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The best upcoming Nintendo Switch games: Metroid Dread and more
The Nintendo Switch is officially four years old, and its impressive library of games only continues to grow. We’ve even heard tell of a new and updated Switch making an appearance in the future. Even better, some classic first-party Nintendo titles are set to make an appearance this year. Additionally, many highly-anticipated sequels and intriguing indies are also headed to the platform very soon.
Below is our selection of the best new Nintendo Switch games you need to look out for soon.
New Nintendo Switch games:
1. Star Wars: Hunters
Release date: 2021
One of the more surprising announcements at the most recent iteration of Nintendo Direct was Star Wars: Hunters. We don’t know too much about the game yet, but it’s described as a “competitive arena combat game.” It sounds a bit like the perfect combination between Star Wars and Overwatch.
While we’ve only seen a short, 30-second teaser so far, it did show off a heavily-armed stormtrooper, a Wookiee, a bounty hunter, and a red lightsaber-wielding Sith. The animation style is somewhat similar to that of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, but we’ll have to wait until release day to learn all of the details.
Star Wars: Hunters will release on the Nintendo Switch sometime this year, and it will also be available on the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel
Release date: TBD
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild took the world by storm when it launched alongside the Nintendo Switch in 2017. An atmospheric open-world adventure, this entry in the Legend of Zelda series reimagined and expanded the kingdom of Hyrule. It is now the best-selling Zelda game ever released. Many fans were hoping for a sequel, but few expected one to be announced so soon. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 was unveiled at last year’s E3 with a short teaser.
Little is known about the game yet, save for the fact that it will be a direct continuation of Breath of the Wild. Nevertheless, the sequel promises to be darker not only than its predecessor but than most other Zelda games. Fans are already likening Breath of the Wild 2 to Majora’s Mask based on just the short teaser trailer. There is also speculation that Zelda herself might be a playable character this time around. The teaser also seems to hint at the return of the series’ classic villain, Ganondorf.
But when can we expect The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2? This is another unknown. At this point, it’s most likely it will make its debut sometime in 2021.
3. Tunche
Release date: TBD
Who doesn’t love a classic beat ’em up set in a beautiful hand-drawn jungle? We didn’t think so.
First teased at PAX 2019, Tunche launched its Kickstarter in January of that year and quickly cruised to total funding. Gamers have been waiting patiently ever since, but we’ve had a small taste of the action in the form of Tunche: Arena.
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Now, more than two years later, LEAP’s title is set to launch on the Nintendo Switch sometime this year. It’s a classic 2D sidescroller, and you can dive into the Amazon with up to three more of your friends. According to legend, the Tunche is a formless beast that wanders the jungle, leading travelers to their doom.
While you’ll have to grab the game yourself to find out what the Tunche looks like, we can promise plenty of Peruvian lore and legendary creatures.
The game was initially slated for launch in March 2021, but seeing as it is now May with no updates, we’ll have to wait and see when it drops.
4. Mario Party Superstars
Release date: October 29, 2021
It may not be a brand new Mario game, but we challenge you to find someone who doesn’t love Mario Party. This time, you can bring back the nostalgia in a big way with five of the classic Mario Party boards from the N64.
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On top of the bevy of classic maps, you’ll also find more than 100 minigames from across the N64 and GameCube generations. As you would expect, Mario Party Superstars is ready for up to four players to bash, blast, and battle their way to the coveted stars. You can always fire up the game on your Switch Lite for some more fun on the go.
While we love it when new Mario games launch, it’s tough to top an old favorite. The game will be available on October 29, 2021, but you can already pre-order it now.
5. Metroid Dread
Release date: October 8, 2021
Samus Aran is back, and this time she’s packing a brand-new story. Metroid Dread is the first fully reimagined 2D game featuring the heroine in 19 years.
The title picks up where the action of Metroid Fusion left off, with Aran making her way to the planet ZDR to investigate a transmission received by the Galactic Federation. She finds devious E.M.M.I robots and vicious alien foes overwhelming the remote planet, but the first order of business is finding a way to conquer her mechanical foes.
If your interest is already piqued, there is some good news! Metroid Dread is set to arrive on the Nintendo Switch in October 2021, and pre-orders for the game are already open.
6. Metroid Prime 4
Release date: TBD
Metroid is one of Nintendo’s oldest and most storied franchises, first appearing on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). Metroid has since earned legendary status, even inspiring its own co-genre in Metroidvania. The franchise made the jump from 2D to 3D with Metroid Prime on the Gamecube. Two sequels followed, but now fans are eagerly awaiting the fourth installment.
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Unfortunately, we know little to nothing about Metroid Prime 4 yet. Its first teaser, if you can call it that, was shown at E3 2017, but little else has materialized since. The game was being developed by an unknown studio but has since been scrapped and passed back to Retro Studios — the original developers behind the Prime trilogy.
Due to all the development changes, Metroid Prime 4 isn’t expected to release until later this year or beyond, but as far as new Nintendo Switch games go, it’s still one of the ones we are most excited about.
7. Bayonetta 3
Release date: TBD
If there is a game series that epitomizes the spectacle fighter genre, it would be Bayonetta. The titular shapeshifting witch made her first appearance more than a decade ago, stunning audiences with her demon-summoning hair and unique combat abilities.
Now, she is set to return exclusively on the Nintendo Switch, guns blazing. The game is being developed by PlatinumGames, the studio responsible for the first two installments. Unfortunately, this is pretty much all that we know so far. The first Bayonetta 3 teaser trailer was released three years ago, and the studio has stayed silent since.
8. Hollow Knight: Silksong
Release date: TBD
One of the most popular indies of recent years, Hollow Knight, is getting a sequel. Originally planned as a DLC, Hollow Knight: Silksong transformed into a full-fledged game in the development process. The sequel to the smash-hit indie will see players take control of a new character called Hornet. She might resemble the nameless knight in appearance, but she has a different skillset and weapon-crafting abilities.
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The setting is new too. Team Cherry shared that Silksong will be an “inversion on the Hollow Knight theme”: ascending to the top of a new kingdom instead of exploring forgotten depths. On her way up, Hornet will meet plenty of enemies but also many friendly NPCs. Better yet, they will be able to ask for her help and send her on quests.
Hollow Knight: Silksong does not have an official release date yet, but it will debut on the Nintendo Switch as a console exclusive alongside PC/Mac platforms.
9. Sports Story
Release date: 2021
The name Sports Story is pretty unassuming, so you would be forgiven if it wasn’t on your radar, but it should be! It follows Golf Story’s footsteps, a charming pixelated RPG littered with fun characters, witty writing, and some bizarre golfing challenges.
The same seems to be true about Sports Story. “A game about sports, but not always,” it promises to take you on adventures through tennis courts, golf courses, but also magical dungeons and goat-infested abandoned buildings.
If you’ve enjoyed bizarre and funny RPGs like Earthbound or Undertale in the past, you’ll want to keep an eye on Sports Story. The game was initially set to be released in mid-2020, but we expect it to come out sometime this year.
New Nintendo Switch games: honorable mentions
With so many new Nintendo Switch games on the horizon, we’ve put together a list of honorable mentions that were just edged out.
- Eastward — Post-apocalyptic worlds don’t always have to be dark and gritty. Eastward is a charming RPG that invites you into a colorful wasteland full of puzzles, mystery, and strange characters.
- Axiom Verge 2 — A sequel to the gold standard for the Metroidvania indie game. Axiom Verge 2 is set in a new world, but it promises to be just as engaging and challenging as its predecessor.
- Mineko’s Night Market — A wholesome merchant simulator with an adorable art style, Mineko’s Night Market is a cat-filled adventure that Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing fans are bound to love.
- Overwatch 2 — Blizzard’s hero shooter was an instant hit. We don’t doubt the same will apply to Overwatch 2 when it arrives on the Nintendo Switch.
- Shin Megami Tensei V — The latest entry in this classic JRPG franchise will take you for a wild ride, leaving the fate of the world in your hands.
- Hazel Sky — Pass through challenging trials and return from this tropical island as an Engineer. It has to be easier than engineering school, right?
These are our picks for the best new Nintendo Switch games coming soon. We’ll update this list as games are released, and new titles are announced.