We’re getting close to the halfway point of February already. (…I forgot about the leap year!) There are more great games coming to Switch this month from a nice variety of genres – these are some that we’re looking forward to:

BANCHOU TACTICS

• Price: $19.99 USD (currently on sale for $17.99 until the 15th)
• Rating Note: T
• Developers: Secret Character, ITSARAAMATA
• Publisher: Flyhigh Works
• Release Date: February 15, 2024

I don’t think I’ve seen a banchou-themed turn-based strategy game before, so I was pretty intrigued by the sound of BANCHOU TACTICS. In the game, the previous “Demon King” delinquent has graduated, leaving a power vacuum behind. Now students from three local schools will battle it out to see who has what it takes to come out on top.

Lake

• Price: $19.99 (currently on sale for $14.99 until March 7th)
• Rating Note: M for drug usage, strong language
• Developer: Gamious
• Publisher: Whitethorn Games
• Release Date: February 15, 2024

I exclusively game on handheld devices, and Lake has been one of the games that I’ve wanted to play on Switch. Whitethorn Games recently announced that this cozy mail carrier simulation game set in 1980’s Oregon will be delivered on Switch this week! Drive around a gorgeous town, bring people their mail, and make some friends. You might even find love over the course of the two week-narrative that includes branching endings. ✉️

Tenderfoot Tactics

• Price: $14.99
• Rating Note: T
• Developer: Badru
• Publisher: Ice Water Games
• Release Date: February 21, 2024

Tenderfoot Tactics seems like a creative interpretation of the tactics genre; it’s a non-linear open-world exploration game with tactics combat. The story goes that a destructive Fog has eaten away at the inhabitable land. An ancient spirit has given a party of goblins special abilities to help them fight off the Fog and end its rain reign of terror. You’ll use your party’s new skill at elemental manipulation to change the environment to your advantage. But keep the long-term impact of your actions in mind, as you may regret those changes later…

Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story

• Price: $24.99 (base game), $29.99 (Deluxe Edition)
• Developer: Lazy Bear Games
• Publisher: Riot Forge
• Release Date: February 21, 2024

I’ve never actually played the original League of Legends, but the spinoff games on Switch look pretty neat. Prior to Bandle Tale, they’ve published:

• Hextech Mayhem, a “rhythm runner”
• Ruined King, a turn-based RPG
• The Mageseeker, an action RPG
• CONVERGENCE, a 2D action platformer
• Song of Nunu, a story adventure game

Changing things up once again, Bandle Tale is a colorful crafting RPG in which you gather materials to craft with, throw festivals, and befriend Champions from League of Legends. I think it looks super cute!

Yohane the Parhelion -NUMAZU in the MIRAGE-

• Price: $29.99 (HAS DEMO)
• Developer/Publisher: BeXide
• Release Date: February 22, 2024

I reviewed Yohane the Parhelion -BLAZE in the DEEPBLUE- last year, which was a 2D Metroidvania game based on the Love Live! Sunshine spinoff. Now Yohane is switching gears and coming to Switch in -NUMAZU in the MIRAGE-, a deckbuilding roguelite set in the same world. I enjoyed the turn-based card battle gameplay in the demo (and the promise of costumes), and should have my review up fairly soon!

Inkulinati

• Price: $24.99 (currently on sale for $19.99 until February 22nd)
• Developer/Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment
• Release Date: February 22, 2024

Inkulinati is a strategy game that takes inspiration from actual medieval manuscripts. I’m not quite as knowledgeable about the medieval period, but I do enjoy media based on historical events and artifacts. It may seem like a more solemn topic, but in this game you’ll get to play around with Medieval Memeology!

As a member of the Inkulinati, use Living Ink to draw Beasts onto the manuscript pages and battle it out with other Inkulinati members using some oddball Beasts such as donkeys who play trumpets using their rear ends. Will there be knights who say “[Neigh]”? 😉 Take your Beasts’ strengths and weaknesses into account, as well as any environmental hazards, and try to beat your opponents to the…draw.

Sympathy Kiss

• Price: $49.99 (digital & physical)
• Developer: Design Factory
• Publisher: Idea Factory
• Release Date: February 27, 2024

Sympathy Kiss is an upcoming otome that includes additional features on top of the “standard” visual novel gameplay. You play as a modern Japanese office worker who joins a new team at a company that creates mobile apps. The company is considering shutting down the app your new team is working on, and you’ll have to try to balance your work with your personal life.

There are 6 love interests, and you can decide whether you want to prioritize work or love more with each decision you make. Text the love interests or participate in (fully-voiced!) phone calls. I’m excited about that feature, and also about the “Emotion Select” system that allows you to choose how you feel about a conversation. This impacts future conversations as well.

Piczle Cross: Story of Seasons

• Price: $9.99
• Developer: Score Studios
• Publisher: RAINYFROG
• Release Date: February 27, 2024

I was pleasantly shocked by the announcement for Piczle Cross: Story of Seasons. It’s not something I would have expected, but now that I know it exists I’m pretty hyped for it. Obligatory “cropping” image joke here. 🌽 There are 350 Story of Seasons-themed nonogram puzzles to solve, and every time you clear a puzzle the seasons start to change. Your farm will expand, livestock will move in, and crops will continue to grow.

You’ll unlock 5 collage puzzles created by combining individual puzzles into one large image, and the game will include an almanac with more than 100 pages (!!!) as a celebration of the series. Besides the SoS features, they also provide players with a customizable nonogram-solving experience and a statistics/achievement section.

That’s a wrap for our February 2024 Switch highlights. Which one(s) sound the most interesting to you?