Indie World October 28, 2026 – Information and Reactions

One of the fun things about Nintendo is how reliable it is to swerve unexpectedly. So imagine my delight at seeing the publisher announce an Indie World yesterday, a month after its last major presentation. It’s only fifteen minutes—well, in the United States; it was twenty-five in Japan—but has some nice updates. Almost no announcements, but it put at least a few games on my radar and maybe’ll put a few on yours. Here’s what we got.

After a development that’s been in the public eye since 2017, fantasy life simulator Witchbrook finally got its release date: January 28.
Gorgeous action-adventure game Winds of Viridia was announced. It has a focus on 3D platforming and a Hollow Knight-esque Charm system (it also has a soundtrack co-composed by Hollow Knight series composer Christopher Larkin). Releases “early next year” for Switch 2, with a demo available later today.
City of None, the newest game by Celeste co-create Noel Berry and his brother Liam, was shown off after being announced earlier this year. It’s a 2D action-adventure game with a dynamic “four color” art style more retro and chunky than most. Releases “next year” for Switch and Switch 2.
Sword of the Sea got a final trailer before its launch tomorrow, October 29.
Several months after its June announcement, Tenjetsu, a rougelike brawler by Dead Cells designer Sébastien Benard, got a new look. It has colorful retro graphics reminiscent of Dead Cells, but with even more squishy, stretchy animations. Releases in 2027.
Chrono Trigger-inspired RPG Threads of Time, which was announced over a year ago, is coming to Switch 2 and Switch. It features both a time travel plot in which you recruit party members from different eras an a graphical style reminiscent of Square Enix’s “HD-2D” house style. Releases “summer 2027.”
Dumpster Game, an online co-op game announced two months ago, is coming to Switch 2. In a domestic sandbox, four raccoons try to mess up a house, steal objects, eat trash, and evade an exterminator. The Switch 2 port releases next March, after its December release on PC and Xbox Game Pass.
Super Battle Golf, an eight-player sports game with cross-play, announced for Switch 2. It has a Mario Kart-esque bevy of ridiculous power-up items to sabotage your rivals, along with absurd fantastical courses. Releases March 25 for Switch 2 after a February 19 launch on PC.
R.E.P.O., a co-op physics-based horror game from 2025, was announced for Switch 2. It features procedurally generated levels. Port releases “next year.”
Haunted Paws, a “spooky co-op adventure” in which both players play as dogs, was shown off after being confirmed for Switch 2 at GamesCom. Supports GameShare. Releases “next May” for Switch 2 and Switch, with a demo available later today.
- Do note to not confuse this game with Ghostly Whiskers, an AI-filled game of a similar nature (by a studio that makes cheap knockoffs of respectable indies) that beat Haunted Paws to release.
Announced earlier this year, Kitsune: The Journey of Adashina is confirmed for Switch 2. Inspired by both the physicality and experience of Japanese temples, it’s a sort of adventure game with survival horror elements in which you explore and relight temples on an island. Releases Spring 2027.
2025’s Slime Rancher 2 is coming to Switch 2 “January 2027.” Features the “exclusive in-game toy” Glo Glo Squiggle.
Spirit Crossing, the latest game by Cozy Grove developer Spry Fox Inc., was announced. It’s a life simulator MMO with collection, exploration, and procedurally-generated sandboxes. The overarching goal involves mollifying giant storms and befriending lost spirits. First announced for PC in February, it releases as a console exclusive November 16 for both Switch 2 and Switch.
My Arms Are Longer Now, a noir comedy arm-stretching puzzle game first revealed in March, was announced for Switch. You play an absurdly stretchy arm stealing objects of value from houses, trains, and restaurants as a detective narrates your crime spree. He, along with every other character, is also voiced by developer Toot Games’ local Australian comedy scene. Releases March 11.
Petal Runner, “Pixel throwback” “about life and loss,” was announced for Switch 2 years after its 2024 announcement. It’s a bit hard for me to describe, a sort of catchy 2D retro open world cozy game about delivering digital pets in a solarpunk world. Releases March 8.
Raccoin: Chaos Max Edition, an expanded edition of this year’s PC title Raccoin, was announced for Switch 2. It’s a wild “coin pusher roguelike” about manipulating the coins in an arcade cabinet. Nintendo Switch 2 version has a bonus arcade skin and mouse controls, but the expanded edition in general also features extra characters and abilities. Releases November 10 for Switch 2. Pre-orders and a demo are now available.
Sizzle reel: Tanuki: Pon’s Summer (Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, November 19, along with a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition), Finding Polka (Switch, “spring 2027”), Floor Plan: Slap Out of It! (Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, “spring 2027”), Lost and Found Co. (Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, “early 2027”), Bao Bao’s Cozy Cleaning Service (Switch, “later today!”), Everything is Crab (Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, January 26)), Hyperuki: Snowboard Syndicate (Switch 2, “early 2027”).
In addition, the Japanese Direct featured about ten extra minutes for additional releases, as is customary for Indie world shows. They include games that were relegated to the sizzle reel in the English show (Tanuki: Pon’s Summer, Lost and Found Co., and Bao Bao’s Cozy Cleaning Service)l, but also several titles that had been fully excised:
- Table Game World CCFOLIA, a Clubhouse Games-esque collection of card games, tabletop games, and murder mysteries. While features GamesShare support, the real selling point might be its ability to let the players themselves dictate win conditions and rules instead of only relying on the old standards.
- Rhythm Doctor, which was released on PC in early access in 2025 but hasn’t had its release date updated on Switch 2 since 2018, finally has a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and date: December 6, when it gets updated to its 1.0 version.
- Card battler One Turn Kill, an action game released for PC in January, releases on Switch 2 and Switch later today!
- It also advertised games that have already been released (Order of the Sinking Star, Wobbly Life: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, Meccha Chameleon), games announced in previous shows with no new updates (Cairn, Peak, Bakudo), and unfortunately one game I could not identify.

The Direct:

Wolfman’s Soapbox: For me, the ones that stood out the most were My Arms Are Longer Now, Winds of Viridia, Table World Game, and City of None, but a lot of these seemed like games that could potentially make a shortlist of my favorite games of 2027. One of the things I like about Indie World is that it’s not about big reveals in the way most press conferences have been. It’s very much about softly poking to remind you that we do live in a world with so many great games that are just completely accessible. Now, were there few announcements because Nintendo has already secured almost every modern indie game of note? Maybe. I had been mildly hoping for a port of The Roottrees Are Dead, but mostly I wanted stuff I missed. Even when you’re a journalist who watches so many of these shows, a lot of stuff misses you or gets forgotten. Shows like these help just a bit.

Another nice thing about Indie World is that like Summer Games Fest’s Wholesome Direct, you can see the less unsavory gaming trends percolating out. There are fun-looking “friendslop” games, cozy MMOs and life simulators, stuff that obviously draws from Hollow Knight, but not many the horrible news we have to deal with every other day. And that includes a 2027 that feels increasingly stacked. The beginning of the year looks pretty great!