Players found 19 versions of the same game on Nintendo eShop, and it’s all part of a pretty sneaky scheme

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Today, a variety of questionable games are available across numerous platforms. For instance, the PlayStation Store is filled with unassuming titles, some of which are blatant copies of successful indie games. Similarly, there are bizarre, AI-generated games like Titanic Escape Simulator on other stores. Steam isn’t immune to these issues either, with numerous suspicious releases. However, it’s on the Nintendo eShop where things seem most noticeable. Specifically, one developer has been attempting to influence their algorithm in an underhanded manner.

Same game, just a closet upgrade

It appears that the Nintendo eShop lists the same game, titled “Hidden in the Moonshadow,” nineteen different times, with each version being published only a few weeks apart.

First debuted on Steam in 2023, “Cynthia: Hidden in the Moonshadow” subsequently made its way to Nintendo Switch and Xbox One/Series X|S in January 2024. Interestingly, since then, Catthia Games has been consistently re-releasing the game on the eShop every month, each release featuring a slightly altered selection of cosmetics or outfits. While this may appear to offer variety or fresh content, it seems that the main objective is actually boosting visibility. This approach is now being applied to the Xbox Store as well.

Why might they keep releasing updated versions of the game? It’s because when a new version is released on the eShop, it gets promoted. By constantly putting out slightly altered versions, they can make the game appear as if it’s brand new, thus creating more visibility and essentially advertising for free by cluttering the store with their updates.

Initially, it may appear as if this is a clever marketing strategy, but in reality, it’s just spam. This tactic can be seen as exploitative and instead of drawing in more people, it risks irritating players and pushing them away. If every developer adopted the same approach, searching through the eShop would only worsen the existing chaos. Unfortunately, Nintendo does not seem to be taking steps to address or prevent this kind of misuse, as the platform shows no signs of having mechanisms in place to catch or stop such abuse.

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2025-07-03 13:01