While you might think that 2023 holds nothing but farming games for the Switch, there are still a few surprises up Nintendo’s sleeve. Granted, a lot of farming games are releasing next year, but there are a few other big launches heading toward the Switch that we’re excited about.
TheGamer staff has congregated once more to go over what games are our most anticipated on Nintendo’s latest console, and you should be pleased to note that we only mention The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom three times. We’ve clearly learned some restraint. Read on to learn what games (in addition to Zelda) we can’t wait to play on the Switch!
Pikmin 4
Amanda Hurych
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Pikmin 4 actually gets released in 2023. If not, I’ll have to content myself with the many, many farming games set to launch on the Switch next year. Funny confession, I’ve never actually owned a Pikmin game in my life. I had a friend with a Wii U, and we would pass control back and forth while playing Pikmin 3’s story campaign. As for Pikmin 2, my cousin played it and deigned to let me have a crack at it as well.
There was always something incredibly relaxing about puzzle-solving with my little crew of Pikmin, and now that I have a Switch, I’m looking forward to being able to play it on my own. Or I could just invite friends and family to play with me. If Pikmin has taught me anything, it’s that tasks are better accomplished in a group.
Sea Of Stars
Matt Arnold
I’m usually skeptical of games trying to recapture the magic of classic JRPGs, but Sea Of Stars might just be able to pull it off. From what I’ve seen so far, it looks like it’s a little bit Chrono Trigger and a little bit Breath Of Fire, both in terms of story and gameplay. The game looks like it has some really breathtaking environments and bosses, and apparently it even has an in-universe board game to play with NPCs. All signs point to Sea Of Stars being the kind of game I’ve been waiting for.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Ben Sledge
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Nobody’s said this yet, so I will. The sequel to Breath of the Wild – in my mind, one of the best games ever made – has been my most anticipated Switch game since Nintendo announced it was in development. I’m living for the fan theories, excited by a potentially-playable short-haired Zelda, and can’t wait to stretch my legs in the Switch’s portrayal of Hyrule once again. The trailers have given very little away, but the concept of a Breath of the Wild sequel itself is enough to tickle my pickle. Nobody else is allowed to pick this now; I got here first.
Several editors picked Tears of the Kingdom as their most anticipated Switch title. Expect their entries further down.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line
David W. Duffy
My first instinct for this was to put Octopath Traveler 2, but having paid full price for the first Octopath (for the second time) on Steam Deck, so I could actually read the text, I can’t say Switch is getting my vote here. However, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is something that will absolutely be a day one purchase on my tiny (in comparison) Switch Lite. There’s nothing I can think of that would be a better ‘wind-down’ game than this, and with over 500 tracks in total, the Final Fantasy fanboy in me is hyped beyond belief. I might even break my preorder boycott for it.
Octopath Traveler 2
Quinton O’Connor
If Nintendo puts out a more revealing set of information for Tears of the Kingdom between now and Octopath Traveler 2’s arrival in February, which is highly likely, you can expect that my allegiance will (probably) shift. Breath of the Wild is my favorite video game, full stop. But right now, my little heart beats to the gorgeous tunes of Yasunori Nishiki, the first Octopath’s composer.
He’s back for the sequel, and hot diggity, his stuff sounds good. Oh, to be sure, the characters seem lovely, the graphics are grand, and the battles will be riveting. When it comes to Octopath games though, it’s Nishiki’s vibrant audio wonderland, and I’m just lucky enough to live in it.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Rebecca Phillips
Well, Tears of the Kingdom may have already been claimed, but that’s not going to stop me from talking about it again. This is sort of embarrassing to admit, considering I work for TheGamer, but Breath of the Wild was one of the first games I played outside of Pokemon.
For the first 20 or so years of my life, all I cared about was Pokemon and the very occasional Harvest Moon, until Breath of the Wild got recommended to me on one fated day, and I haven’t looked back since. I played the hell out of that game. I memorized the map of Hyrule like it was the back of my hand. So if Tears of the Kingdom can make me feel even half of what Breath of the Wild did, I’ll be happy.
Story Of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
Helen Ashcroft
I love a good farming sim, and while I’m excited to see so many of them coming out over the next few months, I decided to opt for the classic and choose Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life. This series has never let me down, and I continue to enjoy playing several Story of Seasons games. They work well on the Switch and having a farming Sim I can take anywhere for an instant hit of that chilled vibe is hugely appealing.
However, just because I chose the safe option doesn’t mean I won’t be enjoying even more farming games in 2023. In fact, the farming sims start coming even sooner than that and don’t seem to be stopping. Consider this my love letter to farming Sims in general. Bring on the hoes! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
Fire Emblem: Engage
Stacey Henley
Fire Emblem: Engage was revealed in the same Nintendo Direct as Tears of the Kingdom got its official Tears of the Kingdom name (rip Liz and all that), and was by far the more exciting part of the showcase. Fire Emblem has quietly been Nintendo’s most interesting series for a while now, blending together the older facets of TRPGs while modernising its characters. I’m less sold on the V-tuber protag than I’d like, but I’m hopeful it will build on the great work Three Houses did for the game.
Tales Of Symphonia Remastered
James Troughton
Tales of Berseria and Arise are two of my favourite JRPGs, both astounding globe-trotting adventures with quirky casts, but when I tried to play Symphonia, its age bled through the cracks. It’s janky, obtuse, and difficult, so, after persevering for over 20 hours, I gave up. It wasn’t worth the headache. And that was a shame because I loved the chibi artstyle and characters, the latter of which are always great in a Tales game. The remaster promises quality of life updates, graphical tweaks, and more, so I’m excited to see if I’ll be able to push through and beat it this time.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Justin Reeve
I loved Breath of the Wild. You can always argue these things, but in my personal opinion at least, this was the best game of the last decade by a fairly comfortable margin. The game held together perfectly in terms of its mechanics, aesthetics, and story. Yes, before you ask, I actually did appreciate the weapon degradation, which as a mechanic, I think picked up on some elements of the aesthetics and story, something which I’ve written about before.
In other words, I have extremely high hopes for Tears of the Kingdom. While the developer hasn’t actually shown off a lot, what I’ve seen is definitely promising enough to get excited about, easily making Tears of the Kingdom the most anticipated game of next year for me.
Story Of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
Branden Lizardi
I like to believe that everyone has that one game that was quintessential to the development of both their gaming preferences and overall personal taste. The original Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life is undoubtedly mine. I still remember going to the local Family Video and seeing it on the game rental shelf. “Whoa, you can get married to a girl?” was the main thing drawing my prepubescent mind in.
But as I played through the life of a humble farmer, the more entranced by the modest nuance I became. Getting up early, watering some crops, and making sure my cows were happy, it all granted such a sense of peaceful satisfaction. The rustic sense of progress eventually made its way into the rest of my personal life. Now, nearly 20 years later, I’m growing actual turnips in a small veggie garden in my backyard. The original will always hold a special place in my nostalgic heart, and the opportunity to play it again in a remade format has me nothing short of elated.
Kirby’s Return To Dream Land Deluxe
George Foster
I mean, I could just pick Tears of the Kingdom and list all of the reasons why it’s going to be the best game of 2023. That’d be both valid and probably end up being pretty accurate, no matter what Stacey will have you think.
Still, as great as that’s going to be, Link can’t quite top my main squeeze Kirby, and Return to Dreamland is one of the few games in the series that I have yet to properly play through, despite hearing for years that it has the best suite of Copy Abilities that Kirby has ever had. Getting the chance to give it a go with a more unique art style, a new Copy Ability, and numerous other changes is very exciting indeed.
Inescapable
Joe Parlock
I absolutely adore Danganronpa. From the memorable characters to the action-packed trials, I inhaled all three games in a matter of months at the start of lockdown. And then there I sat, gazing at the end credits of Danganronpa V3 (now one of my favourite games of all time), feeling slightly hollow. Nothing has filled that void since – not Phoenix Wright, not Gnosia, not 999, nothing. And yet Inescapable, with its 11 participants trapped on an island without rules for a $500,000 prize, looks like it may finally give me that Death Game Backstabbing I so desperately crave.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
Axel Nicolás Bosso
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While not being a disappointment in any way, it’s true that Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising felt like a prologue that was too long, with too many systems and stores, and without much substance. However, it had some of the strong aspects that we would expect from a spiritual successor of the Suikoden series: likable characters, strong world-building, and a bit of politics here and there (although it was nothing deep).
Sure, we’ll need much more than that for the real Eiyuden entry, but everything’s pointing in the right direction. The combat looks fantastic, it’s beautifully animated, and there’ll be a ton of protagonists and NPCs to meet. With the nice surprise of the first two Suikoden getting a proper remaster, it feels like 2023 will be a great year for JRPG fans. Quinton, Ryan, James, and I will be pretty happy.
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