We finally had our first Nintendo Direct of 2021, and it was a big one too. The first Nintendo Direct of the year was roughly 50 minutes of non-stop announcements. As always, I am thrilled any time there’s a Nintendo Direct or any type of upcoming game reveal. It doesn’t matter if the games even matter to me I just love hearing about what games are coming out soon.

Every Nintendo Direct is made up of about 20% games I’m looking forward to and 80% games I don’t really care about. Even though I’m not interested in playing most of these games, I’m still very excited to see all types of games coming to the Switch. Imagine wanting to buy every single new game that comes to the Switch. That would be insane. Multiple games are released on the Switch each and every day.

For the first time, I took notes on each game announcement while watching the Nintendo Direct. I was going to go with a short write-up for each game but instead I separated this post into three categories: Games I cared about, Games I may have cared about and Games I didn’t care about.

GAMES I CARED ABOUT

New Fighters in Super Smash Bros Ultimate!

Whenever a new fighter in the first fighter pack for Super Smash Bros Ultimate was released I would take some time to try out every one of them. This second fighters pack hasn’t brought me back to Smash Bros until Sephiroth came along. Min Min and Steve/Alex didn’t really do it for me. And even though Sephiroth got me to finally boot up Smash again, I only gave each new character one or two battles before going back to whatever game I was playing at the time.

After Piranha Plant, Pyra/Mythra are the first DLC fighter coming to Smash that I actually spent some time with. Joker, Hero, Banjo & Kazooie and Terry were all great additions to the roster, but I’ve barely played their games, most not at all. Byleth definitely stirred my interest since I’ve wanted to play Fire Emblem: Three Houses, but I’ve still yet to get my hands on it (I have to steal it from my buddy, but Coronavirus).

I purchased the second DLC pack right when it was announced. No matter who the new fighters are I know I want them all. You can’t own Smash Bros without all of the fighters. Imagine having friends over for a Smash tourney (pre- or post-pandemic) and someone isn’t able to pick their favorite fighter.

Of all of the new fighters Pyra/Mythra are the first DLC characters that I’m actually quite familiar with. I did not finish Xenoblade Chronicles 2, but I played a good amount of it. I was really enjoying the game, I just got stuck at some point. The fighting in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was a lot of fun and I can’t wait to see how Pyra’s/Mythra’s fighting styles are translated into Smash.

Pyra/Mythra will come to Smash in March and they will definitely get me back into Smash (at least for a little while).

Mario Golf: Super Rush!

As a fan of Everybody’s Golf on Playstation 4, I am totally ready to golf with Mario and friends (especially Yoshi) on my Switch. Mario Tennis is a game I tried to get into back on the Wii U, but I always secretly hoped for Golf (or Strikers). I would definitely love a Mario 2-on-2 or 3-on-3 basketball game, let’s make that happen too!

This looks like a super fun party game with friends (on one Switch or online). I can’t wait for some golf motion controls — I haven’t been able to do that since Tiger Woods on the XBox 360, using my Kinect. Speed golf looks to be an insane time and I’m glad this game comes with a story mode. If we’re not getting a new Mario Kart anytime soon, I’ll be happy with some more Mario sports.

Mario Golf: Super Rush is coming to Switch on June 25.

Fall Guys is coming to Switch!

This is something I’ve been wanting ever since Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout came to Playstation 4 as a Free PS Plus game last year. I’ve been playing this game on and off. Anytime I lose interest for a bit, they release a brand new season or more content that hooks me back in. It’s just a silly, fun, nonsense game. I’m really hoping it will have cross play so that my girlfriend and I can play together using the Switch and PS4.

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is coming to Switch this summer!

Mario Items in Animal Crossing: New Horizons!

Anytime I begin to question my love for Animal Crossing: New Horizons they give me new stuff. First, it was swimming and exploring the seas. Next, it was winter and snow on my island. I recently began to think that once this snow is gone and my island goes back to normal I don’t know if I’ll be coming back (or coming back as often).

But, now that there’s going to be special Mario items and clothing and all kinds of stuff for the 35th anniversary I’m definitely going to be checking the shops each day. Warp pipes to travel between places on my island? Yes, please! I’m so ready to turn ferdington into the Mushroom Kingdom (or some area of ferdington).

The new Animal Crossing update is ready to download on February 25.
Mario 35th anniversary items will be available starting March 1.

Splatoon 3 Next Year!

Splatoon in the desert? The jump from Splatoon 2 to Part 3 looks like a giant leap compared to that of Splatoon 1 to Part 2. I loved both Splatoon and Splatoon 2. I continue to play Splatoon 2 today. But, not much changed between the first two games, just more maps, weapons and specials mostly.

The first big change in Splatoon 3 seems to be the world. According to the Nintendo of America Twitter this game will take place in Splatsville which is located in the Splatlands. It’s hot and surrounded by a desert and sand which could make for some great new levels. They showed off some new weapons, new ways to enter the arena and more customization on our inklings. I can’t wait for Splatoon 3!

Splatoon 3 is coming in 2022.

GAMES I MAY HAVE CARED ABOUT

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD

Only Nintendo can get away with re-releasing old games at full price ($59.99). The beautiful thing about Link’s Awakening (or Link’s Re-Awakening) for Switch was how it was the same game, but remade to look and feel great today. The $59.99 price point made sense for that one. The first scenes of the Skyward Sword HD trailer make it look like it’s going to feel like playing an old game. It’s fine to go back and play old games on their original hardware, but when an old game is brought to a new console I’d rather play a remake or remaster.

I’ve never played Skyward Sword and didn’t feel very compelled to play it at the beginning of the trailer, but two things may have changed my mind. (1) Motion controls! Using the joy cons as your sword and shield, the way it was done with a Wii-mote and Nunchuck, sounds like a good idea. I may get this game just to try out these features.

The second (2) thing that may have changed my mind about this game is the new Joy Cons Nintendo is releasing. Do I need a third pair of Joy Cons for my Switch? Probably not. Do I want them? Most definitely!

Of course, I could buy the Joy Cons and not the game. I could also just buy none of them. I will definitely be paying attention to this game more once it launches. I did enjoy playing Twilight Princess HD years after it’s release on my Wii U.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD comes to Nintendo Switch on July 16

Monster Hunter: Rise

We’ve already known about this game and we have for some time. Monster Hunter: Rise was first unveiled during a 2020 Nintendo Direct. I tried one Monster Hunter game on my PS4 (it was a demo) and although I liked the look and feel of it, I just didn’t understand it. I had no idea what I was doing. I want to give this one a chance and try out the demo before its March release. I have it downloaded just haven’t had the time to give it a try.

The monsters look cool. The characters look fun. The weapons look epic and big. They made a Monster Hunter movie last year that I plan to watch once it’s on a streaming service that I am subscribed to. I want to like Monster Hunter and I hope this new demo can get me there.

Monster Hunter: Rise releases March 26 (along with a special edition Nintendo Switch and Pro controller)

Outer Wilds Coming to Switch

Maybe I’ll finally play the Outer Wilds now that it’s coming to Switch. I have always gotten the Outer Wilds and Outer Worlds (which is already on Switch) confused, but Outer Wilds is the one I’ve heard many good things about.

Watching this trailer was the first time I actually learned any real info on what this game is about and it sounds pretty neat. Every 22 minutes the sun burns out and the entire solar system is destroyed, the game resets and you get to continue exploring in 22 minute bursts.

Outer Wilds is coming to Switch this Summer!

project Triangle Strategy

project Triangle Strategy is a working title for this game, but it just looks like more Octopath Traveler from Square Enix to me. I love the art style of this game, and I’m always looking for a way to get into RPGs. It seems like a very complicated game with lots of choices to make, reading to do, items to grab and many different paths which can be taken.

I downloaded the demo and hope to try it out very soon. We’re still a year out from this one so I guess I can take my time with trying out the demo.

Project Triangle Strategy will come to Switch some time in 2022.

Star Wars: Hunters

When first seeing this trailer I thought it was just a remake or re-release of an old Star Wars game. I don’t know how I feel about this one coming from Zynga (aka the people who brought us Farmville and Words with Friends), but I will give it a try for two reasons.

(1) It’s Star Wars, and this new Lucasfilm Games deal means that Star Wars games are going to be coming from all kinds of developers. This is exciting and a bit scary at the same time. It’s exciting because there’s more chances for great Star Wars games. It’s scary because there will also be more chances for not so great ones. But guess what, if a Star Wars game isn’t very good you can move on and not play it.

The second (2) reason I’ll most likely give this a try is this was announced as a Free-to-play game. What do you have to lose when a game is free to play? Probably some data/info that you’re giving away to some company (like Zynga), but at least you’ll have some fun trying out a new game for a while.

Star Wars: Hunters comes to Nintendo Switch some time this year.

Knock Out City

This game had one of the best trailers of the showcase, with the goofy character interviews. The problem was that these characters had nothing to do with the actual game. We saw a silly orc, a pixelated princess and a special forces member all being interviewed. I thought what kind of game is this going to be with these characters?

It seems to be some city-wide dodgeball game. I’ll give it a try, but I still want to see what game that princess, orc and soldier are a part of.

Knockout City comes to Switch on May 21.

GAMES I DIDN’T CARE ABOUT

Here’s a list of everything else that was announced that I didn’t really care about:

Famicom Detective Club Games (May 14)
Samurai Warriors 5 (2021)
Legend of Mana: Remastered (June 24)
Tales from the Borderlands (March 24)
Capcom Arcade Stadium (Today!)
Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse (March 16)
Bravely Default II (February 26)
Ghosts N Goblins Resurrection (February 25)
SaGa Frontier Remastered (April 15)
Apex Legends (March 9)
No More Heroes 3 (August 27)
Neon White (Winter 2021)
DC Super Hero Girls: Teen Power (June 4)
Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville (March 19)
Miitopia (May 21)
World’s End Club (May 28)
Hades – Physical Release (March 19)
Ninja Gaiden 1-3 Master Collection (June 10)
Hyrule Warriors: DLC (Starting in June)

Just because these games made my “Games I don’t care about” list, doesn’t mean I won’t give them a try. Legend of Mana is one I’ve always wanted to give a try and maybe the remaster will be the time I finally pull through. I’ve been playing Apex Legends on the PS4 lately and I will download it on the Switch, but I know that it won’t look and feel as good so I will most likely continue to play on my PS4. I love Hades, but don’t need a physical copy because I already have been attempting to escape hell using the digital edition. I never got into the Ninja Garden games, but will also monitor that collection a little more closely when it’s released.

Of the five things I truly cared about, only two of them are brand new games coming to the Switch (Mario Golf and Splatoon 3). The other game is just moving to the Switch from elsewhere (Fall Guys: PS4 and PC). The other two items are DLC (Smash fighters and Animal Crossing items).

After those there were about six games I’m semi-interested in. One of which is just being ported to the Switch (Outer Wilds). Next we had about twenty more games that I’m not so excited about. That’s the magic of the Nintendo Direct, they only need to hit me with about 10-25% of new content that I’m interest in and I’m happy. I think that’s ok though. When they’re showcasing about 30 new games I’m happy to find just a handful that are for me. There will always be more games.

If you missed the Nintendo Direct and want to watch it in it’s entirety you can do so right here:

That’s all for today’s Nintendo Direct.
Thank you for watching!