Nintendo released a new Nintendo Direct Mini on January 11th, 2018 detailing new titles that will soon be released on Nintendo Switch. You can find a roundup of all that was announced in all three versions of the Direct below, with Japanese exclusive announcements towards the end.
European Nintendo Direct Mini
North American Nintendo Direct Mini
Japanese Nintendo Direct Mini
Nintendo Direct Mini Announcements Roundup
- The World Ends With You -Final Remix- [Nintendo | Square Enix]
Release Date: 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Brings the original Nintendo DS classic to Nintendo Switch.
– Can be played with traditional touch controls or the new Joy-Con controller style.
– Features a sizeable new epilogue scenario that delves right into the heart of the story.
- Pokkén Tournament DX Battle Pack [Nintendo | Bandai Namco]
Release Date: Battle Pack – Available Now | Wave 1 – January 31st, 2018 | Wave 2 – March 23rd, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Wave 1 adds Aegislash as a playable fighter, focusing on its ability to change between Blade and Shield forms, and Mega Rayquaza and Mimikyu as a Support Pokémon set.
– Wave 2 adds Blastoise as a playable fighter, and Mew and Celebi as a Support Pokémon set.
– The pack will also include Avatar items and more.
- Dragon Quest Builders [Nintendo | Square Enix]
Release Date: February 9th, 2018 | JP – March 1, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– A free demo is now available on the Nintendo Switch eShop.
- Kirby Star Allies [Nintendo | Hal Laboratory]
Release Date: March 16th, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Introduces new Copy Abilities such as the Artist and Spider abilities.
– Combine abilities to create new Friend Abilities such as Zap Yo-Yo, Icicle Lance, Friend Throw, and more.
– 4 Player Co-op opens even more possibilities such as Friend Train or Star Train.
– Features fan favorite bosses like Meta Knight and new ones like Francisca, the Frozen General.
– The story revolves around an unknown deep space threat that Kirby and friends must save Dream Land from.
- Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition [Nintendo | Koei Tecmo]
Release Date: Spring 2018 | JP – March 22nd, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Contains all the content from previous versions of the game, including DLC.
– Features full 1080p HD graphics in TV mode and 2 Player Multiplayer in a single system by sharing Joy-Con controllers.
– Link and Zelda receive new outfits based on their appearance in Breath of the Wild.
- Mario Tennis Aces [Nintendo | Camelot]
Release Date: Spring 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– New mechanics will challenge players’ ability to read an opponents position and stroke to determine which shot will give them the advantage.
– Features a new Story Mode with missions, boss battles, and more. This is the first time the mode has been featured since the Game Boy Advance title Mario Tennis: Power Tour.
- Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA [NIS America | Nihom Falcom]
Release Date: Summer 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Join Adol and Dana in their adventure to survive a deserted island and change the course of history.
– Gather shipwreck survivors and build a base as the game progresses.
– Fight monsters in high speed battles by alternating between characters with different attack types, such as slash, strike, and pierce, to better suit your foe’s weaknesses, until you can unleash powerful special moves.
- Super Mario Odyssey Free Update [Nintendo]
Release Date: February 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– After completing the story a new online activity will become available, Luigi’s Balloon World.
– This activity features two modes: Hide It, where you have 30 seconds to hide a balloon, and Find It, where you have 30 seconds to find balloons that have been hidden by other players around the world. By knowing each world’s terrain well, you can better hide and find balloons, allowing you to climb the rankings faster.
– The update will also feature new outfits for Mario (Sunshine Shades & Outfit, Musician Hat & Outfit, Knight Helmet & Armor) and new filters for Snapshot Mode.
- SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy [NIS America | SNK]
Release Date: Summer 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Features 2-on-2 tag team battles between fan favorite SNK heroines.
– Activate a variety of moves with just one button and get the upper hand by using various items while changing characters.
– Allows you to customize your fighters with different outfits and accessories.
- ACA NEOGEO ART OF FIGHTING 2 [Hamster]
Release Date: January 11th, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Features Yuri Sakazaki, one of the heroines present in the title above.
- Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle DLC [Ubisoft]
Release Date: Spring 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Tells a new story featuring Donkey Kong.
- PAYDAY 2 [Starbreeze Publishing AB]
Release Date: EUR – February 23rd, 2018 | NA – February 27th, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America
– Work together with up to three friends who own the Switch version, locally or online through CRIME.NET.
– Has touch screen menu navigation and HD rumble.
– A new heister, the Japanese computer whiz, Joy, will premier as a timed exclusive in the Switch version. She owns a changing LED mask, her own weapons and hacker perks, allowing her to break through any firewall.
- Fe [Zoink Games | EA Originals]
Release Date: February 16th, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America
– Climb, glide and dig your way through a dark Nordic forest and explore its living, breathing ecosystem filled with secrets, side quests and mystical creatures.
– Experience the tactile, analogue song mechanic that allows you to communicate and speak to every living thing in the forest, through the use of the Joy-Con controls and HD rumble.
– Learn a diverse array of animal cries that allow you to befriend or manipulate creatures and plants.
- Celeste [Matt Makes Games]
Release Date: January 25th, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Journey across the many dangerous environments of Celeste mountain, explore strange places and meet peculiar characters as Madeline, by using her mid-air dash. She can climb any place as long as her stamina lasts.
– Assist Mode lets you tweak the difficulty to a slower pace or full on invincibility.
– If you really want to white-knuckle it though, you can take on the challenging B-Side chapters.
- Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze [Nintendo]
Release Date: May 4th, 2018 | JP – May 3rd, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Improved version of the Wii U game.
– Features Funky Kong as a playable character in a whole new mode. He can double jump, hover, perform infinite rolls and underwater corkscrews, and thanks to his sturdy surfboard even spikes can’t slow him down.
– A new 2 Player Co-op Mode has also been added.
- Dark Souls: Remastered [From Software | Bandai Namco]
Release Date: May 25th, 2018 | JP – May 24th, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Includes the main game plus the Artorias of the Abyss DLC.
- Stardew Valley [Chucklefish | Concerned Ape]
Release Date: Out Now | JP – January 11th, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– No new information was announced outside of the Japanese release date.
Chronological Release Date List
Note that dates denote worldwide release dates, or simultaneous releases for Europe and North America, unless otherwise specified.
January 11th, 2018 – ACA NEOGEO ART OF FIGHTING 2
January 11th, 2018 (JP) – Stardew Valley
January 25th, 2018 – Celeste
January 31st, 2018 – Pokkén Tournament DX Battle Pack Wave 1
February 9th, 2018 – Dragon Quest Builders
February 16th, 2018 – Fe
February 23rd, 2018 (EUR) – PAYDAY 2
February 27th, 2018 (NA) – PAYDAY 2
February 2018 – Super Mario Odyssey Free Update
March 1, 2018 (JP) – Dragon Quest Builders
March 16th, 2018 – Kirby Star Allies
March 22nd, 2018 (JP) – Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition
March 23rd, 2018 – Pokkén Tournament DX Battle Pack Wave 2
May 3rd, 2018 (JP) – Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
May 4th, 2018 – Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
May 24th, 2018 (JP) – Dark Souls
May 25th, 2018 – Dark Souls
Spring 2018 – Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition
Spring 2018 – Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle DLC
Spring 2018 – Mario Tennis Aces
Summer 2018 – SNK Heroines Tag Team Frenzy
Summer 2018 – Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA
2018 – The World Ends With You -Final Remix-
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