Nintendo Download: Cozy Up

The “cozy” craze comes to the Switch this week with Palia, though there are plenty of other new titles as well including a trio of N64 games.

Cozy

It seems like it both popped up overnight and yet isn’t really talked about by anybody. We’re talking about the “cozy”… genre? While we’re not really sure that’s the right word for it, games brandishing that tag have been all over the place in the last few months, though you might not realize it if you haven’t bene paying attention.

While the name is prolific, it’s also not been attached to any games that’ve been big hits, but maybe Palia will change that. A title that sees players finding materials to build their homes, and then seeing those plans through to completion, Palia is the spotlighted game this week in the Nintendo Download. But don’t worry if cozy isn’t your thing, as there’s plenty more hitting Nintendo’s console as well, and a few are notable.

Maybe the biggest new release, Hammerwatch II looks like a terrific co-op romp through a fantasy land. It features a semi-Gauntlet-esque top-down perspective, retro looks, and nonstop action. On top of that, there’s also fighting game The Rumble Fish +, and three new N64 titles in the Nintendo Online section.

Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch

• Palia – Explore a breathtaking world where you can build the life and home of your dreams. Unravel the mysteries of this always-evolving, free-to-play adventure and meet new friends along the way, from in-game villagers to players from all over the world. Create a customizable character and gather materials around the landscapes and biomes of Palia to craft your ideal home. Palia is a cozy, massively multiplayer online game, so friends can visit each other’s homes and adventure the world together in a welcoming, playful and friendly community. Log in and play Palia later today to receive limited-time rewards like the Froggy Bucket!

• Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Switch Online*
  • Harvest Moon 64 – Take over your grandfather’s farm near the quaint Flower Bud village. Clear the land, till the soil, and then plant, water and sell your crops for profit. Raise and care for livestock, including cows, chickens and sheep, or meander about town and visit the shops while getting to know the other townsfolk. You can even find someone special to start a family with! Watch the seasons roll by as they bring in different challenges, festivities and sights to see. This is your farm life, so live it by your whims!
  • 1080º Snowboarding – Grab your snowboard and get ready to shred down steep and snowy inclines. Choose from five different boarders, each with their own attributes and special tricks, and then head down the mountain across several game modes including Match Race, Trick Attack and 2P VS. Play solo or online and land impressive tricks, including the titular 1080º (ten eighty). Feel the sensation of speed and brave the cold – right from the warmth of your living room!
  • Jet Force Gemini – Face a dark threat from deep space in this game originally released on the Nintendo 64 system in 1999. The galaxy is being infested by the evil Mizar and his horde of Drones. Together, the Jet Force Gemini team must travel in search of Mizar’s lair to save the day. But can Juno, Vela and their faithful dog Lupus rout the galactic threat before it’s too late? Experience the interstellar adventure solo and explore more than ten cosmic locations, or pair up with a friend to tackle evil Drones in two-player co-op mode. Plus, up to four players can vie for supremacy in Battle Mode!**

DLC:

• The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC for Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet – Even more Pokémon, places and stories await in the second part of The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC*** for the Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game! In Part 2: The Indigo Disk, you will study abroad at Blueberry Academy, where the curriculum emphasizes Pokémon battling. Here, you’ll take on Elite trials, including one that will have Koraidon or Miraidon soaring to new heights, using a supplement that grants the power to fly. You’ll also explore the undersea Terarium, a facility with artificial environments teeming with Pokémon. Each of the four areas of the Terarium has a distinct climate, ecosystem, and Pokémon to find. Encounter the newly-discovered Legendary Pokémon Terapagos as you broaden your horizons beyond Naranja Academy or Uva Academy—and be on the lookout for a nineteenth Tera Type! Part 1: The Teal Mask and Part 2: The Indigo Disk are available now. The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC is available for purchase in Nintendo eShop and in the My Nintendo Store on Nintendo.com.

Activities:

• December My Nintendo Rewards Are Here! – Happy Holidays from My Nintendo! Get set for the new year with these new My Nintendo rewards. Add a dash of fun to your decorations with a Super Mario holiday ornament and celebrate 2024 all year long with a My Nintendo desktop calendar. For more information, visit https://my.nintendo.com/news/5827df9933032d4a.
• Glow Up with My Nintendo – Usher in the new year with the My Nintendo Glow Up Super Star Sweepstakes!**** Enter today for a chance to win a Super Star themed prize package to power up for 2024. This sweepstakes ends Jan. 31 at 11:59 p.m. PT. For more information, visit https://my.nintendo.com/rewards/53917f802397c091.
• My Nintendo GameTruck Party Sweepstakes – Enter the My Nintendo GameTruck Party Sweepstakes***** now through Feb. 7 at 11:59 p.m. PT for a chance to win a two-hour party for up to 15 guests! My Nintendo members can redeem 10 Platinum Points to enter at Nintendo.com, with up to three entries total. For more information, visit https://my.nintendo.com/rewards/3b6b6f933ba50540.

Nintendo eShop sales on Nintendo Switch:

• Warner Bros. Games Holiday Sale – It’s that time of year to stuff your stockings and save up to 85% on your favorite titles like Hogwarts Legacy and LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga during the Warner Bros. Games Holiday Sale! This sale ends Dec. 26 at 11:59 p.m. PT. For more information, visit https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/sales-and-deals/.

Also new this week in Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch:

• Acrylic Nails!: Xmas Edition – Available Dec. 16
• Arcade Archives POLE POSITION II
• AVENGER
• Aztec Tiki Talisman
• Classic Games Puzzle Collection – Available Dec. 18
• Coloring book series Zoo
• EGGCONSOLE XANADU PC-8801 PC-8801mkIISR
• Farm Land: Kitty Edition – Available Dec. 15
• Fireball Wizard – Available Dec. 18
• GAIARES
• Gates of The Mind – Available Dec. 18
• GRANADA

• Hammerwatch II
• Hirilun – Available Dec. 15
• Knights & Guns NY Edition – Available Dec. 15
• Koumajou Remilia Ⅱ: Stranger’s Requiem
• MECHBLAZE
• METRO QUESTER
• Molecano
• Moto Rush GT NY Edition – Available Dec. 15
• My Child Lebensborn Remastered – Available Dec. 20
• Nekomin
• Never Be Afraid Slam Dunk – Available Dec. 16
• Pan’orama
• Petit Petit Petit
• Poly Shooting Simulator – Available Dec. 15
• Pony World – Color by Numbers
• Princess Puzzle Adventure – Available Dec. 20
• PSYCHIC STORM
• Raccoo Venture
• Ravva and the Phantom Library – Available Dec. 20
• Rising Dusk
• S.N.I.P.E.R. – Hunter Scope Collectors Edition – Available Dec. 15
• SNQZ
• Sprout Valley + Garden Buddies
• Stickman’s Arena – Available Dec. 15
• Super Bear Adventure
• Tennis 2024 Simulator – Available Dec. 18
• The Monty Mole Collection – Available Dec. 18

• The Rumble Fish + – Available Dec. 20
• ToyBox Christmas
• Train Traffic Manager Extended Edition – Available Dec. 15
• Twin Mind: Power Of Love Collector’s Edition
• Western Slot Machine
• Winter Games Challenge
• Wood Guy
• Yuletide Legends: Who Framed Santa Claus
• Z Escape: Complete Edition – Available Dec. 15
• Zombie Defense: Commando Edition – Available Dec. 15

* Any Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required for online features. Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership required to access the Nintendo 64 – Nintendo Switch Online library of games. Membership auto-renews after initial term at the then-current price unless canceled. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. nintendo.com/switch-online

** Additional accessories may be required for multiplayer mode. Sold separately.

*** Full version of game required to use DLC for that game. Sold separately unless otherwise noted.

**** NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open to legal residents of the United States and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 13 years old or older. Sweepstakes begins 5:00PM PT on 12/6/2023 and ends at 11:59PM PT on 1/31/24. To enter, you must (1) have a Nintendo Account (if you do not have a Nintendo Account you can register for one at https://my.nintendo.com/; (2) visit https://my.nintendo.com/rewards/53917f802397c091, (3) sign in to your Nintendo Account, and (4) redeem 10 Platinum Points per entry at the My Nintendo Glow Up Super Star Sweepstakes page (https://my.nintendo.com/rewards/53917f802397c091) as stated in Official Rules. There will be five (5) winners. Each winner will receive one (1) Mario Kart – Mario PVC Statue – Standard Edition (ARV $129.99 USD), one (1) Nintendo Switch GLOW REMATCH Wireless Controller – Super Star (ARV $54.99 USD), one (1) Club Mocchi – Mocchi Super Mario Super Star 15” Mega Plush Toy (ARV $34.99 USD), and one (1) Nintendo Switch Travel Case Plus GLOW – Super Star (ARV $19.99 USD). Total ARV of all prizes: $1,199.80 USD. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Details and restrictions apply. For Official Rules, visit https://www.nintendo.com/events/rules/mynintendo-glowup-superstar-official-sweepstakes/. Sponsor: Nintendo of America Inc., 4600 150th Avenue NE, Redmond, WA 98052

***** NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States (excluding Alaska, Hawaii and US Territories) who are 13 years old or older. Sweepstakes begins 10:00AM PT on 12/13/2023 and ends at 11:59PM PT on 2/7/2024. To enter, you must (1) have a Nintendo Account (if you do not have a Nintendo Account you can register for one at https://my.nintendo.com/; (2) visit https://my.nintendo.com/rewards/3b6b6f933ba50540, (3) sign in to your Nintendo Account, and (4) redeem 10 Platinum Points per entry at the My Nintendo GameTruck Party Sweepstakes page (https://my.nintendo.com/rewards/3b6b6f933ba50540) as stated in Official Rules. There will be one (1) winner who will receive one (1) 2-hour video game birthday party package for 15 participants. Total ARV of prize: $499.00 USD. Party must be completed by February 7, 2025 and is subject to local GameTruck schedule and availability. A Nintendo Account is required to receive and redeem points. Terms apply (https://accounts.nintendo.com/term_point). Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Details and restrictions apply. For Official Rules, visit https://www.nintendo.com/us/events/rules/mynintendo-gametruck-party-sweepstakes. Sponsor: Nintendo of America Inc., 4600 150^th Avenue NE, Redmond, WA 98052.