Hey guys! Good news bad news for this week’s Nintendo Download. First, the good news – there’s a lot of great games this week, both retail and digital. The bad news? There are no standard sales this week, as the Game Guide must have died of heat stroke. On the plus side, there are some other savings to be had, just not what you might expect. So let’s see what’s worth playing in this sunny hell called Summer.

Nintendo Download | Flip Wars

First off, there’s a brand spanking new game out for the Switch today called Flip Wars. Think Lights Out but with multiplayer and you pretty much know what to expect. It looks like a fun and frantic game, though a lot of the value will depend on if the multiplayer is just local or online as well. If you want something more classic, starting next week Sonic Mania is finally coming out! This fan made celebration of all things Sonic looks to be a great mix of old and new concepts, and will surely be a must own for fans of the long running series (see what I did there?). Also, if you want to get your hunt on, Monster Hunter Stories is out for the 3DS today, and they even conveniently have a free demo. So if you’re on the fence, might as well see what the latest iteration of the popular series is like.

Nintendo Download | Sonic Mania
Sanic Monia! Oh wait…

If you’re a fan of Fire Emblem Heroes, there are several events happening to spice things up. Just read below to know what to expect.

Starter Support Events: Beginner and veteran Summoners alike will have a chance to strengthen their armies. During this event, they can summon five-star versions of four popular Heroes, and enjoy special log-in bonuses.

1. Hero Fest: 12 a.m. PT Aug. 10 to 11:59 p.m. PT Aug. 17 at: Here comes a Starter Support Hero Fest to help out new Summoners. It features some great Heroes at a boosted starting appearance rate of 5 percent.

2. Log-In Bonuses: Now through 11:59 p.m. PT Sept. 10: You can earn up to 60 Orbs! Here’s how:

Starter Support Log-In Bonus: Receive 20 Orbs if you log-in between now and 11:59 p.m. Aug. 24.
Six-Month Anniversary Celebration Log-In Bonus Part 1: Receive 20 Orbs if you log-in now through 11:59 p.m. PT Aug. 21.
Six-Month Anniversary Celebration Log-In Bonus Part 2: Receive 20 Orbs if you log-in between 12 a.m. PT Aug. 22 and 11:59 p.m. PT Sept. 10.

New features coming to version 1.6.0:
New mode: Arena Assault: In this mode, you’ll need to use a different team of Heroes in each map for a real challenge.
New feature: Catalog of Heroes: Check out all the Heroes you’ve met so far.
Plus, the Max Hero Merit limit has been raised from 2,000 to 3,000+.

New updates: Tempest Trials Get Powered Up: The event runs 12 a.m. PT Aug. 11 until 11:59 p.m. PT Aug. 24.
Auto-Battle will automatically continue until you clear all maps or your team is defeated.
Team Management for Multi-Map Battles: You’ll be able to create up to 10 reserve teams.
New Stage with level 10 foes.
Score Bonus: Each day, you’ll get triple the points the first two times you head into battle.
Stat Boost for Bonus Allies: When you use Bonus Allies in Tempest Trials, they’ll get a 10-point boost to HP and a four-point boost to all of their other stats. They also will earn double experience and SP.

Nintendo Download | Kirby Anniversary

You might recall last week I mentioned a Kirby 25th Anniversary Sale, but there are some additional features available. There’s a Kirby Home Menu, wallpaper and animated video available in addition to some nice discounts on classic Kirby games. Just click here to see them in more detail.

Nintendo Download | Phantom Trigger

If you’re still hankering for more games, the following are worth a look. First up, the latest ACA NEOGEO title is here, called The King of Fighters 2000. Perfect for retro arcade mayhem. If you enjoy match 3 games but want more of a challenge, Ironcast looks to make things interesting with roguelite elements and permadeath. For those who want more frantic action, Phantom Trigger looks like a delightfully frenetic top down action game. If you’re feeling a bit more casual, Rocket Fist looks like a fun multiplayer arena game. Those hankering for classic RPGs might try their hands at Eliminage Original. And last but not least, give your Wii U a bit more love with Virtual Console titles Soldier Blade and Final Soldier. Despite no standard sales this week, that’s a meaty mix of digital games.

Nintendo Download | Ironcast

That’s it for this week! Tune in to oprainfall next time for more Nintendo Download, and stay cool with lots of gaming in the shade.

Josh Speer
Josh is a passionate gamer, finding time to clock in around 30-40 hours of gaming a week. He discovered Operation Rainfall while avidly following the localization of the Big 3 Wii RPGs. He enjoys SHMUPS, Platformers, RPGs, Roguelikes and the occasional Fighter. He’s also an unashamedly giant Mega Man fan, having played the series since he was eight. As Head Editor and Review Manager, he spends far too much time editing reviews and random articles. In his limited spare time he devours indies whole and anticipates the release of quirky, unpredictable and innovative games.