Nintendo is a companythat’s always been able to make waves and affect the changing trends of the video game industry. Nintendo consistently turns out consoles and hardware that prioritize a new gameplay mechanic and attempt something unique from their competition.The Nintendo Switchis the latest, and one of the most successful, examples of this.
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The Switch has seen a very healthy life so far with a number of titles that reflect Nintendo’s very best work. 2020 has been good for the Switch, but thefuture also looks very bright. 2021 contains a number of games that fans have been eagerly anticipating for awhile.
10Didn’t Know Was Coming: No More Heroes 3
Nintendo has always had a difficult time with its image as a company that’s the right home for more mature titles.No More Heroesis an exaggerated and blood-soaked action title that debuted for the Wii and has seen a healthy life over the past decade. Suda51 titles are always particularly eccentric andNo More Heroesfeatures some of their craziest storytelling.Travis Strikes Againhit the Switch and teased the upcomingNo More Heroes 3,but its release has beenpushed back to 2021. At least fans know that they’ll soon get another chance to play as Travis Touchdown.
9Rumored: Disgaea 6: Defiance Of Destiny
Nippon’sDisgaeais a tactical RPG series that’s set within a demonic fantasy world and it’s become asatisfying source of JRPG storytellingfor fans of the genre for the past few years. It’s taken some time forDisgaeato find an audience outside of Japan, but it’s encouraging to hear thatDisgaea 6: Defiance of Destinywill be a Switch exclusive outside of Japan. The latest entry in the series has been rumored to hit in summer of 2021, which is hopefully a schedule that can be maintained.
8Didn’t Know Was Coming: Five Nights At Freddy’s: Core Collection
TheFive Nights at Freddy’shorror franchisehas turned into one of the most surprising success stories of the past gaming generation. The twisted series has never been more popular and since the games haven’t been extensively featured on past Nintendo consoles, this next-gen collection is easily the best way for Nintendo gamers to experience the titles.
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Five Nights at Freddy’s: Core Collectionimpressively packs together the first five mainline games in the series and it’s an early 2021 release that Switch owners shouldn’t overlook.
7Rumored: Pikmin 4
ThePikminserieshas been one of Nintendo’s odder properties, but the unconventional take on the real-time strategy genre has popped up on various Nintendo consoles since the days of the Gamecube. Miyamoto has been vocal aboutPikmin 4’sdevelopment, but there have been minimal updates on the sequel’s progress. Fans were beginning to give up hope, but the recent release ofPikmin 3 Deluxeon the Switch may have been a way to get fans ready for the series’ return.Pikmin 3 Deluxemight be testing the waters for a possible 2021 debut forPikmin 4.
6Didn’t Know Was Coming: Balan Wonderworld
Yuji Naka is an important name in the video game industry who’s responsible for major Sega titles likeNights Into Dreams, Phantasy Star Online,and most notablySonic the Hedgehog. Balan Wonderlandis Naka’s latest effort and it looks like it’s another ambitious take on the platformer genre. The game looks gorgeous and has a gameplay system that relies on dozens of different costumes that each have their own unique abilities.Balan Wonderlandis set to hit the Switch in March of 2021 and it looks like one of their most exciting titles of the year.
5Rumored: BPM: Bullets Per Minute
The first-person shooter genre has become incredibly bloated and thereare still mechanicsthat can hold down these styles of games, even if they’ve still been able to evolve.Bullets Per Minuteattempts to radically reinvent the FPS genre with a mix between a shooter and a rhythm-based game.
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It’s a maddening combination that creates something that truly feels unique and special.Bullets Per Minuteis currently available on Steam, but a console version has been teased for 2021, which hopefully isn’t just wishful thinking on the part of the developers.
4Didn’t Know Was Coming: Harvest Moon: One World
Thefarming and simulation genrehas exploded in major ways and it’s amazing to see titles likeStardew Valleybecome mainstream hits. Nintendo’sAnimal Crossingcontinues to see massive success, butHarvest Moonis a franchise that’s been on Nintendo consoles since nearly their beginning.Harvest Moon: One Worldwill be the franchise’s first entry on the Switch and it looks to promise a gigantic experience that’s full of diverse landscapes to maintain.Harvest Moon: One World’srelease has faced delays, but it’s currently set to hit in March if everything stays on track.
3Rumored: Bayonetta 3
PlatinumGames has becomea legendary developerwho are responsible for some of the very best action titles of the past decade. Platinum understands how to balance insane visuals with addictive and soothing gameplay. TheBayonettagames may be Platinum’s crowning achievement and there have been high expectations of what they’ll do for the Switch’sBayonetta 3.There hasn’t been a ton of development news on theBayonettasequel other than how PlatinumGames wants this to be a worthy successor to their past work.Bayonetta 3is still in production and hopefully 2021 will be when it can get revealed.
2Didn’t Know Was Coming: Monster Hunter Rise
The expansiveMonster Hunterserieshas become one of Capcom’s biggest hits in recent years and its popularity likely isn’t about to die down with a feature film adaptation also on the way.Monster Hunter Riseis another action RPG entry that’s set in the franchise’s lush and detailed world.Monster Hunter Riseis set to hit at the end of March and if that’s not enough for the Switch’sMonster Huntercrowd thenMonster Hunter Stories 2is also expected to hit later on in 2021 as well.
1Rumored: Metroid Prime 4
TheMetroidseries is one of Nintendo’s strongest properties, even if it’s not always their priority. It initially seemed like a radical idea to rebootMetroidas a trilogy of moody first-person shooters, but theMetroid Primetrilogymarks some of Nintendo’s best titles from the past generations. The announcement of aMetroid Prime 4for the Switch came as a major shock, but updates on the project have been extremely sparse. Development for the project started over in 2019 with Retro Studios now in charge. A newMetroidgame in 2021 would make a lot of fans happy.
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