The first Nintendo Direct of 2022 is all about Switch games coming out later this year. The 40-minute presentation showcased more trailers and gameplay information for Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Splatoon 3, and Triangle Strategy. Exciting new announcements include Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Mario Strikers Battle League, Nintendo Switch Sports, and Fire Emblem Three Hopes.
With Pokémon Legends Arceus already released, it’s shaping up to be another great year for our favorite console.
Watch the full stream above and check out the highlighted trailers below.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 was the surprise “one more announcement” at the end of the Nintendo Direct. The next game in the RPG series from developer Monolithsoft features all new characters, world, and story, while retaining the theme of giant, continent-size creatures and one all-important sword.
Release: September
Mario Strikers: Battle League
Mario Kart meets soccer in Mario Strikers: Battle League. The sports game features up to eight players in local and online multiplayer as they use items, equip stat-boosting gear, and unleash powerful hyper strike shots to score goals.
Release: June 10
Nintendo Switch Sports
Nintendo Switch Sports is the successor to Wii Sports, one of the best-selling games of all time. By using motion control from the Joy-Con controllers, players can compete in six sports, including volleyball, bowling, and badminton. An included leg strap allows players to physically kick balls in Soccer Shoot-Out. A seventh sports mini-game will be added later this fall as a free update.
Release: April 29
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes
The latest in the Mosu/Warriors action series takes aim at 2019’s tactical-RPG, Fire Emblem Three Houses. Three Hopes features the major heroes from Three Houses, Edelgard, Dimitri, and Claude, and many other characters as they batle through hordes of enemies in real-time, combo-drive action combat.
Release: June 24
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Booster Course Pass DLC
Mario Kart fans rejoice! We’re getting a whopping 48 remastered courses from previous Mario Kart games in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as DLC. The DLC courses will be released in waves of eight courses each, beginning March 18 and all the way through the end of 2023. As an added incentive, the Booster Course Pass is included for subscribers of a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership.
Release: Starting March 18
Live A Live
You’ll be forgiven if you’ve never heard of this unique 1994 16-bit RPG, as it never released outside of Japan. Square Enix is rectifying that by releasing an HD-2D remake on the Nintendo Switch this summer. Live A Live features multiple heroes, settings, and gameplay across multiple stories and worlds, eventually tying everything together in a final chapter.
Release: July 22
Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition
One of my personal favorite RPGs of all time, the 2000 PS1 RPG Chrono Cross, is finally getting a remaster and coming to Nintendo Switch later this spring. Explore two dimensions of the same world with one major difference: in one timeline, the hero died. The Radical Dreamers Edition includes the text-based adventure Radical Dreamers that helps connect Chrono Cross to its predecessor, Chrono Trigger.
Release: April 7
Splatoon 3
The new Splatoon 3 trailer focused entirely on the Salmon Run co-op mode. Salmon Run was first introduced in Splatoon 2 and features up to four players defending against waves of enemies. The trailer teased a new giant Salmonid at the end, through we didn’t get to see it in action yet.
Release: Summer 2022
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
The new trailer for Kirby and the Forgotten Land showcased the new Mouthful Mode, which looks inspired by Mario Odyssey’s cap-possession. Kirby will be able to inhale real-world objects, like cars and traffic cones, and effectively transform into them, granting all new abilities.
Release: March 25
Disney Speedstorm
Mario Kart meets Disney and Pixar with Disney Speedstorm, an arcade racer featuring characters and tracks from popular Disney franchises. Disney Speedstorm will release as a free-to-play game with regular seasons that add new racers, tracks, and karts. Speedstorm will also support split-screen, online, and cross-platform multiplayer.
Release: Summer 2022
Triangle Strategy
Tactical RPG Triangle Strategy is only a month away, but you can start playing right now via a new demo, available on the Nintendo eShop. The demo lets you play from Chapter 1 to the end of Chapter 3, and save data will transfer once you purchase the full game.
Release: March 4
