Nindies Showcase Spring 2019 Recap: New Zelda Game & Cuphead Announced

Funky Link.

Crypt of the Necrodancer Zelda
Crypt of the Necrodancer

Nintendo had a lot in store for its first Nindie Showcase of 2019, announcing 18 indie games in total coming to the Switch this year. Here are the details on some of the best.

 

Cuphead

Nintendo kicked things off by revealing that Cuphead – which has up until now been a Microsoft-exclusive title – is coming to the Switch on April 18th. The pretty looking and pretty-damn-hard 2D shooter should be a perfect fit for the Switch.

 

Stranger Things 3: The Game

Releasing the same day as the third season, Stranger Things 3: The Game is coming on July 4th. The retro style adventure game lets you take control of 12 different characters from the original cast as you solve puzzles and fight Demogorgons solo or with a friend.

 

Cadence of Hyrule – Crypt of the NecroDancer

A surprise entry to close the showcase, Nintendo introduced the latest addition to the Legend of Zelda series, and it’s quite the curveball. Cadence of Hyrule combines turn-based combat with rhythm-based timing, where you attack, dodge, and parry to the beat of funky dance remixes of the Zelda soundtrack. Coming in Spring.

 

My Friend Pedro

The only console exclusive indie title that was mentioned, My Friend Pedro is a parkour freerunning run-and-gun adventure. Combine sweet backflips with killer headshots with the help (or hindrance) of Pedro, your self-aware banana friend. What’s not to like? Coming this June.

 

Neo Cab

In a not-so-distant future where self-driving cars rule the roads, inhabit the life of one of the last human taxi drivers. This cel-shaded futuristic taxi sim has you balance getting paid, building relationships with passengers, maintaining a good driver rating and even keeping your own emotions in check (probably as you ferry drunk people home after a heavy night out). Releasing in the summer.

 

The Red Lantern

The Red Lantern is the debut title from developer Timberline studios. It’s a story-driven survival game where you take on the life of a musher training for an Alaskan dog-sledding race. When things presumably take a turn for the worst, you must find your way home while keeping yourself and your dogs alive. Coming later this year.

 

Katana Zero

A game where you can kill any opponent with a single strike of your katana may sound like a breeze, but the fast-paced nature of Katana Zero is sure to keep you on your toes. Slash enemies and reflect projectiles as you surge through ‘80s neon-laden environments. Just make sure you don’t get hit, as the one-hit mechanic works both ways. Katana Zero comes to Nintendo Switch on April 18th.

 

Rad

Developer DoubleFine have crafted a colourful and fun 3D top-down action-adventure game where your character has a variety of mutations they use to their advantage. Grow a cobra head, sprout tree trunk legs, grow vampire wings or even lay radioactive eggs. Right now it’s not clear how any of it can help you, but it sure as hell looks fun. Coming summer 2019.

 

Pine

What looks like a lite version of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Pine is a 3rd-person action adventure set in a primal fantasy land. Scavenge and craft items to sell at the market to equip yourself with weapons and gear to fight monsters across five different living environments. Coming in August.

There is certainly something about the portable nature of the Nintendo Switch that lends itself to the charming, pick-up-and-play style of indie games. During the showcase, Nintendo thanked indie developers and teams for all the work they put into making their titles. Hopefully this is a sign of many more exciting indies coming to the Switch in 2019 and beyond.

READ NEXT: 10 Best Free Switch Games That Are Worth A Download

Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site. We cover gaming news, movie reviews, wrestling and much more.