While you might think 2023 is nothing but farming games for the Switch, there are still a few surprises in store for Nintendo. Promised, a lot of farming games are coming out next year, but there are a few other big launches on the way to the Switch that we’re excited about.
TheGamer staff has reunited to discuss which games we’re most anticipating on Nintendo’s latest console, and you should be happy to note that we’re just mentioning The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. three time. We have clearly learned some restraint. Read on to find out which games (besides Zelda) we can’t wait to play on Switch!
Pikmin 4
Amanda Hurych
I keep my fingers crossed that Pikmin 4 will actually be released in 2023. If not, I’ll have to settle for the many, many farming games coming to Switch next year. Funny confession, I’ve never had a Pikmin game in my life. I had a friend with a Wii U and we gave back and forth control while playing the Pikmin 3 story campaign. As for Pikmin 2, my cousin played it and deigned to let me play with it too.
There was always something incredibly relaxing about solving puzzles with my little team at Pikmin, and now that I have a Switch I’m looking forward to playing it on my own. Or I can just invite friends and family to play with me. If Pikmin taught me anything, it’s that tasks are better done in a group.
Sea of stars
Matt Arnold
I’m usually skeptical of games that try to recapture the magic of classic JRPGs, but Sea Of Stars just might be able to do it. From what I’ve seen so far, it looks like it’s a bit of Chrono Trigger and a bit of Breath Of Fire, both in terms of story and gameplay. The game looks like it has some really breathtaking environments and bosses, and apparently it even has an in-universe board game to play with NPCs. All signs point to Sea Of Stars being the kind of game I’ve been waiting for.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Ben Slee
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No one has said this yet, so I’ll do it. The sequel to Breath of the Wild – in my opinion one of the best games ever made – is my most anticipated Switch game since Nintendo announced it was in development. I live for the fan theories, excited by a potentially playable short-haired Zelda, and can’t wait to stretch my legs again in the Switch portrayal of Hyrule. The trailers gave very little away, but the concept of a Breath of the Wild sequel itself is enough to tickle my pickle. No one else may choose this now; I was here first.
Several editors chose Tears of the Kingdom as their most anticipated Switch title. Expect their submissions further down.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line
David W. Duffy
My first instinct for this was to put Octopath Traveler 2, but after paying full price for the first Octopath (for the second time) on Steam Deck, so I could actually read the text, can’t say Switch is here my gets a vote. However, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is something that will definitely be a day one purchase on my tiny (by comparison) Switch Lite. I can’t think of a better wind-down game than this, and with over 500 songs in all, the Final Fantasy fanboy in me is incredibly hyped. I could even boycott my pre-order for it.
Octopath Traveler 2
Quinton O’Connor
If Nintendo releases a more revealing set of information for Tears of the Kingdom between now and the arrival of Octopath Traveler 2 in February, which is highly likely, you can expect my loyalties to (probably) change. Breath of the Wild is my favorite video game, period. But right now my heart is beating to the beautiful tunes of Yasunori Nishiki, the first composer of Octopath.
He’s back for the sequel, and hot diggity, his stuff sounds good. Oh, to be sure, the characters look beautiful, the graphics are great and the battles will be compelling. However, when it comes to Octopath games, it’s Nishiki’s vibrant audio wonderland, and I’m just lucky enough to live in it.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Rebecca Phillips
Well, Tears of the Kingdom may have already been claimed, but that won’t stop me from talking about it again. This is a bit embarrassing to admit, considering I work for TheGamer, but Breath of the Wild was one of the first games I played outside of Pokemon.
For the first twenty years of my life, all I cared about was Pokemon and the occasional Harvest Moon, until Breath of the Wild was recommended to me one day, and I haven’t looked back since. I’ve played that game all the way through. I memorized Hyrule’s map as if it were my pocket. So if Tears of the Kingdom can make me feel even half of what Breath of the Wild did, I’ll be happy.
Story Of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
Helen Ashcroft
I love a good farming simulator, and while I’m excited to see so many of them appear in the coming months, I decided to go with the classic and pick Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life. This series has never let me down and I continue to enjoy playing different Story of Seasons games. They work well on the Switch and it’s hugely appealing to have a Farmer Sim that I can take anywhere for an instant hit of that chilled vibe.
But just because I chose the safe option doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy farming games even more in 2023. In fact, the farming sims are coming even earlier than that and seem unstoppable. Consider this my love letter to Farmer Sims in general. Bring on the covers! (I’m sorry, I could not help myself.)
Fire Emblem: Engage
Stacey Henley
Fire Emblem: Engage was unveiled in the same Nintendo Direct as Tears of the Kingdom got its official Tears of the Kingdom name (rip Liz and all), and was by far the most exciting part of the showcase. Fire Emblem has been quietly Nintendo’s most interesting series for a while now, combining the older facets of TRPGs and modernizing the characters. I’m less sold on the V-tuber protag than I’d like, but I’m hopeful it will build on the great work Three Houses has done for the game.
Tales Of Symphonia Remastered
James Troughton
Tales of Berseria and Arise are two of my favorite JRPGs, both amazing world-traveling adventures with quirky casts, but when I tried playing Symphonia, his age bled through the cracks. It’s janky, stupid and hard, so, after more than 20 hours of persevering, I gave up. It wasn’t worth the headache. Which was a shame because I loved the chibi art style and characters, the latter of which are always great in a Tales game. The remaster promises quality-of-life updates, graphical tweaks, and more, so I’m excited to see if I can push through and beat it this time around.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
Justin Reeve
I loved Breath of the Wild. You can always argue these things, but at least in my personal opinion this was the best game of the last decade by a pretty comfortable margin. The game held together perfectly in terms of mechanics, aesthetics, and story. Yeah, before you ask, I really appreciated the weapons degradation, which as a mechanic, I think, picked up some elements of the aesthetic and story, something I’ve written about before.
In other words, I have extremely high hopes for Tears of the Kingdom. While the developer hasn’t really shown much, what I’ve seen is certainly promising enough to get excited about, easily making Tears of the Kingdom the most anticipated game of next year for me.
Story Of Seasons: A Wonderful Life
Burning Lizardia
I like to believe that everyone has that one game that was essential to the development of both their gaming preferences and their overall personal taste. The original Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life is undoubtedly mine. I remember going to the local Family Video and seeing it on the game rental shelf. “Ho, you can marry a girl?” was the main thing that drew my prepubescent mind in.
But as I played through the life of a humble peasant, I became more and more entranced by the humble nuance. Getting up early, watering some crops and making sure my cows were happy, it all gave such a sense of peaceful satisfaction. The rustic sense of progress eventually made its way into the rest of my personal life. Now, almost 20 years later, I grow real turnips in a small vegetable garden in my backyard. The original will always hold a special place in my nostalgic heart, and the chance to replay it in a recreated format has me downright delighted.
Kirby’s Return To Dream Land Deluxe
George Foster
I mean, I could just pick Tears of the Kingdom and list all the reasons why it’s going to be the best game of 2023. That would be both valid and probably get pretty accurate no matter what Stacey has you thinking.
But as awesome as that will be, Link can’t quite top my main squeeze Kirby, and Return to Dreamland is one of the few games in the series I’ve yet to play properly, despite hearing for years that it’s the best set of copy options. that Kirby ever had. Getting the chance to try it with a more unique art style, a new copy capability, and a host of other changes is very exciting indeed.
Inescapable
Joe Parlock
I absolutely love Danganronpa. From the memorable characters to the action-packed trials, I inhaled all three games in a matter of months at the start of the lockdown. And then I sat there, staring at the end credits of Danganronpa V3 (now one of my all-time favorite games), feeling a little hollow. Nothing has filled that void since – not Phoenix Wright, not Gnosia, not 999, nothing. And yet Inescapable, with its 11 contestants trapped on an island with no rules for a prize of $500,000, finally seems to give me that Death Game Backstabbing I so desperately crave.
Eiyuden Chronicle: One Hundred Heroes
Axel Nicolas Bosso
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While it wasn’t a disappointment in any way, it’s true that Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising felt like too long a prologue, with too many systems and stores, and without much substance. However, it had some of the strong aspects we’d expect from a spiritual successor to the Suikoden series: likable characters, strong world building, and a bit of politics here and there (though it wasn’t anything deep).
Of course we need a lot more than that for the real Eiyuden entry, but everything is pointing in the right direction. The battles look fantastic, it’s beautifully animated and there will be a ton of protagonists and NPCs to meet. With the nice surprise of the first two Suikoden getting a proper remaster, it feels like 2023 is going to be a great year for JRPG fans. Quinton, Ryan, James and I will be pretty happy.
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