Nintendo of America announced a special, limited-time trial of Mario Tennis Aces will be available for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. 

The trial runs from 10 a.m. PST/1 p.m. EST on August 7 until 11:59 p.m. PST/2:59 a.m. EST on August 13/14.

The news comes shortly after Nintendo of Japan announced yesterday a similar trial for Captain Toad: Treasure Trackers and Nintendo of Europe doing the same for Mario Tennis Aces this morning.

Starting on August 7 and ending August 20, there's also a 30% off discount on the digital version of Aces purchased through the Nintendo eShop. Those who decide to buy the game after the trial ends can transfer their progress.

This is similar to the limited-time demo Nintendo released earlier this year for Splatoon 2, which was also accompanied by a discount. Yet, where the Splatoon 2 trial was limited to only a few modes, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers are getting full access to Mario Tennis Aces game during the trial.

As for why it's limited to Nintendo Switch Online members, it's likely because the bulk of the game's content lies in its online multiplayer components.

It could be the first step towards something bigger, though.

These kinds of free trial sessions are a first for Nintendo. However, it's a setup increasingly common across other publishers and studios, from the various Xbox Game Passes and PlayStation Plus to EA's continually expanding Access program.

Naturally, Nintendo hasn't said whether these kinds of offerings will continue in the future. But given the company's goal of increasing value for Nintendo Switch Online members — and the current lack of incentive to subscribe — it's always possible Nintendo could expand this to include other trials or even early access to upcoming games.

For several years now, Nintendo fans have celebrated all things Mario on March 10, dubbing it Mar10 Day, or the more formal Mario Day.

This year, the Big N itself is getting in on the celebration with several promotional deals and discounts. Among other things, My Nintendo members can spend their points to redeem some unique Mario Day themed items to hold their own celebrations.

The flagship deal in the promotion is a Nintendo Switch system plus one of five Mario Switch games for $329.99. That amounts to 50% off the selected title, which is noteworthy for being the steepest discount Nintendo has offered on its own Switch titles since the system launched.

The games to choose from are:

• Super Mario Party
• Mario Tennis Aces
• Super Mario Odyssey
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
• New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Most major retailers are taking part in this promotion, including:

• GameStop
• Amazon
• Walmart
• Target
• Best Buy

Those who already own a Switch can still join in the fun, though. The digital versions of the five games listed above will be available for $39.99 from the same retailers, except GameStop.

These promotions begin March 10 and run until March 16.

There are other ways to celebrate Mar10 Day as well. Nintendo has added new My Nintendo rewards in honor of the day, and fans can redeem points for Mario-themed wallpapers and a Mario March calendar.

Also on offer are Mario-themed invitation cards and bingo sheets for those planning their own Mario Day gathering. Special Mario envelopes are available as well.

The Switch recently celebrated its second birthday and has succeeded beyond what many thought possible. Mario Day is a good way for Nintendo to celebrate that milestone and spread the message about its latest system to an even wider audience.

Doug Bowser, currently the Senior VP of Sales and Marketing (and future NoA president) said:

What better way to celebrate Mario Day than by playing some of the most popular Mario games on Nintendo Switch. This promotion is a great option for consumers who want to pick up Nintendo Switch and some hit games at a value price.

Looking at the list of games above, Bowser is right. Super Mario Odyssey redefines the platformer, Mario Kart 8 does the same for the kart racing genre, and while Mario Tennis Aces has a few drawbacks, it's the best Mario Tennis offering in years.

Mega Man 11

Poor Mega Man. It’s been so long since he’s had a grand adventure in the style of old. At last, though, his time has come again with Mega Man 11.

Considered the series’ reboot—or, depending on your viewpoint, its last chance—this latest installment in the storied franchise goes back to the Blue Bomber’s roots, without sacrificing convenience and accessibility.

It features the usual Mega Man story—evil doctor, crazy robots, wild power ups, and engaging platforming. Like always, you can choose the order you tackle levels and Robot Masters, with some paths only becoming available after obtaining a certain boss’s powers.

One new feature is the Double Gear system, giving Mega Man a speed or power boost for a short time and adding an extra level of strategy to how you take on enemies. Mega Man looks better than ever, with highly stylized cartoon graphics, detailed outfit changes depending on powerups, and smooth animations throughout.  

Even better, Mega Man 11 offers different difficulty options, so if your young, one finds standard much too challenging, it’s easy to swap modes and get back into the game. On top of that, the game includes extra modes, like boss rush, so there’s a lot of value for your dollar here.

Super Mario Party

Nintendo’s beloved Mario Party franchise returns for the Switch with Super Mario Party, only this time, it’s actually worth your while. Previous entries did away with competitive play and swapped interesting board designs for somewhat bland affairs, which extended to the minigames as well. SMP brings back competition between characters and the board system older gamers may remember from Mario Party’s GameCube heyday, complete with plenty of minigames taking advantage of the Joy-Con’s unique features.

However, Super Mario Party does make some changes which should help maintain peace in your household. Competitive it may be, but it greatly reduces options for cutthroat, friendship-ending skullduggery, and Stars are, on whole, easier to obtain.

The boards are a little smaller than you might be used to as well, and there are only four, but Super Mario Party does add extra game modes as well, including co-op survival mode and minigame rushes. Overall, it puts the focus on a more relaxed board game and, more importantly, the mini-games themselves.

Each player uses one Joy-Con for the game (which makes two-player multiplayer incredibly easy, with no extra cost), so even though it means no handheld mode, it does help bring folks together for some gaming fun.

LEGO DC Super-Villains

Everyone loves to be bad sometimes, and Lego DC Super-Villains lets you be as bad as you like, without going overboard or getting too messy. The story is fairly simple: the Justice League vanishes, and in its place is a new organization, the Justice Syndicate. All may not be as it seems with the Syndicate, though, and it’s your task to figure out what their goals are, wreaking as much havoc as possible.

It features some of modern gaming’s biggest draws, too—an open world and extensive character customization. In fact, the story revolves primarily around the character you create, though in keeping with Lego’s previous games, you’ll switch between multiple characters throughout the story, including Harlequin and the Joker.

“Open world” and “evil” might sound like a recipe for a more mature game, but it’s Lego, which means it’s built for fun and being kid-friendly. The puzzles are never too difficult, the violence is slapstick, and it’s impossible to take things too seriously. Even with a mild difficulty curve, the game still manages to be fun for more skilled gamers and superhero fans, making it a great choice for lighthearted gaming anyone can enjoy.

Starlink: Battle for Atlas

Remember the toys-to-life concept Skylanders made so popular? I see from your pitchforks and torches you do, indeed, remember. Fear not, though. Much as Starlink: Battle for Atlas seems like yet another shameless cash grab, there’s a lot to love about Ubisoft’s latest open world adventure. It’s evident the company has one eye to the consumer’s convenience and financial circumstances as well.

First, the game itself. Starlink has you flying through seven massive worlds in your customized spaceship as one of many available pilots. The goal involves liberating each world from the oppressive and villainous Primes, massive space monsters who set up shop on each planet with their minions. But in good Ubisoft fashion, the game offers loads of side quests and exploration—think a more focused No Man’s Sky meets Starfox, with the added fun of creating your own, unique ships and seeing them appear in the game.

Speaking of Fox, the Switch version offers a fantastic bonus in the form of Fox himself, the Arwing, and some special Fox missions, right out of the box.

If you go for the physical version, you get two pilots, two ships, and some parts for $59.99; there’s a deluxe edition that offers more, but you still won’t get everything without spending over $100.00.

The digital version retails at the same price and gives you access to all the ships, multiple parts, and several pilots; you can pay close to $80.00 for the digital deluxe edition and get a couple extra bonus ships and parts that are otherwise retailer-exclusive (Target and GameStop, respectively). True, you don’t get the lovely little ships to mount on the controller, but they don’t work all that well in handheld mode anyway. Otherwise, the only difference is you open a menu to customize your ship, rather than clipping pieces on.

Scribblenauts Mega Pack

Scribblenauts Mega Pack is a bundle featuring Scribblenauts Unlimited and Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure, two critically acclaimed entries in the long-running Scribblenauts franchise. If you’ve never picked one up before, the games revolve around using your imagination and vocabulary to solve a myriad of puzzles, and best of all, the majority of them are completely open-ended.

Need to get somewhere out of reach? A normal ladder works just as well as a zombie pterodactyl (with or without pink spots). You can summon lightning bolt-wielding angels to take down foes or simply distract them with some fried chicken—whatever strikes your fancy, really.

Unlimited expands on this core mechanic exponentially, giving players the option to indulge in a little bit of programming by building instructions into your creations so they act a certain way in a given circumstance or upon interacting with another object you specify. It explores Maxwell’s background and, in good 2010s fashion, is open world in structure.

Unmasked breaks the series’ usual rule of no copyrighted material and no proper nouns by letting you summon multiple DC Comics heroes and objects as you traverse familiar locales, like Gotham City, and brand-new ones in the fight against evil.

Owlboy

Owlboy is an indie amalgamation of SNES style visuals and platforming built around PlayStation 2 era stories, like Jak and Daxter with retro art style.

You take control of Otis, a young, mute owl typically treated like dirt by his fellows, who must rise to the occasion after his village is attacked by pirates; you'll set off on a journey to find some way of freeing your people and awaken the power of the Ancient Owls.

You’ll meet many quirky characters along the way, but most important is Geddy, Otis’s best friend and traveling companion. He’s also how Otis takes out enemies, since Geddy wields a blaster-type weapon.

In true old-school fashion, there are multiple puzzles to overcome, many of which center around placing Geddy or another object in certain places to accomplish one task, while Otis flies off to handle another. Some puzzles might leave you scratching your head for a moment, but it never gets too difficult.

The platforming itself is unique for its focus on precision flying (and Otis is mercifully easy to control). On top of excellent gameplay, Owlboy combines a memorable story with gorgeous retro visuals, a great soundtrack, and accessible mechanics, making this a must have for gamers of any age.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Enjoying Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker might depend on whether you picked it up for the Wii U. If you did, it’s largely the same game as it was, with a few minor additions and, of course, the added portability bonus. If not, it’s a real gem of a puzzle game.

Players take control of the loveable Captain Toad, of Super Mario Galaxy (and now Odyssey) fame, as he journeys to rescue Toadette and recover stolen Power Stars. You’ll also get to control Toadette herself for a while after a twist in the story, and there are even extra green stars to uncover after completing the main story.

One of Captain Toad’s most unique features is that, unlike his Super Mario Bros 2. days, the venerable Captain can’t jump. That leads to a variety of head-scratching puzzle scenarios, where you must guide Captain Toad through obstacles and around enemies without taking any damage, and you get extras for knocking out every enemy in a level as well.

The Switch port doesn’t add much new to the Wii U original, save for some Super Mario Odyssey themed levels, but this is an excellent light puzzler, packed full of charm and content.

Mario Tennis Aces

It’s been a long time—a long time—since we’ve been treated to a quality Mario Tennis game. Camelot’s latest efforts with Mario Tennis Aces might not reach the soaring heights the Game Boy Color classic did, but it’s certainly worth your time.

The single player adventure mode follows Mario’s quest to recover powerful tennis rackets Wario and Waluig stole and set the now-chaotic world back in order. Despite some slightly more serious moments in the beginning, it’s your typical lighthearted scenario, setting the stage for another Mario romp. The courts are varied and fun, each with its own unique atmosphere and minor obstacles to overcome, and you’ll unlock additional courts for use in multiplayer mode as you progress.

And that’s where the real fun is, of course. Players use one Joy-Con each (which means two-player mode doesn’t require an extra set of Joy-Con) and, like the good ol’ Wii Sports days, can use motion controls for a more immersive experience.

The player roster is huge to begin with, but Nintendo’s updated it regularly with additional characters, from Shy Guy to Diddy Kong, along with a new co-op challenge mode, plus a patch that lets you easily retry failed missions—and it’s free DLC as well. Can’t beat free fun.

Kirby Star Allies

Kirby games are known for being relaxing frolics through visually soothing environments, making any of them perfect for younger gamers. However, this year’s Kirby Star Allies is one of the Pink Puffball’s best outings in a long time.

Eschewing alternative mechanics from previous entries, like Epic Yarn and Rainbow Curse, Star Allies features traditional Kirby gameplay—light platforming and puzzle solving, plus loads of copy abilities. The major new addition are the titular allies.

In single player mode, Kirby befriends his erstwhile enemies—a nice little commentary on forgiveness and friendship—and they all work together to overcome baddies and solve element-themed puzzles.

Multiplayer mode lets you (or another player) take control of a different colored Kirby and do basically the same thing. The most enjoyable part of teaming up, whether alone or with others, has to be combining abilities, though. Sometimes, it’s just for the fun of it, but some combinations make enemies or certain puzzles a lot easier, so it’s worth experimenting either way.

Like most Kirby games, the difficult curve is very smooth, so it’s perfect for gamers of any skill level (and you can always check out our guides if you get stuck).

Dragon Quest Builders

Dragon Quest Builders is Square Enix’s answer to Minecraft, but it provides much more than just mimicry. For one thing, it features a full-blown story mode, where your adventurer treks across four expansive chapters and brings light back to a hopeless world through the power of building.

You’ll build and craft everything, from straw flooring and bed mats, to powerful weapons and massive fortifications. Each chapter focuses on a different kind of building and crafting, offering a more guided experience than Minecraft, without sacrificing freedom and creativity.

You’ll find blueprints for additional structures and items as you progress through the game, but if you feel like just pottering around and building a massive city for the sake of it, there’s Terra Incognita mode as well, which is basically free build mode. Plus, the game is absolutely dripping with Akira Toriyama’s signature style and charm, accompanied by some classic Dragon Quest tunes, as you explore the massive world just waiting for you to shape it.

Like you’d expect from a crafting game, there’s no huge difficulty curve, even with the monsters and combat thrown in, so kids of any age and skill level would be right at home with DQB. No, it isn’t a completely new game. But the Nintendo Switch’s portability makes it that much more appealing, since it removes some of console gaming’s inherent restraints.

When you think about Nintendo's Switch, chances are, you think about playing games like Bayonetta or Skyrim, on the go, coupled with more recent outings like Octopath Traveler or Valkyria Chronicles 4. But after last year's Super Mario Odyssey, it might seem like there isn't much on offer for your smaller counterparts to enjoy.

While it's true Nintendo isn't really positioning the Switch as a kids' console, unlike in the past, take heart: it doesn't mean your kids are out of luck. Of course, everyone knows Pokemon: Let's Go! is coming, but there are many other quality Switch games for younger players and families that came out this year. From multiplayer titles to engaging single player romps, we've got you covered.

As a journalist, it's my job to fairly review the games I'm assigned; to rate them on their merits and the amount of fun I have playing them while trying to limit external bias, or at least mention it up front. A video game review should inform somebody whether or not they'll enjoy the game in question, regardless of whether or not they share my views on what makes a game fun. This is what makes writing this Mario Tennis Aces review so hard.

As a game, I can find very little to fault it for, and yet the game left me wanting because it could have been and should have been so much better. So where does that leave us – you, the folks who want to know whether Mario Tennis Aces is worth your hard-earned money, and me, the guy that has to tell you? Well let's start the Mario Tennis Aces review like this:

Mario Tennis Aces is the best Mario Tennis game in over a decade. If you're jonesing for more Mario Tennis action, buy the game now and don't look back.

A Clean Stroke

Where Mario Tennis Aces really shines is in its core gameplay. Nintendo has stripped away a lot of the extra trimmings of previous iterations of the Mario Tennis series (items, in particular) to focus on retooling the way the game actually works.

To be successful in Mario Tennis Aces, you'll really have to be strategic. Sure, you have the five main shot types to play with – a topspin shot that speeds up after the first bounce, a powerful flat shot, a curving slice, and drop shots and lobs to catch out-of-position opponents. That's no surprise.

Mario Tennis Aces switches things up by adding what is essentially a super meter to the game. You can burn this meter to go into slow motion to return a shot, burn a third of it to unleash a super-powerful shot you can direct anywhere on the court, or burn a full meter to use a special shot that's even more powerful. Nintendo has also added in trick shots that allow characters to return shots even if they're way out of position.

When all of this comes together, what results is an incredibly engaging, heart-pounding experience where every single swing of the racket comes with risk and reward. Do you risk charging up a shot to build meter while knowing you might get caught out of position, or will you play it safe? Will you go for a trick shot with an empty meter, knowing that if you're late on the timing, you'll serve up a meatball for your opponent? The core push-and-pull on display in Mario Tennis Aces is exquisite, and goes a long way in covering up the game's, well, faults. Tennis pun intended.

Fault

I'm going to get this out of the way first since it's the thing that disappointed me the most about the game – the highly-touted adventure mode in Mario Tennis Aces won't take you more than 3 hours or so to complete, depending on how experienced you are. That wouldn't be an issue on its own, but in the lead-up to the game's release, Nintendo pitched this adventure mode as a sort of return to the sports RPG modes present in the Mario Tennis and Mario Golf games for the Game Boy Advance. This... isn't that.

To be fair, the adventure mode isn't just a tutorial – there is at least a bit of meat on these bones – and it does get challenging, especially if you're looking to get that coveted 100%. But the RPG mechanics here are tacked-on at best, and none of your equipped rackets feel different from any others. There aren't any real engaging tennis puzzles, or any encounters that shine with the kind of creativity Nintendo is known for. Maybe I've been spoiled by Golf Story, but I really was expecting more here.

While it might not be entirely fair to expect a full single-player campaign from an arcade sports game, what's much less forgivable is the fact that Mario Tennis Aces launched without a whole bunch of play options that seem necessary for an arcade sports title.

First of all, and perhaps most damningly, there are only two match lengths to choose from – a tiebreaker first-to-6-points format, and a best-of-3 game format that is laughably titled “extended play”. No options for a 3 set match, even though the adventure mode features them. You can't even pick the extended play option if you're playing online (unless you're with friends). It's Wimbledon season. There's no excuse for not having options for 3, 5, and 7 game sets, and 1, 3, and 5-set matches.

The problems get even worse when you're trying to play against your buddies. There are no options for creating a private online tournament for friends, or even any options for hosting a pass-and-play local tournament. There are countless minor oversights like this, and they really do add up.

Oh, and we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that as of the publication of this Mario Tennis Aces review, Bowser Jr. has rendered competitive play completely broken since he can charge shots at will and return pretty much anything that's thrown at him. This will likely continue to be the case unless Nintendo decides to issue balance patches for the game as they add new characters.

Service Ace

Speaking of adding new characters, that's something that Nintendo seems to have gotten right.

So far, Nintendo has announced 3 free characters to be added in August, September, and October, though you can unlock them a month early if you enter an online tournament before their release. If their recent games (or the size of the character select screen) is any indication, they're planning on adding even more through the fall and winter.

Nintendo didn't skimp on stages here either. Though at first blush it seems like there's only one competitive, hazard-free stage available for play out of a total of seven (not counting palette swaps), Mario Tennis Aces took a page out of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's book and added the ability for players to disable stage hazards, which is much appreciated. In addition, the main tennis court you'll play on looks incredible, and has variants for both clay, grass, and hard court surfaces. There really are a lot of options to customize your play, which makes it insanely frustrating that Nintendo didn't make them available across all the different play modes.

Match Point

Mario Tennis Aces is a frustrating type of game, and not just when you're trying to rally the ball with Kamek 400 times to beat that darn rally challenge. 95% of the time you're playing the game, you'll be having a pulse-pounding blast. The core concept behind the gameplay is incredibly satisfying. There's nothing like the feeling of baiting an opponent to play the net and then launching a lob shot right above them to win the point.

But every so often the game will get in its own way and one of those nagging issues will come up. You'll have friends over and want to set up a tournament so everyone can play together. You'll want to play an extended competitive match. You'll get matched up with a Bowser Jr. player online.

The good news is that most of these gripes seem like they could be easily fixed with a patch. But the fact remains that out of the box, this game fails to achieve its full potential – which is sad, because the game truly is, currently, the best arcade sports experience on the Switch. It's a shame that Nintendo felt they had to rush it out to capitalize on Wimbledon and key features are nowhere to be found. With just a little bit more development time, Mario Tennis Aces could have been an all-time classic in the series. It's a solid game but it falls short of becoming a classic.

The March 8 Nintendo Direct had plenty of awesome Nintendo stuff to show off: New titles, release date announcements, and one big tease of a surprise. See the highlights below:

First, the big news -- SUPER SMASH BROS. ON SWITCH 

Release Date: TBA 2018

Sure, Nintendo didn't reveal a whole lot in terms of details surrounding the game, but we do know that it's coming sometime this year and will feature characters from the Splatoon series, as well as Smash staples such as Mario, Link, and more. 

Check out the trailer below: 

New Mario Tennis Aces Details Released

Release Date: June 22

Mario Tennis Aces features more than 15 playable characters, each with their own pros and cons, and up to 4-player multiplayer. New details were revealed about the split-second-decision-making you'll be doing as you wage a battle with the controller or the joycon.

Four main types of hits will be available in your arsenal: basic, topspin, slice, and lob. Here are some of the other modes and skills you'll get to use in Mario's upcoming new tennis title:

• Zone Shot: Aim and shoot to pinpoint any spot using motion controls, then send the ball crashing into your enemy. This powerful shot will hurt the racket unless it is blocked, but blocking it takes skill and timing. This move uses up energy from your gauge.
  
  
• Zone Speed: This skill slows the action down to help you nail that perfect block, or catch up to an errant ball. Using this move also costs energy.

• Trick Shot: Boosts the energy gauge—if you can time it right.
  
  
• Special Shot: This powerful move uses up a large chunk of energy, but for a huge payoff!

Your energy gauge fills up over time or as you use Trick Shots, allowing you to choose how you play. Will you go for points or a KO? Will you be on the offensive or the defensive? You choose the strategy.

Want to just play plain old tennis? The Simple Rules Mode allows only basic shots. Activate the Swing Mode to use the joycon like a tennis racket. Finally, Story Mode gives tennis a new twist with different objectives, target practice, and even boss battles.

The game will allow online play, and host tournaments where you can earn special outfits and even more playable characters.

Experience the game before it's out with a special online tournament, where players can play 1 vs 1 for free before launch. More details on this will be announced at a later date.

Octopath Traveler Reveals New Characters and Release Date

Release Date: July 13

With the release date confirmed, upcoming unique RPG Octopath Travelers has revealed two more characters from their roster:

• Tressa the Merchant: Tressa's Path Action is "Purchase," which allows her to get special items from people she encounters on her travels.
  
  
• Alfyn the Apothecary: Alfyn is on a mission to heal others. His Path Action is "Inquire," which worms out info that others won't have access to.

More info about the job system was also revealed: Characters begin with one base job but can equip additional jobs to expand strategic options.

A Special Edition of the game will be available for purchase on the day of release, which will include:

• A Popup book with art and background for the 8 characters
• A map
• An OST
• A replica coin based on the in-game currency

A free demo is now available.

Splatoon 2 Version 3.0 Update, Octo Expansion

The Ver 3.0 update for Splatoon 2 has been scheduled for release in late April. It will include:

• 100+ new pieces of gear
• More stages: Pirhana Pit, Camp Triggerfish, Wahoo World
• Rank X: an extreme rank, higher than S+ (more details to be announced)
• Callie will appear in Octocanyon after you fulfill certain conditions

A new video also showed off a brand new mode of play, in the upcoming new Octo Expansion!

The first paid DLC will sell for $19.99 and will feature a huge new single-player story mode featuring an octoling named Agent 8. Lost in an underground subway, Agent 8 must travel to the 8 underground lab facilities to regain her memories and return to the world above.

Expect new missions, stories, and lore that will shed new light on beloved characters. You only think you know everything...

Pre-purchase the DLC now to receive Octo headgear and clothes.

New Titles and Other News:

WarioWare Gold

Release Date: August 3

Everyone's favorite baddie returns with the biggest collection to date: over 300 microgames.

The trailer promises more new goodies as well as new looks on familiar characters.

Dillion's Dead-heat breakers

Release Date: May 24

Action meets tower defense as Dillon protects his home from… what, exactly?

Team up with Dillon using an animalized Mii character—and let your friends join the battle as gunners.

Check out the demo, available May 10.

Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Story

Release Date: 2019

Team up with Bowser from the inside, as you race to find a cure for a terrible new disease. The updated version includes a new chapter, which tells us Bowser Jr.'s side of things.

Detective Pikachu

Release Date: March 23

You've never seen Pikachu like this before. Pre-purchase the game starting today to see the gruff side of the loveable mascot.

A new amiibo is also in the works featuring the detective, with the option to snag an extra-large, 5.3 cm amiibo.

Luigi's Mansion

Release Date: TBA 2018

Experience Luigi's haunting tale of ghosts and vacuum cleaners, remade especially for the Nintendo 3DS. See the mansion map on the bottom screen, or take on a challenge with the new Boss Rush mode.

Nintendo Switch News

Kirby Star Allies

Release Date: March 16

Join the fight and create your own dream-team of kirby fighters, even teaming up with former enemies like MetaKnight and King Deedeedee.

More playable characters will become available over time, through free DLCs. The first free update is scheduled to hit the store on March 28, and will bring the following characters from past Kirby games: Rick, Kine, Coo, Marx, and Gooey.

Free demo is available now.

Okami HD

Release Date: Summer 2018

Use the touchscreen or the joycon to draw brush strokes in this HD remake of the beautiful game Okami.

Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido

Release Date: June 8

Eat sushi to line them up and attack the opposition in this fun-looking game. Join others online in multiplayer mode or fight the great sushi monopoly yourself.

The game will be available on June 8th for both the Switch and the 3DS.

Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes

Release Date: 2018

Action, racing, and puzzling come together as Travis enters his games and plays through seven different game titles, from the inside. Strike down bugs using combination moves in adventure mode, which tells a new story, or coop multiplayer mode with friends.

Dark Souls: Remastered

Release Date: May 25

Praise the sun! The new Solaire of Astoria amiibo will be available on the remastered game's launch, which will give players access to the praise the sun gesture in-game.

Try out the game before launch during a pre-release network test. More details coming soon!

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Release Date: July 13

Guide Captain Toad through this boxy puzzler as he searches for treasures to uncover. Rotate the world or recruit a friend to provide cover fire. The game will feature some Super Mario Oddyssey levels in this new style!

A Nintendo 3DS version is planned.

Undertale

Release Date… Eventually.

The teaser didn't give away much except confirm that the indie darling is coming to the Switch. Look out for it!

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy

Release Date: July 10

The new bundle will include all three Crash games with fully upgraded animations, cinematics, and environments. Includes the remaster of Crash Bandicoot 1, 2, and 3.

Little Nightmares: Complete Edition

Release Date: May 18

Adventure through the creepy world of this indie puzzle platformer, revealing two tales in one game. The Complete Edition includes all past downloadable content, as well as an unlockable Paku Mask using the Pacman amiibo.

South Park: The Fractured But Whole

Release Date: April 24

Nintendo and South Park? Yes, really. The South Park game is coming to the Switch this Spring, as well as the DLC, which can be purchased separately or in a season pack. The 1st and 2nd DLC will be available on launch, with the 3rd (which reveals a new story) slated to be released later.

Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition

Release Date: May 18

The release date has been confirmed, though no new details were given.

ARMS

Think you're the best ARMS fighter? Put yourself to the test by joining the US and Canada online open! Prelims will take place March 8-18, during which eight players will be chosen to move on to the finals. Finals will stream on the Nintendo website on March 31. All finalists will receive custom art from the development team.

March 31 also marks a 3-day Testpunch, which welcomes new players to experience ARMS free for three days.

Keep an eye out for the dev team at GDC!

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And that's it! Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more news and information on Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo Switch as it develops, as well as news on all the other games coming to Nintendo's newest console this year. 

In a surprise, Nintendo had a Direct Mini today, and with that came several game announcements. Even more surprising, Nintendo revealed a brand-new Mario Tennis game for the Nintendo Switch called Mario Tennis Aces, coming to the hybrid console this Spring. 

Mario Tennis Aces promises to offer a new level of skill and competitive gameplay to the series, as well as a brand-new story, which we haven't seen in a Mario Tennis game since Power Tour on the Gameboy Advance. The game will include a variety of missions and boss battles -- with even more to be announced at a later date. The game developers over at Camelot, responsible for the Mario Tennis games since the days of the Nintendo 64, are behind the upcoming release.

Mario Tennis was first released on the Virtual Boy as a pack-in game for North America. The reviews were mixed at the time; however, that didn't stop it from becoming a spin-off franchise for Nintendo, and it even helped usher in a new era of Nintendo sports games in general. 

Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more news and information on Mario Tennis Aces as it develops.