2022 marks the fifth anniversary of theNintendo Switch, and Nintendo’s home console/handheld hybrid is showing no signs of slowing down. TheNintendo Switchhas cultivated a diverse library of high quality games, including a number of exclusives that stand out as some of the highest-rated video games ever made. Hardware refreshes like the Nintendo Switch Lite and Nintendo Switch OLED have seen some Switch gamers double dip on consoles, and there are still rumors that a Switch Pro console could be waiting in the wings as well.
New hardware is a great way to boost sales, but what really makes a console popular is its games. The Nintendo Switch has no shortage of great games available and 2022 is looking to bolster its already-impressive library even more. There are a number of majorNintendo Switch exclusive games pegged for release in 2022, though Nintendo has yet to reveal specific release dates for many of them at the time of this writing.
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Here are all the Nintendo Switch exclusive games currently confirmed for release in 2022, including the handful that have release dates.
Nintendo Switch Exclusives 2022
The first big Nintendo Switch exclusive game release of the year will come on January 28 whenPokemon Legends: Arceusis released to the masses. There’s a great deal of interest inPokemon Legends: Arceusbecause it’s going out of way its way to be quite a bit different than othermain seriesPokemongames.Pokemon Legends: Arceusis ditching the turn-based battles and random encounters that the main series games are known for in favor of real-time action and letting players explore large, open environments.
Early footage ofPokemon Legends: Arceussaw the game compared toBreath of the Wild, and while that comparison holds true in some regards, it must be stressed that it’s not a proper open world game. According to the latest reports,Pokemon Legends: Arceusis more in line withMonster Hunter, with segmented areas for players to explore and catch Pokemon. It remains to be seen how exactly fans will react once they get their hands on it, but it will definitely be interesting to see what happens come January 28.
Next up isTriangle Strategyon March 4, a Nintendo Switch exclusive published by Square Enix and developed by the same team that made theBravely DefaultandOctopath Travelergames. But while those titles are more in-line with traditionalFinal Fantasy,Triangle Strategytakes its cues fromFinal Fantasy Tactics, marrying the strategy gameplay from that title with a striking art style reminiscent ofOctopath Traveler. Square Enix has released aTriangle Strategydemothat have been well-received by fans who will soon find out if the full game lives up to expectations.
Square Enix has another Nintendo Switch exclusive game set to launch in March besidesTriangle Strategy. Six days afterTriangle Strategyhits store shelves, fans can check outChocobo GP, the latest entry in theFinal Fantasykart racing spin-off series.Chocobo GPwill let players race each other as a variety ofFinal Fantasycharacters just like previous entries in the series, and this time around there will be free and premium versions of the game available.
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Fans of Japanese-developed games have a lot to look forward to in March, asTriangle StrategyandChocobo GPare being joined byRune Factory 5.Rune Factory 5originally released in Japan last year, but is just now making its way to North America and other regions.Rune Factory 5combines elements of simulation games and traditional RPGs, letting players run a farm and get married as well as fight monsters. TheRune Factorygames certainly have their fans and theSwitch exclusiveRune Factory 5has potential to be the best yet.
And finally, the last Nintendo Switch exclusive game for 2022 with an actual release date isAdvance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, set to launch on April 8. As its name implies,Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Campis a collection of the first twoAdvance Warsgames, enhanced for the Nintendo Switch. It was originally set to launch in late 2021 before getting delayed, soAdvance Warsfans have been waiting quite awhile to get their hands on the collection. Here’s hoping it turns out to be worth the wait.
Those are the Nintendo Switch exclusive games coming in 2022 that have release dates, but there are five notable games coming this year without release dates nailed down. This includesBayonetta 3from PlatinumGames, which was first announced at The Game Awards in 2017. Very little has been shown regardingBayonetta 3since its initial announcement, with aBayonetta 3gameplay trailerfinally coming four years after it was first revealed to the public.Bayonettafans have been waiting a long time to play the third entry in the critically-acclaimed action series, and it seems as though they will finally get to do so this year, barring any future delays.
Switch gamers also haveKirby and the Forgotten Landto look forward to, which looks to be quite a bit different than mostKirbyvideo games. For the most part, theKirbyseries has stuck to 2D side-scrolling gameplay, butKirby and the Forgotten Landwill thrust Nintendo’s pink puffball into a full-fledged 3D platforming environment.Kirby and the Forgotten Land’s first trailerwas immediately impressive and it could very well be one of the top Switch exclusives of 2022 if it lives up to the hype.
Kirbyisn’t the only Nintendo franchise mainstay that’s getting a new Nintendo Switch exclusive release in 2022. Fans also haveMario + Rabbids: Spark of Hopeto look forward to, the sequel toMario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. EssentiallyXCOMwithSuper MarioandRabbidscharacters, the first game earned strong reviews from critics and chances are good that the sequel will be well-received as well.
Splatoonis another Nintendo franchise that is scheduled to get a new entry on the Switch in 2022.Splatoon 3is leaning further into the post-apocalyptic storylinethat serves as the franchise’s backdrop, set to deliver more online multiplayer action and a new story for fans to experience.Splatoon 2is one of the most popular Switch exclusive multiplayer games out there, soSplatoon 3has a lot to live up to.
And finally, Nintendo Switch gamers can look forward to the launch ofThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildsequel in 2022. TheBreath of the Wildsequel is currently without a release date or even a proper title, but the game is easily one of the most highly-anticipated games of all time. TheBreath of the Wildsequel gameplayhas shown that Nintendo is making some major innovations with the core formula established in the original game, and with it being five years since the first one launched, fans are definitely ready to revisit open world Hyrule.
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