Nintendo announced all the details of its Switch console on Friday morning, revealing a 3 March launch date and £280 price tag. But what about the games? Everyone was expecting a new Super Mario title and perhaps a remaster of ElderScrolls V: Skyrim – and those were certainly delivered. But what else has been confirmed?
Here are the titles we’re most looking forward to.
Legend of Zelda: The Breath of the Wild
Now confirmed as a launch title, the latest adventure in the legendary series will see Link exploring a lushly detailed open-world version of Hyrule. A whole new range of weapons and a new survival feature, requiring players to forage for food in order to stay healthy, adding grit to the familiar Zelda experience.
Splatoon 2
We were fully expecting a version of Nintendo’s family friendly team-based shooter – but not a full sequel. Splatoon 2 adds new weapons and modes, plus a portable multiplayer option, allowing you to indulge in local eight-player battles wherever you are.
Ultra Street Fighter 2: The Final Challengers
The classic Street Fighter experience is returning with new characters (including the brilliantly named Evil Ryu and Violent Ken) and a choice of old-school pixel art graphics or a new modern look. There is also a unique control option for the Joy-Con pads, allowing seamless two-player action.
Super Mario Odyssey
An all-new Super Mario adventure set in a vast sandbox world, with a huge array of scenic styles judging by the demo shown at Nintendo’s announcement livestream. Mario will also be able to throw his cap for a variety of uses. It’s rare that you get to use the phrase ‘interesting hat-throwing mechanic’ in a game preview.
Super Bomberman R
At last, the brilliant Hudsonsoft maze blasting game is returning to a major console, courtesy of Konami. Up to eight players will be able to take part in local-multiplayer challenges. the only thing we’re worried about is the news that it’ll be 3D. Super Bomberman should always be 2D. Hopefully that’s an option.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
The revered role-playing adventure series will come to Switch with an entirely new hero, on a journey to Elysium. Tetsuya Takahashi, the executive director on the original Xenoblade Chronicles, is guiding development, but little else is known beyond the teasing trailer.
Shin Megami Tensei – new title
Again, not much information is available about this new instalment in the post-apocalyptic role-playing series. We know from the trailer that it’s using the Unreal Engine 4 technology so it’ll look very different to Shin Megami Tensei 4: Apocalypse on the 3DS.
New game from Bravely Default team
Square Enix presents a brand new RPG from the Bravely Default team, coming to #NintendoSwitch! pic.twitter.com/LncFNIwpXG
— Nintendo UK (@NintendoUK) January 13, 2017
All we have about this upcoming role-playing adventure is the tweet from Nintendo, but look at those lovely visuals – a sort of tilt-shift pixel art style, mixed with the sort of anime panache you’d expect from the team behind Bravely Default on the 3DS.
Minecraft
Minecraft: Switch Edition :)#MinecraftSwitch pic.twitter.com/wcNaCiC18P
— 4J Studios (@4JStudios) January 13, 2017
Once again, all we have is a tweet, this time from 4J Studios, the developer responsible for the console versions of the block-building game. We’re hoping for Joy-Con support that lets you mine and/or chop down trees with an actual chopping motion!
