Nintendo Direct September 2022: The Biggest Games And Announcements

Nintendo held its latest Nintendo Direct presentation on September 13, and it came packed full of announcements, both big and small, from a variety of first-party and third-party studios. We didn't hear any news on the much-rumored Metroid Prime remaster or ports of games like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess or Wind Waker, but what we did get was very impressive.

New Fire Emblem and Pikmin games are both on the way, we're getting a remake of one of the most-beloved Kirby games of all time, and we're getting a full sequel to Octopath Traveler. Retro fans are eating well, also, with classic N64 games like GoldenEye and Pokemon Stadium coming to Nintendo Switch Online soon, as well as a Switch release of Radiant Silvergun today, among other games and demos.

The biggest news, of course, was the release date and new name for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The sequel to Breath of the Wild was featured with some brief gameplay, and we're sure superfans will analyze every frame of the clip for weeks to come.

Below, we've rounded up the biggest games and announcements from the September 2022 Nintendo Direct.

Worth the forty-minute runtime alone, the biggest game of the Nintendo Direct was undoubtedly The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The sequel to Breath of the Wild, it will feature enormous structures floating high in the sky, with Link able to skydive down from them and glide on some sort of wing-like vehicle. Much of the game still remains a mystery, but all will be revealed next year. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom launches for Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023, more than six years after its predecessor.

Zelda BOTW 2 Is Now Titled Tears Of The Kingdom, Releases In May

The latest tactical-RPG entry in the series, Fire Emblem Engage is something of a multiverse collision game. Announced during the Nintendo Direct's opening moments, it's set in a world that must face the reemerged Fell Dragon after a millennium of peace. As a Divine Dragon, you lead the charge and can summon past Fire Emblem heroes--including legends like March--and "Engage" with them for powerful attacks. Fire Emblem Engage launches on January 20, 2023, and a Divine Edition featuring an artbook will also be available.

Fire Emblem Engage Revealed For Nintendo Switch, Releases In January

Square Enix kicked off its current HD-2D frenzy with Octopath Traveler on Switch back in 2018, and it's following up with a sequel next year. Octopath Traveler 2 features eight new characters, this time with intertwining stories across the land of Solistia. Path actions for the characters will differ depending on if it's day or night, and the world looks like it's a touch more modernized with the additions of trains and other technology. You'll be able to play as a Dancer, Warrior, Merchant, Scholar, Thief, Cleric, Hunter, and Apothecary, which just so happen to be the exact same classes as in the first game. Octopath Traveler 2 is out on February 23, 2023 for Nintendo Switch.

Octopath Traveler Confirmed During Nintendo Direct, Releasing February 24

The fan-favorite spin-off series Theatrhythm is back with Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, and it looks to be one of the most ambitious games in the whole franchise. Featuring 385 tracks from across the Final Fantasy series--and neatly organized by game--it lets you experience the Final Fantasy games in a whole new way. Alongside the single-player content, it also supports local two-player games and four-player competitive matches, and 90 more paid DLC tracks from SaGa, Nier, Octopath, and Live a Live will be coming in the future. The game is out on February 16, 2023 for Nintendo Switch.

Don't have enough Nintendo 64 games on the Switch? Fear not, as a whole bunch are coming this year and in 2023. Nintendo revealed that Mario Party, Mario Party 2, Mario Party 3, Pilotwings 64, Pokemon Stadium, Pokemon Stadium 2, 1080 Snowboarding, and Excitebike 64 are all coming to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass members. The first two Mario Party games and Pilotwings will arrive in 2022, with the rest of the mentioned games coming next year. Additionally, GoldenEye will be coming with added online play, although it doesn't yet have a release date.

Pokemon Stadium And More N64 Games Headed To Switch

Shigeru Miyamoto really likes Pikmin, and that means we're getting Pikmin 4. The game was announced with a very short teaser during the Nintendo Direct, which didn't feature any gameplay but did include a look at the new Pikmin-level perspective for the action. Miyamoto said in the presentation that the Switch makes controlling everything much simpler, so you should be able to focus on your strategic decisions more this time around. It's coming in 2023.

Pikmin 4 Releases Next Year

Bayonetta 3 is scheduled to launch on October 28, and we got a new look at the game during the Nintendo Direct. It set the stage for the game's story, which sees the heroic witch fighting against manmade bioweapons that threaten to wipe out humanity. She's not alone on her mission with Luka and Jeanne, as well as new ally Viola, by her side in the fight. For an extended look at Bayonetta 3, Nintendo also published a "Ways of the Witch" video on its YouTube channel.

New Bayonetta 3 Gameplay Features Elegant Combat And An Unstoppable Demon Cat

The latest Resident Evil game is coming to Nintendo Switch via streaming. Dubbed Resident Evil Village Cloud, the new game is the same experience available on other consoles and PC, and it has a free demo out today via the eShop. Additionally, it will support the Winters' Expansion DLC, which releases December 2 and adds more story content and a third-person mode, among other features. Alongside Village, cloud versions of Resident Evil 7 as well as the Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 remakes will be available later this year for Switch.

Resident Evil Village And Three Other Resident Evil Games Are Coming To Switch This Year

Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe is coming very soon, overhauling the classic Wii game with new features like the Mecha Copy ability and more sub-games than the original version. It supports up to four players, both in the main game and the sub-games, and everyone can play as Kirby at the same time. That music has to get you tapping your feet, and you won't have to wait too long to try it out. Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe launches February 23, 2023, and preorders kick off today.

Kirby's Return To Dream Land Remake Is Coming To Nintendo Switch

The previously announced Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII: Reunion got a release date during the Nintendo Direct. You'll be able to play this overhauled and remastered version of the PSP game on December 13. Featuring an updated combat system and visuals that rival the recent Final Fantasy VII remake, it's intended as a faithful retelling of the PSP game's events. You'll meet familiar characters, as Zack Fair is joined by the legendary Cloud Strife and Sephiroth.

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion Confirmed For December 13 Launch

The third wave of new tracks for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass will be here this holiday. Wave 3 features eight courses in total, with Mario Kart tour's Merry Mountain and Mario Kart DS's Peach Gardens featured in the presentation. The pack is included at no extra charge if you have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pass membership and is also going to be available separately in the Switch eShop.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Gets More Classic Tracks This Holiday Season

For more Nintendo Switch news from the presentation, check out these GameSpot stories:

• Nintendo Announces Splatoon 3's First Post-Launch Splatfest
• Tales Of Symphonia Remastered Coming To Nintendo Switch In 2023
• Fatal Frame: Mask Of The Lunar Eclipse Coming To Switch In Early 2023
• Tunic Releasing On Nintendo Switch September 23
• It Takes Two Comes To Switch On November 4