Nintendo once again surprised everyone by announcing a Nintendo Direct for September 2023, just 24 hours ahead of its airtime. The 40-minute presentation showcased several games releasing for the
The big, final reveal was the announcement of a remastered version of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, the excellent RPG that was originally released on the
The return of the Mario Vs. Donkey Kong series was another pleasant announcement, but beyond that, the Direct was filled with plenty of other third-party titles to illustrate what a massive lineup the
Nintendo Direct September 2023 – All the Trailer and Announcements
Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass Wave 2 – Side Order
Nintendo kicked off the showcase with the upcoming Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass Wave 2 content. It featured a stark roguelike mode where the protagonist heads up the floors of a tower in an elevator, fights against random enemy spawns, and chooses from a selection of power-ups in between each floor. It’s designed to be a long-lasting, repeatable experience.
Splatoon 3 Side Order is arriving in Spring 2024 [Northern Hemisphere].
Mario Vs. Donkey Kong
Mario Vs. Donkey Kong, the puzzle platforming series that pits Mario against Donkey Kong in a series of brain-teasing 2D environmental puzzles, is making a comeback on
Mario Vs. Donkey Kong is releasing on 16 February 2024.
Prince of Persia – The Lost Crown
A new trailer for Ubisoft’s upcoming Prince of Persia reboot was then shown. It’s a 2D combat platformer that looks very flashy, and features demanding fights.
Read: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown may well reinvigorate the franchise
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is releasing on 18 January 2024.
Horizon Chase 2
Horizon Chase 2 is a cartoonish, arcade racing game with single-player and four-player multiplayer (both local and online). It’s available now.
Super Crazy Rhythm Castle
Super Crazy Rhythm Castle is a new multiplayer rhythm game from Konami, and features several tracks from Konami games like Beatmania, Castlevania, and Gradius.
Super Crazy Rhythm Castle is releasing on 14 November 2023.
SPYxANYA: Operation Memories
Popular anime series SPYxFAMILY is getting a game revolving around the five-year-old character, Anya. It looks very charming.
SPYxANYA is arriving sometime in 2024.
Super Mario RPG
An in-depth trailer for the upcoming remake of Super Mario RPG was then shown, detailing its innovative, active turn-based battle system, as well as some of its involved boss fights.
Super Mario RPG will release on 17 November 2023.
Another Code: Recollection
The
Read: Another Code aka Trace Memory is getting a Nintendo Switch remaster
Another Code is a puzzle and mystery revolving around protagonist Ashley, and a mysterious island. The collection will also include its sequel, which was never released in the West.
Another Code Recollection will be released on 19 January 2023.
Princess Peach: Showtime!
Nintendo gave an in-depth look at the upcoming Princess Peach game it first announced in the previous
Read: The new Princess Peach game is a chance for redemption
The big gameplay hook here is that Peach will be able to transform using different outfits, and gain access to new abilities, like a swashbuckling outfit that lets her fight enemies with a sword.
Detective Peach, Kung-Fu Peach, and Patisserie Peach are some of the others, and each will be accompanied by their own unique stages. It looks absolutely delightful.
Princess Peach: Showtime! will be released on 22 March 2023.
SaGa Emerald Beyond
The underrated SaGa RPG series from Square Enix is making a return with a new entry. It features a new story and characters, branching paths, and a timeline-based, turn-based combat system.
SaGa Emerald Beyond is arriving sometime in 2024.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered
The original Eidos Tomb Raider trilogy from the 1990s is getting a remastered collection, featuring both remastered and original graphics. All the expansions for the games are included.
Read: The original Tomb Raider trilogy is being remastered
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered will be released on 14 February 2024.
Detective Pikachu Returns
A closer look at the upcoming Detective Pikachu sequel was shown, with the trailer breezing through the title’s gameplay loop of investigation, exploration, befriending Pokemon, and using their abilities to solve the overarching mystery.
Detective Pikachu Returns will be released on 6 October 2023.
Trombone Champ
The excellent and hilarious rhythm game Trombone Champ is coming to
Trombone Champ is available now for Switch.
Battle Crush
A brief look at the NCSoft battle royale brawler Battle Crush was shown. It launches in Spring 2024 [Northern Hemisphere], with a beta happening in October 2023.
Wartales
One of the games that made a huge mark on the PC gaming scene earlier this year, the open-world RPG Wartales is coming to Switch. It’s a tactical role-playing game set in a land that is trying to recover from a plague. Doesn’t sound like anywhere I know!
Wartales is available now.
Contra: Operation Galuga
Wayforward and Konami are releasing a remastered and reimagined version of the classic 2D side-scrolling shooter, Contra.
Contra: Operation Galuga is arriving sometime in early 2024.
Unicorn Overlord
A gorgeous new Vanillaware game (Odin Sphere, Dragon’s Crown, 13 Sentinels) was then revealed, and it’s a fantasy, wartime strategy RPG. It features their trademark art style (the trailer had shots of incredible-looking food, of course) and the game itself looks very ambitious, with complex-looking game systems.
Given how dense and mind-bending the narrative of 13 Sentinels was, here’s hoping that Unicorn Overlord is the same. It’s releasing on 8 March 2024.
Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD
A new look at the remastered version of the excellent Luigi’s Mansion 2 was then shown. The game was originally released on the 3DS as Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon. It’ll have four-player online co-op play this time around.
Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is arriving sometime in Summer 2024 [Northern Hemisphere]
Nintendo Museum
Nintendo took some time to talk about its upcoming physical museum in Japan. Construction is planned to be completed by March 2024, with an opening date to be announced later. Hopefully, it will provide a rare look into the internal workings of the company throughout history.
Read: The Nintendo Museum will be ready in March 2024
Amiibo Updates
Nintendo then spent a moment announcing release dates for upcoming amiibo figures.
Figures of Zelda and Ganondorf from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom will arrive on 3 November 2023.
New Xenoblade Chronicles 3 figures will be released on 19 January 2024.
Finally, Sora from Smash Bros. Ultimate will arrive sometime in 2024. He will be the last Smash Bros. amiibo to be released – Sora was the final post-launch character for the game.
F-Zero 99
The original F-Zero game,
F-Zero 99 is available now for
Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story
A new League of Legends spinoff game is coming: a cozy crafting RPG with pixel art graphics and a pulled-back, isometric perspective. It launches in 2024.
Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story
Another League of Legends spinoff was also announced, and this one’s a third-person exploration game featuring a boy and his snow monster. It arrives on 1 November 2023.
WarioWare: Move It!
A new gameplay trailer for WarioWare: Move It! detailed some of the poses and microgames you’ll be doing in the upcoming motion-controlled title. It’ll feature over 200+ microgames, require you to do a stack of silly poses, and looks like a blast, as always. Can’t go past a WarioWare game.
WarioWare: Move It! arrives on 3 November 2023.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
A new trailer for the upcoming RPG from former Suikoden developers was then shown. Like Suikoden, Eiyuden Chronicle revolves around an army during wartime, and you’ll be able to recruit over 100 unique characters to it – each with their own involved stories and motivation.
Eiyden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes will release on 23 April 2024.
Eastward: Octopia
A new expansion pack for the beautiful Eastward was announced, set in the new region of Octopia. It looks delightful.
It arrives during the holiday season of 2023.
Wargroove 2
The Advance Wars-inspired Wargroove will release its sequel on
Wargroove 2 will release for Switch on 5 October 2023.
Dave the Diver
The 2023 indie game phenomenon Dave the Diver is coming to
It’s available now.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Pass
The final wave of tracks for the Mario Kart 8 Booster Course Pass was shown, featuring new tracks like Daisy Circuit, as well and new characters like Pauline, Funky Kong (YES!), Peachette, and Diddy Kong.
It arrives during the 2023 holiday season.
Among Us: The Fungle
An animated trailer for the new Among Us update depicted a crash landing on a deserted island to introduce a new map called “The Fungle”. It’ll be free for all players, and will arrive in October 2023.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
Finally,
Read: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is getting a remaster
It’s generally regarded as a classic among the hundred or so people who actually owned a GameCube. Hopefully this re-release will let a far bigger audience appreciate its special humour and quirkiness.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door will be released sometime in 2024.
