Nintendo Direct Mini: Every Game Announcement from the Surprise 26 March Direct

Image Source: Nintendo via YouTube

Nintendo Switch owners have been waiting a long time for the Japanese company to come out with one of their signature Nintendo Direct announcements.

This time, instead of teasing the upcoming stream for a few days, Nintendo just decided to drop a 29-minute video, called a Nintendo Direct Mini, showcasing over 30 games coming out in 2020 and game updates.

The line-up includes some ports of classic Star Wars games, much-loved series from 2K Games, some updates to existing blockbuster Switch titles, and more information on the upcoming Pokémon Sword and Shield expansion.

Here’s a look at some of the most exciting reveals as well as a full list of all of the Nintendo Direct Mini game announcements and their release dates.

2K’s Borderlands, Bioshock, and XCOM 2 are coming to the Switch

In one of the earliest announcements of the Nintendo Direct Mini on 26 March, three of 2K’s biggest and most-loved game series of all-time were declared as coming to the Switch.

Soon, Switch players will be able to battle Big Daddies in Rapture, go in search of the Vault on Pandora, and lead the resistance against the alien occupation of Earth.

In other words, Bioshock: The Collection (Bioshock, Bioshock 2, Bioshock Infinite), Borderlands: Legendary Collection (Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Borderlands, Borderlands 2), and XCOM 2: Collection (XCOM 2, War of the Chosen, all four DLC packs), will be available on the hybrid console on 29 May.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons gets a free update

Not long released, Nintendo has already announced an upcoming in-game event for players of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

From 1-12 April, players will be able to experience Bunny Day, during which they’ll meet the character Zipper T. Bunny and be tasked with digging up hidden eggs in the same way that they’d find every fossil in New Horizons.

To trigger the event once 1 April rolls around, you’ll need to have the Day 1 update 1.1.0 installed on the Switch.

If you’ve used the time travel technique to progress faster or get more iron nuggets, you’ll need to reset your Switch’s clock to being synchronised with the internet: otherwise, you’ll miss Bunny Day.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons will also be getting a second update and event towards the end of April, called the Earth Day Event.

Calamity ragdoll puzzler Good Job! available now

Along with all of the expansions and big-name games coming to the console, perhaps the most memorable was the showing of Good Job!

The action puzzler from Nintendo features 3D stick-people and a load of jobs to complete. However, in Good Job!, you can choose to be professional or unconventional, try to complete tasks with a bit of finesse, or smash down walls and equipment.

Just the opportunity for destruction and funny ragdoll physics within the fairly humdrum-looking office looks to be the making of a very fun little game.

Costing £17.99 ($19.99), Good Job! launched on the eShop on the same day as the Nintendo Direct Mini.

51 classic games for the price of one

Although the game doesn’t contain anything new, Clubhouse Games 51 Worldwide Classics does bring together 51 favourites from around the globe into one great multiplayer package.

You play almost any classic tabletop or pub game that you can imagine, including: Dominoes, Blackjack, Chess, Mini Shogi, Golf, Darts, Texas Hold’em Poker, Hanafuda, Air Hockey, Bowling, Mahjong Solitaire, Fishing, Toy Curling, Toy Boxing, and 37 more.

Best of all, some games are multiplayer via one console, across the local connection, and, in some cases, online.

The latest in the Clubhouse Games series will launch on the Switch on 5 June 2020.

Two Star Wars games coming to the Switch

Given the state of the latest movie trilogy and the games up until Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, it’s been tough to be a Star Wars fan.

However, the release of the classic Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast was welcomed by Switch players, and now another two classic titles are receiving a port to the system.

First, a remastered Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy lands on the Switch on 26 March 2020, offering customisation and online modes where you engage in lightsabre duels up to 16 other players.

Said also to be coming soon is the much-loved game Star Wars Episode I: Racer. You can play as 25 different podracers, from Gasgano to Dud Bolt, and Anakin Skywalker to Sebulba, across eight tracks in single-player or split-screen multiplayer action.

More details about the Isle of Armor

Part I of the Pokémon Sword and Shield expansion pass is the Isle of Armor, which is set to be released before the end of June.

In the clip, we get a glimpse at the dojo on the Isle of Armor, where trainers are said to gather to master their skills in battle.

It is here that you receive the legendary Pokémon Cubfu, who can evolve into two different forms of Urshifu. Which type Cubfu evolves into depends on which of the Towers of Two Fists you challenge on the island: either the Tower of Darkness or the Tower of Waters.

Your chosen starter Pokémon will also be granted a Gigantamax form, with them each getting their own G-Max moves which ignore opponents’ abilities.

All games and release dates announced during Nintendo Direct Mini (26 March 2020)

Here’s a list of all of the games announced during the Nintendo Direct Mini stream that took place on 26 March, sorted by their release dates.