Nintendo ended its latest Nintendo Direct in epic fashion by finally confirming Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo Switch. The highly anticipated game, due out for release later this year, has been met with much fanfare and excitement, even though we know next to nothing about it at the time of this writing.

All we know definitively is that the Super Smash Bros. roster on the Nintendo Switch will see the debut of the Inklings from Splatoon, as well as the return of series mainstays like Link from The Legend of Zelda and Mario. Shadowy figures seen in the announcement trailer offer a hint as to other characters that may appear in the game, but none of them have been officially announced just yet.

If past games in the series are any indication, the roster for Super Smash Bros. on the Nintendo Switch will largely consist of Nintendo characters. However, there will likely be some third party crossover characters added to the mix as well, and we think the five listed below would be the best fits for the game's over-the-top fighting action.

5 Crash Bandicoot

When one considers the role Crash played in the rivalry between Sony and Nintendo in the 90s, it would be a major event if he were added to the Super Smash Bros. roster. And while it may seem like an impossible addition to some, it's worth noting that Nintendo has featured other former Mario rivals on the Super Smash Bros. roster, like Sonic the Hedgehog.

Furthermore, the first three Crash Bandicoot games will finally be making their way to a Nintendo platform when Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy comes to the Switch this summer, so the character's PlayStation exclusivity is clearly no longer a factor. Add the fact that Activision owns the rights to the character and his games, and we see no reason why Crash Bandicoot can't be added to the Nintendo Switch Super Smash Bros. roster.

4 Knuckles (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Knuckles joining the Super Smash Bros. roster wouldn't be that big of a stretch, especially since Sonic made his debut all the way back in 2008's Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Speaking of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Knuckles actually had a cameo appearance in that game, and can be seen in the background when players fight it out on the Green Hill stage. There's already a precedent for Knuckles in the Super Smash Bros. series in a non-playable capacity, so it will be interesting if Nintendo takes the next step and upgrades him to playable fighter.

3 Rayman

Ubisoft seems to have a soft spot for Nintendo, supporting the Big N's consoles with exclusive games and big multiplatform releases when other publishers haven't. This partnership started off strong on the Wii U, and has only become stronger on the Switch, with Ubisoft and Nintendo actually collaborating on Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle together.

Considering the strong relationship between Ubisoft and Nintendo, it seems logical for the next Super Smash Bros. to have a Ubisoft character join the mix, with the most obvious choice being Rayman. Rayman's unique abilities and distinct look would make him a natural fit for the Super Smash Bros. roster, and the distinct art style of his games could easily inspire new stages.

2 Sora (Kingdom Hearts)

Kingdom Hearts 3 isn't coming to the Nintendo Switch as of yet, but even so, the franchise has a history with Nintendo. A number of Kingdom Hearts games made their debut on Nintendo handhelds, like Chain of Memories and 358/2 Days, so Nintendo gamers should be plenty familiar with Sora and his exploits.

Of course, even if there was never a single Kingdom Hearts game released for any Nintendo platform, that wouldn't necessarily stop Square Enix from allowing Sora to be featured in the next Super Smash Bros., considering it added Final Fantasy 7's Cloud to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. If Sora was added to the Super Smash Bros. roster on the Nintendo Switch, it's easy to see how his keyblade could make for some creative attacks, and if Disney were to give the greenlight, there could be plenty of trophies based on popular Disney characters that have been featured in Kingdom Hearts games.

1 Spyro the Dragon

Another recognizable platforming mascot, Spyro the Dragon is rumored to be making a comeback this year. Whether or not Activision actually moves forward with Spyro the Dragon remasters remains to be seen, but since it is bringing Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy to Switch, it would follow that those games would be ported at some point as well.

Furthermore, Spyro has been seen on Nintendo consoles in the past, and since Nintendo has already featured crossover content with Skylanders (a series that was originally sold on Spyro's name), there's an established history of the Big N collaborating with Activision on Spyro the Dragon-related content. The potential is certainly there for Spyro to be added to the Super Smash Bros. roster, but it remains to be seen if it will actually come to pass.

Any of the third party characters listed here would make solid additions to the Super Smash Bros. roster, but it will be interesting to see if any new first-party Nintendo characters join the fray as well. So far, all we know for certain is that the Inklings from Splatoon will be entering the fight, but there's still potential for plenty of other characters to make their debut.

Who do you want to see in the new Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo Switch? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Super Smash Bros. will launch in 2018, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.