The holiday season is typically the busiest time of year for major video game releases, with publishers rushing to get their heavy-hitting titles onto store shelves in time to capitalize on gift-giving season. By the time December rolls around, new releases tend to slow to a trickle as shoppers focus more on picking up the most popular games that launched earlier that fall.
However, December 2022 still saw a handful of new Nintendo Switch games that hit the eShop and retailers, despite the usual holiday lull. While there were no blockbuster franchise installments or system-sellers this month, the 11 releases covered a wide swath of genres, art styles, and premises. according to review aggregation site Metacritic, both critics and fans responded positively to this crop of off-season Switch offerings.
Let‘s take a closer look at the roster of new Switch games that sneaked out amid the holiday hubbub and evaluate which are the most intriguing or notable as 2022 drew to a close.
Dragon Quest Treasures: A More Accessible Spin-Off With Vibrant Visuals
Square Enix launched Dragon Quest Treasures on December 9th to serve as an introduction for younger or more casual gaming fans interested in exploring the wider Dragon Quest universe. As the title suggests, players control sibling treasure hunters Erik and Mia searching for riches while fending off monsters.
Unlike the mainline Dragon Quest RPG epics, Treasures streamlines combat and progression systems for a gentler challenge. "It‘s a colorful, inviting action-adventure with gameplay better suited for a younger audience,” according to Nintendo Life. The cel-shaded visuals are a feast for the eyes, with detailed vistas and fluid animations bringing its imaginative world to life.
While diehard Dragon Quest fans might desire more complexity, Treasures succeeds as a lively, family-friendly adventure for players of nearly any skill level. It fills an accessible niche and could spur interest in the full series.
Crisis Core: An Ambitious Remaster of a PSP Cult Hit
Remakes and remasters give new life to beloved gaming classics, as demonstrated by Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion arriving December 13th. This updated version of the 2007 Japan-exclusive PSP title was rebuilt from the ground up with modernized HD graphics, improved combat, added voice acting, and a new musical score.
The action RPG serves as a poignant prequel focusing on fan-favorite SOLDIER operative Zack Fair in the years leading up to the events of Final Fantasy VII proper. Crisis Core originally won praise for its emotionally resonant storyline, and the remake elevates the visual presentation to match. Reunion averages a strong 83% critic score and 8/10 user score on Metacritic, indicating that Square Enix successfully reimagined the RPG for a contemporary audience.
While not canon, Crisis Core infuses more heart into Final Fantasy VII’s expansive universe. This ambitious remaster should please long-time fans while introducing Zack’s journey to a new generation.
Kukoos: Lost Pets – A Whimsical, Co-Op Fueled Adventure
Chicago-based indie studio WayForward Technologies are maestros of 2D animation, as shown by their stellar catalogue of tm20original and licensed titles across multiple decades. Their latest release, the cooperative 3D platformer Kukoos: Lost Pets, embraces their trademark colorful, cartoonish aesthetic.
Up to four players guide adorable creatures called Kukoos across imaginative environments, such as beaches, factories, and forests in a quest to liberate brainwashed pets. The gameplay centers around using character powers like digging, climbing, and gliding to access new areas and overcome environmental obstacles together.
“Its premise is absurd. Its dialogue bizarre. Its characters are adorable…It‘s altogether rather smashing,” effused Nintendo Life. While younger gamers can enjoy the cute cast and environments, Kukoos surprises with smart writing and clever puzzles. The inviting co-op elevates the experience, with solo players able to switch between Kukoos themselves. It‘s an under-the-radar charmer perfect for families.
Wavetale – An Imaginative Platformer Where Players Walk on Water
Some of the most intriguing indie games offer entirely novel gameplay mechanics rarely seen in bigger titles, which brings us to the enchanting Wavetale. Released December 12th, players take the role of Sigrid, a young heroine marooned on the mysterious Fort Island. Her supernatural abilities allow her to effortlessly skim across bodies of water, a magical traversal concept that alters the entire experience compared to land-based platformers.
Gliding across lakes to scale islands and activate mechanisms is immensely satisfying and opens new possibilities for environmental puzzles the further Sigrid explores her oceanic surroundings. Additionally, Wavetale’s hand-painted scenery pops with color to match its fantastical premise. It “manages to bottle the thrill of playing something new and the nostalgia of the 3D adventures of old,” applauded God is a Geek.
Sigrid’s one-of-a-kind talents and charming fantasy setting help explain why Wavetale received wide acclaim in its previous multiplatform launch in summer 2022. Now Switch owners can enjoy this award-winning gem focused wholly around walking on water.
Chained Echoes – A 16-Bit Inspired JRPG Epic
Every generation of gamers fondly remembers the 16-bit era of the Super NES and Sega Genesis as a golden age for the role-playing genre. Titles like Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger and Phantasy Star IV remain revered for their gripping adventures, vibrant spritework, unforgettable soundtracks, and strategic turn-based combat.
Indie developer Matthias Linda envisioned Chained Echoes, his December 8th Switch release, as the 16-bit classic he dreamed of playing when younger. Featuring hand-drawn visuals, an emotional story spanning three playable heroes, and multi-layered battles, the years-long passion project clearly channels Linda’s old-school inspirations through a modern lens.
The result earned widespread critical acclaim and a mighty 87% score on OpenCritic. “I became enamored with all the characters…the journey was special, heartfelt, and full of surprises,” wrote RPG Site. For role-playing fans pining for sprite-based epics of yore, Chained Echoes showed December still holds gaming gems.
Samurai Maiden — A Stylish Hack-and-Slash Ported from Arcades
Beat ‘em ups endure as one of gaming’s purest social experiences, with quarter-munching arcade cabinets of the 80s and 90s allowing friends to bash swarms of enemies together. Modern entries in the genre struggle capturing that riotous local multiplayer magic, but quirky Japanese developer and publisher UNTIES aims to change that notion with the Switch conversion of Samurai Maiden.
Originally released in arcades in 2021 using UNTIES’ custom hardware, Samurai Maiden transports up to three players to war-torn 16th century Japan. There, various playable female combatants slice through feudal soldiers using an accessible mix of light and heavy attacks, blocks and evasions, and character-specific abilities and magical attacks. Stages scroll horizontally as the protagonists unleash combos while advancing through increasingly challenging enemy mobs.
The vibrant, anime-inspired visuals pop with color, while multiplayer remains satisfyingly chaotic. Samurai Maiden “is a solid…co-op beat ‘em up that captures the mass appeal of the games that inspired it,” applauded Nintendo Life, who awarded it a “Great” 8/10 score. This polished arcade port recaptures the frenetic fun missing from modern entries.
Lil Gator Game — A Charming, Zelda-Inspired Family Friendly Adventure
Many fondly recall getting their first taste of exploration and adventure from classic family-friendly 3D platformers starring colorful animal mascots in the late 90s. Swedish developer MegaWobble aims to recapture that innocent, playful spirit with Lil Gator Game. Released December 8th, players control the eponymous young reptile on a quest to convince his sister to play with him across sunny beaches and forests brimming with personality.
The tropical environments and friendly faces Lil Gator encounters bring to mind Nintendo 64-era gems like Banjo-Kazooie or Donkey Kong 64. Simple platforming challenges, puzzle solving, and quests gifted by the locals provide gentle tests for younger gamers. But there’s writing smart enough for parents too. “[Lil Gator Game’s] heartwarming nature and beautiful worlds more than make up for any shortcomings,” enthused Nintendo enthusiast site Nintendad, highlighting its innocence.
For families seeking a shared gaming experience or first Switch game for their children, few December offerings radiate more warmth than the aptly titled Lil Gator Game.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Wave 3 — Refreshed Multiplayer Racing Courses
Nintendo’s evergreen kart racer Mario Kart 8 Deluxe first launched over half a decade ago on Wii U before finding new life on Switch in 2017. Even today, it remains a must-own local multiplayer title renowned for its tight controls, colorful visuals, catchy music, and chaotic item-fueled contests continuing to thrill veteran fans and newcomers alike.
While the base 48 tracks still retain plenty of replay value, December 7th saw Nintendo launch the Booster Course Pass Wave 3 DLC. This third round adds eight remastered courses, such as DS Waluigi Pinball and N64 Choco Mountain. These favorites gained a fresh coat of paint, antigravity elements from Mario Kart 8, and new music arrangements.
Long-time Mario Kart enthusiasts or those seeking reasons to revisit the game can purchase all 48 remixed retro tracks via the Booster Course Pass. Alternatively, a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership grants access too. And the stream of legacy courses being expertly adapted for the current generation continues keeping the most successful racing series ever at pole position.
Super Kiwi 64 – A Platformer That Pays Homage to Nintendo 64 Classics
The Nintendo 64 era saw 3D graphics come into their own, matched by a parade of acclaimed adventures starring mascot platforms like Mario, Banjo and Kazooie seeking collectibles across sprawling kingdoms. Indie studios like Madrid’s Jandusoft know the N64 forged many adult gamers’ fond memories. Thus Jandusoft playfully aimed to recapture that nostalgia with the release of Super Kiwi 64 on December 16th.
The game follows spirited bird hero Kiwi traipsing through gardens, icy tundras and beaches grabbing crystals. The rudimentary low polygon models, murky distance draw distance, choppy animation and loose controls intentionally mirror N64 limitations, to both comic and charming effect. “[I] appreciated how every wobbly texture and handcrafted model is included with care and attention,”critiqued GameSpew.
Underneath the retro signifiers lies an inventive platformer brimming with personality that stands on its own merits. According to Jandusoft, a more advanced sequel is also in development that pushes Nintendo 64 aesthetics even further. For now, Super Kiwi 64 should tickle old-school gamers’ nostalgia bones.
The Outbound Ghost – A Hand-Drawn Supernatural RPG Adventure
Nintendo handhelds gained renown for top-down role-playing epics starring young heroes warring against evil by harnessing magic abilities tied to elemental forces. Outbound Ghost from developer Conradical Games adopts this familiar formula, but with a darkly charming twist: battles play out between teams of ghosts and spirits within an abandoned village.
The visuals mirror a storybook brought to life via 2D paper cutout characters against three-dimensional backdrops. Finding lost badges allows discovering Sigrid the valkyrie’s forgotten memories and personality traits that can assist in turn-based battles. Reviews praised the melancholy atmosphere and creativity bursting through the modest scope. The Outbound Ghost “manages to feel refreshing by thinking small but with heart,” applauded God is a Geek.
Despite some rough edges common in indie projects, The Outbound Ghost impresses as one of 2022’s most imaginative Nintendo Switch RPGs that courageously colors outside the lines of convention.
Inscryption – An Avant-Garde Hybrid of Roguelike Card Battles and Escape Rooms
Rarely does a video game truly surprise players with mechanics daringly mashing up previously incompatible genres. That’s a key reason the December 1st Switch port of 2021 sensation Inscryption commanded such profoundly positive critical reception. Across PC and now Nintendo’s platform, the psychological horror experience masterfully fuses roguelike deckbuilding card battles with escape room-style puzzles.
Players sit across from a zombie-like being named Leshy who forces them to improve their card skills or pay a fatal forfeit. Each new run randomizes cards to prevent settling into comfortable strategies. The hybrid gameplay loop consistently keeps players off-balance as the stakes heighten, matched by an atmosphere balancing tension with wit. Inscryption’s genre splicing earned raves as one of 2021’s finest titles, reinforced by its sterling OpenCritic average exceeding 90%.
Now portable on Switch, the awards and accolades Inscryption amassed should entice anyone craving adventurous indie games shattering gaming’s status quo. This subversive triumph closes 2022 with a bold exclamation point.
Stiff Competition Returns in 2023 for Nintendo’s Juggernaut Console
On the surface, December 2022 seemed like a mere stopgap month for new Nintendo Switch software as attention turned toward the holidays. Dig deeper, however, and the 11 releases reflected the platform’s continued ability to foster acclaimed projects both massive and modest across every genre.
But the gaming drought ends soon enough. 2023 boasts a stacked calendar of first party franchises that should drive even more record sales for the perpetually best-selling console. Nintendo plans to launch the highly anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in May. It is already likely 2023’s most hyped release months before launch. Before that, the colorful 3D romp Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe and role-playing epic Fire Emblem Engage land in February and January respectively.
Combined with Pikmin 4 in late 2023 and Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, Nintendo is poised to continue leading the gaming landscape with its hybrid device ensuring franchises just as beloved on the go as the living room TV. Of course, the floodgates always open wider for more weird, memorable gems like the 11 Indie Switch games December 2022 offered. Strolling this more relaxed month’s less trafficked paths still revealed imagination and craft persisting late into the gaming year.
