2020 has certainly been an unusual year. Along with juggernaut releases like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, we've seen big announcements like Paper Mario: The Origami King, Pikmin 3 Deluxe, Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity dropped just a few short weeks or months before their release date. Conventional wisdom suggests that it's been a quiet year for Nintendo, but we think that come New Year's Eve people will be surprised to look back at the number of great Switch games that dropped throughout 2020.
With that in mind, we've rounded up a selection of the biggest physical releases coming to Switch throughout the rest of the year and beyond. This doesn't include all the brilliant Switch eShop titles lined up for release soon, or smaller indie releases. Add it all together, and there's plenty to look forward to before we bid 2020 adieu, or good riddance, if you prefer!
So, let's take a look at what's in store for Nintendo Switch for the rest of 2020, and beyond...
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Immortals Fenyx Rising (Switch)
Any game that channels the art style and feeling of Breath of the Wild and Kid Icarus is all right by us, and Ubisoft's Immortals: Fenyx Rising (formerly known as Gods & Monsters) looks like a beauty, despite the most generic video game name we've seen in some time. Seriously, it's an 'Origins' away from a parody.
Terrible title aside, we've got high hopes for this one. Rumours suggested that we'd see it in 2020, and that was confirmed in September's Ubisoft Forward presentation - it's coming on 3rd December.
Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise (Switch)
A sequel to the boxercise rhythm game Fitness Boxing, this new game will add a host of new modes (including a two-player mode), three new instructors (joining the original six) and various other tweaks over the original game - a surprise hit for Nintendo and developers Imagineer when it released nearly two years ago. If you've got the original, you can carry your save data over to the new game, too.
It's coming to Switch on 4th December.
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 (Switch)
A surprise announcement, we're massive fans of the original titanic puzzle crossover, and we're fascinated to see the new features Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 will bring to the table, including Co-op Boss Raids and Skill Battles. The game is coming on 8th December.
DOOM Eternal (Switch eShop)
Originally scheduled for 2019, this slipped into 2020 and launched on other consoles back in March. id Software said we'd get more news 'soon' back in July, and we now finally know when the Doom Slayer is returning to Switch: we'll ready and waiting for DOOM Eternal on 8th December.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & The Secret Fairy (Switch)
Koei Tecmo Europe and developer Gust Studios' direct sequel to Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & The Secret Hideout is Switch-bound at the start of 2021 in the West. Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy sees Ryza return as the protagonist, the first character in the history of the long-running RPG Atelier franchise to take on the hero role in two successive titles. You'll be able to get your hands on this on 26th January 2021.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Switch)
The Wii U port we've all been waiting for, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury will offer a tweaked experience that expands on the original game with new content. There's a dual pack of Cat Mario and Cat Peach amiibo incoming on the same day, so expect an overflow of cuteness when this arrives on 12th February 2021.
Bravely Default II (Switch)
Unfortunately, this slipped from its original release date into 2021, but Square Enix's Bravely Default II is one to watch for fans of the 3DS originals, or anyone with a taste for traditional-style JRPG gameplay and turn-based combat. There's a demo available on the Switch eShop to whet your appetite for when the final game appears on 26th February 2021. Fingers crossed it doesn't slip.
Monster Hunter Rise (Switch)
Monster Hunter Rise has been described as "a brand new take on the Monster Hunter experience". Up to four players can team up and save Kamura village from the impending 'Rampage', harnessing the new Wirebug hunting tool and enlisting the help of Palicoes, and Palamutes, along the way. The 'Rise' in the title is apparently a reference to this entry's verticality, with the ability to traverse and climb rock faces and other terrain which will make the hunt all the more interesting. The game launches on Switch on 26th March 2021.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Switch)
Pushed from 2020 into next year, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga will give you the opportunity to play through all nine sci-fi stories in rejigged, reimagined, and decidedly blocky fashion with modern spit-polish. Expect more controllable minifigs than you'll know what to do with. We'll be calling dibs on General Grievous sometime in Spring 2021.
Ys IX: Monstrum Nox (Switch)
The latest entry in Nihon Falcom's action-RPG series was announced for Switch in the West back in June. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox will get its English-language debut on PS4 in February, but it'll be coming to Switch in Summer 2021.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin (Switch)
Monster Hunter Rise isn't the only new entry in Capcom's series coming to Switch in 2021. Nope, portable spin-off Monster Hunter Stories is getting a Switch-based sequel named Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings Of Ruin, too.
Adopting the same cut art style seen in the 3DS original, Monster Hunter Stories 2 will feature a strong narrative focus, and will presumably retain the simple RPG mechanics the sub-series is known for. The protagonist, Monster Rider, befriends monsters from the series rather than slaying them to make a tail feather cap, so it'll offer a different flavour of Monster Hunter-y goodness alongside the more traditional entries on Switch when it launches in Summer 2021.
Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny (Switch)
Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny is a Switch exclusive in the West (in Japan it'll be getting a PS4 release, too) and will be the first entry in the offbeat turn-based strategy series to use 3D models. It certainly won't be losing any of its personality, with its trademark irreverent humour, lovably madcap characters and levelling and damage numbers that go up to eleventy-stupid.
All in all, it's shaping up to be a classic dose of Disgaea goodness from developer Nippon Ichi Software, and it'll be available on your Switch in Summer 2021.
No More Heroes III (Switch)
Originally 'TBC 2020', the reveal of No More Heroes 3 was exactly what fans of Travis Touchdown's original Wii games wanted to hear, and this sequel looks set to deliver the full porcelain-throned, laser-sworded Touchdown experience. It was still scheduled for a 2020 release, although we hadn't heard any news in a while and had a feeling it might slip into 2021. And then Suda51 confirmed just that.
Shin Megami Tensei V (Switch)
Confirmed for a simultaneous global launch on Nintendo Switch sometime in 2021, this is a Switch exclusive from Atlus. First announced way back in 2017, an exact release date is still 'TBC' but Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster has a slightly more solid 'Spring 2021', so hopefully that'll tide fans over until the new game hits. There'll certainly be no shortage of SMT action next year on Switch.
Rune Factory 5 (Switch)
The latest game in the sword-filled life sim RPG series (the first release was literally subtitled 'A Fantasy Harvest Moon', Rune Factory 5 was originally scheduled for 2020, but as with so many games it has slipped into next year. The gameplay trailer broadcast as part of the Nintendo Direct Mini: Partner Showcase in September shows off the wholesome farming and fiend-flaying gameplay the series is known for. Rune Factory 5 is scheduled for release somewhen in 2021.
Bayonetta 3 (Switch)
The Umbra Witch has been a conspicuous absentee over the last couple of years, despite repeated reassurances that her third series entry is coming along just fine. To be fair, we did get Platinum Games' excellent Astral Chain last year - one of the best Switch surprises of 2019 - but the lady with the magical hair has been uncharacteristically quiet for too long and it's about time we get a serious dose of Bayonetta's trademark sass and sizzle. We've got our fingers crossed for a Paper Mario / Age of Calamity-style "it's-coming-in-two-months" drop.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Switch)
Having been scrapped and restarted at the beginning of 2019, with veteran Metroid Prime team Retro Studios now steering the ship, there's still a ways to go with this one - the fact that Retro was still looking for a Lead Producer as of August 2020 should clue you in that Metroid Prime 4 needs plenty more time in the oven. Still, there's an outside chance it could be a Holiday 2021 game. We've got our fingers, legs and everything else crossed.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch)
In a similar vein to Metroid Prime 4, work is continuing on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, and while there were desperate hopes that it might sneak out in 2020, the existence of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity suggests that this one won't be coming until mid-2021 at the earliest. That said, it's building on the framework and tech already laid out by its predecessor, and it has been in development for some time now. We'd say there's more of a chance we'll see this in 2021 than Metroid Prime 4.
More games on the horizon this winter than you imagined? Let us know if you'll be picking up any of the above (given the chance, of course) and which ones you're most looking forward to below.
Comments 63
Super Mario 3D Allstars and BOTW 2 and that's me sorted for hibernating.
Other than Nintendo first party properties..this is a wasteland. Is the Switch turning into the WiiU with regard to 3rd parties?
im excited for age of calamity, 3d allstars, 3d world, botw 2, and smt v! Finally the game lineup isnt as barren as before! :3
This holiday season is shaping up to be really solid, just took a while to find that out lol. I’m set on picking up the 3D Mario Collection, Pikmin 3 (skipped it on Wii U at the time), and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity. I’ll also probably get that physical copy of Cadence of Hyrule as I’ve yet to purchase it at all and heard nothing but good things!
I’m hoping Bravely Default 2 makes it this holiday season but I’m not holding my breath. Still, it’s definitely a solid end to a mysterious and odd year... plus we’ve got other games to look forward to on other platforms!
Looking forward the most to Just Dance 21!
Can’t wait to throw my hands in the air like I just don’t care about the rest of 2020.
Keeping my fingers crossed on bravely default and no more heroes releasing this year. If I'm being honest with myself I see BD making it out in time for the holidays but I see NMH slipping into 2021.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Pikmin 3 for sure. Nothing else really interests me, but I still think Nintendo might reveal another big game for the holiday season.
Nice to see Ys get some love (will also be looking forward to cold steel 4 next year too) also interested in bravely default 2 but not much has been mentioned of the game lately, could very well end up a 2021 release (better than a rushed one at least)
@JSDude1 ...no?
Just Dance 2021 still a thing ?? 🤨
I will play Para Para Paradise PS2 with the official controller once i bought from my local game shop.
Para Para Paradise is a Real Dancing game from Konami. 😎
Mario 3D All-stars is already pre-ordered. Pikmin 3 and 3D World will be revisited at some point soon after release. Cadence of Hyrule is one to get, along with Age of Calamity, but those two can wait for a sale.
Bravely Default 2 and Axiom Verge 2 are the big two games I'm looking forward for this year.
Though in both cases it's more of careful excitement rather than downright hype, for the former I had some serious issues with the demo that I can only hope they will fix for the full release and the latter just comes across as wholly more uninspired compared to the first one from what we have seen, and I'm not exactly digging the pixel-fart artstyle either.
I've got pages pages of orders on the Nintendo store, got 8 Zelda Amiibo, 3d All Stars, Mario Kart, Game and Watch and Hyrule Warriors all on order and basically spent the money I'd saved for PS5 or Series X. Its going to be a great couple of months with my Switch 😁
@Slowdive that's a lot of ?'s on your list eh
3D All-Stars is pre-ordered.
Planning on buying those digital voucher things for the first time to use on Hyrule Warriors and 3D World.
I want the Kingdom Hearts game but I didn't realise it was a full price thing. I'll be waiting til it's £15 next year on PS4.
Still don't trust the new LEGO game until reviews are out, and even then I won't be getting it for Switch.
Still though, three definite purchases for Switch is pretty good and neatly spaced out over the next 6 months.
@JSDude1 to be fair, I think this is a slow time for gamers in general. Pandemic plus the release of two new consoles. I am actually more disappointed in Nintendo. Sure, I will get the All Star collection. Maybe Pikmin bc for some reason it is calling my name. Not overly excited about either tho....
@Anti-Matter No, it's all about DDR and IIDX, if you're gonna name drop Konami! Para Para? Ew.
On the list, I have Super Mario 3D All-Stars on pre-order. Hoping to get Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 for Christmas or sometime after, and looking forward to Shin Megami Tensei V. Have plans to get Super Mario 3D World as I own the Wii U version digitally, and would like a physical copy on Switch.
@Shamrock I like Splatoon and all, but does this generation need another game? The only way I might get this would be if it was something completely different
jeeez and people say there are no games looool
Looking forward to most of these woop woop
Super Mario 3D All-Stars is pre-ordered. I'll likely get Pikmin, too, because I've never dipped in those franchise waters.
Age of Calamity looks fantastic, but it's also a Warriors game, except it's not a typical Warriors game, only it sort of is, though maybe it's not. I'm both excited and cautious.
3D All Stars and indie titles should hold me over until 3D World Deluxe... I hope everybody gets BOTW2 in the Spring and Prime4 next holiday season.
I want 3D World 2 the most... and new Mario Kart would be a welcome (and unlikely) surprise.
@TG16_IS_BAE
Para Para Paradise is using your arms (and feet) to dance.
It was very old Rhythm game by Konami on Arcade and PS2.
Para Para Paradise is my 2nd Best Rhythm games by Konami after DDR.
@JSDude1 it didn’t cover absolutely every release, we will also get Oddworld New’N’Tasty, Blade Runner 1997 and plenty more
Would love to see the snes version of pocky and rocky on switch. Hoping 😇@Slowdive
@nmanifold agreed, I'm expecting a big first party release near Xmas. No idea what that could be though, the current pattern shows we'll prob find that out around November.
@Anti-Matter I know exactly what it is, and it’s terrible. All the guys at the DDR station would tease the Para guys cause it looks so silly by comparison.
3D All Stars, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, Umihara Kawase BaZooKa!, and Sakuna are on my radar.
@TG16_IS_BAE
But i really really like Para Para Paradise.
I really like Eurobeat songs and the way to play Para Para.
Used to be i played Para Para on Arcade with arms and feet combination.
I wasn't afraid to be looks silly or whatever.
Too bad, the machines have been removed from Arcade on June 2018 as it lost the popularity. It was very famous during year 2003 and 2004.
A little too much "and beyond" in this article for my liking, but considering where we were just a month ago 2020 certainly seems a whole lot better, especially for non Wii U owners.
Really does feel like Nintendo Directs are a thing of the past now though - Pikmin 3, All-stars 3D, HW:AOC. I think there was enough there for a nice big exciting Direct.
Maybe Nintendo is just mad about Sony's State of Play?
Hmm bravely default looks like it's going to be delayed
Has Pokemon Snap been cancelled? One of the most wished for games of the last couple of decades seems to have disappeared from everyone’s radar now it’s been announced..!?
Just give me Metroid Prime Trilogy and Disco Elysium and I won't complain about anything ever again
@Anti-Matter Very true, it is sad that arcades removed all that stuff. Had so many good memories in those places. DDR is still better though. XD
Purely based on this list...
Maybe Super Mario 3d World
I will skip Ys Origin (played it twice on the Vita) and Doom Eternal, the latter I did want on the Switch but then I remembered the performance of Doom 2016.
Point is that Doom 2016 can run at 60fps even on a 8 year old GPU no issues, and the Switch version runs 30fps fine but that depends on the difficulty, I play on Nightmare mode and there the performance in later levels is poor.
Doom Eternal is MUCH heavier, and I start to doubt the Switch port will be any good because of that.
(Doom 2016 runs on my PC at 200fps (that's the engine cap) max settings 1440p no issues, Doom Eternal is more around 80 to 100fps same settings, but even on lowest settings the game is much heavier than 2016)
Also another thing, Eternal is at the moment around 20 to 25 euro, by the time the Switch port launches it will be full 60 on it.
(it's not a rant but more the fact that I did want it, but then because it did not launch together with other platforms I started to doubt we will ever get it, and later came the idea of "will it even run fine" when comparing to the much lighter 2016)
Anyhow that's it.
Going to try the demo for Bravely Default II. I never finished the first one, so I don't know if it will be for me.
Might get Pikmin 3. Not sure about Mario 3d All Stars (though I LOVED Super Mario Sunshine back in the day), it's also a maybe.
@Shamrock nah. i highly doubt splatoon 3 will release anytime soon, especially considering the mario and splatoon 2 crossover events
Super Mario 3D Allstars and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity will be enough for me (Both pre-ordered) . I will replay Pikmin 3 on my Wii U around the time of the Switch launch and also finally start the Splatoon 2 dlc I got ages ago...
That will see my through to 2021...
@Slowdive 😃 this reminded me how I felt about upcoming Vita releases after Sony dropped support haha
SMT V is absolutely the big title I've been waiting for ever since the Switch presentation in 2017. It's really nice seeing the main series finally make a return to Nintendo home consoles for the first time since the mid-late 90s after a bunch of installments on Nintendo handhelds and obviously Persona going strong on PlayStation. I really hope this game does for mainline what Persona 5 did for that series in helping it finally reach a broader audience now that Atlus is beginning to cement themselves as part of the big name JRPG developers alongside Square Enix or Namco.
You forgot Pokemon Snap 2!
Nintendo basically carrying the Switch for the next few months again.
I'll Use my Switch again in about 3 months from now for Hyrule Warriors.
Looks like I’ll be saving a lot of money this winter.
Although I am excited for Hyrule Warriors, I feel bad for anyone who somehow don't know about it and see the banner image for this article... If that were the case, your mind could only go one place: BOTW2.
Not really a proper list. Just a list of games that are mostly not AAA games or games that have been promised for well over a year. But without a release date they shouldn't be on the list.
We don't even know what the Nintendo Christmas game is for this year, unless it's Hyrule Warriors.
Missing some indies, but other than that, this is such a great list.
Let's hope No More Heroes 3, Inmortals and Bravely Default 2 come out this year, and we'll have a very good 2020. Apart from those, I want that Hyrule Warriors very badly, and Ys Origins when it's on sale. For the All Stars, I'll wait to see if they plan to sell them separately...
2021 looks amazing in every way.
2020 doesn't look so bad now, huh?
Oh sure! Don't mention REBEL GALAXY OUTLAW!! Oh it's fine, I don't want brand new IPs, I don't want space combat for my Wing Commander/Privateer -starved heart. Give me more sequel platformers! No it's fine.
=3
2021 is so good
bayonetta - SMT - something zelda
Pretty much ALL the 2021 releases (including NMH3 which is likely 2021) are of great interest to me especially of course BOTW2 and MP4.
As of this year, SM3DAS, Bravely Default 2, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, Hyrule Warriors "2" are my main focuses and insta-buys.
Still very undecided on Pikmin 3 Deluxe (have it all on Wii U, liked it but preferred Pikmin 2 Wii for some reason) & the Mario Kart game (expensive).
@Agramonte Thanks for sharing.
But some people on here said Nintendo is abandoning the Switch!111
Seriously though, plenty of good looking games here. I'm looking forward to SMT V and BotW 2 the most personally.
@Quarth Oh you! C'mon it's been such a quiet and uneventful year. Right? Anyone?
:hides under blanket:
Why is everyone overlooking G.I.Joe Operation Blackout in October? 😅 I’ve got my copy preordered.
This is a great list as long as you’ve not owned a Nintendo system. At least, that’s what I’d say for the short term. I feel like Nintendo kind of punted this year.
Don’t get me wrong. If there were ever a year they could rest, this is the year. However, the games listed had better be here by the end of 2021.
Not much of note from Nintendo in the near future. The new Hyrule Warriors is the only highlight.
Otherwise, Fenyx Rising or whatever it's called looks pretty good. A shame about Ubisoft being a toxic place.
I'm waiting for XIII Remastered and Prinny 1+2 as well
whats a snooze factory, a minimum effort collection(still cool, but minimum effort) an overpriced port, a Musou game, and a late on arrival doom that's cheaper everywhere else. I guess that Ubisoft game and Bravely default are cool, not my cup of tea, more than likely but still cool.
2 out of the 4 switch years are duds.
@JimmySpades I aim to please (unlike this release schedule)
@Patendo who is people and why are they still living in the wiiu era
So many great gaems on the horizon, yes?
Personally as much as I'd love Metroid Prime 4 for the 2021 Holidays they should just push it to 2022 Holidays and give retro studios proper time to make a great game.
There'e one confirmed first party game that everyone seems to have forgotten about, Detective Pikachu 2, it was confirmed quite a while ago but has never been mentioned again, i'm interested to see more on it, i enjoyed the first one a lot
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