A jam-packed Nintendo Direct showcased an impressive range of games set for release on Switch this year.
The first Nintendo Direct of 2022 featured a stellar lineup of Switch titles. Highlights included a new games in the Xenoblade Chronicles series, a sequel to Wii Sports, some surprising ports, and new content for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
It all points to another successful year for Nintendo’s little console. Here’s a recap of everything revealed on the show.
Nintendo Direct – February 2022 Recap
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
February’s Nintendo Direct began with the reveal of a new Musou game set in the same universe as Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Let’s hope it runs better than Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.
Release date: June 24, 2022.
Advance Wars 1+2 Reboot Camp
WayForward’s port of two GBA strategy classics is shaping up nicely and now includes voice acting. The new trailer showcases the game’s custom map creator and online multiplayer modes.
Release date: April 8, 2022
No Man’s Sky
Hello Games’ epic space adventure No Man’s Sky comes to Nintendo Switch this summer. The sprawling, multifaceted game should be a perfect fit for the console, assuming the port is up to scratch.
Release window: Summer 2022
Mario Strikers: Battle League
After 15 years, a new game in the Mario Strikers series is incoming. The 5v5 matches are as chaotic as you’d expect, and it looks like tremendous fun. Up to eight players can play locally or online, plus there’s an online club mode for up to 20 players.
Release date: June 10, 2022
Splatoon 3
The latest gonzo trailer for Splatoon 3 focuses on the game’s Salmon Run Next Wave mode. All we can say is Fish Stick! And blimey, that soundtrack. It’s a whole new genre of music.
Release window: Summer 2022
Front Mission 1St
Forever Entertainment is bringing remakes of Front Mission 1St and Front Mission 2 to Switch, starting this summer.
Release window: Summer 2022
Disney Speedstorm
Disney Speedstorm is a free-to-play racing game featuring iconic characters from a host of Disney and Pixar franchises. We’d be excited about this if it wasn’t for an announcement further down this list.
Release window: Summer 2022
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Aspyr Media continues its work on the Star Wars back catalogue. This time it’s the Wii version of LucasArts’ much-loved 2008 adventure Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. The Nintendo Switch edition includes support for Joy-Con motion controls.
Release date: April 20, 2022
Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection
A trio of Assassin’s Creed classics will sneak onto Switch next week. Hopefully, the conversion from Virtuos will be as good as the excellent Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection.
Release date: February 17, 2022
SD Gundam Battle Alliance
Mobile Suits and characters from across Mobile Suit Gundam history star in this new action RPG from Bandai Namco.
Release window: This Year
Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition
The JRPG classic is updated with new HD models, music, and character artwork from Nobuteru Yuuki. And, praise the maker, there’s also an option to choose between a pixel font and an HD font. Text adventure Radical Dreamers – Le Trésor Interdit – is also included.
Release date: April 7, 2022
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Kirby’s next adventure looks more beautiful every time we see it. The latest trailer showcases Kirby’s new Mouthful Mode, which lets ol’ pinkie change shape and acquire new abilities.
Release date: March 25, 2022
MLB The Show 22
The Nintendo Switch edition of MLB The Show 22 supports cross-play and cross-progression with all other console platforms. Visually, it’s looking pretty impressive too.
Release date: April 5, 2022
Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil are bundled in a double-pack of beloved PlayStation platformers.
Release date: July 8, 2022
Portal: Companion Collection
Valve’s sublime duo of first-person puzzle games will be released on Switch later this year in a port from Nvidia Lightspeed Studios. Portal 2 comes complete with local, online, and split-screen multiplayer modes.
Release window: This Year
Live A Live
Previously unreleased outside of Japan, Live A Live is remade using Square Enix’s spectacular HD-2D visual treatment. It looks absolutely fabulous.
Release date: July 22, 2022
Nintendo Switch Sports
It’s not quite the Wii Sports follow-up we were hoping for, but if the game’s initial quintet of sports – Tennis, Bowling, Chambara, Soccer, Badminton, Volleyball – control well, this should be a blast. Physical editions come bundled with a leg strap, and Golf will be added to the game via a free update later this year. Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can sample the action in an online playtest held running February 18-20, 2022.
Release date: April 29, 2022
Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival
The latest entry in Bandai Namco’s drumming party game series features an initial roster of 76 tracks – including the theme from The Legend of Zelda – plus access to 500 additional titles via a new online subscription service.
Release window: This year
Triangle Strategy
A new Nintendo eShop demo for Triangle Strategy lets you play from Chapter 1 to the end of Chapter 3. Save data can be transferred to the full game when it launches next month.
Release date: march 4, 2022
Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course
Cuphead‘s paid DLC update adds Miss Chalice as a playable character who embarks on a journey to Inkwell Isle.
Release date: June 30, 2022
Metroid Dread
MercurySteam’s acclaimed action-platformer is getting some free updates, starting with a Rookie Mode and a one-hit kills Dread Mode. Boss Rush will come via another update in April.
Release date: First update out now
Earthbound and Earthbound: Beginnings
The classic SNES and Famicom RPGs are now available via Nintendo Switch Online.
Release date: Out now
Zombie Army 4: Dead War
The Switch edition of Rebellion’s well-received zombie shooter will include the main game and Season Pass One.
Release date: April 26
GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon:
The dark fantasy roguelike from Konami is available now from the Nintendo eShop.
Release date: Out now
Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles
CyberConnect2’s arena fighter is planned for release this summer.
Release date: June 10
Lego Brawls
Lego gets the Smash Bros. treatment in this surprisingly cool-looking platform fighter.
Release date: June 2022
Two Point Campus
Two Point Studio’s campus-building simulation launches day-and-date with other platforms.
Release date: May 17, 2022
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass
A total of 48 remastered courses from across the Mario Kart series will be released as DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The first of six waves will include Wii Coconut Mall and N64 Choco Mountain. The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass will be available as paid DLC and is also included with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.
Release date: March 18, 2022
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
The next entry in Monolithsoft’s acclaimed RPG series will be released later this year. Nintendo says the game will connect the futures of both Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles 2.
Release window: September 2022
You can watch the Nintendo Direct for February 2022 in full below.
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