It’s a new year, and with it comes new games for us to enjoy! Here are some games we are really looking forward to!

Putt-Putt Travels Through Time

• Release Date: January 3, 2022
• Developer: Humongous Entertainment
• Publisher: UFO Interactive
• Price: $14.99 USD (on sale for $11.99)

For many nineties kids like myself, the news that Putt-Putt Travels Through Time was zooming onto the Nintendo Switch was so exciting! I have fond memories of playing the Putt-Putt series on a now-obsolete Mac desktop as a child.

The Putt-Putt series consists of multiple adventure/puzzle educational point-and-click games in which you play as the titular character: a purple convertible named Putt-Putt. In Putt-Putt Travels Through Time, you’ll have to rescue Putt-Putt’s cute little doggy friend named Pep, who is currently lost in the streams of time! I’m excited for this series to come to Switch – it was so unexpected but welcome! I sure hope to see Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo as well at some point!

Freddi Fish 3: The Case of the Stolen Conch Shell

• Release Date: January 3, 2022
• Developer: Humongous Entertainment
• Publisher: UFO Interactive
• Price: $14.99 USD (on sale for $11.99)

I also played Freddi Fish games as a child; the third game in the series, Freddi Fish 3: The Case of the Stolen Conch Shell, is also coming to Switch tomorrow alongside the Putt-Putt game!

As the game’s name indicates, you play as Freddi Fish, and with her friend Luther, you will attempt to locate the stolen conch shell! The summary on the eShop seems to indicate that we’ll be able to replay the game and have different culprits each time!

Arcadia Fallen

• Release Date: January 5, 2022
• Developer/Publisher: Galdra Studios
• Price: $24.99

As a huge fan of visual novels, I was extremely interested in the idea of Arcadia Fallen, which comes out this week! It is described as a modern fantasy visual novel in which the decisions you make result in changes to your character’s personality as it develops!

I really like that the game will allow you to customize your character’s appearance, which I don’t often see in a visual novel. You’ll be able to choose your name, pronouns, and voice as well! As an alchemy apprentice, you’ll become involved in a war between humanity and magic. You’ll have five companions by your side, four of which are potential love interests. But you don’t have to form romantic relationships, and can remain platonic instead if you’d like. I think this looks really good, and can’t wait to start playing when it releases on Wednesday!

Eternal Radiance

• Release Date: January 13, 2022
• Developer/Publisher: Visualnoveler
• Price: $19.99

Eternal Radiance is an action RPG about a girl named Celeste, who wants to become a knight. Traveling with two others, Celeste must catch a thief and eventually resolve a more sinister plot. While she works on her quest, she’ll learn more about the world she lives in by completing side quests and other optional activities.

In addition to learning more about the world, Celeste will have the chance to further get to know Valana and Ruby, her traveling companions. Learn more about enchanting as well in order to upgrade your equipment and increase your skills!

The Last Friend

• Release Date: January 13, 2022
• Developer: The Stonebot Studio + Ludus Games
• Publisher: Skystone Games
• Price: $14.99

In a post-apocalyptic future, we’ll have a lot of things to worry about. In The Last Friend, the biggest problem will be the mass disappearance of the world’s doggies! 😱 The protagonist, Alpha, finds mutants preying on an innocent doggo! He discovers that he can understand the dog, whose name is “T. Juan,” and together they’ll try to find out what is happening to all of the disappearing dogs!

Pet and collect a variety of dogs with different combat abilities in this tower defense game, using both offensive and defensive moves with your team of dogs. There’s even a demo available on the eShop for you to sample the game. Dogs sure won’t leave unattended food behind, so why would you dismiss a free demo? 😉 😂

ASTRONEER

• Release Date: January 13, 2022
• Developer/Publisher: System Era Softworks
• Price: $29.99

Set during the fictional “Intergalactic Age of Discovery” in the 25th century, ASTRONEER has you explore outer space and create custom bases on the planets you land on! You’ll be able to use planets’ terrains to customize the planets and create whatever you want (within the game’s possible actions).

Terraform the planets, create bases and different forms of transport, and more by yourself or with four-player online “drop-in/drop-out” co-op play! How will you develop your custom solar system? You’ll have to “PLAN-it!” 🌎 🪐 😂