Best upcoming Nintendo Switch games to look forward to in 2018 and beyond | Apple

The Nintendo Switch has proven to be a very capable competitor to the PS4 and Xbox One, while offering something else beside: portability.

And now that it’s hit its stride, there are plenty of games coming out to play at home and away. There’s even the Gamescom European videogames show on the immediate horizon, which will also be awash with Switch games coming later in 2018 and into 2019.

Here we’ve listed the best of the forthcoming releases in chronological order – soonest first – and have included trailers for each. Also, come back often as new releases will be added whenever a trailer is available. Enjoy.

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate

• Release date: 28 August 2018
• Switch exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: Capcom

The 3DS classic is coming for Switch, with greatly improved graphics and enhancements. Not only does it make the jump to HD, it ramps up on the customisation options. An essential purchase for monster hunters everywhere.

Undertale

• Release date: 15 September 2018
• Switch exclusive: No, also on PS4 and PC
• Publisher: Toby Fox

One of the best indie games of recent times, Undertale is an RPG like no other. For one, it discourages death and rewards emotions. The old school graphics bely some of the most inventive storytelling and gameplay mechanics. It’s not for everyone, but those who get it, really get it.

Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse

• Release date: 21 September 2018
• Switch exclusive: No, also on PS4, Xbox One and PC
• Publisher: Ravens Court

If you like point and click adventures look no further. The latest in a long line of excellent examples of storytelling and puzzling, Broken Sword 5 finds a natural home on Switch. Now you can help solve the mysteries within when on the Tube.

FIFA 19

• Release date: 28 September 2018
• Switch exclusive: No, also on PS4, Xbox One and PC
• Publisher: EA

As with last year, FIFA 19 for Switch will run on a custom engine, albeit a dramatically improved one. That means it won’t play or look exactly like the other console equivalents. It will, however, feature the Champions League like all other versions. Superb.

Mega Man 11

• Release date: 2 October 2018
• Switch exclusive: No, also on PS4, Xbox One and PC
• Publisher: Capcom

The 2D platform hero is back in a modern take on the retro series. A new Double Gear system breaths fresh life into the tried and tested gameplay, but you can be assured that Mega Man will be just as deliciously challenging as ever.

Super Mario Party

• Release date: 5 October 2018
• Switch exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: Nintendo

The Switch will finally get its own version of Mario Party this October, with mini-games and board game antics a-plenty. You can even link two Switch consoles together for some of the included games, using both screens as your playing field. Rather clever.

Starlink: Battle for Atlas

• Release date: 16 October 2018
• Switch exclusive: No, also on PS4 and Xbox One
• Publisher: Ubisoft

While others have withdrawn from the Toys to Life genre Ubisoft is embracing it with a space battle game that works with customisable spacecraft that attach to your controller. The Nintendo Switch version of the game is unique in that it will also allow you to play as Star Fox, with his own ship available as an accessory.

Lego DC Super-Villains

• Release date: 16 October 2018
• Switch exclusive: No, also on PS4, Xbox One and PC
• Publisher: Warner Bros Games

A new Lego game based in the DC universe is much welcome. One where you get to play the bad guys even more so. Join The Joker and all in a darker spin on the usual Lego platform fare.

Dark Souls: Remastered

• Release date: 19 October 2018
• Switch exclusive: No, also on PS4, Xbox One and PC
• Publisher: Bandai Namco

Not only is Dark Souls finally coming to Switch, it’s coming in its remastered form. The Japanese horror role-player is, quite simply, one of the best action games of the last decade – dark, dangerous and delightful. Bosses are ridiculously challenging and the atmosphere is so superbly rendered. In this version you also get an upgrade to the graphics (over the PS3 original) and the Switch adds Amiibo support.

Diablo III: Eternal Collection

• Release date: Fall 2018
• Switch exclusive: No, also on PS4, Xbox One and PC
• Publisher: Blizzard

The top-down, action RPG is finally coming to the Nintendo Switch, with the Enternal Collection being the most complete edition of the game yet. You can now find out what the fuss is about Diablo for yourselves, Switch fans.

RollerCoaster Tycoon Switch

• Release date: Fall 2018
• Switch exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: Atari

Atari’s decision to crowd fund a new version of RollerCoaster Tycoon for the Nintendo Switch has stoked the ire of many a fan online. However, the alpha build we saw at GDC in spring 2018 looked reasonable enough and suited to a portable platform, even though it is rather trimmed down from the sort of early simulation games in the series some might remember. The crowd funding video (above) is rather cringeworthy though, we’ll give you that.

Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee!

• Release date: 16 November 2018
• Switch exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: The Pokémon Company

Based on the classic Pokémon Yellow and compatible with mobile sensation Pokémon Go, the two titles in the Let’s Go series are isometric RPGs in the traditional Pokémon format. You can choose which Pokémon to start with though, by buying either the Pikachu or Eevee versions.

Super Smash Bros Ultimate

• Release date: 7 December 2018
• Switch exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: Nintendo

Making up the mainstay of Nintendo’s E3 2018 presentation, Super Smash Bros Ultimate has the most amount of characters available yet and really is the “ultimate” edition of the beat-em-up. You can watch more than 25 minutes of gameplay and reveals above.

Team Sonic Racing

• Release date: Winter 2018
• Switch exclusive: No, also on PS4, Xbox One and PC
• Publisher: Sega

If you’ve eked every race and secret out of Super Mario Kart 8 Deluxe you might be in the market for a new arcade racing game and Team Sonic Racing is sure to tick several boxes. We’ve always loved the array of Sega characters available to race with, and the new team racing mode sounds intriguing.

Dragon Ball FighterZ

• Release date: 2018
• Switch exclusive: No, also on PS4 and Xbox One
• Publisher: Bandai Namc

Bandai Namco will bring its excellent beat-em-up, Dragon Ball FighterZ, to the Switch later this year. It promises all the same, fast-paced action found in the PS4 and Xbox One versions of the game.

ARK: Survival Evolved

• Release date: 2018
• Switch exclusive: No, also on PS4, Xbox One, PC and mobile
• Publisher: Studio Wildcard

The dinosaur-laden survival game is coming to Switch sometime later this year. We are short on details for now but will update closer to release.

Fire Emblem Three Houses

• Release date: Spring 2019
• Switch exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: Nintendo

An all-new Fire Emblem game is coming in 2019, with new characters and plot. Little else is know about the turn-based tactical RPG at present, but it was shown during Nintendo’s E3 2018 presentation.

Daemon X Machina

• Release date: 2019
• Switch exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: Nintendo

Developed by Marvelous Inc, Daemon X Machina is a mech battle game that kicked off Nintendo’s E3 2018 presentation in some style. We’re sure to find out more later this year.

Metroid Prime 4

• Release date: TBC
• Switch exclusive: Yes
• Publisher: Nintendo

Nintendo announced a new instalment of Metroid Prime, this time for Switch, during its E3 2017 Spotlight presentation but few other details have emerged as yet. We do know though that Bandai Namco is working on the game as its development studio.