Our 10 Most Anticipated Switch Games Of Fall 2017

Nintendo’s Switch was a breakout success earlier this year, and Nintendo has already given us at least one killer, must-own title (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild) as well as several other notable new games and rereleases, such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Puyo Puyo Tetris, and Arms. The Switch’s library is still small, but Nintendo fans have several reasons to be excited for the second half of the year.

Below, we break down the Switch’s most anticipated games for the rest of 2017.

10. Rocket League
Also On: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Mac
Release: Holiday

Rocket League is a game with staying power, so many of your friends are probably still playing the game on other consoles. That’s good, because this Switch version will feature cross-platform play, meaning that you will be able to compete online against Xbox One and PC players. Rocket League’s car control has always felt super tight, and that won’t change on the Switch, and knocking a giant ball into a soccer goal with your car is still a blast. Switch owners also get the added bonus of being able to customize their cars with unique Nintendo-themed items, like Mario and Luigi hats.

Find out why Rocket League is a must play by reading our review here.

9. Axiom Verge: Multiverse Edition
Also On: PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, Vita, PC, Mac
Release: August

This might be a rerelease of an indie game from 2015, but if you don’t know why we’re excited that Axiom Verge is coming to the Switch, then you probably haven’t played Axiom Verge. This perfect homage to the classic NES title Metroid lets players explore a dystopian future and slowly acquire new weapons and abilities that lead them even deeper into a visually stunning world. The Multiverse Edition also includes an art book, a double-sided poster, the CD soundtrack, and a specially commissioned documentary on the making of the game by 2-Player Productions.

Learn more about this lovable indie game by reading our review here.

8. Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2
Also On: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release: November 14

If you’ve played any of TT Games’ Lego titles at some point in your life, you probably know what you’re getting here. Thankfully, what you’re getting is still a lot of fun. Players can control almost any Marvel Comics character they can dream of and battle across a giant hub world called Chronopolis, which is composed of various locations, such as ancient Egypt, New York 2099, and other alien worlds. Fans can expect to bust a gut laughing at TT Games' trademark slapstick humor.

Get the full lowdown on this funny superhero romp by reading our E3 impressions here.

7. Fire Emblem Warriors    
Release: Fall

No one ever accused Koei Tecmo's Warriors series of being overly complicated. These epic battles against thousands of mostly harmless foes might be straightforward, but they are a lot of mindless fun. This entry in Intelligent Systems and Omega Force’s upcoming hack-and-slash series takes place in the world of Fire Emblem and revolves around a deposed prince and princess who must raise an army to save their homeland from an encroaching darkness. Thankfully, they will get to battle alongside series mainstays like Marth, Chrom, Corrin, and Xander.

Get a taste of the action by reading our recent hands-on preview from E3 here.

6. Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Release: Holiday

The development team at Monolith Soft helped polish Nintendo’s recent hit The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but that doesn’t seem to have slowed them down from working on their next massive open-world RPG, Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Set on a world that is an endless ocean of clouds, a boy named Rex must transport a powerful young woman across the world to the ultimate paradise for humanity, a city called Elysium. Unfortunately, Rex and his companions will have to combat a series of colossal beasts known as the Titans if they want to reach their destination in one piece.

See the game in action by watching Xenoblade Chronicles 2's latest story trailer here.

5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Also On: PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Release: Fall

Skyrim is a game that needs no introduction. Bethesda Softworks’ open-world RPG masterpiece is more than half a decade old and yet it made waves when people heard that it was coming to Nintendo’s handheld console. It even topped our list of the Top 100 RPGs of all time. Players jump into the role of Dragonborn, a mortal born with the soul and power of a dragon who explores a massive snow-covered continent full of warring factions, flying dragons, and seemingly endless side quests. We’ve put more than 200 hours into the game already, but we might pick it up again just to be able to play it on the go.

If you somehow missed Skyrim the first several times, see what the fuss is about by reading our review of the original release here.

4. Sonic Mania
Also On: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release: Late Summer

We’ve heard about Sonic’s “return to greatness” so many times that we’re beginning to feel like he’s the mascot who cried wolf. Still, Sonic Mania looks like the classic platformer that Sonic fans have craved for the last several decades. The pixelated 2D graphics flawlessly emulate the Genesis-era Sonic trilogy, and the speedy gameplay feels rock solid. Sonic even reaches speeds so fast that he can outrun the camera for a fraction of a second. It’s good to see Sonic bouncing off springs and spinning in place just like a Hedgehog should.

Still don't believe us? For a more in-depth hands-on analasis, read our recent preview here.

3. Battle Chasers: Nightwar
Also On: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Release: Late Summer

If you took the visual art style from Darksiders and combined it with the classic turn-based action of the 16-bit Final Fantasy games, you might end up with something like Battle Chasers: Nightwar. This upcoming RPG from Airship Syndicate raised over $800,000 on Kickstarter a few years ago, which allowed the developer to revive artist Joe Madureira’s unfinished comic book from the late ‘90s. Nightwar’s animations look amazing, and the game’s battles have an added layer of strategy that seems to be missing from many turn-based RPGs.

Check out Nightwar's battles in action in the final gameplay trailer.

2. Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Release: August 29

Mixing up everyone’s favorite plumber with Ubisoft’s slapstick Rabbids seems like an odd match, but after getting our hands on the game at E3, we were quickly won over. The Rabbids have invaded the Mushroom Kingdom, opening a giant vortex in the sky that threatens to tear apart the world, so Mario and a gang of good Rabbids must team up to get to the bottom of the problem. Kingdom Battle mixes XCOM-style turn-based action with exploration-based environment puzzle for some surprisingly intense but lighthearted action. We still think it’s strange to see Mario holding a gun, but we’ll happily watch him blast away those furry little bunnies.

We breakdown the game's action in this hands-on preview, here.

1. Super Mario Odyssey
Release: October 27

Nintendo usually puts a lot of time and care into its mainline Mario titles, and Super Mario Odyssey doesn’t look like an exception. Mario’s newest journey takes him to a variety of themed levels such as the New York-inspired New Donk City, a Day of the Dead-themed desert, and a tropical island full of dinosaurs. One of the biggest changes for the series is how Mario will use his hat to possess enemies and other items. He can now take over a Bullet Bill to race across a level, or he can possess an electrical wire and ride through the wires as a bolt of electricity. Super Mario Odyssey looks like the distillation of fun and one of the few games that might compete with Nintendo’s other big release for game of the year.

Watch an online video where we break down all of the things that Mario can possess here. Also, be sure to check out our lists of the most antipicated Xbox One and PlayStation 4 games and start planning your fall gaming schedule.