2018 is winding down. With Smash now released into the wild, Nintendo is no doubt prepping for the 2019 Switch lineup. Naturally, much like the past 2 years, we can expect an info dump on the first half of the lineup in the form of a Nintendo Direct in January. So let's speculate and fantasize about what we hope will be announced and showcased in said Direct.

But a few actual predictions first. One, no 3DS games. I think at this point Nintendo is done with 3DS segments in Directs, the September one this year had like, 4 games and only one new reveal. 3DS is on its final lap, and I think Nintendo will continue to ride it out slowly in its current budget alternative role with possibly one or two more Switch-multiplats/stealth announcements outside of that. Two, because 2019 is looking to be a much more active year first party wise, I think we're in for a full Direct this January rather than a Mini. Nintendo did a Mini this year because most of the Switch lineup for the first half of the year was Wii U ports and third party games, and they sure as hell weren't going to mention Labo there. So a full Direct detailing known and unknown games for the rest of Winter and Spring will be more likely IMO. Now on to what I wish to see.

Spotlights:

• Fire Emblem Three Houses - New info, gameplay, story, releases May 24th

• Brand new game reveal #1 - I'm hoping for a New IP

• Brand new game reveal #2 - Also hoping for a New IP

Headlines:

• Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order - Rundown, gameplay, new characters, coming April 12th, part of a 3 game deal with Nintendo and Marvel, other 2 will be announced in the future

• Yoshi's Crafted World - re-cap, amiibo support, New Styrofoam Yoshi amiibo, releases March 22nd.

• Ninjala - Overview, gameplay modes, local-wireless and online play, releases Summer 2019

• Mortal Kombat 11 - Overview, gameplay of Switch version, exclusive Link and Gannon skins, releases April 23rd, demo available in March

• Killer Queen Black - Details, gameplay, modes, releases February 21st

• Atlus RPG announcements - SMT IV HD pack, includes the original and Apocalypse, remastered in HD, coming in Spring. SMT V overview, brief details, coming soon. Persona 5 Crimson, includes new bonus content, among other new tweaks. Releases March 4th

• Smash Bros. Ultimate DLC - Joker gameplay, move-set, Final Smash is all-out attack, releases this Spring. Prianah Plant launches February 8th, Free for My Nintendo members

• Puzzle League Forever - First new entry in over 10 years, multiple multiplayer modes, including online with voice chat (through the NSO app), featuring characters from Panel De Pon, releases February 8th in the eShop, also coming to 3DS

• Super Mario Party update - 2 new boards revealed, new settings such as custom Star prices, new Toad's Rec room games shown, Update releases February, Joy-Con bundle reminder

• New First-Party casual game - some form of quiz game from Nintendo Software Technology, using the Switch and Joy-Con in a unique way, releases April 26th

• Daemon X Machina - Final recap, new mode, details, etc. Releases May 10th

• Bandai Namco Fighting games - Tekken 7, Soul Calibur VI, and Jump Force coming to Nintendo Switch. Tekken 7 coming Spring, SC and Jump coming later in the year

• WarioWare: FreeStyle - New WarioWare game that uses the Joy-Con, pass one to a friend for two player games, coming this Spring

• Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Nintendo Switch Online - The wait is over, SNES games coming to NSO subscribers this year, SNES styled Nintendo Switch controller in development too. NEW NES games also revealed for January - May

• SNK fighters - The latest KoF coming this Spring, Samurai Spirits arriving later

• Luigi's Mansion: Haunted Inn - New gameplay, details, coming this Spring

• Indie showcase - Including Super Meat Boy Forever, Fantasy Strike, Mineko's Night Market, and Level Head

I think these would be good announcements for the first half, with an April Direct before E3 covering Summer and Autumn games. It's too early to talk about Animal Crossing or Metroid I think, so they'll save details for those later.

Would be happy if any of these appeared: Luigi's Mansion 3, Metroid Prime 4 (not happening), Pikmin 4, Animal Crossing, Kid Icarus or a new IP.

I would be really surprised if the game would have exclusive skins of Nintendo figures. Just imagine fatalities on Nintendo characters. I don't think that Nintendo would ever allow that.

I hope we will get new information about Animal Crossing and Metroid Prime 4.

Anybody who is hoping for Prime 4 or Gen 8 should lower their expectations. Those games are likely going to be saved for E3.
Although, I think Animal Crossing could be a good possibility since that game should be out sooner than the other two.

Of course, the biggest thing I want to here is news and footage on the Joker DLC... followed by a confirmation of Persona 5 coming to Nintendo Switch!

Nintendo did a mini this year because the first half of 2018 really didn't have any "big" titles per-se, at least, not ones worth dedicating a full Direct to. 2019 however, at least has Fire Emblem, which if its coming very soon, would be a good time to do a a full Direct to expo-dump on what's new in this game. 

Pokemon always does its own thing, announces games on its own seperate directs/events. It's going to be revealed in a Pokemon Direct between February and May of next year.

Well, considering how they announced new fighters for Smash (especially Ridley), I don't think they wouldn't disallow Fatalities on some Villains like Ganondorf anymore.

As for the list in the OP, add a port of Tokio Mirage Session #FE and I'll take it

Even Mini Direct will fine, last years Mini Direct was quite good in any case, saying that this January will probably have much more things to show so we can expect full Direct.

We are probably getting announcements until around May-June, January Direct will focus on releases from January to around May/June, March-April Direct will focus on releases from around June to September/October, E3 will be mixed bag with focus on biggest titles for years end, and September Direct with focus on October-December and some insight for 2020.

I am most curious to see 3rd party announcements, talking about Nintendo showing, I hoping most that they will announce heavily rumored Metroid Trilogy HD with February-March release.

Prime Trilogy HD remake and Yoshi's Crafted World are the games I'd most like to see. If not those then Bayonetta 3.