Nintendo eShop Digital Download Thursdays
I knew there were reasons why Nintendo didn’t send out its press release for eShop releases this week this morning like usual. They were waiting for the Nintendo Direct to air so they could include some of the announcements here.
There are three surprises this week. First up are the new StreetPass Mii Plaza Games. There are a total of five of them. You can download either Slot-Car Rivals or Market Crashers completely free. You can then purchase the other games for $2.99 apiece or as a bundle for $8.99.
Next up is Picross 3D Round 2! This is a follow-up to Picross 3D on the original Nintendo DS. I know that game was a favorite puzzle game for many gamers, and the sequel looks even better. You can download the demo for free to give it a shot. The full game is also available for download from the eShop for $29.99.
The last surprise announcement from today is that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is available on the Wii U eShop for $19.99. Dust off your Wii Remote Plus and get ready for an epic quest. This is a nice digital release for those that missed out on the disc version, which is no longer in circulation.
Let’s not forget that Axiom Verge is finally out on the Wii U. It utilizes the GamePad for a map or you can play off-TV. This is a 2D game reminiscent of Metroid. I’ve played it on the PS4 and it’s a pretty fun game!
For the rest of this week’s digital goodness, read on:
This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content:
- Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS
- New StreetPass Mii Plaza Games – A bustling parade of new games and features is headed to StreetPass Mii Plaza! Boost past the competition in Slot-Car Rivals, slay demons midair in Ninja Launcher, invest millions in Market Crashers, nourish an army in Feed Mii and gather explorers to seek out treasures in Mii Trek. This meet ’n’ greet just turned up the heat! Go to StreetPass Mii Plaza and download either Slot-Car Rivals or Market Crashers for free after performing a simple StreetPass Mii Plaza software update. And then purchase any of the remaining new StreetPass Mii Plaza games individually for $2.99 each or as a bundle for $8.99.
- Picross 3D Round 2 + Demo Version – The Picross series has a fresh new layer of paint – and strategy! Chip away at a three-dimensional block puzzle to reveal the object hidden within. Only this time, blocks can be painted with two colors of paint to mold detailed shapes. Enjoy more than 300 puzzles at the Café or even tap compatible amiibo figures to solve 10 more puzzles hiding secret Nintendo characters.
- Nintendo eShop on Wii U
- Axiom Verge – In this retro-style action-platform-exploration game from Thomas Happ Games, use the Wii U GamePad controller as your map, a way to easily swap between weapons or for Off-TV Play. A failed scientist dies in an accident, only to awaken in a mysterious alien world. Where is he? How did he get here? And why do the fundamental laws of reality appear broken? Life. Afterlife. Real. Virtual. Dream. Nightmare. It’s a thin line. It’s Axiom Verge. Click hereto view the trailer. Axiom Verge is part of the #Nindies Summer Jam, with a special introductory price through Sept. 8 at 8:59 a.m. PT.
- Wii Retail on Wii U
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword – The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, originally released on the Wii console, boasts realistic sword combat, turning every encounter into a challenge of both brains and brawn. Soar, dive and battle as Link in an epic quest that lays the foundation for the events in the critically acclaimed The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Nintendo eShop sales:
- Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS
- Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate, DuckTales: Remastered and more games from Capcom are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 6.
- Angry Bunnies, Color Zen (Wii U and Nintendo 3DS) and more games from Cyrponia are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 25.
- Nintendo eShop on Wii U
- Rock ’N Racing Off Road DX is more than 35 percent off (reduced from $7.99 to $4.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 22.
- Chubbins and Soon Shine are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 30.
- Run Run and Die, Unepic and more from EnjoyUp Games are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on Oct. 6.
- FreezeME is more than 40 percent off (reduced from $13.99 to $7.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 15.
- Test Your Mind is more than 65 percent off (reduced from $2.99 to 99 cents) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 15.
- STEEL LORDS is 50 percent off (reduced from $14.99 to $7.50) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 28.
- Astral Breakers, Emojikara: A Clever Emoji Match Game and more from Intropy Games are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 5.
- Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS
- Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan is more than 65 percent off (reduced from $29.99 to $9.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 12.
- Snow Moto Racing 3D is 50 percent off (reduced from $7.99 to $3.99) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 8.
- Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH! is 25 percent off (reduced from $2.99 to $2.24) until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 22.
- AiRace Speed, 2 Fast 4 Gnomz and more from Qubic Games are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 22.
- Legend of Dark Witch, Tappingo and more games from CIRCLE Ent. are on sale until 8:59 a.m. PT on Sept. 22.
New DLC:
Hyrule Warriors Legends – DLC – Play as new character Toon Zelda by purchasing the new DLC Pack for the Hyrule Warriors Legends game that borrows elements from classic hand-held adventures The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. You can also purchase a Season Pass for the game for $14.99, which grants you access to all previously released DLC, as well as any additional downloadable content as it launches.Activities:
StreetPass Weekend – Fans are invited to celebrate the new StreetPass Mii Plaza updates and games with a special StreetPass Weekend from Sept. 1 to Sept. 5. Just bring a Nintendo 3DS family system to a Nintendo Zone hotspot near you to collect StreetPass tags. And if you’re headed to PAX West, be sure to take your system along! It will be StreetPass central!Also new this week:
Word Logic by POWGI – Demo Version (Nintendo eShop on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS) Adventure Labyrinth Story (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS) Ping Pong Trick Shot (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS) 140 (Nintendo eShop on Wii U) Alice in Wonderland (Nintendo eShop on Wii U) Free Balling (Nintendo eShop on Wii U) Games for Toddlers (Nintendo eShop on Wii U) PANDA LOVE (Nintendo eShop on Wii U) Piano Teacher (Nintendo eShop on Wii U) Skunky B’s Super Slots Saga #1 (Nintendo eShop on Wii U) Super Hero Math (Nintendo eShop on Wii U) Tallowmere (Nintendo eShop on Wii U) The First Skunk Bundle (Nintendo eShop on Wii U)In addition to video games available at retail stores, Nintendo also offers a variety of content that people can download directly to their systems. Nintendo adds new games weekly to Nintendo eShop on the Wii U console and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, the Nintendo DSi™ Shop for the Nintendo DSi system and the Wii™ Shop Channel for the Wii console.

Craig has been covering the video game industry since 1995. His work has been published across a wide spectrum of media sites. He’s currently the Editor-In-Chief of Nintendo Times and contributes to Gaming Age.