Nintendo kicks things off with a new trailer and some gameplay for Pikmin 4. Seven years after its official announcement, we finally see what Nintendo has planned for its Pikmin armies, including an Ice Pikmin reinforcement. We can see a new dog-like companion and we will have to make do with that for now. The game will be released on Switch on July 21.
We then continue with the obligatory passage for Xenoblade Chronicles 3. The opportunity to see the content planned for volume 3 of the expansion pass, which will include a new character named Masha and a new game mode. Arching will be an opportunity to battle waves of enemies with roguelike elements. The segment ends with a quick overview of volume 4, scheduled for 2023. Volume 3 will be released on February 16 and all volumes will cost 30 euros.
Sega follows up with the announcement of Samba de Amigo: Party Central. After the arcade and the Dreamcast, the rhythm game license has come a long way and offers itself a new opus which will exploit the capacities of the Joy-Con. No specific release date, but a summer 2023 window has been announced.
If you’ve always dreamed of being a fashion influencer, Fashion Dreamer proposes to take on this role with a touch of visual novel. Everything is published by Marvelous and should be released in 2023.
Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania is being talked about again before its release on March 6. The opportunity to see what the DLC will bring in terms of content with the presence of Rchiter, Alucard, Death and of course Dracula. In addition to the iconic weapons of the license, we will have twelve original covers and fifty-one tracks from the entire saga.
Bithell Games studio (Thomas Was Alone, John Wick Hex) is now taking on TRON. Scheduled for April 2023 exclusively on Switch, TRON: Identity promises to be a puzzle game with a visual novel side.
And since we are in investigation games, we continue with the return of Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective. Originally released on DS in 2010, Capcom’s game will return this summer 2023 to relive Sissel’s investigation this summer on Switch but also PS4, Xbox One and PC.
Still on the same theme, Depolice will offer to embody detectives of the future in a virtual open world with RPG components. With Level-5 at the controls, already well versed in the exercise with the Professor Layton series, the game promises to be a little curiosity and it will be available in 2023 on Switch, PS4 and PS5.
Impossible not to return to Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon which will be released on March 17. The opportunity to see a little more gameplay and to see that Cereza will be very dependent on Chouchou, a big mastiff who will fight in his place.
Just like the mandatory segment on Xenoblade, Splatoon 3 is also entitled to its little moment of glory with a presentation of its expansion pass. On the program, an overview of the city of Chromapolis which will return in the spring of 2023 and wave 2 which is revealed with a rather cryptic little teaser, without any release date. Everything will be sold for 25 euros.
Disney Illusion Island gives us an appointment on July 28th. The opportunity to see more on this platformer with a colorful and playable artistic direction for up to four players with Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald.
New inevitable appointment of each Nintendo Direct: Fire Emblem Engage. Once again, Nintendo presents the expansion pass in detail with several new characters. Hector, Soren and Camilla for Volume 2. Chrom, Daraen and Veronica for Volume 3. Volume 4 will feature a new scenario titled Fallen Xenologist. The expansion pass will be sold for 30 euros, with volume 2 available now and the next two during 2023.
Dont’ Nod introduces us Harmony: The Fall of Reverie, scheduled for June 2023. This dreamlike narrative game mixes visual novel and animated cutscenes. The little extra is that Lena Raine (Celeste) will be composing the music for the game.
Scheduled for February 24, Octopath Traveler II shows itself with new game sections and the announcement of a small demo available now on the eShop and PlayStation Store, while waiting for Steam soon.
The completely crazy game We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie will come rolling in our Switch, PlayStation, Xbox and PC from June 2. The opportunity to find this game released on Playstation 2 in 2005 in remastered.
Sabotage Studio’s long-awaited Sea of Stars shows up again during this Nintendo Direct. While waiting for the release date scheduled for August 29, a demo is already available on the eShop.
Omega Strikers, the spiritual son of Windjammers developed by Odyssey Interactive will be available on April 27. This free-to-play game in three against three offers to play “air hockey”.
Etrian Odyssey: Origin Collection will offer on June 1st a compilation with the three opuses of this venerable J-RPG / Dungeon Crawler series. In addition to the trilogy, it will also be possible to acquire each opus separately. The compilation will also be available on Steam.
Nintendo finally seems determined to release Advance Wars 1+2: Re-boot Camp, despite the war in Ukraine. A remake of the essential strategy game duo released on Game Boy Advance finally scheduled for April 21.
Another imminent release from Nintendo, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe announces a demo available now on the eShop before giving us an appointment on February 24th.
One of the big pieces of this Nintendo Direct was undoubtedly the announcements around the virtual console which not only adds the Game Boy catalog (for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers) but also that of the Game Boy Advance (for subscribers Nintendo Switch Online + Additional Pack). We can even choose a Game Boy, Pocket or Color filter when possible and multiplayer games will have all the local and online features. Everything is available now and will include in its launch line-up:
- gameboy : Super Mario Land 2, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX, Tetris, Gargoyle’s Quest, Game & Watch Gallery 3, Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare, Metroid II Return of Samus, Wario Land 3, Kirby’s Dream Land.
- Gameboy Advance : Super Mario Advance 4, Wario Ware Inc, Mega Minigames, Kuru Kuru Kurukrn, Mario kart Super Circuit, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, The Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap.
Also scheduled for the coming months are Oracle of Ages and Seasons, Golden Sun, F-Zero Maximum Velocity, Metroid Fusion and others.
If we will have to be patient before reviewing Metroid Prime 4, Nintendo has finally decided to offer a remaster of Metroid Prime which offers the luxury of a shadow drop for 40 euros. For those attached to the physical versions, however, you will have to wait until March 3.
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE will therefore be the fourth investigation and puzzle game of this Nintendo Direct. In a paranormal universe, the team members each have powers to help lead the investigation ranging from super hearing or retrocognition. The release date is scheduled for June 30.
If there’s one remaster that’s been long awaited by its most ardent fans, it’s this one. Baten Kaitos 1 and 2 Remastered HD offers to relive the cult GameCube game on Switch and the pack with the two games will be available for this summer 2023.
The vacuum cleaner in time that is Fantasy Life is making a comeback. After the big success of Animal Crossing, it was probably the right time for Level-5 to relaunch the machine with this new subtitled opus. The Girl Who Steals Time. No exact release date yet, but the game should still be released in 2023.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam revealed itself for the first time with an extremely short cutscene. No release date announced, but the assurance that Level-5 is not unemployed at the moment.
Last obligatory passage of each Nintendo Direct, the segment on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the opportunity to announce wave 4, its eight additional circuits and the arrival of Birdo on the roster, scheduled for spring 2023.
We are slowly heading towards the end of this Nintendo Direct with a compilation of several games that will be released soon. Subsequently, we find Minecraft Legends (March 18),** White** (February 14), Megaman Battle Network Legacy Collection (April 14), Have a Nice Death (March 22), WBSC eBaseball: Power Pros (available now), Disney Dreamlight Valley (new content in April 2023) and Tales of Symphonia Remastered (February 17).
Unsurprisingly, we end with the sublime final fireworks that is The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Nintendo reconfirms the May 12 date with some great visuals and a solid trailer. New objects, available vehicles and lots of new objects to add to Link’s arsenal are visible and the expectation is palpable. The icing on the cake is the announcement of a collector’s edition for the most fervent protectors of the kingdom of Hyrule.
