Hey! Listen! December is finally upon us, and if you own(or plan to own) a Nintendo Switch then Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is more than likely the only game on your mind. Listen, I get it – its kind of a big deal. After all, it’s not every day that a brand new Smash Bros. game is released. But while Ultimate is the most significant Nintendo release of the month, it isn’t the only Switch title that merits a claim to the spotlight. Here are five games that you most definitely add to your holiday wish list.
Battle Princess Madelyn – Release Date: December 6th
Inspired by the seminal arcade sensation Ghosts & Goblins, Battle Princess Madelyn is a retro-inspired side-scroller where you play as a young knight-in-training on a quest for revenge. After a malevolent force takes everything from you – including the life of your dog Fritzy – it’s up to you to restore your kingdom, save your family, and avenge your furry friend. With such a delightful premise (maybe delightful isn’t the right word to use here), Battle Princess Madelyn looks to give Sir Arthur a run for his money.
Guacamelee! 2 – Release Date: December 10th
After defeating the sinister Carlos Calaca, Juan Aguacate must once again don his luchador mask and relearn the powers of the chicken in Guacamelee! 2; if that isn’t a sales pitch for a sequel then I don’t know what it is. I fell in love with Guacamelee! when it was released in 2013 and its follow-up did not disappoint. Guacamelee! 2 was released to critical acclaim and I cannot wait to take Juan and the brightly colored Mexiverse with me on the go. The co-op gameplay makes this a must-have game for Switch owners.
Desert Child – Release Date: December 11th
Desert Child is a dazzling pixel art arcade shoot-em up where you play as a capable but broke young biker competing for absolute glory in the biggest race in the universe, the Grand Prix…just as long as you get your ass to Mars first. With frenetic side-scrolling racing action, customizable bikes, and even RPG elements, Desert Child is a unique take on the rags-to-riches story that looks like a winning bet.
GRIS – Release Date: December 13th
GRIS is an utterly sublime and visually stunning title about a young girl coping with a traumatic experience in her life. GRIS sold me on it’s visual style alone. Whether or not it will play out as a ‘traditional game’ is really of little consequence. It looks absolutely gorgeous and is a reminder of how Devolver Digital is becoming a cornerstone for high quality games. In addition to the game’s watercolor aesthetic, players can look forward to unique gameplay as well. GRIS’ journey will be one of intense sadness and sorrow, and that pain will manifest itself in her dress, granting her new abilities and better equip her to handle the dreary world around her.
Dragon: Marked for Death – Release Date: December 13th
Best known for Mega Man Zero, Mega Man ZX ,and most recently Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, Inti Creates is unquestionably the preeminent developer when it comes to 2D side-scrolling platformers. Dragon: Marked for Death brings up to four players to play together in either local multiplayer or online multiplayer in what appears to be Inti Creates most ambitious title to date.
So there you have it; five games that you should not let slip under your radar this month. I know that Smash Bros. Ultimate cast a mighty big shadow of the rest of December’s releases, but these five games manage to shine through regardless.
