2017 was a banner year for Nintendo Switch software with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of The Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2, as well as third-party games like FIFA 18, L.A Noire, Doom, Rocket League, and Skyrim. While 2018 may not have a big Zelda or Mario title announced as of yet, there are still a number of great games to look forward to in the coming year, many of which bring something new to the Switch.
Bayonetta 1-2
Release Date: February 16, 2019
Price: $79.99 CDN
It’s a crime how few people played Bayonetta 2 when it originally came out on Wii U. Thankfully, Nintendo is giving the game another chance with a re-release on Nintendo Switch. I was going to leave Bayonetta off this list because it’s technically not a new game, or even new to Nintendo platforms, but the fact that so many people missed it, combined with how superb of a game it is, more than earns it a place on this list. In Bayonetta 2 you control the games titular character, Bayonetta, a witch who must travel through heaven and hell to save her friend. Sounds pretty fun, right? Being able to kill hellspawn on the go is something that I’ve been yearning to do more of since finishing Doom and Bayonetta 2 should more than scratch that itch. The game is also, easily one of the best action games of the past decade and it received a 91% on game review aggregate site Metacritic. In addition, when you buy a physical copy of Bayonetta 2, you get a digital code of the original Bayonetta, which makes the whole package a hell of a deal.
Payday 2
Release Date: February 27, 2018
Price: $69.99 CDN
Nintendo has worked on making the Switch a robust platform with games for just about any and every type of gamer. While its first-year game catalog has been impressive, the system is noticeably lacking a mature, multiplayer shooter. Enter Payday 2. The multiplayer heist shooter originally came out in 2013 but it is still a game worth playing, especially on Nintendo Switch. In Payday 2, you and your crew of criminals break into banks and are tasked with getting out alive. The possibility of getting a group of four Switch owners to plan a heist is an exciting prospect, and any reason to get back into the world of Payday 2 is a welcome one. What’s more is that while Payday 2 came out almost five years ago, it has since received over one-hundred updates and evolved heavily as a result. It was also recently announced that the Nintendo Switch version of the game will be the first to feature a new hacker character named Joy.
Kirby Star Allies
Release Date: March 18, 2018
Price: $79.99 CDN
Kirby games tend to release at the end of a Nintendo consoles life cycle when all hope is gone and consumers are already looking forward to the next Nintendo console. That’s why it’s such a nice surprise to have Kirby Star Allies coming to Nintendo Switch while the console is still vibrant and exciting. The new game introduces a new mechanic that allows Kirby to turn certain enemies he encounters into friends who then fight alongside him. While we probably won’t get a deep introspective story focusing on the greyness of morality and the realization that enemies can, in fact, become friends, that’s okay. As long as I can walk side by side with my new friend Waddle Deem I’ll be more than happy. On top of the cute Kirby aesthetic and new mechanics, the game also features four-player co-op, something that the Switch could certainly use more of.
Nintendo Labo
Release Date: April 20, 2018
Price: $79.99 USD and $69.99 USD
While more of a construction kit than a game, Nintendo Labo has the potential to be something special for Nintendo. Giving kids (and adults) the ability to build their own gaming accessory is a genius move and something that could combine the appeal of Lego and other building toys with the joys of playing video games. While ultimately not as interesting for adults and core gamers, Labo is all about getting kids creating and interacting with their creations. What’s more is that at $70 USD for the Variety Kit and $80 USD for the Robot Kit, Labo costs about the same, if not slightly more than an average game. I can easily imagine parents choosing to buy Labo for their kids over a traditional video game, due to the building factor. This could also be the start of a new way of making gaming experiences for Nintendo and I’d be lying if I said that the prospect of building a robot suit and then using it to cause havoc in game, didn’t appeal to me.
Project Octopath Traveler
Release Date: 2018
Price: TBD
Revealed at the Nintendo Direct Mini back in January of 2017, Project Octopath Traveler stood out with its vibrant art direction that meshed traditional RPG characters with dreamlike backgrounds. The art direction alone is enough to warrant its inclusion on this list but Project Octopath Traveler also has an intricate class and battle system that gives you the choice between eight distinct and dysfunctional characters. What’s more is that the game is made by the team behind Bravely Default, one of the best RPG’s of the last few years.
Steep
Release Date: 2018
Price: TBD
If Nintendo wants to make good on their promise of having a game for just about anyone then getting Steep to release on the Switch makes perfect sense. Steep is a winter sports extravaganza, set in an open world environment that allows you to take part in a number of extreme sports including, skiing, snowboarding, paragliding, windsurfing. The game utilizes full online functionality that allows you to race against other human players and even bump into them if you have that feature turned on. The issue is that while Steep was confirmed as a Switch title back at the initial reveal event in January of 2017, there has been little to no word on the game since around July of last year. Here’s hoping that Steep makes it down the hill and onto the Switch in 2018.
What are your most anticipated Switch games for 2018? And what do you hope gets announced for the console in the coming months? Let us know in the comments below!
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