PAX Aus 2025 Indies Coming to Nintendo Switch

Another PAX Aus is behind us, and there were plenty of indies either slated or keen to get their next gem onto the Nintendo Switch. So this weekend, I put my detective cap on and uncovered as many Switch-bound games as I could find!

Memory’s Reach

Explore the ancient planet of Virishal, lost to time until now, in this first-person puzzle adventure Metroidvania inspired by Metroid Prime. What caused the demise of the advanced civilisations on this planet?

While exploring the megastructures and solving the puzzles left behind, new paths will open. Sometimes, it reveals the ancient technology that the citizens used. What other secrets is the planet Virishal hiding?

BraveCart

Play as a cart that has gained sentience and his receipt buddy named Scrappy. Carts all over are discarded by Alphabarn and Omegamart, the two big supermarkets that rule over the world.

Tired of this, the cart is going to rescue the other abandoned carts in a variety of puzzle stages while avoiding the company employees. Together, they will show the two companies that you can’t just use and abuse carts anymore.

Bits & Bops

Inspired heavily by Rhythm Heaven, Bits and Bops takes its original music, pairs it with fun minigames and adds 2D animation as a finishing touch.

The developers have even edited the engine they’re using to ensure that no beats are missed. With over 20 minigames to play and simple controls, it won’t be long before everyone gets into the rhythm.

Pro Jank Footy

Many would say that the game of Australian Rules Football is difficult enough, but what about a game where the rules change each time a team scores a goal? In Pro Jank Footy, when a team scores a goal, they get to pick either a buff, debuff or something absurd that can either affect their team, the opponents' team or everyone.

This includes things such as changing the goalposts to wacky, waving inflatable men or making everyone on the team have a football head. Hilarity will ensue!

Loftia

What’s more fun than exploring a series of floating islands alone? Exploring them with friends, of course! In Loftia, players can work alone or together to create neighbourhoods and decorate them, complete environmentally friendly projects or just explore.

Ever wanted to live near your friends? Just tow a floating island and tie it to your home. Now your neighbours! With an emphasis on teamwork and being environmentally friendly, Loftia is a 3D adventure game with MMO elements that’s more fun with friends.

Castle Cab

Step into the shoes of an intelligent horse who ferries passengers from one destination to another. Pick up the passengers and take them where they want to go to earn points in either story mode or versus other players in the multiplayer mode.

Nothing will get in the way if the spin attack is used! Use it to create your own shortcuts. Tired of the normal brown horse? Customise it and your cart to look unique so no one can deny your sense of style. Just stole the opponent's passenger? Fart on them to add insult to injury. Only the best horse will win.

Nullstar: Solus

When a planet dies, its most valuable resource is up for grabs: the Nullstar. Companies descend on the planet with their drones to try and scavenge it first. As the pilot of the drone Solus, you will need to use precision platforming to avoid all the obstacles and claim the prize.

This dead planet is full of traps that still work, so players can expect to die, die, and die again. Those who manage to retrieve the nullstar in each level with a fast time will go on the leaderboard. Be fast, be precise and be brave.

My Arms are Longer Now

You are a yucky arm that is like a snake. Use your hand to grab items and solve problems in ways that only a hand can. Each level in My Arms Are Longer Now will have a list of items your extendable, kleptomaniac hand will have to pinch.

Not every item is as straightforward as grasping and retracting, though, as some will require special puzzling to access them.

Apothecurse

Leon, the fledgeling alchemist, is at risk of being kicked out of the order and must now cross the seas to Port Gelour. Plague-ridden, the entire city is on the brink of revolution!

Thomas will need to forage alchemical ingredients to turn into potions. From there, he can use the potions on the environment to solve puzzles or on enemies to defeat them. Can he claim his place in the order?

Canvas City

What was once a lively city is now overrun by luxury apartments, corporate highrises, and silent streets. Public art is outlawed, and music permits are nonexistent. But a change is coming. Underground gangs are battling it out to claim their turf using a combination of slick skating tricks, dancing and tagging.

As the newest gang, Spark Skating, you’ll need to climb your way up the ranks by taking on the other teams on their turf in turn-based combat. Go ahead, spark a movement.

Davy Jones’ Deckhand

After an unfortunate incident at sea, lowly deckhand Thomas Essex winds up dead before being resurrected by Davy Jones as his slave. Now desperate to escape, Thomas must navigate the seas focusing on what he needs, whether it’s gold, special cards or urgent healing.

During fights, Thomas will need to match the numbers on the enemies' cards with his own. In addition, he’ll use special stances to help him out. Fail, and he’ll need to bargain with Davy Jones to return to the surface, albeit with a debuff. Survive the journey and escape your fate.

Teeto

Teeto is a 3D puzzle platformer with an emphasis on exploring for collectables. Taking control of the small blob Teeto, players can use his unique ability to imitate items in the environment to solve puzzles and defeat enemies.

If there is a second player, they’ll be able to take control of Teeto’s best friend, Nory. Together, they will jump and transform their way into learning where the corruption that threatens their world is coming from. 

Throw Rocks At Shit

Roxanne has always watched over the sacred lake. She has known that the day would come when she would need to defend it, and she knows her friends of the river clan will always have her back.

Now, I watched the trailer, and it’s hard to discern what exactly the game is about beyond throwing rocks at literal excrement to keep it at bay. It is exactly what it says on the cover.

Jupiter Junkworks

Jupiter Junkworks is a run-down Junkworks on the planet Jupiter. Ryla, Grant and Jun are three misfits who end up stranded at the Junkworks and will need to work together to get the money to leave. Luckily, clearing scrap is just about putting the pieces in their place, and the machine will do the rest.

There might be gaps in the scrap, but by using slam and smash techniques, those holes will soon fill. Not only did the original owner of the Junkworks disappear mysteriously, but the trio's pasts may soon catch up to them.

Blood Vow: Survive the Night

The desperate pleas of the populace have given birth to you. As their guardian deity, it’s up to you to help defend them from an awful enemy that stalks them in the night. These creatures are statues during the day, bloodthirsty monsters at night.

Destroy as many as you can while the sun is out, and place protective totems to prevent them from feasting on your followers. Despite these measures, your presence makes the most difference in this battle, so use everything at your disposal to keep them safe.

Fox and Shadow

The world has fallen to ruin, and the only way to survive is to scavenge scrap. The longer the drone is out in the world, the more eyes will watch it. Do you stay out longer to get more scrap and risk losing it all? Or will you head back to refine your cards?

Players will be able to choose their path on the surface, but back at base, they’ll be able to create powerful cards by combining the body of the drone and the mind of the pilot. Once the deck is sorted, head back up and see what you can scavenge this time.

Shyftrs

When Brams follows the trail of his parents, who went missing during an expedition, he finds himself transported to a mysterious world called Ikarus. In his search, Brams discovers the bridge that links this strange world, Ikarus, and his original world, Esos: The Astral World.

In the 2D Metroidvania Shyftrs, players will be able to shift between the different worlds to progress and slowly uncover the secrets behind Bram's family and their legacy.

Ten Thousand Coins

After her mentor disappears, a young fox merchant is left to try to discover what on earth happened. She’ll use the skills she learned from her mentor not just to make money, but to survive. Every item has its price.

When ambushed by bandits, she’ll have to decide whether to bribe the bandit, use some of her wares to attack the bandit, or take her chances with running. As a trader, she can’t just hand over wares, though, often choosing to barter to make sure both sides are happy. While it is a skill that can be taught, it truly requires experience to learn.

Planetsmith

While Planetsmith might look like another voxel world-building game, it’s actually unique, as instead of using cubes, the world is built up of hexagons. This allows the planet to have a curved surface, something that isn’t possible with the cube voxels.

Both survival mode and creative mode are available to play in single-player and multiplayer modes on the same server. Survival mode is exactly as it sounds; you need to survive, while creative mode allows players to build to their heart's content.

Lighthaze World

Nym has severe social anxiety and tends to avoid crowded places. When Chewy, their beloved dog, runs out of food, it’s time for Nym to face their fears. Unfortunately, the crowded shopping centre proves too much for Nym, and they dissociate into a serene world with relaxing puzzles.

Every puzzle is designed so players won’t become stuck. Based on sights seen in Tasmania, this puzzle game is perfect for a chill time.

Foodomina

In the food universe, Foodomina, food is personified and has thoughts, feelings and opinions. These humanoids are known as Foodians, and they face an ancient threat that could destroy their world. Mould.

Foodians will turn into moldians when exposed to the disease. Two Foodians, Taoyaki and Tempura, have found themselves in a strange situation where they may be able to save the world using turn-based combat, shoot-em-up dodging mechanics and food puns.

Thank you for checking out our PAX Aus 2025 Indie Games Coming to Nintendo Switch roundup and thank you to our Patreon Backers for their ongoing support:

• Andrew Caluzzi (Inca Studios / Camped Out)
• Bel Cubitt
• Bobby Jack
• Jack Caven
• Nintendo Maniacs
• RedHero