Will the Nintendo Switch Suffer from Droughts?

Breaking the trend?

MK8 Deluxe will be the first
Nintendo release post launch;
but it is nearly six weeks away

The Wii U had many issues, but the console’s strong suit was always its first party library. Unfortunately, the Wii U’s release schedule was marred by severe droughts that made it hard to stay engaged in Nintendo’s ecosystem. Several months would pass without a Nintendo release; the span of time from Paper Mario Color Splash to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was about six months. This was not the only example, however it was probably the most egregious. The time between Splatoon and Super Mario Maker clocked in at about three months. This was an unexpected issue with the Wii U, and there is question as to whether the Nintendo Switch will be plagued by the same problem, both this year and beyond.The Switch started strong with a very meaty Zelda game. To fully complete Breath of the Wild, it will take around 80-100 hours to do. Playing only Zelda, you might be able to hold out until April 28th when Mario Kart 8 Deluxe hits the system. However, this early two month gap in releases doesn’t bode well for Nintendo’s release schedule, that is, until you factor in the “Nindie” scene.

Independent developers and their games have been thriving for some time now, and the quality of their releases can stand toe to toe with AAA development. When I turn on my PS4 with my family and friends, sure we’ll play a bit of Star Wars Battlefront, or Battlefield 1, but most of our time is spent with Indie games. Towerfall Ascension, Tricky Towers, and Starwhal are just some fantastic examples of what games are coming out of the Indie scene. While Nintendo was slow to embrace this facet of the gaming industry, they are now pushing Indie games just as hard as their first party releases.

Some of my favorite games on PS4 are Indie titles

During the Wii days, you’d be unable to find the level of Indie support on the Wii Shop Channel that was present on the Playstation Network or the Xbox Live Arcade. Nintendo saw the error of their ways soon enough though, because during the Wii U and 3DS era, they began to cultivate the Nintendo Indie scene, or Nindie for short. Games such as Shovel Knight, and Fast Racing Neo helped keep Wii U owners satiated while Nintendo trickled out their own releases. While many Indies still passed by the Wii U, the seeds were sown for the future.

With the Nintendo Switch, we are seeing the fruits of the Nindie scene. Droughts look unlikely as fantastic Indie games are releasing on the Switch already. I already own Fast RMX and Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment which are two great Indie games for my Switch. As I wrap up Zelda, and look to the future, I have more content to look forward to as I await Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. On March 28th two more Indies, Snake Pass and Has-Been heroes, will hit the Nintendo Switch to hold us over until Mario Kart at the end of next month.

Snake Pass seems like an incredibly unique release

Personally, I will be picking up Snake Pass, a kind of physics based 3D platformer where you play as a Snake. Coming from ex-Rareware developers, the creators of N64 classics such as Goldeneye 007 and Banjo-Kazooie, the game seems to have a upbeat jungle soundtrack and a nice art style. The gameplay looks incredibly unique as well, playing as a snake slithering around using physics based platforming sounds very appealing and unlike other platformers releasing today. At $20, it seems like a steal and another great addition to the Switch library.

I am planning on buying
ARMS on release; I
always support new IP

Continuing on the march to E3, Nintendo and 3rd parties take the wheel from the Nindies. Games like Puyo Puyo Tetris, Sonic Mania, and Nintendo’s new IP ARMS are all slated to release before June. ARMS and Sonic Mania are two releases I’ll be picking up, and it seems as though Puyo Puyo Tetris is a hotly anticipated title. Moving into Summer, Splatoon 2 will dominate that season as well as my Switch. If the original is any indication, I will be playing a lot of this game. After that though, things begin to get hazy. Launching by the end of the year, Skyrim, Project Sonic, Super Mario Odyssey, and Fire Emblem Warriors will land on the Switch. Those are four hotly anticipated titles, but even still, the last half of the year looks a bit light, until you factor in the Nintendo Indie Showcase that occurred just last month.

I am cautiously optimistic for Yooka-Laylee

During the Indie Showcase a couple weeks ago, more than 50 new Indies launching this year on the Switch were revealed. With big releases such as Yooka-Laylee, Overcooked Special Edition, Stardew Valley, Steamworld Dig 2, Readout, Runner 3, and many, many more coming throughout 2017, this year looks pretty full after all. Hopefully Nintendo will fill out the latter half of the year during their E3 presentation, but if they don’t, I’m perfectly happy playing Yooka-Laylee and Overcooked as I wait for Super Mario Odyssey.

Regardless of how this fall shakes out, we'll
have a fantastic game to look forward to this holiday

We cannot yet speak to 2018 and beyond, but as of now I am confident that Nintendo has learned from their mistakes with the Wii U. If Nintendo can continue to juggle first party titles, meaningful third party releases, and Indie games moving forward, I am confident that there will be plenty of content to go around. While traditional third party support seems to be unfortunately operating in a minimal capacity on the Switch, I am confident that Indie games will pick up the slack.