Nintendo Direct 2021 was just smashed out of the park! If you couldn’t make it, then as it happened, here it was.
Nintendo Direct just happened. It’s a seasonal drop by Nintendo of all the info they want you to know for games that’ll be upcoming in the near future. This year’s was a little different, but the core was the same, as we bore witness to 30 drops of info about games we love, and games we don’t love, yet.
At its peak, about 1,389,000 people were watching concurrently. No small number! Catch up on all the games announced, all the trailers shown, and more, below.
Super Smash Bros Ultimate x Xenoblade Chronicles 2
In exciting for fans of both games, Pyra and Mythra from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 are joining the Super Smash Bros roster. Northern English dubs of Anime-esque characters are never not weird.
Release date: March 2021
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Fall Guys has a Switch-specific ad. It all looks very excellent – this game was always built for the Nintendo art style, and will feel very at home on their console.
Release date: Summer 2021
Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds is dropping for the Switch. A complete port for Nintendo has been announced, but unfortunately no specific date.
Release date: 2021
Famicom Detective Club
Famicom Detective Club has two games releasing for the Switch, marking the first time North America will get a localised version of these Japanese cult classics. Solve murders, before getting murdered.
Release date: May 14, 2021
Samurai Warriors 5
Japanese Dynasty Warriors is coming to the Switch. Great for fans of the style.
Release date: Summer 2021
Legend of Mana
The iconic Legend of Mana is being remastered for Switch with new music arrangements, the ability to off enemy fights, and a mini game called Ring Ring land.
Release date: June 24, 2021
Monster Hunter Rise
Monster Hunter Rise looks excellent, and definitely looks like it’ll pull some newbies into the experience. There’s also going to be a tie in with a new console release and controller.
Release date: March 26, 2021
Mario Golf Super Smash
Mario Golf is being updated for the next-gen. It’ll include of our familiar mushroom kingdom friends, just a little bit tidier. The big takeaways here are that Joycons can be used like Wii remotes. Golf at home!
Another huge announcement with is Speed Golf, a mix of Mario Kart, Mario Golf, and Mario Party, and the final addition is Story Mode. Yes.
Release date: June 25, 2021
Tales From the Borderlands
Everyone’s favourite choice-driven narrative adventure Tales from the Borderlands is being dropped for the Switch.
Release date: March 24, 2021
Capcom Arcade Stadium
Play emulations of the arcade games you’ve always loved. Just on your Switch. Local co-op will work, so get the couch ready as it releases today.
Release date: 18 Feb, 2021
Rebel Without a Pulse
Control a horde of zombies. Fight against the humans. This city ain’t no match for a dead man is the catchy slogan – we love the idea behind it.
Release date: March 16, 2021
No More Heroes 3
This is the most insane-looking game I’ve seen in a minute.
You play Travis Takedown, a fighting champion. The fights are broken up by doing chores to pay for entry fees to get into fights against huge aliens. You fight them with your katana and death glove.
Release date: August 27, 2021
Neon White
In Neon White hunt demons throughout heaven. It looks ridiculous. Use special cards to crush them and abilities to expel them.
Release date: Winter 2021
DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power
Dabble between school and super heroes. This game looked like it had interesting potential, but it fell into a weird trap that games with male development teams tend to get into when trying to make ‘games for girls’.
Why do developers think girls love shopping, selfies, and social media? All of that is accessible in the real world, so why can’t the teen super heroes just be outright badasses?
Release date: June 4, 2021
Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
Be prepared to kick some grass as this Plants vs Zombies FPS hits the Switch.
Release date: June 19, 2021
Miitopia
One of the wilder drops to come out of Nintendo Direct is Miitopia, a Mii-based RPG. Put yourself right into the action as hero or villain and get on your adventure. Placing your friends as in-game enemies is a genius touch.
Release date: May 21, 2021
Super Mario 35 x Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Super Mario themed items are coming to Animal Crossing: New Horizons. As well as cosmetics, you can get two fast travel warp pipes, and dress as anyone from the Mushroom Kingdom.
Needless to say, the chat went off here.
This will come as a free update Feb 25th and from March 1st, the items will be available to buy in-game
Project Triangle Strategy (Working title)
One of the best looking games to come out of Nintendo Direct this year – definitely the best with the worst title. An evolution of Final Fantasy Advance Tactics, Project Triangle Strategy is a dope looking tactical RPG. You control members of a kingdom involved in the Saltiron war.
There are deep choices to be made through the swaying of votes for the scales of justice. This game looks incredibly interesting while giving away very little. There’s a demo live on the Nintendo eStore right now, so it’ll have to hold you over for the rest of the year.
Release date: 2022
Star Wars Hunters
A free-to-play multiplayer FPS. We don’t know too much more, but this has all the makings of an excellent little game.
Release date: 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVLLXp0KZVY
Knockout City
The ad for this game shows other characters using Knock Out City to wind down – a cute idea for sure! Gameplay wise, it looks like a three-person, team-based competitive dodgeball game.
Release date: May 21, 2021
World’s End Club
An underwater death game called the Game of Fate, then snap to everyone in the world having vanished. If you’re asking “what the hell?”, don’t worry. Same.
There’s also huge monster fights. I don’t know what this game is, and I’ve seen the ad thrice.
Release date: May 28, 2021
Hades
Hades will be getting a physical release for Switch. There’ll be extras to entice you, including a PC download code for the soundtrack and a 32-page art book from the game’s art team.
Release date: March 19, 2021
Ninja Gaiden
Ninja Gaiden 1, 2, and 3 are being released as a single pack collection for the Switch. Not much else to say!
Release date: June 10, 2021
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is getting an expansion. You’ll find new weapons, an expanded roster and a whole heap more.
A purchase bonus featuring a weapon and costume for Link drops on May 28, 2021, followed by Wave 1 of content in June then Wave 2 in November.
Bravely Default 2
Bravely Default II is a turn-based RPG which came out with a new trailer at the tail end of today’s presentations. We’ll link to the trailer below.
Release date: Feb 26, 2021
Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection
Ghosts ‘n Goblins is getting brought back to life for the Switch, featuring a new art style as well as local co-op options, with three ghosts as playable support characters.
Release date: Feb 25, 2021
SaGa Frontier Remastered
Bringing SaGa Frontier back, we have a glorious remaster of the old school game.
Release date: April 15, 2021
Apex Legends for Switch
Finally, we can expect full cross-platform goodness with the Switch, joining everyone else for some Apex Legends. A couple of switch specific cosmetics can be expected with purchase.
Release date: March 9, 2021
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Firstly, Eiji Aonuma issued an apology for not having anything to show for Breath of the Wild’s much-anticipated sequel. Lightening the blow, he announced that Skyward Sword is getting a Switch release in glorious HD.
Most excitingly, replicating the Wii controls, the joy-cons will be your sword and shield. This is a super interesting take on sword fighting – keen to see how it plays out!
Release date: July 16, 2021
Splatoon 3
Clearly, this is what much of the chat was hanging out for in this year’s first Nintendo Direct; Splatoon 3 finally has an announcement trailer. It’s going to be a while away, but at least there’s an idea of what to expect now.
Release date: 2022
