I would call them popular games, for sure. However, Kirby really disappointed me... that game practically played itself, and I was just sat there watching...!
Relating to your earlier post, I absolutely agree that 2018 was a good year. I think it's easy to look back on a year and seek out the tent pole titles, but then forget about all of the "smaller" titles that contributed. You've mentioned some of these titles already, but I'd definitely add things like Octopath Traveller and Celeste into the mix too - I spent a lot of time on those two alone - and that Horizon Chase Turbo most recently has been a blast.
Thing is though... 2018 was always a difficult one for Nintendo. I mean, how do you follow up a year that had Mario, Mario Kart, Zelda and Splatoon in it? They played a lot of their aces early on... so in that respect, I do feel 2018 felt less "epic" but it was not a poor year, and certainly not as bad as many seem to imply (even though I do get what they mean).
The good news is 2019 looks like it could be nothing short of spectacular. So yea, this Christmas I will be looking forward to the inevitable January Direct, for sure, but I will also look back on 2018 very fondly. A solid year, with huge promise ahead.
