If you have ever felt that the “bullet hell” (shmup) genre takes itself too seriously with grim sci-fi ships and apocalyptic wastelands, Trouble Witches Final! is the palate cleanser you need. Developed by Studio Siesta, this Nintendo Switch iteration is the culmination of nearly two decades of refinement, packaging the original arcade charm with new characters, modes, and polished visuals.
Developer: Studio SiestA
Publisher: ININ Games
Release Date:Â 15 December 2025
Review code provided
Gameplay: The Magic Circle & The Pumpkin Shop
At its core, Trouble Witches is a horizontal shooter where you pilot a broomstick-riding witch against waves of enemies. However, it distinguishes itself with two key mechanics that turn frantic dodging into calculated strategy:
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The Magic Circle: This is the game’s defining feature. By pressing a button, you deploy a large magical field that slows down incoming enemy bullets. If you destroy the enemy who fired them while the circle is active, those bullets transform into Star Coins. This creates a satisfying risk-reward loop: do you dodge for safety, or deploy the circle and let the screen fill with danger, only to “cash out” at the last second for a massive score boost?
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The Floating Shops: Unlike most shooters where power-ups are dropped by enemies, Trouble Witches lets you spend your hard-earned coins at floating pumpkin shops that appear mid-level. You can buy Magic Cards that grant unique attacks (like giant lasers or defensive barriers). This adds a layer of resource management—knowing when to save cash and when to splurge on firepower is essential for survival.
Visuals and Audio
The game embraces the “moe” aesthetic unapologetically. The sprites are vibrant, the backgrounds are 3D and colorful (though sometimes a bit busy), and the character designs are distinct. On the Switch’s OLED screen, the colors truly pop. The soundtrack is upbeat and catchy, fitting the lighthearted tone perfectly.
It is worth noting that the story mode is fully voiced (in Japanese), adding personality to the 12+ playable characters. While the plot is largely nonsensical magical-girl fluff, it provides a fun context for the arcade action.
Performance and Content
On Nintendo Switch, the game runs smoothly, which is critical for a genre requiring frame-perfect precision. The “Final!” edition is packed with content, including:
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Arcade Mode: The classic experience.
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Story Mode: Full cutscenes and dialogue.
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Score Attack & Boss Rush: For the leaderboard chasers.
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12 Playable Characters: Each witch has a unique shot type and movement speed, offering significant replayability.
The Downside
The shop system, while unique, can sometimes break the flow of the action. Stopping mid-barrage to browse a menu might jar players used to the non-stop pace of games like Deathsmiles or Gradius. Additionally, the screen can become visually cluttered with coins, bullets, and spell effects, occasionally making it hard to spot your own hitbox.
Final Thoughts
Trouble Witches Final! is an excellent entry point for newcomers to the shmup genre due to its adjustable difficulty and defensive mechanics, yet it retains enough scoring depth to satisfy veterans. It’s a delightful, chaotic, and magical romp that feels right at home on the Switch.
