2018 was interesting for me because I had never played any Wii U games at that point. Honestly, those were better releases for me than Kirby Star Allies and Mario Tennis, both of which I still have not played to this day. To top things off, the year ended with a bang when Smash Ultimate came out. I was in college at the time and we had a smash party on launch day, which ended up being one of my fondest gaming memories.
You also make a good point about 2019. I really liked that year, but H2 did the heavy lifting. We could see something similar this year, but probably not to the same extent. I won't be too concerned unless we get to the end of June without any news on H2 2024.
Yeah, exactly!! I mean, I believe for many people a Paper Mario The Thousand Year Door remake is bigger than anything else possible, for Nintendo, Princess Peach Showtime and Luigi's Mansion 2 HD are defined worth being the highlights of the first half of the year. A new spin off series with the major star of the Mario movie, and the game that sold 6.5m on the 3DS and had a sequel that sold 12m on the Switch.
Smash just blew everyone when it came out. I still remember the doom that was the January Mini being forgotten once we got the teaser in March, the doom with E3 being super focused on Smash, and everyone forgetting it just as soon as the hype cycle for character reveals began. And the launch of the game was a storm and so were the DLC reveals.
I was going to post it earlier but this year is very comparable to last year, just without the anchor title like Tears of the Kingdom was. This is why I feel like the discussions of Nintendo having a lackluster second half is happening earlier than they did last year as Tears of the Kingdom did take all the air out of the room for much of the first half of the year. At the same time though, as you mention, we have to wait until whenever the next Direct is because, as June 2023 (and even most years before that. In 2021, the only H2 titles we knew prior to the E3 Direct was Pokémon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl and Skyward Sword HD) proved, Nintendo is willing to sit on showing their second half slate until the last possible moment. If we are to assume the NWC game could be the July title, it would follow the exact pattern of the lineup really only being detailed up to July and then June showing almost everything Nintendo has for the rest of the year!
Yes, exactly!! I mean, they've gone to the Investors Meeting last year having only Pikmin 4 dated for the second half of the year, just so the June Direct revealed Super Mario Bros. Wonder and RPG.
2021 was stellar for me just because of Metroid Dread and Shin Megami Tensei V, so Metroid Prime 4 alone would make this year for me. But hey, there was a Pokémon remake selling 15m+ and a Mario Party selling 10m+ that released that holiday season.
I think we're getting Fire Emblem 4 Remake and two of: Metroid Prime 4, DK, Zelda remaster, surprise casual title that sells 10m.
Do you all think they'd announce a spin-off Pokémon game in a Nintendo Direct? Prior to last year, I would've thought it was extremely unlikely but, with them re-revealing Detective Pikachu 2 (Returns) in a Direct, I kind of feel like we could see a spin-off announced within one now
Yeah, I think Directs are very likely spots for Pokémon spin offs, more even than the Presents. Idk which tho, apparently Mystery Dungeon is off the table because the developers have been on something else?
Time would align greatly for something new by the Bandai Namco people that made Pokken and Snap to release something new
But well after they revealed AND ARE HYPING a 2025 Pokémon game with no footage, I wouldn't put past them to just reveal Pokémon X and Y Remastered for November. Buy yeah that's reaching.
2020 had ACNH i get it’s not for everyone but that year was a peak for Nintendo and most likely it’s the biggest single year ever for Nintendo
Yeah, that was a phenomenon of its own and made the FY ending March '21 be the biggest selling hardware FY of the Switch.
I don't even know if anything will ever replicate what Animal Crossing New Horizons did. I mean, unless the next Animal Crossing comes later than expected and releases on a huge install base or the next Smash Bros. comes late in the gen.
2023 > 2019 > 2021 > 2020 > 2017 > 2018
refuses to elaborate
2017 > 2023 > 2021 > 2019 > 2018 > 2020
Or: the year that saw Odyssey released is the best, the two years with Metroid releases are close seconds, then the year of Three Houses and Astral Chain, then Smash, then Animal Crossing and Tokyo Mirage Sessions.
-Nintendo has an investors meeting in June with only 2 upcoming games, both of which are remakes
-Trademarks for rainbow curse/pushmo
-New NES remix style game leaks
-Nintendo has a screwy schedule this year, unusual timing is very possible
I feel like the possibility of a direct next week is more then many are letting on
This year has been so odd lately that I wouldn't be surprised to see Nintendo pulling a May Direct.
- First Direct of the year was a Partner Showcase;
- Said Partner Showcase didn't happen after a cancelled big event like the one in June 2022 and the 2020 ones;
- Said Partner Showcase had a first-party game revealed;
- Paper Mario and Luigi's Mansion 2 HD being dated on a Sunday;
- packed H1 - whether you like them or not, they're releasing 6 games, and there's the possibility of a shadow drop/NWC to add to it;
- game releases moving to Thursday.
