Holy cow, how it is it already February, y'all!?!? I… wasn't it just 2020 last week?!
Anyway, here are some upcoming Switch releases we're looking to check out in order to keep hiding from reality!
Kharon's Crypt – Even Death May Die – February 1
Listen, I'm a sucker for anything GBC-themed. I backed this on Kickstarter years ago, and I'm really looking forward to it finally launching!
-TroytlePower
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments – February 3
This is a bit of an older release finally coming to Switch. It reviewed well when it originally released, so seeing it come to the handheld is great!
-TroytlePower
Maglam Lord – February 4
An action RPG about demon lords with dating sim elements? I'm intrigued! Maglam Lord also sports a slick art style courtesy of one of the artists from the Fate anime series. Since this game caught my eye, I'm planning on streaming it on my Twitch channel as one of my #DatingSiMonth selections.
-Capsulejay
Letters – A Written Adventure – February 9
Letters is one of those games with a unique hook that makes for an intriguing demo – a dense, punchy, mad-libs-meets-decision-tree take on the narrative-adventure game. From what I've played, each scene was so jam-packed with micro-decisions that I found it far too easy to get caught up in the moment. I'm delighted to see that this game is finally making its way out of development, and hoping the full game lives up to its strong potential.
– Data_Error
Kingdom Hearts – February 10
If you've never played the Kingdom Hearts games before, then I guess it's pretty sweet that these games are hitting the Switch. Sadly, that super high price tag and the fact that they are cloud-gaming releases has tarnished my excitement.
-TroytlePower
KungFu Kickball – February 10
I feel like this sits next to Dodgeball Academia in taking a schoolyard game and going wild with an adaptation of it. It could be fun, or it could be nothing. It does look pretty dang fun, though.
-TroytlePower
About an Elf – February 10
Did you watch that trailer? I'm going to assume that you didn't because I'm pretty sure I didn't watch that trailer because what the absolute heck is this trailer and what the absolute heck is this game!?
-TroytlePower
Rise of the Third Power – February 10
This Kickstarter success story comes from the developers of Ara Fell. I've never played that RPG, but this one looks to follow it's lead with retro aesthetics, a narrative focus, and a unique combat system.
-TroytlePower
Egglia Rebirth – February 10
This is a great time to be a JRPG fan! Egglia sports a cute art style reminiscent of Legend of Mana and an interesting-looking hex-based battle system. I don't know much about this one beyond that, but what I've seen has certainly piqued my interest.
-Capsulejay
Ocean's Heart – Febraury 10
This game absolutely wears it's Zelda influences on it's sleeve… and what a delightful sleeve that makes!
-TroytlePower
Grapple Dog – February 10
It's a dog… with a grappling hook… C'MON!
-TroytlePower
Infernax – February 14
This is probably my favorite trailer I've ever seen. Is it possible that any Valentine's release could be more romantic than this?
-TroytlePower
Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp XXL – February 14
I've had a great time playing the previous Monster Prom game both with friends and on my own; of course I'd love to see a new iteration on their dating-sim/board-game mash-up! The Monster Prom games are, admittedly, pretty juvenile in their humor. But they're set in a high school full of demons, mummies, and sentient calculators – what do you expect? The wacky hijinks in these games make for excellent pass-and-play fun, making the Switch a welcome home for them. If you need a low-stakes back-pocket pick for #DatingSiMonth, this is an easy one to point to.
-Data_Error
Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection – February 17
Wait… this wasn't already on Switch? Are you sure…
-TroytlePower
Sol Cresta – February 22
MONARK – February 22
At its surface, Monark looks like a clone of Persona or Shin Megami Tensei, and for good reason; it's an RPG about a group of anime teens that travel to a parallel dimension and form pacts with demons. However, there's more to it than that. It features a challenging tactical battle system and incorporates psychiatry-based themes in both its mechanics and story. In fact, your character's attributes are determined by filling out a psych quiz at the start of the game, and you cast spells by sacrificing sanity rather than MP. The game's demo, which is available on the eShop now, certainly got me intrigued. Give it a look!
-Capsulejay
Variable Barricade – February 24
Matchmaking is pretty well played out, both in reality television and in fiction – it's even the implicit point of romance-focused visual novels. I'm interested to see how Variable Barricade plays with the reverse – whether the heroine's insistence on not getting hitched makes for interesting character dynamics, or if it clashes with the typical otome game structure. Either way, it's hard not to notice its intense, high-contrast art style, which makes every scene feel like a splash page straight out of a shoujo manga. It may be coming out the last week of February, but still looks to be a great choice for #DatingSiMonth.
-Data_Error