The Nintendo Direct of February 2022 is the first chance fans are getting to see what they'll be playing on their Nintendo Switch through this and possibly next year. With plenty on the horizon, and even more on fans' wishlists, who knows what will be included in this Nintendo Direct.
Fire Emblem Warriors
The first announcement of the Nintendo Direct is a new Fire Emblem Warriors game. Titled Fire Emblem Warriors Three Hopes, it appears to feature the characters from Fire Emblem Three Houses. It features real-time hack and slash combat and will be coming on June 24, 2022.
Advance Wars 1+2 Boot Camp Feature Trailer
Continuing from there is more info on Advance Wars 1+2 Boot Camp. Featuring full voice-acting for all of the characters as well as a new campaign. It includes fast-forwarding battles and even rewinding turns to mitigate frustration. It will also include local and online multiplayer. It will be available on April 8th.
No Man's Sky Coming To Switch
No Man’s Sky is coming to Nintendo Switch. Featuring the universe exploration gameplay that has made the release so popular as well as its many free updates introducing base building, carrier management, and building planetary settlements. It will be available sometime this summer.
Mario Strikers Battle League Scores A Goal
Next is a new Super Mario Strikers game. Featuring the Mario crew in new pads while still maintaining the over-the-top soccer gameplay fans know and love. It appears to include not just classic characters like Mario and Luigi, but also stats and gear that can improve your skills as you play. In addition are Hyper Strikes, special attacks that can affect the field and score you 2 points if it hits a goal. It will also include online play as well as your own Club. Up to 20 players can join. Mario Strikers Battle League will launch June 10 and Pre-orders are available now.
Something Fishy With Splatoon 3
Following that was a trailer for Splatoon 3, showing off the return of the Salmonid Co-Op mode from Splatoon 2. The mode shows off new bosses and challenges that the Inklings will have to overcome together like giant mechanical salmon that can body check your teammates. You can also throw golden eggs to your teammates now as well as summon what appear to be tanks that fire high-powered ink shots. The trailer ends teasing a Godzilla-sized Salmon monster. Officially titled Salmon Run Next Wave. Splatoon 3 will officially launch in Summer 2022.
Front Mission Remake?
Moving on, it appears a new Front Mission game has been announced. In fact, it is a complete remake of the first Front Mission, titled Front Mission 1st. It will include the mech customization and turn-based combat that players have come to love. A remake of the sequel is also in development.
Disney Races Into First
Next is a Disney-themed racer by Asphalt Studios. Icons include Mickey Mouse, Mulan, Sully from Monsters Inc, and Captain Jack Sparrow. Disney Speedstorm will be a free-to-play game with ongoing support, cross-platform play, and online as well as split-screen multiplayer. It comes this Summer.
The Force Unleashed Ported
Star Wars The Force Unleashed is coming to Switch as well. It is coming April 20 with original and improved motion controls.
Ezio arrives on the Nintendo Switch
Continuing from there, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection will be arriving on Switch as well. It will be available on February 27.
Like Gundam... But Smaller
Bandai Namco announced a brand new Gundam game. SD Gundam Battle Alliance coming “later this year.”
Chrono Cross Comes To Switch
Square Enix has announced a remake of the JRPG Chrono Cross coming to Nintendo Switch. The time-traveling sci-fi fantasy adventure complete with the 40+ party members as well as new improvements will be coming. These include the ability to turn off random encounters. Chrono Cross The Radical Dreamers Edition will be available April 7 with pre-orders available now.
Kirby Explores Ruins and... Becomes A Car?
Following from there is the newest 30 Kirby game, Kirby and The Forgotten Land. It shows off the main story of Kirby exploring an abandoned city and the new Mouthful Mode. This is where Kirby eats something bigger than normal like a car or a refrigerator and utilizes its abilities as his own. There also appears to be a town management game. The trailer continued to show off new copy abilities like getting a giant stone sword or turning into a ball of spikes. Kirby and the Forgotten Land will be available March 25 with pre-orders available now.
The Show 2022 Also Coming To Switch
Continuing on is the Nintendo Switch debut of MLB The Show. It will include cross-platform play, single Joy-Con play, and cross-progression. It will be available on April 8 with pre-orders available now.
More Ports Coming to Nintendo Switch!
The Kingdom Hearts collection for Cloud, Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece will be available on the Switch…right now.
Klonoa HD collection is coming to Nintendo Switch July 8. It will include both games in an HD Remaster.
Continuing on with HD collections, Valve’s acclaimed Portal series is coming to Switch as well. Both Portal and Portal 2, called Portal Companion Collection, will be available “later this year”
Live A Live Outside Japan For The First Time
Following on is the official western release of the JRPG Live A Live. An epic fantasy adventure that spans multiple eras of history including the distant past and the far future. It will be available July 22 with Pre-orders available today.
Sports But For Nintendo Switch!
Nintendo Switch Sports has been announced. The beloved Wii Sports activities like Tennis, Bowling, Sword Fighting have been included as well as Soccer, Badminton, and Volleyball. It will include the same motion controls as seen on the Wii version, local play with family and friends, as well as online play. The latter is a first for this series. The presentation then included a demonstration of the online mode with a game of volleyball. It will be available April 29. It will include a free update later on to include Golf. An online playtest has also been planned. It will happen February 18-20 and will only be available to those with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
Can You Feel The Beat?
Next up is a new Taiko no Tatsujin game. The arcade-style Taiko Drum game will include classic songs as well as beloved licensed titles from Nintendo titles like The Legend of Zelda theme. It will even include Toby Fox’s beloved Megalovania. Taiko no Tatsujin will be available later this year with a paid in-game subscription service to give you access to new songs.
Updates On Previously Announced Games
Some more details came out regarding the new JRPG strategy game, Triangle Strategy. A new playable demo will be available later today which will allow you to play up to Chapter 3 of the game with saving progression possible.
Continuing on is the reminder of the upcoming Cuphead DLC The Delicious Last Course, being available April 30. This DLC brings a new island and a new playable character.
A new Dread Mode update is coming to Metroid Dread. One hit and you’re dead. You’re also getting a Rookie Mode which will make things easier. It will be available today. Furthermore, a Boss Rush mode will be coming in an April update.
Nintendo Switch Online Gets Earthbound
Earthbound is finally coming to Nintendo Switch Online’s SNES service. The JRPG cult classic featuring Ness and his friends can now be enjoyed by all players with the service. In addition, Earthbound Beginnings, the prequel to Earthbound originally called Mother, originally only available on the Wii U will be available later today.
Mario Kart 8 DLC Trailer
More Mario Kart 8 content is coming. Old classic tracks from prior Mario Kart games will be getting a remastered update then sold as premium DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Titled the Booster Course Pass, it will unveil 8 courses over the span of 6 weeks with a grand total of 48 tracks in the pipeline. These include Mario Kart Wii’s Coconut Mall and 64’s Choco Mountain. The pass will be 24.99 and be available on March 18th. If you have an Expansion Pass Switch Online Subscription, however, you will have access at no additional cost.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Surprise Announcement
Finally, the presentation ended with the announcement of a new Xenoblade Chronicles game. The trailer shows off new characters, giant expansive environments, and fantastical creatures as well as giant mechs and robots. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will be coming out in September 2022 and it will bridge the events of the past two games.
