With the special January 12th Nintendo Switch event right around the corner, we name 10 games we would like to see Nintendo reveal, including Metroid and Super Mario.
While the Nintendo Switch preview trailer gave fans plenty to be excited about, it was also missing a lot of important information about the new console. Luckily, fans don't have to wait too much longer to learn all there is to know about Nintendo's next console, as the Big N is set to host a presentation on Thursday, January 12th, where it is expected to reveal the system's release date, price, and show off some of its games.
The most important part of any gaming console is its library of games, and potential Nintendo Switch consumers will be tuning in to see if Nintendo is going to deliver on that front. As it stands, the Nintendo Switch has potential to have a rather impressive library of third and first-party games from a variety of genres, if rumors and pre-release speculation are any indication.
For this list, we decided to stick to games that have been teased for a Switch release or titles that are rumored for the console. All of the games listed here could realistically be announced for Nintendo Switch come January 12th, and if even a handful of them are, the console should be off to a strong start.
10 Assassin's Creed 2017
2016 was the first year since 2009 that a main series Assassin's Creed game didn't release for consoles. However, 2017 is looking to get the franchise back on track with a new Assassin's Creed game rumored to be set in Egypt. The game is also rumored for a simultaneous release on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, and considering Ubisoft's enthusiasm for the console and past support for Nintendo systems, the new Assassin's Creed should be a lock. Ubisoft may wait for E3 to show gameplay footage of the next game in the Assassin's Creed series, but it wouldn't hurt to get the hype train rolling for it on January 12th.
9 Beyond Good & Evil 2
Like the 2017 Assassin's Creed, Beyond Good & Evil 2 is another Ubisoft game that has been previously rumored for Nintendo Switch. The game was confirmed to be back in active development shortly after rumors appeared of it being a Nintendo Switch exclusive, and while we don't know if that's true or not, Nintendo has a history of stepping forward with the funds necessary to complete games that otherwise wouldn't have been finished. If rumors of Nintendo offering financial support for Beyond Good & Evil 2's development are true, then one has to imagine the game will have some sort of presence at the January 12th event.
8 Dark Souls Trilogy
One of the most popular new IP of the last few years is Dark Souls, the extremely difficult action RPG series created by From Software. So far, not a single Dark Souls game has been available on a Nintendo system, but that could change with Nintendo Switch. With reports indicating that From Software is considering ports of all three games, it's possible that the Dark Souls III Switch port is already in active development.
7 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Even though it was shown in the Nintendo Switch preview trailer, Bethesda later clarified that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is not technically confirmed for Nintendo's new system. It would look bad for Nintendo if it used Skyrim to promote the Switch but didn't deliver the game, so fans should be able to expect to receive an official confirmation on January 12th.
6 Mario Kart
It appears as though the Mario Kart footage seen in the Nintendo Switch preview trailer came from a tweaked version of Mario Kart 8, and while Wii U ports are a definite possibility for the Switch, Nintendo is likely developing a new entry in the series as well. January 12th may only give gamers a glimpse at the rumored Mario Kart 8 Switch port, but if fans are lucky, Nintendo may also tease the next installment in the long-running Mario Kart franchise.
5 Mario/Rabbids
One of the weirdest projects rumored for Nintendo Switch is a Super Mario crossover with Ubisoft's Raving Rabbids franchise. What's even stranger is that the game is said to be a turn-based RPG instead of a platformer or mini-game collection like past Rabbids titles. Ubisoft has directly teased this project in the past, and since it's said to be a launch title, this odd blending of franchises seems very likely to be unveiled on January 12th – if it is, indeed, real.
4 Metroid
Fans shouldn't get their hopes up, but the timing is right for Nintendo to reveal a new Metroid game on January 12th. Metroid Prime producer Kensuke Tanabe previously stated the next Metroid would skip Wii U for Switch, and there's a distinct possibility that the game has been in development at Retro Studios for the past couple of years since it wrapped development on Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze.
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For years, fans have been waiting for Nintendo to release a main series Pokemon RPG on a home console. And for years, Game Freak has always given the same excuse, saying the portability of Nintendo handhelds is why the series's core entries haven't made their way to Nintendo home consoles. With Nintendo Switch's portability, fans may finally be able to look forward to a main series Pokemon RPG on a Nintendo home console, with rumors pointing to an enhanced version of Pokemon Sun & Moon already in the works.
2 Splatoon
Yet another game that was seen in the Nintendo Switch preview trailer, Splatoon has yet to be officially announced for the new console. The original Splatoon was a surprise success for Nintendo, striking a chord with the competitive multiplayer community, so a followup on Nintendo Switch with more maps, modes, and a deeper single player campaign could go a long way in solidifying it as another strong Nintendo franchise. Since it was shown in the preview trailer, Splatoon seems very likely to be coming to the Switch, though hopefully the January 12th event offers clarification on whether it will be in the form of a sequel or a Wii U port.
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All major Nintendo consoles have a Super Mario game, and the Switch should be no different. Briefly seen in the Nintendo Switch preview trailer, a new Super Mario game is already rumored to be one of the console's primary launch titles when it releases this March. If the gameplay in the preview trailer is an accurate indication of what fans can expect from the new Super Mario, it seems like it will be a full-fledged 3D platformer in the vein of Super Mario 64 and Super Mario Galaxy, which should be enough to make most gamers excited about seeing more of it on January 12th.
While not all of these games will be shown during Nintendo's January 12th event, it's safe to say that at least a handful of them will be, and all of them at least stand a chance at being showcased. With the Nintendo Switch event right around the corner, fans won't have to wait long to see which games on this list are confirmed for Nintendo's new system, and which are missing in action.
Which game would you like to see announced for Nintendo Switch on January 12th? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Nintendo Switch will be available March 2017.