European Nintendo downloads: Surprises abound

We'd never heard of most of the games in this week's European Wii/DSi Shop update. While that could point to shovelware, we prefer to think of it as surprises. Until we find out for sure that it's all shovelware, at least.

Heron: Steam Machine is a really promising-sounding name for a game that turns out to be a pretty familiar puzzle trope, but with rubber ducks added. Not herons. Little Tournament Over Yonder is a cutesy strategy game. and Viking Invasion on DSiWare is tower defense. Wakugumi is an interesting puzzle game in which you move black and white squares around to create unbroken loops, capturing the opposite-color squares inside. And Super Return of the Jedi is a backgammon game. Or a side-scrolling action game based on the movie. One of those.

• Heron: Steam Machine (WiiWare, 1-4 players, 500 Wii Points)

• Little Tournament Over Yonder (WiiWare, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)

• Super Return of the Jedi (SNES, 1 player, 800 Wii Points)

• Viking Invasion (DSiWare, 1 player, 800 DSi Points)

• Wakugumi - Monochrome Puzzle (DSiWare, 1 player, 500 DSi Points)