(Credit: Nintendo)
Nintendo made it clear that it would not talk about the Nintendo Switch successor at its most recent Nintendo Direct presentation, so we’ll have to wait a little longer for the first details on that next-generation system coming in 2025. Instead, in this showcase, presumably the final one solely dedicated to the original Switch, Nintendo unveiled new games for its biggest franchises. Let's walk through them. (And cue the swan song redux.)
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
It’s been a long wait for the newest entry in Nintendo’s masterful first-person shooter series. First announced in 2017, Metroid Prime 4 got rebooted and handed back to the original developers at Retro Studios in 2019. Since then, aside from an incredible remaster of the first game, we’ve heard nothing. Finally, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond lives. The brief teaser showed Samus blasting Space Pirates and using her trademark Morph Ball ability. We also got a glimpse at Sylux, a minor series character who’s been teased as a major villain for more than a decade. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launches in 2025, and we’d be shocked if it’s not a cross-gen Switch 2 release.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was just released last year, so don’t expect a big new 3D Zelda for some time. But the Zelda franchise contains multitudes, and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is an upcoming 2D title where you play as Princess Zelda herself. Instead of Link’s swordplay, Zelda uses magic to summon items and solve puzzles in the overworld. It reminds us of Tears of the Kingdom’s crafting system. The game also uses the same adorable toy-art style as the Link’s Awakening remake. It launches on September 26.
Mario and Luigi: Brothership
Mario RPG fans can never complain again about Nintendo ignoring them. Earlier this year, the beloved Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door was remade. Before that, Super Mario RPG received an even more elaborate visual overall. And now, here’s a brand new Mario and Luigi game, Mario and Luigi: Brothership. The familiar art style gets a lavish upgrade for this nautical adventure, and the trailer shows new versions of the classic tag-team attacks. We don’t know who is making this, as the original studio at AlphaDream has been shut down. But we’ll find out soon when the game launches on November 7.
What Else Was Announced at Nintendo Direct?
While these big games were the highlights, Direct also had smaller announcements, including many remakes and casual titles. The first three games in the legendary Dragon Quest series are getting HD-2D remakes this November. Donkey Kong Country Returns gets an HD port next January. Super Mario Party Jamboree promises to be the biggest mini-game collection yet this October. Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition revives old memories this July. Lego Horizon Adventures, from Sony, brings the first good-looking Horizon game to Switch this holiday. Stray brings cyberpunk cat action to Switch. A bunch of Marvel vs. Capcom fighting games are coming to Switch, too.
Overall, it was a fine Direct for a system that has earned its rest. As long as I can play all these games on my Nintendo Switch 2 next year, I’ll be happy.
For more on summer gaming showcases filling this year’s E3-shaped hole, check out our favorite trailers from IGN Live, PlayStation’s State of Play, and the Xbox Games Showcase.