Best Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games

Nintendo Switch is finally going to be released during 2017. The new device will try to be a mix of home console and handheld, allowing you to play both on the go, and in the comfort of your home. Of course, games are what makes or breaks a console, and Nintendo has always had great first party support. But what about third-party titles? In this article, we’re going to compile a list of the best upcoming Nintendo Switch games that are supposed to come out in 2017 and 2018.

Super Mario Odyssey

Release date: Holiday 2017
A brand new Mario game! It looks like a spiritual successor to Galaxy, and it’s going to be open world. The trailer starts off in what appears to be New York, but soon moves to more exciting locations. It has Bowser in a white suit with a top hat, Mario flying a bucket-shaped spaceship and wearing a sentient cap. What more could you ask for?

Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Release date: March 3rd, 2017
Undoubtedly the heaviest hitter in the lineup, the latest installment of the popular series will take Link on a new adventure in Hyrule. It will be an open world affair, allowing players to explore at their own pace. While exploring the wilderness, you’ll find various items like weapons and clothes, some of which can be used for different things. For example, some of the footage we’ve seen shows you can use a shield as a snowboard. The game sports a wonderful, cel shaded look, and the world is going to be littered with Shrines of Trials. Expect more than 100 of them, each with their own puzzles and challenges.

Rumor – Beyond Good & Evil 2

Release date: TBA
The sequel to Michel Ancel’s 2003 masterpiece is officially in the works! There’s very little info on it, but it’s definitely coming this time. Ubisoft hasn’t talked about platforms, but there’s a rumor that it will be exclusive to the Switch for a year, afterwards showing up on other platforms. If this is true, then Switch has got its first big third party exclusive. We can definitely see people buying a console for this game.

BGE2 codename is Odyssey. Exclusive to Switch for 12 months only, retail and digital versions. after 12 months digital on PS4 and XB1.

— Laura Kate Dale – Mastodon "@LauraKBuzz@tech.lgbt" (@LaurakBuzz) January 3, 2017

Seasons of Heaven

Release date: TBA
Seasons of Heaven is an adventure game based on a French novel of the same name. The story follows a boy with Asperger syndrome and his French bulldog. It seems to be based around exploration, puzzle solving and maybe even some light combat. Or at least running away from it. There will also be paragliding, if the trailer is to be trusted. It’s being made by a French dev team called Any Arts Production.

The Sacred Hero

Release date: 2018
There’s not really much to tell about The Sacred Hero. It’s an RPG that’s going to “twist the conventions of the genre”. There’s a teaser with the camera slowly panning around a sword in a stone, but that’s it. Even the sword model is a placeholder, according to the video description, loaned from Nintendo. See for yourself.

Arms

Release date: Spring 2017
Arms is how Nintendo is planning to continue pushing motion controls. It’s a fighting game which uses the JoyCons as you would use Wii controllers. It lets two players face off in an arena, controlling fighters with extendable arms (like boxing gloves on springs). While the game looks fun, the commands seem a bit complicated.

1-2-Switch

Release date: March 3rd, 2017
1-2-Switch seems to be a collection of party mini games. The trailer mainly focuses on a dueling game where two players compete in quick drawing. A bunch of others are briefly shown near the end of the trailer, so we still don’t know what we can really expect.

Splatoon 2

Release date: Summer 2017
The sequel to the popular Wii U shooter is coming to Nintendo Switch shortly after the console’s release. It will be playable in all three of the console’s modes. The developers have confired it will have new weapons and game modes. It’s definitely one of the strongest titles in the lineup.

Fire Emblem Warriors

Release date: TBA
There’s literally nothing to say about this one, apart from the fact it’s being developed by Koei Tecmo. The teaser they’ve shown at the live event was nothing more than a character pulling a sword out of the ground. Die hard fans of the series might get some meaning from it, but the rest of us will have to wait a bit to find out what it’s all about.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Release date: TBA
Xenoblade Chronicles has always been a strong series for Nintendo, so it’s no wonder a new one is being made for the Switch. The reveal trailer shows some of the characters, but mostly focuses on presenting the lush environments – the forests, floating cities and giant creatures.

Project Octopath Traveler

Release date: TBA
A new JRPG from Square Enix. It looks weird, to be honest. It combines 2D character sprites with 3D environments, which is really unusual. It’s going to have turn based combat, and that’s about it, as far as proper info goes. It does have a terrible name, though.

Super Bomberman R

Release date: March 2017
A new Bomberman game! It’s basically what you’d expect, just with spiffier graphics. It’s going to have coop, big boss battles, 8 player arenas and even a story (for some unknown reason). If you’ve enjoyed Bomberman games in the past, there’s no reason to think you won’t like this one.

Ultra Street Fighter 2: The Final Challengers

Release date: TBA
It’s Street Fighter 2, but not really. The classic fighting game has been updated with new stages, new characters like Evil Ryu and Violent Ken, and a new art style. You’ll be able to choose between the original pixel-art look and the new, slick version. It will allow for 2v1 battles, which sounds interesting.

Multiplatform games coming to Nintendo Switch

While the above will be mostly exclusive to Switch, or at least to Nintendo in general, there are also interesting multiplatform games that will be coming to the console at some point. Here’s a list of the best ones:

• Dragon Quest XI – The latest installment of the popular JRPG franchise will be getting a Switch port as well. Development has been pretty secretive, but fans of the series will know what to expect.
• Rime – A puzzle-platformer from the developers of Deadlight, Rime is another game to grace the Switch with its presence. It’s going to be released in May 2017.
• Project Sonic 2017 (working title) – A new Sonic the Hedgehog game from the team responsible for Sonic Generations. It’s going to be made up of two games – one with classic Sonic, another with Modern Sonic. It should be coming during the holiday season.
• Yooka-Laylee – An adventure game from the developers of Banjo-Kazooie, Yooka-Laylee should be released during April.
• Lego City Undercover – A port of the popular Wii U Lego game. No firm release date, but it’s supposed to be in the first half of the year.
• The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim – Bethesda’s latest proper TES game is getting a Switch port as well.
• FIFA – EA have announce they will be publishing their football games on the new Nintendo console for the foreseeable future.
• NBA 2K18 – 2K will follow suit, and they’re popular basketball games will also be ported to the Switch as long as the hardware can take it.
• Rayman Legends Definitive Edition – The last Rayman game for now will be making an appearance, with all the features it had elsewhere, along with some nice “new surprises”.
• Steep – The spiritual successor to SSX, Steep is a snowboarding/skiing game that will appear on the Switch, along with the free Alaska update.
• Just Dance 2017 – The last few Nintendo consoles have been known for their party games, so it’s no surprise that the popular dancing game will be getting a Switch port.
• Dragon Quest Heroes 1+2 – The two hack and slash spin-offs to the popular series will be bundled together for their Switch relase.
• Redout – A Wipeout-styled futuristic racing game is going to be ported to the new console as soon as it’s out.
• Puyo Puyo Tetris – A party game build around Tetris, it seems like a good fit for the new console. There are a bunch of game modes and characters to choose from, which should keep it fresh.
• Sonic Mania – A return to the blue hedgehog’s roots, Sonic Mania is an homage to classic Sonic games, and it’s head to Switch during the spring.
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – A pumped up version of Mario Kart 8. Not really a new MK game, but still. It’s going to have all the DLC and additional content that MK8 got.

Nintendo Switch Retro Games

Several indie dev studios have announced they’ll be porting their games to the Switch. They’re mostly games that appeal to an audience that might’ve grown up on some of Nintendo’s older consoles.

• Stardew Valley – A farm management game in the vein of Harvest Moon, Stardew Valley has won the hearts of many old school gamers.
• Shovel Knight – A tough-as-nails platformer, paying homage to olden Nintendo games, Shovel Knight should feel right at home on the Switch.