The third Nintendo Direct of the year just aired, and it established clear expectations for what players should expect as we head into what may be the final year of the Switch’s life as Nintendo’s main platform. Remakes of games like Mario vs. Donkey Kong and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door were confirmed, the Princess Peach game finally got a full title, and some dormant retro series like Contra and F-Zero are getting brand new games.
As this was a packed 40-minute gaming showcase full of surprising reveals, it might have been hard for you to keep track of everything shown off. There’s no need to worry about that, though, as we’ve rounded up every announcement that’s made during the September 14 Nintendo Direct.
The GBA Mario vs. Donkey Kong game is getting a remake
A new Donkey Kong game was announced during today’s Nintendo Direct, but it was different from what you might have been expecting. The Mario vs. Donkey Kong series has returned with a new entry called a remake of the GBA game that shares its name with the entire series. Mario vs. Donkey Kong is made up of a lot of intricately designed puzzle-platforming levels where Mario’s main goal is typically to find a key and bring it to a door. The remake adds co-op. It launches on February 16, 2024.
The Princess Peach game is titled Princess Peach: Showtime!
During the June Direct, Nintendo teased a new game starring Princess Peach. We learned a lot more about that game during this Direct, including the fact that it is titled Princes Peach: Showtime! Showtime! follows Princess Peach as saves many stage shows from an evil gang. The game gameplay gimmick is centered around a ribbon character named Stella, who can be used to attack enemies or transform Peach into different forms with unique abilities. Princess Peach: Showtime! will launch for Nintendo Switch on March 22, 2024.
F-Zero returns with F-Zero 99
The leak was true! The long-awaited return of the F-Zero franchises is finally happening with F-Zero 99. Following in the footsteps of Tetris 99 and Super Mario Bros. 35, this is a battle royale game based on a retro title. In F-Zero’s case, that means 99 players will be competing in high-octane races based on the first game in the series. F-Zero 99 is available exclusively for Nintendo Switch Online members starting today.
A Nintendo Museum is opening in Japan
More than halfway into the Direct, Nintendo announced that the Nintendo Gallery that it had previously teased the existence of is now a full-fledged museum. Officially called the Nintendo Museum, it is in Uji, a city in Japan’s Kyoto prefecture. Nintendo says it will display “a wide variety of products from the company’s history” and that construction of it will be complete in March 2024. An opening date for the Nintendo Museum will be confirmed at a later time, although it shouldn’t happen too long after construction concludes.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is getting a remake
To conclude the show, Nintendo revealed that a remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is in the works. This beloved GameCube Paper Mario RPG received a gorgeous visual overhaul but retains the turn-based combat of the original. Considering Paper Mario fans haven’t been happy with where the series has gone since this GameCube game, a remake of it is sure to be a satisfying announcement. The Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake comes out in 2024.
Everything else
- Splatoon 3’s Side Order DLC kicked off the show, introducing a new character named Acht and its floor-based encounter system. It launches in Spring 2024.
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown got an overview segment.
- Horizon Chase 2 got a surprise release on Nintendo Switch.
- Super Crazy Rhythm Castle got a November 14 release date.
- Spy X Anya: Operation Memories was announced and will launch in 2024.
- Super Mario RPG‘s segment highlighted how its turn-based battles work and confirmed post-game boss rematches.
- Another Code Recollection was announced and will be released on January 19, 2024.
- SaGa Emerald Beyond was announced with a 2024 release window.
- Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered was announced and launches on February 14.
- Detective Pikachu Returns received a dedicated segment ahead of its release next month.
- Trombone Champ comes to Nintendo Switch today and uses the Switch’s motion controls and IR camera.
- Mythology-based battle royale game Battle Crush was announced for Nintendo Switch
- Wartales launches later today as a Nintendo Switch console exclusive
- Contra: Operation Galuga was announced and releases in early 2024.
- Unicorn Overlord was announced by Atlus and Vanillaware and comes out on March 8, 2024.
- Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon comes to Nintendo Switch in summer 2024 as Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD.
- Zelda and Ganondorf amiibo based on Tears of the Kingdom will be released on November 3, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 amiibo for Noah and Mio come out on January 19, and a Sora amiibo is in the works.
- Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story was announced.
- Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story will launch on November 1.
- WarioWare Move It!’s segment showed off its motion-based microgames ahead of its November launch.
- Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes is a Suikoden spiritual successor coming to Nintendo Switch on April 23, 2024.
- Eastward Octopia DLC was announced.
- Wargroove 2 launches as a Nintendo Switch console exclusive on October 5.
- Dave the Diver is coming to Nintendo Switch on October 26, with a demo available today.
- The final wave of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Booster Course Pass DLC adds Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, Pauline, and Peachette this holiday.
- With a cinematic trailer, Innersloth revealed a new map for Among Us called The Fungle.
- A sizzle reel highlighted all of the first-party Nintendo games players can expect to release on Nintendo Switch between now and Summer 2024.
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