Home » Most Anticipated Nintendo Switch Games of Q3 and Q4 2018

Most Anticipated Nintendo Switch Games of Q3 and Q4 2018

Written By Zen Estacio
Published • September 7th, 2018
FeatureGaming
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The end of 2018 is almost upon us but Nintendo is still cooking up some surprises for their beloved hybrid. While we are rearing to get our hands on some big ports, we’re also hyped to play new titles from Nintendo themselves or other devs. So, with that in mind let’s check out the most anticipated Nintendo Switch games of Q3 and Q4 2018.

Super Smash Bros Ultimate — December 7, 2018

Of course, we’ll start with undoubtedly the most anticipated Nintendo game of the year — Super Smash Bros Ultimate. The ultimate fighting mash-up of Nintendo hasn’t seen a reboot or a new version since the last one was released 4 years ago for the 3DS and Wii. This is why fans all around the world went crazy when Nintendo finally announced the Switch version of the game back in March.

As of writing, there are currently 67 fighters in the game, they may reveal more as we get closer to release. Eight player battles are making a return here and we’re getting around 103 battle stages. There is also support for Amiibo’s and GameCube controllers. Nintendo will most probably milk this cow a lot so expect different special bundles.

Pokemon: Let’s Go, Eevee! and Pikachu! — November 16, 2018

Let’s of course not forget about Let’s Go Eevee! and Pikachu!. These two may not be the core Pokemon game we’ve all been waiting for but it is our first taste of an HD pokemon series. Apart, from side games like Pokken Tournament and such. They do lack a few key features we want to see like wild pokemon combat but it does have a few things to whet our appetite. These include Gym battles, companion pokemon, a free world to roam, and most notable of all multiplayer.

The gameplay and graphics look very much like with Pokemon Go. In fact, it even lets us transfer some pokemon from our Pokemon Go list to the game itself. As for that same gameplay, the catching mechanic of the titles are the same as the mobile game. Except there’s multiplayer catching and of course, the multiplayer gym battles.

Diablo III: Eternal Collection — Fall 2018 (expected release date)

Fans, including me, went bananas again when out of the blue Nintendo and Blizzard announced a Switch port of Diablo III. First released for PC back in 2012, it was the successor of the cult classic Diablo II. The game was generally hyped, anticipated, and speculated for more than a decade. After all, it was years since we last saw an update to the series before it got revealed. The game quickly became the most and fastest selling PC game of 2012.

Nintendo is including exclusive items to the Switch version of Diablo III (more about those here) as well as the two currently available expansions. For the most part, it seems to be the game we’ve played and loved for the past six years. Of course, with a little tweak in controls due to the button limitation of the Switch. I believe this is the perfect platform for the game as being able to play Diablo anywhere, anytime is a dream come true.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country — September 21, 2018

Part of Nintendo’s keynote during E3! 2018 was the reveal of an expansion for Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Technically though, this is a stand-alone expansion in the series. Meaning you don’t have to own the base game to play it as it will be sold as a separate title. The story is set 500 years before the events of the main storyline. Players will get to play the main antagonists of the first game — Jin and Malos.

The title is part of the Xenoblade Season pass and is actually the last entry. Those who have the pass will get it earlier on September 14 before it becomes available for retail a week later. I expect this to have the same gameplay as the first one with changes only in story but we can never tell they may add in some new stuff.

The World Ends With You: Final Remix — October 12, 2018

Arguably, one of the best games that ever graced the Nintendo DS back in the day was TWEWY or The World Ends With You. The title instantly became a classic thanks to its graphics, soundtrack, and gameplay. In fact, it became the top-selling DS title in North America during its release back in 2008.

Now, after almost 10 years without a follow-up, except for an Android/iOS port back in 2012, the game is finally getting a full reboot. It may not be a sequel or expansion but Nintendo is promising new content for veterans and new players to enjoy. Of course, there will be a significant improvement over the previous title, in graphics for the most part.

NBA 2K19 — September 10, 2018

The year is never complete without a new version of a 2K game, whether it be wrestling or basketball. As such, in just a few days the Switch will be receiving the 2K19 version of NBA. I’m expecting this will be the case for the foreseeable future since the Switch is now part of the normal console roster.

So, it won’t be a surprise if it also gets 2K20 or 2K21 in the coming years. Again, we get to enjoy balling action with the latest and greatest 2K has thought of for the year.

FIFA 19 — September 28, 2018

Football fans also have something to look forward to this month as FIFA 19 is slated to be released towards the end of September. Players will get to enjoy split joy-con support so it’s an instant two-player game for the Switch, without the need of an extra pair. There are some tweaks and improvements on gameplay and the UI. There will also be a Champions and Europa League modes, with official commentary from Derek Rae and Lee Dixon.

If the hype from the world cup hasn’t died down yet then this is surely an exciting release for fans. Of course, Christiano Ronaldo is the star of the show, despite their early exit in the world cup. In any case, it’s looking to be a pretty solid title.

Dark Souls Remastered — October 19, 2018

Announced back in January during a Mini Direct, Dark Souls Remastered was supposed to have been already part of the growing line-up of the Nintendo Switch. Sadly, devs had to push back the release, possibly for better optimization and bug fixing. It’s now slated for a mid-October release.

This is the remastered version of the first entry into the franchise. It will include the Artorias of the Abyss DLC without added cost. Of course, the notorious difficulty and unforgiving nature of the series will, in fact, be present. It’s just that we are now going to experience that “death” screen wherever we go.

Megaman 11 — October 2, 2018

The 11th entry into the core series of Megaman. The game follows Megaman 10, which was released eight years ago. Fans around the world first got word of the release last year, during the 30th-anniversary celebration of the franchise. Since then we’ve seen snippets of gameplay and characters.

The game will take a different approach this time and will enter the 3D and 2.5D world, a departure from its previous pixel-based approach. There are a few unique mechanics added to it. Most notably the Dual Gear system, which gives Megaman two new tricks.

Valkyria Chronicles 4 — September 25, 2018

I, for one, is really excited for the release of Valkyria Chronicles 4, since playing the second installment on the PlayStation Portable (Valkyria Chronicles II). This is the fourth installment in the war series, which features turn-based tactical combat and a class-based system. The turn-based system is better known as BLiTZ (Battle of Live Tactical Zones). It’s practically a mix of turn-based strategy, RPG, and 3rd person shooter.

The game was first released on the PlayStation 4 in Japan back in March. The release later this September is for the Xbox One, Switch, and PC. The game pretty much takes cues from the first three titles of the series. Except for the addition of a new class and the Brave system.

The storyline takes place during the first and third installments but focuses more on the Atlantic Federation rather than the Gallian forces. So, it’s like a different perspective of the 1st and 3rd storyline.

Dragon Ball FighterZ — 2018 (expected release date)

This game needs no introduction and we’re already enjoying its heart-pumping action on the PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Nothing much has changed for the Switch version of DragonBall FighterZ, except for Switch control optimization. This is still very much the brawler of a game from the famed Dragon Ball universe.

Of course, the only added bonus is that we now get to play it anywhere and anytime. Oh, Nintendo is also promising 60fps performance both docked and undocked. We’ll know more once it gets an official release date. So far, we only know it’s coming this year.

Warframe — TBD (Possible late 2018 or 2019)

Currently standing strong among the most played game on Steam for about 5 years now, Warframe is arguably one of the current best free to play games out there. Now fans of the title get to experience it anywhere, anytime once it arrives on the Nintendo Switch. There is no clear release date for the game yet so it could be this year or possibly next year. For a little refresher, Warframe is a 3rd person action shooter with melee elements and a now open-world map.

Either way, I am sure Panic Button, the one handling the port, will do their best in bringing all the features we enjoy on the PC and other console versions. After all, they were the ones responsible for porting Doom and Rocket League.

And there you have it! These are currently the most anticipated games that’ll hit our beloved Switch. Of course, we have about four more months until the end of 2018 so they may be more surprises coming our way. If we missed any title, do hit us up in the comments section below.

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Zen Estacio

Zen Estacio is a Multimedia Producer for YugaTech. He is the team's laptop guru and one of their resident gamers. He has a monthly column compiling the latest and greatest the Nintendo Switch has to offer. Aside from that, he regularly writes gaming news, reviews, and impressions. You can hit him up at @papanZEN