Sean Mekinda
Nintendo’s E3 direct this year was kind of crazy. Clocking in at about an announcement a minute, it was pretty easy to miss something. So we’ve got you covered. All announcements, links to trailers, release dates — all of it.
Let’s dig in from the beginning.
New Smash Character: The Hero from Dragon Quest
Coming to Smash Ultimate in support of Dragon Quest XI S (more on that later), The Hero from Dragon Quest adds another sword boy to the roster. He’s got a cool variety of skins, pulling from protagonists from past entries in the series. The only downside is that the Akira Toriyama character that got in wasn’t Goku. Sorry, Dragon Ball fans.
Coming Summer 2019!
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition
I won’t lie to you; I don’t really know how to format that title. But what I do know is that it’ll be coming to the Switch on September 27, 2019, and bringing with it some cool stuff. More mounts, the ability to speed up battles (all JRPGs should have this feature at launch), and a really cool looking retro-style 2D mode.
The Introduction of Doug Bowser
Not a game, but if you haven’t seen it, the first appearance of Doug Bowser on a direct is really charming in a silly, very Nintendo way. Definitely worth the watch.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
Luigi’s Mansion returns to the spotlight with some great visuals, endearing game-play and the same spooks you’d expect from the series. The trailer shows off all sorts of new powers from the PolterGust, as well as a new multiplayer mode. It also brings back Gooigi, which is a word with just the worst mouth-feel. Unfortunately, we don’t get any more info on a release date beyond the already known 2019
Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics
Nintendo has promised Netflix will arrive on the Switch soon since launch, so when we got a bit of a tease from Netflix’s upcoming Dark Crystal series, I wrongly assumed we’d finally be getting the app. Instead, we get a tactics game, similar in style to XCOM or Fire Emblem, but with Dark Crytal characters. Neat. Coming in 2019 (probably still before the Netflix app).
The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening
Here we have a (seemingly super faithful) recreation of one of the weirder entries in the Zelda series, albeit in a chibi art style. Not a whole lot was revealed with this one, aside from a few more familiar looking screens from the game. We did see a new dungeon builder being added though, which looks like a ton of fun. We also got a release date of September 20th, 2019.
Update: While writing this, it has been revealed that there will be a Link’s Awakening Link Amiibo and it is adorable.
Trials of Mana
A remake of the original 1995 Super Nintendo game, this is the first time (kind of) that the US will be getting a localized version. Trials will be arriving in the same style as last year’s Secret of Mana, a PS4 exclusive, sometime in early 2020.
Collection of Mana
Releasing today on the Nintendo eShop, Collection of Mana combines Final Fantasy Adventure, Secret of Mana, and, for the first time in the West, the original (but localized) Trials of Mana. It’s a bunch of classic RPGs and that’s all there really is to say about that.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Editon
First released in 2015, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is coming to Switch later this year and bringing with it all previously released content. Finally, being able to bring that massive game with me may finally let me finish it and not just get overwhelmed in the tutorial island.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
No gameplay in this one, just lots and lots of anime boys and girls doing anime things. And what more could you want from a Fire Emblem game? A release date of July 16, 2019? Well great, because you get that too.
Resident Evil(s)
Nintendo shows the versatility of the Switch by having two adults commit a felony and break into an old spooky house to play Resident Evil. We see them playing the (already released) Resident Evil 1 port, before revealing that the much-maligned Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 will be arriving on the Switch this fall.
No More Heroes III
Travis Touchdown (real name) is returning with a mainline entry to the series next year. After this year’s divisive Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, fans should be pretty happy to see the snarky hero (also passing assassin) return to form.
Contra: Rogue Corps
A new Contra game was announced years ago and subsequently disappeared until today. Contra: Rogue Corps is a third-person co-op shooter, which is a bit of a change from the classic 2D side scrollers. It also introduces quite a few new characters for local and online play. Contra: Rogue Corps is set to release September 24, 2019.
Contra Anniversary Collection
The Contra Anniversary Collection is arriving on the Nintendo eShop today. It’s a collection of ten Contra games, including Contra (Arcade Version), Contra (NES Version), Contra (Famicom Version), Super Contra, Super C, Operation C, Contra III: The Alien Wars, Contra: Hard Corps, Probotector, and Super Probotector. Probotector and Super Probotector have never been released outside of Europe and Australia, so it may be your first chance to play them! The Anniversary Collection also comes with a digital art book.
Daemon X Machina
Nintendo delivers a release date and another trailer for the mech fighter Daemon X Machina. The game continues to look flashy and super stylized, so get ready for it’s September 13, 2019 release.
Panzer Dragoon
First released in 1995 on the Sega Saturn, the dragon-flying shooter is getting a remake for the Switch this winter. Not much is shown in the trailer, but it’s definitely looking better than its days on the Sega Saturn
Pokemon Sword and Shield
The full Pokemon direct was a few weeks ago at this point, but a few new details were announced. The games will work with the Pokeball Plus, allowing you to carry your Pokemon with you. We also got a first look at the water-type gym leader Nessa. Sword and Shield will be released on November 15, 2019.
Astral Chain
Platinum’s new IP Astral Chain got another trailer this direct, showing off more of the combat and story. Surprisingly, we also got a release date. Even more surprisingly, it’s August 30, 2019, which is a crazy fast turn around from announcement to release.
Empire of Sin
One part XCOM, one part management sim, one part gangster movie and there you have Empire of Sin. Not much was shown of the game, just enough to get an idea of what its about. Of course, we have lots of time to hear more before its Spring 2020 release.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3
Marvel Ultimate Alliance returns exclusively to the Switch July 19, 2019, with a game that seems like a pretty good partner to Avengers: Endgame and Infinity Way. Thanos is back and he’s got some Infinity Stones, so grab some teammates and beat up some bad guys!
Cadence of Hyrule
I’m going to shamelessly editorialize a bit here because this is probably what I’m most excited for. Crypt of the Necrodancer was an incredible dungeon-crawling Rogue-like rhythm game, so adding classic style top-down Legend of Zelda to it just makes me incredibly happy. It looks to be a semi-retelling of A Link to the Past, which is also incredible. I’ll be bopping away with it when it releases (in just two days!!!) on June 13, 2019, and you should be too.
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
The Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games series returns, delivering more Olympic themed minigames and action. Who would win in a race? Dr. Robotnic or Yoshi? Who asked this question and why? If you need to know the answer, you can have them face off in November 2019.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
What do you want first, the good news or the bad news? Well, here’s the good: We finally saw some Animal Crossing gameplay for the Switch and it looks just as good as ever. Happy villagers, cute animal companions, menial tasks to smile at, it’s all there. Unfortunately, it won’t be there until next year, as Nintendo has pushed the release date back to March 20, 2020.
Lightning Round!
A ton of stuff got announced/revealed/reinforced here, so we’re just gonna whip right through it:
Spyro Reignited Trilogy – Arriving on the Switch September 3, 2019
Hollow Knight Silkson – Coming soon to the Switch
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch – Arriving on the Switch September 20, 2019
Minecraft Dungeons – Arriving on the Switch Spring 2020
Elder Scrolls Blade – Arriving on the Switch Fall 2019
My Friend Pedro – Arriving on the Switch June 20, 2019
Doom Eternal – Coming soon to the Switch
The Sinking City – Arriving on the Switch Fall 2019
Wolfenstein: Youngblood – Arriving on the Switch July 26, 2019
Dead by Daylight – Arriving on the Switch September 24, 2019
Alien Isolation – Arriving on the Switch in 2019
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles 5 Remastered – Arriving on the Switch Winter 2019
Dragon Quest Builders 2 – Arriving on the Switch July 12, 2019
Stranger Things 3: The Game – Arriving on the Switch July 4, 2019
Just Dance 2020 – Arriving on the Switch November 5, 2019 (also the Wii, a 13-year-old console.)
Catan – Arriving on the Switch June 20, 2019
New Super Lucky’s Tale – Arriving on the Switch Fall 2019
Dauntless – Arriving on the Switch late 2019
Super Mario Maker 2 – Arriving on the Switch June 28, 2019
A surprise second Smash character: Banjo- Kazooie!
People have been asking for this one for years. Then Rare was bought by Microsoft, and everyone figured that was it. But here they are. Banjo- Kazooie—the titular bear and bird from Rare’s N64 platformer. Revealed in the same way as King K. Rool, we get the fake out from Duck Hunt before tears flow as millions of fans cry out in delight. Banjo-Kazooie will by jiggy-ing into Smash Ultimate Fall 2019.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2
Nintendo loves to surprise with their directs, and this was no different. Any other year, Banjo-Kazooie could have absolutely been the final twist. Announcing a second Smash character in a single Direct is wild, but Banjo is another level. But Nintendo wasn’t done. No, they gave us some gorgeous cinematics and confirmed that a direct sequel to Breath of the Wild is in development. Unfortunately, that’s all we know which really just leaves us to speculate wildly about what it all means.
And that’s Nintendos 2019 E3 Direct! They announced a ton of stuff and dropped some crazy surprises. So what are you excited for? Did Nintendo kill it this year, or just do okay (they killed it, don’t lie)? Let us know in the comments and forums!
