Hello, friends. When it comes to massive sales on the Nintendo eShop, the traditional yearly holiday sale is really second only to the Black Friday sale. We’re talking thousands of games at deep discounts, and unless you’re enormously wealthy, you’re going to have to make some hard choices on what to pick up. We here at TouchArcade Towers have decided to help you out with that by presenting what we think are the twenty best pick-ups to grab from the Holiday Hits event. A curated list for you to dig through and take into consideration. These are in no particular order, naturally. Let’s get to those holiday eShop sales!
Metroid Dread ($41.99 from $59.99)
While I wouldn’t call Metroid Dread my favorite game in the series, it hangs comfortably with the rest of the 2D entries. Given just how good that particular run of games is, I believe that speaks volumes. It takes a lot of risks in service of creating its specific feel, but as long as you’re okay with having conventions challenged within a conventional framework, this should be an easy pick-up. I mean, it’s Metroid. It’s almost as safe as it gets.
Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection ($29.99 from $59.99)
Capcom has done right by the Mega Man Battle Network games with this collection for the most part. If you have happy memories of these games, you’ll likely be happy to revisit them again. The extras are welcome, though I think Capcom could have gone further here with things like save states or the ability to turn off random encounters. It’s great to see some of the lesser-tapped veins of the Blue Bomber’s history get a reissue, and you really can’t argue with the value in terms of how much there is to play here. Worth the pick-up for fans of Mega Man or RPGs alike.
Nintendo Switch Sports ($27.99 from $39.99)
It’s been a minute or two since Wii Sports rocked the gaming world with its simple, accessible motion control gameplay. Things have changed a lot since then, but I think we can all still have a bit of fun with motion controlled bowling. You get that here, along with five other sports. Soccer, volleyball, bowling, tennis, badminton, and chambara, and golf are the sports this time around. Attach those Joy-Con straps, find your TV’s warranty card, and get ready to party like it’s 2006. Play local multiplayer for up to four players, or hop online for some one-on-one. Definitely a fun one to play with family members over the holidays.
Trombone Champ ($8.99 from $14.99)
Barring some minor hiccups in performance, Trombone Champ is a true champ on Switch. It perfectly suits the system and the multiple control options, and is a joy to play. I know this year has been great for quality game releases, but if you own a Switch and want to try something interesting when it comes to music games, Trombone Champ is exactly what you need. -Mikhail Madnani
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury ($39.99 from $59.99)
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury offers up two experiences in one package. One is a spiffed-up port of the Wii U Super Mario 3D World, an excellent platformer that is a blast to play in multiplayer. The other is the all-new Bowser’s Fury, a shorter and more experimental take on 3D Mario that has you earning Shines in a continuous open world. Being able to play with a friend or three helps this stand out among the other 3D Mario choices on Switch. Plenty of fun at a good price.
Batman: Arkham Trilogy ($42.99 from $59.99)
There’s no two ways around it: the port of Batman: Arkham Knight included in this collection is nothing short of disastrous. I wouldn’t call it completely unplayable, but even for someone like me who can overlook a lot of technical problems, it’s a doozy. But you know what? The other two games included here have been ported excellently, and with this sale in place I think it’s a more than fair deal just to have those games on your Switch.
Super Mario Maker 2 ($39.99 from $59.99)
With Super Mario Bros. Wonder around, it’s easy to forget about this great little sandbox. Make your own 2D Mario levels in a variety of styles, upload them for others to play, and download the levels made by others to try. You get a lot of interesting elements to play around with, allowing for a massive variety of stages to be created. If you’re into making things, you’ll get hours upon hours of entertainment. If not? Well, you don’t have to make levels to have a good time with the ones others have made, and there’s a rather substantial selection available. Worth having in the library, for sure.
EA Sports FC 24 ($29.99 from $59.99)
This is a big step for Electronic Arts, as it steps free of the FIFA license for the first time in a few decades. It’s also a big step for this series on Switch, as we didn’t get a hand-me-down or Legacy Edition this time. This is a proper Frostbite Engine modern EA Sports soccer game, with full feature and content parity with other versions. The only drawback is that the game runs at 30 fps now instead of 60 fps like the Legacy Editions, but it’s a small sacrifice in exchange for what you get here.
Undertale ($10.04 from $14.99)
Do I really need to write anything about Undertale at this point? I’m sure there are a few of you who haven’t played it, but I have to assume you have reasons not to have done so by now. Well, if one of those reasons was that you felt it was more of a ten-dollar game than a fifteen-dollar one, here you go. I personally consider this an essential game, and believe me when I say I went into it expecting to dislike it. I haven’t been won over so hard in a long time. Maybe it will win you over too?
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut ($13.99 from $39.99)
Disco Elysium – The Final Cut is a superlative RPG that I consider at par with Divinity Original Sin 2 and now Nintendo Switch owners get to experience both of these top tier RPGs on the go or at home. If you held off on buying Disco Elysium – The Final Cut on other platforms to get it on Nintendo Switch, your wait has been mostly worth it. Disco Elysium – The Final Cut has been adapted to the Switch really well with smart compromises and great tweaks to the interface and controls. My concerns about the UI and text were all put to rest after I launched it and played for an hour. A great version of the game. -Mikhail Madnani
Chicory: A Colorful Tale ($9.99 from $19.99)
This is a cute top-down adventure game set in a coloring book world. You can paint on everything. Cool. It even has support for touch controls. The story goes that superstar artist Chicory has gone missing and took all of the world’s color with her. You’re her number one fan, and you take it upon yourself to fill in for her. Use your painting abilities to solve puzzles, pick up new abilities to open new paths, and customize your character’s appearance as you see fit. You can play on your own or pull in a friend for some local co-op. This is a very good game. Pick it up if you like very good games.
Meg’s Monster ($11.24 from $14.99)
Meg’s Monster is a fantastic narrative experience. While it’s not the most mechanically rich RPG around, it’s not really trying to be. It’s here to tell a story, and it does so wonderfully. The characters are memorable, the plot is engaging, the presentation is sublime, and it’s on the whole just a hard thing to dislike at all. I haven’t been on an emotional roller coaster like this one in a while, and I’d handily recommend it to anyone looking for a touching story to play.
Dave the Diver ($15.99 from $19.99)
Dave the Diver is an amazing game. I’m shocked at how well it keeps up its pacing of unlocks and new missions throughout its two dozen or so hours of runtime, and there’s just so much to do. I never got tired of playing it, but I hope future patches can address the long load times on Switch. Barring that, Dave the Diver is top tier, and essential for Nintendo Switch. -Mikhail Madnani
Vampire Survivors ($4.49 from $4.99)
Vampire Survivors on Switch is everything I hoped for in a port and more. While it has some frame rate issues, which version of the game doesn’t at this point? If you somehow haven’t played it through its Xbox, mobile, or PC release, this is it. Vampire Survivors is a perfect fit for Switch, and absolutely worth buying. -Mikhail Madnani
Sea of Stars ($31.49 from $34.99)
While I think the writing could use some serious editing and the game doesn’t quite nail its pacing, those things are easily forgiven by how well it does just about everything else. Sea of Stars fits in nicely with other indie RPGs like Cosmic Star Heroine and Chained Echoes, serving both as a high-quality traditional turn-based RPG experience and a display of genuine affection for the greats of the genre.
Hades ($12.49 from $24.99)
It’s not a massive surprise when Supergiant Games puts out a great game, but even by the usual standards Hades is something special. With superb action, an excellent metagame, outstanding writing, and all-around slick visuals and audio, this is a game that’s easy to fall in love with no matter how you usually feel about rogue-inspired games. The way Hades weaves together its mechanics and story genuinely drives you to keep on coming back again and again until you finally win. It’s hard to say whether the gameplay or the narrative elements are more important for driving this game’s appeal, but we don’t have to choose, do we? Of course we don’t.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 ($29.99 from $49.99)
I feel like this game didn’t hit with quite the same impact the first one did, but if you love Super Smash Bros. and want a decent alternative, this series remains a solid choice. There are twenty-five characters drawn from various Nickelodeon-owned properties including the likes of Korra, Garfield, Jimmy Neutron, SpongeBob, Danny Phantom, Ren & Stimpy, and more. In terms of gameplay modes you get more options in this sequel, including a fairly robust single-player mode. You’ll have to overlook some performance issues on Switch, but as long as you’re okay with that you’ll have some fun here.
PowerWash Simulator ($19.99 from $24.99)
PowerWash Simulator is a very good conversion for Switch. The only downside is the long load times. Barring that, it is a fantastic way to experience PowerWash Simulator, and a perfect fit for portable play. The DLC only helps extend the fun, especially the two large free expansions. Out of all the “Simulator” games on the eShop, this one is special. –Mikhail Madnani
Persona 5 Tactica ($44.99 from $59.99)
Persona 5 Tactica ended up surprising me in a good way. I initially thought it would be a throwaway story like Persona Dancing or Arena games, but it is so much more. While it doesn’t reach the highs of Persona 5 Strikers even for music, Persona 5 Tactica is an excellent addition to any Persona 5 fan’s library. Just don’t bother getting it if you haven’t played that game yet. -Mikhail Madnani
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 ($47.99 from $59.99)
I think Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 could have been better than it is, particularly with regards to performance and game options. Still, when I take what is in front of me for what it is, it’s an easy title to recommend. You get a bunch of absolutely top-tier games to play and some really cool extra materials to dig through. Sure, there isn’t much new here for people who have played these games before. But for those craving Metal Gear on the go, or those who somehow haven’t dug into these titles in the past, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is a fantastic value.
Naturally, there are many other games on sale right now on the Nintendo Switch eShop. If you’ve had your eye on any particular games, it might behoove you to pop onto the eShop and see if they’re also on sale. Happy shopping everyone, and as always, thanks for reading!
