Upcoming Nintendo Switch games: The biggest confirmed releases coming in 2022
The Nintendo Switch has seen a healthy library of first and third-party games since its release in 2017, and even when it’s technically been outperformed by the Xbox and Playstation consoles, its software is tough to beat.
Super Mario Odyssey, Metroid Dread and of course, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild have been genre-defining entries, and in 2022 there are even more titles to look forward to. This year has already been big for Nintendo, with the release of Triangle Strategy, Kirby and the Forgotten Land,Lego Star Wars,Nintendo Switch Sports,Live A Live, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3,and we’re only just over half way through the year.
The recent follow-up releases of the Switch lite and the Switch OLED models have also meant there’s more ways to enjoy Nintendo titles on the go, whether you’re looking for something more compact or a brighter display, respectively, for each system.
The immense popularity of the console has only been matched by the quality of these games. And as the Nintendo eShop is extremely active for game developers of all sizes, there’s a healthy choice of games at various prices.
In this list, we will keep you updated with all our anticipated games that are confirmed to launch on the Switch in 2022 and will add new entries as they’ve been announced.
‘Xenoblade Chronicles 3’: £44.99, Amazon.co.uk – available 29 July
Each game in the series is loosely connected, but Nintendo has confirmed that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 will bridge the gap between the previous two mainline titles.
Players will control seven characters, including a new protagonist, Noah. One new battle mechanic being implemented into the game is called Ouroboros mode, where two characters can combine into a giant form, each with their own powerful move set.
Read our review of Xenoblade Chronicles 3
‘Digimon Survive’: £34.85, Base.com – available 29 July
Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Digimon anime, Digimon Survive is a brand-new adventure set in a mysterious world. It sees a brand-new group of teenagers, led by Takuma Momozuka, get lost on a school camping trip, finding them transported to a strange new world of monsters (digital ones, at that) and danger.
As they fight their way back home through an animated world of difficult decisions and deadly battles, players’ choices throughout the game will impact the evolution of their monster allies, and one of multiple endings.
‘Two Point Campus’: £34.99, Game.co.uk – available 9 August
Following the success of Two Point Hospital, a spiritual successor to simulation games like Theme Hospital, comes Two Point Campus, where players are tasked with building their own universities. Players can establish curriculums, such as magic and knight school for a fantasy flare, or even train their students to become secret agents. We’re not sure how well these schools would perform on a university ranking, but it looks like a fun, nostalgic management title.
‘PAC-MAN World Re-PAC’: £39.99, Game.co.uk – available 26 August
Arguably one of gaming’s most recognisable mascots, Pac-Man received his first 3D adventure-platformer back in 1999 which is getting the remaster treatment in PAC-MAN World Re-PAC.
After arriving home to find the ghosts have kidnapped his family, Pac-Man must run, jump and eat his way through different levels in order to rescue them. This remaster promises updated graphics, gameplay and other improvements for nostalgic fans of the original.
‘Lego Brawls’: £39.99, Very.co.uk – available 2 September
A fighting game in a similar vein to Super Smash Bros with brick-based toys, Lego Brawls is a port of the popular mobile game for consoles. Lego fans and brawlers can collect unlockable minifigures, power-ups and emotes from their favourite Lego themes as they battle and build their way to the top of the leader boards.
Players worldwide can team up and brawl 4v4, party with friends or play a battle royale-style game mode. There’s also a “free-for-brawl” mode where it’s every minifigure for themselves.
‘NBA 2K23’: £42.85, Shopto.net – available 9 September 2022
Hit the hardwood as the NBA 2K series returns, with new ways to attack off the dribble and at the rim. And, according to the publisher, 2k23 introduces an intuitive one-on-one positional shading system to unlock even more control on both ends of the floor in the most “authentic basketball experience yet”.
‘Splatoon 3’: £49.99, Argos.co.uk – available 9 September
Nintendo’s paint-based competitive shooter series makes its grand return this September with more maps, weaponry and even a new story mode. In Splatoon 3, the characters will leave the city of Inkopolis behind for the Splatlands, a Mad Max-style desert where skirmishes break out over paint rather than gasoline.
‘NieR:Automata: The End of YoRHa Edition’: £34.99, Nintendo.co.uk – available 6 October 2022
The highly acclaimed action RPG returns to the Nintendo Switch. NieR:Automata: The End of YoRHa Edition comes with previously released DLC, plus costumes exclusive to the Nintendo Switch version. When machine lifeforms from another world attack without warning, unleashing a new type of threat, humankind is driven from Earth and takes refuge on the moon.
‘Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope’: £49.99, Nintendo.co.uk – available 20 October 2022
The follow up to Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, this sequel sees Mario and friends return in an XCOM-style tactical shooter. Lead a team of three heroes and use a variety of tools to navigate the battlefield, flank your foes and find opportunities to thwart them. The game is now scheduled for release on 20 October, with pre-orders available on the Nintendo eShop.
‘Persona 5 Royal’: Nintendo.co.uk – available 21 October 2022
We never saw it coming, but Persona 5 Royal is finally making its way to the Nintendo Switch, along with Persona 4 Golden and Persona 3 Portable at a later date. It’s one of our favourite JRPGs on Playstation, so we’ve been eagerly awaiting this port.
Not only is Persona 5 Royal incredibly stylish and packed to the brim with hundreds of hours of gameplay, but it’s also surprisingly relaxing. Players take control of a young Japanese high school student as he invades the mind palaces of corrupted adults at night with the help of his friends. Think of it as a slice-of-life simulator with a sprinkle of Inception thrown in for good measure.
Find out more about the upcoming Persona games
‘Bayonetta 3’: £49.99, Game.co.uk – available 28 October 2022
In this third instalment of the Bayonetta series, the Umbra Witch returns and must join forces with some familiar faces. New characters, such as the mysterious Viola, will make an appearance, as well as a multitude of other Bayonettas (presumably in a multiverse scenario) to stop human-made Homunculi from wreaking havoc.
Players will make use of Bayonetta’s weapons and new Demon Masquerade ability to blast, stomp and slam enemies with the series’ familiar penchant for over-the-top combos and demonic powers.
‘Harvestella’: £49.99, Game.co.uk– available 4 November 2022
Announced at Nintendo Direct in June, Harvestella is a life-sim RPG where players farm, fight and forge friendships in a new fantasy world called Lethe. The seasons gently flow from spring, summer, autumn and winter. However, they’ll eventually give way to the season of death, Quietus. The fate of the village depends on players stopping the Death Season from wreaking havoc.
‘Pokémon Scarlet’ and ‘Pokémon Violet’: £89.99, Very.co.uk – available 18 November 2022
The two games will see players transported to a new region with two new professors, called Sada and Turo. From the trailers already released, we know that players will get to choose from three all-new starter Pokémon; these are called Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly, and are grass, fire and water types, respectively.
Fans of the pocket monster-catching franchise will already be familiar with how these games are released. Starting with Red and Blue back in 1996, Pokémon games are always launched in pairs, with Scarlet and Violet set to continue that trend.
‘Dragon Quest Treasures’: £49.99, Game.co.uk – available 9 December 2022
As a spin-off of Dragon Quest XI, returning characters Erik and sister Mia explore the vast world of Draconia in search of grand treasure.
Treasures is supposedly a prequel to Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age and will focus on the siblings’ journey before the start of the game.
Switch games coming in August 2022
Two Point Campus, 9 August (£34.99, Game.co.uk)
Oxide Room 104, 12 August (£24.99, Argos.co.uk)
PAC-MAN World Re-PAC, 26 August (£39.99, Game.co.uk)
Switch games coming in September 2022
Lego Brawls, 2 September (£39.99, Very.co.uk)
NBA 2K23, 9 September (£42.85, Shopto.net)
Splatoon 3, 9 September (£49.99, Argos.co.uk)
Switch games coming in October 2022
NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition, 6 October (£34.99, Nintendo.co.uk)
No Man’s Sky, 7 October (Nintendo.co.uk)
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, 20 October (£49.99, Nintendo.co.uk)
Persona 5 Royal, 21 October (Nintendo.co.uk)
Bayonetta 3, 28 October (£49.99, Game.co.uk)
Switch games coming in November 2022
Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, 18 November (£89.99, Very.co.uk)
Switch games coming in December 2022
Dragon Quest Treasures, 9 December (Nintendo.co.uk)
Hello Neighbour 2, 9 December (£34.99, Game.co.uk)
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