The first Nintendo Direct of 2022 was held earlier today, giving players a glimpse at what new games and experiences will be coming to the Switch. While the showcase focused on titles coming out in the early half of this year, meaning we had no further details on big titles such as Breath of the Wild 2 or Metroid 4, we did get information on several new games, ports, and updates to look forward to.
So, because I’m definitely an authority when it comes to Nintendo games, here are my brief thoughts on everything shown during the show!
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
June 24, 2022.
It’s Fire Emblem with less turn-based combat and more hackin’ and slashin’!. While not a direct sequel to Three Houses, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes will occur in the same shared universe, so expect to see many familiar faces and places.
Advance Wars 1 + 2: Reboot Camp
April 8, 2022.
This bundle was initially meant to drop late last year got delayed for some ‘fine tuning’, and although I am not familiar with the franchise, I must say I’m intrigued. Advance Wars 1 + 2: Reboot Camp contains ‘reimagined’ versions of Advance Wars and Advance Wars: Black Hole Rising, two beloved turn-based strategy games from the halcyon days of the Game Boy Advance
No Man’s Sky
Mid-2022
I screamed when this got announced, though I am concerned about how the Switch hardware will cope and what sacrifices have been made to port it. Exploring an endless universe on a handheld console is my interpretation of heaven.
Mario Strikers: Battle League
June 10, 2022.
Now hold up a moment – everyone is saying this is a soccer game, but I swear I saw multiple characters touch the ball with their hands! Ah, maybe rules don’t apply when you have armour-clad dinosaurs setting the ball on fire in an attempt to kill an elderly Italian tradie? Regardless, this game looks entertaining as heck! Mario Strikers: Battle League will see teams of 5 go head-to-head, utilising all sorts of outlandish manoeuvres and abilities to outscore their opponent. I think we have another Mario crowd-pleaser on our hands.
Splatoon 3
2022
Is the music in this trailer a psy-op? Whatever it was, it gave me the heebies and the jeebies. But in less unsettling news, the newest Splatoon 3 trailer has confirmed the return of Salmon Run, the co-op horde mode from previous titles, as well as a huge new boss variation of the Salmonid.
Front Mission 1st: Remake
2022
The 1995 Super Famicon classic, Front Mission 1st, will be heading to Nintendo Switch later this year, with its sequel, Front Mission 2, re-releasing soon after.
Disney Speedstorm
2022
Have you ever been really high and wondered who would win a cart race between Mickey Mouse and Sully from Monsters Inc? Well, I have some good news for you – Disney Speedstorm is here to answer your question! But it’s no Crash Team Racing, so move along, Micky.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
2022
Now, this was some comforting nostalgia. After renting this bad-boy from Video Ezy, I spent many an evening slicing droids in twain back in the day. From what they’ve shown, though, this port looks a bit rough around the edges graphically, so I’m not exactly feeling the Force with this one.
Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection
2022
Relive a simpler time when Assassin’s Creed games weren’t 400 hours long with The Ezio Collection, coming soon to Nintendo Switch.
SD Gundam Battle Alliance
2022
You know those giant mechs that make for awesome gunpla kits? Imagine that, but smaller, cuter and…Switchier? Featuring over 20 mobile suit Gundams, SD Gundam Battle Alliance is a combat RPG where players control 3-mechs at a time to defend the world against mysterious ‘Breaks’. The game will also be coming to Playstation and Xbox in the future.
Look, I don’t know what’s going on here – but I do want to buy some model kits now!
Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition
April 7, 2022
Chrono Cross is about a boy named Serge going to an alternate reality where he died as a child, and that’s just fucked. But hey, if that’s your thing, the fully-subtitled Radical Dreamers Edition features a host of improvements, such as the ability to turn off random encounters and an improved soundtrack, so you can really enjoy Serge’s horrifying situation.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
March 25, 2022.
I was already sold on this game, and now they’re showing Kirby achieve throat-GOAT status by slurping down on a car! True GOTY potential!
Not settled on just gas-guzzler-guzzling, the new trailer for Forgotten Land gave us a good look at Kirby’s…sigh… Mouthful Mode, where the little pink-critter sucks down on objects to gain abilities, like honking down on a vending machine to shoot drinks at enemies, and gagging on a light bulb to illuminate areas. Brilliant
Klonoa 1+2
July 8, 2022.
Look, I have never heard of the game, but Jak-and-Daxter-Twitter is losing its mind over the announcement, and that is enough to convince me. The bundle will include both Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil, popular side-scrolling platformers from the late-90s, complete with upgraded visuals, co-op and difficulty settings.
Portal: Companion Collection
2022
Very slick, Nintendo. Just casually announcing ports of two of the greatest games ever made in the middle of your Direct. If you haven’t played either Portal game, do yourself a favour and scope this out when it comes to Switch.
Live A Live
July 22, 2022
Square Enix’s Japan-exclusive SNES RPG Live A Live is making its long-awaited debut in the west! The game features seven different protagonists living out seven unique stories that can be tackled in any order, with a visual style reminiscent of games like Octopath Traveller.
Nintendo Switch Sports
April 29, 2022.
Wii Sports without the risk of smashing your Wiimote through your TV while bowling? Hmm…I dunno, guys. But I am willing to give it a chance – my TV will thank me!
Nintendo Switch Sports is a reimagining of WiiSports made for the portable console and will include a range of new sports such as Tennis, Bowling, Chambara (whatever that is?!), Soccer, Badminton and Volleyball.
An online playtest will occur between 18th and 20th February if you’re keen to put those lockdown-atrophied muscles to the test.
Triangle Strategy
Demo Available Now
Good news, angular strategists! A new Triangle Strategy demo is now available on the Nintendo Shop, allowing players to experience Chapter 3 of this gorgeous looking game.
Metroid Dread Update
Available Now
Yeah, sick. Make Metroid Dread harder. Goddamn!
Metroid Dread is getting several new modes as part of a free update, including a super challenging one hit, one kill Dread Mode, a more accessible Rookie difficulty setting and a Boss Rush mode that allows you to fuck up that fat-lizard again and again.
MLB The Show 22
April 5, 2022
Ok, I have no love for baseball, nor the MLB games, but I just need everyone to hear the New York accent in this video. Also, what’s with the muppet?!
Earthbound
Available Now
Earthbound, also known as Mother, is a popular turn-based JRPG franchise that people on my Titter timelines WON’T STOP TALKING ABOUT! But, to be fair, after reading the synopsis for the game, I can’t blame them. Who doesn’t wanna beat up an all-powerful alien with a baseball bat? Shame about Mother 3 not being included, though.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC
Released In Waves Between 2022 – 2023
The Nintendo Switch’s best-selling game is getting 48 remastered tracks spanning the entire Mario Kart franchise – that’s good!
It’s paid DLC – that’s bad.
It’s no additional cost if you have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership – that’s good!
You’ll still be shit at Mario Kart – that’s bad.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
September 2022
Closing out the show was the announcement of a new Xenoblade Chronicles 3, slated for release in the latter half of the year. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will follow the adventures of Noah and Mio as they navigate their way between the two warring nations of Keves and Agnu, with the game looking to tie together events from the other Chronicles titles.