Nintendo’s Big Exclusives

2016 has arrived and with it, Nintendo is bringing a roster of exclusives for both Wii U and 3DS that’s hard to ignore. With headliners like the open-world The Legend of Zelda as well as the tense Fire Emblem Fates, there are solid games on the horizon for Nintendo fans out there. Join us as we go through each one! Keep checking back as we’ll update you further on more exclusives as they get announced.

The Legend of Zelda (Wii U)

Nintendo’s much anticipated open world The Legend of Zelda for Wii U is finally launching this year. It was originally intended to release in 2015 but was pushed back to better realize “several new possibilities” in its design. As the first game in the series with a massive, interconnected open-world, fan expectations for it are tremendous.

Release Date: 2016

Star Fox Zero (Wii U)

Hotshot Arwing pilot Fox McCloud is coming back in this latest entry in Nintendo’s Star Fox franchise. Titled Star Fox Zero, the game is a collaboration between Nintendo and Bayonetta developer Platinum Games. It follows the classic gameplay formula established by its predecessors while implementing a new control scheme that heavily utilizes the Wii U pad’s gyroscopic features.

Release Date: April 21

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD (Wii U)

An HD remaster of 2006’s The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is currently slated to release this year with updated visuals and amiibo functionality. While not the first game in the series to get an HD remaster on Wii U–Wind Waker received one in 2013–it’ll be the first to launch alongside its own unique Amiibo: the game’s famous Wolf Link.

Release Date: March 10

Fire Emblem X Shin Megami Tensei (Wii U)

FIre Emblem x Shin Megami Tensei is the upcoming crossover between Nintendo’s iconic Fire Emblem and Atlus’ famous RPG series, Shin Megami Tensei. The game combines elements from both series, including Fire Emblem’s rock-paper-scissors mechanics and Shin Megami Tensei’s elemental-focused weapons and skills. Its story revolves around a group of teenagers who gain the power the merge with Mirages–represented as the souls of warriors from Fire Emblem.

Release Date: TBA 2016

Pokken Tournament (Wii U)

Pokken Tournament is a fighting game spin-off of the Pokemon series created by the director and the producer of the Tekken series. Featuring a roster of 12 iconic Pokemon, you and another player brawl in intense, 1v1 battles. It also features support Pokemon to use that can assist you in battle by providing special benefits, such as buffs in attack or defense.

Release Date: Q2 2016

Hive Jump (Wii U)

Hive Jump is a 2D Metroidvania run-and-gun game that puts you and others in control of members from J.U.M.P corp, an elite unit of soldiers whose mission is to turn the tide of humanity’s war against a hostile alien race. While it seems like a direct callback to Metroid, Hive Jump aims to twist that game’s conventions by offering intense four player co-op and a higher emphasis on team-based tactics.

Release Date: Q1 2016

Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (Wii U & 3DS)

Mario and Sonic are ready for another round of competitive athletics in Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Series fans will know what to expect in this one, as it will feature an assortment of multiplayer mini-games that throw iconic characters from each franchise into a variety of athletic events, including: soccer, American football, table tennis, and gymnastics.

Release Date: March 18

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

The worlds of Mario & Luigi and Paper Mario collide in the upcoming Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam. As a crossover, the game will retain the playful, comical writing that both RPG series are known for, while providing gameplay that implements the unique abilities of Paper Mario into the puzzles and reflex-focused battle systems of Mario & Luigi. It’s worth noting the game has been already released in Europe, Australia, and Japan.

Release Date: January 22

Final Fantasy Explorers

Have you ever wondered what Final Fantasy would be like if you mixed in elements from the Monster Hunter series? Final Fantasy Explorers is your answer. This upcoming action-RPG pits you and three others against the franchise’s iconic summoned creatures to do battle. Combine that with a complex job/class system and the series’ classic thematic and visual elements, and you have a game that fans and newcomers alike should keep an eye on.

Release Date: January 26

Fire Emblem Fates

After the critical acclaim and commercial success of 2012’s Fire Emblem Awakening, a new entry in the long-running series was inevitable. Fire Emblem Fates is attempting to take the series’ signature tactical RPG gameplay to new heights, featuring a tense story where you play as a character drawn into a war between two Kingdoms–the Hoshido and the Nohr–that must choose which side to support. The game will be released as two versions–one for each kingdom–to reflect this choice. An additional DLC that ties into the conflict between the two kingdoms is expected to launch sometime afterwards.

Release Date: February 19

Hyrule Warriors Legends

The 3DS will be getting its own port of 2014’s Hyrule Warriors–titled Hyrule Warriors Legends. It includes all previously released DLC for the game, the ability to switch between heroes in realtime, an extra chapter featuring characters and environments from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, and five new playable characters. If you missed out on the original, then this expanded version may be the one to get.

Release Date: March 25

Metroid Prime: Federation Force

Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a spin-off of the fan-favorite Metroid Prime series. With a focus on four-player cooperative play, the game puts you and others in control of Galactic Federation marines as you go on missions spread across three different planets. It also features a competitive multiplayer mode called Blast Ball, a mode where two teams of three battles against each other to fire their guns at a ball to launch it into the opposing team’s goal. Think Rocket League crossed with Metroid Prime.

Release Date: TBA 2016

Bravely Second: End Layer

The sequel to the critically acclaimed RPG Bravely Default is finally set to release in North America this year. Bravely Second: End Layer takes place two and a half years after the events of the last game and puts you in control of a new group of heroes as they embark on another grand adventure through the world of Luxendarc.

Release Date: TBA 2016

Dragon Quest VII and VIII

The 3DS versions of Dragon Quest VII and Dragon Quest VIII are expected to launch sometime this year. The former is a remake built from the ground up that features new visuals, unique backgrounds, and updated mechanics; while the latter is a port of the PS2 original. Both games have already been released in Japan.

Release Dates: TBA 2016