The Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase aired today, and it was a 25-minute-long presentation of third-party games that are on their way to the Switch. It even brought in some slightly expected surprises, such as Obsidian’s Grounded and Pentiment.

Let’s not waste any time and dive right into the announcements. Don’t forget to let us know which ones catch your eye!

Grounded (Obsidian Entertainment)

Release Date: April 16, 2024

Survive, build, and explore in this immersive co-op survival-adventure game where you’re the size of an ant and where the insect life reacts to your actions. Play solo or with up to three friends online and discover the treacherous wonders of your own backyard. Build bases to protect your stuff and craft new tools, weapons and armor to improve your chances against hazards of all shapes and (very large) sizes. Plus, create and share fresh adventures in Playgrounds Mode.

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist (Binary Haze Interactive)

Release Date: 2024

Explore an interconnected map full of secrets and intrigue in this sequel to Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights. Action, adventure and a tale of destruction and renewal unfurl before Lilac and their companions. Defeat bosses, acquire new skills, turn enemies into helpful familiars and deepen bonds with your companions along the way. 

Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure (Furniture & Mattress)

Release Date: Summer 2024

Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure follows the story of Jemma, a small-town misfit on a journey of self-discovery. Venturing out beyond her stiflingly cozy confines, she finds an inspiring world – but also one ruled by fear, and a strange, immovable ‘static’ force. Can she disrupt a culture of stagnation, and find a place to fit into it?

Unicorn Overlord (Sega / Atlus)

Release Date: March 8, 2024 / demo available

Regain your throne alongside trustworthy allies in this tactical fantasy RPG from Vanillaware. Cultivate an army of over 60 characters – including humans, elves, massive beasts and heavenly angels – and traverse a vibrant world in the iconic Vanillaware style as you perform heroic deeds throughout the five nations.

Monster Hunter Stories (Capcom)

Release Date: Summer 2024

Embark on a journey into a colorful world where mighty monsters roam and people make a living by hunting them. Nestled within this land lies a hidden village where the locals follow a different set of customs. Here, Monster Riders form bonds with Monsties instead of hunting them. Unlike Hunters, Riders forge bonds and harness the power of kinships stones, allowing them to explore the vast and exhilarating realm together.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed (Purple Lamp / Disney Games)

Release Date: 2024

Join Mickey Mouse on a colorful adventure as he traverses Wasteland, a world inspired by Disney classic stories. Along with updated graphics and other improvements, Mickey Mouse’s abilities have been improved with a whole new set of skills and more. 

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance (Atlus)

Release Date:June 21, 2024

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance delivers a full-fledged RPG that can be enjoyed by existing and new fans. At the start of the game, players will choose between two paths: the story told in Shin Megami Tensei V, the Canon of Creation, or the brand-new Canon of Vengeance. This dramatic new tale of revenge introduces brand-new characters, an enigmatic cohort of demons called the Qadištu, a new dungeon and map to explore. Additionally, the original Shin Megami Tensei V battle system, demon merging and field exploration have been evolved and expanded in this newest entry in the series.

Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection (Aspyr Media / Lucasfilm Games)

Release Date: March 14, 2024

It’s time to relive intense battles from the Star Wars galaxy in the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection. Jump into thrilling firefights across massive battlefields on the ground, in the air, and in space as the Empire, Rebellion, Republic, and the Separatist Alliance. Choose an array of unique classes, pilot a multitude of vehicles, and play as iconic heroes and villains from multiple eras of the saga in solo, local, and online play.

South Park: Snow Day (Question Games)

Release Date: March 26, 2024

Play as the New kid in South Park and join Cartman, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny, in three-dimensional glory, to celebrate the most magical day in any young child’s life – a snow day!

Grab up to three friends, in this four-player co-op, and battle your way through the snow-piled town of South Park on a quest to save the world and enjoy a day without school. It’s a snow day, dude!

Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream (Bandai Namco)

Release Date: 2024 / Closed Beta Test on March 11-17, 2024

In Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream, a new system is applied to the world of Alfheim Online, but a malfunction causes all worlds and timelines to collide, creating a unique setting and challenging environment for Kirito and other players. All lost in uncharted territory, enemies become allies, departed characters are back and unlikely alliances will be formed to survive the dangers in this unsettled world.

Gundam Breaker 4 (Bandai Namco)

Release Date: 2024

Gundam Breaker 4 will have players fighting their enemies solo or with up to three friends in co-op multiplayer. In addition, the game goes back to the roots of the franchise letting players create the Gunpla of their dreams with a large collection of mobile suits and parts, as well as a new diorama mode.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble (Sega)

Release Date: June 25, 2024

AiAi and friends are back in the newest adventure in the Super Monkey Ball series! Customize your character from over 300 options, roll out across more than 200 stages, launch past rivals with the new Spin Dash move, play with friends in an all-new co-op Adventure Mode, and for the first time in series history, 16 players can tilt their way to victory online.

World of Goo 2 (2D Boy)

Release Date: May 23, 2024

This sequel to World of Goo includes even more goo! Put your imagination to the test and use living liquid creatures to build bridges, grow towers, terraform terrain and fuel flying machines. Discover new types of Goo Balls with distinct abilities – including Explosive, Growing and Shrinking Goo – across more than 64 levels set in a dangerous, physics-based world. 

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time (Level-5)

Release Date: October 10, 2024

A new chapter of the Fantasy Life series is about to unfold! Change between 14 different roles called Lives whenever you like, and explore a new island packed with mysteries. Build your own town in the present and adventure into the past. Meet returning characters and uncover the ruined island’s secrets. Plus, up to four players can play together online.

Another Crab’s Treasure (Aggro Crab)

Release Date: April 25, 2024

Another Crab’s Treasure is a soulslike adventure set in a crumbling underwater world plagued by a mysterious curse. As Kril the hermit crab, you’ll need to wear the trash around you as shells to withstand attacks from enemies many times your size. Embark on an epic treasure hunt to buy back your repossessed shell, and discover the dark secrets behind the polluted ocean.

Penny’s Big Breakaway (Evening Star)

Release Date: February 21, 2024

Join Penny and Yo-Yo in a 3D platforming adventure from the team that brought you Sonic Mania. Swing, dash, flip and trick your way over 11 colorful worlds and 40 levels. Use tasty treats to temporarily transform Yo-Yo, granting it abilities to improve movement speed, protect Penny from harm and much more! Evade capture and the Emperor’s endless penguin army by employing a variety of yo-yo acrobatics and transformations. Plus, show off your speedrunning skills in Time Attack Mode, and redeem coins you’ve collected for bonus items, stages and unlockable extras.

Suika Game Multiplayer DLC

Release Date: February 21, 2024

Suika Game – the fruit-matching casual puzzle game phenomenon – is receiving a paid DLC season pass that adds local two-player battles to the mix, with online multiplayer arriving in the future. Enjoy the fruits of your labor in the Original mode along with the new Time Limit and Attack modes. 

Pepper Grinder (Ahr Ech)

Release Date: March 28, 2024

Shipwrecked and robbed of her treasure by nefarious Narlings, Pepper – a seafaring soul with a passion for prospecting – must spin up her trusty sidearm to reclaim what the mischievous minions stole. Armed with Grinder, Pepper burrows through terrain & water, controls machines and pulverizes all enemies blocking the way to recovering her missing fortune – with interest.

Pocket Card Jockey Ride On! (Game Freak)

Release Date: February 21, 2024 / Demo available

The hit solitaire horse racing game is galloping its way onto Nintendo Switch! Reach the finish line by playing solitaire and put together the best cards you can to help your horses take home the gold. Win big, and you’ll have new horses to add to your stable. Compete online, play at your own pace or just breed and collect cute horses. No matter how you play, a good time is in the cards. 

Pentiment (Obsidian Entertainment)

Release Date: February 22, 2024

Journey to 16th-century Bavaria and face choices and consequences that will ripple throughout a small community for years to come. Step into a living illustrated world inspired by the earliest printed books and meet a colorful cast of characters in the small town of Tassing and nearby Keirsau Abbey. Each decision you make along the way can impact the community’s future for generations. 

Snufkin: Melody of Moonminvalley (Hyper Games)

Release Date: March 7, 2024

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a story-rich musical adventure game about Snufkin restoring the valley and helping the quirky and memorable characters and critters who call it home. A series of hideous parks have cropped up in Moominvalley, disrupting the landscape and its harmonious nature. As Snufkin, you will distract police officers, pull out signs, and knock over misplaced statues as you vigorously try to restore nature and the inhabitants’ homes while putting an end to the industrious Park Keeper’s plans.

Contra: Operation Galuga (Konami)

Release Date: March 12, 2024 / Demo available

A new entry in the legendary Contra series is here! Contra: Operation Galuga is a thorough reimagining of the classic run-‘n’-gun action game from the ’80s, featuring modern graphics and sound, new stages, new enemies and bosses, new play mechanics, an updated weapons system, and explosive co-op combat for up to two players in Story Mode or four players in Arcade Mode!

Kingdom Come Deliverance – Royal Edition (Warhorse Studios)

Release Date: March 15, 2024 / Demo available

You’re Henry, the son of a blacksmith. Thrust into a raging civil war, you watch helplessly as invaders storm your village and slaughter your friends and family. Narrowly escaping the brutal attack, you embark on a quest to avenge your parents and repel the invading forces.

Tales of Kenzera: Zau (EA)

Release Date: April 23, 2024

Unfolding in the beautiful, yet treacherous, lands of Kenzera, Tales of Kenzera: Zau is inspired by Bantu tales, rich with untold lore of chaos and order, memories of ancient shamans, sacred spirits and fascinating creatures. Players can wield and expand cosmic powers from the Sun and Moon masks to defeat restless spirits in rhythmic combat; they can manipulate time and crystallize enemies using the Moon mask powers, or launch fiery spears with the Sun Mask – all in meticulously hand-crafted animations.

Demon Slayer – Kimetsu no Yaiba – Sweep the Board! (Sega)

Release Date: April 26, 2024

The iconic landmarks from the anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, such as Mount Fujikasane, Mugen Train, Tsuzumi Mansion and Asakusa, will appear as boards! Roll the dice to advance through the squares! Each board has a daytime and nighttime period. During the day, you will play events and mini-games to prepare for the night, where you will be searching for demons to defeat – aim to become a great Demon Slayer!

Games by Rare on Nintendo Switch Online

Five classic Rare games made their way to the Nintendo Switch Online today. The games are Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll (NES), RC Pro-Am (NES), Battletoads in Battlemaniacs (SNES), Killer Instinct (SNES), and Blast Corps (Nintendo 64). However, it’s important to note that Blast Corps will require a Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pass to access, due to it being on the N64 catalog.

Endless Ocean: Luminous (Arika)

Release Date: May 2, 2024

Plunge into a vast, underwater world that changes with each expedition in this new Endless Ocean game from Nintendo. Explore the depths of the mysterious Veiled Sea on your own, or dive in with up to 30 players online. There are over 500 different species of marine life to encounter here – you may even find creatures thought to be extinct or even mythical. Where will your undersea journey take you?