There has been much discussion on the Switch's 2018 lineup since E3. Some complain about how empty it is compared to 2017. Others counter with a splash screen detailing dozens of upcoming 2018 Switch titles. It's not so much the volume of titles in 2018, but what KIND of Switch titles we are getting this year. Check out this breakdown of Switch titles by category, 2017 vs 2018. (Of course this is only my opinion on how to break down these titles by function, you might disagree on the categories and some titles could be be slotted in different places)
All New AAA "Home Console" Games:
2017: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Arms, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
2018: Octopath Traveler, Mario Tennis Aces
Incremental New Installments of Wii U Games:
2017: Splatoon 2
2018: Super Smash Bros Ultimate
Wii U Ports With Some Enhancements:
2017: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Lego City Undercover, Pokken Tournament DX
2018: Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, Bayonetta 1/2, Capitan Todd
Party/Casual Games (sample):
2017: 1-2 Switch
2018: Super Mario Party, Pokemon Let's Go, Labo
A-AA Games/3DS Replacement (sample):
2017: Blaster Master Zero, Puyo Puyo Tetris, Sonic Mania
2018: Kirby Star Allies, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, Mega Man 11
Indie Games/Vita Replacement (sample):
2017: Shovel Knight, Stardew Valley, Rocket League, Axiom Verge, Golf Story
2018: Celeste, Fortnite Battle Royale, Hallow Knight, The Messenger
Looking at it this way, the Switch's 2018 lineup is as strong (or stronger) than 2017 in all but one category. We're getting better Wii U ports for the many people who missed out on that library. This year the Switch has even better indie and A-AA content (a big plus for me personally). Most people would choose Smash over Splatoon in a battle of incremental sequels. And finally, let's not forget the casual/party audience as 2018 is MUCH stronger for that often overlooked group.
The problem is the other category, the all important one where Switch 2017 trounces Switch 2018: All New AAA "Home Console" games. Be they first party titles or 3rd party exclusives, I call them AAA "Home Console" games because Nintendo sold us the Switch as a home console you can take on the go. Look at 2017 vs 2018 in this category! 2017 gave us all time great Zelda/Mario titles, a new Xenoblade we got the same year as the announcement, a cool new IP in Arms, and a weird but wonderful Nintendo-Ubisoft crossover.
I'm not even sure if Octopath/Tennis belong in this category, but it's the best I could do for 2018. I'll play them both, especially the former as I really enjoyed Bravely Default. But c'mon! Nintendo sold the Switch on the premise that you can "take your home console games on the go" (paraphrasing here). Where are those games in 2018? Any two of the following titles could have at least picked up the slack in 2018: Pikmin 4, Bayonetta 3, Metroid Prime 4, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Yoshi, Pokemon, new Animal Crossing, or something unexpected a la Wonderful 101.
I understand that game development is difficult, costly, and time-consuming. But I thought we were operating under the premise that Nintendo could avoid major droughts now that they have consolidated portable and home console development. After this last E3, I don't see the evidence as we now have a major 1 year drought in the second year of a hit console's lifespan. A more cynical person might suggest that they know they can't avoid droughts, so they stopped Wii U development and went all hands on deck to give Switch a strong Year 1 so they could get your money. Hence the thread title. You'll get your Metroid and Bayonetta at some nebulous point in the future, in the meantime you can drown in all of this other content.
Most of us didn't buy the Switch as a 3DS and/or Vita replacement. I love the device and all of those really strong non-AAA games. But we bought a Switch to play those other games IN ADDITION to All New AAA "Home Console" Games, not INSTEAD of them. So yes, there are plenty of great games coming to the Switch in 2018. But we also need at least 2-3 major new titles a year. That number is actually on the low end for a major console, you could argue that Nintendo should deliver 5-6 major new titles to pick up the slack for inconsistent 3rd party support.
I say this all out of love for Nintendo and the Switch. It's a great device, 2017 was awesome, and 2019 could be another great year. But it's not acceptable for us to be in the position where we're saying "I wonder if the Switch will get major new releases this year." We have to hold Nintendo accountable so they can better serve their customers and fans. Shoot, we didn't even get a "please understand" this time.
All New AAA "Home Console" Games:
2017: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, Arms, Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
2018: Octopath Traveler, Mario Tennis Aces
Incremental New Installments of Wii U Games:
2017: Splatoon 2
2018: Super Smash Bros Ultimate
Wii U Ports With Some Enhancements:
2017: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Lego City Undercover, Pokken Tournament DX
2018: Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, Donkey Kong Country Tropical Freeze, Bayonetta 1/2, Capitan Todd
Party/Casual Games (sample):
2017: 1-2 Switch
2018: Super Mario Party, Pokemon Let's Go, Labo
A-AA Games/3DS Replacement (sample):
2017: Blaster Master Zero, Puyo Puyo Tetris, Sonic Mania
2018: Kirby Star Allies, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, Mega Man 11
Indie Games/Vita Replacement (sample):
2017: Shovel Knight, Stardew Valley, Rocket League, Axiom Verge, Golf Story
2018: Celeste, Fortnite Battle Royale, Hallow Knight, The Messenger
Looking at it this way, the Switch's 2018 lineup is as strong (or stronger) than 2017 in all but one category. We're getting better Wii U ports for the many people who missed out on that library. This year the Switch has even better indie and A-AA content (a big plus for me personally). Most people would choose Smash over Splatoon in a battle of incremental sequels. And finally, let's not forget the casual/party audience as 2018 is MUCH stronger for that often overlooked group.
The problem is the other category, the all important one where Switch 2017 trounces Switch 2018: All New AAA "Home Console" games. Be they first party titles or 3rd party exclusives, I call them AAA "Home Console" games because Nintendo sold us the Switch as a home console you can take on the go. Look at 2017 vs 2018 in this category! 2017 gave us all time great Zelda/Mario titles, a new Xenoblade we got the same year as the announcement, a cool new IP in Arms, and a weird but wonderful Nintendo-Ubisoft crossover.
I'm not even sure if Octopath/Tennis belong in this category, but it's the best I could do for 2018. I'll play them both, especially the former as I really enjoyed Bravely Default. But c'mon! Nintendo sold the Switch on the premise that you can "take your home console games on the go" (paraphrasing here). Where are those games in 2018? Any two of the following titles could have at least picked up the slack in 2018: Pikmin 4, Bayonetta 3, Metroid Prime 4, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Yoshi, Pokemon, new Animal Crossing, or something unexpected a la Wonderful 101.
I understand that game development is difficult, costly, and time-consuming. But I thought we were operating under the premise that Nintendo could avoid major droughts now that they have consolidated portable and home console development. After this last E3, I don't see the evidence as we now have a major 1 year drought in the second year of a hit console's lifespan. A more cynical person might suggest that they know they can't avoid droughts, so they stopped Wii U development and went all hands on deck to give Switch a strong Year 1 so they could get your money. Hence the thread title. You'll get your Metroid and Bayonetta at some nebulous point in the future, in the meantime you can drown in all of this other content.
Most of us didn't buy the Switch as a 3DS and/or Vita replacement. I love the device and all of those really strong non-AAA games. But we bought a Switch to play those other games IN ADDITION to All New AAA "Home Console" Games, not INSTEAD of them. So yes, there are plenty of great games coming to the Switch in 2018. But we also need at least 2-3 major new titles a year. That number is actually on the low end for a major console, you could argue that Nintendo should deliver 5-6 major new titles to pick up the slack for inconsistent 3rd party support.
I say this all out of love for Nintendo and the Switch. It's a great device, 2017 was awesome, and 2019 could be another great year. But it's not acceptable for us to be in the position where we're saying "I wonder if the Switch will get major new releases this year." We have to hold Nintendo accountable so they can better serve their customers and fans. Shoot, we didn't even get a "please understand" this time.
