More laidback games for Switch to look forward to in 2018

By popular demand, it’s time to publish another list of laid back games I’m really looking forward to. Some of these games you may see on any upcoming game list at the big websites, but I also make it a point of mentioning games that don’t appear on said lists. As coincidence would have it, those are the one most of us at LadiesGamers.com look forward to the most!

Most of them are for the Switch, but there’s one in there for Mobile too. Last time readers thought the numbers showed how much I was looking forward to a game, but I try to list them by release date, not preference. Enjoy, and look forward to the second list, games I expect in 2019. I will publish in a couple of weeks.

Monster Loves you – September 30, 2018 on Switch

I’m not exactly sure about the “laid back” part, but this game in the form of a story-book adventure looks very interesting. Even though you live the life of a Monster, you make decisions that affect the world of Monsters and Humans too. Not strange when you know the favorite food of Monsters is fingers of small children.

Step into the world of fairytales. As a Monster, living in the village of Omen, you pop up in the most interesting places — what do you do when three angry bears discover a young child in their cabin? Or when you spy a wolf hunting down that woman with the red cloak?

As a Monsterling, your choices are simple ones. Do you chase those poor little mice (+1 Ferocity) or protect them from the dogs (+1 Kindness)? Do you come clean about that fungus your friends ate (+1 Honesty) or cover for them (+1 Bravery)? As a youth, your choices determine your personality.

Monsters and Humans have been at odds for centuries, and there are Human villages on the other side of the enchanted woods. When Human children get lost in those dark and winding thickets, do you terrorize them for fun (+1 Ferocity)? Do you help return them to Human civilization to prove that not all Monsters are to be feared and hated (+1 Kindness)? Or do you fatten them up for Human foie gras — a Monster delicacy?

Lots of choices, to the backdrop of increasing tensions between Monster- and Humankind.

Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story – October 2, 2018 on Switch

Do you like a good combination of simulation, RPG, Crafting and, if possible, Building? Then this might be game for you:

Putting you in the shoes of a newly appointed principal, your role in Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story is to build and manage an academy to train the heroes, mages and adventurers of tomorrow! This also means that everyday decisions lie in your hand: Do you tell a student that’s late for class off or make an indulgent exception? Will you only accept the best and brightest upstarts or also give apprentices with bad stats a chance to prove their potential? Help them develop into the greatest heroes they can be, guiding them through three core disciplines and six specialised sub-classes.

Set against the backdrop of turmoil within the world of Valthiria, your small school will grow, under your guidance, to become an influential academy of learning for the land’s brightest students. As fame and notoriety comes to your establishment, so to do the problems and politics of Valthiria.

Moonlighter – November 6, 2018 on Switch

This game, being made by a Spanish studio, is going to be a RPG with crafting elements. It combines the responsibilities of a shopkeeper by day (including crafting items and interacting with your fellow villagers) and action adventuring by night (travelling through mysterious gates in search of monsters, loot and more).

During an archeological excavation – a set of Gates were discovered. People quickly realized that these ancient passages lead to different realms and dimensions. Rynoka, a small commercial village, was found near the excavation site – providing brave and reckless adventurers with treasures beyond measure.

Will, an adventurous shopkeeper that secretly dreams of becoming a hero. During the day he conducts his business in Rynoka village, putting items on sale, setting their price carefully, manages gold reserves, recruits assistants and upgrade the shop.

When the sun goes down, Will leads a different life. You travel with him while defeating various enemies and bosses. While visiting other worlds, he collects valuable resources, weapons, armors, treasures and peculiar artifacts.

Let’s Go Eevee and Let’s Go Pikachu – November 16, 2018 on Switch

Inspired by Pokémon Yellow, mid November we will see two new games on the Switch: Let’s Go Eevee and Let’s Go Pikachu. This is what’s on the Nintendo website:

“Use a throwing motion to catch Pokémon in the wild with either one Joy-Con™ controller or Poké Ball™ Plus accessory, which will light up, vibrate, and make sounds to bring your adventure to life. Share your adventure in the region of Kanto with family or friends in 2-player action using a second Joy-Con or Poké Ball Plus (sold separately). You can even connect to the Pokémon™ GO app* using a compatible smartphone to bring over Pokémon originally discovered in the Kanto region!”

It’s fun that there will be a connection with Pokémon Go, I’m intrigued by that. As well as by the Poké Ball. A bit like the Poké Walker we used to have on our belt!

My Time at Portia – Fall 2018 on Switch

My Time at Portia that started life as a Kickstarter, is doing well. It’s already available on Steam  with very positive reviews. It’s gone a bit quiet on the console versions, but I still have hopes of a 2018 release.

The game is a combination of farming, socialising, crafting and fighting, so perfect as far as I’m concerned.

In Portia you can start a new life restoring your Pa’s neglected workshop to its former glory, grow crops, raise animals, befriend the towns quirky inhabitants and uncover the mysteries this charming post-apocalyptic land has forgotten! You can read more about the game here. 

Team 17 who will be publish the console versions, and recently published a video about The 10 things to do in My Time at Portia. Let’s take a look!

Nairi: Tower of Shirin – 2018? on Switch

This game is special to me, as the developers are a Dutch company! HomeBearStudios launched a Kickstarter campaign some time ago to bring Nairi to Steam. Although is backed, and got the green light, it hasn’t appeared on Steam yet. Still, the company had some good news to share, as the game will be coming to Switch too.

It’s about Nairi, a young woman from the rich district of Shirin, the oasis city where the game takes place. When a sudden incident forces her to abandon her rich, sheltered life, she ends up in the seedy lower district of the city ruled by gangs.

Of course, things get a bit more complicated than this. Nairi meets a gangster-turned-scholar rat, who will help her quest to find her way back home. The poor district is plagued by The White Mask, a criminal who seemingly brainwashes people. And then there’s a conflict which goes way beyond Nairi’s initial plight of simply returning home. There’s an ominous mystery surrounding the titular Tower of Shirin, after all!

This graphic puzzle adventure game has some adorable characters, another game to keep an eye on!

House Flippers – December 2018 on Mobile

Do you enjoy watching the shows on television where they buy derelict houses and turn them into beautiful properties? Then this game, that is already on Steam, might be a good one one for you.

I can’t find a lot of info about its coming to mobile, but one source mentions it being released on iOS next December. This is what the game is about:

“You play as an investor, who buys houses in need of renovation. The problem with such property is that you never really know what you can find inside and which challenges and surprises await you there. There is, however, no gain without risk.

After making the purchase, you have to restore the flat to a better state. To do that you have to e.g. tear down unnecessary walls, getting rid of any pests or fix the wiring. You do it by using various tools, such as a hammer.

The gameplay of House Flipper, however, involves more than just renovation (where, for me, the best part is coming). You also have to furnish the flats, which calls for buying furniture and decorations, and putting them in the right places.

Following all that, you have to take care of the mess, clean the windows, and sell the property for profit. This way you earn money for more investments and better tools.”

Sounds like fun to me. Here’s the official trailer.