Fans have always looked forward to Nintendo Directs, presentations that the company livestreams to reveal news about upcoming games. The newest Nintendo Direct, which was streamed on February 9th at 2:00 p.m. PT and 5:00 p.m. ET, had a lot of great announcements.
Seeing as how gamers had to wait nearly five months since the last Nintendo Direct, it's good that they now have a better idea on what they may want to play on the Switch in the first half of this year.
10 A Demo For Triangle Strategy Is Out
For those that have been looking forward to playing Square Enix's upcoming tactical RPG Triangle Strategy, they don't have long to wait. A demo in which gamers can play the first three chapters of the game was released shortly after the Nintendo Direct. Players can continue from where they left off in the demo once they get the full game, which will come out on March 4th.
9 Cuphead DLC Will Release On June 30th
Cuphead is a run and gun game that was released back in 2017. A lot of gamers enjoyed it and have patiently waited for the game's DLC. After five years, Cuphead - The Delicious Last Course is going to come out on June 30th. The DLC includes new bosses and a new playable character, Ms. Chalice. Though fans will have to wait a few months before playing the DLC, a Netflix series is releasing on February 18th that they will surely enjoy.
8 Dread Mode And Rookie Mode Have Been Added To Metroid Dread
Metroid fans waited a long time for Metroid Dread, which was released back in October. A free update was released after the Nintendo Direct which includes Dread Mode and Rookie Mode. In Dread Mode, if players get hit, they instantly die. In Rookie Mode, players can increase more recovery, making the game easier.
Another free update, which will release in April, will include a Boss Rush Mode. Fans may have had to wait many years for this game to come out, but the fun doesn't end once they beat it.
7 Earthbound And Earthbound Beginnings Are Now On Nintendo Switch Online
Earthbound is one of the most iconic RPGs ever made. It was originally released on the SNES back in 1994, and it finally came to Nintendo's online service, Nintendo Switch Online, after the Direct. But that's not the only game in the series that is now on Nintendo Switch Online. Earthbound Beginnings, a prequel to Earthbound, is also now available through the service. Whether they are a newcomer to the series or a diehard fan, the Earthbound games are RPGs that all Switch owners should play.
6 Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes Is The Next Collaboration Between Nintendo And Koei Tecmo
Nintendo and Koei Tecmo have collaborated together a lot over the past few years to make hack and slash games based on iconic franchises like Fire Emblem and The Legend of Zelda. It was announced during the Nintendo Direct that the next game that they made together is Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, which is connected to the 2019 game, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, similar to how Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity ties into The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes will release on June 24th.
5 Kirby Can Drive In The Newest Trailer Of Kirby And The Forgotten Land
One of the games that Switch fans have known about for a while and are looking forward to playing this year is Kirby and the Forgotten Land, which received a brand new trailer. At the beginning of the trailer, Kirby walks into a building where he consumes some enemies, and accidentally swallows a car in the process.
Using Kirby as a car is one of the game mechanics in the new Mouthful Mode, which can also be activated when Kirby eats a vending machine, cone, scissor-lift, ring, and more, allowing fans to play in many ways as they rescue the Waddle Dees. Fans can play Kirby and the Forgotten Land on March 25th.
4 Mario Strikers: Battle League Was Revealed
There have been many Mario sports games over the years, and a new one was just announced. Mario Strikers: Battle League is a soccer game. It is a sequel to Mario Strikers Charged, which was released on the Wii back in 2007. Players can use items and tackle their opponents as they try to make goals. Players can customize what gear they use and control some of the series' most beloved characters, including Mario, Luigi, Peach, Wario, Yoshi, and Bowser. Up to eight people can play together when the game releases on June 10th.
3 Courses Are Being Added To Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best-selling Switch game, despite first releasing on the Wii U all the way back in 2014, three years before the Switch came out. While fans thought that Nintendo was probably working on the next installment in the series, not including Mario Kart Tour or Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit, it seems they'll have to wait even longer. However, there's actually some great news. Instead of getting Mario Kart 9, there will be a lot more courses coming to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe over the next couple of years through the Booster Course Pass, which includes tracks from previous titles. Throughout six waves, there will be 48 tracks coming to the game, with eight being in each wave. The first wave will release on March 18th.
2 Nintendo Switch Sports Was Announced
Two of the most beloved games on the Wii were Wii Sports and its sequel Wii Sports Resort. After the Wii U came out, it seemed that there wouldn't be a third installment in this series, but one has finally been announced. Nintendo Switch Sports allows gamers to play tennis, bowling, chambara, soccer, badminton, and volleyball with their joycons and leg strap accessories. More games will be added to the game later on, such as golf. It will release on April 29th but for those that want to play the game sooner, there will be an Online Play Test from February 18th to February 20th.
1 Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Has Been Announced
The last game that was shown during the Nintendo Direct was Xenoblade Chronicles 3, which has become a very popular series over the past few years. Little is known about the game so far, but fans will get to learn about the futures of the settings of the original Xenoblade Chronicles, as well as Xenoblade Chronicles 2, throughout the newest installment's story. It will come out in September.