And that’s exactly how the Nintendo Switch should have its biggest year since launch. The pieces were slowly moving into place (and may not be holding up), but on paper at least, the portable console’s year 2022 is expected to be complete Pokémon Legends: Arceus and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, with a whole lot more in between. It’s 2017 again, but bigger.
This year, the Switch started with BOTW and then continue with turn 2 and Mario Odyssey in the following months. It seemed like an accidentpartly because BOTW was supposed to come out years earlier for Wii U and is unlikely to be repeated. And yet, the switch hits them in the middle of the hardware life cyclethat seems to be what is happening.
The Nintendo release calendar is sneaking up on you. That’s what happened last fall during what seemed like a sleepy season for Switch ultimately held its own against the competitionthanks to a steady stream of outbreaks of Metroid horror to Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Luminous Pearl. It’s happening again this year after a sudden double whammy that started with one Nintendo Direct earlier this monthand ended with the latest Pokemon gifts over the weekend.
The first event revealed and confirmed a lot of new games turn 3 would strike this summer. The second shocked fans by announcing that 2022 would not see the release of just the most ambitious Pokemon Game for years, but also an open world Gen 9 in the form of Pokemon scarlet and violet. Here are some more highlights from the upcoming lineup:
- triangle strategy – 4th of March
- Kirby and the forgotten land – 25th March
- Nintendo Switch Sports – 29.04
- Mario Strikers: Battle League – June 10th
- Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes – June 24th
- turn 3 – Summer
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – Sept
- Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope – TBD 2022
- bayonet 3 – TBD 2022
- Pokemon Scarlet and Violet – TBD 2022
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Sequel – TBD 2022
There’s also a decent number of smaller ports and remakes due out this year. Advance Wars 1+2: Restart Camp appears in April. The Octopath Traveler-Style 2.5D version of previously unlocalized classic JRPG, live a life appears in July. Hello Games is kind of adorable Nobody’s heaven on switch. Mario Kart 8the best selling game on two different consoles, is basically Doubling in size over the next year.
Nintendo began quietly laying the groundwork for it back in 2021 updates to turn 3, bayonet 3 and BOTW 2. But the cautious way it’s dropped solid data over the past few weeks has made it feel like it’s about to hit all at once. the Mario-Maker is often masterful at starving his audience, then under-promising and over-delivering. This year, however, it’s already tipped most of its hand and it could be the strongest it’s had in years if it actually gets a chance to play it.
That’s a big if, of course. When Pokemon scarlet and violet was announced yesterday, with more than a few fans taking it as an admission BOTW 2 won’t beat this year after all. In the age of Covid, Nintendo also seems to be struggling with production delays more than most. At the same time, it has had chances to remain non-binding in the past, but is holding on Confirmation of the 2022 window.
Even if it does end up failing, there’s still plenty on the Switch 2022’s record to make it one of the strongest years it’s ever had. Now if only Nintendo would port Wind Waker HD above.
