Nintendo Switch in 2018: What's Coming?

New year, new Nintendo games

Nintendo’s 2018 is one big question mark as of now. We know that at some point the Nintendo Online Service will drop. We also know that Kirby: Star Allies is probably nearing release, with Fire Emblem and Yoshi confirmed for sometime later this year. Other than that, we’re flying blind. But, with the rather credible rumor of a Nintendo Direct on January 11th, it’s time to book a one way ticket to the land of speculation and predict what big titles will hit in 2018. There are a lot of big franchises floating around in the ether which seem due for a new entry, but in my opinion, not all is as it seems. So, let’s take a look at the big seven being talked about right now, and evaluate just how likely it is that we see each this year.

If I could only have one game announced for 2018, it would be Animal Crossing. It has been so long since the last main series entry in the franchise that it would appear like a new game in 2018 would be a no-brainer. However, I’m not so sure. On the one hand, Animal Crossing: New Leaf was released first in Japan back in 2012 by Nintendo EAD before the restructuring of Nintendo’s development studios. In 2015, Nintendo shuffled the teams, and as a result, the New Leaf developers got split up. Now, members from that team are working on different games; many of which are service titles such as Splatoon 2, and the recent mobile release, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp. It seems to me like many projects need to be wrapped up before the team could reconvene and development could begin in earnest on a new mainline Animal Crossing for Switch. Yet, at the same time, if the team was to leverage the assets from the Wii U spin-offs, they already have a good foundation to build off of. Unfortunately, Animal Crossing in 2018 isn’t cut and dry as many would hope. I think that Animal Crossing Switch is a possibility in 2018, but I find it much more likely that we’d see an announcement this year ahead of a release in 2019.

I'd love nothing more than a new Animal Crossing to sink my teeth into,
but I can't honestly say that it is a definite in 2018

If Animal Crossing is the epitome of possibility in 2018, Pikmin 4 is the poster child for probability. First announced by Mr. Miyamoto back in 2015, we’ve heard conflicting statements about the game's progress. Back in 2015, we learned that the title was nearly done, and then later learned that it was put on the back-burner temporarily. At last year's E3, Miyamoto reaffirmed Pikmin 4’s existence, saying that the title is “progressing”. This indicates to me that Pikmin 4 was almost completed for Wii U, but then shifted over to Switch. Considering how great Pikmin 3 looked and ran, I doubt that Nintendo would need to re-work much more than the control scheme and add some exclusive features in the conversion from Wii U to Switch. Pikmin 4 would be a great title to reveal during the rumored January Direct, and I think it is fairly likely to happen.

I could see Pikmin 4 releasing around April of this year

Pikmin 4 isn’t the only fourth entry in a series that people are excited about, but I fully expect it to be the only ‘4’ that we’re playing this year. There is absolutely no way that Metroid Prime 4 launches in 2018. The Metroid Prime 4 announcement was very exciting, but also very telling. The total lack of any details in its reveal has me convinced that we were shown, at the earliest, a 2019 title. Nintendo’s mystery team needs to build the next installment in the Prime saga completely from scratch: without an entry on either Wii U or 3DS, there aren’t any assets or any code available to be updated and re-purposed for Prime 4. Furthermore, considering the, to put it nicely, frosty reception to Metroid Prime: Federation Force, I doubt that Prime 4 is going to be a rush job. I fully expect a trailer at some point in 2018, but I firmly believe that this one is more than a year off.

This is literally the only image of Metroid Prime 4 released, and
that doesn't scream 2018 to me

At last year’s E3, Pokemon for Switch was announced, and many people believe that it will launch in 2018. For a while, so did I. However, now, I’m not too sure. Much like Animal Crossing, there are a lot of factors. Game Freak and the Pokemon Company don’t like to take time off. In fact, I can’t remember the last time that Pokemon missed its yearly release. So, I do think that the imperative is to release something Pokemon this year, but I doubt it will be a main series title. Pokemon didn’t rush onto the 3DS, with its first true title launching 2013. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon and Pokemon Rumble Blast placated fans until its arrival, but the core entries in the Pokemon series lived on DS far longer than expected. Pokemon X/Y were finally announced and released in 2013, following up 2012’s Black and White 2. However, it came out much later that Pokemon X/Y took 3.5 years to develop. Now, it’s certainly possible that Game Freak could’ve had a Pokemon Switch game in development for a few years, but that hardly lines up with their narrative of 2017. Not only were there zero specifics in their E3 announcement, much like Metroid, but the head of Game Freak released a statement, telling reporters that they were skeptical of the Switch’s market viability at first. When taken together, it doesn’t sound like Game Freak has been toiling away on a Switch Pokemon game for long.

I really want the Switch Pokemon game to be an evolution of the series

On the other hand, it is possible that Game Freak utilizes their 3DS assets as a foundation for the Switch game, and essentially releases a half-step between the 3DS titles and the new Switch-era entries. It isn’t out of the question that the developers could get a Pokemon game of that caliber out for holiday 2018. But, is that really the smartest, or even most likely move? For as well as all the Pokemon titles on 3DS sold, the fanbase is becoming increasingly restless and ready for something new. I think Game Freak will want to do their best in with the first Pokemon Switch game to revitalize the franchise. Still, Game Freak’s company slogan seems to be “if it ain’t completely broke don’t fix it”, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see just another Pokemon game on Nintendo’s hybrid. However, I want to give Game Freak the benefit of the doubt. I could see a Kanto Pokemon game get re-released alongside a spin-off title to fill the Pokemon void in 2018, with the next core entry launching 2019. But, again, it is possible that Game Freak puts the pedal to the metal and gets another entry out for this year.

I could see Game Freak rushing out a Pokemon Switch game that
is essentially a 3DS entry on Nintendo's hybrid system

There isn’t too much buzz about a potential Super Mario Maker Switch, however I think there soon will be. One thing that the Switch desperately needs is a good core of evergreen experiences that can keep fans engaged during game droughts. Super Mario Maker is the epitome of the evergreen title, and Nintendo has already shown a willingness to port this game to other consoles, with the 3DS version launching in 2016. Yet, I doubt we’ll see the launch of simply Super Mario Maker for Nintendo Switch, but instead some cleverly titled Super Mario Maker sequel. The Super Mario Maker series has plenty of room to grow and utilize the Switch’s hardware features, such as split Joy-Con co-op, a la New Super Mario Bros. Throw in some new themes, a couple new tile pieces, and roll out new content following its release, and Nintendo would have a hit on their hands. 2018 would be an especially good time to release the game, as we’re currently lacking a Mario game for the year, and Nintendo likes to have at least one title from that franchise appear each year.

Super Mario Maker is such a potent idea, and could thrive on Switch
with a new entry

That leads me to the last evergreen Nintendo franchise on the minds of Nintendo fans: Super Smash Bros. Animal Crossing and Pokemon are big question marks, but at the end of the day, I see these as possibilities. I have toiled over whether or not I think Super Smash Bros. is coming to Nintendo Switch this year or not. And, after much consideration, I think it probably is. But, I don’t think we’ll be getting a new game: instead we’ll end up with Super Smash Bros Deluxe.This hypothetical release would include all of the 3DS and Wii U content plus around three new fighters: Spring Man, Inkling, and Ice Climbers are my bets. Wrapping all of the pre-existing content across the two versions into one package and adding three new characters would make it feel very much like a new game. Not only would it satiate fans like myself, I think it would drive Switch sales like only a handful of Nintendo franchises can. Super Smash Bros. is a behemoth, and if Mr. Kimishima really is targeting 20 million Switches sold in 2018, I can’t think of a better franchise to headline the new year.

While this leak turned out to be fake, I hope that a 'Deluxe' port
of Smash Bros. would look this good on Switch

The last game that I think could release this year is a bit odd, but I feel oddly confident that it will at least be announced: F-Zero Switch. Perhaps the biggest question mark when it comes to upcoming Nintendo software is just what the hell Retro Studios is up to. I really think that they’re making a new F-Zero game, and here’s why. There is nothing more that Retro Studios loves doing more than revive old Nintendo IP. They did it first with Metroid, and then moved onto Donkey Kong Country. If the trend continues, what franchise could they be working on other than F-Zero? I can’t think of another series that has the same clout with fans, but is being totally ignored by Nintendo. It is little more than a hunch at this point, but it's a hunch that I can’t shake. Could I be totally crazy? Sure. But I keep wracking my brain, and short of a new IP, I can’t think of what else this studio might be working on.

F-Zero deserves to be brought back, and Retro Studios seems like the team to do it

So, if I’m on the ball, 2018 would have the following titles released during its second calendar year on the market: Kirby: Star Allies, Yoshi, Bayonetta 2+1, Fire Emblem, Pikmin 4, Super Mario Maker 2, Super Smash Bros Deluxe, and if I’m right, F-Zero Switch. That would be one hell of a line-up. However, two of those seven games would, again, be ports. However, I think that we’ll see far more out of Nintendo this year. Mr. Kimishima has stated that Nintendo would like to release more games in 2018 that utilize the hardware features of the Switch. The first series that pops into my mind when I think of utilizing hardware features is WarioWare.

Imagine all the eccentric micro-games that could be based around the Joy-Con’s technology. From the IR Camera, to the HD Rumble, to the motion control, there are tons of quirky ideas that could come from these features. Compound that with the hybrid design of the Switch, and I think that this game would thrive in quick bursts while in tabletop mode. Considering that there hasn’t been a WarioWare title since Game & Wario back in 2013 on Wii U, I think it is high time for this franchise to make its return. Similar to WarioWare, the Mario Sports series could make great use of all the Joy-Con technology. Personally, I’d like to see a really well done Mario Tennis game this year, but I think Mario Baseball is much more likely. There has not been a Mario Baseball since Mario Super Sluggers in 2008, not counting the thoroughly disappointing Mario Sports Mix, so it feels like time to revive this franchise. Considering that Bandai Namco has been working closely with Nintendo again, I think that this is definitely likely to happen this year.

WarioWare is a very unique and innovative series that would thrive on Switch,
and is due for a new entry this year.

Other than those nine games, I have no idea what else Nintendo might have up their sleeve, but that is part of what makes being a Nintendo fan so exciting. There are constantly surprises and left-turns that keep the fan base on its toes. They aren’t always good surprises, but they’re surprising nonetheless. Sometimes those surprises wind up being Super Mario Odyssey, but sometimes they turn out to be Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival. I can comment and speculate all I’d like about potential upcoming games, using as much evidence as I can gather, but at the end of the day, Nintendo’s middle name might as well be 'unpredictable'. I guess we’ll just have to sit back, cross our fingers, and wait for Nintendo to announce their slate for this year. If the rumors are true, and I think they are, I'll be back next week to discuss the outcome of the January Nintendo Direct. But, until Nintendo of America says it's true, nothing is set in stone.