Nintendo has released a look at their upcoming 2015 slate of first and third party eShop titles for both the Wii U and 3DS.
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The announcement comes just before PAX East where the House That Mario Built will be showing off Splatoon! and the New Nintendo 3DS, and perhaps some of the many titles announced today.
"The Nintendo eShop continues to grow, offering consumers a vibrant and constantly expanding library of digital content on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS," said Steve Singer, vice president of Licensing at Nintendo of America. "We've seen tremendous support from the 'Nindie' developer community, and can't wait for fans to get their hands on the games we will soon be helping them to launch."
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But what might they be able to put into the aforementioned hands this year? Let us count the ways:
Don't Starve: Giant Edition - the "definitive" version of the survival game will bring in some Gamepad support that will allow players Off-TV play and access to the map on screen, which is something that should just happen naturally for any game on the Wii U.
Never Alone - launching back in November on next gen consoles, Never Alone is the first game developed with the help of the Alaskan native population and is a hauntingly beautiful trip through the snowy tundra of native myth and storytelling. "The Wii U version of the game launches this June and features Off-TV play and "contextual insights" - detail about the history, culture and lives of the Iñupiat people - that uses the second-screen interface of the GamePad."
The company also revealed more levels and details on several of their upcoming exclusive third party titles, such as Affordable Space Adventures, which will feature seamless drop-in/drop-out gameplay and will hit the Wii U shop on April 9.
Runbow is a new NINE player co-op title that launches in Q3 of this year and will pit the party against platforms, obstacles, colors and sounds of all types in what could be the next great in-person multiplayer title.
"Swords & Soldiers II from Romino Games is a 2D side-scrolling strategy game for Wii U that allows players to acquire units, cast spells and build structures to overwhelm or outsmart opponents. In this sequel, players can play as three factions - The Viking Legion, the Demon Horde and the new Army of the Persian Empire. This new playable faction consists of mystic swordsmen, shadowy assassins and evil witches. Swords & Soldiers II launches exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on Wii U in May."
And we can't forget Mario vs Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars which is a sort of precursor to the upcoming Mario Maker. Tipping Stars lets you create, play and share your own unique Mushroom Kingdom levels with the Miiverse and also includes 80 levels of its own for you to jump and tap your way through. As an added bonus, if you buy the Wii U version, you'll get the 3DS version, and vice versa. $19.99
Additional games arriving on Wii U are:
6180 the moon (Q2 2015)
Adventures of Pip (May) - Kickstarter title!
Antipole DX (Q3 2015) - 3DS, a former DSi title
Art Academy (2015)
Back to Bed (May)
BADLAND: Game of the Year Edition (Q2 2015) - trailer
Beatbuddy (Q2 2015)
Chromophore: The Two Brothers Director's Cut (August)
Dot Arcade (March)
Elliot Quest (March)
forma.8 (Q3 2015)
Hex Heroes (Q3 2015) - Kickstarter success!
Life of Pixel (Q2 2015)
Mutant Mudds Super Challenge (Q2 2015) - also on 3DS, get the original here
Nihilumbra (Spring)
Ninja Pizza Girl (June) - three of my favorite things! Kickstarter success
NOVA-111 (Summer)
Octodad: Dadliest Catch (Summer)
OlliOlli (3/5/2015) - 3DS
RACE THE SUN (Q2 2015)
Shantae: Risky's Revenge - Director's Cut (Q3 2015) - 3DS
Shutshimi (Q2 2015) - 3DS
Slain! (Q3 2015)
Space Hulk (5/2/2015)
STARWHAL (Q2 2015)
The Swindle (Summer)
Toto Temple Deluxe (Q2 2015)
Trine Enchanted Edition (3/12/2015)
Ultratron (May)
Windup Knight 2 (April)
Meanwhile, the 3DS is getting...
BOXBOY! (Spring)
Cube Creator 3D (Q2)
Dementium: The Ward (Q2)
DOOORS (Spring)
Lionel City Builder 3D: Rise of the Rails (Q2)
Proun+ (3/5/15)
SteamWorld Heist (August)
It is but a taste of things to come. Naturally, they were mum on the whole Zelda thing, but we're onto them. Oh yes, we're onto them.