Many games released on it have already been genre-defining, like Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey. However, Nintendo still has a lot more planned for the Switch, including some of its own massive AAA games and titles from other studios. Whether players are looking forward to some great mini-games or a JRPG, Nintendo has them covered with these in-development AAA Switch games.
Updated December 26, 2022 by Mark Sammut: AAA Nintendo Switch games are a rare treat, but console owners usually have a handful of releases per month to look forward to. This article has been expanded to focus primarily on AAA Switch Games announced for 2023.
Persona 3 Portable & Persona 4 Golden
JRPG fans are not going to starve for games in January 2023. Technically, Persona is not a full-blown AAA franchise, but the series has grown popular enough to rival bigger properties like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden debuted on the PSP and PS2 respectively, and they are arguably the best JRPGs on those consoles. While they might not have the stylish presentation of Persona 5 Royal, both of these titles can rival their successor in terms of storytelling and character depth.
Fire Emblem Engage
The next mainline Fire Emblem is on the way, and Engage looks set to be a fascinating take on the franchise. The footage released so far suggests that Intelligent Systems has opted to largely stick to what has historically worked when it comes to combat; however, Engage introduces a new mechanic in the form of Emblems that allow players to summon heroes from past games. The 2023 release takes place on Elyos and follows Alear, a warrior who wakes up from a long slumber to stop the resurrection of a dragon.
RELATED: Fire Emblem Engage: Things Only Die-Hard Fans Noticed In The Trailer
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake
In truth, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is closer to an AA than a triple-A game, but the 3D platformer deserves a mention since its publisher is THQ Nordic. Purple Lamp Studios worked on SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated, which was a decent remake of a cult classic 2003 game. The Cosmic Shake has the potential to be a fun entry in the 3D platformer genre, especially since there are not too many similar games announced for 2023.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line
Final Fantasy fans have a lot to look forward to over the coming months. Theatrhythm Final Bar Line pays homage to a component that has played a key part in cementing Square Enix’s series as an all-time great JRPG property: music. Featuring hundreds of tracks and characters, this rhythm game allows players to relive iconic moments from the franchise courtesy of a Series Quests mode that covers 29 Final Fantasy titles.
Tales Of Symphonia Remastered
Tales of is another series that is only borderline AAA, although the recent Tales of Arise certainly did not hurt its case. Tales of Symphonia Remastered brings one of the franchise’s masterpieces to modern consoles, and Bandai Namco has stated that the upcoming version will have improved visuals and gameplay. Regardless of what the latter entails, Tales of Symphonia is an all-time great JRPG that, for the most part, has aged well.
RELATED: Best Tales Of Games, According To Metacritic
Kirby’s Return To Dreamland Deluxe
Less than a year following the debut of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Nintendo will release a remake of Kirby’s Return To Dreamland, a game that originally came out on the Wii in 2011. This announcement came out of nowhere, but the 2.5D Kirby game is quite a different experience from The Forgotten Land and worthy of a spot in the Switch’s library. While the original game can be played solo, the campaign is intended for 4-player co-op.
Octopath Traveler 2
A throwback to classic turn-based JRPGs, Octopath Traveler 2 has eight new playable characters, all of whom have unique backstories and skills. Similar to its predecessor, the sequel uses gorgeous HD-2D visuals that tread the line between retro and contemporary. The JRPG takes place in Solistia and will look to improve the first game’s Path Actions and combat mechanics.
Fatal Frame: Mask Of The Lunar Eclipse
In 2008, Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse was released on the Nintendo Wii exclusively in Japan. Western audiences have had to wait more than a decade to get their hands on this entry in Koei Tecmo’s classic horror franchise. As the gameplay was originally designed around the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, Mask of the Lunar Eclipse will naturally undergo some alterations to suit modern consoles, including the Nintendo Switch. Although reviews were scarce, the Wii version garnered a mostly positive reception.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza And The Lost Demon
Announced out of nowhere at the 2022 Game Awards, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a prequel that dives into the eponymous Umbra Witch’s early years. The spin-off shakes things up significantly from previous entries, offering a story-book art style, a top-down perspective, and (seemingly) simplified combat. Considering Bayonetta 3 came out towards the end of 2022, Cereza and the Lost Demon’s March 2023 release is quite a quick turnaround, especially for Platinum’s franchise.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel is one of the most highly-anticipated games coming to the Nintendo Switch. The first game’s unique take on the open-world genre brought many new fans to the series and has had a massive influence on the industry ever since. Originally announced as a 2022 release, Tears of the Kingdom has been delayed until May 2023. Thankfully, there are some great games fans of Breath of the Wild can play while they wait for Link’s next adventure.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns
A Marvel-themed tactical RPG by the same studio behind the XCOM games, Midnight Suns allows players to create their own superhero called The Hunter and then play alongside the likes of Captain America and Wolverine. Featuring a turn-based combat system, RPG elements, and base-upgrading mechanics, Marvel’s Midnight Suns could end up being one of the best tactics games on the Switch. While scheduled to debut on October 7, 2022, on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One, Midnight Suns’ Switch release date has not been announced.
RELATED: Marvel’s Midnight Suns and Respawn’s Star Wars Game Could Introduce Tactics RPGs To a Larger Audience
Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp
Delayed indefinitely in March 2022, Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp’s future is currently uncertain. This package contains remakes of Advance Wars and its sequel, Black Hole Rising, two turn-based strategy games that originally debuted on the Game Boy Advance. Boasting new visuals, music, and online support, Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp aims to modernize two underappreciated gems from the early 2000s, and it is set to be the first entry in the series since 2008.
Metroid Prime 4
Metroid Prime 4 was announced by Nintendo what feels like ages ago. It has been an incredibly long amount of time since Nintendo announced anything about Metroid Prime 4, but the game did reportedly undergo a complete restart of development. However, the company has confirmed that the game is still happening, so fans simply have to be patient.
RELATED: The Best Nintendo Wii Games Ever Made (According To Metacritic)
Rumored: A New Donkey Kong Game
In mid-2021, rumors started circulating that a new Donkey Kong game is being developed by the team that worked on the very successful Super Mario Odyssey. The DK series has remained relatively dormant since Wii U’s Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, so hopefully, this rumor ends up being true.
Rumored: Mario Kart 9
The Switch does already have Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but it has been long enough since that game’s release that rumors have begun circulating about a Mario Kart 9. A sequel will undoubtedly happen, as the series is a popular staple of Nintendo’s IP, so fans will just have to see how long it takes to become a reality. In the February 2022 Direct, Nintendo announced the Booster Course Pass for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, suggesting that a sequel still has a long way to go (if it is even in development).
MORE: Every Video Game Release Coming Soon For Nintendo Switch
