Will Nintendo’s Holiday 2024 lineup send the Switch off right?
Anticipation for Nintendo’s next console has reached a fever pitch. It seems like every other day we hear word of a new rumor or supposed leak pointing to some detail about their follow-up to the Switch. Yet here we are, still with no concrete news about a successor, and still with the original Switch chugging right along.
At the start of this year, it wasn’t clear exactly what Nintendo’s plans were for the current Switch. The idea that they were saving up their good ideas for a new console seemed pretty believable. Then the June Direct hit, and it featured some unexpected first party titles. As it turns out, there’s still some life in the old Switch yet.
Last week, Nintendo held a “Holiday Tour” event to take a look at their upcoming slate of releases from now until the end of the year. Will these games be enough to satisfy fans who are frothing at the mouth for something new? I was lucky enough to attend this year’s event, and got to play some current and upcoming Switch games to see what’s in store.
One thing Nintendo knows how to do right is atmosphere. Whether inside a game or on a convention floor, they have a knack for crafting the right vibes to fit the occasion. The show room at this event was divided into multiple sections, one for each game available to demo, and each had their own unique decor, some of which you can check out in the gallery above.
The Mario Party Jamboree area was set up like the ultimate multiplayer party hangout room, complete with goofy masks. LEGO Horizon Zero Dawn’s area felt like a genuine campsite lifted straight from the original game. And The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom was given an impressive display of pillars in a circle, each with their own Switch OLED attached, making you feel like you were experiencing a grand adventure instead of just playing a video game. These little touches really helped bring the games to life, and that’s not to mention the awesome lineup of creative snacks and drinks.
Be sure to check out all the photos above. Maybe you’ll get some decorating ideas for your own gaming setup! If you’re here for the games and not the decorating tips, read on, as I run down the biggest titles that were on display there.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
By now, most people reading this have probably been playing through Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom on their own. If you haven’t gotten around to it yet, or if for some reason you’re on the fence, let me assure you that it represents a creative new take on the classic Zelda formula.
I played through just the opening section at the event, which acts as a tutorial to teach players how to create echoes of objects in the environment. As Zelda, you can copy a staggeringly large variety of items you come across, including beds, tables, plants, and of course, enemies. Generally speaking, the furniture is there to assist in platforming puzzles, while the enemies are for use in combat.
The best part of Echoes of Wisdom is using your own creativity in solving puzzles and tackling mobs. Just like Tears of the Kingdom before it, Nintendo is really emphasizing the ability of the player to discover their own solutions to things. Combat for example has seemingly endless possibilities. Is it better to go for the mirror match, fighting fire with fire, or should you find a counter? Should you try to outnumber your foe with a handful of Ropes and Keese, or go after them with one big Boarblin that takes all your summoning power? When you need to cross a chasm, should you make a bridge of beds, or a staircase of tables? Gone are the days of one-solution-fits-all, and the Zelda series is probably better for it.
Even in the very early sections of Echoes of Wisdom, the creative possibilities of this new mechanic are very apparent. There are also plenty of hidden chests, heart pieces, and rupees to discover in every corner of the map. Echoes of Wisdom is a successful blending of traditional Zelda elements with brand new ideas. It’s perfect for fans who have been wanting more traditional dungeons and puzzles that recent entries were missing, but it isn’t just a retread of old ideas either. It should come as no surprise, that the newest Zelda game from Nintendo is in fact very good.
Super Mario Party Jamboree
What better way to celebrate the holidays with friends and family than Mario Party? This series has had its hits and misses over the years, but there’s a reason it’s had such strong staying power. It still has the capacity to be a top-notch party game when they get it right. I’m happy to say, it seems like Jamboree is taking that to the next level.
The game will have seven traditional game boards, over 110 minigames, and even more multiplayer modes. While I didn’t get the chance to try a classic Mario Party board experience, Nintendo did walk me and a few other players through a new daily minigame mode. Every day, a new selection of three minigames will be available to play through, either in local multiplayer, or competing online. Your goal of course is to win as many as possible, receiving a star for each victory. Three minigames may not be a large sample compared to everything that’ll be in the full game, but they were enough to make me very optimistic about the final product!
The first minigame I tried was team-based. Two teams of two players each gathered around a rotating circular panel on the ground. On the outside of the panel are four items, either coins or bombs, and next to each player is a button. Once the game starts, a timer begins, and each player has the option to jump on or off their button. For each button a player is standing on when the timer ends, the panel will rotate 90 degrees, and whichever item ends up in front of your team is the one you receive. So the goal is to rotate the panel the correct number of times to put the good rewards (coins) in front of your team, and the bombs (which make you lose a coin) in front of your opponents.
The really tricky part of this game is that players can jump on and off their buttons at any time during the countdown. So not only do you need to calculate how many rotations are needed to give you the best result, you also have to worry about what everyone else is doing. Are they faking you out, or will they jump on a button at the very last second? Maybe you’ll get on a button early to try to fake them out, but you might not always pull back in time, and you could end up hurting yourself. This minigame combines a game of chicken with some real mental mind games. For the record, I was terrible at it, and my team lost by a significant number of coins… but I sure laughed every time I got a bomb in the face!
The next minigame I tried pitted me against all three other players. I took on the role of a Bullet Bill barreling toward the screen, while the others scrambled to avoid me. My goal was to knock all of them out after five rounds. If you’ve played the bowling pin minigame from Mario Party, you know what to expect here. It certainly lacks the depth and head games of the first one, but this formula is kind of a staple of the series, and it’s nice to see it return once again.
Head games return in spades in the third minigame I tried, probably my favorite of the bunch. In this game, each player competes to cross a pool of lava before anyone else can. Each round, a selection of four bridge pieces will appear on screen, and each player secretly selects one to add to their own personal bridge. When choosing you’ll have to take into account how far the piece gets you, and whether it connects to your bridge shape properly.
What’s even more important is that if two or more people choose the same bridge piece, no one gets it! So you might think the obvious choice is whichever piece gets you the farthest, but if everybody else has the same idea, you’ll be out of luck. You might even take the mean route and try to guess which pieces other players need for their bridge so you can choose them to purposefully lock them out of a turn. (I would never do something like that, of course.) This minigame is reminiscent of the classic prisoner’s dilemma and the wine drinking scene from The Princess Bride. Our group had a great time with this one, reacting with plenty of groans and cheers after each selection was revealed. There was enough meat on it that I could see choosing to play this minigame specifically even outside of the board game mode.
Super Mario Party Jamboree seems to have a nice mix of cerebral, strategic minigames, with dexterity and action-based minigames. Of course, three minigames is a pretty small sample size, but I think they’re a great sign of what’s to come. If you’re hungry for more Super Mario Party Jamboree impressions, definitely check out our more extensive coverage from a few weeks back.
LEGO Horizon Adventures
Switch owners may not be getting Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, but maybe we’re getting the next best thing? LEGO Horizon Adventures represents a surprising (to me at least) crossover game, with a former Sony exclusive property now making its way onto a Nintendo console. Of course, this isn’t exactly the same as a AAA title, but it does bring a surprising amount of the original’s flavor and spirit to the world of LEGO.
Pretty much all modern LEGO games share some basic DNA, and Horizon Adventures is no exception. Obviously, the look of the game is inspired by LEGO (even more so here, as for the first time ever, every single object in the world is actually made up of individual LEGO bricks). A bright, colorful tone and graphical style will complement your adventure of casual combat, platforming, and puzzle solving. This time of course, all of it is set in the lush, post-apocalyptic world of Horizon Zero Dawn. LEGO Horizon Adventures isn’t actually a brand new Horizon adventure, but a complete retelling of the original game’s story.
The aesthetic and lore of Horizon come across in every aspect of this game’s world, with a humorous twist of course. As you play, you’ll frequently run into NPCs, which will bring up dialogue screens and characters emoting on either side in classically over the top LEGO fashion, with big expressions and arms flailing. Best of all, the game is fully voice acted, and members of the original voice cast have returned. Ashly Burch is rightfully lauded for her performance as protagonist Aloy in the Horizon series, but it’s a real treat to get to hear her flex her comedic chops in this version of the game. She and the other actors strike exactly the right tone of silly adventure in a somewhat serious world. If you’re a fan of the original games, you should get a kick out of it. I don’t know exactly how well all of the inside jokes will translate for newcomers, but there are enough puns and slapstick that it should be pretty universal.
Combat in Horizon Adventures feels unlike most other LEGO games, as it really does take a lot from the core Horizon series. You’ll be able to shoot your trusty bow and arrow, and even scan enemies for weak points with your Focus. The game does an admirable job making that combat faster and more accessible by eliminating complex mechanisms like the weapon wheel and ammo types (although those could come into play later in the game). It’s still super satisfying to lock onto a robot animal’s weak point and shoot an arrow to make it explode. Stealth will also be an option, as you’ll be able to hide yourself in the tall grass in order to sneak up and take enemies down silently.
I got to see some cool environmental puzzles – for example, shooting arrows through fire in order to burn down grass and uncover hidden chests and other goodies. Plus, there’s a full co-op option. A friend can join your adventure as Aloy’s surrogate father Rost, so the two of you can take down enemies and climb Tallnecks together.
I wasn’t expecting much more from LEGO Horizon Adventures than a traditional LEGO game with a Horizon coat of paint on it. After getting the chance to try it myself though, the game does feel noticably different to me than other LEGO titles. I get the sense that the team behind this one has gone the extra mile to make sure that it truly captures the feeling of Horizon Zero Dawn, altering more of the world to match that style. I had a blast running around, exploring areas, taking down robots, and picking up and throwing villagers at enemies (this doesn’t do any damage, but it is funny). If you’re a fan of either of the two franchises being mashed up here, definitely take a look.
Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer
After the success of Wii Fit and Ring Fit Adventure, Nintendo gamers should be well versed in the ways of virtual exercise. This holiday season, that tradition is continuing with Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer. This was my first time playing an entry in this series, which is sort of like a combination of Ring Fit Adventure, Punch-Out, and Dance Dance Revolution.
To play, you’ll position your body in a boxing pose, then physically punch your fists using the Joy-Cons’ motion controls. There are a variety of possible moves you’ll need to perform, including jabs, hooks, and uppercuts. On-screen responses will let you know how accurate your movements, giving you ratings from Miss to Excellent. As a first time fitness boxer, these movements took a little getting used to. For example, your hooks really need to curve all the way left or right, and you need to use full range of movement to get your uppercuts registering perfectly. Occasionally I got away with what felt like a sloppier motion, but you’ll want to do it right if you want to get those high scores. You can play with another player too, both of you competing for high scores on the same song.
You also don’t want to phone in your boxing motions if you actually want to get a good workout, which Fitness Boxing 3 intends to provide. After playing for just ten or fifteen minutes, I can’t comment on whether or not Fitness Boxing will get you truly jacked. However, I can say that my arms were definitely starting to feel the burn after a brief session. Like any of these types of games, your mileage may vary, and it probably won’t be as effective as going to the gym, but it probably won’t hurt either.
I only got to play through a few individual songs, so I didn’t see all the dedicated single player options. It does sound like there will be some incentive to come back and play a little each day to keep your workout streak going, though there isn’t a “campaign” to play through. You’ll also be able to customize your trainer, choosing different ones and adjusting their outfits and hairstyles to suit your mood. The trainers have different attitudes as well, so you can pick one that fits best with your motivational style (I need one that’s willing to yell at me and threaten me if I don’t keep up my routine).
Fitness Boxing 3 is also bringing a new seated mode to the table. This mode pretty much works just like the standard game, only you move your arms while sitting down. It’s a great accessibility option for anyone who can’t, or doesn’t want to, stand while playing. You’ll still be flexing and moving your arms without losing much from the core experience.
From my very brief time with Fitness Boxing 3, it’s hard to judge the game’s longevity. Like real exercise, it seems like you’ll need to commit to playing frequently to get the most out of it. On the other hand, you may want to play this one simply as a straightforward rhythm game, and think of the exercise aspect just as a bonus. There will be licensed songs by artists like Britney Spears, Billie Eilish, Madonna, and more for you to enjoy on the full playlist.
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition
The last big holiday offering I got some hands-on time with is one that’s been out since July, and that’s Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition. I have to be honest, I never really gave this game a fair shot. Speed runs and meta-challenges aren’t really my thing, so I just assumed that it wouldn’t be my cup of tea. During the event however, they were having guests compete to see who could get the best time in a Donkey Kong challenge, so I had to try my hand at it…
The goal of the challenge was simply to reach the top of the first Donkey Kong screen as fast as possible. I’m a big fan of the original Donkey Kong and have played it countless times on NES and in the arcade, which is not to say that I’m particularly good at it, but I do have an affinity for the game. Playing through with the intention of getting a fast time really made me appreciate the finer details and complications of the game. I found myself paying closer attention to the speed of your jumps, and exactly how long it takes to get on and off a ladder. It really reframed my perspective of such a well worn title. You can see my name on the official event leaderboards below (I’m Jon with no H). I’m very proud.
I also played through one of the game’s challenge runs, which pits you and a friend against each other in a series of challenges from different games. The one I experienced was one of the shorter ones that included Ice Climber and Kirby’s Adventure. As I said before, I didn’t think that this kind of timed challenge was really my thing, but the game managed to bring out my competitive nature and I had a good time with it!
There’s something about racing a friend side by side in the same game that is undeniably exciting. I still don’t know if Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition would appeal to me in a strictly single player setting, but with friends around, I absolutely see the appeal. I’d be tempted to pick this one up just for parties, as I can imagine it really shining with a crowd there to cheer the players on. Best of all, the game gives you a chance to feel like all your countless hours playing retro Nintendo games were really worth something!
That wraps up all the games I got hands-on time with at Nintendo’s Holiday Tour 2024 event, but there are still more games poised as big holiday titles for Switch: Mario & Luigi: Brothership (notably absent from this event), Sonic X Shadow Generations, MySims: Cozy Bundle, and Princess Peach: Showtime! probably being the biggest among them. So the question is, is this a strong enough lineup to get Switch through what will most likely be its final holiday season?
Truthfully, it’s not hard to criticize this lineup at first glance. Most, if not all of these games feel like “less-than” or “B-team” efforts from Nintendo’s developers. If Nintendo were still managing both handheld and home console markets, I would imagine that games like Echoes of Wisdom and Mario & Luigi would’ve been trimmed down and marketed as smaller portable titles. There aren’t really any major, AAA heavy hitters on the horizon.
That said, while that criticism might have some merit, it doesn’t mean that these aren’t fantastic games. Many will look at Zelda as less significant than its bigger budget counterparts, but it’s proving to be every bit as grand and innovative as its predecessors. Mario Party Jamboree might look like just another samey entry in an almost yearly series of games, but it seems to be going above and beyond in terms of content and variety. We may not have something on the scale of Tears of the Kingdom or Mario Odyssey this year, but that’s no reason to write off the great games we are getting. If the Switch successor does end up being backwards compatible, it’ll be all the better to have titles like these ready at the gate to play and enjoy.
How do you feel about Nintendo’s 2024 holiday lineup? Are you hoping for any of these games as gifts, or planning on buying them for friends or loved ones? Talk to us in the comments below!
