Why you shouldn’t be disappointed with the latest Nintendo Indie World Showcase

More than meets the eye

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Each time a Nintendo Direct or Indie World Showcase rolls around, it is no surprise that eager viewers quickly share their expectations and hopeful anticipation for specific announcements. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t fall into this category, too.

While it’s fun to place bets and make assumptions about any potential content shown through an announcement, sometimes it gets to a point where the disappointment you feel should you not see what you’re waiting for can put you off discovering something that could quickly become your next favorite game.

A perfect example of this would be any update on Team Cherry’sHollow Knight: Silksong, one of the most anticipatedupcoming gamessince first announced in 2019. Each time any sort of game announcement, be it a Nintendo Direct, an Indie World Showcase, or even going as far asSony’s State of Play, it’s one of the first things players will express their need to see, and with the “first half of 2023” release window approaching with no update, I can understand why there’s almost a desperation in receiving any sort of update.

Diamonds in the rough

After re-watchingthe indie showcase, aware that Team Cherry is holding back on any sort of update, I noticed just how many titles there are to enjoy immediately or in the coming months for theNintendo Switch. Numerous games within the most recent Indie World Showcase are worth noting, especially if you are desperate to find a new adventure in what could become one of thebest Nintendo Switch games.

For example, navigating the simple yet satisfying world ofShadows over Loathingor settling down for a comforting boardgame-like experience withQuilts and Cats of Calicomay not be the top of your list right now, but they could provide an all-new experience alongside a unique charm that you could easily ignore while waiting for something else.

In particular, Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, the spiritual successor ofJet Set Radio Future,may glisten with familiarity to a handful of players, and now with a concrete release date highlighted toward the end of the announcement, that’s reason in itself to get excited.

Even for those desperate to sink their teeth into some more Metroidvania action, the announcement ofBlasphemous 2shouldn’t go unnoticed, nor should the pixelated and haunting world ofAnimal Well. Although they aren’t the platformer many of us were expecting, it might scratch the itch of those patiently waiting forSilksongwhile offering a unique take on a well-loved genre.

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Don’t let it get you down

So despite being among the crowd waiting for any update on Hornet’s next adventure, there’s still a mass of new titles to appreciate going from the announcement rather than focusing on the disappointment of the news we haven’t received.

I, for one, am desperate to get ahold of the enchanting narrative ofMineko’s Night Marketor try my hand at keeping on beat withRift of the NecroDancer. At least I can take this extra time to brush up on my knowledge of Hallownest and beg the Mantis Lords for mercy before jumping intoHollow Knight’s esteemed sequel.

Kara is an Evergreen writer at TechRadar Gaming. With a degree in Journalism and a passion for the weird and wonderful, she’s spent the last few years as a freelance video game journalist, with bylines at NintendoLife, Attack of the Fanboy, Prima Games, and sister publication, GamesRadar+. Outside of gaming, you’ll find her re-watching Gilmore Girls or trying to cram yet another collectible onto a shelf that desperately needs some organizing.

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