Summer Game Fest 2024 has essentially wrapped up with the new Nintendo Direct today having dropped in full to reveal and show off exactly what Mario and co. are up to for the rest of the year and into some of 2025.
And what a set of reveals it was! Metroid Prime 4 is genuinely on the way, it seems like, and there's even an all-new Zelda game that's actually about Zelda. The 40-minute showcase delivered, though as previously announced there wasn't any "mention of the Nintendo Switch successor" during it.
Below we've gathered all the important bits out of the Nintendo Direct while the blow-by-blow recap as it happened live remains underneath in case you'd like to see how it all unfolded as the Nintendo Direct was streamed.
Everything announced at the Nintendo Direct
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, featuring Zelda as the playable lead, releases September 26
- Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake launches November 14
- Super Mario Party Jamboree, the biggest Mario Party game yet, launches October 17 for the Nintendo Switch
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is real and really set to launch for the Nintendo Switch in 2025
- Donkey Kong Country Returns HD returns in HD for the Switch on January 16, 2025
- Nintendo Switch Online is adding Turok: Dinosaur Hunter, Perfect Dark with multiplayer, Zelda: A Link to the Past Four Swords, and Metroid: Zero Mission
- Darkest Dungeon 2 is coming to Nintendo Switch on July 15
- Stray releases for the Switch this holiday
Tales of the Shire, the Animal Crossing-like Lord of the Rings game, also launches this holiday on the Nintendo Switch - Metal Slug Attack Reloaded, a tower defense game, launches on Nintendo Switch today
- Nintendo Switch Sports is getting a free basketball update this summer
- MIO: Memories in Orbit, which features an android in an overgrown world where machines have gone wild, launches on the Switch in 2025
- Disney Illusion Island is getting a free update, The Mystery in Monoth, today for the Nintendo Switch
- Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics brings a whole slew of, well, arcade classics to the Nintendo Switch later this year
- Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero, from the folks behind Disgaea, launches on the Switch next year
- The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy- looks to be a strategy RPG from the Danganronpa creators, launching on Switch early next year
- Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven is a full remake of the original that's set to launch for the Switch on October 24
- Fantasian escapes Apple Arcade as Fantasian Neo Dimension on Nintendo Switch this winter
- Fairy Tail 2 from Koei Tecmo and Gust launches on Switch this winter
- Ace Attorney Investigations Collection brings Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth and Ace Attorney Investigations 2: Prosecutor's Gambit to Switch on September 6
- Farmagia is a farming/monster battler with designs from Fairy Tail creator Hiro Mashima that's set to launch on Switch this November 1
- The New Denpa Men, which defies further description, launches July 22 for the Switch
Refresh
First things first, if you'd like to watch the Nintendo Direct you'll want to head to YouTube just before 7am PT/ 10am ET/ 3pm BST. You've got 40 minutes of reveals ahead of you so bring a snack or two.
We'll be covering the news as it happens, so don't fret if you need to step away or close a tab while watching on company time if your boss walks by.
Nintendo might not be talking about the Switch 2, but we can catch you up. After oodles of reports and rumors, Nintendo revealed on May 7 that, yes, the Switch successor is a thing and something that'll be shown off properly "within this fiscal year."
It all adds that sense of 'will they?' before each new showcase. Regarding this Direct, though, they will not.
So what are we getting? As for first-party upcoming Switch games, it looks a tad light. Luigi's Mansion 2 HD and Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition are due this year, but we don't know of much else. Perhaps that means the Direct will be dominated by third-party games, or we could be in for some surprises. A selection of upgraded Zelda classics for Switch has been rumored for ages, after all.
One thing I'm sure many would like to see is Hollow Knight: Silksong. Mind you, the Microsoft Store recently stated that we'd have to wait another 7,974 years to play it, which is mean and perhaps a sign not to get those hopes up. Dare we dream, though?
Just under one hour to go until showtime, gang! Grab those snacks if you need 'em.
There's been some chatter online that we may see Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi's throwback RPG Fantasian released beyond Apple Arcade. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be spending the next 40 mins trying to manifest the rumor into being.
And with just over 20 minutes to go until this thing really kicks off, you're now stuck with me, GamesRadar+ US Managing Editor Rollin Bishop, for the remainder of this flight.
How are we all? Hydrated? Ready for anything? I know I am.
It does seem worth noting that I still hold the same opinion that I did at the end of May: it really feels like Nintendo might just coast directly into the Switch 2. While I'd love for some big, huge surprises out of today's Nintendo Direct, I'm also pretty content with what I already have on my Switch. (I wouldn't turn my nose up at a surprise Unicorn Overlord expansion, however.)
That said, 40 minutes is an awfully long time. And this is Nintendo we're talking about; Directs have a history of being short, sweet, and to the point. If the company is spending this long in a Direct alone, that sounds like something particularly beefy is on the horizon.
We only have 10 minutes left until we all collectively find out what, exactly, that might be.
And look, if this is the last truly significant Nintendo Direct during the OG Switch's time as the main attraction, it'd be lovely if this were a total blowout, wouldn't it? I'll ready my clown makeup, just as Mr. Harris did, but for me it'll be about Metroid Prime 4.
And here we go!
Promising start to see Luigi and Mario off the bat. A port or remake of one of the mobile RPGs, maybe?
Mario & Luigi it is! But in true-blue 3D. Looking good, fellas. How long has it been since a truly new one of these? Because that's what this actually looks like.
Gameplay here looking like a solid translation of how this worked on the handheld consoles.
Mario & Luigi Brothership is coming November 7, 2024.
First new entry and almost 9 years, according to Nintendo. Described as a seafaring adventure across multiple islands. And on to the next!
Seeing some gameplay from Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition. We already knew this was coming, but it's interesting to see challenges in there.
Honestly I'm still thinking about Mario & Luigi Brothership. Look at my boys!
Fairy Tail 2 from Koei Tecmo. Launching this winter. Big year for anime games, if that's your thing.
Fantasian! It's real! It's escaping Apple Arcade!
New name though. Fantasian Neo Dimension launching this holiday.
Basketball is being added as a free update to the Nintendo Switch Sports game. Two-on-two matches with motion controls, basket challenges solo or multiplayer. Online play for the two-on-two matches. So if you've really been gunning for more sports games, look forward to this summer.
Now what is this atmospheric lovely little thing. Some kind of robotic platformer and world. Weird sad robot alert.
Mio: Memories in Orbit coming 2025.
New Disney Illusion Island update available later today! Kind of an overlooked little fun title in my opinion.
Hello Kitty game also escaping mobile next year, and Looney Tunes Wacky World of Sports coming this fall.
New crewmate and impostor roles being added to Among Us! Why this is in the Nintendo Direct, I don't know, but it's coming out later today.
Another anime-looking game called Farmagia with designs from the creator of Fairy Tail. Seems like you grow monsters in the ground like produce? And then use them to fight. A little bit Stardew Valley, a little bit Monster Rancher. But without the CDs.
November 1, 2024 on Nintendo Switch.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is also coming to Nintendo Switch! It's Donkey Kong Country Returns but in high definition. That's... that's just what it is.
Two-player local co-op! 80 levels total, including those from the 3DS version. Releasing January 16, 2025.
The time is nigh... for the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. Looking good! But then HD-2D is basically made specifically for me.
This thing looks absolutely gorgeous, and I suspect many folks won't be familiar with the original, so they'll have plenty to look forward to when it releases for the Nintendo Switch on November 14, 2024.
Also! Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake set for 2025! Nice completion of the trilogy there.
It's just a bit of key slash concept art, but all my friends are here.
Funko Fusion is up. I... I'm sorry, the gameplay and puzzles and such all seem interesting but I can't get over my personal aversion to Funkos. September 13, 2024 on Nintendo Switch.
Luigi's Mansion 2 HD! It's Luigi's Mansion 2 but in high definition. June 27, 2024, which we already new.
The New Denpa Men... This is one for our very own Dustin Bailey. Free to play, July 22, 2024 on Nintendo Switch. I'm not sure what I just saw, if I'm being honest.
Deckbuilding Metal Slug? Be still my heart. Metal Slug Attack Reloaded out on Nintendo Switch later today.
Darkest Dungeon 2 is coming to Nintendo Switch. It's Darkest Dungeon 2 on the Switch! July 15, 2024, pre-orders later today.
Zelda: A Link to the Past Four Swords is coming to Nintendo Switch Online! Metroid Zero Mission too! And N64 Mature titles are coming -- with Turok: Dinosaur Hunter. And Perfect Dark! If you can believe it!
With online multiplayer! My gods. All of this available later today.
A new Phantom Brave? What year is this?? Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is coming to Nintendo Switch. Coming 2025.
Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection Arcade Classics is coming to Nintendo Switch this year. Whole mess (7?) of fighters and brawlers in here. That includes Marvel vs. Capcom 2.
It's a new Mario Party! Super Mario Party Jamboree. Lots of little minigames, as usual, across what appears to be new game board with some returning.
Over 100 minigames. That's a lot of ways to get mad at your friends. Up to 20 players can compete online in a specific mode (Koopathalon?). Launching October 17, 2024 for the Nintendo Switch.
And there it is, folks. They're officially doing more Zelda remakes in the style of the Link's Awakening one. Wait! No! A new game! The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom with playable Zelda.
Friendship ended with Link, now Zelda is new best friend.
The big mechanic here has Zelda creating "echoes" of various things previously encountered. Rocks you can throw, monsters that fight by your side. Different monsters are useful in different situations -- "wisdom is key after all."
With no Link, the fate of the kingdom is now in Zelda's hands. There are apparently a lot of echoes in the game to use that can be solved in different ways. (Briefly shown is making a bunch of beds to climb.)
September 26, 2024 launch for The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom with a special Switch Lite as well.
And, after the reveal of a new Zelda, Just Dance 2025 Edition. Tough act to follow.
And here's Nintendo talking about Lego Horizon Adventures, which isn't exactly surprising. Locations inspired by the original game. Blast boots and gravity bombs can be used. Aloy rebuilds her home over time and can wear a bunch of outfits like... a hot dog. Two-player local or online co-op. Launching this holiday on Nintendo Switch.
Stray! On Nintendo Switch! I feel like we knew this was coming, but maybe that's just my brain making things up again. Cyberpunkish kitty platformer/puzzler on a new platform is always welcome, though. Holiday 2024 on Switch.
Tales of the Shire! It's Animal Crossing with Hobbits. Holiday 2024 on Nintendo Switch. Seems fine? Seems fine.
Ace Attorney Investigations Collection! Including a title that wasn't released outside of Japan previously. New hand-drawn visuals, but you can also swap back to the sprites. A nice gallery of art and designs and music. Launching September 6, 2024 on Nintendo Switch.
Danganronpa-looking strategy RPG? Last Defense Academy?
The Hundred Line Last Defense Academy, launching early 2025 on Nintendo Switch. As expected, from the Danganronpa people.
Romancing Saga 2 remake, Romancing Saga 2: Revenge of the Seven, coming to Nintendo Switch as well. Turn-based battles "evolved" into timeline battles. Lots of decisions to be made that will change the story. Launching October 24, 2024 on Nintendo Switch.
Last announcement time! And it is...
It's real. It's really really. Metroid Prime 4 exists and they are showing it here and now. (No clown makeup for me, but apologies to Mr. Harris and his Silksong desire.)
Nothing terrible unexpected here, to be honest? It looks like a Metroid Prime game but on the Nintendo Switch. First-person camera and all.
Official title seems to be Metroid Prime 4: Beyond.
Coming 2025, seems like? "Please wait a little bit longer."
And that's it! We're all done here. Whew. That was a big one.
