2022 marks the fifth anniversary of the Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo's home console/handheld hybrid is showing no signs of slowing down. The Nintendo Switch has cultivated a diverse library of high quality games, including a number of exclusives that stand out as some of the highest-rated video games ever made. Hardware refreshes like the Nintendo Switch Lite and Nintendo Switch OLED have seen some Switch gamers double dip on consoles, and there are still rumors that a Switch Pro console could be waiting in the wings as well.
New hardware is a great way to boost sales, but what really makes a console popular is its games. The Nintendo Switch has no shortage of great games available and 2022 is looking to bolster its already-impressive library even more. There are a number of major Nintendo Switch exclusive games pegged for release in 2022, though Nintendo has yet to reveal specific release dates for many of them at the time of this writing.
Here are all the Nintendo Switch exclusive games currently confirmed for release in 2022, including the handful that have release dates.
Nintendo Switch Exclusives 2022
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus - January 28
- Triangle Strategy - March 4
- Chocobo GP - March 10
- Rune Factory 5 - March 22
- Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp - April 8
- Bayonetta 3 - TBA
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land - TBA
- Mario + Rabbids: Spark of Hope - TBA
- Splatoon 3 - TBA
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Sequel - TBA
The first big Nintendo Switch exclusive game release of the year will come on January 28 when Pokemon Legends: Arceus is released to the masses. There's a great deal of interest in Pokemon Legends: Arceus because it's going out of way its way to be quite a bit different than other main series Pokemon games. Pokemon Legends: Arceus is ditching the turn-based battles and random encounters that the main series games are known for in favor of real-time action and letting players explore large, open environments.
Early footage of Pokemon Legends: Arceus saw the game compared to Breath of the Wild, and while that comparison holds true in some regards, it must be stressed that it's not a proper open world game. According to the latest reports, Pokemon Legends: Arceus is more in line with Monster Hunter, with segmented areas for players to explore and catch Pokemon. It remains to be seen how exactly fans will react once they get their hands on it, but it will definitely be interesting to see what happens come January 28.
Next up is Triangle Strategy on March 4, a Nintendo Switch exclusive published by Square Enix and developed by the same team that made the Bravely Default and Octopath Traveler games. But while those titles are more in-line with traditional Final Fantasy, Triangle Strategy takes its cues from Final Fantasy Tactics, marrying the strategy gameplay from that title with a striking art style reminiscent of Octopath Traveler. Square Enix has released a Triangle Strategy demo that have been well-received by fans who will soon find out if the full game lives up to expectations.
Square Enix has another Nintendo Switch exclusive game set to launch in March besides Triangle Strategy. Six days after Triangle Strategy hits store shelves, fans can check out Chocobo GP, the latest entry in the Final Fantasy kart racing spin-off series. Chocobo GP will let players race each other as a variety of Final Fantasy characters just like previous entries in the series, and this time around there will be free and premium versions of the game available.
Fans of Japanese-developed games have a lot to look forward to in March, as Triangle Strategy and Chocobo GP are being joined by Rune Factory 5. Rune Factory 5 originally released in Japan last year, but is just now making its way to North America and other regions. Rune Factory 5 combines elements of simulation games and traditional RPGs, letting players run a farm and get married as well as fight monsters. The Rune Factory games certainly have their fans and the Switch exclusive Rune Factory 5 has potential to be the best yet.
And finally, the last Nintendo Switch exclusive game for 2022 with an actual release date is Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, set to launch on April 8. As its name implies, Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a collection of the first two Advance Wars games, enhanced for the Nintendo Switch. It was originally set to launch in late 2021 before getting delayed, so Advance Wars fans have been waiting quite awhile to get their hands on the collection. Here's hoping it turns out to be worth the wait.
Those are the Nintendo Switch exclusive games coming in 2022 that have release dates, but there are five notable games coming this year without release dates nailed down. This includes Bayonetta 3 from PlatinumGames, which was first announced at The Game Awards in 2017. Very little has been shown regarding Bayonetta 3 since its initial announcement, with a Bayonetta 3 gameplay trailer finally coming four years after it was first revealed to the public. Bayonetta fans have been waiting a long time to play the third entry in the critically-acclaimed action series, and it seems as though they will finally get to do so this year, barring any future delays.
Switch gamers also have Kirby and the Forgotten Land to look forward to, which looks to be quite a bit different than most Kirby video games. For the most part, the Kirby series has stuck to 2D side-scrolling gameplay, but Kirby and the Forgotten Land will thrust Nintendo's pink puffball into a full-fledged 3D platforming environment. Kirby and the Forgotten Land's first trailer was immediately impressive and it could very well be one of the top Switch exclusives of 2022 if it lives up to the hype.
Kirby isn't the only Nintendo franchise mainstay that's getting a new Nintendo Switch exclusive release in 2022. Fans also have Mario + Rabbids: Spark of Hope to look forward to, the sequel to Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. Essentially XCOM with Super Mario and Rabbids characters, the first game earned strong reviews from critics and chances are good that the sequel will be well-received as well.
Splatoon is another Nintendo franchise that is scheduled to get a new entry on the Switch in 2022. Splatoon 3 is leaning further into the post-apocalyptic storyline that serves as the franchise's backdrop, set to deliver more online multiplayer action and a new story for fans to experience. Splatoon 2 is one of the most popular Switch exclusive multiplayer games out there, so Splatoon 3 has a lot to live up to.
And finally, Nintendo Switch gamers can look forward to the launch of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sequel in 2022. The Breath of the Wild sequel is currently without a release date or even a proper title, but the game is easily one of the most highly-anticipated games of all time. The Breath of the Wild sequel gameplay has shown that Nintendo is making some major innovations with the core formula established in the original game, and with it being five years since the first one launched, fans are definitely ready to revisit open world Hyrule.