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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.

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 expected 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...

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Dragon Quest Builders - 9th February

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.

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Bayonetta 2 + Bayonetta - 16th February

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. 

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Payday 2 - 27th February

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.

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Kirby Star Allies - 16th March

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.

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Attack On Titan 2 - 31st March

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.