The next upcoming Nintendo console has been highly anticipated, talked about, rumored, and speculated on. Since the console has been officially unveiled to the public, there has been less talk about what the console will entail and more of a focus on the upcoming video games.
During the first trailer reveal of the Nintendo Switch console, we were able to see a variety of video games being demoed. Since then, there has been little confirmation as to if these video games will even launch on the upcoming console.
With very few confirmed video game titles for the Nintendo Switch, we decided to go through some of the anticipated upcoming Nintendo Switch video games of 2017. Note that some of these video games have not officially been confirmed, but were either displayed within the Nintendo Switch console reveal trailer or highly rumored about.
Let us know what Nintendo Switch video games you’re looking forward to most by leaving a comment down below!
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Developer: Nintendo EPD
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: TBA 2017
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will mark as the nineteenth main installment to The Legend of Zelda franchise. This time around, players will be placed in a large open-world environment with the ability to play through the game’s dungeons in any order.
Within The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, players will take on the role of Link after he awakens from a deep slumber that lasted a hundred years. A mysterious voice alerts Link to reach a ruined Kingdom known as Hyrule where he will learn of Calamity Ganon, the antagonist who had previously destroyed Hyrule, though, during the process, he had trapped himself within the Kingdom. Ultimately, Link will have to train and prepare for a battle against Calamity Ganon before he escapes and destroys the world.
Just Dance 2017
Developer: Ubisoft
Publisher: Ubisoft
Release Date: March 2017
If you’re a fan of the Just Dance series, the next upcoming installment is going to bring in a new catalog of music for you to enjoy. The series has been running for quite some time now and it’s confirmed that Just Dance 2017 will see a release on the Nintendo Switch, one of the few titles at the time of writing this, to be confirmed officially.
Just Dance 2017 will play out very similar to the previous installments of the franchise. Players will essentially use cameras or motion controllers to mimic the movement dance routine with the on-screen dancer and music selection. Depending on the accuracy of players mimicking the dance routine will determine their scoring and if they are able to progress through the game.
Just Dance Unlimited will also be making a return to Just Dance 2017. This is a subscription-based service where players will have access to a streaming library of songs from the previous Just Dance games along with new songs exclusive only to the subscription service.
Pikmin 4 (Rumored)
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: TBA 2017
Pikmin 4 is an upcoming main installment to the Pikmin franchise, a title that was confirmed to be in the works by Shigeru Miyamoto in July of 2015. However, after a year went by with no real news regarding the Pikmin franchise, new hope for the upcoming installment had once again flourished for fans through Shigeru Miyamoto.
In July 2016, Shigeru Miyamoto once again stated the video game is in development but not labeled as a high priority project for Nintendo. Shortly after a new Pikmin title was unveiled for the Nintendo 3DS, a title that seems to be a spinoff for fans of the franchise while the fourth main installment continues in development.
Unfortunately, there has been no real confirmation that Pikmin 4 is still in the works, but at this point, fans seem to have given up hope that a Pikmin 4 will release for the Nintendo Wii U, but instead show up in the upcoming Nintendo Switch console release.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition (Rumored)
Developer: Bethesda Game Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Release Date: TBA 2017
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim recently received a remaster edition with new updated graphics and textures. Players who enjoyed the video game when it originally released in 2011 could once again play the title with the latest generation consoles, along with those who may have missed out on the fifth installment of The Elder Scrolls series.
This also happens to be one of the main video game titles shown off during the Nintendo Switch reveal trailer. Bethesda , since that trailer has released, would not confirm that the video game was launching on the Nintendo Switch console.
Regardless, there is plenty of hype for gamers who may be able to enjoy The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition on the go thanks to the Nintendo Switch, but for now we’ll just have to wait and see if the title actually reaches the console platform.
New Mario Kart (Rumored)
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: TBA 2017
Much like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, among other titles on this list, a new Mario Kart may also be in the works for the Nintendo Switch. The video game was shown off during the Nintendo Switch reveal trailer, though, nothing has been officially confirmed.
It’s uncertain if this is an updated version of the previously released, Mario Kart 8 video game title, or if we’re getting a full new game release with new characters, maps, and vehicles.
New Super Mario Game (Rumored)
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: TBA 2017
A new three-dimensional Mario game may be a launch title for the Nintendo Switch console. We only saw a snippet of gameplay footage, but Mario could be seen running through a town, along with the appearance of Bill Blaster and Bullet Bill.
Though no information has been unveiled in terms of a new Super Mario video game, this seems like a safe bet in terms of a rumored video game to launch alongside the Nintendo Switch.
Splatoon (Rumored)
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: TBA 2017
Splatoon was a massive hit for the Nintendo Wii U console and it’s possibly one of the titles that really got some players to pick up Nintendo’s current console. The video game was a unique team-based third-person shooter.
Players had taken on a role of a squid-type humanoid where teams battle it out by attempting to cover as much of the city landscape as possible within their team color. While players could destroy opponents by firing their paint guns at each other, the focus is mainly on covering as much ground as possible.
This was another title that’s been shown off on the Nintendo Switch through the reveal trailer. Of course, there is no official statement regarding the video game, but the IP was incredibly successful on the Wii U and it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see Nintendo toss Splatoon in the forefront for their upcoming Nintendo Switch console.
What we’re unsure of at this point is if Nintendo will be bringing over the current Splatoon on the Wii U to Nintendo Switch or if they will bring out a completely new installment.
Dragon Quest X & XI
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Release Date: TBA 2017
The Upcoming Dragon Quest video game installments, Dragon Quest X and Dragon Quest XI, where two titles that have been confirmed for release on the Nintendo Switch by developers Square Enix.
Dragon Quest X will be the tenth mainline entry to the Dragon Quest series and the first online-only title within the franchise. Dragon Quest XI, on the other hand, will be the eleventh main series entry with similar gameplay from the previous game installments. Gamers will explore worlds and fight against a variety of enemies. What’s unknown is if these two titles will see a launch outside of Japan.
Project Sonic 2017
Developer: Sonic Team
Publisher: Sega
Release Date: Q4 2017
Not too much has been revealed for Project Sonic 2017, though we do know that it will be similar to the previous release, Sonic Generations. Players will see gameplay that will contain variants of the classic releases of Sonic along with gameplay from more modern Sonic releases.
We’ll likely know more about Project Sonic 2017 as we approach its slated launch window of the fourth quarter of 2017.
Interestingly, Sonic Mania, another title that’s set to launch in 2017, has not been confirmed for a Nintendo Switch release. This particular installment has generated plenty of hype as it brings gamers back to the original design and gameplay format from the original Sonic video game titles.
