The June 2023 Nintendo Direct shed plenty of light on the Big N’s plans for the Switch in the rest of 2023. Headline acts include a brand-new 2D Mario game and a Super Mario RPG remake launching just months apart. Square Enix is remaking Star Ocean, WarioWare is back in town, and there’s even a new Dragon Quest Monsters in the works.
Nintendo also teased a few new Mario projects for 2024, including a Princess Peach game and a Switch remake of a 3DS classic.
There’s a lot to see, and our June Nintendo Direct recap lists it all out for you.
The first new Super Mario Bros. game in over a decade adds a generous touch of imagination to the mix, thanks to the Wonder Flowers and their surreal effects. Check out the trailer in our Super Mario Bros. Wonder recap.
Nintendo finally pulled the curtain back and showcased Pikmin 4 gameplay, including Oatchi’s helpful abilities and a look at some of the vibrant worlds in store. A demo is planned for sometime before the game launches in July 2023.
If you can’t wait until July for Pikmin, you can grab the first two games in their HD forms on the Switch eShop. They’re available individually or bundled together with a slight discount. A physical version of the bundle will launch sometime later in 2023.
Square Enix is bringing Star Ocean The Second Story to life once again, but unlike First Departure, this is a full remake with new features and revamped visuals. Check it out in action in our Star Ocean 2 remake recap.
Nintendo is remastering Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon for Nintendo Switch, updating the 3DS game for modern audiences with slick new visuals. There’s no release date for it yet, though.
Princess Peach finally gets to star in her own game for the first time since the Nintendo DS’ awkward Super Princess Peach. It’s a bit early to say what’s actually going on, though it evidently revolves around some kind of theatrical motif. Nintendo promised more information in the coming months.
Summer is here, and Splatoon 3 is celebrating with ice cream and a splatfest. The latest tournament kicks off on July 14, 2023, and asks you to pick your favorite ice cream: mint (the correct choice), strawberry, or vanilla.
After years of slumber, Dragon Quest Monsters is coming back with a brand-new entry: The Dark Prince. This one follows the main antagonist of Dragon Quest 4 who trains and manipulates monsters, since he’s not allowed to actually cause them any harm. Square Enix promised new monster synthesis and 500 critters to train, including some that are new to the Dragon Quest series, when Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince launches on Dec. 1, 2023.
The hit indie game is finally launching on Nintendo Switch on Aug. 17, 2023.
Wario is back for more mini-game shenanigans in WarioWare: Move It! This time, you’ll be moving your entire body to control the action. It raises some accessibility questions, but Nintendo will no doubt have more to say about control methods before the game launches on Nov. 3, 2023.
Super Mario RPG is getting the remake treatment. It’s set for launch in November 2023, and you can get a glimpse of it in action in our Mario RPG remake recap.
Ubisoft’s classic Just Dance series is still going strong, and you can check out the latest one in a new trailer.
The Last Spark Hunter is the last piece of Sparks of Hope DLC, and it’s out now.
We already knew Persona 5 Tactica existed and was launching on the Switch, but the Direct highlighted a new trailer with a bit more info.
The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero is getting a little bit closer. Nintendo teased more info soon, but for now, you can check out a bit of what to expect in a meaty new trailer.
We also knew Sonic Superstars was coming to Nintendo Switch, but we get to see a little bit more of it in this new trailer.
Why have a standard rhythm game when you can have one with pigeons?
Detective Pikachu 2 is real, and while the trailer tells us basically nothing about the game, it still sets the tone for our return to Rhyme City.
Palia, the ambitious new cozy game from former Blizzard devs, is also coming to Nintendo Switch.
The Batman Arkham games are finally coming to switch, bundled together in one convenient package. Expect it to launch sometime in fall 2023.
Konami announced the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection during Sony’s May PlayStation Showcase, and now we get a look at what all comes in it. The answer is a lot, including remasters, original games, and even a graphic novel. The collection launches on Oct. 24, 2023.
Another new course is coming to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe along with some familiar faces from the past.
XSEED is publishing a new dungeon crawler with a fairytale twist.
Penny’s Big Breakaway is a stylish new platformer starring Penny, her yo-yo, and a mob of penguins chasing her through a dozen expansive worlds.
Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF
