In the June edition of the Nintendo Direct, the Japanese publisher presented the Switch releases for the second half of 2023. In our overview, we have summarised all the important announcements and trailers for you.
Nearly four months after the last Nintendo Direct the Japanese publisher held a new edition of its in-house presentation series at short notice.
While February was all about the release schedule for the first half of the year, Nintendo has now provided us with numerous new announcements and updates for the second half. Among them are some hotly anticipated titles for the Switch.
Table of Contents
Major announcements and trailers of the evening
Super Mario Bros. Wonders
After the successful outing on the big screen, Nintendo announced a new Mario game with a classic 2D look. The first trailer showed besides Mario, Peach, Luigi, Daisy and Co. also the new miracle flowers. If we touch them, the flowers can cause numerous changes, both to the character Mario and the game world.
- Genre: Jump ‘n’ Run
- Release: 20 October 2023
Pikmin 4
With the latest instalment in the cuddly adventure series coming soon, Nintendo showed off some new footage. You land on an alien planet as part of a rescue team and have to collect your stranded crew. New features include your dog Oatchi, who can carry items and fight for you, the Dandori Battle game mode, excursions underground and nocturnal expeditions. However, the night also brings new, dangerous enemy types.
- Genre: Real-time strategy
- Release: 21 July 2023
Star Ocean: The Second Story R
In the remake of the JRPG classic, Federation officer Claude is once again stranded on alien planet Expel. Together with the local girl Rena, he must find a way home and save the world of Expel along the way. The remake brings real-time combat and chain attacks.
- Genre: Action RPG
- Release: 2 November 2023
Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 1
Konami has put together a comprehensive Metal Gear package for all Switch owners. The bundle includes Metal Gear Solid, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater numerous bonus content such as a visual novel and soundtracks.
- Genre: Sneak game
- Release: 24 October 2023
Palia
In the new adventure sim you can decorate your houses, grow plants, discover the world, hunt and solve mysteries either online or in co-op. The principle of the game is very reminiscent of Stardew Valley and will be playable for free.
- Genre: Adventure-Sim
- Release: autumn 2023
Persona 5 Tactica
The strategy spin-off of the popular Persona series was already revealed at the Xbox showcase last week and has now been announced for the Switch. Here, the phatom thieves must team up with the mysterious Erina.
- Genre: Tactical RPG
- Release: 17 November 2023
Super Mario RPG
There was speculation leading up to the Direct, and now Nintendo has made it real. A remake of the SNES classic will be released in November. The trailer for the role-playing game offshoot shows JRPG-typical turn-based battles and familiar characters.
- Genre: Role-playing game
- Release: 17 November 2023
Detective Pikachu Returns
In the second part of the Pokemon spin-off, players get to the bottom of the origin of the great master detective Pikachu. Together with his partner Tim Goodman, Pikachu must once again solve numerous mysteries.
- Genre: Adventure
- Release: 6 October
- Genre: Role-playing game
- Release: 1 December 2023
- Genre: Plattformer
- Release: autumn 2023
- WarioWare: Move it – Sports game with numerous mini-games and party mode where you have to use your whole body. Release: 3 November 2023
- Pikmin 1 & 2 – HD versions of the first two Pikmin parts are now available in the Nintendo eShop.
- Fae Farm – The cute indie game in which you build your own farm will be released on 8 September for the Switch.
- Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Two new amiibo figures of Zelda and Ganondorf announced for this winter.
- Hot Wheels Unleashed 2 Turbocharged – The racing game sequel will be released on October 19.
- Mario+Rabbids: Sparks of Hope – Second paid DLC introduced. The expansion takes you into the world of music. The new area comes up with new enemy types.
- Princess Peach – A new game with Princess Peach in the leading role, which is to be released in 2024.
- Luigi’s Mansion 2 – Getting a graphically enhanced version for the Switch in 2024.
- Vampire Survivors – The roguelike with 4-player co-op is coming to the Switch on August 17.
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Wave 5 of the Booster Course Pass brings characters from old Mario Kart parts and new tracks to the game and will be released this summer.
- Batman Arkham Trilogy – Coming as a complete package in autumn 2023 for the Switch. Included are all DLCs.
- Gloomhaven – The turn-based card game with mercenaries is coming to the Switch on 18 September 2023.
- Just Dance+ – 40 new tracks announced; including songs by Blackpink and Awolnation, among others. Release: 24 October.
- MythForce – In the first-person roguelike with 4-player online co-op you battle your way through dungeons and castles with swords and magic.
- Headbanger Battle Royale – Rhythm Battle Royale for up to 30 players with 20 mini-games. Release: 31 October.
- Penny’s Big Breakaway – In this newly announced 3D platforming adventure game, you must escape the penguins of the nasty Emperor Eddy. The game will be released for the Switch early next year.
- Silent Hope – Action role-playing game in which seven speechless warriors must venture deeper and deeper into the hellish Abyss in search of their lost king. Release is scheduled for 3 October 2023.
- Pokemon Crimson and Purple – First trailer for the upcoming expansion The Treasure of Zone Zero shown. The DLC is in two parts; the first part will be released in autumn, the second in winter.
Dragon Quest: Monsters – The Dark Prince
In Square Enix’s new Dragon Quest spin-off, you follow the enchanted prince Psaro and his companion Rosi on their journey through the demon realm of Nadiria. You must raise a monster army to become master of all monsters.
Sonic Superstars
Sega’s new 2D adventure with the blue hedgehog was announced before the Direct. Now there was a new trailer with old familiar characters to see. In the course of the Nintendo Direct a local co-op for 4 players was announced – a novelty in the series.
Further announcements from Nintendo
Of course, there were numerous other announcements during the show, which we present to you here in fast forward:
Which announcements in the new Nintendo Direct were you most excited about? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
