It's an exciting time to be a Nintendo fan. Not only are rumors swirling about Nintendo revealing a brand new Switch Pro console with upgraded specs, but the company has confirmed its plans for E3 2021. As usual, Nintendo will be hosting a special Nintendo Direct presentation at E3 2021, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 15 at 9am PT, where the Big N will be focusing exclusively on Nintendo Switch software.
In particular, the Nintendo Direct E3 2021 presentation will be focused on new Switch games that are meant to launch in 2021, with some attention given to games coming in 2022 and beyond. As it stands, much of Nintendo's slate for 2021 remains a mystery, and so E3 2021 should give fans a much clearer idea of what to expect. Perhaps it's at E3 when Nintendo will finally reveal the leaked 2D Metroid game, or possibly it will be when it announces the long-rumored Switch ports of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess.
Whatever Nintendo announces at E3 2021, the reveals should go a long way in ensuring that the Nintendo Switch's 2021 is even more solid than it already has been. While there is still plenty of room on the calendar for new Nintendo Switch game releases, the console has had numerous high profile game launches in 2021 already, and there are some major games that already have solid 2021 release dates.
E3 2021 will give Nintendo Switch fans a much clearer idea of how the rest of 2021 will go, but here's what's already launched on the console in 2021 and what's to come. Please note that this is focused on Nintendo Switch console exclusive games, so this isn't even taking into account the numerous multiplatform releases that have come to the Switch this year as well.
Nintendo Switch Games That Have Launched in 2021
- Bravely Default 2
- Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir
- Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind
- Gnosia
- Miitopia
- Monster Hunter Rise
- New Pokemon Snap
- Pac-Man 99
- Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
- World's End Club
The Nintendo Switch has already had a fairly impressive 2021, with a handful of critically-acclaimed exclusives to its name this year already. Things started off with Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury in February, which not only brought the critically-acclaimed Wii U game Super Mario 3D World to the Switch with some enhancements, but also featured the brand new Bowser's Fury adventure. Essentially an open world Super Mario game, Bowser's Fury was very well-received and could be the blueprint for future Super Mario games.
Another major Switch exclusive game that released earlier this year is Monster Hunter Rise from Capcom. While it will eventually make its way to other platforms, Monster Hunter Rise will be a Switch exclusive for the entire year of 2021. Earning widespread critical acclaim and standing as one of the top-rated video game releases of the year so far, Monster Hunter Rise is yet another homerun for Capcom, who has been on an unstoppable role lately.
JRPG and retro gaming fans have had a variety of games to enjoy from the Switch this year, with the likes of Bravely Default 2, World's End Club, and the Famicom Detective Club games available to play. Miitopia is also something that may be of interest to JRPG fans, as it combines the custom Mii characters with traditional turn-based RPG gameplay.
Another notable release for the Switch this year is New Pokemon Snap, the long-awaited sequel to the Nintendo 64 game Pokemon Snap that was decades in the making. New Pokemon Snap set out to update the Pokemon Snap rail "shooting" gameplay for modern audiences, and judging on the mostly positive reaction to the game, it seems safe to say that it accomplished its goals.
Nintendo Switch Games With 2021 Release Dates
- Mario Golf: Super Rush (June 25)
- Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin (July 9)
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD (July 16)
- No More Heroes 3 (August 27)
- Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl (November 19)
While the Nintendo Switch has already had a pretty impressive 2021, there are even more exclusive games set to release this year. The E3 2021 Nintendo Direct will likely reveal many more Switch exclusives and console-exclusive games coming this year, but Nintendo has already announced release dates for some of the projects that are in the pipeline for its home console/handheld hybrid device.
First up is Mario Golf: Super Rush, launching for the Nintendo Switch on June 25. Mario Golf: Super Rush is the latest entry in the Mario Golf franchise, making significant visual improvements compared to previous entries in the series. It will also feature some rather significant gameplay improvements, like the introduction of new modes like Speed Golf and Battle Golf, both of which look like they could be hugely entertaining with a group of friends. Players can also look forward to the Golf Adventure mode, which is essentially a story mode for Mario Golf. Mario Sports games may not necessarily be for everyone, but this one looks like it will have widespread appeal.
There are other big Switch games releasing this summer as well, with Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin dropping on July 9. A timed Switch exclusive, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is the sequel to the 3DS Monster Hunter Stories game. Whereas the main series Monster Hunter games are all about hunting monsters, Monster Hunter Stories 2 is a more traditional turn-based RPG where players befriend the monsters instead. It's a completely different flavor of Monster Hunter, but still looks like it will please fans of the franchise.
Monster Hunter fans have had a lot to enjoy this year, and hopefully the same can be said for The Legend of Zelda fans as well. 2021 marks The Legend of Zelda's 35th anniversary, and Nintendo is expected to have a big celebration similarly to what it did with Super Mario. Nintendo has kept its plans for The Legend of Zelda's anniversary secret for the most part, but it has confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is coming to the Switch on July 16.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is an enhanced port of the Wii game Skyward Sword. It features upscaled graphics and some new gameplay features, with the biggest change being the control scheme. While Skyward Sword HD still supports motion controls for those that want to use them, the game will also have the option to play without motion controls. This should address one of the biggest criticisms that fans had about the original release and may ensure that Skyward Sword HD is even better received than the original game.
The slate of currently-announced Nintendo Switch summer games concludes with the release of No More Heroes 3 on August 27. Those who enjoyed the quirky No More Heroes games are undoubtedly lookin forward to Travis Touchdown's latest adventure, which looks to be just as crazy and off-the-wall as the previous entries.
Nintendo's plans for later in the year are a little less clear, though that will likely be fixed by its E3 2021 presentation. There is one big upcoming Nintendo game on the calendar for Q4, though, and that is Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. The highly-anticipated Pokemon Diamond and Pearl remakes have been requested by fans for years, and it seems the wait to return to the Sinnoh region is nearly over.
There are still many big games for Switch owners to look forward to in 2021, with more set to be revealed at E3 2021. Rumors point to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 getting a release date, a 2D Metroid game being announced, and even a new Donkey Kong game possibly being announced for the Switch at E3, but there's still plenty to get excited about this year regardless.