Splatoon 3, Zelda And Other Nintendo Direct Announcements
Today was the day Nintendo hosted their first full-fledged, hour-long Nintendo Direct in months. Those who hung around the rumor mills expecting Bayonetta 3, Breath of the Wild 2, and Sora in Smash likely left bitter. But the rest of us found plenty to occupy our Switches for the next half-year, as well as some forecasts for beyond.
Every game announced at the Direct (or at least given a release date) is listed below, in order of release:
Capcom Arcade Stadium — today
Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection — February 25
A remake of the hard-as-nails arcade and NES classic. It won’t go any easier on you. Prepare to spend a lot of time in your underwear.
Bravely Default II — February 26
Apex Legends — March 9
I shouldn’t have to explain what this is.
Stubbs the Zombie — March 16
Hades Physical Version — March 19
Are you one of those nutballs that refuses to buy the hottest new games until they’re released physically? Like me? There’s good news for us both then. We’ll finally get to play Hades in about a month’s time.
Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville — March 19
Tales from the Borderlands — March 24
Thank goodness this game didn’t sink with Telltale.
Monster Hunter Rise — March 26
A Monster Hunter Switch Pro Controller will go on sale the same day.
Neon White — Winter 2021
There’s only about a month left of winter. I’d find a release date if I were them.
SaGa Frontier Remastered — April 15
The interesting thing about this one is that it’s using a technique for its backgrounds that modders have been using for years: AI uprezzing. Like all its other PS1 titles, Square lost the originals for their SaGa backgrounds a long time ago.
Famicom Detective Club — May 14
Of all the things you thought you’d never see, a remake of those old Famicom Disk System text-based mysteries that never made it over here was at the bottom of the list. Somehow here it is, in English, and it’s retaining its original name even though a slice of consumers might not be Nintendo-savvy enough to know what a Famicom was.
Miitopia — May 21
You thought Miis were dead, but they’re sure getting a lot of love THIS year. The new Mario Golf has ’em, and here’s that 3DS game all about Miis, souped up for Switch play.
Knockout City — May 21
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity Expansion Pass — May 28, will be released in two waves on June 1 and in November)
This game has a ton of content on its own, but just in case it isn’t enough…
World’s End Club — May 28
Allegedly “from the makers of the Zero Escape trilogy,” but doesn’t look much like it at all.
DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power — June 4
Based on the Lauren Faust cartoon that barely gets any support on CN but somehow hangs on.
Ninja Gaiden Master Collection — June 10
They mean the XBox 360 games, not the NES ones.
Legend of Mana — June 24
Yes! Physical please?
Mario Golf SuperRush — June 25
It’s golf, it’s Mario…that’s about all we have to say.
The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD — July 16
Nope, no new Zelda yet…but as they did on the Wii U, they’re providing a stopgap release in the form of something older. Ten years ago Skyward Sword was released for Wii and now it arrives from the heavens on Switch with high-res visuals. As Zeldas go this one isn’t the favorite of very many, but the important thing here is that it’s being given normal controls (this was the most waggle-dependent Zelda of them all). Special Zelda Joy-Cons will be released on the same day.
No More Heroes III — August 27
Outer Wilds — Summer 2021
This was a big hit on PS4; don’t miss it here. Also, don’t get it confused with Outer Worlds.
Fall Guys Ultimate Knockout — Summer 2021
Sanurai Warriors 5 — Summer 2021
With all the support Nintendo’s been giving Koei, no surprise Koei would give it right back.
Star Wars Hunters — sometime in 2021
Splatoon 3 — 2022
We don’t have to wait for the console that comes after Switch to play the next Splatoon…it’s coming within this generation! (Though we won’t be shocked if the rumored Switch Pro is out by the time this is.) No new features were announced as of yet.
Project Triangle Strategy — 2022
From the makers of Octopath Traveler comes a new game rendered in the same 3-D retro style, this one being overhead strategy instead of RPG. A demo will arrive later today with a request for feedback, just like what was done with Octopath. Triangle Strategy is the “temporary name” but don’t be surprised if they keep it….they always do.