01-22-2018, 03:54 PM
Feature: The Biggest Nintendo Switch Retail Games of 2018
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<p>With the new year no longer that new, and with Nintendo Switch having had one of the best first years in the industry’s history, we thought it was a good time to revive our ‘Biggest Games’ lists, which were previously started to feel a tad stretched for Wii U and 3DS. So with so many games already hitting the platform, and no doubt more to come in the months to come, we thought it only right to kick things off with the big hitters hitting retail shelves in the next 12 months.</p>
<p>Our usual criteria apply – only confirmed games are included, no rumours, and we’ve tried to stick to games with a 2018 release date or window. Some are <em>expected</em> in 2018 and make the list, but most of these are so big or so hotly anticipated we know you’d be outraged if we left them out so sit back and prepare to gorge yourselves on just a taste of things to come in 2018…</p>
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<p>While it might look like a shameless way to shill characters from the Dragon Quest series into a Minecraft-style playground, Dragon Quest Builders is a far more nuanced hybrid. With the gameworld divided into familiar blocks, the game uses more familiar RPG questing to drive your building exploits forwards, while the focus on managing and maintaining villages and forts from attack adds in a tower defence angle to break up all that creative building work.</p>
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<p>With the titular gun-toting witch polishing her pistols for a third round of acrobatic gunplay in Bayonetta 3, Nintendo Switch owners will have time to practice their combos with Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 getting the port treatment in one tidy package. They’ve both already done the rounds on Wii U, but there’s no getting past the fact both remain some of the best titles PlatinumGames have ever made. </p>
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<p>Dallas, Wolf, Chains and Hoxton are breaking into the vault that is Nintendo Switch, and they’re bring new character Joy (a month-long platform exclusive, no less) for the ride. Overkill’s FPS is a shooter like no other as you scope out jewellery stores, banks and security trucks then attempt to pull off the ultimate heist with guns, drills and all the masks you could possibly ask for. Teaming up with friends via Crime.net makes for the ultimate con.</p>
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<p>The pink ball with an unending appetite is preparing to make his Nintendo Switch debut and he’s bringing some pals along for the ride. It’s still your usual Kirby platforming fare, only now you can play with up to three other players locally (or go solo with AI at your side). Abilities can still be eaten and acquired, but now you can combine them with your allies to create unusual combos for puzzle solving and platforming alike.</p>
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<p>Nintendo Switch is finally getting an Attack On Titan game, with the hotly- anticipated AOT2 following the story arc of the anime’s second season. If you’re new to the franchise, the game takes the central premise – humans seeking shelter in high-walled cities while naked giants roam the wilderness trying to eat them – and spins it into an acrobatic take on the giant monster hunting of, err, Monster Hunter. The sequel enable you to create your own custom character but you’ll be able to play as fan faves Eren Jaeger, Mikasa Ackerman, Armin Arlert and more.</p>
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<p>It’s barely been revealed for a day and Nintendo Labo has become one of the most talked about games on Nintendo Switch. Whether you’re mildly intrigued or all in, this cardboard-based gameplay revolution is going to be one of the most important releases on the Nintendo Switch calendar. With two Toy-Con packs already announced, and <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/video_there_are_more_nintendo_labo_toy-con_than_you_might_expect">plenty more designs shown off in the reveal video</a>, the new origami-esque concept is one to firmly watch when it arrives in April.</p>
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<p>Retro Studios’ much-loved addition to the Donkey Kong Country saga was one of the few genuine highlights of the Wii U era, and we can’t wait to see DK and the gang swing, roll and smash their way onto Nintendo Switch for the first time. Now you’ll not only get to play as Cranky Kong, but surfing bro Funky Kong and his new (and far more forgiving) Easy mode. So whether you’re taking it on for the challenge, or just for giggles, Tropical Freeze is sure to leave you anything but cold. </p>
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<p>It’s finally time for Nintendo Switch to visit Lordran, a Gothic kingdom filled with dangers of in many forms, all of which want to kill you ad infinitum. Okay, that might not sound like an attractive premise for a video game, but its war of attrition makes for one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever play. From memorable boss designs to terrain that wants to kill you as much as its inhabitants, Dark Souls: Remastered is a game like no other on Switch.</p>
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<p>We’ve already got a tasty slice of Capcom fisticuffs on Nintendo Switch in the form of <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/ultra_street_fighter_ii_the_final_challengers"><strong>Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers</strong></a>, but it’s going to pale in comparison to the retro goodness of the series’ next collection. This vault of classic entries includes 12 entries from across the franchise, with online support included for four of them so you can test your skills against the best competition Switch has to offer. You can even adjust the latency settings to ensure every move is sharp and on point.</p>
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<p>The Legend Of Zelda series has enjoyed plenty of unusual outings over the years, but it’s not seen anything as crazy as the ‘musou’-style of Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition. The benefits of a later release on Nintendo Switch means this version packs in all the post-release DLC into the one package, so that’s 29 playable characters and the maps you could possibly ask for. It’s the first time content from the Wii U and 3DS versions have been bundled together, so we’re looking forward to flexing our Hyrulian muscles this spring.</p>
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<p>We’ve seen plenty of Mario Tennis games over the years, but not every one has lingered on positively in the memory. The latest instalment, and first to grace the courts of Nintendo Switch, aims to change all that by bringing back one of the most requested features absent from recent entries – a bona fide story mode. Add in a plethora of familiar faces, arcade-style physics and support for them there Joy-Cons, Mario Tennis Aces has sights set firmly on gaming silverware. </p>
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<p>While Nintendo Switch might not have a Tekken Tag Tournament to its name (well, not yet, anyway), it’s soon to enjoy the next best thing as the ass-kicking ladis from the annals of SNK team up in SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy. You can swap between your chosen femme fatales during a fight, and you can spend your winnings on everything from new costumes to voice clips. The game will also support four-player battles in either local play or at a distance online.</p>
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<p>While we’ve known about Skyrim’s Switch arrival since the console’s reveal in 2016, we weren’t expecting the one-two punch of DOOM and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. Id Software’s rebooted shooter was the most surprising port success of the year, and now we’re hoping BJ Blazkowicz’s latest Nazi-slaying odyssey can live up to the same precedent. It’s proved a huge critical hit everywhere else, so we can’t wait to unleash some revolutionary hell when it (hopefully) drops in 2018.</p>
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<p>Taking cues from his past adventures – including the brilliant Yoshi’s Woolly World on Wii U and the ingenuity of Yoshi’s New Island – the green dino’s first Switch outing will keep the side-scrolling platforming, although now it’s all about flipping the level around to reveal a new layout on the other side. With a miniature diorama-style look, there’s plenty of scope to to find alternative paths around certain obstacles or enemies. Oh, and it supports two-player co-op for when one Yoshi just isn’t enough. </p>
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<p>Coming from the producers who brought you Bravely Default, this brand new JRPG promises to combine CG, pixel art, and more graphical alchemy to create what its developer has coined as ‘HD-2D’. You can choose from up to eight different characters, each with unique traits and abilities that will enable them to interact with the world and NPCs around them in special ways. It’s a turn-based affair, but there’s a real-time Boost system that gives you power to increase your attack’s potency mid-battle. The demo version has trended really well on Switch, so we can’t wait to see the full package later this year.</p>
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<p>Having provided 3DS with some of its most memorable titles, it was only a matter of time before the heroes and heroines of the Fire Emblem series got a proper outing on Nintendo Switch. While we don’t know the official title or an exact date, we do know it’s the first home console Fire Emblem since <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/wii/fire_emblem_radiant_dawn"><strong>Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn</strong></a> on Wii (which was, by the way, a whole 10 years ago) and that it’s slated do arrive sometime in the next 12 months. <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/fire_emblem_warriors">Fire Emblem Warriors</a></strong> was fun, but we’re ready for a proper, full-fat entry.</p>
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<p>We’re not ashamed to show our love for the work of Suda51 here at Nintendo Life, so when we heard No More Heroes was getting a sequel – and a Switch exclusive one, at that – we knew 2018 was going to be one hell of a year. Set seven years after the <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/wii/no_more_heroes_2_desperate_struggle">previous game</a></strong>, Travis Strikes Again will be using Epic’s Unreal Engine 4 and if a certain cameo from <strong>Hotline Miami</strong> is to be taken into consideration, we could even see some potential crossover with other hyper-stylised games. That, or Suda51 just really loves Dennaton Games’ top-down classic. </p>
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<p>Ten years after the original cemented itself as one of DS’ most memorable (and most unusual) titles, The World Ends With You is getting the modern update treatment with a Switch-bound 2018 Final Remix. Updated for Switch with some shiny new HD visuals, TWEWU:FR will also feature a new epilogue chapter that sheds new light on the game’s story (making it a must if you loved this curio the first time around). Those unique rhythmic battles can now be enjoyed either with your Joy-Con controllers or via Switch’s touchscreen.</p>
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<p>Not only is Metroid Prime 4 one of the most anticipated games coming to Switch, it’s also one the most mysterious considering how little we know about it. Longtime series collaborator Kensuke Tanabe is now in the director’s chair, with the fourth outing returning to the FPS roots of the original with a storyline that ties it to the series’ law while heading off in some new directions. What these new directions might be, and how it’ll influence the final experience has us chomping at the bit to fall in love with Samus all over again. Let’s hope we get to see her again this year.</p>
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<p>There’s no denying Bayonetta’s first two outings were some of the best of the last generation – and the previously Wii U-only Bayonetta 2 definitely lifted the otherwise flat console – but now we’re starting to wonder where the witch with the wicked hair will be pointing her heel-based weaponry for her third outing. PlatinumGames is, thankfully, once again on development duties so expect the next entry to be as over-the-top in both action, player agency, combos and enemy design. We hope this one blasts onto Switch in 2018, but it could slip well slip beyond.</p>
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<p>So there you have it, 20 tempting games that we think highlight some of the best retail games coming to Switch. Let us know which games you’re most looking forward to in the poll and comments below, and also remind us of anything blindingly obvious that we’ve missed!</p>
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<h3 class="heading">Which Nintendo Switch retail games are you most excited about? (1,804 votes)</h3>
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<h4 class="heading">Dragon Quest Builders</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="30 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
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<h4 class="heading">Bayonetta 2 + Bayonetta</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="60 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">3%</span></span></p>
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<h4 class="heading">Payday 2</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="14 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Kirby Star Allies</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="123 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">7%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Attack On Titan 2</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="12 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Nintendo Labo</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="80 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">4%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="84 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">5%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Dark Souls: Remastered</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="111 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">6%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="51 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">3%</span></span></p>
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<h4 class="heading">Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="47 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">3%</span></span></p>
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<h4 class="heading">Mario Tennis Aces</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="106 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">6%</span></span></p>
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<h4 class="heading">SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="13 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</p></div>
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<h4 class="heading">Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="73 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">4%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Project Octopath Traveler</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="140 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">8%</span></span></p>
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<h4 class="heading">Fire Emblem</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="134 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">7%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="78 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">4%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">The World Ends With You – Final Remix</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="63 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">3%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Metroid Prime 4</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="311 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">17%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Bayonetta 3</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="154 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">9%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<p class="empty">Please <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/login">login</a> to vote in this poll.</p>
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<p>With the new year no longer that new, and with Nintendo Switch having had one of the best first years in the industry’s history, we thought it was a good time to revive our ‘Biggest Games’ lists, which were previously started to feel a tad stretched for Wii U and 3DS. So with so many games already hitting the platform, and no doubt more to come in the months to come, we thought it only right to kick things off with the big hitters hitting retail shelves in the next 12 months.</p>
<p>Our usual criteria apply – only confirmed games are included, no rumours, and we’ve tried to stick to games with a 2018 release date or window. Some are <em>expected</em> in 2018 and make the list, but most of these are so big or so hotly anticipated we know you’d be outraged if we left them out so sit back and prepare to gorge yourselves on just a taste of things to come in 2018…</p>
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<p>While it might look like a shameless way to shill characters from the Dragon Quest series into a Minecraft-style playground, Dragon Quest Builders is a far more nuanced hybrid. With the gameworld divided into familiar blocks, the game uses more familiar RPG questing to drive your building exploits forwards, while the focus on managing and maintaining villages and forts from attack adds in a tower defence angle to break up all that creative building work.</p>
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<p>With the titular gun-toting witch polishing her pistols for a third round of acrobatic gunplay in Bayonetta 3, Nintendo Switch owners will have time to practice their combos with Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 getting the port treatment in one tidy package. They’ve both already done the rounds on Wii U, but there’s no getting past the fact both remain some of the best titles PlatinumGames have ever made. </p>
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<p>Dallas, Wolf, Chains and Hoxton are breaking into the vault that is Nintendo Switch, and they’re bring new character Joy (a month-long platform exclusive, no less) for the ride. Overkill’s FPS is a shooter like no other as you scope out jewellery stores, banks and security trucks then attempt to pull off the ultimate heist with guns, drills and all the masks you could possibly ask for. Teaming up with friends via Crime.net makes for the ultimate con.</p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/4/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/4/900x.jpg" alt="2018 -5.jpg" /></a></div>
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<p>The pink ball with an unending appetite is preparing to make his Nintendo Switch debut and he’s bringing some pals along for the ride. It’s still your usual Kirby platforming fare, only now you can play with up to three other players locally (or go solo with AI at your side). Abilities can still be eaten and acquired, but now you can combine them with your allies to create unusual combos for puzzle solving and platforming alike.</p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/5/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/5/900x.jpg" alt="2018 -6.jpg" /></a></div>
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<p>Nintendo Switch is finally getting an Attack On Titan game, with the hotly- anticipated AOT2 following the story arc of the anime’s second season. If you’re new to the franchise, the game takes the central premise – humans seeking shelter in high-walled cities while naked giants roam the wilderness trying to eat them – and spins it into an acrobatic take on the giant monster hunting of, err, Monster Hunter. The sequel enable you to create your own custom character but you’ll be able to play as fan faves Eren Jaeger, Mikasa Ackerman, Armin Arlert and more.</p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/6/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/6/900x.jpg" alt="2018 -7.jpg" /></a></div>
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<p>It’s barely been revealed for a day and Nintendo Labo has become one of the most talked about games on Nintendo Switch. Whether you’re mildly intrigued or all in, this cardboard-based gameplay revolution is going to be one of the most important releases on the Nintendo Switch calendar. With two Toy-Con packs already announced, and <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/video_there_are_more_nintendo_labo_toy-con_than_you_might_expect">plenty more designs shown off in the reveal video</a>, the new origami-esque concept is one to firmly watch when it arrives in April.</p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/7/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/7/900x.jpg" alt="2018 -8.jpg" /></a></div>
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<p>Retro Studios’ much-loved addition to the Donkey Kong Country saga was one of the few genuine highlights of the Wii U era, and we can’t wait to see DK and the gang swing, roll and smash their way onto Nintendo Switch for the first time. Now you’ll not only get to play as Cranky Kong, but surfing bro Funky Kong and his new (and far more forgiving) Easy mode. So whether you’re taking it on for the challenge, or just for giggles, Tropical Freeze is sure to leave you anything but cold. </p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/8/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/8/900x.jpg" alt="2018 -9.jpg" /></a></div>
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<p>It’s finally time for Nintendo Switch to visit Lordran, a Gothic kingdom filled with dangers of in many forms, all of which want to kill you ad infinitum. Okay, that might not sound like an attractive premise for a video game, but its war of attrition makes for one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever play. From memorable boss designs to terrain that wants to kill you as much as its inhabitants, Dark Souls: Remastered is a game like no other on Switch.</p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/9/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/9/900x.jpg" alt="2018 -10.jpg" /></a></div>
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<p>We’ve already got a tasty slice of Capcom fisticuffs on Nintendo Switch in the form of <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/ultra_street_fighter_ii_the_final_challengers"><strong>Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers</strong></a>, but it’s going to pale in comparison to the retro goodness of the series’ next collection. This vault of classic entries includes 12 entries from across the franchise, with online support included for four of them so you can test your skills against the best competition Switch has to offer. You can even adjust the latency settings to ensure every move is sharp and on point.</p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/10/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/10/900x.jpg" alt="2018 - 11" /></a></div>
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<p>The Legend Of Zelda series has enjoyed plenty of unusual outings over the years, but it’s not seen anything as crazy as the ‘musou’-style of Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition. The benefits of a later release on Nintendo Switch means this version packs in all the post-release DLC into the one package, so that’s 29 playable characters and the maps you could possibly ask for. It’s the first time content from the Wii U and 3DS versions have been bundled together, so we’re looking forward to flexing our Hyrulian muscles this spring.</p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/11/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/11/900x.jpg" alt="2018 - 12" /></a></div>
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<p>We’ve seen plenty of Mario Tennis games over the years, but not every one has lingered on positively in the memory. The latest instalment, and first to grace the courts of Nintendo Switch, aims to change all that by bringing back one of the most requested features absent from recent entries – a bona fide story mode. Add in a plethora of familiar faces, arcade-style physics and support for them there Joy-Cons, Mario Tennis Aces has sights set firmly on gaming silverware. </p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/12/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/12/900x.jpg" alt="2018 - 13" /></a></div>
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<p>While Nintendo Switch might not have a Tekken Tag Tournament to its name (well, not yet, anyway), it’s soon to enjoy the next best thing as the ass-kicking ladis from the annals of SNK team up in SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy. You can swap between your chosen femme fatales during a fight, and you can spend your winnings on everything from new costumes to voice clips. The game will also support four-player battles in either local play or at a distance online.</p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/13/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/13/900x.jpg" alt="2018 - 14" /></a></div>
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<p>While we’ve known about Skyrim’s Switch arrival since the console’s reveal in 2016, we weren’t expecting the one-two punch of DOOM and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. Id Software’s rebooted shooter was the most surprising port success of the year, and now we’re hoping BJ Blazkowicz’s latest Nazi-slaying odyssey can live up to the same precedent. It’s proved a huge critical hit everywhere else, so we can’t wait to unleash some revolutionary hell when it (hopefully) drops in 2018.</p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/14/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/14/900x.jpg" alt="2018 - 15" /></a></div>
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<p>Taking cues from his past adventures – including the brilliant Yoshi’s Woolly World on Wii U and the ingenuity of Yoshi’s New Island – the green dino’s first Switch outing will keep the side-scrolling platforming, although now it’s all about flipping the level around to reveal a new layout on the other side. With a miniature diorama-style look, there’s plenty of scope to to find alternative paths around certain obstacles or enemies. Oh, and it supports two-player co-op for when one Yoshi just isn’t enough. </p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/15/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/15/900x.jpg" alt="2018 - 16" /></a></div>
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<p>Coming from the producers who brought you Bravely Default, this brand new JRPG promises to combine CG, pixel art, and more graphical alchemy to create what its developer has coined as ‘HD-2D’. You can choose from up to eight different characters, each with unique traits and abilities that will enable them to interact with the world and NPCs around them in special ways. It’s a turn-based affair, but there’s a real-time Boost system that gives you power to increase your attack’s potency mid-battle. The demo version has trended really well on Switch, so we can’t wait to see the full package later this year.</p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/16/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/16/900x.jpg" alt="2018 - 17" /></a></div>
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<p>Having provided 3DS with some of its most memorable titles, it was only a matter of time before the heroes and heroines of the Fire Emblem series got a proper outing on Nintendo Switch. While we don’t know the official title or an exact date, we do know it’s the first home console Fire Emblem since <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/wii/fire_emblem_radiant_dawn"><strong>Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn</strong></a> on Wii (which was, by the way, a whole 10 years ago) and that it’s slated do arrive sometime in the next 12 months. <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/nintendo-switch/fire_emblem_warriors">Fire Emblem Warriors</a></strong> was fun, but we’re ready for a proper, full-fat entry.</p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/17/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/17/900x.jpg" alt="2018 - 18" /></a></div>
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<p>We’re not ashamed to show our love for the work of Suda51 here at Nintendo Life, so when we heard No More Heroes was getting a sequel – and a Switch exclusive one, at that – we knew 2018 was going to be one hell of a year. Set seven years after the <strong><a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/games/wii/no_more_heroes_2_desperate_struggle">previous game</a></strong>, Travis Strikes Again will be using Epic’s Unreal Engine 4 and if a certain cameo from <strong>Hotline Miami</strong> is to be taken into consideration, we could even see some potential crossover with other hyper-stylised games. That, or Suda51 just really loves Dennaton Games’ top-down classic. </p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/18/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/18/900x.jpg" alt="2018 - 19" /></a></div>
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<p>Ten years after the original cemented itself as one of DS’ most memorable (and most unusual) titles, The World Ends With You is getting the modern update treatment with a Switch-bound 2018 Final Remix. Updated for Switch with some shiny new HD visuals, TWEWU:FR will also feature a new epilogue chapter that sheds new light on the game’s story (making it a must if you loved this curio the first time around). Those unique rhythmic battles can now be enjoyed either with your Joy-Con controllers or via Switch’s touchscreen.</p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/19/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/19/900x.jpg" alt="2018 - 20" /></a></div>
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<p>Not only is Metroid Prime 4 one of the most anticipated games coming to Switch, it’s also one the most mysterious considering how little we know about it. Longtime series collaborator Kensuke Tanabe is now in the director’s chair, with the fourth outing returning to the FPS roots of the original with a storyline that ties it to the series’ law while heading off in some new directions. What these new directions might be, and how it’ll influence the final experience has us chomping at the bit to fall in love with Samus all over again. Let’s hope we get to see her again this year.</p>
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<div class="img"><a href="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/20/original.jpg"><img src="http://images.nintendolife.com/news/2018/01/feature_the_biggest_nintendo_switch_retail_games_of_2018/attachment/20/900x.jpg" alt="2018 -21.jpg" /></a></div>
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<p>There’s no denying Bayonetta’s first two outings were some of the best of the last generation – and the previously Wii U-only Bayonetta 2 definitely lifted the otherwise flat console – but now we’re starting to wonder where the witch with the wicked hair will be pointing her heel-based weaponry for her third outing. PlatinumGames is, thankfully, once again on development duties so expect the next entry to be as over-the-top in both action, player agency, combos and enemy design. We hope this one blasts onto Switch in 2018, but it could slip well slip beyond.</p>
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<p>So there you have it, 20 tempting games that we think highlight some of the best retail games coming to Switch. Let us know which games you’re most looking forward to in the poll and comments below, and also remind us of anything blindingly obvious that we’ve missed!</p>
<div id="poll-switch2018games" class="poll">
<div class="results">
<h3 class="heading">Which Nintendo Switch retail games are you most excited about? (1,804 votes)</h3>
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<h4 class="heading">Dragon Quest Builders</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="30 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">2%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Bayonetta 2 + Bayonetta</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="60 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">3%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Payday 2</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="14 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Kirby Star Allies</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="123 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">7%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Attack On Titan 2</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="12 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Nintendo Labo</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="80 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">4%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="84 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">5%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Dark Souls: Remastered</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="111 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">6%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="51 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">3%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="47 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">3%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Mario Tennis Aces</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="106 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">6%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="13 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">1%</span></span></p>
</p></div>
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<h4 class="heading">Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="73 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">4%</span></span></p>
</div>
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<h4 class="heading">Project Octopath Traveler</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="140 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">8%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Fire Emblem</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="134 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">7%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="78 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">4%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">The World Ends With You – Final Remix</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="63 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">3%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Metroid Prime 4</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="311 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">17%</span></span></p>
</div>
<div class="result">
<h4 class="heading">Bayonetta 3</h4>
<p class="votes"><span title="154 votes"><span class="bar accent-bg">9%</span></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="empty">Please <a href="http://www.nintendolife.com/login">login</a> to vote in this poll.</p>
</div>
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