It’s fair to say that Nintendo hasn’t been garnering a lot of goodwill in the games community lately. While the rest of the industry crashes and burns, the House of Mario thought now would be a good time to go to war with their fans. Whether it’s trying to make emulation illegal, attacking game preservation, or using lawfare to bully indie game studios, many gamers are getting sick and tired of their shenanigans. So if you no longer want to support their anti-fan / anti-consumer practices, here are three alternatives to some of their popular franchises you should check out now.
Don’t want to support 3D Super Mario Bros?
Try Astro Bot
There are certainly a lot of good third-person platforming collect-a-thons out there. However, Astrobot appeared as a bit of a sleeper hit for PlayStation this year, when they desperately needed one.
Play as ASTRO, the PS5’s cute robot mascot. His mothership has crashed into an unknown galaxy. Now it’s your job to guide him across 50 planets to rescue his crew. Use fun and exciting powerups to reach new areas, and unlock new bot skins that celebrate PlayStation’s 30-year history.
Gameplay here is heavily inspired by Mario games like Odyssey and 64. Its colourful environments and silky smooth performance really show off what the PS5 is capable of in a fun and imaginative way. It’s simply one of the best 3D platformers to come out in a long time. Astro Bot is exclusive to the PS5, and retails for $60 USD.
Don’t want to support Metroid?
Try Guacamelee
You are a lowly agave farmer with dreams of becoming a famous wrestler. One day your childhood crush, who happens to be the president’s daughter, returns to town. That is until the dark forces of the underworld capture her. Juan suddenly finds his life at an end as he tries desperately to save her. That is until he’s granted the power of a magical luchador mask that gives him the strength to become a hero.
Toronto-based indie studio Drink Box has been putting out consistently decent games since Tales from Space hit the PS3 almost 15 years ago. Guacamelee though is probably still their magnum opus. Punch, kick, throw, brawl, and suplex your way through non-linear Metroidvania-style levels as you hunt down the evil Carlos Calaca and his undead goons. Combat is smooth, while platforming adds just the right amount of challenge. It’s just enough to be frustrating, but it sure feels great when you pull off a series of complex jumps. All of which is set in a gorgeous world inspired by Mexican folklore, and meme culture. Get ready to get intenso with this one.
Guacamelee retails for about $15 USD on Steam, and is available on all modern platforms.
Don’t want to support Star Fox?
Try Rogue Flight
It’s been three years since the machines went rogue. They were a defense system that was supposed to protect us. The Earth burned, and now a small group of survivors decide to make one last ditch effort to take their planet back. A state-of-the-art starfighter is their last hope, and a young freighter pilot is the only one who knows how to fly. Good luck.
Rouge Flight is an on-rails SHMUP inspired by games like Star Fox and Rebel Assault. Blast your way through waves of enemies using various weapons and powerups across nine increasingly challenging levels. Or play the rogue-lite Caravan Mode for even more challenges and bigger rewards. Trade points to customize your fighter to move faster and hit even harder, or give it a spiffy new paint job.
This gorgeous game features an art style based on 80s and 90s anime. Rouge Flight also has a kicking soundtrack to go along with its fast and buttery smooth gameplay. While a bit on the short side, it’s still loads of fun if you’re into white-knuckle bullet-hell shooters. It’s currently only available on PC, and retails on Steam for $20 USD.
