Nintendo Direct February 2023 Recap – Metroid Prime, Game Boy/Advance, Pikmin 4 And More

The first Nintendo Direct of the year is always awaited with bated breath. It’s our first chance to see what’s coming in the year ahead and confirmation of games previously announced for release in 2023. This Direct is also usually one of the longest of the year, and the 2023 iteration doesn’t break from that pattern and will be approximately 40 minutes long. Please check out our recap below of all of the announcements:

• We are starting with Pikmin 4. There are new explorer characters, a new Ice Pikmin, and an adorable puppy friend called Oatchi who can assist in breaking things and more. Also, it appears as though the monsters might get possessed at night. Pikmin 4 is releasing on July 21, 2023.
• Volume 3 of the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 DLC is coming on February 16 and includes a new character. Some familiar characters come in volume 4 later this year.
• Samba de Amigo: Party Central is a new rhythm game coming to Switch, with an online world party mode and 40 songs in various genres. Shimmying onto Switch this winter.
• Fashion Dreamer is a fashion designer and customisation game coming to Switch in 2023.
• Dead Cells is getting some more DLC with Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania. You can play alongside Richter Belmont and Alucard and use a number of iconic weapons from the long-running series. Releasing on March 6.
• TRON: Identity is a story-driven puzzle game in the TRON universe. Coming first for consoles on Switch this April.
• Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, the time-bending murder mystery from DS, returns in HD. Coming to Switch this Winter.
• DecaPolice follows a detective in a virtual world with a cool anime style. Releasing in 2023.
• We get more details and a new trailer for Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon. Releasing on March 17.
• Splatoon 3 is up next., with the Splatoon 3 Expansion Pass. The first wave is Inktopolis from the original Splatoon and a bunch of new characters. This first wave is coming this Autumn. Side Order, likely an additional story centring around an Octoling, is coming in Wave 2, which will launch in the future. The Expansion pass will be available later today.
• Disney Illusion Island is a colourful platforming Micky Mouse game with an interesting cartoony art style. Releasing on July 28
• Fire Emblem Engage Expansion Pass is getting more Emblems in Pack 2 and 3 recruitable through new missions. A new story in wave 4 called Fell Xenologue will be unlocked.
• Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is an anime-style story game set in the world of Reverie, where deities known as aspirations dwell. Within this game’s branching story, you make choices and use your clairvoyance to change the story’s outcome. Launching for consoles first on Switch this June.
• Octopath Traveller II is not far away. A demo will be live later today, and your save will carry over to the full game. The game releases on February 24.
• A remaster of We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie is coming to Switch. New features include playing as the young King of all Cosmos in 5 challenges. There’s also a selfie camera. Releasing on June 2.
• Sea of Stars is a turn-based RPG with amazing pixel art and music. Releasing on August 29. A demo will be live later today.
• Omega Strikers is a free-to-play multiplayer 3-on-3 air hockey-style game. Releasing on April 27.
• Etrian Odyssey has been remastered for Switch in the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection, which contains the first three games. The games can also be purchased separately. Releasing on June 1st.
• Advance Wars 1 + 2 Re-boot Camp is finally releasing! Dropping on April 21.
• Kirby Return to Dream Land Deluxe is getting a new epilogue where you can play as Magolor. You can restore his powers in whatever way you like, and this mode is playable after you finish the main story. A demo will be available later today. Releasing on February 24.
• Nintendo Switch Online update. GAME BOY is finally coming At launch, we will get: Tetris, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Gold Coins, Gargoyles Quest, Game and Watch Gallery 3, Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare, Metroid II – Return of Samus, Wario Land 3 and Kirby’s Dream Land. You can change between the Game Boy and Game Boy Colour colour scheme. More games will come in the future, including The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Ages, Pokemon Trading Card Game and Kirby: Tilt and Tumble.
• GAME BOY ADVANCE IS COMING AS WELL! We are getting Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3, WarioWare, Inc.: Minigame Mania, Kuru Kuru Kururin, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (OMG SO HAPPY). Local and online for up to four people will be available for compatible games. More games will be added in the future, including Metroid Fusion, Kirby: Amazing Mirror, Fire Emblem, F-Zero Maximum Velocity, and Golden Sun! After the Direct, you can play the Game Boy/Advance titles. Advance is only for the Expansion Pack.
• The original Metroid Prime is being remastered. The digital version launches later today, with a physical edition launching later on March 3.
• Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE sees you playing as a detective with a demon haunting him to solve strange incidents alongside other detectives with special skills. Releasing on June 30.
• More GameCube games are getting remastered for Switch. Baten Kaitos 1 & 2 HD Remaster are coming to Switch this winter.
• Fantasy Life is getting a new game. Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is Fantasy Life + Animal Crossing, releasing in 2023.
• Professor Layton is back in a brand new game called Professor Layton and the New World of Steam.
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Pass DLC is getting a brand new Yoshi’s Island course, and Birdo is also returning. Wave 4 is releasing in Autumn.
• Time for some fast highlights: Minecraft Legends (April 18), Blanc (February 14), Megaman Battle Network Legacy Collection (April 14), Have a Nice Death (March 22), WBSC eBASEBALL: POWER RODS (Later today), Disney Dreamlight Valley – New Realm Update (April), Tales of Symphonia Remastered (February 17).
• The last thing today is… a new trailer for Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It’s looking amazing. Still coming on May 12! There will also be a collector’s edition with a steelbook, poster, pin set and art book! Also, a new Link Amiibo will be hitting the shelves.

Check out the Direct below for yourself if you missed it!

Wowza, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m so frigging happy right now! What were your favourite things from this Direct? Let us know in the comments below or on our social media