7 Biggest Upcoming Nintendo Switch Exclusive Games

Already two games released for the Nintendo Switch have entered the list of the best games of all time, namely The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and Super Mario Odyssey. Those are most likely not going to be the only games for the console to blow people away, especially since we’re this early into the console’s lifetime. The best is yet to come, and here are some of the games that are looking like they might qualify for that position.

 

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Developer: Monolith Soft
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: December 1, 2017

This open world RPG by Monolith Soft was revealed at the Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017 when the price and launch date of the console were revealed, alongside Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey. Although the title shows it to be a sequel of the original Xenoblade Chronicles, released for the Wii, it takes place on a new world and has a different cast of characters.

The game looks to be a very beautiful one, and the characters seem to have more realistic human proportions than the previous games, despite the scarce and baggy clothes sometimes making it look otherwise. The fighting system is called the “Battle Arts” system and is based on auto-attacks, as well as user and weapon specific “Arts” that have their own cooldown timers. The Arts are different for two different users that have the same weapon, as well as one user with two different weapons.

Hopes are high for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 despite the relatively short developing time compared to the other games.

 

Project Octopath Traveler

Developer: Square Enix, Acquire
Publisher: Square Enix
Release Date: 2018

Project Octopath Traveler is a new game for the Nintendo Switch that combines 3D polygonal environments with 16-bit style 2d sprites, an aesthetic the developers called “HD-2D”. Not much is known about the game yet, although a demo was released in September when the first trailer came out.

It’s being developed by the team behind Bravely Default, and will also feature turn-based combat, with the addition of so-called “Boost Point”. Up to three can be used to boost a command and up to five can be stored at the same time. Using them lets you attack several times, get stronger, or take less damage.

It definitely looks very interesting, although the aesthetic might take some getting used to.

 

Kirby: Star Allies

Developer: HAL Laboratory
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: 2018

Kirby: Star Allies will be a fairly traditional Kirby platforming game, where you use your copying abilities to get through the stages. There are more returning elements from previous games that haven’t been seen for a while, namely the ability to mix abilities, as well as the Helpers that can either be AI-controlled or be controlled by other players.

It was teased at E3 2017 and named in September, although not much more than this is known about the game. Although the gameplay is still in 2D, the environment will be in 3D, which the developers have dubbed 2.5D.

 

Shin Megami Tensei V

Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Atlus
Release Date: TBD

After the smash hit that was Persona 5, Atlus announced that Shin Megami Tensei V will be exclusively released on the Nintendo Switch. Many fans were surprised, some were even angry, but the developers justified their choice, saying that the console gives fans the flexibility to play high quality games whenever and wherever they want to. The franchise is no stranger to Nintendo, anyway, as some entries of the series were released on the Nintendo 3DS.

So far, not much is known about the game, as the trailer only showed its setting, the fact that the game is being developed in Unreal Engine 4 and that the game will take place in modern Japan, as players face off against the demons they’ll no doubt recognize from previous entries.

 

Untitled Pokémon Game

Developer: Game Freak
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: TBD

To be fair, barely anything is known about the mainline Pokémon game that’s coming to the Switch. Game Freak has confirmed that Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon will be the last Pokémon games for the handheld DS line, which either means that the next games will only come to the Switch, or they have a new series of handhelds in mind. The second is definitely more likely.

Game Freak said that the younger developers on its team were the ones working on Pokémon Ultra Sun and Pokémon Ultra Moon, whereas the more experienced developers are working on the Switch title. Fans of the series can’t wait to see what we’ll get.

 

Metroid Prime 4

Developer: unnamed new team led by Kensuke Tanabe
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: TBD

Again, not much is known about the newest entry in the Metroid Prime saga, eagerly awaited by fans for the last ten years, but it’s promised to return to the roots of the first game, as well as tying together the events of the past games and taking the story in new directions.

It was announced at E3 2017, at the same time as Metroid: Samus Returns, a 2.5D remake of the second mainline Metroid game that lead to the developers of the fan-made remake receiving a cease-and-desist letter from Nintendo (although they seem to be doing that with most remakes these days).

 

Untitled Fire Emblem Game

Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: TBD 2018

Out of all the games on this list, the least is known about the Fire Emblem game coming to Switch. It’s a big thing, though, as it’s the first Fire Emblem game to release on a home console in a whole decade. It’ll also be quite different to many of the the most recent entries, as they all made use of the dual screens found on the DS and 3DS, whereas the Switch only has one screen. However, in handheld mode, it is still a touch screen, so it’ll be interesting how they use it or not.

Those were the top seven biggest upcoming exclusive Nintendo Switch games. Which of them are you looking forward to most, and are there any that you think should’ve been on this list? Are there any you think that absolutely shouldn’t be on this list?