We're well into 2020 now and the buds of spring are starting to appear on the gaming calendar. After the onslaught of last holiday season, we've been through a leaner couple of months with fewer big name games launching during the winter. Hopefully your backlog is in good order, because that's all about to change with the launch of Nintendo's biggest (announced) game of the calendar year.
Yes, it seems like Animal Crossing: New Horizons has been a distant dot on the horizon for months now, but the vessel is cruising into view this month in all its glory. Cancel the rest of the year, fellas - we've got a Nook Getaway booked and we won't be back for a while.
But what if - shock! horror! - you're not an Animal Crossing aficionado? Worry not, for there are plenty of other Switch games incoming and vying for your attention in March, April and beyond. Let's have a look at the biggest games coming to Switch in the next couple of months, shall we?
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Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX - 6th March
A surprise announcement during the January Pokémon Direct, this remake of the GBA / DS game(s) will be with us very shortly and promises to give the classic dungeon-crawling spin-offs a lick of HD paint and a dusting of mod-cons. It certainly looks lovely from what we've seen so far and we're gagging to see how the games hold up in the harsh light of 2020.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - 20th March
Ah, the big one. Only the Doomslayer himself has the courage to go up against the mighty Animal Crossing: New Horizons on launch day, and even he decided it was best to delay the Switch version so as to avoid any embarrassment. Oh Panic Button may talk about 'refinements' to DOOM Eternal, but we all know the real reason for the game's delay: Doom Guy scarpered after reaching the final boss to find Tom 'Blofeld' Nook rotate in his chair while stroking Rover purring on his lap.
You've probably got this one pre-ordered at multiple outlets already, but here are some of the options if you want to make doubly and triply sure to get started on your island getaway by catching yourself a Day One perch.
Saints Row IV: Re-Elected - 27th March
After rumour upon rumour, it was finally confirmed at the start of February that Saints Row IV would be returning. Including an eye-watering 25 DLC packs as standard, it's like a manic Grand Theft Auto with added stupid, and we're always game for a game that doesn't take itself too less seriously.
One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 - 27th March
For some people, Koei Tecmo's Musou games are at their best in the regular crossovers with other franchises, and the One Piece series feels particularly at home when paired with the trademark Dynasty Warriors brand of manic hack-and-slash. The upcoming instalment looks tasty and we were fans of the third game, so we've got high hopes One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4.
Trials of Mana - 24th April
Trials of Mana, a fantastic Japan-only Super Famicom RPG known as Seiken Densetsu 3, only recently received an official localisation and release in the west as part of the excellent Collection of Mana Switch release. As a sequel to Secret of Mana, it was always likely to be good, but such was the quality of the game and the localisation that we're gagging to play it again in its remade, reimagined form.
New Switch Hardware Options
If you are in the market for picking up a new Nintendo Switch console, we have the charming Animal Crossing: New Horizons Edition in March with exclusive Animal Crossing themed Joy-Con and dock. April 3rd brings us the coral Nintendo Switch Lite, which is definitely coral and NOT pink!
More Awesome Nintendo Switch Games
Aside from the highlighted games above, there are lots more Switch retail games which might take your fancy in March and beyond.
Awesome Accessories For Your Switch
And finally here are a selection of the finest Switch accessories coming up in March and beyond, for your consideration.
So that's it for March and April - did we miss anything? Let us know with a comment and also tell us if you've pre-ordered any of these goodies!
Comments 32
Mystery dungeon and animal crossing is all I need this month.
Of this list, just the multiplayer DLC for Luigi's Mansion 3 which I bought back in December.
This is definitely the [insert comment about a general Direct] article.
I will pick Animal Crossing New Horizons as April 2020 shopping time. 😀
And.....
I guess i will consider also other games (PS2 / PS4 / PSP / NDS) for April 2020.
Which should i choose ? 🤔
"Eeny, meeny, miny, moe"
Animal Crossing and possibly Trials of Mana for me. Though I still have a ton of other RPGs to finish on Switch too. Backlogs...
Slow year for all consoles so far
So back logged....but preordered AC and the Turbo Graphix 16 mini
Animal Crossing console
Animal Crossing new horizons
Doom Eternal (Xbox One X)
Saints row 4
Trials of mana
Switch lite coral system
Moving out
Cat Quest 1 & 2 (physical)
That's all so far.
There's nothing interesting in March or April that I didn't play years ago on the N64 or the Sega Mega Drive. Trials of Mana looks like it might be good, but it looks very linear, which is not good for a game that calls itself an RPG.
Definitely Animal Crossing and Little Busters for me. Maybe Disaster Report 4 but undecided.
@RickD yeah totally agree. I want to pick up that mega man zero collection but other than that there’s not much announced yet. I’m sure a direct will come at some point but even then it’s been very slow in this first quarter. Doesn’t help that I’ve got no interest in animal crossing either😂
Trials of mana for sure. Its my most anticipated 2020 game thus far. Im not grabbing animal crossing or mystery dungeon day one, but I may grab them far down the road.
Animal Crossing & MHA: One’s Justice 2 for sure. Trials of Mana on my list two but it might have to wait a bit. Also in the market for a Switch Lite but probably won’t be the coral version.
Animal Crossing is all I will be playing for quite some time. It’s a shame I am not able to play the FF7 remake to tide me over until March 20th like what was originally planned.
need a Nintendo Direct soon ether this month or early April once March ends there is nothing set in stone for the rest of the year for Nintendo Switch
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon and Animal Crossing for me.
2 months a barren wasteland. Animal Crossing will be huge of course (though not my cup of tea) and Trials of Mana will be great. Other than that, zilch.
Nothing fot me but that's fine. Still got to finish Witcher 3. Then to start Ni No Kuni and the FE:3H DLC and a handful of indies. Such a good quality backlog at the moment.
@invictus4000 Same for me Animal crossing is not my style though I may get tempted by this one. Also I agree with you with Trails of Mana will be great. So yes the switch has more than 1 big game coming after Animal crossing, although if a direct is not said about in the next 2 weeks I could go completely mad lol.
Pretty dry March-April. I either have some of these or the new releases are call junk tier.
New Horizons is the big game of the month for me. I'm super pumped to finally play another main series Animal Crossing game again. The island theme, reworked UI, and crazy customization additions should last me a good few years.
Aside from Animal Crossing, I'm planning on getting Pokemon Mystery Dungeon DX and DOOM Eternal. Just... don't know when. I'll probably wait for them to get a bit cheaper since I got a big backlog and I know New Horizons will eat up most of my time for a while.
If you are not a fan of Animal Crossing or anything Pokémon, then it is slim pickings.
Animal Crossing this month and Trials of Mana next. Might get Pokémon Mystery Dungeon as well.
animal crossing can go burn in hell...i'll take mystery dungeon
wondering why nintendolife promotes the sales of the weird japanese hentai games though. seems off brand for NL
Three maybes from me: langrisser, buildings have feelings or animal crossing. I’ve never played an ac before, never intrigued at all till this one.
Still a maybe though, since I still have to have time for work and social activities etc. I fear that’s not possible with this game
@bones For sure! ToM will be so amazing but they have to have more for this year. One thing I know...the longer it takes for this Direct to show up, the higher people's expectations will get and rightly so. It has the potential to be the best or most disappointing Direct of all time...
Just saw the corresponding article on push square and the PS4 that is on it’s way out is gonna have a so much better line up xD
Animal Crossing was never in doubt. Pokemon Mystery Dungeon will end up in the backlog. I just nabbed Rune Factory 4, still playing Fire Emblem 3 Houses and Pokemon, with AC coming, there wont be time for anything else!
I’m seriously considering Pokémon Mystery Dungeon..
Thinking about Animal Crossing and the La Mulana games..
I do have Moving Out preordered for Xbox one since it was $10 cheaper than Switch version.
I know there’s going to be more released ( there has to be) a nice juicy direct would do wonders to alleviate the seriously underwhelming outlook. On the bright side I suppose if this is a crap year for new releases I do have a bountiful backlog to tide me over.
I want the Animal Crossing case.
Langrisser and Trials of Mana are the only upcoming games I'm interested in. I never understood the appeal of Animal Crosssing so I'll skip it.
Played the eshop demo of Langrisser and it's brilliant.
tumbleweed rolls by
Seriously though, there is so little to look forward to. I pre-ordered Mystery Dungeon, but that's literally the only game I know I'm getting. And not just for this month, but the entire year (I might get the Sword Expansion Pass if there's enough content to justify it, but other than that nothing). The lack of announcements for this year is very concerning.
Odd that they would release a Doom Eternal controller yet we’ve had no new info on the game for months
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