Lyricana

I don't see why anyone would want to do this. The challenges last for something like 35 days. There's no need to rush them out by grinding away in practice mode just to complete them. I've played the game for a total of 10 hours and completed all but one mission (still have another 30 days for it) with minimal effort, just playing the game normally.

This is objectively not true. If a Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase doesn't count, then this has happened before. In 2016, no Nintendo Direct.

In 2020, no Nintendo Direct. There was a Mini Partner Showcase, a Monster Hunter Direct and a 35th Anniversary Mario Direct, but those are all just as much not Nintendo Directs as the Partner Showcase.

Half of these games aren't HD-2D. Despite what you say, it isn't just a style. It's definitely a series and that name is exclusive to Square Enix and they've trademarked it. I could see the argument for something like Wandering Sword at least that's deliberately trying to ape the style, but Unicorn Overlord? It doesn't have even a remotely similar visual style.

So even if HD-2D were just a style (it isn't), then it definitely wouldn't include Unicorn Overlord, Star Ocean: Second Story R, Tactics Ogre Reborn or Eiyuden Chronicle. They just don't look like HD-2D-esque. Plus.. Star Ocean and Tactics Ogre were Square Enix games. If they wanted them to be part of the HD-2D-esque, they would have made them part of it. But they chose to do different styles than that and not be part of the series.