Alright, so here we go. Honestly, don’t blame the Pokémon Go Fest trudging around—it’s the paranoia about the News Editor’s leaky flat that got under my skin. Seriously, ever tried dealing with water dripping from the ceiling at three a.m.? Yeah, exactly.
Now, this first week of July seems to have hit the “snooze” button. Oh, it’s quieter than a library on Canada Day—and a bit less thanks to the July 4 firework shenanigans. And, like, there’s no big bang from a new Switch 2 launch either. We’ve got this Irem Collection landing on Wednesday. It’s, I dunno, something tied to Slender or the third in some series? I can’t even recall if we ever got number two. But okay, the circus really starts once Super Mario Strikers – or Mario Smash Football – decides to kick off. Who’s waiting? Anyone? Just me?
Shadowdrops, though? Hope they’re keeping it minimal or my brain might explode. Or maybe not. We’ll see.
And oh—side note, why didn’t someone tell me about Crazy Balloon sneaking in last week? It’s one of those early Taito titles. Mind blown.
Now, for the curious players out there fretting over Japanese language barriers in EggConsole? No worries. You’re good. They made it all action RPG-ish, so dive in.
## North America
Alright, let’s talk what hits our shores. Irem Collection Volume 3 drops at $24.99 (USD) or $34.99 (CAD) on Tuesday. Then there’s Slender Threads—I mean, creepy name? It’s $19.99 USD/$27.83 CAD. Toss in a bridge-building thing, Poly Bridge 3, same price. Personally, I’d stick to ground level. Heights, not my thing.
No Heroes Here 2 sounds dramatic, right? Grab it for $19.90 USD/$22.90 CAD, come Tuesday. And, Dead of Darkness? Just $15.99 USD/$19.99 CAD, Wednesday—it sets a tone, doesn’t it? More titles are floating around, too. Like Touhou Artificial Dream in Arcadia ($14.99 USD) and Beat of Life ($9.99 USD). Honestly, it’s a list longer than my grocery run.
## Europe
Now over the pond, Irem Collection hits Europe at €24.99/£19.99 on Tuesday. And then pretty much the same crowd as NA. Poly Bridge and Slender Threads at €19.99/£17.99. No Heroes Here 2 is slightly cheaper—€17.99/£15.99.
Wednesday, darkness descends in Europe with Dead of Darkness (€15.99/£14.49). Okay, but real talk: do any of these games sound intriguing? Maybe I’m missing something. Touhou pops up here again at €14.79/£13.29.
## Japan
Ah, Japan—what an eclectic mix. Slender Threads is a tad pricier at ¥2920. Oddly specific, right? Dead of Darkness and No Heroes Here 2 both at ¥2000. They, too, have Aery – Titans of the Future, pegged at ¥1500. I feel like I should have an opinion on this, but thoughts are scattered.
Oh, Play and Learn Science Quiz at ¥980—sounds like my childhood nightmares rehashed.
Sales are buzzing, and Nintendo’s summer sale is up till July 10. Knockout discounts on Xenoblade games for those feeling nostalgic. But honestly, who isn’t dragging themselves over golden summer deals? They’re like magnets—irresistible yet questionable.
And hey, not trying to play favorites with lists. But if you spot a gem here, give it a go. Over to you.