Nintendo’s 2018 could be bonkers!
Ok so, Switch’s 2018 could potentially be bonkers! Oh? What’s that you say? There’s very few Switch games with a solid 2018 release date? Big deal! As of this time last year, we didn’t know about 90% of Switch’s 2017 library. In the world of Switch, things happen faster than normal. Xenoblade 2 was announced in January and is being released is just a few short weeks. Mario x Rabbids was announced at E3 and came out that summer! This means that games like, oh I don’t know… Retro Studios’ mystery project, Metroid Prime 4, and Pikmin 4 could very easily see a 2018 release date. Yeah, that’s right. Retro isn’t working on Metroid Prime 4. They have a mystery project of their own, and it’s ripe for a 2018 release since their last project, DKC Tropical Freeze, came out in 2014. Update: People have pointed out that the team working on Splatoon 2 wasn't the entire Animal Crossing team, so we may see Animal Crossing Switch edition next year too!
Then there’s the Nintendo titles that we do know are coming in 2018 like Yoshi, Kirby, and Fire Emblem.
Outside of that we have very good potential for stellar 3rd party support in 2018. We already know we’re getting Square’s Octopath Traveler, and DragonQuest Builders. No More Heroes 3, and DragonQuest XI are expected in 2018 as well. Bethesda will continue its excellent ports with Wolfenstein II. But the biggest potential 3rd party system seller may come from Capcom localizing Monster Hunter XX in the west. No, I don’t actually know if they’re going to do this, but they’d be stupid not to. Once Monster Hunter World launches, there will be plenty of people pining for a AAA portable Monster Hunter experience, on a console that will have sold over 12 million units in its first fiscal year. Update: Valkyria Chronicles 4 was just announced for Switch, PS4, and XB1!
Indie games should be coming to the Switch in 2018 as well. The system is currently an Indie darling due to high sales on the system for developers, and portable Indie gaming for gamers. We should get things like Bloodstained, Wargroove, Hollow Knight, Super Meat Boy Forever, Owl Boy, Shovel Knight King of Cards, and The Sexy Brutale.
Finally there’s still plenty of potential Wii U ports for Nintendo to make money off of in 2018. This year Pokken, and Mario Kart were brought out to shore up the library. Next year, a port of Smash 4 is almost guaranteed, since it’s one of those evergreen titles like Mario Kart 8. And of course there’s always the potential ports of Pikmin 3, Super Mario Maker, Super Mario 3D Land, Tropical Freeze, and Bayonetta 2.
So here’s the ideal Switch 2018 lineup…
- Retro Studio Mystery Game
- Metroid Prime 4
- Pikmin 4
- Animal Crossing Switch
- Yoshi
- Kirby
- Fire Emblem
- Octopath Traveler
- DragonQuest Builders
- No More Heroes 3
- DragonQuest XI
- Wolfenstein II
- Monster Hunter XX
- Valkyria Chronicles 4
- Smash 4 Deluxe
- Super Mario Maker Port (Or a sequel?)
- Pikmin 3
- Super Mario 3D World
- Tropical Freeze
- Bayonetta 2
- Surprise 3rd Party Game ala Mario x Rabbids
- Random New IP like Arms did this year
- Bloodstained
- Wargroove
- Hollow Knight
- Super Meat Boy Forever
- Owl Boy
- Shovel Knight King of Cards
- The Sexy Brutale
“But Cerebral, that’s way too many games! Surely not all of those games will come out in 2018 for Switch!”
I agree. The odds of every last game on my list getting released in 2018 are slim. But if even half these games come out that’s still a fantastic 2nd year for Nintendo.
If Nintendo can pull off 2018, it’s smooth sailing into 2019 and beyond. Next, next year Nintendo should have both Animal Crossing Switch, and Pokémon Switch. *Breathes in deeply* THAT IS ALL THEY NEED TO MOVE A CRAPTON OF UNITS IN 2019! After that sheer momentum will take over and we’ll be looking at Wii sales numbers, for the rest of the console's life cycle, minus the need to peddle to the blue ocean casuals.
P.S. I give AngryLittleAlchemist credit for the idea for this post. This was inspired by something he said in the “Is 2017 Nintendo’s Finest Hour?” thread.
P.P.S. BotW DLC Packs 3-5!!! HUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUEHUE!
Last edited by Cerebralbore101 - on 20 November 2017
