Tears of the Kingdom, Pikmin 4, Metroid Prime and more

Nintendo Directs are almost always must-watch streaming events. Nintendo has found over the years that they can control the news cycle on any randomly chosen day as they often make important announcements during these streams. This time was no different as several big games like Pikmin 4, Metroid Prime Remaster and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom got new trailers.

Pikmin 4

It’s hard to believe that just a few months ago, Pikmin 4 was nothing more than a wink from Shigeru Miyamoto. It went from a seemingly dead project that had been in development for over seven years to a July 21st release date. In terms of gameplay, Pikmin 4 adds a boy of the year dog (Oatchi) and the cool new ice Pikmin that can freeze water to build bridges across previously impassable bodies of water.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Expansion Pass Volume 3

As part of Expansion Pass Volume 3, a new hero is coming to Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Masha is a lapidary, which essentially means she can craft special equippable items. In addition, challenge battles come into play via the DLC. Archsage’s Gauntlet mode pits you against groups of enemies in a roguelike format where waves of enemies keep coming and you can choose upgrades and new heroes between battles.

Samba de Amigo: Party headquarters

Samba de Amigo: Party Central kept the party going with a Switch-exclusive title that uses the gyro controls in the Joy-Con to simulate wobbling maracas. It’s always nice to see that a series that got its start on the Dreamcast is still alive in 2023.

fashion dreamer

Fashion Dreamer is one of those games that has a very specific audience. If you are interested in fashion and want to become a trend setting influencer then this is the game for you. With thousands of outfit options, players have many styles to choose from.

Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC

The only thing better than finding out that Dead Cells is getting Castlevania DLC is that it’s coming out on March 6th. That’s less than a month away!

TRON: identity

Tron: Identity is coming to the Nintendo Switch this April. This narrative puzzle game is sure to delight fans of the classic Disney franchise.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

The cult DS classic Ghost Trick Phantom Detective is coming to the Nintendo Switch. As a ghost, you can manipulate the puzzle-based environment to change the fate of you and others.

decapitation

It’s anime, it’s police, it’s decapolice. In this game, detective-trainees use the Decasim (a VR world for detective training) to gain experience without using the real world. Of course, a hacker gets into the system and runs amok. Decapolice launches later this year.

Bayonet origins

Bayonetta has already had three great adventures, so it’s time to look back at her past as Babynetta (well, her name’s actually Cereza). This game is very different from previous titles in the franchise, but it’s a nice change from the typical high-octane action of Bayonetta 1-3. Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon will be released on March 17th.

Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass: Inkopolis & Side Order

It’s time to stay fresh and return to Inkopolis with the Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass. Roam the classic squid kid playgrounds from the original Splatoon in this DLC. The first part of the expansion is coming this spring. Some new story content (side order) has also been teased for the second part of the expansion, which starts “in the future,” whatever that means.

Disney Island of Illusion

Disney heroes Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald embark on a platforming adventure exclusively on Nintendo Switch starting July 28th.

Fire Emblem Engage Expansion Pass Wave 2

Fan favorites like Camilla, Chrom, Robin, and Hector will be coming to Fire Emblem Engage later today as part of the second wave expansion pass.

Harmony: The case of reverie

Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is a game by Don’t Nod that focuses on a deep story. This universe-hopping title is coming out in June this summer.

Octopath Traveler II

Another stunning looking HD 2D game from Suare Enix, Octopath Traveler II is the second game in the Octopath RPG series. A demo of the game is now available on Nintendo eShop.

We love Katamari Reroll+ Royal Reverie

No one has ever accused the Katamari franchise of being normal, and this We Love Katamari remake proves it time and time again. Still, it’s an amazing gaming franchise that needs to be played to be experienced. Royal Reverie launches on June 2nd.

sea ​​of ​​stars

After the hit The Messenger, Sabotage Studio decided to take another hit for the fences. Everything shown so far for the RPG Sea of ​​Stars looks incredible. The only downside is that we still have to wait for the full release. At least a demo is out now.

Omega Striker

At first glance, Omega Strikers look like windjammers with multiple people on each side of the field. Then on further inspection, yes, it pretty much is. However, playing like one of the best sports games is definitely not a bad thing. This free-to-play game launches on April 27th.

Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection

While Etrian Odyssey is certainly a niche franchise, its fans are a devoted bunch. This HD remaster of the first three games will bring nostalgia back when it launches on June 1st.

Advance Wars 1+2 Reboot Camp

After a year of waiting, it looks like Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is finally on its way, having been delayed in part due to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The game now has an April 21 release date.

Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe

Kirby returns to where it all began in Dream Land. The game also features a new character, Magolor, who recently lost his powers while traveling through dimensions. Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe is just days away and will be released on February 24th.

Nintendo Switch Online – Game Boy & Game Boy Advance

Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games are now available on Nintendo Switch Online and + Expansion Pack. Yes yes, there’s Tetris and Zelda, but the exciting thing here is that the possibility of Mother 3 is real, at least in the Japanese version of the app.

Metroid Prime Remastered

Sure, the Metroid Prime Trilogy on Switch would have been nice, but fans of this franchise know they need to grab whatever win they can get their hands on. It certainly helps the remaster that the original Metroid Prime was already an incredible game, and if that wasn’t enough, it was a shadow cast.

Archives of Master Detectives: Rain Code

Master Detectives Archives: Rain Code is a game about a group of detectives who have their own special abilities that help them in their investigations. The game will be released this summer on June 30th.

Baten Kaitos 1 & 2 HD Remaster

Bandai Namco is releasing a remastered version of the two Baten Kaitos games this summer. This unique JRPG franchise is worth checking out if you missed it back when it originally released on the GameCube.

Fantasy Life i: The girl who steals time

If you’ve ever played Animal Crossing and wished you could wreak havoc on some beasts or time travel, then Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time might be worth a look when it releases later this year.

Professor Layton and the new world of steam

Well, that kind of came out of nowhere, but it was a welcome revelation. Layton makes a triumphant return in Professor Layton and The New World of Steam. Unfortunately, no release date was announced in the trailer.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass – Wave 4

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is just absolutely wild. Released months after the Switch in 2017, this game is still running as good as ever. This is of course mainly due to this incredible DLC with new courses and classics. Wave 4 starts this spring.

Before the final trailer of the day, there was a sizzle reel featuring the following games: Minecraft Legends, Blanc, Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection, Have a Nice Death, WBSC eBaseball: Power Pros, an update for Disney Dreamlight Valley, and Tales by Symphonia Remastered

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

This game is probably called Tears of the Kingdom based on how you react every time a new trailer comes out. They’re just pure tears of joy. Breath of the Wild redefined The Legend of Zelda, and it looks like Tears of the Kingdom might manage to bottle just that (fairy) magic. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will be released exclusively on Nintendo Switch on May 12th.

That’s it folks! The February 2023 Nintendo Direct was a beauty for Nintendo fans. Sure, it didn’t deliver Metroid Prime 4 or announce the return of F-Zero, but the upcoming list of games for the Switch looks good. If you don’t want to watch the trailers individually, feel free to watch the full stream.