As we transition into a new season, we've arrived at the month synonymous with fools and showers. Yes, it's April so you can expect an onslaught of springtime rain and people trying to pull the wool over your eyes — at least on the first of the month.
Another thing you can expect is an influx of video game releases. We've taken the liberty of collecting some the the choicest picks from the next couple of months below. If we're honest, we'll still be knee-deep in Monster Hunter Rise for a good while yet, but we hope to have that one all wrapped up before embarking on another hunting expedition in search of a different brand of Monsters: the Pocket variety. With a camera, you understand — we won't be hunting Pikachu with an Insect Glaive.
Below all the video games you'll also find a selection of the best accessories releasing, including some lovely Animal Crossing-themed pads. So, sit back, stretch out that scrolling finger and have a little look-y below.
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New Pokémon Snap - 30th April
New Pokémon Snap is an all-new adventure that's inspired by the classic Nintendo 64 game, Pokémon Snap. In the game you will photograph lively wild Pokémon in their natural habitats as you research and explore unknown islands. Using your trusty travel pod, you will journey through a variety of environments such as beaches, jungles, and deserts to capture previously-unseen Pokémon behaviours. Fans of the original game on N64 will no doubt be keen to pick this one up at the end of April.
Subnautica & Subnautica: Below Zero - 14th May
Exploratory underwater survival adventure Subnautica is coming to Switch next year along with its sequel Subnautica: Below Zero. This well-received pair has been available on other platforms for years (Below Zero in Early Access form), but developer Unknown Worlds has been working hard on the Switch versions — check out our interview to find out more.
Miitopia - 21st May
A surprise announcement from the Nintendo Direct back in February, Miitopia might not be the 3DS remaster we'd have chosen from that system's sterling catalogue, but it was a charming little Mii-fueled RPG that we enjoyed back in 2017, and that's despite having our heads turned by the new Nintendo console on the block at the time.
We're intrigued to see how Grezzo's Switch version will hold up against the library of quality RPGs on Switch.
Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster - 25th May
Atlus brings this classic PS2-era RPG to Switch in remastered form at the end of May.
What about SMTIIINHDR (as all the cool kids are calling it) is remastered, exactly? Well, the 3D models and backgrounds have been spruced up for this release (which comes eighteen years after the original), and there'll be new voice work and additional difficulty levels, too — plus the ability to suspend play at any time and resume whenever is convenient. That last point may not sound essential, but it's a godsend if you're playing on the bus and your Switch is about to die. We're looking forward to this one.
More Awesome Nintendo Switch Games
Aside from the highlighted games above, there are lots more Switch retail games which might take your fancy in April and beyond.
Awesome Accessories For Your Switch
And finally here are a selection of the finest Switch accessories coming up in April and beyond, for your consideration.
So that's it for April and May - did we miss anything? Let us know with a comment and also tell us if you've pre-ordered any of these goodies!
Comments 45
Already pre-ordered the MH Split Pad Pro, as I don't have one yet and it will replace an Orzly grip case I currently use to add bulk, but is now looking a bit old.
I'll definitely be getting Kaze as well.
Was that a chicken shooter game there? I certainly hope they have Grouse!
Can't wait for Mario Golf! Hoping to find it for £39.99 rather than £49.99 though...
I've never been able to find Rolling Gunner on the Russian e-shop, so if it eventually does come out I'll definitely buy it as it looks awesome.
I currently have Island, Atelier Mysterious Trilogy, New Pokemon Snap, Clannad Side Stories and World's End Club preordered.
Interested in Subnautica but want to know how well it runs on Switch before I commit to it.
I'll get Trails of the Cold Steel IV sooner or later but waiting for the release of the first two games on Switch before I can play them all in order.
I'll probably get Mario Golf: Super Rush but not sure if I'll get it physically or digitally yet. Maybe digital with the leftover NSO voucher I'll have after I buy Famicom Detective Club.
Would be good to see a preview of Pokémon Snap. How it plays, what the controls (any gyro?) are like etc. Anything like this in the pipeline NL?
May 2021 will be my purchase of Keyboardmania 1 + 2 PS2 with its keyboard controller.
So many old games in my list i have to pick first.
Might get New Pokemon Snap, depending on reviews and stuff. Also interested in Shin Megami Tensei III, but probably won't get it straight away.
@ralphdibny They did preview it last week and put up a video on their YouTube channel too. It does have gyro controls.
Smokin' hot HD twerkeys for me!
There's a few controllers I'd like to get. I especially like the looks of that PowerA FUSION Pro controller. I like that it's wireless with a rechargeable battery, has 4 programmable buttons, and that it includes motion controls and swappable parts. I just wish it had some form of rumble to round out the package.
@Clyde_Radcliffe You might check Walmart, in the States all $60 Switch games get a price cut to $50.
Eh, April and may are going to be pretty quiet months for me. Probably will just get the subnauticas, even though I've already played both. Just waiting for mario golf I guess
Monster Hunter will probably be the last Switch game I get this year until Fall. I might get Mario Golf, but if it's as uninspiring as Aces was at launch, then I'll pass.
Pokemon Snap, Mario Golf and then I guess my backlog is going to be getting a bit of a clear out! I'm actually not mad about that at all.
I’ll be picking up New Pokémon Snap and Mario Golf. I loved the original Pokémon Snap as a kid and Mario Golf has always been a personal favorite of mine. The only other big title for me this year is Shiny Pearl but that’s not until the end of the year.
Aside from that... not much else. I’ve been buying less games this year so I can game a bit less and when I do game, try to finish up most of my backlog. That’s part of the reason I skipped out on Bravely Default II and Monster Hunter Rise. I might get them eventually but now is just not the time for me.
Bring on that Pokémon Snap and Mario Golf!
Just Pokémon snap for me, it’s gonna be quiet for me and that’s all right, I have plenty to play.
Pokémon Snap!
I never played the original, and it looks a lot of fun.
And Mario Golf when that arrives.
@ralphdibny https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/03/first_impressions_13_things_we_learned_in_new_pokemon_snap
New Pokemon Snap in April
Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir in May
@dartmonkey @Clyde_Radcliffe ahh thanks for the heads up and the link! I did click on the game page but didn't think to scroll over to the "news" tab. Silly me! Appreciate it, thanks
Not much there for me, maybe Mario Golf if it gets a great review. Still enjoying Links Awakening and Pikmin 3 Deluxe has just arrived in the post so these will keep me busy.
@Clyde_Radcliffe @dartmonkey looks good from that preview! Definitely considering it even though my knowledge of Pokémon is a bit outdated, the last game I played all the way through was Pokémon Black and even then I don't think I could name any Pokémon past ruby and sapphire (and that's a stretch anyway!)
Shame they have yet to incorporate any Labo VR features, seems like a no brainer for this sort of game!
The games that I'm interested in picking up at some point are the following...
Kaze and the Wild Masks
Maneater
New Pokemon Snap
THAT 8bitdo SN30 PRO looks nice in Grey, might invest in one as my Joy Cons are starting to mess up (not even a year old yet!)
That Master Blaster 0 collection looks nice. Also I wonder how many games are there named after a random piece of medieval weaponry or armour. There's Battle Axe and Brigandine right there.
@BenAV I like your taste.. thanks for mentioning Famicom Detective Club I want to get that one too. Island, Clannad and Atelier Mysterious Trilogy will be in my top wishlist.
Kinda regret buying Trails of Cold Steel III without playing the first two games.. I should wait until they release it on Switch. I paused halfway through.. can't recommend it to anyone without any knowledge of this series.
Tempted to preorder that Akiba's Trip 10th Anniversary Edition.. would love to get that artbook. Hopefully Rosalina will be available in Mario Golf Super Rush.
New Pokemon Snap & Star Wars: Republic Commando in April.
The Famicom Detective Club duo & Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World in May.
Mario Golf: Super Rush & Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection in June.
Definitely not a slow period in terms of interesting releases.
@Miu I skipped Trails of the Cold Steel III when it came out for that exact reason but I picked up a copy on sale a few months back to play after the first two games when they come out.
@Clyde_Radcliffe £42.85 already seems to be the going rate on Shopto, The Game Collection, Base, Simply Games et al. I'm sure you'll get it for £39.99 as the launch date draws closer
Miitopia is a day 1 buy for me. I can't wait!
Looking forward to Pokemon Snap and Miitopia. The Theme Park Simulator Collector's Edition baffles me. What's so special about it, a manual that actually explains the UI? If I can point my JoyCon at the screen like a gun, I might get the Chicken Shot game, and a gun cradle.
I might get the Riding Club and Spirit games for my little cousin if the controls are decent.
Definitely looking forward to Smut 3 In-header (sorry, that's how I read SMTIIINHDR).
I might like to try SMT someday as I have enjoyed Persona. I know they're a little different, but I'll keep an open mind. Not much else here, but that's fine as I have a large backlog.
I'm just waiting on CrisTales and both monster hunter games, even if one of them isn't new anymore. BOTW 2 as well of course, Splatoon 3, potentially Legends Arceus. Regardless most of these games are fairly far away, which kinda goes against the article, but whatever.
May looks like the Sahara desert.
@JSDude1 2021 is pretty dry, tho I am really looking forward to golf. And it seems that we might actually get Madden.
Just New Pokemon Snap though between already purchased Bravely Default II and MH Rise I'll still be playing plenty of Switch before June.
Even though it doesn't have a physical release, I think Famicom Detective Club should be mentioned in the top part of the article (releases May 14th).
The "usual suspects" of New Pokemon Snap, Miitopia, Mario Golf and SMT III HD.
Also possibly Evergate, Lost Words (inspired by Lost Winds?) as downloads. They are on my wishlist.
Interested in Mario Golf, Pokemon Snap and maybe SMT/Miitopia remasters. I really really want the Apex controller too but I wish they did it a split pad pro version since I play handheld 90% of the time.
Wow...man... every single one of these games is in my backlog now. All look so amazing. I'll get to them eventually but my backlog already consists of about 3600 hours of unplayed (but yes, already purchased) switch titles. I just had to turn the office closet into a switch physical game space.
These games being released from April to May is going to have me expanding that even further! Always more work to be done.
SMT! SMT! SMT! SMT!
Who's that dude golfing on the last line of the games list?
Do we know him from anywhere?
Glad I sold my Switch. Nintendo managed to end the innovation and became an agressive money catcher selling old , indie games or remakes for the most expensive price possible. Its not about good exclusives games anymore. Its all about taking advantage of the anxiety about the quantity filling the users backlog shelf and make money. And now this park thing...tsc.. Sad.
Pokémon Snap looks really cool, but I can't imagine playing an entire game about taking pictures. So I probably won't pick up any of these.
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