Well, here we go. This is it. The final week of eShop roundups with just the Nintendo Switch. Next week, it’s a whole new ball game with the Switch 2 joining the party. Soak it all in while you can. This week? It’s all retro vibes, pre-orders, and yes, sweepstakes. Let’s jump in, shall we?
This week, the Nintendo Switch isn’t holding back—four new Game Boy titles hitting the Online collection. Konami’s Survival Kids makes an appearance. There’s also a Kirby spin-off and the sci-fi chaos of Gradius. Honestly, there’s something in there for just about everyone. We even rambled on about these games in last week’s Pure Nintendo Podcast. Totally worth a listen, if you’re into that kind of thing.
With the Switch 2’s launch on June 5 (crazy, right?), the excitement is off the charts! If you’re the impatient type, you can pre-order stuff now. Like, right now. We’ve got Rune Factory, Sonic X Shadows, and Fast Fusion on deck. Do any of those tickle your fancy for the new console?
Oh, and don’t even get me started on the sales—Dragon Quest titles are on major discount, between 25% to 50% off. Including last year’s shiny Dragon Quest III HD remake. Tempting? I think so.
Feeling lucky? Enter the sweepstakes. The prize? A LEGO Mario Kart set. Not gonna lie, that’s pretty sweet. Good luck if you try!
There’s a hefty list of new Switch games to nosh on this week. What are you playing before Switch 2 steals the spotlight?
Game Boy – Nintendo Switch Online
SURVIVAL KIDS – Alright, here’s the scene: stranded on an island, playing as a kid whose dad’s an explorer. Storm hits, you’re island-bound. No help coming. Just you and, well, whatever survival skills you can muster. Scour the place for food and water. Mix and match items to hack together tools. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll find a way off the rock. If you’ve got a Switch Online membership, dive in.
GRADIUS: THE INTERSTELLAR ASSAULT – Odds of survival? A million-to-one. A side-scrolling shooter from ’92. Imagine—alien bile dried up on your suit, hands twitching on the gun trigger, then bam! Fire everywhere. Doomships swarming. Weapons like MISSILE, DOUBLE, LASER. Choose wisely—DOUBLE and LASER can’t both be your pals at once. Available now for Online members.
The Sword of Hope – Meet Prince Theo, the chosen one. How do we know? Dagger-mark on his arm gives it away. The mission? Nab the Sword of Hope, a legendary weapon to defeat darkness. Evil king, threats galore—it’s a quest! You’ve got magic, weapons, and three magic commands to help: LOOK, OPEN, HIT. Be smart with HIT, though. Might make enemies cranky.
Kirby’s Star Stacker – Kirby’s back, stacking stars with some funky-looking friends. Blocks drop like rain, or so it seems, and you gotta sandwich those stars just right. Be quick—King Dedede’s on your tail. Outsmart him, climb the levels, and voila!
Pre-orders
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition – So, here’s a fresh take on Rune Factory. You’re an Earth Dancer, saving lands, fighting bad vibes, building villages. Romance, farming, all that jazz. It’s set to drop on June 5, and yes, you can pre-order now.
SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS – Sonic’s back, straddling classic and modern vibes. Play as Shadow, channel that Ultimate Life Form swagger, and zip through stages, unraveling secrets as you go. The world’s at stake—no pressure. Pre-order if you dare!
Fast Fusion – Anti-gravity racing. Ever fused vehicles? Now’s your chance. High-speed tracks with names that sound like epic fantasy novels—Redwood Forest, Tempesta. You can even hyper jump. It’s up for pre-order, so take the leap!
Nintendo Music
Activities
My Nintendo – LEGO Mario Kart Race to Win! Sweepstakes – If you’re into building and racing, this sweepstakes is your jam. Hit it up before Sept. 3 for a shot at a LEGO Mario Kart set.
Nintendo eShop sales
Have fun exploring the new launches this week. What catches your eye before June 5 rolls around?
