It's a brand new year and Nintendo's kicking things off with a bang, giving us a brand new Fire Emblem to sink our teeth into right from the off.
Below, we've been busy rounding up our usual selection of games headed to retail over the next couple of months. There are some hand-picked highlights featured to begin with, including that new Fire Emblem and a very exciting 24th February, as well as lots of other games and accessories that are launching over the next couple of months further down the page. Have a browse and see if anything takes your fancy!
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Fire Emblem Engage - 20th January
Nintendo's next major release comes in the form of Fire Emblem Engage, which is heading our way on 20th January.
This next game in the series has you taking to the battlefield and summoning Emblems – including Marth, Celica and other heroes from past titles – who dwell within special Emblem Rings. By wearing these rings, you can borrow the power of these famous faces, boosting your stats or granting access to even stronger abilities. Check out our hands-on impressions of the game so far.
More pre-order options are available right here.
Digimon World: Next Order - 22nd February
Another new Digimon game is heading our way on 22nd February, giving fans another monster-collecting RPG to enjoy with more than 200 Digimon to obtain along the way.
Digimon World: Next Order has you recruiting as many Digimon companions as you can in hopes of rebuilding the Digital World, which is apparently in a "state of utter chaos" thanks to some dastardly Machinedramon. Fans will be excited to learn that for the very first time, you can actually explore the world with two Digimon companions by your side, rather than the usual one.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe - 24th February
Kicking off an unbelievable 24th February is Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe, an updated version of the original Kirby's Return to Dream Land on Wii (known as Kirby's Adventure Wii in Europe).
Up to four players can jump in as fan-favourite characters like Kirby, Meta Knight, King Dedede and Bandana Waddle Dee, making use of Kirby's fantastic array of copy abilities to help Magolor repair his crashed spaceship. The multiplayer fun continues thanks to the minigames included, too – Ninja Dojo and Samurai Kirby make a return in this new instalment, and you can also check out the all-new Magolor’s Tome Trackers.
More pre-order options are available right here.
Octopath Traveler II - 24th February
Next on the 24th February list is Octopath Traveler II, a sequel to Square Enix's hit HD-2D release, Octopath Traveler.
Just like in the first game, eight travellers are setting off on a brand new journey and you get to experience every character's story. This time, these stories take place in Solistia, where "diverse cultures thrive from east to west and the industries of the new era flourish".
Each of the eight travellers has a unique set of Path Actions they can use to battle townspeople, obtain items, take others along in their travels, and more. New mechanics have also been added this time around, making it a very intriguing sequel indeed.
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key - 24th February
New and returning characters combine in yet another February 24th release, Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key.
The Switch is home to plenty of titles in this RPG series, and Atelier Ryza 3 is the latest to join the list. In this one, Ryza and her friends are living on Kurken Island when news of a sudden appearance of a mysterious group of islands in nearby waters arrives. To find a way to save her island, Ryza and her friends will set off on a final adventure surrounding the roots of alchemy.
More Upcoming Switch Games For January And February 2023
As well as the highlighted games above, there are plenty of Switch retail games that could pique your interest over the coming weeks...
![Disgaea 7 [Japanese]](https://images.nintendolife.com/products/22097/300x300.jpg)
![Summer Time Rendering: Another Horizon [Limited Edition]](https://images.nintendolife.com/products/22098/300x300.jpg)
New Accessories For Your Switch
And finally, below you'll find a selection of Switch accessories coming up soon as well as our Switch buyer's guides if you're looking for anything in particular.
Remember you can also buy your Switch eShop credit and games from the Nintendo Life store. Purchases made on our store help to support the site, so thank you in advance!
- Nintendo Switch Micro SD Cards - Best Cards & Cheapest Prices
- Best Switch Portable Chargers, Batteries And Power Banks
- Best Nintendo Switch Wired And Wireless Headsets
- Best Nintendo Switch Controllers
- Best Nintendo Switch Accessories
- Where To Buy Nintendo Switch eShop Credit, Gift Cards And Online Membership
So that's it for January and February — did we miss anything? Let us know with a comment and tell us if you've pre-ordered any of these goodies!
Comments 43
Fire Emblem Engage is going to keep me busy until March
Kirby and the amiibo for me. Maybe not at launch, but eventually.
Only FE Engage, Art of Rally, and Witch on the Holy Night for me in January. However, February is downright scary. Labyrinth of Galleria, Theatrhythm, Tales of Symphonia, Vampire the Masquerade, Labyrinth of Zangetsu, Atelier Ryza 3, Octopath Traveler II, Void Terrarium 2, Mortal Shell, and Trails to Azure. RPG fans are eating well here early in 2023.
Wait, Disgaea 7 is already a thing? Are the new games any good? I never got around to them, tried getting back into 5 but...I dunno, couldn't stay into it for whatever reason. >.<
Anyways, Kirby for me.
Persona 3 Portable, Persona 4 Golden, FE Engage, Kirby, Octopath, Theatrhythm definitely (first 2 are sadly only digital) but also maybe Tales of Symphonia and Sephiroth amiibo. That's even before we get to the usual early in the year Direct.
Theaterhythm is probably my only purchase here. Maybe Tales, as I loved that on GameCube
Fire Emblem, Octopath II, the Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure and Ryza will be the ones I’ll eventually buy.
I already bought the physical edition of Signalis from Play-Asia, can recommend that game to anyone.
How the hell is Space Invaders Forever Special Edition coming on January 31st? I have that edition for months. I bought it here:
https://www.pressstart.pt/index.php?fc=module&module=leoproductsearch&controller=productsearch&leoproductsearch_static_token=658541fb9c2614f7870540d8c712d5a0&cate=&search_query=space+invaders
February is filled to overflowing with JRPGs, holy crap.
All in on Fire Emblem! Will eventually get SpongeBob but it’s overshadowed by FE for now
Theatrhythm cannot come soon enough, it's been sometime since I've been this hyped for a single game.
Lots of interesting games, but I think I'll just get Fire Emblem Engage for now.
Great stuff. And still some moan! No pleasing some eh?
Nintendo Switch OUTSOLD the ps4 and gameboy/gameboy color WORLDWIDE!!!
@Magician Art of Rally from Serenity Forge?
@MarioBrickLayer Yeah, the Murican release date is set for later this month.
https://www.gamefly.com/game/art-of-rally/5035802
@BaldBelper78 people were moaning?
I was really hoping for a Kirby 30th anniversary collection for Switch (similar to the 20th anniversary collection which included the first 6 mainline Kirby games) over the RTDL port. Or a Kirby Game and Watch like Mario & Zelda got in the past few years.
I will gladly revisit Return to Dreamland!
Also, that preview got me sold on keeping my FE: Engage preorder… well, my mental preorder, anyway… I cancelled the Amazon one because it said “arrives January 24th.” No thanks. I’ll got to a brick and mortar store on my lunch break on the 20th, I guess?
Also, Octopath 2, yes, but I’m not in a rush for that one. I already have four preorders on PS5 for the first half of the year and it’s rumored Xbox might actually release a first party title this year, so, yes, time is limited in the first half. If it reviews excellently, I may change my tune, but I’m thinking to get it if the release schedule slows down, but then again… I enjoyed the first one and loved Triangle…
Not looking forward to having to sell a kidney for the Sephiroth amiibo. Apparently I missed the preorder.
Edit: Nevermind got it with gamestop...8 dollars for shipping though. sigh.
For me it's Kirby , and maybe Frogun. Nothing else pulls my attention anyway - I'm a platformer gamer .
I've honestly lost count of all the Raiden games coming to the market recently. What's on the 30th anniversary edition?
@trcsf IV and V on one cartridge. Both were previously released individually.
Kirby is impossible to resist, although I'm a little worried it will feel like a let down after the amazing Kirby and the Forgotten Land. I'm also very tempted by Fire Emblem Engage but I'm playing backlog games at the moment so I may wait for the inevitable 30% off sale.
Ryza 3, Octopath 2, and Tales Of Symphonia are going on my wishlist for now to wait for a day when my jrpg backlog is shorter.
My choice on Nintendo Switch
Imagine paying that much for Frogun...
@Magician Thanks! I may have one of them already. I'll need to check. Loving the all the shoot 'em ups on the Switch, but man — they're coming thick and fast, lol.
So.. prodeus. The wallet is thankful
These next few months are going to be expensive.
Kirby, Octopath Traveler 2, Atelier Ryza 3, Prodeus, Signalis, SpongeBob, Tales of Symphonia, Dead Space Remake, Hogwarts Legacy, RE4 Remake, Dualsense Edge controller.
I'm probably forgetting some other games as well.
@Magician Thanks! I didn't have much confidence in it coming soon.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure doesn't come out till March 14 here in the U.S and March 17 in Europe???
Not to sound like like a miserable git here but I really hope RPG Fatigue sets in this is way too much it makes the days of xbox/ps3 shooters seem reasonable.
Persona 3 Portable, Persona 4 Golden, Witch on the Holy Night, Prodeus and Signalis.
Games that have my interest...
Clive 'N' Wrench
Digimon World: Next Order (maybe)
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
Octopath Traveler II
Spongebob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake (for the oldest kid)
Fire Emblem Engage Divine Edition, Eiyuden Chronicle Rising, and the Sephiroth + Corrin P2 amiibo are the things I plan to pick up this month. In February, Theatrhythm and Signalis are the only ones I really plan to get right at launch, but I also want to get a number of those other games at some point... mainly Kirby and Octopath II.
I've already preordered Fire Emblem Engage (which is the one I'm playing as soon as it arrives), Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe (will play as soon as there's a free spot in my gaming schedule) and Octopath II (still have to play the previous one, don't know when and which one I'll play first), but I'm also interested most notably in Digimon World Next Order, Atelier Ryza 3 (but first I have to play the first two games), Spongebob The Cosmic Shake, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line (will unfortunately have to get it digital for the exclusive tracks and most likely on sale), Tales Of Symphonia.
Oh, and can't forget Persona 4 and Persona 3 despite them not being listed here since they're digital only (I might wait for a discount because of that and especially because I've just begun Persona 5)!
In addition, my friend is getting me the Sephiroth and Kazuya amiibos as my late Christmas and birthday gifts.
These two Amiibo look cool. I have only bought one in the last several years, Min Min….I will definitely consider these two.
The first Octopath felt like one of those “perfect on Switch” kind of games. The art and gameplay felt like something from the SNES era, but with some upgrades that really helped stick the landing. I’d dare say it didn’t quite garner as much attention as it deserved. I’m looking forward to the sequel. If it’s anything like the first entry, it will be easy to dive into and even easier to lose track of time.
Wow lots of good games coming up
Trails to azure is releasing on march 14th in the us and march 17th in europe not in february 28th.
Sources:
Us: https://youtu.be/IjPAQQLf8PY
Eu: https://youtu.be/cHU5Y-GY7j8
Is it just me but does the look of Cuddly Forest Friends just remind you of Happy Tree Friends? That was one awful cartoon (but funny for my weed addled brain at the time it was released)
Never cared for Fire Emblem. Might try it might not. Kirby and Zelda are really what I am looking forward to. May expand. The art style & game mechanics gotta grab though. Admittedly, not a fan of the outline on Returns remake but it might grow on me over time since that one was great to play and had a lot of fond memories. Also, maybe I need to get my eyes checked but is that a Doraemon controller I see above? That's neat but also why and since when was he on Switch?
Atelier Ryza 3 has been delayed until March 24, 2023.
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