Nintendo's latest Direct highlighted many first- and third-party titles coming to the Nintendo Switch, but the elephant in the room was a new 2D Mario game. Here's a round-up of what you can expect to play on Switch this year and into 2024.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder Brings Back 2D Gameplay
It's been more than a decade since the release of 2012's New Super Mario Bros. U, a classic-style, side-scrolling Mario title. If you've been hungry for more of that 2D action, Super Mario Bros. Wonder will be a welcome release with a bunch of new features. For example, the Wonder Flower power-up may cause Mario to surf a lamb stampede or invite the landscape to spring to life.
The most interesting power-up, however, is one that transforms the plumber into an anthropomorphic elephant.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder has a diverse selection of familiar, playable characters. Besides Mario, the cast includes Luigi, Princess Daisy, Princess Peach, Toad, and Yoshi. You'll be able to purchase this latest Mario adventure on Oct. 20, 2023.
Pikmin 4 Has Night Levels and a New Companion
Nintendo shared additional details about what Pikmin fans can expect when the highly-anticipated Pikmin 4 drops on July 21. New to the series is a canine companion, Oatchi, who helps you solve puzzles, rescue castaways, and repair and upgrade your spaceship.
The most exciting change is the introduction of night expeditions where you'll encounter highly agitated creatures. A new Pikmin species, Glow Pikmin, also exclusively appears at night to offer assistance. You can concentrate these Pikmin into a single radiant energy sphere, causing them to unleash a devastating burst of energy and inflict a tremendous amount of damage.
A Pikmin 4 demo is slated for release on June 28. In the meantime, Pikmin fans can play the newly remastered Pikmin and Pikmin 2 (available now in the Nintendo Switch eShop).
Remakes, Remasters, and a Princess Peach Game
Although Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Pikmin 4 were the Nintendo Direct's main focus, the showcase also included several other noteworthy announcements. Our favorites include:
- A Super Mario RPG remake (Nov. 17)
- A remastered version Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon (2024)
- A teaser for a yet-to-be-fully announced Princess Peach-centered Mario game (2024)
- Batman: Arkham Trilogy (late 2023)
- Metal Gear Solid Collection Vol. 1 (Oct. 24), 2023. The $59.99 collection includes Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Metal Gear, and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake, Snake's Revenge, a screenplay book containing in-game text of each title, and a master book detailing the story and characters.
Nintendo didn't tease a Switch 2, but who needs it with so many games on the horizon?
For more on the Nintendo Switch, check out The Best Nintendo Switch Games and The Best Nintendo Switch Games for Kids.