DRAINUS (Nintendo Switch)

Sometimes you just want the game, the manual, and the knowledge that you're holding something limited. The DRAINUS Limited Edition for Nintendo Switch is a Strictly Limited Games exclusive at 3,500 individually numbered copies worldwide, delivering one of the best modern side-scrolling shooters in a clean physical package.

DRAINUS takes the absorption mechanic that made Ikaruga legendary and builds an entire game around it. You play as Irina, a former slave who hijacks the energy-absorbing ship Drainus to overthrow a galactic empire. Absorb incoming energy fire, store it, and unleash it back as customizable counterattacks. The ship's upgrade system lets you tailor your loadout to your playstyle, adding layers of strategy to already tight shooting action. Team Ladybug's pixel art is gorgeous, the multi-phase bosses are inventive, and the electronic soundtrack ties everything together.

The Limited Edition includes the game with a colorful manual. No frills, no filler. For collectors who prefer their shelf clean and their cartridges playable, this is the way to own DRAINUS physically. The 3,500-copy run is larger than the Collector's Edition, giving you a wider window, but these Strictly Limited runs always close faster than expected.

This was Team Ladybug's debut original IP, and they nailed it on the first try. Shooter fans who missed the Collector's Edition or simply prefer the essentials will find everything they need here. 3,500 copies is still limited enough to matter when they're gone.