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Everything we saw at September’s Nintendo Direct: Kirby, Splatoon, and more

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Nintendo on September 23 rolled out a 40-minute Direct presentation that featured news on its slate of winter games. That included updates on Switch games we already knew about, like Metroid Dread, but it also brought a few surprises. We got to see a new Kirby game, the first gameplay footage for Bayonetta 3, and a closer look at Splatoon 3. We even got a true surprise in the news that N64 and Sega Genesis games are coming to Nintendo Switch Online.

Nintendo Direct - 9.23.2021

Was it enough to satisfy Nintendo’s constantly disappointed fans? For the most part, it went about as well as expected. While we didn’t get any gigantic new reveals, the information we did get was surprisingly significant considering the stream was mostly focused on games coming this winter. We even got some surprise shadow releases, like the Castlevania Advance Collection, which is always a nice touch.

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Here’s every bit of news from Nintendo’s Direct presentation so you can make up your own mind about the show.

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Nintendo 64 games finally come to Switch Online

The Nintendo Switch is finally getting more classic games via its Online program, but players will need to pony up to get them. Subscribers will soon be able to grab an update to their membership called Expansion Pack that adds Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis games to their system. The initial list of N64 games includes the heavy hitters players would expect, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Mario Kart 64, and Super Mario 64. More games, including Majora’s Mask, will join the library after those games. The collection of Genesis games includes classics like Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and Golden Axe.

Nintendo is releasing Switch-compatible wireless N64 and Sega Genesis controllers as part of the launch. They will cost $50 each and be available for Nintendo Online members to purchase. There’s currently no release date or price for the Expansion Pack program.

The Mario movie gets its cast

Shigeru Miyamoto popped up on the stream, but not to show off a video game. Instead, he offered details on the upcoming Super Mario Bros. movie. It’ll release on December 21, 2022 in the United States and on unannounced 2022 dates in other regions.

More importantly, we got casting information about the animated film. Mario will be voiced by Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy is Peach, and Charlie Day is Luigi. The star-studded cast also includes Jack Black as Bowser, Keegan-Michael Key as Toad, Seth Rogan as Donkey Kong, and more. Mario’s regular voice actor, Charles Martinet, will lend his voice to the film, too, but only in a cameo capacity. Ouch.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is confirmed

Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Announcement Trailer – Nintendo Switch

After leaking ahead of the Direct (and spurring a bizarre internet debate about spoilers for marketing events), Kirby and the Forgotten Land got an official reveal. Set for a spring 2022 release, this is Kirby’s first full Switch adventure since 2018’s Kirby: Star Allies. The game is a major departure for the series. It appears to be a 3D open-world game where Kirby explores an abandoned world. The trailer shows him waddling around a derelict mall and other areas. It essentially looks like Super Mario Odyssey, but with Kirby.

Splatoon 3 still looks fresh

Splatoon 3 – “Return of the Mammalians” – Nintendo Switch

We got another look at Splatoon 3, which is still scheduled to launch in 2022. This time, we got a closer look at multiplayer and some of the new weapons coming to the game, including an ink-spurting drone and a bow. We also got our first peek at its single-player mode, which is called Return of the Mammalians. In it, players will uncover the mystery of why all the mammals in the game (save for two cats) have disappeared. The game does not have a firm release date yet.

Bayonetta 3 coming in 2022

First Look at Bayonetta 3 Gameplay – Nintendo Switch

As indicated earlier by Nintendo’s Japanese website, Bayonetta 3 is finally coming. The game will launch sometime in 2022, though it still doesn’t have a firm release date. We did get an actual gameplay trailer for the game, though that showed off its hack= and-slack action. Notably, Lappy from developer PlatinumGames’ Switch exclusive Astral Chain, makes a cameo in the trailer.

The Roost comes to Animal Crossing

Tune In This October for an Animal Crossing: New Horizons Direct!

New content is coming to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, though we don’t fully know what it is yet. Nintendo says that it’s going to hold an Animal Crossing Direct in October to reveal the game’s November update. What we do know is that it’ll bring The Roost back, which was a café that appeared in previous games. Brewster, the Roost’s bird bartender, is coming back alongside the update.

Castlevania Advance Collection revives GBA classics

In the weeks building up to the Nintendo Direct, we’d seen rumors of a new Castlevania collection that features the series’ Game Boy Advance installments. Lo and behold, that’s exactly what we got. Castlevania Advance Collection brings four classic games to the Switch (plus, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC), including Circle of the Moon, Aria of Sorrow, and Harmony of Dissonance. It’ll also feature the SNES title Castlevania: Dracula X for good measure. The Castlevania Advance Collection is available on the Switch eShop right now. Surprise!

Everything else…

  • Monster Hunter Rise is getting a paid expansion called Sunbreak this summer.
  • Mario Party Superstars got a spotlight showing off some new modes and boards.
  • Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars is a card-based RPG co-created by Yoko Taro. It’s coming October 28.
  • Disco Elysium: The Final Cut finally comes to Switch on October 12, with a physical release next year.
  • The next wave of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity DLC is coming on October 29.
  • Chocobo GP is a Final Fantasy racing game featuring 64-player tournaments. It comes to Switch in 2022.
  • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate‘s final fighter will be revealed in a stream on October 5.
  • Koopa Troopa and Ninji are coming to Mario Golf: Super Rush as playable characters, along with two new courses. That update is available today.
  • Disney Magical World 2: Enchanted Edition is coming to Switch.
  • Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic launches on Switch on November 11.
  • Dying Light 2: Stay Human is getting a cloud edition on Switch. Dying Light: Platinum Edition is coming to Switch as well. The latter is available October 19.
  • Triangle Strategy (yes, that’s the final name) is launching on March 4.
  • Metroid Dread got a new trailer showing off some fresh footage.
  • The Shadowrun trilogy is coming to Switch in 2022.
  • Actraiser Renaissance is an HD remaster of the classic SNES game Actraiser. It launches today.
  • Deltarune Chapter 2 is now available on Switch.

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Giovanni Colantonio
Giovanni Colantonio
Section Editor, Gaming
Giovanni is a writer and video producer focusing on happenings in the video game industry. He has contributed stories to…
The best games of September 2022: The Last of Us, Splatoon 3, and more
Ellie and Joel driving.

After a summer full of ups and downs in terms of game releases, the fall season started off strong in September. Every week brought tons of notable games to try, and they ran the gamut from disappointing to outstanding. Fans of almost every gaming genre had something to check out this month. Some of these titles experimented with new mechanics and tried to push the industry forward, while others repeated winning formulas to great success. 
From new AAA experiences courtesy of Nintendo and Sony to cute and creative indies, there was a lot to love this month. The slew of games releasing is only going to get more intense from here, so we suggest you take some time now to check out these seven standout games from September 2022.
The Last of Us Part 1 
The Last of Us Part I Rebuilt for PS5 - Features and Gameplay Trailer | PS5 Games
The Last of Us Part 1 is a pretty divisive title as it's a $70 PS5 remake of a game that was already available on PS4 for just $20. If you ignore the price though, The Last of Us is still a great game. On top of giving the original a nice visual overhaul, The Last of Us Part 1 also incorporates some industry-leading accessibility options. Overall, the remake ensures that people who've never been able to try the PS3 classic now have the best way to experience one of the greatest games of all time.
"The Last of Us Part I shows that Naughty Dog’s gritty action game is still an enduring classic that hasn’t aged a day," Giovanni Colantonio wrote in a four-and-a-half star review of the remake. "Though that’s largely because Sony won’t allow it to, as evidenced by a mostly superfluous remake that doesn’t meaningfully improve on the game’s perfectly modern (and much cheaper) 2014 remaster. However, the project does once again push the industry forward in an important way: by raising the bar for accessibility in gaming’s past, present, and future."
So, this is a bit of an odd case where almost everyone will be in one of two camps. If you’re still a bit salty that Sony is charging $70 for this remake, then The Last of Us Part I probably isn’t worth it for you. But if you’ve never played it before or require more thorough accessibility options to enjoy video games, then it’s a must-play. The Last of Us Part I is available now exclusively on PS5.
Splatoon 3
Splatoon 3 Direct - Nintendo Switch
Splatoon 3 might not be a revelatory title for Nintendo's most recent hit franchise, but it's still a whole lot of fun. It expands upon its winning shooter formula with well-designed new maps, interesting new weapons and abilities, and the most refined campaign in the series yet. While Nintendo plans on supporting the game for the foreseeable future, it also isn't weighed down with as much live service junk as many other titles in this space. 
"Nintendo has created the best iteration of its wildly inventive ink-shooter series yet,” Colantonio wrote in his four-star review of Splatoon 3. "It does that without microtransactions, compulsory log-in bonuses, or pop culture references. Not only that, but it’s been packaged into the kind of content-loaded release that feels all but extinct in today’s competitive multiplayer landscape.”
Splatoon 3 currently stands out as the defining multiplayer game of September 2022 and one of the best of the year, period. It's very kid-friendly and approachable when compared to other games in the genre too, so it's a great game to play with friends and family. Splatoon 3 is available now exclusively on Nintendo Switch. 
Shovel Knight Dig
Shovel Knight Dig is OUT NOW!
Fans of Yacht Club Games were graced with another Shovel Knight game this month. Instead of being a standard side-scrolling platform or puzzle game, Shovel Knight Dig is a prequel roguelike that takes inspiration from games like SteamWorld Dig and Downwell by having players constantly dig deeper and deeper into the earth as the titular hero. 
"It feels like a modern cousin of Dig Dug and Mr. Driller, taking the satisfying tunneling hook from those classics and stitching it into a fast-paced action game," Colantonio wrote in his three-and-a-half star review of the game. "It’s a perfect fit, creating some puzzle-like sequences where players need to snake through dirt quickly -- but carefully if they want to reach valuable gems or each level’s collectible cogs."
Yacht Club Games hasn't missed when it comes to crafting retro-inspired indie games, and Shovel Knight Dig continues that streak with a novel spinoff concept. Hopefully, more adventures like this are in store and Mina the Hollower lives up to expectations. Shovel Knight Dig is available now for PC, Nintendo Switch, and iOS via Apple Arcade.
Desta: The Memories Between
Desta: The Memories Between | Official Game Teaser | Netflix
Roguelike fans had yet another title to be excited about with Desta: The Memories Between, the latest title from Monument Valley and Alba: A Wildlife Adventure developer Ustwo Games. It follows the titular character, Desta, as they return to their hometown and must repair their relationships with old friends through dreamlike tactical battles. Desta: The Memories Between is a fast-paced and easily digestible tactics experience for fans of that genre, while the slowly unfolding story will keep you engaged from run to run.
"It’s a unique experience that’s custom-built for mobile devices with tactile controls and quick levels," Giovanni Colantonio wrote in his three-and-a-half-star review of Desta: The Memories Between before going on to say that "while it’s a brief experience at the moment with some overworked genre hooks, it’s a strong addition to Netflix’s growing library of gems."
Currently, Desta: The Memories Between is currently exclusive to iOS and Android via Netflix Games. To play, you simply have to go to the Games tab in your Netflix mobile app and choose Desta: The Memories Between. You will then be able to download it from the App Store or Google Play Store. If you're OK waiting for a bit, Ustwo Games also intends on bringing Desta: The Memories Between to PC and Nintendo Switch soon. 
Railbound
Railbound - launch trailer
Afterburn's Railbound is this year's Mini Motorways: a cute, somewhat minimalistic puzzle game about transportation. Instead of being a real-time city management puzzler though, Railbound is a puzzle game about laying train tracks so carriages attach themselves to a train in the right order. It's a deceptively simple premise that will leave you scratching your head at puzzles that initially seem like they have obvious solutions.
The game isn't much more complicated than that; it's built to make you relax with its cute cel-shaded aesthetic (which was implemented just months before launch). Still, it's one of the best puzzle games of the year and a must-play for fans of the genre. Railbound is available now for PC, iOS, and Android. 
The Wandering Village
The Wandering Village - Launch Trailer
City builders and farming sims are more popular than ever, so it can be hard to stand out in that space. The Wandering Village is able to do so because of a very interesting hook: your village is on the back of a giant wandering creature named Onbu. While it's still in early access, fans of the genre can already have a very good time with the game's community researching, building, and management systems. The Wandering Village's hand-drawn visuals are also always pleasant to look at. 
Although none of those systems are wildly ambitious for the genre, the setting and unique mechanics that come with it -- like giving commands to Onbu as it explores a wide variety of biomes and defending your village from parasites and other sicknesses that can crop up -- make The Wandering Village stand out as the best simulation game of the month. The Wandering Village is available now on PC via Steam Early Access, and developer Stray Fawn Studios says it will stay in early access for "one year or longer."
Return to Monkey Island
If you grew up playing PC games in the 1990s, you might have fond memories of The Secret of Monkey Island. The Lucasarts classic was a landmark point-and-click adventure game that continues to persevere as a cult classic. It's so beloved that its fans can be protective over it. That's exactly what happened when we first saw Return to Monkey Island. While fans were excited to see series creator Ron Gilbert involved, others criticized the title for its new, modern art style. Even when some players got exactly what they wanted, they were still disappointed.
Ironically, that's exactly what Return to Monkey Island is about. At first, the adventure game seems like little more than a charming nostalgia trip. It's filled with familiar characters who revive some of the series' best jokes. The story is more than a greatest hits collection, though. It follows famed pirate Guybrush Threepwood as he finally looks to uncover the long-sought-after secret of Monkey Island. But is it a mystery we really want solved? What if that secret can't live up to the expectations? Return to Monkey Island asks those difficult questions about finishing unfinished business, all through an at-times meta story about, well, returning to the Monkey Island series.
Return to Monkey Island may not give players the answers they want, but it does perhaps give them the one they need to hear. The game is available now on PC and Nintendo Switch. ~ Giovanni Colantonio

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Splatoon 3’s multilayered grind has me completely hooked
Squid kids from Splatoon 3.

I can’t stop playing Splatoon 3. With 70 hours currently logged, it’s the most I’ve ever played an entry of the series. My hour count has already eclipsed Splatoon 2, a game I thought I was obsessed with at the time. I recognize that I might have a problem here.

What surprises me about that is that there’s not a huge difference in quality between Splatoon 2 and 3. As many critics pointed out in reviews, the threequel is largely the same as its predecessor. It brings key quality of life improvements and ratchets up the intensity in content like Salmon Run, but its online modes remain virtually unchanged. If you played Turf War back on the Wii U, you know exactly what to expect here. So why am I more hooked than I ever have been?

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The best special weapons in Splatoon 3
Squid kids from Splatoon 3.

While Splatoon has always walked its own path in terms of weapons, opting for more family-friendly firearms like ink pistols, paint buckets, and giant rollers, most serve a similar purpose to the arsenal you'd find in other competitive shooters. You will equip your main and sub-weapons for either close-, mid-, or long-range encounters, with the added wrinkle of also wanting to be able to cover a lot of ground area as well. Where things get interesting, in both Splatoon 3 and more traditional shooters, is when ultimate or special weapons are added into the mix.

Special weapons in Splatoon 3 are just as unpredictable yet simultaneously perfect for the theme of the game as the main weapons. To access these weapons in a match, you will need to build up a charge by inking as much ground as possible. Once fully charged up, you will be able to pull out one of these powerhouse tools in a key moment that can turn the tides of battle in your team's favor. There's plenty to pick from, and all of them sound good, but these are our picks for the best special weapons in Splatoon 3.

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