Nintendo released a new Nintendo Direct on March 8th, 2018 detailing new titles that will soon be released on Nintendo Switch and 3DS. 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
North American Nintendo Direct
Japanese Nintendo Direct
Nintendo Direct Announcements Roundup
Note: You can find individual trailers for most of the following titles on the European, North American and Japanese Nintendo Youtube channels.
- Wario Ware Gold [Nintendo | Intelligent Systems] (3DS)
Release Date: EUR – July 27th, 2018 | NA – August 3rd, 2018 | JP – August 8th, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Collection of 300 micro games, including classics and new additions
– Biggest entry in the series
– Familiar characters return with new looks
- Dillon’s Dead-Heat Breakers [Nintendo | Vanpool] (3DS)
Release Date: EUR – May 25th, 2018 | NA – May 24th, 2018 | JP – April 26th, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Defend frontier villages from the Grock invasion in this action meets tower defense game
– Dillon will team up with you animalized Mii character in this game
– Your friends Mii characters can join the team as gunners to help you defeat each wave of transforming monsters
– Demo available on the eShop on May 10th
- Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey [Nintendo | AlphaDream] (3DS)
Release Date: 2019
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Remake of the DS classic
– Contains an extra behind the scenes story about what happens to Bowser Jr. during the game’s main story
- Detective Pikachu [Nintendo | The Pokémon Company | Creatures] (3DS | Amiibo)
Release Date: March 23, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Help Tim and Detective Pikachu figure out why Pokémon have been running amuck in Rime City
– The game is now available for pre-purchase on the 3DS eShop
– Amiibo is larger than regular amiibo at 13.6cm high and launches same day
- Luigi’s Mansion [Nintendo] (3DS)
Release Date: 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Remake of the Game Cube classic
– The mansion’s map is now displayed on the 3DS’ bottom screen
– Also contains a new Boss Rush mode
- Kirby Star Allies [Nintendo | HAL Laboratory] (Switch)
Release Date: March 16th, 2018
1st Update Release Date: March 28th, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Throughout the game you will reach Dream Palaces where legacy characters can become Kirby’s “Dream Friends”
– These include King Dedede, Meta Knight, and Bandana Waddle Dee
– More Dream Friends will be added via free updates after launch
– The first update will include Rick, Kine and Coo from Kirby’s Dream Land 2, Marx from Kirby’s Fun Pack, and Gooey from Kirby’s Dream Land 3.
– Free demo available now in the eShop
- Okami HD [Capcom | Clover Studio] (Switch)
Release Date: Summer 2018 |
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– HD port of the classic adventure game
– In the Switch version you can use Touch Screen Controls in Handheld Mode or the Joy-Con Controller’s Motion Controls in Tabletop or TV Modes
- Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido [Nintendo | Indieszero] (Switch | 3DS)
Release Date: June 8th, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Story takes place after the bitter sushi struggles
– Musashi, the main character, was raised in a world where sushi is forbidden
– Musashi is waging an all out conveyor belt battle against the Empire to topple its sushi monopoly
– Gameplay revolves around eating sushi to pile up plates of matching colors on a table and then throwing them at your opponent
– Sushi Sprites might help you to unleash special moves to turn the tide of battle
– Contains an Online Multiplayer Mode
- Octopath Traveler [Nintendo | Square Enix | Acquire] (Switch)
Release Date: July 13th, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Two new characters were introduced
– The first character is Tressa (Merchant), whose Path Action is Purchase which lets her obtain special items from townsfolk
– The second character is Alfyn (Apothecary), whose Patch Action is Inquire which lets him worm out info others aren’t privy to in standard conversations
– Characters start out with a base job, but they can equip an additional job to use in battle, which expands your strategic options
– A special edition of the game will be available on the day of release, containing a pop-up book introducing the eight characters and their places of origin, a helpful map for your adventure, and a replica coin based on the in-game currency. The NA version will also include a Soundtrack CD.
– The game’s soundtrack will also be available to purchase digitally at a later date
– Demo available on the eShop
- Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes [Grasshopper Manufacture Inc.] (Switch)
Release Date: 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Travis Touchdown wonders into the game world due to the legendary gaming console – the Death Drive Mark 2 – and proceeds to embark on a rampage of epic proportions
– A total of seven different game titles of different genres is featured
– Travis vows to exterminate every last Bug he finds using his Beam Katana
– A boss lurks at the end of each game
– Pass a Joy-Con controller to a friend for co-op multiplayer and partner up with the one and only Badman
– An Adventure Mode also tells a new story
- Dark Souls: Remastered [Bandai Namco | From Software] (Switch)
Release Date: EUR, NA – May 25th, 2018 | JP – May 24th, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– A Network Test will be held before launch, so players can try the game.
– An amiibo of Solaire of Astora will be released on the same day (GameStop exclusive in NA)
- Mario Tennis Aces [Nintendo | Camelot] (Switch)
Release Date: June 22nd, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– More than 15 playable characters can be chosen from, including Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Peach , Daisy, Rosalina, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Bowser, Toad, Toadette, Bowser Jr., Chain Chomp, Boo, and Koopa Troopa.
– Various shots can be performed, such as the Basic Shot, Topspin, Slice, and Lob, among others
– With the new Zone Shot you can use motion controls to zoom in and pinpoint aim at a specific place first and shoot after
– Zone Shots are powerful, so they will damage rackets they come in contact with unless stopped with a Block, by returning a shot with perfect timing
– If a racket takes three hits, it will break and force you to forfeit the match if it’s your last racket
– Zone Speed makes things around you move in slow motion, allowing you to perform feats such as chasing down a Quick Shot
– Zone Speed also makes it easier to block Zone Shots
– To use Zone Shot and Zone Speed you will need to use up some of your Energy Gauge though
– The Energy Gauge fills up the longer you keep a rally going, but is easier to fill up by performing Trick Shots
– The Trick Shot allows you to get to balls that are far away from you, but is a risky move that may cost you your energy or points
– If successful though, a Trick Shot will greatly boost your Energy Gauge
– When the Energy Gauge is full, you can perform a Special Shot, which may even destroy the opponents racket in one hit
– You can also play using Simple Rules, where only Basic Shots are allowed
– Up to 4 players can play together, including in Online Multiplayer
– Online Multiplayer also provides access to Online Tournaments where you can gain special Participation Bonuses, such as outfits and characters
– Swing Mode allows you to use the Joy-Con to perform tennis racket motions and play casually with your friends and family
– A Pre-Launch Online Tournament will be held to let players try out the game before release
- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker [Nintendo] (Switch | 3DS)
Release Date: July 13th, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Features new levels based on various kingdoms from Super Mario Odyssey
– Can now be played with a friend by sharing a pair of Joy-Con controllers, where one player controls Captain Toad, while the other assists by throwing turnips
– A 3DS version is also planned which features 3D visuals and touch screen controls
- Undertale [Toby Fox | 8-4] (Switch)
Release Date: TBD
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Coming to Nintendo Switch… Eventually
- Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy [Activision | Vicarious Visions] (Switch)
Release Date: EUR, NA – July 10th, 2018 | JP – 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– All three original Crash Bandicoot games are debuting on a Nintendo system for the very first time
– The trilogy contains a hundred-plus action and platforming levels, playable as Crash and his sister Coco
– Everything (cinematics, animations, lush environments) has been fully updated since the original games
- Little Nightmares Complete Edition [Bandai Namco | Tarsier Studios] (Switch)
Release Date: EUR, NA – May 18th, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America
– Switch’s Complete Edition contains two haunting tales in one package (Six’s and Kid’s stories) with eight chapters and all DLC
– Features exclusive in-game Pakku Mask unlocked by tapping the PAC-MAN amiibo
- South Park: The Fractured But Whole [Ubisoft] (Switch)
Release Date: EUR, NA – April 24th, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America
– All past DLC will be available for purchase individually or as a part of a Season Pass
– DLC 1: Danger Deck and DLC 2: From Dusk Till Casa Bonita will be available at launch
– DLC 3: Bring the Crunch will tell an additional story when it releases later this year
- Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition [Nintendo | Koei Tecmo] (Switch)
Release Date: EUR, NA – May 18th, 2018 | JP – March 22nd, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
- ARMS Global Testpunch [Nintendo] (Switch)
Event Date: EUR, NA – March 31st, 2018
Web Pages: Europe | North America
– A free 3-day Global Testpunch event to let new players try out the game
– Downloadable via the Switch eShop
- ARMS US & Canada Online Open [Nintendo] (Switch)
Event Date: NA – March 8th to 18th, 2018 (Ranked Match), March 31st, 2018 (Online Finals)
– Prelims will take place via Ranked Match mode and the 8 top players will move on to the Online Finals
– All finalist will receive a custom art piece created by the development team
– The event will be streamed live from Nintendo of America HQ, more details soon
- ARMS and Splatoon at the Game Developers Conference [Nintendo] (GDC)
Event Date: March 21st, 2018
– Kosuke Yabuki will discuss the developement of ARMS at GDC in a panel titled “Building “Mario Kart 8 Insights Into a Showcase Nintendo Switch Fighter”
– Hisashi Nogami will discuss the developement of the Splatoon franchise at GDC in a panel titled “Splatoon and Splatoon 2: How to Invent a Stylish Franchise with Global Appeal”
- Splatoon 2 Ver 3.0 and Octo Expansion [Nintendo] (Switch)
Release Date: Summer 2018 (Octo Expansion)
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– A livestream will be made available for fans to be able to watch the Splatoon European Championship Finals which will be held at Polymanga 2018 in Switzerland on March 31st, and a special concert hosted at the venue featuring Off the Hook’s Pearl and Marina and Squid Sister’s Callie and Marie
– Ver 3.0 of Splatoon 2 releases late April with over 100 new pieces of gear, extra stages (Piranha Pit, Camp Triggerfish and Wahoo World), and Rank X, an extreme rank higher than S+
– Callie will also appear in Octo Canyon after you meet certain conditions
– Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion is paid downloadable content containing a hefty new single-player mode
– In it, you’ll play as Agent 8, who looks like an Octoling and has lost her memories
– Splat your way through 80 shady underground test facilities in a massive subterranean world, where a variety of missions await Agent 8 and her talents
– Contains new stories that shed new light on beloved characters
– Upon completion, you’ll be able to join multiplayer matches as an Octoling
– If you purchase the Octo Expansion pass from Nintendo eShop, you’ll immediately receive Octo-themed gear to use in battle
- Pearl – Splatoon Collection [Nintendo] (Amiibo)
Release Date: Na, JP – July 13th, 2018 (European date will probably coincide)
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
- Marina – Splatoon Collection [Nintendo] (Amiibo)
Release Date: NA, JP – July 13th, 2018 (European date will probably coincide)
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
- Nintendo Switch Super Smash Bros. (working title) [Nintendo] (Switch)
Release Date: TBD
Web Pages: Europe | North America | Japan
– Inklings will likely make their debut as playable characters in Super Smash Bros.
– Mario and Link are also clearly hinted at, together with silhouettes of other veteran characters
- Taiko Drum Master [Bandai Namco] (Switch)
Release Date: JP – Summer 2018
Web Pages: Japan
– In this iteration of the game you can use the Joy-Con as drum sticks to play along
– Two players can play simultaneously using two Joy-Con
– Tracks from Super Mario Odyssey and Splatoon 2 are featured
– The game also contains various party games
- SaGa Scarlet Grace [Square Enix | Studio Reel] (Switch)
Release Date: JP – 2018
Web Pages: Japan
- Phantasy Star Online 2 Cloud [SEGA] (Switch)
Release Date: JP – April 4th, 2018
Web Pages: Japan
– A costume and weapons based on Link from Breath of the Wild will be included in this version of the game
- Golf Story [Sidebar Games | Flyhigh Works] (Switch)
Release Date: JP – Available Now
Web Pages: Japan
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