Aspire: Ina’s Tale

• Release Date: December 17, 2021
• Developer: Wondernaut Studio
• Publisher: Untold Tales
• Price: $12.99

Ina, the titular character, awakens from a sort of “eternal slumber” in a tower she has been trapped in. (She seems to be a mixture of Aurora from Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel?) As Ina, you’ll explore the tower and try to find a way out of there. Who trapped you in the tower, and why?

As you explore the tower, you’ll have to use Ina’s mysterious powers to manipulate objects, find the solution to puzzles, and discover hidden passages that may help you find your way out. You’ll meet other “residents” of the tower and get to know them as you attempt to set them free as well. Enjoy lovely art in this side-scrolling adventure coming soon to Nintendo Switch!

One Hand Clapping

• Release Date: December 14, 2021
• Developer: Bad Dream Games
• Publisher: HandyGames
• Price: $14.99

An incredibly intriguing concept, One Hand Clapping is a “vocal 2D platformer” in which you will need to solve puzzles by singing or humming into a microphone (*not included with the Switch; you’ll need your own headphones/microphone to play). This is meant to be a relaxing game, so you can take your time and not worry about perfection – there are no consequences for mistakes here!

You’ll meet a variety of lovable characters, including three hermits who are there to help you with your journey. There are no Simon Cowells here – you’ll find that those in the world of One Hand Clapping will be your biggest fans! Become more confident with your singing and chill out as you travel across these colorful lands!

Paradise Lost

• Release Date: December 3, 2021
• Developer: PolyAmorous
• Publisher: ALL IN! GAMES
• Price: $14.99 (currently on sale for $8.99 until December 17th)

In another universe, WWII continued for an additional twenty years until the Nazis attacked the majority of Europe with nuclear missiles. Now, the remnants of Europe are shrouded in radiation. In Paradise Lost, you’ll play as twelve year old Szymon, who now wanders the wastelands of Poland after his mother’s death. He discovers a Nazi bunker and decides to investigate it.

Szymon’s mother gave him a photograph with a man in it, and he wants to find this unknown man his mother seemed to love. In the meantime, Szymon explores this abandoned Nazi bunker full of advanced technology and Slavic pagan imagery. Eventually, a girl named Ewa contacts Szymon through the bunker’s communication technology. If he can find her, he can see if she knows the man in the picture, and he’ll finally have companionship.

Ever Forward

• Release Date: December 7, 2021
• Developer: Pathea Games
• Publisher: PM Studios
• Price: $14.99

Ever Forward is a game with more than three years of puzzle development specifically with the “puzzle gamer” in mind. You’ll play as Maya, a girl trapped in between reality and the world of imagination. She needs to unlock her memories and challenge her worst fears in order to discover this strange place’s secrets.

A major plus for Ever Forward is that some of the puzzles have multiple methods of completion, which accommodates people with different thought and logic processes. Collect Maya’s memory fragments to gain access to new areas and new puzzles. Will you continue forward and find out what happened to Maya?

Loop Hero

• Release Date: December 9, 2021
• Developer: Four Quarters
• Publisher: Devolver Digital
• Price: $14.99 (currently on sale for $13.49 until December 9th)

The Lich has placed the world under a time loop, and it’s up to you to break it! Use a deck of mystical cards to create your own problems – that is to say, you’ll place building, terrain, and enemy cards in each loop to create the path you’ll follow. Beyond your designed path of cards, each loop path is randomly generated.

You’ll unlock new classes, cards, perks, and more as you try to break out of the time loop. Acquire loot and equipment for each class of heroes, expand the survivors’ camp to help each loop’s heroes, and hopefully you’ll be able to save the world!