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 3^rd 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 3^rd 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 3^rd 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 2^nd 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!

I'm not really excited for the Switch's line-up next year myself, I guess because I don't know for sure which games are coming out, and I don't know if the games I will really want like Metroid Prime 4, Fire Emblem, Super Smash Bros., F-Zero or a horror game are going to come.

Since they are predicting that lots of Switches will be sold until April 2019. One would think that system selers like Animal Crossing and Pokemon will be release by then.

I guess we will get a better view of this if there is a January Nintendo Direct.

I just hope that Retro's project is a true successor to Donkey Kong 64, as Odyssey was to Mario 64. I waited 20 years to buy a Nintendo console, just waiting for these sequals, so far I am extreamly pleased with SMO, making it two for two on Switch would easily make it one of my favorite systems of all time. For me, anything beyond SMO and a DK64 Successor is pure icing.

If they introduce a reward system and virtual console next year to go with the paid network service, I will also be extreamly pleased. Mario 64 and DK64 with trophies would be just as big for me, as anything else they could do.

Personally I have no interest in Switch 3rd party Multi-Plat titles. Remote Play with Vita gives me a better quality version on the go. I hope for more stuff like Mario x Rabbids, unique Switch only experiences..

January can't come soon enough, saying that I expecting Nintendo will show some game at Game Awards in December.

The Advance Wars clone Tiny Metal will not be released in 2018 but in 4 days (on Switch, PC and PS4).

Wargroove is the Advance Wars clone that will release in 2018 (on Switch, PC and XB1).

For me I need more solid release dates before I'll fully be on board for a year. That being said 2018 lineup seems pretty good already, Nintendo always surprises us with announcements and they reportedly are going to produce 25-30 mil Switches next year so I'm Optimistic for next year.

Pokémon and Animal Crossing, I know one of them will becoming next year if not both. Don't know which is more likely though, for now I'd bet on Pokémon since it already has a game confirmed in development for a 2018/19 release date. I think Nintendo will push for an 2018 holiday release, and have Animal Crossing in Spring of 2019 rather than a Spring release date for Pokémon.

But anyway either of them would have huge impact on the Nintendo Switch (Pokémon more so, but Animal Crossing is still up there).

Also on top of that Multiple Mario games release every year and an enhanced Smash or Mario Maker port would also would a big hit.

A DK64 sequel would be great. Either that or Retro is reviving F-Zero? Whatever they do should be good. 

 Oh yeah. Wargroove is the Fire Emblem clone right? 

I completely forgot about a potential Mario Maker port! Added to the list. 

I agree 2018 has some potential.

- Yoshi, Kirby and Fire Emblem
-Octopath traveler
- Teased No More Heroes
- Teased Persona game
- Possibly new Retro Studios game
- Possiblty next Next Level Games game :P
- Likely a new 2D Mario or Smash Port
- Teased game form Platinum Games
- More content form reclutant 3rd parties