Nintendo Life Most Anticipated Switch Games
Image: Nintendo Life

2023 is a year full of games, to no one's real surprise, but which ones are the most exciting? Which ones have us saving up our Nintendo eShop Gold Points? And which one is a Zelda sequel that has us foaming at the mouth? The answers may (not) surprise you.

Below we've rounded up 30 of the biggest Switch games we're looking forward to. They run the gamut from AAA first-party offerings to promising-looking indies. Nintendo's habit of not announcing games until a couple of months prior to release means there may be even more surprises to come before the year closes out, and we'll no doubt be adding to (and subtracting from) this list as the year goes by.

Switch's 2023 got off to a good start with Fire Emblem Engage, a pair of Persona ports, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, Octopath Traveler II, a Metroid Prime Remastered shadow-drop, and a Deluxe edition of a Kirby classic, but there's plenty more in the pipeline over the coming weeks and months.

So, let's take a look at our most anticipated Switch games for the coming year...

Minecraft Legends (Switch)

Minecraft Legends (Switch)
Minecraft Legends (Switch)
Publisher: Microsoft / Developer: Mojang
Release Date: 18th Apr 2023 (USA) / 18th Apr 2023 (UK/EU)

Mojang is planning another Minecraft spin-off, this time in the form of an action strategy called Minecraft Legends, set in the same blocky world with all its well-known biomes and threats. It launched on Switch and other platforms on 18th April, so it's available now... and unfortunately it isn't what we hoped it would be. Check out our verdict below before we evict this one from the list...

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Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp (Switch)

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp (Switch)
Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp (Switch)
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: WayForward
Release Date: 21st Apr 2023 (USA) / 21st Apr 2023 (UK/EU)

To say that we've wanted to see the return of the 'Wars' series for a while would be the understatement of the decade — fans of Advance Wars in particular have wanted to see the series back in the spotlight, but ever since Fire Emblem: Awakening really took off in the West, developer Intelligent Systems has had its hands full with swords, axes, and lances.

Fortunately, WayForward has advanced to the front line with this remake combining the first two Game Boy Advance entries. The game is available now, finally — check out our verdict below:

Trinity Trigger (Switch)

Trinity Trigger (Switch)
Trinity Trigger (Switch)
Publisher: Marvelous (XSEED) / Developer: FuRyu
Release Date: 25th Apr 2023 (USA) / 16th May 2023 (UK/EU)

Originally (accidentally) revealed as 'PROJECT-TRITRI', this action RPG comes from developers with CVs that list projects such as Chrono Cross, the Xenoblade Chronicles series, Bravely Default, Secret of Mana and even Pokémon. So yes, you're damned right we're interested!

The game is out now in Japan and released in North America on 25th April, with Europe to follow on 16th May. Overseas reaction had been positive, and we were itching to check out the game for ourselves. Read our review below:

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch)

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch)
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Switch)
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: 12th May 2023 (USA) / 12th May 2023 (UK/EU)

There were desperate hopes that The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom might sneak out in 2021, but it wasn't to be. However, the E3 2021 trailer for the game confirmed a 2022 release window. Yes, we knew that was a big ol' window, but we got a year!

However, as expected by many a Zelda fan, Nintendo announced in March 2022 that it was delaying The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2 to Spring 2023. And we finally got a solid date during the September 2022 Nintendo Direct: we'll be heading back to Hyrule on 12th May 2023. We. Can. Not. Wait.

LEGO 2K Drive (Switch eShop)

LEGO 2K Drive (Switch eShop)
LEGO 2K Drive (Switch eShop)
Publisher: 2K Games / Developer: Visual Concepts
Release Date: 19th May 2023 (USA) / 19th May 2023 (UK/EU)

The first game out of 2K and Lego's partnership, LEGO 2K Drive takes us back to the gold ol' days of Lego Racers, but with far more freedom and creativity at our hands. This gorgeous-looking open-world racer gives us the ability to create our own cars from a huge selection of bricks and parts. It looks like there are tons of biomes and hidden areas to discover as we race across this brick-y world all while piloting our wonderful (and maybe bizarre) creations. Of course, there's the racing too, and that looks as slick as ever.

We don't have too long to wait for this one, either. The game launches on 19th May, so we'll make sure our creative hats are on for this one.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun (Switch eShop)

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun (Switch eShop)
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun (Switch eShop)
Publisher: Focus Entertainment / Developer: Auroch Digital
Release Date: 23rd May 2023 (USA) / 23rd May 2023 (UK/EU)

Warhammer and the boomer shooter genre feels like a match made in heaven — and we're a bit surprised it's taken the two to collide until this year. On 23rd May 2023 Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun blasts onto Switch with beautiful pixel art visuals and the blood-pumping action we've come to expect from the genre. We'll be blasting our way through this one very soon.

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life (Switch)

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life (Switch)
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life (Switch)
Publisher: Marvelous (XSEED) / Developer: Marvelous (XSEED)
Release Date: 27th Jun 2023 (USA) / 27th Jun 2023 (UK/EU)

This remake of the beloved GameCube game, Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life, is coming to the Switch on 27th June 2023. Although we're not 100% sold on the character redesigns, you can bet that we'll be playing this like it's a summer holiday in 2004 all over again.

Master Detective Archives: Rain Code (Switch)

Master Detective Archives: Rain Code (Switch)
Master Detective Archives: Rain Code (Switch)
Publisher: Spike Chunsoft / Developer: Too Kyo Games
Release Date: 30th Jun 2023 (USA) / 30th Jun 2023 (UK/EU)

Danganronpa and AI: The Somnium Files serve as the touchstones for this Tim Burton-esque fantasy adventure, co-developed by Spike Chunsoft (who developed both those games) and Too Kyo Games, a studio founded by ex-Spike Chunsoft devs. Let's put it another way: Master Detective Archives: Rain Code sounds like it's going to be the purest distillation of Spike Chunsoft DNA. It launches on 30th June 2023.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (Switch eShop)

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (Switch eShop)
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (Switch eShop)
Publisher: Capcom / Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 30th Jun 2023 (USA)

Yep, it's finally happening — Shu Takumi's fantastic Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is free from the clutches of the DS and is coming to Switch (and other consoles) on 30th June. Clever, hilarious, and utterly charming, we're excited to get our hands back on one of the DS's most underrated gems.

OXENFREE II: Lost Signals (Switch eShop)

OXENFREE II: Lost Signals (Switch eShop)
OXENFREE II: Lost Signals (Switch eShop)
Publisher: MWM Interactive / Developer: Night School Studio
Release Date: 12th Jul 2023 (USA) / 12th Jul 2023 (UK/EU)

Originally slated for 2021, Oxenfree II: Lost Signals was then planned for launch on Switch in 2022 before being delayed until 2023. It will continue the haunting, narratively experimental gameplay of Night School's original indie darling from 2016 ('17 on Switch).

The developer was acquired by Netflix in 2022 — the company's first video game studio acquisition. From the first look we had of the in-development game, this sequel looks to be channelling the same coming-of-age tone and spirit of the original, so we're anxious to try it out. We now know we can tune into this unsettling sequel on 12th July 2023.

Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist Of Salburg (Switch eShop)

Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist Of Salburg (Switch eShop)
Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist Of Salburg (Switch eShop)
Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Gust
Release Date: 13th Jul 2023 (USA) / 13th Jul 2023 (UK/EU)

The Atelier series has gone from strength to strength over the years, but back when it first started, it was a pretty different series. Atelier Marie, the first entry in the series, has never left Japan, but this summer, Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist Of Salburg, brings both a 3D remake and the PS1 original to the west for the very first time. And it looks utterly delightful. It's launching on Switch on 13th July so mark that in your calendars for some wholesome crafting RPG goodness.

Pikmin 4 (Switch)

Pikmin 4 (Switch)
Pikmin 4 (Switch)
Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: 21st Jul 2023 (USA) / 21st Jul 2023 (UK/EU)

As revealed (finally!) in the September 2022 Nintendo Direct, Pikmin 4 is a thing, a real video game with a 21st July 2023 release window that's definitely not a figment of Shigeru Miyamoto's fevered imagination.

Its announcement ended many years of speculation as to its status, and we're anxious to catch up with Olimar and the crew to see what's new in the world of those plant-y little guys.