Nintendo has had an interesting 2020, to say the least. Save for Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Paper Mario: The Origami King, the legendary company has not had many big releases. Perhaps it is due to the pandemic raging throughout the world affecting every facet of modern life, or it is because they are gearing up for a raging 2021 which will put them out on top.
Both might be true, since the company’s lineup for next year is getting a little clearer as the months go by. The games listed below are either confirmed for 2021 or are likely to come out next year. A couple of these do not have names either, though the developer’s name has us excited enough.
10 Pikmin 4
This adorable strategy/adventure game was announced all the way back in 2015 and has mostly been radio silent since then. While information is extremely sparse regarding the project, one imagines that the failure of the Wii U and the introduction of the Nintendo Switch had something to do with extended development time. The recently announced Pikmin 3 re-release shows that Nintendo has not abandoned the series.
9 Metroid Prime 4
This game was announced before the release of the Nintendo Switch, and information has been scarce since then. The only update fans received was an announcement of the game switching developers to Retro Studios, who developed the original trilogy.
This is good news, but it also means the development basically restarted last year. With this in mind, even a 2021 release is wishful thinking, but miracles have been known to happen.
8 New Monolith Software Game
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition recently came out, giving fans the best version of the classic Wii game. The company recently opened another studio, giving people reason to believe the studio is gearing up for another release. Concept art of a new game was made public years ago, showing off an aesthetic far removed from the science fiction style for which the developer is known. Whether this comes out next year remains to be seen, but our fingers are crossed.
7 Shin Megami Tensei V
Persona may be the more popular series, but it is a spin-off of the Megami Tensei franchise. Shin Megami Tensei V was first announced in 2017 when the Switch as revealed, and since then the developer has only consistently reassured fans it was still in development. In July this changed when a new trailer dropped announcing a 2021 release window. The last entry in the series was in 2016, so fans are starving for a new game.
6 New Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Snap has remained a cult classic from the Nintendo 64 almost two decades after its release. No one ever thought a sequel would come out, but that all changed when New Pokémon Snap was announced this year. It remains to be seen if this game will be a sales success, though fans of the original rejoiced from the mountain tops when the trailer first dropped.
5 Bayonetta 3
Platinum Games never stops pumping out quality action games. The studio recently announced a whole slew of new titles, which led many to wonder where Bayonetta 3 was. Games take a long time to make, but players have been without an update on the third game in the trilogy for years. They know how much fans adore the character, so they probably just want to get it right.
4 Pokémon Unite
Pokémon Sword and Shield came out in 2019, three years after the last mainline entry, Sun and Moon. Patterns would have one believe the next entry would come out in 2022.
However, more projects outside of the mainline entries are already visible on the horizon. Pokémon Unite, a multiplayer battle game, was announced in June of this year, and is currently set for a release in the near future.
3 No More Heroes 3
Travis Touchdown recently returned in 2019 with Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes after an almost ten year hiatus. The following E3, a proper sequel was announced. No More Heroes III is currently set to come out in 2020, but a lack of updates has fans doubting this planned window. Unless an update comes soon with a solid release date, it is a safe bet to assume it will see a delay into 2021.
2 Bravely Default 2
Like with No More Heroes III, Bravely Default 2 is set to come out in 2020. With no proper release date in sight, every passing day makes it more difficult to believe this will actually come to pass. Considering the already eight year gap since the first one, fans can wait a little longer if it means the product will be the best game possible. It’s not like the Nintendo Switch is lacking quality RPGs at the moment, either.
1 Breath Of The Wild 2
As far as launch titles go, it is difficult to get any better than Breath of the Wild. Not only was it fantastic, but it truly showcased the Nintendo Switch’s power as a handheld device. Nothing prior to it on mobile platforms even comes close visually. The sequel has a huge legacy to live up to, and the developers are not taking this responsibility lightly. 2021 will be four years since the Switch’s launch, giving enough time to craft a worthy sequel.
