There's certainly no shortage of upcoming Switch games on the way. Thanks to Nintendo Direct announcements earlier this year, we have a wealth of new additions to look forward to, including the return of beloved series like Professor Layton and much more besides. With lots of new games for 2023 on the horizon and a helping of upcoming indie games set to bring more adventures to the Switch library, it's a great time to take stock of all of the games and release dates so you get your wishlists ready.
It's certainly been a busy time for Nintendo in recent months, thanks in no small part to the release of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and there's still plenty more to come. Read on below to find all of the most exciting upcoming Switch games to keep track of.
2023 upcoming Switch games
Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals
Release date: July 12, 2023
Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals is one of our most anticipated games of the year, owing to how much we loved the original narrative adventure from Night School Studio. This sequel is set five years after Oxenfree, and will see Riley return to her hometown of Camena to investigate mysterious radio signals. With an expanded dialogue system, new characters to meet, and more high-strangeness to explore, Oxenfree 2 is sure to be unmissable when it launches on July 12, 2023.
Pikmin 4
Release date: July 21, 2023
The Pikmin 4 release date is confirmed, with the long-awaited sequel arriving on July 21 as a Nintendo Switch exclusive. In Pikmin 4 we'll have a new world to explore, new friends to travel with, and new forms of Pikmin to take command of to clear all types of hazards and fighting fauna. The controls have been simplified and the camera pulled closer to the ground, making this a Pikmin game fit for a new generation of console and player.
Mortal Kombat 1
Release date: September 19, 2023
Mortal Kombat 1 is launching this September and Warner Bros. is set to bring the ultra-violent fighting game to Switch, all so that you can brutalise your friends while on the move. NetherRealm is partnering with Shiver Entertainment and Saber Interactive to help bring its new fighting game to live on the platform, one which is set to offer a new fighting system, new twists on iconic characters, and so much more.
Mineko's Night Market
Release date: September 26, 2023
If you are incapable of watching the Mineko's Night Market trailer and suppressing squeaks at all the adorable kitties it contains, this isn't a game for you. It's basically a kind of game like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley, where you explore, craft, oh and breed cats. The cute little balls of fluff will follow you around as you play as Mineko who's just moved to Mount Fugu Island, and is also accompanied by her giant cat-like friend Abe. Together, you'll gather resources and craft items to sell at your market stall, play loads of mini-games, and of course, befriend kittens. Lots and lots and lots of kitties. Sounds rather wonderful, doesn't it?
Hogwarts Legacy
Release date: November 14, 2023
Hogwarts Legacy looks like the ultimate Harry Potter game. It's set to let us enrol in the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as a custom created fifth-year student. From there, we'll be able to choose our house, take classes, craft potions, learn spells, and then take all of that knowledge into battle against magical beasts and dark wizards. This open world RPG is set to launch on other platforms February 10, 2022, with the Switch version to follow later in the year.
TBC 2023
Hollow Knight Silksong
Release date: TBC 2023
We know that it's coming this year, we just don't know when. The wait for Hollow Knight: Silksong has been brutal, but Team Cherry is finally ready to deliver its sequel to one of the best metroidvania games of all-time. The Hollow Knight sequel was first unveiled in 2019, with development reportedly spiralling out of control as the Silksong idea evolved in scope from DLC to full-fledged experience. Here's hoping we get our hands on Hollow Knight: Silksong sooner rather than later.
Disney Dreamlight Valley
Release date: TBC 2023
Developer Gameloft new life simulation adventure is already proving to be pretty magical. Released in early access in September, Disney Dreamlight Valley takes place in a land where a host of beloved Pixar and Disney characters live. Once an idyllic place, everything changes when a force known as the Forgetting comes into the picture, detaching the memories tied to the land. Now, it's up to you to bring the magic back by helping the residents. With quests to complete, areas to unlock, and stories to discover, Disney Dreamlight Valley is set to launch in full sometime in 2023. You can check out our early impressions so far in our Disney Dreamlight Valley review.
Moving Out 2
Release date: TBC 2023
Co-op game Moving Out that was released back in 2020 is getting a sequel in Moving Out 2. Set to bring back the frantic process of, well, moving out, we'll be returning to Packmore for more furniture lifting shenanigans with a cast of quirky playable characters to choose from. This time around, Moving Out 2 will also support Online multiplayer cross-platform support, so you can play with pals no matter where they are or what they play on.
Marvel's Midnight Suns
Release date: TBC 2023
Marvel's Midnight Suns is the upcoming title from XCOM developer, Firaxis, and is bringing a touch of the superhero magic to the strategy genre. Aimed with a roster of 12 superheroes, you'll be tasked with taking down Lillith, the Mother of Demons. You are The Hunter, a completely customizable Marvel hero - quite the historic event - and you are Earth's last defense against the underworld.
TBC
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
Release date: TBC
A new game in the Fantasy Life series is set to come to Switch. The last instalment was released on the 3DS and offered up various different job roles with their own set of quests. Fantasy Life i looks set to build on this by letting you create your own city on a ruined island and once again take up an occupation of your choice. With returning characters and the promise of plenty of mystery, it will be interesting to see how this entry shapes up.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam
Release date: TBC
During the February 2023 Nintendo Direct, we got a very brief tease of a new Professor Layton game, which at long last signalled the return of the series. While we don't know too much about the new entry coming to the Switch, we do know that we're set to experience a fresh story filled with puzzles in the new setting of Steam Bison, which is said to be home to advanced steam engines. A mysterious incident is said to draw Layton and Luke there for a new adventure.
Hellboy Web of Wyrd
Release date: TBC
Hellboy Web of Wyrd is a new roguelite action adventure that's set to tell an original story. Make in partnership with Darkhorse comics and Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, Web of Wyrd will see you investigate and look into the disappearance of an agent in game that's brought to life in graphical comic book artstyle.
Metroid Prime 4
Release date: TBC
Metroid Prime 4 has been a long time coming. Announced back in 2017, we've seen nothing more of the sequel to Metroid Prime 3: Corruption since. That's largely because development was rebooted in 2019, with production shifting to Retro Studios – the team responsible for the original Prime trilogy. Still, it's good to know that this game is out there, and set to let us step back into the role of Samus after her journey into hyperspace a decade ago. Expect to be waiting for this one a little while longer.
Dragon Quest Heroes 1 and 2
Release date: TBC
Dynasty Warriors, with its endless procession of idiot enemy fodder whose only goal is to give your attack button a workout, is certainly divisive. But whatever your stance on the series is, there's no denying that Koei Tecmo's spin-offs, which include the Zelda-inspired Hyrule Warriors, show that the series' button-mashing formula still has room for experimentation. Dragon Quest Heroes heroes was a surprisingly delightful take on the musou genre, taking the series' classic RPG framework and dressing it around real-time action combat and monster collection. This combo will include the entire first game along with its sequel, meaning you'll get to spend hundreds of hours slicing through slimes at home or on the go.
Yokai Watch 4
Release date: TBC
If you're a Pokemon fan, you probably already know about the Yo-Kai Watch series. It follows a similar format in that you collect critters that also function as your companions as a young kid. That's, of course, reducing it somewhat, but I for one am ridiculously excited about Yo-Kai Watch 4. It's already looking incredible, and actually might make Pokemon Let's Go look a bit 3DS era. In terms of new gameplay features, it'll introduce a brand new item, called the Yokai Ark, which will let players travel between three worlds that are all set in different time periods, and feature their own protagonist. It should be quite the beast, and a good distraction before the real Pokemon Switch RPG arrives.
