Wow, it seems ages since we last had a Nintendo Direct! I think the last ‘general’ one was in September 2018, as the one that followed in November was dedicated to that small indie title known as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. So, whilst we wait for something concrete from Nintendo, I thought I’d put a little something together to tide us all over (you’re welcome, Mr Koizumi.) As such, here’s some intel on the most anticipated Switch releases 2019. Sans Pokémon. (See the note at the end.)

3) Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Life can be stressful, so the upcoming Fire Emblem title should be the perfect way to unwind after a tough day at the grindstone. It’s a turn-based, strategy RPG realised in an impressive anime style, and it’s the latest release in a franchise which dates back to the early 1990s.

There’s not a huge amount known about Fire Emblem: Three Houses, although it’s currently slated to release in the spring of this year, so any mysteries as to its content will soon be unlocked. What we do know, though, is that four main characters will be at the fore – Edelgard, Dimitri, Byleth and Claude – and that the game will also feature more exploratory third person elements that will bring a greater degree of variety to the gameplay, as well as a break from all the blood-ridden battles.

Otherwise, if you pick this title up, you can expect to spend the majority of your time using axes, swords and magic to bring down huge swathes of miscreants. Aaah.

It’s due out in the second quarter of 2019.

2) Luigi’s Mansion 3

And if all the pressure of Fire Emblem proves a bit much, you can accompany Mario’s brother Luigi into a building possessed by the violent undead, protected only by a super-charged vacuum cleaner. Luigi’s Mansion 3 (you will be shocked to discover) is a sequel to the popular Luigi’s Mansion 2, and sees our intrepid protagonist venturing into the cavernous corridors of a crumbling wreck with his trusty Poltergust G-100, which comes equipped with nifty jet propulsion. So you can at least propel yourself to safety if your exorcism skills are lacking.

The aim of the game is to rid the haunted location (possibly a hotel) of its unearthly occupants using the versatile Poltergust, and it’s fair to say that if you’ve already played a game in the Luigi’s Mansion series, this one probably isn’t going to bring many new elements to your trusty handheld. But in my eyes it’s a necessary dose of comic relief with a reasonable degree of atmosphere and challenge, so I’m looking forward to giving it a go at launch.

It’s hard to say when that will be, though, as at the time of writing Nintendo has failed to commit to a release date. But it will be coming out this year (perhaps under a different title) so we can confidently add it to our list of Switch releases 2019.

1) Animal Crossing 2019

Well, what can I say about Animal Crossing 2019? Not a lot, actually, as everybody is keeping very quiet. Heck, we don’t even know the game’s official title as yet, but there have been some recent rumours regarding a release date, as the online retailer base.com is currently listing it as launching on September 13th.

Otherwise, there are a couple of measly scraps for you to feast on. First, there’s the teaser trailer, which landed at the end of the November Direct (owing, perhaps, to the surprise inclusion of Isabelle in the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate roster.) We also know that this game is a brand new addition to the franchise, and not a souped-up port or a remaster, which is good to know. Otherwise – yeah. The main takeaways are that it’s due to release this year, and that people are excited about it, and that it will probably have Animal Crossing in the title! Go nuts.

And if you’ve never played an Animal Crossing game before (like me) it’s a simulation title about living in a village inhabited by anthropomorphic creatures, with whom you become friends. Your basic aim is to live and survive happily, pay off your mortgage, decorate your home, and maybe become mayor of your own town. So just like real life.

There we are then – three reasons to be excited about Nintendo Switch releases 2019! Which game are you most looking forward to playing? Are there any titles missing from this list that you would like to add? If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below.

You will notice that I have omitted the next Pokémon game from this lowdown, simply because I couldn’t think of much to say. However, you can read my speculative post on this upcoming Nintendo Switch title here.