Nintendo Switch video game release dates for 2022 and beyond: from Xenoblade to Zelda-Michael Beckwith-Entertainment – Metro

Nintendo’s 2022 is looking packed, but the same can’t be said yet for 2023 (pic: Nintendo)

Nintendo has a surprisingly busy year planned for the Switch in 2022 but exactly what games are due out and when?

While Sony only has one first party game, God Of War: Ragnarök, scheduled for 2022 and Microsoft had to push its biggest exclusive, Starfield, into 2023, Nintendo has an incredibly solid line-up of first party releases coming over the next six months.

It has plenty of third party support too, in the form of ports and exclusives – as evidenced by Tuesday’s Nintendo Direct Mini.

Its 2023 schedule is incredibly dry, though, and there remains a pressing demand for a full-fledged Nintendo Direct to announce new first party games. As well as lingering rumours that new hardware is being planned for next year.

For now though, let’s run down all the big games coming to Nintendo Switch for the rest of 2022 and what we do know of its 2023 plans.

Live A Live

A Switch exclusive remake – in the 2D-HD style of Octopath Traveler – of a 1994 Square Enix role-player, this will mark Live A Live’s first official release outside of Japan. It releases on July 22 and there’s a demo available right now.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Nintendo’s next major release, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 looks to be another mammoth role-playing game from Monolith Soft, that launches on July 29. It got a dedicated Nintendo Direct recently, showing off a bunch of details and confirming its extensive DLC plans.

Splatoon 3

The second of 2022’s Nintendo threequels, Splatoon 3 will launch on September 9, and promises the same turf war gameplay fans of the series love, as well as a new single-player campaign.

NieR:Automata: The End Of YoRHa Edition

It’s been five years since NieR:Automata first came out and the blockbuster action role-player is set to arrive on Switch on October 6. Surprisingly, it’s not a cloud version and will release physically and digitally, with new NieR Replicant inspired DLC to boot.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks Of Hope

The sequel to easily one of the best crossovers in gaming, Mario + Rabbids Sparks Of Hope was recently confirmed for an October 20 release date. It’s already shaping up to be a visually fantastic game, with Bowser arming himself with a rocket launcher as he teams up with Mario and friends.

Persona 5 Royal

It was a safe assumption after the Xbox port was announced, but Persona 5 Royal is now officially confirmed for a Nintendo Switch release on October 21. Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden are coming too but they don’t have dates yet and are probably next year.

Harvestella

One of the more interesting announcements from the Nintendo Direct Mini, Harvestella is a new life sim from Square Enix, releasing for both Switch and PC on November 4. It looks to have impressively high production values and seems to be something like Harvest Moon meets Final Fantasy.

Pokémon Scarlet/Violet

The ninth generation of Pokémon begins on November 18 with Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. There’s still plenty we don’t know about them, but the last trailer we got revealed it to be a proper open world experience that can even be played in co-op.

Bayonetta 3

There were hopes that PlatinumGames’ Bayonetta 3 would make an appearance at the Nintendo Direct Mini, but it’s now almost a year since the last update. It’s still only slated for a nebulous 2022 release and, given the lack of updates, there’s a real possibility it will see a delay.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion

Announced alongside the sequel to Final Fantasy 7 Remake, no one can quite agree whether Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion is a remake or remaster. It boasts new voice acting and visuals, although the core gameplay remains the same. It’s slated for a winter release for Switch and other platforms.

Return To Monkey Island

Definitely one of the most welcome announcements of 2022, Monkey Island is returning this year with its original creators in tow. Surprisingly, the new sequel will be a timed console exclusive for Switch, although it’s coming to PC as well.

Sonic Frontiers

Fan response to Sonic’s first foray into open world has been mixed, but Sonic Frontiers’ Nintendo Direct trailer confirmed that traditional linear levels will feature too. One of them is a take on the iconic Green Hill Zone, from the original Mega Drive games. Sonic Frontiers is out for for Switch and other platforms this winter.

Metroid Prime remaster

This one actually hasn’t been announced yet, but there have been strong rumours of a Metroid Prime remaster since 2019. More recently, one insider said that Nintendo intends on releasing it this year, with the two sequels to follow at a later date.

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

A remake of two of the best strategy games ever made, this was meant to have been out by now, but was indefinitely delayed due to the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war. As such it may have been cancelled entirely.

The sequel to The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Nintendo’s only first party release for 2023, information about this sequel is still being kept under tight wraps. Its delay was disappointing but not surprising. However, it led to new speculation that Nintendo wants it to be a launch title for its next Switch model.

Given how nothing else at all is currently scheduled for 2023 those rumours are beginning to seem more and more likely, especially after Nintendo failed to properly explain why it has begun stockpiling raw materials. Something it usually only does before a major hardware launch…

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Other Nintendo Switch release dates:

Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course – June 30
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak – June 30
AI: The Somnium Files – Nirvana Initiative – July 8
Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series – July 8
Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium – July 22
Digimon Survive – July 29
Two Point Campus – August 9
RPG Time: The Legend of Wright – August 18
Pac-Man World Re-Pac – August 26
Marvel’s Midnight Suns – October 7
No Man’s Sky – October 7
A Plague Tale: Requiem – Cloud Version – October 18
Dragon Quest Treasures – December 9
Disney Speedstorm – 2022
Front Mission 1st: Remake – 2022
Hogwarts Legacy – 2022
Blanc – February 2023
Disney Dreamlight Valley – 2023
Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection – 2023
Minecraft Legends – 2023

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