It’s that time again, chums. There’s a big holiday sale on, this time in celebration of the annual Golden Week break in Japan. Unless you’re here, the main thing you need to worry about is the massive list of sales going on. As ever, TouchArcade is here to help you out with a list of fifteen hot discounts you should consider during this sale. There aren’t any first-party games on this time around, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have plenty to choose from. These aren’t presented in any particular order, so don’t get too worried about that. Let’s get to those Golden Week sales!
Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak ($19.99 from $59.99)
Very few of the major third party publishers put out full-oomph Switch releases on the level of Nintendo’s extremely strong efforts. Monster Hunter Rise is probably the finest example of one, as it feels like it’s pushing the hardware in good ways while offering up a dense, high-quality experience that will keep you busy for hundreds of hours. Add in the excellent Sunbreak expansion and you’ve got the most impressive full-fat third-party title on the console. A fantastic pick-up for just under twenty bucks.
Octopath Traveler ($29.99 from $59.99)
From many of the same people that brought us Bravely Default, Octopath Traveler has a striking visual style that is backed by a rather unusual multi-character narrative. The stories of eight characters intertwine in this game, and it’s largely up to you how you go about following them. While this approach makes the overall story feel a bit disjointed at times, it’s always interesting to see new approaches in a genre as well-established as this. The sequel is also on sale, but since this has been newly relisted under Square Enix’s name we’re seeing a rare deep discount on this original installment. Grab it if you somehow missed it.
Piczle Puzzle & Watch Collection ($1.99 from $7.99)
An adorable little bundle of puzzles to solve, all wrapped up in a carefully created homage to Nintendo’s classic Game & Watch line of handheld toys. You get a few different types of puzzles here, and quite a few of each type to dig into. For two dollars, fans of logic puzzles and Picross-style nonograms really can’t go wrong. Piczle Puzzle & Watch Collection is proof that sometimes all you need is a fresh package to liven up a well-worn concept.
Arcade Archives Ordyne ($5.59 from $7.99)
It’s Namco time in Arcade Archives sales again, and this time the 1988 side-scrolling shooter Ordyne has been included. Western gamers will probably know this best from its TurboGrafx-16 release, and you know when a game is best known for a TG-16 release that it’s at least a little obscure. It’s an enjoyable shooter with an attractive presentation and plenty of fun systems to learn, and I believe strongly that most shoot-em-up fans will enjoy it. Arcade Archives sales on any given title are phenomenally rare, so we may never see a discount on this game again. Get it with a discount while you can.
Voice of Cards Trilogy + DLC ($38.99 from $64.99)
Our pal Mikhail came away very impressed with all of these games when he reviewed them, and it’s easy to see why. At their core all three of these games are fairly straightforward turn-based RPGs, mechanically speaking, but their powerful tabletop aesthetic and twisty narratives (penned by Yoko Taro of NieR fame) make them extremely compelling. You can grab all three games and their DLC content in this bundle for under forty bucks, which is a wild value given how much game you get.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown ($29.99 from $49.99)
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a stunning entry in both the Prince of Persia series and the Metroidvania genre. Despite the game running almost twenty hours in length, I felt like it went by in a flash. It hits every note it has to, and has quickly become one of my favorite games in this genre in quite some time. Throw in a ton of options for those who would prefer an easier or harder experience, and you’ve got a real winner.
Arcade Paradise ($9.99 from $19.99)
Arcade Paradise is a game that keeps you playing despite sounding very much like a chore if you try to explain it to anyone. If you like the premise of running a dingy arcade out of the back of a laundromat, I suspect you will like the game a lot. It has a few flaws but nothing that really hurts the core appeal of the game, and I always find these sorts of “retro games that weren’t” affairs to be fascinating. It also does a great job of nailing its 1990s setting, with lots of little details that help pull you into its world. A unique, enjoyable sim that is very difficult to put down.
Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song ($14.99 from $24.99)
Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song is a fantastic re-do of a game that had lots of room for improvement. SaGa fans will eat it up, and even if you’ve played the original you may want to check this out for its new content and additions. There are certainly some awkward carry-overs from its PlayStation 2 origins, like the lack of a player-controlled camera, and that may chafe some. It’s also a SaGa game through and through, and that’s either going to have you jumping with joy or running for the hills. I leave it up to you to make that final decision, but I know which side of the line I’m standing on. If nothing else, it’s easier to take a punt at fifteen bucks than twenty-five.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince ($40.19 from $59.99)
Despite suffering from a few technical issues, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a fine return for a series that should never be sleeping for too long, if you ask me. It has that usual Dragon Quest charm paired with some excellent gameplay mechanics, and its narrative leaps off of the stone-cold classic Dragon Quest IV with aplomb. With Pokemon taking a year off, why not get your monster-catching kicks from this fine adventure? Especially now, when you can carve a cool twenty bucks off that purchase price.
Little Noah: Scion of Paradise ($4.49 from $14.99)
Little Noah: Scion of Paradise is a surprisingly fun take on the side-scrolling roguelite genre, with plenty of personality courtesy of its charming character designs and solid gameplay mechanics that are perhaps a little easier to come to grips with than those found in some of its peers. While I wouldn’t consider it among the best in its category, it’s a very well-made game that is worth playing if you’ve enjoyed games like Dead Cells or Rogue Legacy. Certainly a very good time for under a fiver.
DoDonPachi Resurrection ($11.99 from $19.99)
Oh hey, it’s only one of the best vertical shoot-em-ups of all-time, right here on your Nintendo Switch. It includes eight different modes including Novice mode, Black Label, and all sorts of other arrangements. This comes from the same developers that did the Switch versions of Mushihimesama and Espgaluda II, so you can expect the same level of faithfulness with this port. Yes, that’s good enough for me, and at twelve bucks it should also be good enough for many of you. DoDon’t miss this one! Ha ha, I’ll punch myself in the face for you.
Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo ($11.99 from $19.99)
If you enjoy the likes of Ace Attorney, Paranormasight is an easy recommendation. I’m not a big horror guy, but it was good enough for me to see through to the end. It plays really nicely on the Switch, and I really appreciate the inclusion of touch controls. Just be aware that the game does like to whip out the occasional jump scare, so if you’re the sort that throws whatever is in your hands when you get startled, keep a pillow on the floor near you. Your Switch will thank you, both for sparing its life and playing this slick game on it.
Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line ($24.99 from $49.99)
Is this really the last Theatrhythm? If so, Final Bar Line goes out with a massive bang. Including DLC, the total tracklist numbers around half a thousand songs, drawn not only from the diverse assortment of games in the Final Fantasy series but also the larger Square Enix library in general. Even if you don’t touch the DLC, you’ve got a whopping 385 songs to enjoy here. The new tricks in the charts add a bit of excitement even to the old familiar songs, and the refreshed presentation looks great. If you like music games or Final Fantasy, you’ll want Theatrhythm Final Bar Line.
Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 2 ($12.49 from $24.99)
Copen returns for more white-knuckle 2D action in this sequel to the original Luminous Avenger iX. Dash and slash through tricky levels, beat bosses, earn new weapons, and ascend a tower with your impressive agility. By now I feel like most of us know what we’re going to get with an Inti-Creates game, and this one doesn’t buck the trend. It scratches that Mega Man X/Zero-ish itch very well, so if that’s what you’re craving, you know what to do.
Demon Gaze Extra ($23.99 from $59.99)
Demon Gaze Extra takes a solid dungeon crawler, gives it a new coat of paint, and adds some little extra bits here and there to entice veterans to give it another go. I wouldn’t say that content is necessarily worth replaying the game for on its own, but those who haven’t played Demon Gaze yet will find a good, well-paced dungeon romp here. The story doesn’t really go anywhere that interesting, and those who don’t care for fan service will probably want to steer clear, but if what you crave is some dungeon RPG comfort food Demon Gaze Extra won’t let you down.
And that’s our picks from the Golden Week sales on the Nintendo Switch eShop. There are plenty more great games on sale right now, so make sure to check your wishlists and dig into the pages for your favorite publishers just to be sure you aren’t missing anything. If you have any sales you’d like to share, please hit those comments below. Thanks for reading!