2020 was not the best year for Nintendo and many Switch fans were disappointed by the lack of game releases compared to previous years. Though little is known about what Nintendo is currently working on, such as the upcoming Metroid and The Legend of Zelda installments, there are a lot of Switch games coming out this year that are developed and published by other companies.
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As not all of the upcoming titles are popular, there are many that seem to have fallen under everyone's radar. These are some games that Switch players may have forgotten about but don't want to miss out on.
10 Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires
Nintendo and Koei Tecmo have worked a lot in recent years so it makes sense that Dynasty Warriors 9: Empires would release on the Switch. The two companies have collaborated on three games that featured characters and settings from Nintendo franchises with gameplay similar to the Dynasty Warriors games. Now that Koei Tecmo has new fans due to these games, it is a great time to release the next title of the series. The original Dynasty Warriors 9 came out a few years ago but wasn't on the Switch. Empires is an expansion of the game, giving Switch users a lot to do when they first get their hands on the game. It's a great time to be a Koei Tecmo fan.
9 Rune Factory 5
Rune Factory 5 is the first game in the series to release in nearly a decade. Players will be able to fight against monsters while working on a farm and befriending the town's residents. They may even get into a relationship and fall in love. There are new features to this installment, such as the ability to use combo attacks with comrades. Despite all odds after the bankruptcy of Neverland Co., the developers still worked on what looks like a great title in the franchise.
8 Maneater
There are many open world games out there such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Maneater takes a very different approach than other open world titles. Instead of playing as a human or human-like character in a fantasy world with unique places to explore, players will take the role of a shark.
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The shark's goal is to get vengeance on Scaly Pete, the fisherman that ruined her life. The game released last year on other platforms but Switch users will finally receive it in 2021.
7 Ruined King: A League Of Legends Story
League of Legends is one of the most successful MOBAs ever made. Unfortunately, it has never released on consoles and a lot of gamers have missed out on such a great title. However, a spin-off called Ruined King: A League of Legends Story is going to come out on the Switch. Unlike the original game, this will be an RPG and players will be on their own as it is a single player experience.
6 Ys IX: Monstrum Nox
The Ys series is incredibly underrated despite being around since the 1980s. However, when the most recent installment, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, released on the Switch a few years ago, the series gained a lot of new fans. The newest game, Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, has been out in Japan since 2019 but players around the world will be able to join in on the fun later this year. As most of the games are hard to get ahold of, especially for those that don't live in Japan, the success of this release could help determine whether Nihon Falcom will bring the other installments onto the Switch, similar to how they ported Ys: Memories of Celceta onto the PS4 last year.
5 Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings Of Ruin
Monster Hunter Rise is one of the most anticipated games coming onto the Switch soon, but many gamers have forgotten that there is another title in the series releasing this year.
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Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings Of Ruin is a spin-off about a boy named Red who embarks on a journey to find the Rathalos that have gone missing. Players that get both Monster Hunter games will be able to connect the two.
4 The Lord Of The Rings: Gollum
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most important stories ever told and the fantasy genre may not be what it is today without it. A new game centered around Gollum is coming out this year. It is being developed by Daedalic Entertainment and will give a greater insight into the titular character's life. After its release, Daedalic Entertainment will release other games in the franchise so this stealthy action title will hopefully be a huge success.
3 Shin Megami Tensei V
Despite the success that Persona 5 received, not all of Atlus' games have gained the popularity they deserve. The Shin Megami Tensei series is finally getting the installment that fans have been wanting since Shin Megami Tensei IV. Atlus is taking elements from previous titles in the series to make this the best Shin Megami Tensei game yet. Now that Atlus has gained a lot more fans, this could potentially be their most successful title yet.
2 Temtem
Pokemon is one of the most successful gaming franchises of all time. As a result, it has been a huge inspiration for many developers when making their own games. However, the series doesn't receive as much love as it used to, especially when there are games like Temtem that gamers can play. Not only can players battle and collect the creatures in the game, they can also play with others as it is an MMORPG. The game has been in early access for Steam and PS5 but will officially release this year.
1 Apex Legends
Battle royales are one of the most successful genres in gaming and Apex Legends is one of the best. It is a spin-off of the Titanfall games and has been available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One since it launched. Apex Legends will finally release on the Switch this year. There are different characters to play as, all of which have their own unique abilities, giving newcomers a lot to try out when they first play it. Though the Switch often receives games later than other consoles, it is great that they will get their chance to play this one.
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