more puzzle games that present meaningful challenges, and ChromaGun could be the Switch’s answer. This colorful, fun, yet still challenging puzzle game could be the puzzle solution everyone has been waiting for.
Lost Sphear
January 23
Lost Sphear is a beautiful JRPG developed by Square Enix and is the spiritual successor to I Am Setsuna. The tale centers around a young boy (Kanata) in a village called Elgarthe who, after waking up from a frightening dream, realizes that the town he has grown up in is disappearing. Kanata and a trusted group of friends must set out to reawaken the power of memory and restore what has been lost.
The game centers around the concept of memory and the idea that their world is made up of memories; when forgotten about, these pieces of the world disappear and become what are known as the “Lost.” There is a power that is threatening the fabric of reality within Kanata’s world, and they need to find the solution.
The world of Lost Sphear is stunning, and the visuals for the game look incredible. The art style seems to have gone down an illustration direction, further amplifying the idea of memory and story that the game appears to be going for.
Shu
January 23
Shu focuses around the eponymous Shu, who is on a journey to survive after a destructive force known as the Storm has destroyed his village. He will encounter villagers who are stranded and desperately need his help, and with his assistance, the peculiar villagers will grant Shu unique abilities to help him traverse the world ahead.
There is a great sense of desperation within Shu, and everyone must work together to outrun the Storm. Another brilliant platformer incorporating action/adventure elements, Shu includes 21 levels with 6 vastly different areas to explore in addition to 10 different recruitable characters.
Shu appears to offer another intriguing look into the platformer genre, bringing it back into the limelight. With the plethora of platformer games that are arriving to the Switch, it is good to see a mass of variety within the genre.
Celeste
January 25
Celeste is shaping up to be an incredibly thought-out modern action-platformer by indie developer Matt Makes Games. You follow Madeline, a girl going on a journey of self discovery, as she climbs the eponymous Celeste mountain. Brimming with interesting characters and driven by story and narrative, Celeste looks to be a unique indie experience for the Switch.
The focus is still on the platforming element, with over 600 staggering levels to work through and unlockable chapters to be discovered in order to create more challenging puzzles. You can climb up any surface of Celeste mountain as long as Madeline has the stamina. Furthermore, to increase the ambiance and pace of the game, there are over two hours’ worth of original music made for Celeste.
Death is a lesson in Celeste, and with quick respawns, you can jump quickly back into the action while continuing to make your journey up the mountain. Celeste could go down in history with the likes of Super Meat Boy and Cuphead.
ATOMIK: RunGunJumpGun
January 25
Another platformer that is making its way to the Switch, but this time with an incredibly different feel. ATOMIK: RunGunJumpGun is a fast-paced platformer that is incredibly simply with its mechanics – using only two buttons – to traverse the world, however you never stop. This creates a fast-paced Doom/Cuphead feel to the game that will keep your brain and controller going.
The game is beautifully designed and has a retro 2-D design which perfectly complements the vast range of characters that you encounter throughout the game. Although only using two buttons, you will have to constantly switch between the two to artfully move around the colorful and surreal world.
Dustoff Heli Rescue 2
January 25
Dustoff Heli Rescue 2 allows anyone and everyone to step into the piloting chair of a combat helicopter and venture into dangerous territory to rescue those in danger. There are over 35 missions with a variety of changes to objective that keep the intense goals of a helicopter pilot exciting and tense.
You’ll have to traverse through a range of different environments consisting of simple yet beautifully Minecraft-esque blocks. This will be the type of game that the whole family can enjoy, from the kids to grandma. You’ll be able to fly a variety of machines which have upgrades that will help you face the ever-increasing difficulty.
Strikers 1945 II
January 25
Made by the legendary arcade giant Psikyo, the Switch is bringing back an old-school shooting experience with Strikers 1945 II. The top-down angle and iconic gaming screen will bring back a sweeping wave of nostalgia to anyone who plays it.
You have a variety of levels with different ways to attack enemies, making the game both challenging and exciting to play. If you want to bring back the joys of the ’90s, then Strikers 1945 II will bring that back with an almighty boom.
Zero Gunner 2
January 25
Another classic arcade game from Psikyo that is being ported to the Switch in January is Zero Gunner 2. Once again, if you’re looking to bring back the arcade nostalgia, then Zero Gunner 2 is going to offer an incredible shooting experience that has become Psikyo’s MO.
The top-down arcade style typical of the ’90s has been left behind with Zero Gunner 2, but the graphics and art style will bring you back to the early naughts. There are a range of levels and environments that will keep you going for hours.
Zig Zag Go
January 25
A simple arcade game that will be coming to the Switch in January is Zig Zag Go. You remain stationary on a pillar, and your goal is to avoid the oncoming shapes. The game is simple and should be cheap when it releases on the store this month.
Those were the titles that are coming to the Switch this month. We will continue to cover all titles coming out on the Switch and keep you informed on what is going on in the world of Nintendo.
Furthermore, if you would like to know when games are coming out for PC and all other consoles, then check out our list of upcoming 2018 releases.
Are you excited for the new titles? Which one are you most looking forward to? Let us know in the comments section below!
