Modojo Rewind: A Varied Assortment

This week's Modojo Rewind has a little something for gamers of all ages and dispositions.

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It's a little hard to believe that the first month of the new year is almost behind us. So far, 2018 has been pretty good, especially for big-name releases and any existing or potential Nintendo fans, what with the new way to play and all that. It's suiting, then, that our final Modojo Rewind for January is coming in hot with a variety of news covering all walks of the gaming spectrum.

This week we take a look at new titles coming to mobile devices as well as some of the bigger news for Nintendo's ever-popular Switch console; beyond that, we've also gotten wind of a few interesting stories about big-name developers finding new roles within the industry and a beverage perfectly suited to more mature Legend of Zelda fans. Strap on your armor and don your steel, it's time for the Modojo Rewind.

Staying Fresh, Staying Mobile

It's been a good week for fans of smartphone gaming, not only because technology and games are constantly improving, but also because some of the biggest names in the mobile gaming industry are continuing to produce new experiences. We've recently learned of a new mobile title from Wonderland Kazakiri that aims to give players a way to design, play, and share their own unique dungeons. It's called Block Quest Maker, and it's available now for iOS and Android devices.

Another title that's soon to arrive on the mobile scene is Tactical Monsters, a blend of hex-based strategy RPG gameplay with both solo and online gameplay modes. Even better, the game has a few unique iOS-exclusive features, including a special new mode that makes use of Apple's potent ARKit framework. Beyond that, mobile players have just been treated to Onmyoji, a new RPG designed for smartphones that draws its inspiration from traditional Japanese mythology.

We couldn't go without mentioning Pokemon Go, of course, and there's always fresh news on that front. This week Pokemon Go players are being treated to a new Community Event that will offer the chance to nab a Dratini; in addition, even more Generation 3 Pokemon have been added to the game, so players should start seeing Hoenn-region creatures start popping up around them. And in the chance that getting out into the real world just doesn't sound exciting, Pokemon fans can also load up Amazon's new subscription-based Pokemon Channel, the likes of which are dedicated to the series' animated adventures.

Moving and Shaking

Some of the news we've received this week regards video game industry talent finding new homes. Famed developer Yuji Naka of Sonic the Hedgehog fame has revealed that he's now working for Square Enix, which is just fine by us; in addition, Downwell developer Ojiro Fumoto has found himself a home at none other than Nintendo, a place where his talents are sure to shine.

It's of little surprise that the Switch has received plenty of fresh updates, this time around being some potential or upcoming games to the system. We've learned that the crew behind recent RollerCoaster Tycoon games is taking to crowdfunding in order to develop a Switch-focused title in the series; similarly, Rain World developer Videocult has poked into the public sphere in order to gauge interest in bringing Rain World to the Nintendo Switch. And even though the grim RPG Darkest Dungeon has already arrived on the system via digital downloads, Red Hook has teamed up with Merge Games to bring physical copies of Darkest Dungeon to store shelves.

In sadder news, Nintendo has announced that there are no plans in place to bring any more content updates to the motion-enhanced brawler Arms. Fortunately, Nintendo fans can now wash away their woes with Second Self Beer Company's Zelda-inspired Triforce IPA. Fans can also now check out the latest adventures of the pink puffball, as we've got an all-new review for Kirby Battle Royale for the Nintendo 3DS. And if that doesn't do it, at least Switch owners can look forward to Hello Kitty Kruisers, a very cutesy kart racer that seems to take a few design inspirations from games like Diddy Kong Racing.

We've got a lot of work ahead of us next week with loads of new games and content, in particular new guides for the likes of Lost Sphear and Monster Hunter: World, so be sure to keep it aimed right here at Shacknews for all the latest news covering all sides of the gaming spectrum.

Guides Editor

Kevin Tucker is a core component of Shacknews' powerful guide development team. For questions, concerns, tips, or to share constructive criticism, he can be reached on Twitter @dukeofgnar or through e-mail at kevin.tucker@shacknews.com.

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