Nintendo held another Nintendo Direct, a livestream dedicated to revealing the company's latest announcements for its consoles. As always, new titles and updates on previously announced games were shown, and some of them certainly caught fans by surprise.
Super Mario Maker 2
Super Mario Maker was one of the most successful titles for Nintendo Wii U, letting fans create their own Mario stages and show their creativity to players around the world. Because of this, many fans had been calling for a Switch port, and their requests were answered with a sequel. Super Mario Maker 2 brings new features and will also have elements and levels from Super Mario 3D World, the main series game for Nintendo's previous console, and New Super Mario Bros. U. The game will be released in June 2019. Watch its announcement trailer below:
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3
The Marvel universe makes its first appearance on Nintendo Switch with Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3, in which players will explore worlds in an RPG that supports up to four players and offers a new story for Earth's mightiest heroes. There are numerous characters, ranging from the Avengers to the X-Men. It is worth noting the inclusion of Captain Marvel, the heroine who will receive her first film next month.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Version 3.0 and DLC
Ever since Joker from Persona 5 was announced as one of theplayable characters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate through DLC, many fans have been eager to see more details. Version 3.0 of the game will be available to everyone this spring (fall in Brazil). Few details have been revealed so far, except that Challenger Pack 1, featuring Joker, will be available before the end of April.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is a gothic 2D action-horror RPG that aims to pay tribute to the Castlevania series while bringing its own unique elements. Now it is coming to Switch. A paranormal force has summoned a demon-infested castle, revealing crystal shards fused with tremendous magical power. Players will be able to collect, craft and unlock a vast selection of weapons, equipment and abilities to defeat countless hellish minions and bosses. Bloodstained will be released this summer (winter in Brazil).
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition
The classic Dragon Quest series, whose characters were designed by Akira Toriyama, is now on its way to Nintendo Switch. The console will receive a definitive version of Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age. This enhanced version has the same content as the original, but with new stories devoted to certain characters, the option to speed up battles, fully orchestrated field and battle music and the ability to switch between HD and 16-bit visuals. The game will be released this fall (spring in Brazil).
Oninaki
Square Enix is back with a new title called Oninaki. Players take on the role of a Watcher named Kagachi, who fights by manifesting the souls of Daemons, a type of being that closely resembles the genies of Arabian mythology, which act as the classes found in traditional RPGs. Each Daemon has its own weapon and abilities, and players can switch between them in real time to gain an advantage in battle. The game will be released this summer (winter in Brazil).
Deltarune Chapter 1
Acclaimed indie developer Toby Fox brings the popular follow-up to Undertale, Deltarune, to Nintendo Switch! The first chapter is free, while future chapters will be paid.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
The new entry in the Fire Emblem series was one of the main focuses of this Direct, with details of its story and gameplay revealed. The game is about a professor at a school located between three kingdoms. The school must remain neutral because of its position. Players must choose one of three houses to teach at this academy, with each house representing one of the game's three countries, helping a larger number of students and doing much more before becoming involved in the action and combat. The professor must take the students on missions that pit them against real opponents as you face thieves or try to keep the three nations at peace. The game will be released on July 26, 2019.
Final Fantasy IX
The classic Final Fantasy IX will finally receive a Nintendo Switch port, an excellent opportunity for those who have never played it to try the game. It was made available to Nintendo Switch users today.
Astral Chain
This was certainly one of the previously unseen games that attracted the most attention from fans, especially because of the major names involved in development. Hideki Kamiya (Bayonetta) will supervise the title, with Takahisa Taura (NieR: Automata) directing. The game was developed by PlatinumGames, the same team responsible for the renowned Bayonetta. It casts players as members of a special police force in a multicultural futuristic city, where they must work with a humanoid weapon called Legion in an adventure that combines battle and exploration. Astral Chain will be released exclusively for Nintendo Switch on August 30, 2019.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
A classic game in the Legend of Zelda series comes to life in this remake of the Game Boy classic for Nintendo Switch. The game features cuter, more cartoon-like visuals, and players must help Link return once again to the mysterious island of Koholint on a dangerous adventure. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening will be released exclusively for Nintendo Switch in 2019.
Other Titles Also Revealed
Several other Nintendo Switch titles were revealed or shown during this Direct, including:
- BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL!: The puzzle series is back for the first time on Nintendo Switch with a completely new game! In addition to 270 new stages, two players can work as a team to solve puzzles in a new cooperative mode. As a bonus, players who complete the game can access a new adventure starring Qudy. BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL! will be available on Nintendo eShop on April 26.
- Tetris 99: The classic puzzle game Tetris arrives with an online experience unlike anything seen before. In this new entry in the puzzle franchise, 99 players compete until only one remains. Nintendo Switch Online members can battle for supremacy in this free-to-download software. The Nintendo Switch exclusive will be available to download starting today, and players will soon be able to compete in online events.
- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker Update and Special Episode DLC: After downloading a free update for Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker available today, every stage in the game will support a new two-player cooperative mode starring a second Toad who can explore at the same time as a friend. On March 14, new paid DLC will arrive, adding 18 new challenges to the game, including five new courses and new Shiny Crowns that can be earned in each stage. New players can get the game together with the updates and DLC in a digital bundle available for purchase on Nintendo eShop on February 13. Players who buy the bundle or the DLC now will receive early access to one of the stages in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker – Special Episode, with the remaining stages launching on March 14.
- Mortal Kombat 11: New and classic characters return for another exaggerated, action-packed fight in Mortal Kombat 11, launching for Nintendo Switch on April 23.
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice: Winner of multiple awards, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is coming to Nintendo Switch. Created in collaboration with neuroscientists and people who have experienced psychosis, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice takes players deep into the mind of a Celtic warrior on a quest to find the soul of her dead lover. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice will be released for Nintendo Switch this spring (fall in Brazil).
- DAEMON X MACHINA: Starting today, players will have a free DAEMON X MACHINA demo called “Prototype Missions,” available for a limited time as a download from Nintendo eShop or Nintendo.com. In the demo, players can battle through four different missions while testing the game's controls and robot customization. After playing, some players will receive a link to an online survey where they can give feedback about the game to director Kenichiro Tsukuda and the development team. DAEMON X MACHINA will be released for Nintendo Switch this summer (winter in Brazil).
- DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS 2: Combining RPG and crafting elements, players can gather materials to create things such as weapons, buildings and even entire towns. With the help of the mysterious Malroth and other residents, players will explore enormous islands, encounter adventures and battle monsters and bosses scattered around the world. Those who own the original DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS on Nintendo Switch can create the Legendary Builder's outfit and the Dragonlord's Throne. DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS 2 will be released for Nintendo Switch on July 12.
- New Star Fox Missions in Starlink: Battle for Atlas: The digital update for Starlink: Battle for Atlas arriving in April will add new Star Fox missions to the Nintendo Switch version of the game. Play as Peppy, Falco and Slippy to help fight and defeat Star Wolf's henchmen Andrew, Pigma and Leon in a series of challenging missions. Additional content released as part of the update includes new races, faction missions and more. The Starlink: Battle for Atlas update arrives this April for Nintendo Switch.
- FINAL FANTASY VII: Return to Midgar in one of the most iconic RPGs of all time when FINAL FANTASY VII finds a new home on Nintendo Switch on March 26.
- Disney TSUM TSUM FESTIVAL: Disney's adorable Tsum Tsum are coming to Nintendo Switch in a new game! In Disney TSUM TSUM FESTIVAL, players match identical Tsum Tsum to clear them and earn a high score. Up to four players can compete against one another locally or online. Disney TSUM TSUM FESTIVAL launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch in 2019.
- Rune Factory 4 Special and Rune Factory 5: The classic RPG Rune Factory 4 is being remastered for Nintendo Switch. Interact with residents, grow vegetables and fruit on the farm, catch fish, raise monsters and wield weapons and enchantments in this new version of the game. Rune Factory 4 Special will reach Nintendo Switch players later this year, with a new Rune Factory 5 coming in the future.
- Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon EVERY BUDDY!: On March 20, the latest game in the Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon series arrives on Nintendo Switch.
- Dead by Daylight: Dead by Daylight is an asymmetrical multiplayer horror game in which one player takes the role of a brutal killer and the other four play as survivors who try to escape and avoid being killed. The Nintendo Switch version will have several maps, characters and cosmetic items, as well as a deep progression system to test. Dead by Daylight arrives on Nintendo Switch this fall (spring in Brazil).
- Assassin’s Creed III Remastered: For the first time on Nintendo Switch, experience Assassin’s Creed III with reworked gameplay and new features added for the system, such as aiming while moving and touch response. In addition to the original game's DLC, Assassin’s Creed Liberation Remastered will also be included with Assassin’s Creed III Remastered when it launches for Nintendo Switch on May 21.
- Unravel Two: Take control of two adorable characters made of yarn and solve challenges in Unravel Two. Play as both characters in single-player or join a friend in local co-op. Unravel Two launches for Nintendo Switch on March 22.
- GRID Autosport: GRID Autosport arrives on Nintendo Switch with high-speed tension, the feeling of controlling a real car through realistic controls and a difficulty level that adapts to players' skills. Players will feel like professional drivers as they try to master the world's fastest cars to win the world's most exciting races, from the prestigious Spa-Francorchamps circuit to the narrow streets of Barcelona. All DLC is included in this version of the game, along with 100 cars, 100 circuits and several welcome additions such as motion-sensitive and customizable controls. GRID Autosport arrives for Nintendo Switch this summer (winter in Brazil).
