The first Nintendo Direct of 2022 just aired a few hours ago with Nintendo revealing a ton of new games and updates on existing ones. I wanted to highlight the important announcements and reveals here with a mention of what is also available or coming to additional platforms. If you’d like to catch up with the full Nintendo Direct, you can watch it below. The biggest reveals of the showcase are definitely Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Live A Live, and Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes for me.
Nintendo Direct Announcements and Game Reveals for the February 2022 Showcase
Nintendo Switch Sports: This brings Nintendo’s classic Wii Sports series to Switch with a new entry featuring online and offline play. An online playtest is planned for later this month for NSO subscribers as well. It includes Soccer, Volleyball, Badminton, and more. Check out the website here.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass: The most successful Nintendo Switch game and one of the best-selling games of recent years, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is finally getting paid content in the form of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass. This will bring 48 courses to the game from now until late 2023. It costs $24.99 and will be free for NSO + Expansion Pack subscribers. The courses are remastered versions of existing game courses.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3: The biggest and best announcement was definitely the newest mainline Xenoblade Chronicles game in the form of Xenoblade Chronicles 3. It is due in September this year featuring protagonists Noah and Mio in the hostile nations of Keves and Agnus.
Mario Strikers: Battle League: Mario Strikers: Battle League releases on June 10 with pre-orders now live bringing tackling, special shots, five on five soccer, and more to the fray. It supports up to eight players with support for online and offline play.
Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition: Chrono Cross has been remastered with the Radical Dreamers content included. It is priced at $19.99 and releases on April 7. It features quality of life improvements like the ability to turn off encounters, new soundtrack, upgraded visuals, and more. This is also coming to PS4, Xbox One, and Steam.
Splatoon 3: A new trailer was showcased for Splatoon 3 (due this summer) featuring a giant Salmonid that hasn’t been revealed before, the return of Salmon Run co-op, and more.
EarthBound / EarthBound Beginnings: Both EarthBound and EarthBound Beginnings are now available on Nintendo Switch Online through the NES and SNES Nintendo Switch Online apps. EarthBound Beginnings was never released outside the Wii U in English, so it is great to have it on Switch.
Metroid Dread version 2.0.0 update is out now: Metroid Dread has been updated with a new boss rush mode, two new difficulty options featuring an easier and harder mode, and more.
Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival: This new Taiko no Tatsujin Nintendo Switch game includes 76 songs. The songs also feature music from The Legend of Zelda. There is also a paid subscription available with 500 songs included at launch. Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival launches this year on Switch.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes: Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes brings the war(riors) to Fodlan. Edelgard, Dimitri, Claude, and more join in on the action when Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes launches on June 24 for Nintendo Switch. I adored Fire Emblem Warriors and this seems like a nice followup to it.
Live A Live: Square Enix’s Live A Live never released outside Japan back in the day. It is now getting remade using the HD-2D Octopath Traveler style for Nintendo Switch. It includes different protagonists, time periods, gameplay styles, and more. Live A Live releases physically and digitally in July.
Triangle Strategy new demo released: A final demo for the upcoming strategy RPG Triangle Strategy is out now with save data carrying over to the full game as has been the case with Bravely Default II and Octopath Traveler on Switch. Play the first three chapters of the game here.
Front Mission 1st and Front Mission 2 are getting full remakes: Both Front Mission games are being remade for Nintendo Switch by Forever Entertainment. Front Mission 1st: Remake launches this summer while Front Mission 2: Remake arrives later.
Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series: Klonoa: Door to Phantomile and Klonoa 2: Lunatea’s Veil are coming to Switch on July 8 (and PS4, PS5, Xbox, and PC later on) making Klonoa available on modern platforms for the first time bringing the dreamy side-scrolling levels to all platforms.
GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon is out now on Switch: Konami’s GetsuFumaDen: Undying Moon is out now on Switch with a deluxe edition available. The PC version will leave early access next week.
SD Gundam Battle Alliance: Bandai Namco Entertainment is bringing SD Gundam Battle Alliance to PS5, PS4, Xbox, Switch, and PC this year with you having to restore the proper timeline in the Gundam Universe. You will take control of three Mobile Suits in dynamic action battles with support for online co-op multiplayer.
That covers the major announcements and reveals from today’s Nintendo Direct.
