Last year in the summer, I made a post with various random images in tiles to represent the home screen of a Nintendo Switch successor. These games were said to be the launch games of the system. There were a few images based on known entities, while others used films to represent a certain idea. Since that time, I have been thinking more on these ideas. So, across this year, I’m providing thoughts for every tile I made.

This isn’t going to be in order, as you can see from those I’m choosing to look at with this first article. And what better place to start than a stealth game. Within the film of Igor, released in 2008, there was an immortal rabbit called Scamper. His immortality is mostly played for laughs as he tries to endlessly kill himself, but it does play a role in the finale. In a rather… weird way.

It’s an interesting premise to have for a game, but how exactly to use it? It was something I was thinking of the most. Platformer where you have to use the elements that would usually hurt you to progress? Lift Saints Row’s Insurance Fraud mode to make a high-score-based game? But stealth, I feel, suits the attributes better. Picture this.

You play as an immortal rabbit who is tasked with sneaking into places with a bomb strapped to them. The guards, should they find you, will be hesitant to use weapons against you. But should you be found, they will block you in and attempt to grab you. If at any point they touch the bomb, it is game over. The objective can no longer be completed.

But it’s not just stealth missions this rabbit will partake in. They will also serve as a distraction for when others are sneaking around. With these missions, the stealth is turned on its head. Instead of avoiding being spotted, you need to pull as many guards to you as possible. But do so in a way where those who are sneaking around won’t be found.

To focus those stealth elements, you will have no weapons to use yourself. No attack power of your own. But you will have the ability to taunt. Being immortal, those taunts will all be based around that fact. Whether commenting on the fact he cannot be killed, thinking on what dangerous thing he’ll be doing next, or many others, they will be situational to threat level he is currently under. Yeah, it’s pretty dark humour, but what else would you expect from a horror-comedy?

To lighten the mood, let’s go for a ride on The Magic Roundabout. Yes, it’s one of my favourite films and I foresee greatness should there be an adaptation of it. Originally only on the image as I’d once joked how Nintendo would create many adaptations of it across many genres to represent each of their consoles and handhelds, I’ve come around to one genre that would best suit it.

A puzzle-adventure would allow each of the four characters their own abilities to navigate through levels. Those levels would require all four characters to reach the end to complete them. But this is a puzzle game, so that’s not going to be easy. Paths that only one character can navigate will be a thing. From there, they can then open other paths for the rest of the characters to use. It won’t be just alternate paths, either. Puzzles on a singular path will also be a thing.

Each character would be controlled individually, so no having them following to places they can’t pass. Bosses would be played similar to standard levels, where you’re not interacting with the boss directly. You’re instead going through the level activating traps and other forms of disruption to take down their health, while they can make things difficult for you with their traps.

Now, if you just adapted the story of the film as is, this would be a very small game. The tutorial in the town, Zeebad’s base, the volcano, the temple, then the town again. So, there’d be additions between those to extend the adventure a bit. But then there’d also be bonus levels telling their own little stories with these characters.

Farming Simulator. An absolute love of mine since 2019. The main games are great, always expanding on the options available with each new game. The Switch had a main game to start with, taking Farming Simulator 17 and putting it onto this hybrid system. But for whatever reason, Giants starting bringing the mobile versions to the Switch after that first.

As much as the mobile versions still retain the core gameplay loop, it is so much more basic as an experience. Many systems are cut down massively, thus reducing the freedom the main games have. Even just small things such as the trailers tipping automatically when driving over selling points. It feels massively awkward on the Switch where it has already proven it can handle all these functions.

So, why not make a Nintendo-specific version? Do without the mods, but make sure it is as close to the main games as possible. Maps that are different to the main game, the full control set, all the new features that might be introduced with the main game. That is, of course, if mods are the reason for the Nintendo platform not getting the main game. If not, then design the game however is needed to get around that reason.

That is the first three games from that image talked of. The next time, there will be four games rather than three. What those are, I won’t be saying. But there are going to be equal amounts known entities and original concepts. Even if one of those will use known entities. That will be a few months away, but there will be other concepts in the meantime.

Images Taken From:
scamper deaths – The Igor Movie | drkas
The Magic Roundabout (2005) Theatrical Trailer | TP Percival
Farming Simulator Nintendo Switch Edition | Nintendo Switch [Docked]