The Nintendo Switch has been a rip-roaring success since it was launched in March 2017. Nintendo sold more Switch consoles in one year than the Wii U managed
The Nintendo Switch has been a rip-roaring success since it was launched in March 2017. Nintendo sold more Switch consoles in one year than the Wii U managed in its lifetime.
Part of the success comes down to the steady flow of excellent games, not just from Nintendo itself but third-party publishers and developers too.
As well as plenty available already, there is an avalanche of games heading our way throughout 2018 and beyond.
Here then are the games to keep an eye out for. We’ll also be updating this piece regularly so come back often.
An all-new addition to the Super Smash Bros fighting game series is heading to the Nintendo Switch in 2018. Not much else is known about it presently, but the trailer features the boy and girl Inklings from Splatoon, Mario and Link from the Zelda games so they’ll be in it at the very least. We expect to hear more about it around E3 time in June.
If Bethesda’s excellent Doom conversion for Nintendo Switch is anything to go by, Wolfenstein II will look stunning. The madcap first-person shooter is gory and near the knuckle at times, but the chance to play it on the Tube is almost too good to be true. The Switch version isn’t censored either, so you’re getting the great single-player campaign in all its glory.
Nintendo announced a new instalment of Metroid Prime, this time for Switch, during its E3 2017 Spotlight presentation but few other details have emerged. We do know though that Bandai Namco is working on the game as its development studio.
Along with the other formats – such as PC, PS4 and Xbox One, the third and last instalment of the Banner Saga trilogy is coming to Switch. Even better news is that the first two games in the beautiful turn-based RPG series will be coming to the console beforehand. That’s vital, as all the decisions you make in Banner Saga 1 and Banner Saga 2 will influence your game experience in Banner Saga 3.
Maro Tennis is back – this time for the Switch – and it features up to four player local multiplayer matches. There is also online multiplayer and a story mode that includes big boss battles. What’s more, you can even use the Switch’s Joy-Con controllers as tennis rackets, adding Wii Sports Tennis-style motion controls for the first time. Cue plastic racket-shaped accessories.
Atari’s decision to crowd fund a new version of RollerCoaster Tycoon for the Nintendo Switch has stoked the ire of many a fan online. However, the alpha build we saw at GDC looked reasonable enough and suited to a portable platform, even though it is rather trimmed down from the sort of early simulation games in the series some might remember. It isn’t a port of the mobile game RollerCoaster Tycoon Touch – as some angrily suggest. While the graphics and simplicity are similar, there is more depth in the management aspects and there will be no in-game purchases we were told. The crowd funding video (above) is rather cringeworthy though, we’ll give you that.
We loved Lumines on the PS Vita back in the day so are thrilled its coming to Switch in a remastered form. The other consoles will be getting their own versions too, but we’ve always felt it was a perfect portable puzzle game. And the soundtrack promises to be as beat-laden as before. Nice.
This original RPG from Square Enix will be a Switch exclusive and out this summer. It bears all the hallmarks of an old school JRPG but with a distinctive, almost pop-up book style graphic design. There will also be an Octopath Traveler: Traveler’s Compendium Edition at launch, which will include an actual pop-up book and helpful map.
Originally released for the Wii U, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is coming to the Switch too in a remastered edition. It’s a platform puzzle game that makes full use of the Switch’s touchscreen as you can rotate the level to see other areas for Captain Toad to explore. We had great fun with the game when it first appeared and look forward to the new version keenly, especially as it will contain new courses based on Super Mario Odyssey.
We love the fact that Activision remastered and repackaged the original PS1 Crash Bandicoot games for modern consoles and are even more thrilled to learn they are coming to Switch too. Unlike many platformers of recent times, the Crash games present real challenges – the 90s were big on difficult, pixel perfect games. Being able to play them while travelling is also a welcome bonus.
Coming in two packs on launch, with a separate customisation pack to also be available, Nintendo Labo is a make-and-play system that converts your Switch and Joy-Cons into different, fun objects. Each pack comprises cardboard sheets, to fold into the different Toy-Con accessories and downloadable games and experiences to enjoy. It’s bonkers and typically Nintendo.
Japanese adventure Okami has been around for a while, but was remastered in HD for other consoles in 2017. Now it is heading to the Nintendo Switch too, but with touchscreen modes and motion controls if you want to use your Joy-Cons as such. It’ll be a downloadable game through the Nintendo eShop.
There was a time when Nintendo wouldn’t dream of putting controversial or adult games on its consoles, but the Switch is one of its most rounded machines, appealing to kids, families and older gamers alike. We love the idea, therefore, that the latest South Park RPG – The Fractured But Whole – is coming to the platform. It’s rude, sometimes shocking, but absolutely hilarious and you now get to play it on the Tube.
Not only is Dark Souls finally coming to Switch, it’s coming in its remastered form. The Japanese horror role-player is, quite simply, one of the best action games of the last decade – dark, dangerous and delightful. Bosses are ridiculously challenging and the atmosphere is so superbly rendered. In this version you also get an upgrade to the graphics (over the PS3 original) and the Switch adds Amiibo support.
This creepy, kooky puzzle-platform game makes its way onto the Nintendo Switch with all the DLC from other platforms included. You can even use the Pac-Man Amiibo with the game.
