The first Nintendo Direct of 2022 wrapped up on Wednesday and revealed a ton of new games on their way to Nintendo Switch in the first half of 2022 and beyond. From Xenoblade Chronicles 3 to 48 new DLC courses being added to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to a remaster of Chrono Cross, there was a lot to keep track of.
To ensure you don’t miss a single highlight from the livestream, we’ve gathered up all the biggest news and trailers from the latest Nintendo Direct below. Let us know which reveal was your favorite!
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Announced for September 2022
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has been announced and it will be released in September 2022. This new story will follow the adventures of Noah and Mio amid “turmoil between the hostile nations of Keves and Agnus.” Xenoblade Chronicles 3 also looks to “connect the futures of both Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles 2.”
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to Get 48 New Tracks With Paid DLC Through 2023
Mario Kart 8: Deluxe will soon be getting new tracks via the paid Booster Course Pass. This will add 48 additional courses to the game through 2023. The first of six waves, all of which will contain eight courses, arrives on March 18 and includes such classic tracks as Wii Coconut Mall, N64 Choco Mountain, and Tour Tokyo Blur.
While the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass will cost $24.99, it will also be free to all members of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes Features Characters from Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Nintendo has announced that Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes will be arriving on Switch on June 24, 2022. This is the second musou-style Fire Emblem game and it looks to feature characters from Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
Mario Strikers: Battle League Brings 5v5 Soccer Action to Switch
Mario Strikers is Returning with Mario Strikers: Battle League. This 5v5 soccer game with “no rules” features Mario characters and will allow up to eight players to compete on one Switch. Much like Mario Kart, Battle League will let players use items and activate special shots to help them secure victory.
Mario Strikers: Battle League will be released on June 10, 2022.
Chrono Cross Remaster Announced for Switch
A remaster of Chrono Cross will arrive on Nintendo Switch on April 7, 2022. Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition, as it is called, will include such updates as the ability to turn off encounters and an enhanced soundtrack. The game also includes the Radical Dreamers text adventure that was previously only available on Satellaview.
Nintendo Switch Sports Announced and It’s a New Take on Wii Sports
Fans of Wii Bowling will be happy to know a new version of it will be returning as part of Nintendo Switch Sports. Joining Bowling will be Tennis, Chambara (Swordplay), Soccer, Badminton, and Volleyball. Additionally, the Leg Strap accessory found in Ring Fit Adventure can be used to kick a virtual ball in Soccer Shoot-Out!
Nintendo Switch Sports will become available on April 29, 2022, and there will be free updates post-launch, including one that adds Golf.
An Online Play Test will take place on February 18-20 for all Nintendo Switch Online members.
TRIANGLE STRATEGY Gets a Free Demo That Will Carry Over to the Full Game
Triangle Strategy is set to be released on Nintendo Switch on March 4, and a brand new demo will be available today that will let players try out Chapters 1 through 3. If players choose to purchase the game, all save data will transfer over to the full version.
Remakes of Front Mission and Front Mission 2 Announced
The Nintendo Switch will soon be home to remakes of Front Mission and Front Mission 2. Front Mission 1st: Remake will arrive first this summer, and Front Mission 2: Remake will come at some point in the future.
Splatoon 3’s New Salmon Run Mode Revealed
Splatoon 3 will be getting a new version of the co-op Salmon Run mode first introduced in Splatoon 2. We were given no new release date beyond Summer 2022, but we did get a glimpse of some of the colorful and chaotic action we will be a part of later this year.
Metroid Dread Free Update Adds Dread Mode and Rookie Mode Difficulties
A free update is arriving for Metroid Dread later today that will add both a more difficult Dread Mode and an easier Rookie Mode. In April 2022, Metroid Dread will get a free Boss Rush mode.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s Mouthful Mode Will Let Kirby Become a Car or a Vending Machine
Ahead of Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s release date of March 25, it got a new gameplay trailer that showed off, among other things, Mouthful Mode. This will allow Kirby to inhale real-world objects like a car or vending machine to turn into them.
Earthbound and Earthbound Beginnings WIll Be Added to Nintendo Switch Online Today
While fans will still have to wait for an announcement regarding Mother 3, Nintendo did reveal that both Earthbound and Earthbound Beginnings will be released on Switch later today.
Advance Wars: 1 + 2 Re-Boot Camp Launches on April 8
While the return of Advance Wars was delayed out of 2021, fans won’t have to wait too long as Advance Wars 1 + 2 Re-Boot Camp will be released on April 8, 2022.
LIVE A LIVE Will Come West For the First Time in 2022
LIVE A LIVE is a JRPG that has previously never been released outside of Japan. On July 22, that all changes as LIVE A LIVE will arrive on Switch in the HD-2D style that games like Octopath Traveller are known for. LIVE A LIVE’s story follows seven protagonists and you can choose to follow their paths in any way you choose.
Portal 1 & 2 Will Be Released on Switch Later This Year
Valve’s Portal 1 & 2 will both make their way to Nintendo Switch in 2022 as part of the Portal: Companion Collection.
MLB The Show 22 Gameplay Footage Revealed
For the first time, MLB The Show will arrive on Nintendo Switch. While this was previously announced, we got a glimpse of the game in action.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Announced for Switch
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will be another new Star Wars title headed to Nintendo Switch courtesy of Aspyr. This 2008 action-adventure title will be available from April 20, 2022, and is a port of the Wii version.
Disney Speedstorm Racing on to Switch with Disney and Pixar Characters
Disney Speedstorm is a new free-to-play racer that features Disney and Pixar characters like Mickey Mouse, Captain Jack Sparrow, and Sulley. It will support cross-platform play and split-screen, and new characters, circuits, and karts will be introduced as part of a seasonal format. This new challenger in the kart racer genre will be released this summer.
No Man’s Sky Is Traveling to Switch This Summer
Hello Games’ No Man’s Sky will be traveling through the stars to Nintendo Switch in Summer 2022.
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil Make Their Way to Switch This July
KLONOA Phantasy Reverie Series will be released on July 8 and packages together KLONOA: Door to Phantomile and Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil.
Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival Drums Onto Switch With 76 ‘Boppin’ Beats’ in 2022
Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival will play its way to Switch with 76 “boppin’ beats,” including an orchestral version of The Legend of Zelda’s main theme, Gurenge, Feel Special, and Racing into the Night.
Cuphead – The Delicious Last Course Paid DLC Joins Switch’s Library on June 30
The long-awaited paid DLC for Cuphead – The Delicious Last Course – will be released on June 30.
Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection Sneaks Onto Switch Next Week
While it was previously announced, Nintendo reminded fans that Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection will be released on Switch on February 17, 2022.
Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece for Cloud Will Be Released Tomorrow
Cloud version of the Kingdom Hearts games from the original through Kingdom Hearts 3 will be available on Nintendo Switch from February 10. You can purchase the entire collection or single game collections.
Stop the Breaks in SD Gundam Battle Alliance Later This Year
SD Gundam Battle Alliance challenges players to stop “strange incidents called Breaks.” To accomplish this mission, players will “lead three Mobile Suits in dynamic action-RPG battles, with the ability to enhance each suit with Parts to improve their power.”
GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon Is a Roguelike Set in a Dark Fantasy World
GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon combines “intense Ukiyo-e roguelike action with a stunning dark fantasy world, brought to life through traditional Japanese art.” It will be available on Switch later today.
Even More Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games
In a montage of upcoming Switch games, we caught a glimpse of LEGO Brawls (Summer 2022), Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles (June 10), Two Point Campus (May 17), and Zombie Army 4 (April 26).
Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.
All content and images belong to their respected owners. This article is aggregated for informational purposes only with full credit to the source.
