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2023 is almost over, and it’s time to start talking about “that” season. Many of us have already been doing that…
It’s eShop Selects time here at Nintendo Life, and before the Holidays approach, we want to give you some ideas on some of the hidden gems that showed up on the eShop this November. What better gift than the joy of a hidden gem?
Let’s not waste any time, here– we’ve got lots to get through.
Honourable Mentions
Roguelikes and RPGs are the names of the game this month, and we have plenty of them here, along with the latest Football Manager installment and your very own bathhouse sim. All of the games featured this month received at least a 7/10 from us.
- 9 Years of Shadows|Evaluation: 8/10
- ASTLIBRA Revision|Evaluation: 7/10
- Football Manager 2024 Touch|Evaluation: 8/10
- In Stars and Time|Evaluation: 8/10
- Spirittea|Evaluation: 7/10
3. Thirsty Suitors (Switch eShop)
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive/ Developer: Outerloop
Release Date: 2nd Nov 2023 (USA)/ 2nd Nov 2023 (UK/EU)
Annapurna never fails to release games that stand out, and Thirsty Suitors is yet another feather in the publisher’s eclectically decorated hat. Outerloop’s highly ambitious turn-based adventure RPG can sometimes feel a bit muddled– there’s skateboarding, QTEs, cooking minigames, and more– but everything just comes together thanks to the game’s adventurous design, honest story, and relatable characters.
We stand by our statement that Thirsty Suitors has “one of the best stories we’ve seen all year.” It’s about heartbreak, identity, family, and relationships. Steeped in South Asian-American culture, there’s nothing else quite as beautiful and affecting as Thirsty Suitors, and we scored it a 7/10 here at Nintendo Life.
2. Worldless (Switch eShop)
Publisher: Coatsink Software/ Developer: Noname Studios
Release Date: 21st Nov 2023 (USA)/ 21st Nov 2023 (UK/EU)
A Metroidvania with turn-based combat? Sign us up. Worldless features dreamy visuals and a unique twist on the beloved indie genre. While the platforming and movement is smooth and familiar, the game’s RPG-style combat adds a new wrinkle that requires you to pay attention to your enemies and adjust your own attacks and abilities.
Even with some difficulty spikes and some echoes of Hollow Knight in its gameplay, the combat does enough to make Worldless stand out from the crowd. We gave this one an 8/10 in our Nintendo Life review.
1. Celestial Ascent (Switch eShop)
Publisher: MP2 Games/ Developer: Hibernian Workshop
Release Date: 14th Nov 2023 (USA)/ 14th Nov 2023 (UK/EU)
