Aksys Games remains one of my favorite publishers, with a nice variety of otome, simulation, and JRPGs. It seems like they have a little bit of something for everyone. They just announced new additions to their 2024 lineup, and I’ve got to say that I’m pretty excited for the upcoming months. Here’s a list of every game they’re bringing to Switch this year (that we know of so far).

Watch the All Aksys 2024 announcements below:

February

Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II

• Price: $49.99 USD (digital & physical)
• Rating: M
• Release Date: February 15, 2024

Protagonist Kazuo Yashiki returns to H City in the latest entry in the Spirit Hunter series. Out the day after Valentine’s Day, this horror game is sure to make your heart race. This time Kazuo goes undercover as a teacher at Konoehara Academy, where students have gone missing under suspicious – and possibly supernatural – circumstances.

Some characters from the first game return to help Kazuo with his latest case, and you’ll get to choose who accompanies you on the new 2D exploration segments of the game. Do your best not to make any missteps, as these spine-chilling spirits based on Japanese mythology won’t show you any mercy.

April

Tengoku Struggle: Strayside

• Price: $49.99 (digital & physical)
• Rating: T
• Release Date: April 2024 (Amazon listing suggests the 4th)

From the team behind Olympia Soirée, Tengoku Struggle: Strayside is a “comedic fantasy otome adventure” story about the relationship between “Heaven and Earth.” The Human Realm and Hell Realm made a deal to turn Asakusa into a tourist attraction that allows the living to meet the dead. I’m already intrigued based on that idea alone!

Recently some prisoners from Hell escaped, so King Enma orders his adopted daughter Rin to capture them with help from a few trustworthy prisoners. Once they arrive in the Human Realm, they discover an additional complication in the form of an app that promises forgiveness for one’s sins. As Rin and her team work to complete their mission, they may even find love along the way.

I love the character designs (and the adorable mascot), and the concept appeals to me. I like that there are only 5 love interests. The Visual Novel Database indicates that it’s fairly long, and it’s tagged as having a “Strong Female Protagonist.” Waiting for this one seems like it’ll be a…struggle. 😉

Summer 2024

~New Announcement~

Tokyo Xanadu eX+

Tokyo Xanadu was one of my favorite games on PS Vita (it was actually the second game listed in the article I wrote about my Switch port wishlist back in 2021). I missed out on some content only available in the eX+ version though, so I’m ecstatic to see that they’re bringing the Switch port West with a new localization and all of the DLC content included.

The game is an action RPG with social elements that are similar to Persona; you play as a high school student and get to explore the city in between school and battling enemies in dungeons. I can’t wait to experience the eX+ content for the first time in June, and as it’s a Nihon Falcom game I’ll get to do so while listening to one of my favorite soundtracks. 🎶

~New Announcement~

Radiant Tale -Fanfare-

I reviewed the original Radiant Tale last year, and it was one of my favorite otome games in recent memory. The romantic scenes were sweet, and the silly antics of the members of CIRCUS made me laugh. One of my complaints was that Jinnia wasn’t romanceable (I also liked Liyan).

I guess that must have been a popular subject among fans, because the Radiant Tale -Fanfare- fan disc includes routes for both of them! It contains stories that occur after the original love interests’ happy endings as well as some “mini-episodes” that take place during the original main story. I’m really excited that they’re bringing this one to Western audiences as well.

~New Announcement~

Tales from Toyotoki: Arrival of the Witch

Tales from Toyotoki: Arrival of the Witch tells the story of Hikaru, a boy who travels to a remote island to live with his grandfather…only to discover that the man is currently abroad. (Did his parents not tell him Hikaru was coming? 😨) Scrambling to find somewhere to stay, he runs into a witch named Lilun, who has her own reasons for coming to the island. We don’t know too much about this one yet, but I really liked another VN KEMCO was involved with (Archetype Arcadia), so I have high hopes for Tales from Toyotoki.

Blazing Strike

• Price: $39.99 physically, TBA digitally

Blazing Strike is a 2D fighting game that takes inspiration from classic arcade games created by Capcom and SNK. They aim to put a new spin on fighting games with modernized mechanics. The Amazon listing indicates that players can choose to play as one of the fourteen different fighters, and you can train the game’s AI to fight using your style. Apparently the AI can also fight opponents online! In addition to online matches, there’s a story mode with cutscenes between fights.

Fall 2024

~New Announcement~

Virche Evermore – EpiC: Lycoris-

Full disclosure: I didn’t play the first game, Virche Evermore -ErroR: Salvation- because I heard it was more “hurt” than “comfort.” I actually enjoy “hurt/comfort” and “angst with a happy ending,” but didn’t think I could handle this story. (The art is sure gorgeous, though.) That being said, from what I’ve seen the original game was a hit with otome fans who like tragic stories. If you played the first one and enjoyed it, you’ll probably have a similar response to “the new despair and salvation that awaits Ceres and her suitors” this fall.

2024 & Beyond

We’re clearly in for another year of great content from Aksys Games. I’m sure we’ll see more announcements as 2024 progresses. They announced one last game in their All Aksys video yesterday, which is set for release in 2025:

Despera Drops

Out next year, Despera Drops is set in Italy in 2028. Main character Mika is studying abroad in Bologna, and when she goes to Rome to celebrate finishing her exams, she stumbles upon a murder scene. She’s taken into custody, but the police vehicle transporting her crashes, freeing Mika and 6 other prisoners. Now fugitives, the group is being pursued by the police – but also by a mysterious group who want Mika for some “power” she supposedly has. There are a lot of unanswered questions in the story, and we’ll have to wait a year to get the answers. 🔍 My thoughts so far? “Che bella!” 😘