Nintendo's latest video presentation showed off tons of family-friendly Switch games.
Nintendo released its latest “Nintendo Direct” video presentation Wednesday, highlighting a slew of new and upcoming Switch games everyone in the family can enjoy. Here are some of the highlights. (You can watch the entire Direct on Nintendo’s YouTube channel.)
This sequel to the original Super Mario Maker on 3DS and Wii U will be released on Switch in June 2019. Like the first game, it will allow players to create their own “Super Mario”-style levels by placing each individual element, from enemies to blocks, where they want. This time around, players will have access to new tools, items, and other features, like being able to create sloped paths.
Coming to Switch later this year, this installment in the popular The Legend of Zelda series is a remake of the original Link’s Awakening, which was released on the Game Boy in 1993 in North America. The game will take players to the island of Koholint, where they’ll need to help Link explore the world and complete dungeons on an epic adventure. If your family loved the wide-open 3D world of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, this is your chance to try Zelda in 2D (but with modern gameplay).
Tetris 99 is the classic puzzle game of Tetris with a multiplayer, almost Battle Royale, twist. The game pits 99 players against one another (each on their own board), with the goal of being the last one standing (or in this case, still playing). Tetris 99 is available to download for free on Switch, but you’ll need to be a Nintendo Switch Online subscriber to actually compete online.
Full disclosure: SuperParent’s parent company, Greenlit Content, works with Tetris as a client. SuperParent’s coverage remains objective.
Disney’s Tsum Tsums are adorable stuffed animals (as well as toys and other items) that feature popular Disney characters that have been transformed into stackable “rectangles” with round faces. In Disney Tsum Tsum Festival, up to four players will be able to compete in a variety of mini-games. Players can also compete online against others, if they’re Nintendo Switch Online members. Finally, the game will include a version of the Line: Disney Tsum Tsum puzzle game that was previously released on mobile devices. Disney Tsum Tsum Festival will launch on Switch later this year.
While Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker isn’t a new game (it launched on Switch and 3DS in July 2018), the Switch version received two new updates. First, a free update is available now that adds full two-player co-op support to the game, allowing two players to take on all of the game’s puzzle courses together.
The second update adds optional paid content to the game. This downloadable content (DLC) pack adds five new courses and 18 new challenges for players to complete, either on their own or with a friend. Players can purchase this DLC pack today, but only one of the new courses is currently available. The rest will be released on March 14. Players who don’t own Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker will have the option to buy the full game and the DLC in a bundle from the Switch’s online store. To learn more about Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, check out our review.
Brandy Berthelson has been writing about video games and technology since 2006, with her work appearing on sites including AOL Games, Digital Spy, and Adweek. When she’s not gaming, Brandy enjoys crafting, baking, and traveling with her husband.
