Turtle Flip Studio’s “Which Way Up: Galaxy Games” is a vibrant, cosmic, local party game designed for up to four players. Nestled within its playful universe are a dozen unique mini-games ready to entertain using a cast of seven quirky characters – Sprout, Prism, Luna, Sunny, Maggie, Spark, and Orbit. Let’s dive deeper into what makes this game stand out.
The game initially sought financial support on Kickstarter last year, aiming for AU$20,000 to finalize its development. Although the campaign didn’t hit its target, attracting 170 backers, the developers saw this as a valuable lesson. Determined to bring their vision to life, they pressed on, and by 2025, “Which Way Up: Galaxy Games” found its way to the Nintendo Switch.
When firing up the game, players have three modes to explore: Practice, Single-Player, and Multiplayer. Practice mode is your go-to for mastering the fundamentals. You’ll control your character using the left analog stick, jumping between planetoids with the B button. Aiming and jumping direction are intuitive, adding an engaging layer of strategy. Need a tactical edge? Use the A button for a handy Comet Push to thwart opponents or adjust your trajectory. You can even bump into others for some friendly, competitive chaos.
The Single-Player journey expands your experience with increasingly challenging missions, weaving in the various mini-games. Collecting medals by completing challenges swiftly is a satisfying goal, particularly if you’re aiming for 100% completion. You’ll need to revisit challenges, trying each character to shave down your times.
The heartbeat of the game is undoubtedly its Multiplayer mode, beginning with Constellation Catch, where you race to snatch up constellations before your rivals. Keep an eye out – opponents can pilfer your collected stars! In Event Horizon, the thrill escalates as you escape the pull of a black hole absorbing everything in its path.
Gravapult keeps you on your toes, demanding you launch bombs at rival planets while protecting your own. In Comet Collect, mastering your Comet Push to gather as many comets as you can is the name of the game. Star Ring tasks you with staying within a moving light to claim victory. Overload energizes the arena by “infecting” a player who must tag another before their energy spikes.
Nebula Nab adds a strategic layer, requiring you to collect Pips, deliver them, and disrupt your opponents’ plans. A hole-in-one over six interstellar golf greens is your ticket to victory in Hole-in-One, while Berry Barrage ensnares you in a fruity frenzy using your Comet Push for defense. Puff Panic requires you to navigate Puff’s fiery home territory, leaping across fragile ruins. Bumper Stars challenges you to knock competitors off-screen with a well-timed Comet Push, and finally, Gastronomer has one player gobbling everything in sight while the others counter with bombs.
In essence, “Which Way Up: Galaxy Games” is as colorful and cosmic as a local party game can get, providing a suite of 12 mini-games and engaging challenges. It’s set to launch on the Nintendo Switch come March 27, priced at a very accessible $14.99.
The insights for this review were based on a Nintendo Switch copy provided by Turtle Flip Studio.
