Hello, warm weather! Summertime has officially kicked off, and if you’re anything like me, you’re looking for a way to unwind in the AC between weekend trips to the farmer’s market and dog park. Thankfully, Nintendo added dozens of new titles to its eShop, so you and I are free to honor the beauty of the season without the screech of cicadas.
Whether you’ve managed to snag a Switch 2 or not, I’ve got you covered. If you’re staying in the shade this weekend, pick up one (or more) of my top picks from Nintendo’s latest drop of downloadables.
Cornhole
Midwesterners, unite! Forget the horseflies and humidity — move your cornhole game indoors! Play the classic bag toss game with standard Joy-Con controls, or opt for motion controls (a la Wii Fit) for a more immersive match. Either way, get the corn nuts ready.
PRICE: $14.99
CONSOLE COMPATABILITY: NS1 + NS2
Bee Flowers: Save the Garden
Bring the bees inside without, y’know, bringing the bees inside. In this cute, casual puzzler, players guide a busy, buzzy bee through an increasingly difficult hexagonal maze. This one doesn’t release ’til Tuesday, June 24, but you can add it to your wishlist now.
PRICE: $4.99
CONSOLE COMPATABILITY: NS1 + NS2
Bloom Paradise
Stop and smell the flowers with Bloom Paradise, a pixelated love letter to arcade games of yore. Take tiny flower fairy Tamabo (and Hanabo, too, if you’ve got a Player 2) through their once-bountiful environment to right the wrongs of invasive pests. Revitalize the area, replant flowers, and reclaim your home.
PRICE: $5.59
CONSOLE COMPATABILITY: NS1 + NS2
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Hungry Meem
After discovering a whimsical storybook that details the lives of food-focused mini-critters called Meems, players get to take the tale into their own hands. With your support, the Meems can live on. Help these playful creatures build an all-new world conducive to their survival.
PRICE: $29.99
CONSOLE COMPATABILITY: NS1 + NS2
Once Upon a Puppet
Once Upon a Puppet is a visually stunning puppet show-like platformer from the devs at Daedalic. Players put on a special glove that positions them as both “puppet” AND “puppeteer.” Pull the strings and channel your inner Geppetto in this wildly creative, puppetry-centered puzzler when it hits the eShop on Wednesday, June 25.
PRICE: $24.99
CONSOLE COMPATABILITY: NS1 + NS2
Parry Nightmare
In Parry Nightmare, you’re deep in one heckuva bad dream. To make it out by morning, pair up with your “other self” and parry, parry, parry! Perfectly time your power-ups to protect both you and your powerful partner from the unrelenting onslaught of projectiles. This overnight adventure drops on June 25, 2025.
PRICE: $6.29
CONSOLE COMPATABILITY: NS1 + NS2
Rail Route
Travel plans are entirely in your hands in Rail Route, where players design, assemble, and automate an entirely custom railway network. Successfully supervise, dispatch, and reliably run your transportation system set within in-game locales inspired by real-world destinations. Frankly, this is a lot cheaper than a traditional summer vacation.
PRICE: $19.99
CONSOLE COMPATABILITY: NS1 + NS2
Rusty Rangers
In this arcade-inspired, roguelike Metroidvania, gamers become brave rangers sworn to defeat dungeon-dwelling villains. Choose from varied playable characters, each with distinct move sets, to best navigate your way through this underground gauntlet. Relish retro design while utilizing more modern controls and unique quests.
PRICE: $15.00
CONSOLE COMPATABILITY: NS1 + NS2
TRON: Catalyst
Hop into the world of TRON in Disney’s TRON: Catalyst. Enveloped in the IP’s iconic neon hues, endure demanding disc battles, maddening missions, and other technofuturistic challenges — and yes, like the franchise entries of yesteryear, the soundtrack HITS.
PRICE: $24.99
CONSOLE COMPATABILITY: NS1 + NS2
Wéko The Mask Gatherer
Follow wandering traveler Wéko through an enchanting fantasy world to gather collectible headwear, called Primordial Masks. With each one found, gamers harness new abilities to aid their challenging journey. Solve demanding puzzles, discover hidden spots, and grow alongside Wéko.
PRICE: $21.99
CONSOLE COMPATABILITY: NS1 + NS2
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A lifelong gamer raised on classic titles like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Croc, Stephanie brings her expertise of gaming and pop culture to deliver unique, refreshing views on the world of video games, complete with references to absurd and obscure media.
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