10 Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games That We Can’t Wait To Play

The Nintendo Switch is a really sweet piece of hardware and a console that we think has huge potential. It’s amazing to hear how incredibly well it’s selling — the Japanese platform holder must be over-the-moon with its current sales trajectory - but it's important to remember that it’s still early days. Sure, Ninty may have nailed the handheld hybrid/home console hardware design, but it’s also absolutely critical for the Big N to deliver on what’s truly important to gamers: video games. The Switch needs to keep that positive momentum going with a tight schedule of awesome titles to keep fans satisfied, and to Nintendo’s credit, they’re doing a more than adequate job, with some terrific gems recently launching on the console like GoNNER, Mr Shifty, ARMS and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The following list is a selection of the ten Nintendo Switch games that we can’t wait to play. We've tried to focus on titles that are coming reasonably soon, and penciled in for release over the next six to nine months. As such, don’t expect to see Metroid Prime 4 or Pokemon on the list as their development cycles are still in the very embryonic stages — we only saw logos for those titles at E3 last month, to be fair. So, with that out of the way, here are ten upcoming Nintendo Switch games that we're chomping at the bit to get our hands on. Drum roll, please… 10) Stardew Valley (Late 2017) Slap on those denim dungarees and grab a rake, it’s time to get ready for the agricultural grow-em-up sensation that everyone keeps talking about. Eric Barone’s super successful indie sensation Stardew Valley is coming to Nintendo’s handheld hybrid, which’ll be the first console to take advantage of the game’s intriguing new multiplayer modes. Heavily inspired by Harvest Moon, this RPG farming sim places you in the work boots of a modest agriculturalist, with the simple aim of growing and maintaining your own personal farmstead. Fishing, crafting, cooking, delving into critter-infested caves and trading with the local villagers, are all peppered into the mix, too, which is sure to make any would-be farmer one happy chappy. Prepare to get your plow on, tend those fields and sow all the seeds your heart desires — this is one farming sim that’ll really get your creative and horticultural juices flowing. Seriously though, those denim dungarees are purely optional. 9) Skyrim (Fall 2017) Yeah, I know: it’s a six-year-old game, yadda yadda yadda - but it’s one of the most awe-inspiring, gargantuan open-worlds Bethesda has crafted yet. And compared to most open-world games around at the moment, it’s actually got a ton of really interesting and meaningful stuff to do in it, too. Plus, it’s coming to a handheld. If you showed my younger, childlike self a game like Skyrim running on a portable, I would’ve personally burnt you at the stake for being a witch. No, seriously. Even though I’ve completed the game about half-a-dozen times before, I’m itching to jump back in, not only to rid the lands of those pesky dragons, but to just get lost in its living, breathing world that is both rewarding and beautiful, in equal measure. With the ability to take your epic adventure with you on the go, this could well be the ultimate version of Bethesda’s fondly remembered RPG. Skyrim on a handheld; what a world we live in. 8) Yoshi — Working Title (Early 2018) Everybody's favourite dino is getting a sequel to his Wii U and 3DS outing Yoshi’s Wooly World. This time round, Yoshi will be able to switch between two viewpoints, allowing the camera to swing around and see behind objects, a mechanic reminiscent of indie puzzler Fez’s perspective-shifting gameplay. In general, it mechanically looks pretty similar to previous side-scrolling platformer Yoshi titles. Using cutting edge Unreal Engine 4 tech to bring its world to life, Good-Feel’s newest Yoshi instalment focuses on a gorgeous cardboard cut-out art-style over the wooly themed world of his preceding adventure. The game will also feature a drop-in two-player co-op mode, where players work together to maneuver their way through the game’s bright and colourful cardboard landscapes. Oh, and I kinda hope Birdo makes an appearance, too. Is it just me, or should the two of them totally get together? Maybe it's just me... 7) Hollow Knight (Late 2017) Team Cherry’s indie metroidvania was a bit of a critical darling when it released on PC last February. It’s a gorgeous, hand-drawn 2D action platformer with an amiable, wee paladin at the helm, which sees you embarking on an epic adventure taking on 30 unique bosses, a plethora of nasty insect monsters and a maze of dark and twisted caverns. Don’t let the cute art-style fool you, though; this is one platformer that’ll undoubtedly test your reflexes and old-school muscle memory. Blend in some extraordinary magical powers, upgrades and the ability to barter with a selection of friendly beasties across your journey, and it becomes clear that this sweet, little “Nindy” is certainly worth keeping your eyes locked upon for when it releases later this year. 6) Dandara (Summer 2017) Inspired by a historical Afro-Brazilian slave hero of the same name, Dandara is another metroidvania title that totally oozes slick, retro style and chic. This 2D pixel-art action platformer places you in the boots of the titular historical hero, and pits you against an army of evil machinations in a gravity-bending adventure that sees you ping-ponging from surface to surface like a demented pinball. That latter point is a key component to its core gameplay as you ricochet around the environment and unlock new skills and open up new, unexplored areas. Campsites are scattered throughout the levels and are used as both a save-point and a means to purchase health potions and other support items. Raw Fury Games have even gone on record and name-dropped Dark Souls as a big influence on their upcoming title. We cannot wait to get our hands on this promising, little gem. 5) Rocket League (Late 2017) Ok, you’ve probably played Psyonix’s vehicular soccer sim a hell of a lot on your bigger console counterparts — and if not, why not? However, we really believe that its multiplayer-focused suite of easy to learn but tough to master gameplay is a neat fit for the Nintendo Switch. The console hybrid comes with two controllers out of the box, which lends itself well to impromptu couch multiplayer action. Additionally, this iteration of the game will be cross-play with both PC and Xbox One (sorry PS4 gamers), which will certainly help keep the community from drying up. Even though I kinda suck at the actual soccer gameplay, I can’t help but be excited at the prospect of playing this breakout hit on the go and dropping a spontaneous challenge on unsuspecting friends. 4) Splatoon 2 (July 21, 2017) I’m going to come clean with you now, dear reader: I never actually got around to playing the original Splatoon on Wii U. That’s mainly because I never got round to picking up a Wii U (I know, I’m rubbish). Nevertheless, I was always compelled by the colourful, third-person shooting complemented by its bright, cute art-style. It's also hard to not be impressed by Nintendo’s brave roll-of-the-dice with a brand new franchise. Well, it sure must have hit a nerve, as Splatoon went on to sell a staggering 4.67 million units, on a platform that only managed to shift a meagre 13 million consoles globally. Wowsers. Splatoon 2 is a continuation of the team-based third-person shooting found in the original, and focuses on four-versus-four mayhem. It’s refreshing to see a family-friendly shooter for a change, one that swaps out the blood and the gore for buckets of paint and roaming inkling squid. A new addition to this sequel is a horde-esque co-op mode which pits you and a friend against waves of AI salmon monsters intent on stealing your power eggs. Though that latter mode may mechanically sound a little been-there-done-that, we're still absolutely stoked to check out the sequel to one of the Wii U’s most critically and commercially successful games. And hey, everybody likes a good ol' survival mode, right? 3) Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (August 29, 2017) Sure, we all felt the collective sigh of bone-crushing indifference when the news of the game’s announcement first broke a few months ago. Who actually likes Rabbids? WHO? They’re like those bloody Minions, but somehow even worse. Nevertheless, since its gameplay spotlight at this year’s E3, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle has quickly zipped to the upper echelons of our most wanted lists purely because its mechanics look surprisingly unique, strategic and fresh. This out of the ordinary Nintendo and Ubisoft collaboration blends the tactical, turn-based gameplay from Firaxis Games’ critically acclaimed XCOM series, with the familiar, charming and loveable assortment of characters from the Mario franchise. One thing’s for sure, it’s always cool seeing Princess Peach shooting the heck out of a bunch of those damned furry varmints — that’ll surely be a satisfying time, right? But yeah, the less said about those Rabbids the better. Who knows, though? Perhaps there’s a Rabbids-shaped hole in everyone’s hearts waiting to be filled and they’ll totally sweep us off our feet? Probably not. 2) WarGroove (Late 2017) Ok, so this is essentially the spiritual successor to the Advance Wars series on the Nintendo DS. Yeah, only the most freaking awesome handheld strategy game ever created. For some reason, Nintendo refuses to take my money and make an official sequel, so Chucklefish Games have stepped in to do us all a big favour and bring the game’s turn-based tactical strategy gameplay back to the Nintendo Switch. I was a hopeless addict of Advance Wars: Dual Strike back in the day, and am aching to jump back in and get my fix again. This time round, there are twelve commanders, each with their own separate campaigns, personalities and unique motivations. There’ll also be local and online multiplayer, including player-vs-player and co-op play, too. The package sounds pretty meaty and heavy with content, but it’s safe to say that this is easily one of our most anticipated Nintendo Switch games here at WGTC. 1) Super Mario Odyssey (October 27, 2017) It couldn’t have been anyone else now, could it? Our loveable, pint-sized plumber is primed for his next 3D open-world adventure and it’s shaping up to be a very special one. Traveling across worlds in his flying ship, dubbed the Odyssey, Mario must once again save Princess Peach from the clutches of grouchy ol' Bowser. This time, our affable plumber’s joined by a magic cap called Cappy, which can be used in a number of neat ways. Want him to turn into a temporary platform? Sure. Need him to attack those irksome enemies? Why, of course. Wanna possess some NPCs and monsters? You betcha! The addition of Cappy looks like a super clever and very welcome mechanic to one of the Big N's longest-running franchises. Our very own Gaming Editor Shaan Joshi managed to get some hands-on time with the game at E3 2017 and you can read his excited and eloquent write-up here. Long story short, Shaan loved his time with the title and wrote: “I safely say that Super Mario Odyssey is not only one of the best Mario games I’ve played in years, but one of the best gaming experiences I’ve had in a long while.” If that doesn’t get you excited for this Nintendo Switch title, I don't know what will.