With new details on the Nintendo Switch 2 coming next Tuesday, Nintendo held a swansong Direct for the OG Switch today, showcasing Metroid Prime 4 gameplay alongside a swathe of remasters and a few surprise reveals. Here’s everything announced during March 27’s Nintendo Direct.
Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake Trailer Shown
Following up on the recent Dragon Quest HD remakes, we got a glimpse of the Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake, which is slated for later this year. It looks in a very similar vein to last year’s Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake.
New Entry In AI: The Somnium Files Series Revealed
The latest entry in the AI Somnium Files series was announced, No Sleep For Kaname Date. It follows our titular detective on another case as he tries to uncover the fate of a missing idol (spoilers, it seems she’s trapped in a mysterious escape game). It’s out on July 25 of this year.
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Announced
We got an announcement for another remake from Atlus. This one is a revamp of the PS2 title Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army, which is the third game in the Devil Summoner series that’s a spin-off from Megami Tensei. Set in the year Taisho 20, the story follows an apprentice detective who summons Devils to solve supernatural cases. It features real-time battles combined with RPG elements and familiar Megami Tensei critters, like everyone’s favorite little snowman, Jack Frost. It’s coming out on June 19.
Shadow Labyrinth, A Very Odd Pac-Man Reboot, Is Out This July
In a fairly weird turn, Shadow Labyrinth is a Metroid-styled twist on Pac-Man based on the gritty reboot of the character showcased in the Prime Video anthology series, Secret Level. Here, you play as a traveler who devours enemies to level up, all to aid your floating guide Puc (who is basically evil Pac-Man). Only time will tell if this is a gag gone too far or another interesting entry in this increasingly crowded sub-genre. It’s coming out July 18th.
Patapon Remasters Coming To Switch
Bandai Namco is releasing remasters of the rhythm platformers Patapon 1 and 2 to the Nintendo Switch. Originally released as platform exclusives on the PSP, the games were previously remastered for the PS4, but this marks the first time the series will be available on Nintendo systems. It’s out on July 11th.
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar Remake Announced
A remake of Harvest Moon DS: Grand Bazaar was announced. For those out of the loop, the Story and Seasons series used to be called Harvest Moon outside of Japan, but back in 2014, the developer changed their localization studio from Natsume Inc. to Xseed, losing the Harvest Moon name in the process. The latest installment showcases all the classics associated with the series, such as farming and getting to know your neighbors in a comfy village. It’s out on August 27.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Gameplay Finally Revealed
In what was likely the biggest news from the Direct, we finally got footage of the long-delayed Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Set on the Planet Viewros, Samus gains psychic abilities that allow her to manipulate the environment and curve her plasma shots in slow-mo. From the look of it, it seems possible that the new game was built on the same tech utilized in the recent Metroid Prime remaster, with a fairly similar art style and abilities. It’s set for a 2025 release.
Gradius Remaster Collection Set For August
‘Schmup fans will likely be happy to hear that Gradius Origins is on the way, a collection of games from the series, including Gradius, Salamander, Life Force, Gradius II, Gradius III, and Salamander 2. It also includes an all-new entry, Salamander 3. It’s out on August 7th.
Pokémon Legends Z-A Gets Additional Gameplay Details
We saw more of the upcoming Pokémon Legends Z-A, which is a follow-up to Pokémon Legends: Arceus and its pivot away from turn-based combat. Set in Lumiose City from Pokémon X and Y, you explore a metropolis that transforms based on the time. When it’s day, you explore Wild Zones, little parks that are full of wild ‘mons. At night, the city changes as Pokémon Trainers roam the streets to take part in the ongoing Z-A Battle Royale tournament.
New Rhythm Heaven Game Announced
We got a surprise announcement of a new game in the Rhythm Heaven series, Rhythm Heaven Groove, which tasks players with jamming their way through rhythm-based mini-games. It’s the first installment in over a decade and set for a 2026 release.
Virtual Game Card System Revealed: A New Way To Share Games on Switch
Nintendo announced the “Virtual Game Card,” a means of sharing digital games between systems. Basically, it allows you to transfer the ability to play games to another system, registering the rights to play a particular title to one system at a time, as if it were a physical cartridge. It seems that it will be restricted to trading between one other Switch linked to your account, or it can be loaned to other members of your “Family Group”. When lending a game to another account, you can only lend one game at a time to a particular person, and after 2 weeks, it will automatically be returned to you. The feature allows you to transfer games to a Nintendo Switch 2 as well, presumably by linking your personal account to that system.
Saga Frontier 2 Remastered Out Today
A remaster for the RPG Saga Frontier 2 was announced. It will feature additions such as new story events, additional allies, additional post-game bosses, and new mechanics. It’s out today.
Monument Valley 1, 2, and 3 Coming To Switch
The M.C. Escher-esque puzzle games Monument Valley 1 and 2 are headed to Switch. Previously released exclusively for mobile, both games are out on Nintendo’s console with all their DLC on April 15. Additionally, Monument Valley 3 is coming to the system this summer.
New Marvel Beat ‘Em Up From Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge Devs On The Way
Marvel Cosmic Invasion is an upcoming beat ’em up featuring superheroes like Captain America, Wolverine, Storm, and more. It has four-player co-op, local or online, and a variety of pixel art bad guys to wail on. Perhaps most exciting of all, it’s being handled by the team that did the great recent beat ’em up, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.
Nintendo Calendar App, Nintendo Today, Announced
Nintendo announced a smartphone app called Nintendo Today, which will share Nintendo-related news, including daily updates on the upcoming Switch 2.
Tomadachi Life: Living the Dream Revealed
Tomadachi Life: Living the Dream is a life sim in the well-known series that utilizes Miis. It’s a follow-up to the original Tomodachi Life for the 3DS that came out over a decade ago. It’s set for a 2026 release.
Other Announcements
We got an announcement for a Disney-themed “potionista” game where you brew concoctions for various well-known big bads, kind of like VA-11 Hall-A or Coffee Talk, and it’s out today. Chucklfish is working on a pixel art life-sim about going to wizard college called Witchbook, and it’s out this Holiday season. The Eternal Life of Goldman is a hand-drawn platformer where an elderly gentleman beats up on cartoon bad guys with a cane that’s also out this holiday. A port of the rhythm game Rift of the Necrodancer is headed for the Switch today.
Beyond that, Tamogotchi Plaza is a new entry in the Tamogotchi Connections series that involves working at various shops by performing mini-games. It’s out on June 27. Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots is a new entry in the series headed for the Switch. Amusingly, it includes modes with obstacles such as the space obelisk from 2001: A Space Odyssey, and is out later this year. And lastly, we got a sizzle reel that included Switch ports of High on Life (May 6) and The Wandering Village (July 17), as well as unreleased games like Star Overdrive (April 10), King of Meat (2025), Lou’s Lagoon (Summer 2025), and Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time (May 21).
