Eschatos (Nintendo Switch)

The best vertical shooter most people have never played is finally available in physical form on the platform that arguably suits it best. Eschatos Limited Edition for Nintendo Switch brings Qute's genre-defining masterpiece to a Strictly Limited Games run of 2,600 individually numbered copies, complete with reversible cover art and a colorful manual.

Originally locked behind a Japan-exclusive Xbox 360 release, Eschatos has quietly maintained its reputation as one of the greatest SHMUPs ever designed. The three-weapon system, front shot, wide shot, and shield, is deceptively simple until you're weaving through bullet patterns at the edge of an alien moon base trying to decide between safety and glory. The dynamic camera never lets up, stitching five stages together seamlessly while Yousuke Yasui's retro-synth soundtrack pushes your heartbeat to match the tempo. The Switch version adds remastered audio and performance improvements, plus the portability factor that turns any commute into a high-score chase.

Bundled in are Judgement Silversword and Cardinal Sins, two WonderSwan shooters that planted the seeds for everything Eschatos would become. None of these three games have ever had a physical release outside Japan before this.

At 2,600 copies, this is the most accessible Eschatos limited run available, but "accessible" is relative when we're talking about a Strictly Limited release of a game this revered. The reversible cover is a nice touch for display flexibility, and the numbered copy ensures your place in a very specific club of collectors who recognized greatness before the window closed.