SwitchArcade Round-Up: ‘Boreal Tenebrae’, ‘Astrodogs’, ‘Legend Of Ixtona’, Plus Today’s Other Releases And Sales

Hello gentle readers, and welcome to the SwitchArcade Round-Up for April 8th, 2022. I can safely say that this week is going out on a bit of a quiet note. We have several releases to look at today, and they’re all rather modest. There are quite a few new sales to check out, but most of them are the usual Bandai Namco deals. Perhaps the most noteworthy thing today is that the second free update for Metroid Dread is now available, adding a boss rush mode to the game. Well, that’s cool. Let’s check out what the day has to offer!

New Releases

Boreal Tenebrae ($6.99)

Wow, this game is weird. But it’s definitely weird in a good way. Kind of a PlayStation 1-style adventure game with fixed camera angles and a very trippy story. Set in a dying town filled with strange characters, you must solve the mystery behind the strange static boxes that have been appearing and absorbing the locals. One of those locals is the main character’s sister. There’s a strong Twin Peaks vibe here, with that same kind of underlying horror and sense of discomfort in the mundane. If you’re looking for something quirky today, this will probably fit the bill.

Calm Colors ($3.99)

This is basically a cross between a jigsaw puzzle and a coloring book. You get 200 low-poly images and need to fill them in using the different pieces. Play by yourself or pull in some friends for hot local multiplayer action. Up to four players can… you know, slowly fill in their pictures together. It’s a vibe. Naturally, the presentation aims for the chill side of things. Seems a bit mindless, but sometimes that’s what you want.

Mech Mechanic Simulator ($19.99)

Well, this is another one of those mechanic simulator games. It plays pretty much exactly as you would expect it to. There’s an interesting theme in that you are fixing up mechs, and the minigames play off of that. But really, the bulk of the game is the same as just about any other “fix this machine” simulator.

Legend of Ixtona ($14.99)

KEMCO’s first foray into the turn-based strategy genre makes it way to the Switch with this port. Developed by WorldWideSoftware, it sees you guiding a prince as he battles for the fate of the world. As one does in this sort of affair. Not completely without merit, but the game is rather short and easy for what it is. Considering the Mercenary series has a few installments sitting around this price, that’s probably not a good thing. I’ll have a review of this Switch version soon.

Rocket Cows ($0.99)

Sometimes a title says almost everything it needs to. The cows are tired of being abducted by aliens. Strap rockets on them and launch them at the invaders. Kind of a 3D take on Angry Birds. It’s a stupid enough set-up and a low enough price that I’m sure some people will bite. Don’t expect much from it, though.

Astrodogs ($12.99)

A delightfully colorful rail shooter, that’s what this is. A squadron of canine bounty hunters take flight against the WOOFER, a mega-corporation that has suddenly become decidedly militant. Soar through ten levels and use a wide array of weapons to take down the enemies. There are special ships and extra skins to unlock if you can rack up high enough scores. Really, if you’re looking for a reasonably-priced game to scratch the Star Fox itch a bit, this might do the job.

3D Box Sokoban ($3.99)

Sigh, Pix Arts. This is a box-pushing puzzler played from an isometric angle. You know how this works: push the boxes onto the designated spaces without getting them stuck to clear the stage. Playing from this angle makes it harder, and not in an enjoyable way. There are far better games of this sort on the eShop, even around this price.

Sales

(North American eShop, US Prices)

Bandai Namco is having another big sale, with a few of its games at the lowest prices we’ve seen. There are also a number of nice indies on sale, like Embracelet, The Darkside Detective, Rain on Your Parade, and Say No! More. Hot Wheels Unleashed is at its lowest price yet in case you feel like hopping in on some racing action, but do keep in mind that one has a lot of DLC to pick up if you want to own it all. Over in the weekend outbox, the main thing I will call your attention to is the selection of City Connection games finishing up their sales. That publisher does sales very, very infrequently so grab while the grabbing is good.

Select New Games on Sale

Milkmaid of the Milky Way ($2.99 from $5.99 until 4/11)

Embracelet ($3.59 from $11.99 until 4/12)

Car Quest ($1.99 from $19.99 until 4/14)

Dude, Stop ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/14)

Graceful Explosion Machine ($1.99 from $12.99 until 4/15)

Get a Grip Chip ($7.99 from $9.99 until 4/15)

Silver Falls Episode Prelude ($5.99 from $7.99 until 4/15)

Whispering Willows ($2.49 from $9.99 until 4/15)

Among Us ($3.75 from $5.00 until 4/16)

The Darkside Detective ($4.15 from $12.99 until 4/18)

The Darkside Detective AFitD ($9.09 from $12.99 until 4/18)

Mutazione ($13.99 from $19.99 until 4/18)

Spinch ($8.99 from $14.99 until 4/18)

Desert Child ($3.83 from $11.99 until 4/18)

Etherborn ($5.43 from $16.99 until 4/18)

Rain World ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/18)

Headliner: NoviNews ($9.37 from $13.99 until 4/21)

Active Life Outdoor Challenge ($24.99 from $49.99 until 4/21)

Taiko no Tatsujin Rhythmic Adv. Pack ($24.99 from $49.99 until 4/21)

Taiko no Tatsujin Drum n Fun ($9.99 from $49.99 until 4/21)

Namco Museum ($7.49 from $29.99 until 4/21)

Namco Museum Archives Vol.1 ($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/21)

Namco Museum Archives Vol.2 ($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/21)

Pac-Man CE 2 Plus ($5.99 from $19.99 until 4/21)

Katamari Damacy Reroll ($7.49 from $29.99 until 4/21)

Mr Driller DrillLand ($7.49 from $29.99 until 4/21)

Tales of Vesperia DE ($9.99 from $49.99 until 4/21)

God Eater 3 ($8.99 from $59.99 until 4/21)

Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet CE ($8.99 from $59.99 until 4/21)

Sword Art Online Hollow Realization ($7.49 from $49.99 until 4/21)

Ni no Kuni: WotWW ($9.99 from $49.99 until 4/21)

Ni no Kuni II: RK ($35.99 from $59.99 until 4/21)

Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth CE ($14.99 from $49.99 until 4/21)

Dragon Ball FighterZ ($9.59 from $59.99 until 4/21)

Dragon Ball FighterZ Ultimate ($16.49 from $109.99 until 4/21)

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 ($7.49 from $49.99 until 4/21)

Super Dragon Ball Heroes WM ($8.99 from $59.99 until 4/21)

Dragon Ball Z Kakarot ($29.99 from $59.99 until 4/21)

Dragon Ball Z Kakarot Deluxe ($37.49 from $74.99 until 4/21)

One Piece Pirate Warriors 3 ($5.99 from $39.99 until 4/21)

One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 ($14.99 from $59.99 until 4/21)

One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 DE ($22.49 from $89.99 until 4/21)

One Piece Unlimited World Red ($5.99 from $39.99 until 4/21)

Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm ($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/21)

Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 ($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/21)

Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 ($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/21)

Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 ($14.99 from $49.99 until 4/21)

Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy ($9.99 from $39.99 until 4/21)

Captain Tsubasa RoNC ($14.99 from $59.99 until 4/21)

Captain Tsubasa RoNC Deluxe ($21.24 from $84.99 until 4/21)

My Hero One’s Justice ($8.99 from $59.99 until 4/21)

My Hero One’s Justice 2 ($14.99 from $59.99 until 4/21)

My Hero One’s Justice 2 Deluxe ($19.99 from $79.99 until 4/21)

Doraemon Story of Seasons ($14.99 from $49.99 until 4/21)

Disney Tsum Tsum Festival ($19.99 from $49.99 until 4/21)

Disney Magical World 2 EE ($29.99 from $49.99 until 4/21)

RAD ($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/21)

Little Nightmares CE ($5.99 from $29.99 until 4/21)

Little Nightmares II ($14.99 from $29.99 until 4/21)

Rain on Your Parade ($9.89 from $14.99 until 4/21)

Mokoko X ($9.76 from $11.49 until 4/21)

Destruction ($7.99 from $9.99 until 4/22)

Don’t Knock Twice ($6.24 from $12.49 until 4/22)

Hot Wheels Unleashed ($24.99 from $49.99 until 4/22)

Typoman ($5.19 from $12.99 until 4/22)

Moonfall Ultimate ($5.19 from $12.99 until 4/22)

Five Dates ($8.44 from $12.99 until 4/22)

Football Manager 2022 Touch ($26.79 from $39.99 until 4/22)

BodyQuest ($2.99 from $5.99 until 4/24)

Shadow Gangs ($17.99 from $23.99 until 4/25)

Curious Expedition ($5.24 from $14.99 until 4/28)

Curious Expedition 2 ($13.99 from $19.99 until 4/28)

88 Heroes: 98 Heroes Edition ($5.99 from $29.95 until 4/28)

Lonely Mountains Downhill ($10.99 from $19.99 until 4/28)

Decay of Logos ($6.99 from $19.99 until 4/28)

Say No! More ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/28)

Totally Reliable Delivery Service ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/28)

Zombie’s Cool ($1.99 from $3.99 until 4/28)

Mr Shifty ($3.74 from $14.99 until 4/28)

Party Hard ($7.49 from $14.99 until 4/28)

SteamWorld Dig ($2.49 from $9.99 until 4/28)

Streets of Rogue ($9.99 from $19.99 until 4/28)

SteamWorld Dig 2 ($6.99 from $19.99 until 4/28)

SteamWorld Heist ($4.99 from $19.99 until 4/28)

SteamWorld Quest ($8.74 from $24.99 until 4/28)

Anthill ($2.49 from $9.99 until 4/28)

My Universe: Fashion Boutique ($9.99 from $29.99 until 4/28)

My Universe: School Teacher ($9.99 from $29.99 until 4/28)

Our After School Playzone ($8.80 from $12.72 until 4/28)

Our Winter Sports ($8.80 from $12.72 until 4/28)

Our Summer Festival ($8.90 from $12.72 until 4/28)

Work It Out Job Challenge ($8.80 from $12.72 until 4/28)

Welcome to Hanwell ($2.99 from $14.99 until 4/28)

Bot Vice ($1.99 from $9.99 until 4/28)

Super Star Path ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/28)

Neoverse Trinity Edition ($6.00 from $24.00 until 4/28)

Restless Hero ($4.19 from $6.99 until 4/28)

Tauronos ($4.19 from $6.99 until 4/28)

Johnny Rocket ($2.99 from $4.99 until 4/28)

Little Kite ($5.99 from $9.99 until 4/28)

Castaway Paradise ($3.99 from $19.99 until 4/28)

Dragon Question ($1.99 from $3.99 until 4/28)

Sales Ending This Weekend

Gravity Runner ($7.49 from $9.99 until 4/9)

RIVE: Ultimate Edition ($1.99 from $14.99 until 4/9)

Squeakers II ($1.99 from $2.99 until 4/9)

Swap This! ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/9)

Swords & Soldiers ($1.99 from $7.49 until 4/9)

Toki Tori ($1.99 from $4.99 until 4/9)

Toki Tori 2+ ($1.99 from $14.99 until 4/9)

Zombo Buster Advance ($1.99 from $3.99 until 4/9)

Abarenbo Tengu & Zombie Nation ($9.59 from $11.99 until 4/10)

Baba Is You ($10.50 from $15.00 until 4/10)

Cotton 2 ($14.39 from $17.99 until 4/10)

Cotton Boomerang ($14.39 from $17.99 until 4/10)

Dragon Blaze ($6.39 from $7.99 until 4/10)

Game Tengoku CruisnMix Special ($23.99 from $29.99 until 4/10)

Guardian Force ($14.39 from $17.99 until 4/10)

Gunbarich ($6.39 from $7.99 until 4/10)

Gunbird ($6.39 from $7.99 until 4/10)

Gunbird2 ($5.59 from $7.99 until 4/10)

Gunslugs ($5.59 from $7.99 until 4/10)

Gunslugs 2 ($5.59 from $7.99 until 4/10)

Heroes of Loot ($5.59 from $7.99 until 4/10)

Hot Gimmick Cosplay-jong ($16.00 from $20.00 until 4/10)

Hyper Sentinel ($1.99 from $7.99 until 4/10)

Meganoid ($6.29 from $8.99 until 4/10)

Samurai Aces ($6.39 from $7.99 until 4/10)

Silk ($1.99 from $12.99 until 4/10)

Sol Divide ($6.39 from $7.99 until 4/10)

Space Grunts ($9.79 from $13.99 until 4/10)

Stardash ($6.99 from $9.99 until 4/10)

Strikers1945 ($6.39 from $7.99 until 4/10)

Strikers1945 II ($6.39 from $7.99 until 4/10)

Tengai ($6.39 from $7.99 until 4/10)

Wrestling Empire ($14.99 from $19.99 until 4/10)

Zero Gunner 2- ($6.39 from $7.99 until 4/10)

That’s all for today and this week, friends. Next week is looking like another busy one, with games like 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Gotta Protectors: Cart of Darkness, Nobody Saves the World, Taito Milestones, and more hitting the eShop. There will also be some reviews, some news, and plenty of sales. As for me, I’ll be spending my weekend playing Chrono Cross. I hope you all have a great weekend, and as always, thanks for reading!