GamesHorrorNintendo publishing its first in-house horror game could finally make me take the Switch seriouslyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesHorrorNintendo publishing its first in-house horror game could finally make me take the Switch seriouslyWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Nintendo)
The rumour mill is abuzz, with suspicions ranging from from Emio being a Switch-exclusivenew horror game from Bloober Teamto the return of a long-lost third Mario brother. But whatever Emio is, the most intriguing thing to me is that I am finally getting excited about a Switch game that isnota new Zelda entry. If Nintendo is about to embrace its slightly more grown-up side, I’d be happy to dust my Switch off more than twice a year to see it.
Bigger fish
(Image credit: Nintendo)
Here for fear(Image credit: Capcom)The director of the scariest Resident Evil is leading Resident Evil 9, which is just about the best thing Capcom could’ve said
Here for fear
(Image credit: Capcom)The director of the scariest Resident Evil is leading Resident Evil 9, which is just about the best thing Capcom could’ve said
(Image credit: Capcom)
The director of the scariest Resident Evil is leading Resident Evil 9, which is just about the best thing Capcom could’ve said
As we inch closer to the eventual launch of theNintendo Switch 2, it’s fair to speculate on what the next console generation could mean for the publisher. We finally have more details onMetroid Prime 4, for example, but surely it’s not going to be the only big game coming to the new hardware?
That’s where Emio grabs my attention most dramatically. Everything about the teaser screams insidious horror aesthetics, from the celluloid crackle of damaged tape recordings to the discordant piano keys trembling behind them. Close-ups of the central figure’s twitchy hands are interspersed with wide shots of their unsettling full form, head cocked to the side at times in blink-or-you’ll-miss-it flashes of spliced film reel. It’s a wholly unnerving, unnatural sensibility you might find in the likes of Japanese body horror, withSlitterheadbeing a more current example of its presence in games media. But body horror in a first-party Nintendo game? That would be a huge first.
Despite horror being such a universally renowned feather in Japan’s cinematic cap, it’s no secret that Nintendo has always pitched itself as family friendly. Sure, it’s published the likes of 2015’s Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water and Eternal Darkness back on the GameCube, but Nintendo likes to keep its hands clean when it comes to actually making horror games themselves.
(Image credit: Koei Tecmo)
If Emio is a first-party Nintendo game, it will potentially be far from the bloodless grasslands of Hyrule.
If Emio is a first-party Nintendo game, it will potentially be far from the bloodless grasslands of Hyrule.
That family-friendliness has a place, but while other publishers have been expected to grow up with their player bases and be mindful of all audiences, Nintendo has kept its feet in PG territory. Personally, I have no interest in games that just want to bank on my nostalgia over and over again, usually in varying permutations of the exact same puzzle platformer, racing game, or twee monster collector. A creepy new IP that’s rated M, though? Sign me right up.
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I’m not saying Emio would herald the death of Nintendo’s family friendly image – it would simply widen the scope. The publisher has shown nuance in the past while navigating its expected age parameters, most notably inThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomand its predecessor Breath of the Wild. To me, these are great examples of how Nintendo is able to bridge that gap creatively, stylishly, and successfully when it wants to make something meatier than yet another Mario Party. Of course, the operative word here is “want”, and a horror game would break new ground entirely.
If Emio is a first-party Nintendo game, it will potentially be far from the bloodless grasslands of Hyrule. Japanese censors are not fond of blood and gore, and while I can’t imagine Emio would provide buckets of both, it would be interesting to see Nintendo innovate around its perceived geographic constraints – and its wholesome kid-friendly industry foothold – to deliver a horror game that can still exist alongside Princess Peach Showtime. I know it’s a tall order following a 15-second trailer, but I am ready to open my heart and mind to a more mature Nintendo whenever it sees fit to clue us in.
Here are all theupcoming Switch gamesto keep an eye on in 2024 and beyond.
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CATEGORIESNintendo SwitchPlatformsNintendo
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
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2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
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Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action”
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4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien”
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
3
Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”