Nintendo's "Nindies Showcase" Nintendo Direct just wrapped up a short while ago. This particular Nintendo Direct was emceed by Damon Baker, Sr. Manager of Partner Management at Nintendo. It was focused on indie titles coming to the Nintendo Switch (as evidenced by the "Nindies" portmanteau.) They announced a flurry of indie titles that will be coming to the console this year, along with a number of newly announced titles. Nintendo of America posted a tweet that shows dozens of titles, some of which were discussed in greater detail in the Nindies Showcase.

https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/836626565949612037

There's a lot of interesting info that has popped up in the Nindies Showcase Nintendo Direct with over a dozen titles that throwback to the classic Nintendo games of yesteryear or bring some new life to existing genres and properties. Let's get to it!

Runner3 was one of the more colorful games shown in the Nindies Showcase.

Exclusive to the Nintendo Switch

Blaster Master Zero from Inti Creates is a sequel to the classic Blaster Master games and will feature the same mix of vehicular side-scrolling combat and top-down combat on foot. It's slated to have a two-player mode, and "numerous character cameos" have been teased. Additionally, the game will be coming to the Nintendo 3DS. It releases on both systems on March 9, 2017.

Pocket Rumble from Chucklefish Games and Cardboard Robot Games is a 2-D fighting game with simple controls - it uses the A button, B button, and the directional pad. HD Rumble is touted as a feature of the game as it will give different feedback depending on the kind of hits you take. The simple design and play style of the game makes it ideal for two-player combat with the Nintendo Switch right out of the box as you'll essentially have two controllers for it from jump. Pocket Rumble will be coming to the Nintendo Switch as a console exclusive (it is available on Steam in the final stages of Early Access ahead of the full release) in March 2017.

Runner3 from Choice Provisions is a continuation of the adventures of Commander Runner, protagonist of BIT.TRIP RUNNER and Runner 2. It will feature quests, branching paths, new Retro Challenges, new character moves, new dance moves, item shops, and a roster of different characters to select from. Runner3 will release sometime in Fall 2017.

GoNNER is a game showcased in this particular Nintendo Direct that features an awfully big space whale. Her name is Sally. Sally seems nice.

Timed Exclusive to the Nintendo Switch

from Raw Fury and Art in Heart is a procedurally-generated platformer that features roguelike elements. It showcases the journey of Ikk, Death, and space whale named Sally and is touted to be an unforgiving and brutal game. It unequivocally features the largest (and quite possibly only) space whale shown in the Nintendo Direct, and you can expect GoNNER to be released as a timed exclusive to the Switch later this year. The console will get exclusive content for the game at a later date.

Graceful Explosion Machine from Vertex Pop is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up. Players will pilot the Graceful Explosion Machine (GEM) fighter and use a variety of classic shmup weapons to fight their way throughout the game. Emcee Damon Baker took a moment during the Nindies Showcase to comment that he wasn't particularly "graceful" when playing it but that he nonetheless had a fun time. It features HD rumble support and will launch on the Nintendo Switch as a timed exclusive in April 2017.

Mr. Shifty from tinyBuild and Team Shifty is a top-down game that is a multidirectional shooter with stealth elements in a vein similar to Hotline Miami but with a bit of a twist - the player can teleport across the map. You'll be able to execute lightning-fast attacks with proper weapons such as a staff as well as more improvised fare like a broom. Expect one hit kills, HD rumble support, and it to release first on Nintendo Switch in April 2017. If you want to try it on PC, the game is in Open Beta right now that you can sign up for here.

Shakedown Hawaii from vBlank is a 16-bit spiritual successor to Retro City Rampage. It sets out to parody big business, white collar crimes, and the general building of a criminal empire all on a destructible sandbox island. It will launch first on Nintendo Switch in April 2017.

Stardew Valley from Chucklefish Games and ConcernedApe itself won't be a timed exclusive, of course - it's already out on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. However, the Nindies Showcase had some interesting news for fans of the game - the Nintendo Switch will be the first console to get multiplayer Notably, that wouldn't impact the PC version as that is, of course, not a console. Stardew Valley will be coming to the Nintendo Switch sometime in Summer 2017.

Kingdom: Two Crowns lets players journey across their kingdom and manage it in a variety of ways. In this scene, we see the titular kings defending a fortification using an inferior catapult that is wholly incapable of launching a 90 kilogram projectile over 300 meters.

New Game Announcements Without Exclusivity

Steamworld Dig 2 from Image & Form Games , a sequel to Steamworld Dig, will be launching sometime this summer. The game is a side-scrolling mining exploration and adventure game where players will dig up valuable ore, navigate obstacles, and fight enemies in a steampunk Old West environment.

Wargroove from Chucklefish Games is a turn-based strategy game that hearkens back to titles such as Advance Wars with its style but featuring a noticably medieval flair. Players will work their way across top-down maps and engage in battles against enemy troops on both land and sea. It'll be coming to the Switch later this year, and Chucklefish Games' CEO has confirmed that will be arriving on other consoles and PC as well.

Flipping Death from Zoink Games features a rather unfortunate soul going by the name of Penny. Death has gone on vacation, and it's up to Penny to help the ghosts of The Otherside with their problems in this platform-puzzle-adventure game. It features a "world-shifting" mechanic where players will move between The Otherside and the real world in an effort to help the ghosts solve whatever problems they might be having. You can expect this game to be released on the Switch sometime later this year. You can see the trailer here.

Kingdom: Two Crowns from Raw Fury and Noio is a side-scrolling kingdom management game that supports two player co-op and it was first revealed in the Nindies Showcase as the next addition to the award-winning Kingdom series. You can deal with your subjects in person or venture out into the wilderness to directly confront threats to your people and kingdom. It's scheduled to launch on the Nintendo Switch later this year as well as PC and other consoles. You can view the trailer here.

Also Coming to the Nintendo Switch

from Team 17 and Mouldy Toof is the sequel to The Escapists, a game that's all about escaping from prison and it was the first title to be shown off in this particular Nintendo Direct. It will feature drop-in drop-out co-op multiplayer for up to four people. Players will be able to utilize new methods and tools to escape prisons such as making a rope out of bedsheets to escape from a multi-level prison. The Escapists 2 will be on the Nintendo Switch sometime later in 2017. The Escapists 2 was announced last year at Twitch Con.

Overcooked: Special Edition from Team 17 and Ghost Town Games is, well, a special edition of Overcooked that's on its way to the Switch. It will feature the base game as well as all of the DLC content in one neat package. 1-4 players will cook their way through a variety of different dastardly kitchens, ultimately leading up towards a confrontation against a great edible evil. It's slated to be released on the Switch sometime later in 2017.

Tumbleseed: A Rolly Roguelike from aeiowu is a physics-based game by the developer of Threes and Ridiculous Fishing. In it, you'll balance an adorable little seed on a platform as it scales its way ever upward, dodging obstacles and challenging enemies alike. Featuring more than 30 upgrades for your character, Tumbleseed: A Rolly Roguelike is coming to the Nintendo Switch later this year with HD Rumble Support.

Dandara from Raw Fury and Long Hat House is a side-scrolling platformer with gravity-bending elements similar to those in VVVVV. You'll be playing as the titular Dandara who sets out to bring order to an otherwise chaotic world. It'll be coming to the Switch sometime in Summer 2017 with exclusive features and functionality as well as HD rumble support.

Yooka Laylee from Team 17 and Playtonic Games is a spiritual successor to 3-D item collection platformers like Banjo Kazooie. Players will journey across the land as Yooka (a green lizard) and Laylee (a bat - the kind with wings, not the kind that hits baseballs), hoarding collectible loot and meeting a colorful cast of characters. It will be coming to the Switch later this year, as the game's Nintendo release, instead of the canceled Wii U version.

That's it for the recap of the Nindies Showcase! Nintendo has invested in indies in a big way for their upcoming console, especially with companies like Team 17, Chucklefish Games, and Raw Fury contributing multiple titles. If you're near New York City, you'll be able to get a real-life version of the Nintendo Direct and go see the Nintendo Switch in person at Madison Square Park (near the 23rd Street PATH Station) on Friday, March 3, 2017 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time.

What do you think of this batch of indie titles being announced for the Nintendo Switch in the Nindies Showcase? Are there any particular games shown in this Nintendo Direct you're looking forward to? Will you be buying a Switch at launch, or will you be waiting until later in the year? What did you think of this Nintendo Direct overall? Let us know in the comments below!