Yesterday Nintendo published a surprised Direct Mini broadcast to the delight of all of us stuck at home. For a ‘mini’ broadcast we got a surprisingly large amount of information. Over two dozen games were announced in less than 30minutes from first-party to third-party games. I honestly think the whole ‘mini’ title was just a flex if you ask me. Didn’t catch the show? You can watch it on YouTube now. Or if you feel your attention span waning already then just flip through our roundup list of the main highlights.
Good Job!
One of the games that was launched yesterday is surprisingly hilarious, get a taste of the office in this physics-based chaos puzzle game. In Good Job!, you play as the child of the CEO. What you lack in skills and experience, you make up for in a go-get-’em attitude. So when someone in finance asks you to bring a new projector to the conference room, you try your darnedest to get it there as soon as you can. But everything in this world can be moved around so when you struggle to shove the huge and unwieldy projector you may end up causing more damage than you want. Well, that’s just the cost of doing business am I right? The game is out now on for the Nintendo Switch and it features a single and co-op mode.
Release Date: March 26th 2020
Panzer Dragoon: Remake
The Panzer Dragoon: Remake was teased at last year’s E3 2019 and it’s finally out on the Nintendo Switch. This is a fully remade version of the 1995 Sega Saturn classic that features new visuals and modernized controls with the same challenge of the original. Lock-on, shoot, and dodge as you take revenge on your very own dragon.
Release Date: March 26th 2020
Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition
Another version of Xenoblade Chronicles?? Okay, I guess. This is the game’s third release on a different platform, the first being on the Nintendo 3DS and then the Wii. It’s a good game so I’m sure no one’s complaining and at least in this version there are some significant upgrades. The Definitive Edition of the game sports improved battle and inventory UI, remastered and even re-recorded music, and some highly requested quality of life features like layered armour which lets you change your look without sacrificing precious stats. But best of all this Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition comes with a brand new chapter starring Melia and Shulk.
Release Date: May 29th 2020
2K Games On Switch – Borderlands, BioShock & XCOM 2
Attention a mass dump of 2K games is coming to the Nintendo Switch. Everyone get out of the way! In surprising news, we’re getting a whole host of 2K games to play on the Nintendo Switch. This includes the first three Borderlands games with all their DLCs. Featuring Borderlands, Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. In the 2K dump as well is the BioShock collection with all DLCs. This includes everything from the first BioShock, BioShock 2 and BioShock Infinite. And lastly, the XCOM 2 Collection that has the game, The War of the Chosen expansion and all four DLC packs. Now I’m thinking do I need to buy BioShock and replay it again on the Switch? Yeah, I think I do.
Release Date: May 29th 2020
Animal Crossing: New Horizons – April Events
Animal Crossing: New Horizons launched with huge success! I remember when I first started playing it on the Gamecube, I found it difficult to explain. What was so delightful about making friends and going fishing in a virtual world? Well everything, everything is delightful in Animal Crossing. Just a week after its record selling release we now have news of a free New Horizons event. To celebrate the coming of Spring, Bunny Day is happening from April 1st to April 22nd. During this time Zipper, the Bunny will move to your island for a good old fashioned Easter Egg hunt. I can’t wait. Rewards will include eggcellently themed crafting items. Note that this event is for Animal Crossing players in the Northern Hemisphere. Those in the Southern Hemisphere will need to wait six more months for this event.
Another event will be happening later in April on the 22nd to celebrate Earth Day. We don’t know too much about this event but the teaser confirms that Leif will be there. Leif is a sloth that ran the Garden Center in Animal Crossing: New Leaf. He also makes an appearance in the mobile version Animal Crossing Pocket Camp. While waiting for the Bunny Day update be sure to check out our Animal Crossing: New Horizons fish and insect guide.
Release Date: 1st April 2020
Ninjala
I first saw Ninjala way back at Tokyo Game Show 2018. Wow, that was a long time ago. Well to be fair last week also felt like a long time ago so time is really just fluxing right now. Ninjala is a multiplayer action game that has very strong Splatoon energy. But instead of brightly coloured squid ink, you’re now all ninjas that blow bubblegum? Oh wait that’s my bad, bubblegum would be silly, it’s Ninja-Gum. This gum changes unique weapons on the fly, to use ninjutsu and super parkour mechanics to jet around on the battlefield. Play in a 4v4 team battle or an 8 player free for all.
Release Date: May 27th 2020
Pokémon Sword and Shield – Expansion Details
The Pokémon Sword and Shield Expansion Pass DLC will give you access to two brand new areas of the Pokémon world. The first area is called The Isle of Armor which will be releasing at the end of June 2020. And the second area The Crown Tundra will be available Fall 2020. Expect new Pokémon to catch in both areas as well as new clothing items and features. It looks like The Crown Tundra expansion will also have a co-op mode. That’s exciting.
Now from the Direct Mini, we have a few more details about the upcoming Isle of Armour. On the island, we’ll be able to catch the legendary Pokémon Kubfu by training in a Dojo. After obtaining your legendary Pokémon you can then challenge the ‘Towers of Two Fists’. Which consists of the ‘Tower of Darkness’ and the ‘Tower of Waters’. You’ll only be able to use Kubfu at this time and it will evolve into Urshifu once one of the towers is conquered. Depending on the tower you choose you’ll get a different move, conquering Darkness will teach him the Single Strike Style. And Water will teach him the Rapid Strike Style.
Release Date: June 2020
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – New Fighter From ARMS
The first new contender in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighters Pass Vol. 2 will hail from ARMS. Nintendo isn’t saying which stretchy-armed fighter it will be yet, but you can expect them to be announced and released in June. Switch online members can also play ARMS for free from March 26 to April 6.
Bravely Default 2
A JRPG game for the ages, Bravely Default 2 is from the creators of Octopath Traveler and is the follow-up to the 3DS title with the same name. From the video, the game looks exceptionally lovely with dynamic environments and an epic tale. Follow our hero Seth as he travels the world in search of the four Crystals with the latest incarnation of the brave band known as the Heroes of Light. The series’ keeps on the familiar Brave/Default combat mechanic returns, enabling fighters to either immediately attack during battle or bank moves for a more powerful assault at a later point. There’s a demo available now on the Nintendo Switch.
Release Date: 2020
Other Games Announced
Lighting round!
- Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: Black Order – Shadow of Doom DLC (Out Now)
- Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (Out Now)
- Shinsekai: Into the Depths (Out Now)
- Ring Fit Adventure – Rhythm Mode Update (Out Now)
- Saints Row IV: Re-elected (March 27th 2020)
- Vigor – Closed Beta (April 9th 2020)
- Trials of Mana (April 24th 2020)
- Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus (May 2020)
- Minecraft Dungeons (Spring 2020)
- Elder Scrolls Blades (Spring 2020)
- Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics (June 5th 2020)
- Mr. Driller DrillLand (June 25th 2020)
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 3 (June 30th 2020)
- Catherine: Full Body (July 7th 2020)
- Fuser (Autumn 2020)
- Burnout Paradise Remastered (2020)
- King’s Bounty 2 (2020)
- Star Wars: Episode 1 Racer (Soon)