With over 10 Switch games and 6 3DS games discussed; the latest Nintendo Direct was huge. Somehow we boiled it down to 1000 words.
Earlier today Nintendo hosted a live Nintendo Direct where they talked about their upcoming Switch, 3DS and amiibo line up. There was a lot to get through, so we’ve done the heavy lifting and put it all here in an easy-to-digest list. So, on to the news:
Nintendo Switch Round-up
ARMS and Splatoon 2 Dated
Release dates for Switch-exclusives ARMS and Splatoon 2 were revealed. ARMS will hit June 16 while Splatoon 2 will launch the month after, on the 21st of July.
Speaking of Splatoon, a new mode called Salmon Run was announced; the new four-player co-op mode will launch alongside the game’s release.
A new Splatoon range of amiibo is also dropping alongside the game’s release. Inkling Girl, Inkling Boy and Inkling Squid. In addition to looking pretty bad-ass, each will provide “special limited gear” in the new game.
Keep on Kartin’
We talked about this month’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe release in our Shopping List feature, but suffice to say Nintendo is touting it heavily. They say it has more content unlocked from the get-go than any other Mario Kart ever released.
Fighting Remastered
As we also reported, Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers is still on track for a May 26 release.
Minecraft, Minecraft Everywhere
Minecraft is on practically every platform available, and Microsoft are keeping the trend going with a Nintendo Switch Edition, featuring a new Super Mario Mash-Up pack. It’s a digital release and will hit the eShop mid-May.
Project “Mekuru”
Project Mekuru is a secretive “multiplayer action” game planned for a digital eShop release this winter (Australia). The name, by the way, is not final.
Sonic Fever
Love it or hate him, you can’t slow Sonic down. Two Sonic titles are on track for Switch releases. Sonic Mania, which we’ve known about for a while, is still on track for an Australian winter release.
But there’s a new Sonic adventure (sadly not Sonic Adventure) hitting the Switch, too, and it’s going by the name Sonic Forces. The new 3D Sonic title will come to the Switch this summer (Australia).
The NEOGEO Port Machine Keeps Churning
More NEOGEO ports continue to hit the eShop, with Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters ’99 coming out today.
Ubisoft Loves a New Platform
Ubisoft’s adoration for new platforms perhaps wasn’t that crash-hot come Switch launch time, but they’re picking up the pace. In addition to a “definitive” edition of Rayman Legends coming to the handheld hybrid later this year, a new Monopoly is currently in the works at the international developer.
Don’t Forget about THQ
The recently-rebranded THQ Nordic (formerly Nordic Games) are working on bringing two titles to Switch, both hitting in winter (Australia). The first is a port of Sine Mora, the shoot-em-up released back in 2012 for last-gen. The second is an RPG called Battle Chasers: Nightwar.
Puyo Puyo Tetris
As we reported today, the Puyo Puyo Tetris demo is out right now on the eShop, with the full game hitting the Switch in both digital and physical releases on April 28.
Import Heaven
For your JRPG fix, a definitive version of Disgaea 5 is also coming to the Switch on the 2nd of June, with a free demo coming shortly to the eShop, while the Japanese action title Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star will come to Switch in July with all 35 DLC costumes, as well as a brand new costume packed in.
3DS Round-up
If traditional handheld gaming is more your scene, here’s what came out of the Direct:
PIKMIN Goes Portable
A portable Pikmin release is coming in the form of Hey! PIKMIN, a side-scroller puzzle title hitting 29 July, with a special edition amiibo also releasing.
Kirby Celebration
To celebrate Kirby’s 25th birthday, three new Kirby titles have been announced.
The first is a “free-to-start” eShop exclusive entitled Team Kirby Clash Deluxe out today which lets you wield four different Kirby characters with different powers to take on big enemies.
Kirby’s Blowout Blast is the second title in the celebration collection, launching this winter (Australia) featuring 25 3D stages. Nintendo is quick to note Kirby’s classic inhaling powers will be returning, so if you’re dying for classic Kirby, this might be your jam.
The Year of Kirby will end this summer with a new, as-of-yet untitled multiplayer action title set in the Kirby universe.
Miitopia
Miitopia is a new title set in the Tomodatchi Life universe. The “adventure sim”, as Nintendo is calling it, will launch later this year, with Nintendo hesitant to give more information other than saying you can transfer your characters in from Tomodatchi Life.
Mana-series Creator Finds Oasis
The creator of the Mana series of RPGs is back with a new action-adventure RPG for handhelds. Ever Oasis launches 24 June on 3DS.
New Fire Emblem Echoes DLC Announced
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia may not be out in Australia until May 20, but some new DLC (both free and paid) has been announced. Nintendo says more information, including release dates and news about a season pass, will come soon.
Monster Hunter Stories
It might not be the Switch Monster Hunter title a lot of us were hoping for, but a new Monster Hunter title is hitting 3DS this spring (Australia). While you’ll probably be ‘hunting monsters’, this adventure RPG looks to be a little bit different than the typical Monster Hunter.
Amiibo Round-up
If you’re still a die-hard amiibo collector, two additional lines will be hitting a month apart.
A Legend of Zelda series of amiibo based on Link from a variety of past Zelda titles will be hitting 24 June, while a Super Smash Bros. line featuring two versions of Cloud, Corrin and Bayonetta will release July 22.