The holiday season is fast approaching, and Nintendo has a strong lineup of games coming to the Nintendo Switch that will delight gamers of all ages. This year, Nintendo is bringing a wide array of games. Some are available in stores and online, so you can start your holiday shopping early!
Fae Farm—which you’ve heard me chat about a lot—was just one of the games that Nintendo is featuring this holiday season. Detective Pikachu Returns, the game, not the movie, is ready to go and full of mystery! WarioWare: Move It! is not yet out, the zany microgame collection starring Nintendo’s greedy anti-hero. Sonic is back in action in Sonic Superstars, featuring classic stages and new multiplayer modes. And last but certainly not least, for platforming fans, Nintendo is launching Super Mario Bros. Wonder with its new 2D side-scrolling adventures.
With these and other great games on the way, Nintendo is set to deliver a holiday season full of fun for Nintendo Switch owners. Here’s a little about each one so you can be prepared as those Christmas lists roll in!
Fae Farm
I’ve been playing Fae Farm non-stop since I got it to preview and review. This cozy farming simulator is full of feel-good vibes, and I just can’t put it down. You play a character who has washed up on shore after answering a message in a bottle. Now, it is up to you to use your newly found magic to save Azoria from mysterious ailments.
Even long after completing its three dungeons and the storyline, you will still have plenty to do in Fae Farm. Collect all the recipes, breed all the flowers, and date all the people! Fae Farm is already available on Nintendo Switch, so what are you waiting for?
Buy it for $57.95 USD
Buy it for $79.99 CAD
Detective Pikachu Returns
If you never got to play the original Detective Pikachu on Nintendo 3DS, now is your chance on the Nintendo Switch with Detective Pikachu Returns. No, this version does not sound like our beloved Ryan Reynolds. Get used to a darker-sounding, raspy Pikachu who sounds like he has seen some things!
Detective Pikachu Returns lets you chat with actual Pokémon, making them more than just devices in the game. This would be an excellent entry for younger audiences, with rather simplified gameplay, though some themes are sometimes a bit adult. Head out with Pikachu and other Pokémon to solve mysteries now, as the game is already available for purchase!
Buy it for $49.93 USD
Buy it for $64.96 CAD
Sonic Superstars
I first got a shot at Sonic Superstars at Summer Game Fest 2023, and I knew right away that this game would bring back every nostalgic Sonic memory I’ve ever had. The twist? You can now play it with your friends!
Sonic Superstars takes you back to playing on the SEGA Genesis, but it isn’t just a rehash of old ideas. It introduces eight new special abilities that really change how you interact with the world, like Tails’ handy water ability. Also, don’t worry; even though this is a nostalgia-filled romp, there is more than enough to make it just as exciting for players who have never touched a Sonic game before.
With four playable characters to choose from, each with their own skills, there’s plenty of replayability here too. Expect the levels to get pretty challenging, hence all those new abilities! Sonic Superstars might just be the title to bring my kids over to the blue side. It radiates that pure, unadulterated fun that I think has been missing from gaming lately. Find it online today, as it will be released on October 17, 2023!
Pre-order it for $59.99 USD
Pre-order it for $79.96 CAD
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the highly anticipated 2D side-scroller which is shaping up to be a real treat for fans of the classic Mario formula and looks simply incredible.
The game features the largest roster of playable characters in the series yet, including Mario, Luigi, Peach, and even the overlooked Daisy (my fav!), who fans think will be revealed as the princess of the game’s new Flower Kingdom setting. The visuals look crisp and colorful in that classic Mario way, with backgrounds that almost look hand-painted.
But the real showstopper here is the new Wonder Flower power-up. These trippy flowers totally transform the levels when activated, letting you do crazy stuff like stretch Mario super tall, turn warp pipes into bouncy snakes, and even turn into totally different creatures! It really shakes up the standard run-and-jump gameplay in wild new ways and is just fun.
Some may say these wacky flower gimmicks are distracting fluff, but I think they capture that sense of curiosity and exploration that makes Mario games so magical. And the core platforming still feels as polished as ever based on my time with the game so far.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is shaping up to be a fresh new Mario adventure that honors the franchise’s roots while taking it in delightfully weird new directions. I can’t wait to see all the weird flower transformations when it hits Nintendo Switch on October 20, 2023!
Pre-order it for $59.99 USD
Pre-order it for $79.96 CAD
WarioWare: Move It!
It is time to strike a pose and get moving with Wario’s latest zany party game, WarioWare: Move It! This new entry in the beloved WarioWare microgame series is all about motion controls and multiplayer mayhem. Players hold a joy-con in each hand and strike fun poses, like holding the controllers above their heads to mimic helicopter blades. Each pose corresponds to the wacky microgame actions you’ll need to perform, like slicing fruit or dodging obstacles.
With support for up to 4 players, WarioWare: Move It! is perfect for parties. Compete in modes like Galactic Conquest, a Mario Party-style board game with microgame challenges. A story mode also features Wario and his oddball friends, with levels tailored to each character’s poses and personality. Fans will be happy to see the return of classic characters like Mona, Jimmy T, and more.
While previous entries incorporated motion controls, WarioWare: Move It! really leans into the physical gameplay in new ways. The microgames are as fast and fun as ever, now amplified by the need to strike poses and flail around quickly. The game works hard to retain the series’ signature style and humor.
WarioWare: Move It! launches November 3rd, 2023, so prepare to embarrass yourself and have a blast with friends and family. This inventive party game looks like another hit for the Nintendo Switch; just don’t take things too seriously.
Pre-order it for $49.99 USD
Pre-order it for $64.99 CAD
This holiday season is jam-packed with gaming, but do not leave Nintendo out! If you don’t have a Nintendo Switch already, pick one up because these games are just too good to miss!
