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Our most anticipated Nintendo Switch games of 2022

Giovanni Colantonio
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Nintendo Switch owners had an uneven 2021. To the system’s credit, the highs were very high when it came to new games. Metroid Dread proved to be one of the year’s best games, and games like New Pokémon Snap and Monster Hunter Rise gave players plenty of reasons to log in. On the other hand, Mario Golf: Super Rush and WarioWare: Get It Together! were underwhelming franchise revivals that left players wanting more.

For those who wanted more reasons to boot up their Switch this year, look no further than 2022. The console is set to have its best year since launch thanks to some high-profile releases. Just the prospect of a sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild makes this a year to watch — and that’s only scratching the surface.

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Here’s what Switch owners can expect to play in 2022 — well, as long as delays don’t push these games to 2023, that is.

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Pokémon Legends: Arceus (January 28)

Hisuian Braviary in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Switch owners will kick off 2022 in a big way thanks to Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The action-RPG is a total reimagining of the regular Pokémon formula, taking cues from the Monster Hunter series instead. Players will explore more open areas and try to study as many monsters as possible. It’s a complete wild card, but that’s what makes it exciting. The Pokémon series rarely gets radically reinvented like this, so this could be a turning point … or a disaster. In either case, it’s a game to watch.

Neon White (winter 2022)

A player looks to attack an enemy with a gun card in Neon White.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Neon White has a fascinating premise. It’s a lightning-fast action game where players use cards to attack and move. Those two ideas seem opposed to one another when it comes to game speed, but early looks at the game are extremely promising. A gameplay trailer shows a character zipping around small areas collecting cards and carefully deploying them on the fly. It’s the kind of creative indie action game that’s bound to gain a cult following in the speedrunning scene.

Triangle Strategy (March 4)

A player plots an attack in Triangle Strategy.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Triangle Strategy may win the award for “funniest title” of 2022 when all’s said and done, but the game itself isn’t a joke. Created by the team behind hit Switch RPG Octopath Traveler, Triangle Strategy is an intriguing tactics game sporting excellent pixel art graphics. For Fire Emblem fans craving a new Switch strategy game, this should be the next best thing.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land (spring 2022)

Kirby sucks up an enemy in in Kirby and the Forgotten Lands.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The news that the Kirby series would be returning to 3D for the first time in decades was exciting enough on its own. But the actual reveal trailer for Kirby and the Forgotten Land was really what got fans talking. The mysterious clip shows off what appears to be a postapocalyptic open-world game where Kirby explores dilapidated shopping malls like he’s in The Last of Us. It’s a bizarre pitch for such a cute and cuddly series, so color us intrigued.

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-boot Camp (spring 2022)

The updated visuals of Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It’s been a long time since we’ve seen the Advance Wars series, but that’ll finally change in 2022. Advance Wars 1+2: Re-boot Camp will bring the classic handheld strategy series to Switch via a remake two-pack. Updated visuals and mechanics should modernize the beloved series, giving an influential series some much-needed shine. Fingers crossed that this leads to a proper sequel down the line.

The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild sequel (TBA)

Link runs across Hyrule in the sequel to Breath of the Wild.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It may not have an official title, but the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is on every gamer’s lips regardless. Scheduled for a 2022 release, the game has the herculean task of following up arguably the best video game of the past five years. Judging by its E3 2021 trailer, it looks like Nintendo is up for the task. The clip showed off some impressive new features, such as an entire sky world reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. We’d be shocked if lightning didn’t strike twice here.

Splatoon 3 (TBA)

A team of Inklings in the air.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Splatoon is one of the most creative shooters around, so a sequel is always welcome. Splatoon 3 will once again pit player versus player in a battle of ink warfare. What’s particularly exciting this time, though, is that the latest installment is going even deeper into fleshing out the world of Splatoon. Trailers have promised a more lore-heavy adventure that should make this appealing to people who want more single-player potential from the series. Those who want traditional PVP will still get it, though, and they’ll have plenty of new ink-shooting weapons to try out when it launches.

Sonic Frontiers (TBA)

Sonic stares at an open world in Sonic Frontiers.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Sonic series has been full of disappointment over the past few decades, but I can’t help but get excited about Sonic Frontiers. The “open zone” game draws some clear inspiration from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which has proven to be a winning formula for games like Genshin Impact. Will Sonic’s speedy gameplay really match up with that idea? Maybe not, but the franchise is in desperate need for reinvention and this is as good an experiment as any.

Bayonetta 3 (TBA)

Bayonetta in Bayonetta 3.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Bayonetta 3 has been a long time coming. The sequel was first announced in one of Nintendo’s first Switch Directs in 2017. Fans wouldn’t get another glimpse of it until 2021, when it finally got a 2022 release window. So far, the gameplay glimpses have lived up to the hype. PlatinumGames’ signature action looks as fast and weird as ever, which is exactly what fans crave with Bayonetta. Strap in for a fun, weird time.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope (TBA)

Mario and company in Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was the biggest surprise of the Switch’s maiden year, so my hopes for its sequel are high. Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope will double down on everything that made the original tactics game work, while adding in some new mechanics and characters. The new “sparks” system looks like it’ll add even more options to battles, amplifying an already excellent strategy game. Plus, how can you not be excited about the prospect of Rabbid Rosalina?

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Giovanni Colantonio
Giovanni Colantonio
Section Editor, Gaming
Giovanni is a writer and video producer focusing on happenings in the video game industry. He has contributed stories to…
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A hand picks up an 8BitDo Ultimate controller.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is out now and it's receiving rave reviews from critics and fans alike. While there's a lot to love, the Switch sequel does have one sticking point: its complicated controls.

Like Breath of the Wild, Link's latest adventure requires fans to do a lot of button juggling as they swap weapons, shields, items, abilities, and more on the fly. Tears of the Kingdom is even more complicated than its predecessor, as some of its new features require players to press and hold a button while pressing another and moving the control stick.

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All About Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Ft. The Legend of Zelda - Nintendo Switch
Free for Nintendo Switch Online members until May 7 and available at a 50% discount on the eShop through the launch of Tears of the Kingdom, this game is a rare case of Nintendo collaborating with an indie studio for a project tied to one of its biggest franchises. The result is a Zelda game that expands on the rhythm-based action formula established in Brace Yourself Games’ 2016 hit Crypt of the NecroDancer.
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A unique adventure
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The act of playing Cadence of Hyrule is where things get really interesting, as it combines old and new ideas to create something that feels familiar yet refreshing. Starting with the new, this is a rhythm game where players must move and attack enemies on the beat. The Zelda franchise is known for its music, and Cadence of Hyrule takes full advantage of that by including versions of some of the series’ greatest hits. Until we get a Theatrhythm-like game for Zelda music, this is game fans of the franchise's iconic soundtracks can't ignore. 
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But still familiar-feeling
 
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A duel in the Wild West section of Live A Live.

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On top of that, this remake of a 1994 SNES game also gives the experience an extreme visual facelift with the HD-2D visuals that make games like Octopath Traveler 2 shine. Digital Trends found the game charming, with George Yang saying Live A Live "has the hallmarks that make it a good entry in the genre" in his three-and-a-half star review of the title. 
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Live a Live is available now for Nintendo Switch and will be released for PC, PS4, and PS5 on April 27. PlayStation Plus members can currently preorder the game for a 20% discount as well.

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