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Nintendo just revealedSplatoon Raiders, a mysterious spin-off of the popular ink-splatting shooter series. AlongsideHyrule Warriors: Age of ImprisonmentandKirby Air Riders, it seems the Switch 2’s early plan is to give fans alternative experiences while they wait for the main courses.
This announcement got my brain spinning about which other Nintendo franchises could benefit from the spin-off treatment. These are the ones I’d most like to see.
6Pikmin
It’s pretty clear that Nintendo wantsPikmin’stitular plant critters to sit alongside its roster of iconic mascots. However, even with the heightened popularityPikmin 4achieved, the games have never sold well enough to facilitate this. Getting these characters in front of Switch 2 players early in the console’s lifecycle could be a step toward elevating their recognizability, though.
There are many forms this could take that don’t come with the baggage of a long-running numbered series. The 3DS platformerHey! Pikminwas a flop in part due to launching after the Switch was out, but we’re multiple generations past that now and the idea of aPikminmay be better received now. Even an appropriately priced port of that game would work as even most of the most hardcorePikminfans haven’t played it.
Alternatively,Pikmin Bloom—essentiallyPokémon Gowith Pikmin—presents a relaxed vibe that runs counter to the horror of watching the little buddies die in mainline entries. This essence could be harnessed in aPikminfarming game or an otherwise cozy experience. It would open up the franchise to people who usually don’t play to avoid watching the mass demise of Pikmin while remaining true to the themes and locales of the series.
I’d even be down for some alternative media approaches, like the short videos featuring Pikmin that were released during the Wii U era. If Nintendo truly wanted to ingrainPikmininto the cultural consciousness, a TV show or YouTube series would be the best way to do that.
5Fire Emblem
We’re overdue for a newFire Emblemgame, be it a new entry or a remake (or both). While we wait, Nintendo could focus on less ornate titles that sate both the strategy gameplay and social simulation sides of the fandom.
For the strategy heads, a smaller-scale spin on theFire Emblemturn-based strategy formula would go a long way. For example, the dungeon crawling inFire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia(a remake of the second game in the series) could be expanded into a roguelike where after clearing a floor you can upgrade units, recruit heroes from across the franchise, and receive new weapons and buffs. It helps that both the roguelike genre andFire Emblemare both famous for their permadeath mechanics.
Alternatively, I think a port ofShadows of Valentiawould go over well. It was a highly regarded game by those who played it, but likeHey! Pikminthat player base was gimped due to being released on the 3DS after the Switch’s launch.
The prominent social mechanics inFire Emblem: Awakening,Fates,andThree Housesbrought a ton of new fans into the fold who prioritized the romance element over all else. For them, a dating simulator where characters from different games could be paired up would go a long way. It would be an unconventional turn that could draw some ire, but since this part of the fan base hasn’t received a game relevant to their interests since 2019, it would be a smart olive branch to retain their attention.
4Wario
WhileWarioWareis its own franchise that’s alive and well,Wario Landhas been absent and forgotten for far too long. A revival of it as a budget title would fill a 2D platformer-sized hole in the Switch 2’s lineup. Its burly shoulder-smashing style has already been aped and re-popularized by recent indie hits likePizza TowerandAntonblast, so it follows that the real deal would go over equally well.
Maybe it’s time for Wario to go in an entirely new direction, though. Perhaps he and Waluigi could team up for a side-scrolling beat-em-up? What about some Nintendo-sanctioned outlaw antics with the help of his trademark motorcycle? Maybe even a revitalization of a fitting arcade-era Nintendo classic likeWrecking Crew? There’s a lot of room to do something with this character that isn’t contained to increasingly lukewarm microgame collections.
3Star Fox (and F-Zero)
SayingStar Foxneeds a spin-off when the franchise hasn’t received a new game in nearly a decade is admittedly a bit silly. However, a small-scale reintroduction to this cast of anthropomorphic pilots could be just what’s needed to get them back in their Arwings.
Most people associate Fox McCloud with his fast-paced laser-gun-slinging fighting style inSuper Smash Bros.Nintendo would be smart to play into this, perhaps with a third-person shooter that retains the character’s identity while also reintroducing his copilots as co-op partners. This could even serve as a testing ground for a mainline game that mixes air and ground segments. I’m thinking something along the lines of whatBowser’s Furyseems to be doing for 3DMariogames. It could even be paired with atop-to-bottom rework ofStar Fox Zeroto give a new generation a taste of the franchise’s aerial combat origins.
I actually think a similar approach would work for reanimatingF-Zeroas well. The classic games are now available on Nintendo Switch Online, yet Captain Falcon is still primarily known for his Falcon Punch. Give him a game that lets him do more of that, use the resulting game as a vehicle to introduce otherF-Zerocharacters, and then tie it all back to a new racing game.
2Pokémon
There’s no shortage of ongoing or forthcomingPokémongames, so let me specify that I’m specifically looking for a return of the old-school self-containedPokémonspin-offs. For example, the touch-based antics ofPokémon Rangerwould be a perfect fit not only for the Switch 2’s touch screen but also mouse mode, andPokémon Pinballdeserves another shot in an era where virtual pinball is more popular than ever. I’d even be down for a new entry in thePokémon Mystery Dungeonseries as it only received a one-for-one remake of its first game on the original Switch.
It seems like an apt time forPokémon Conquestto make a return as well.Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakeningwas a Switch 2 launch title, so it’s clear Tecmo Koei are still interested in bringing the franchise to Switch players. Given how beloved the original crossover remains, it would not only be met with fanfare but also be an entry point for many to give the proper series a shot. I’d also throw a bone to the idea of aPokkén Tournamentsequel while we’re talking team-ups, especially as it could help take some heat off of the increasingly divisiveTekken 8.
Or, given that the mania around the Pokémon Trading Card Game is at a peak, it’s the perfect time to put out a new entry in its beloved Game Boy RPG. This could be to the Switch 2 generation whatNew Pokémon Snapwas to the Switch (though hopefully better-selling). At the very least, The Pokémon Company could localize the sequel that never left Japan.
WhilePokémonhas found a profitable home for itsspin-offs in the form of gacha games, they lack the soul of earlierPokémonspin-offs. There’s no reason the biggest media franchise of all-time couldn’t do both.
1Animal Crossing
If only one franchise on this list gets a spin-off, it needs to beAnimal Crossing. A large part of the Switch’s install base can be directly traced toAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsduring COVID lockdowns, yet instead of keeping that game updated with new content, Nintendo squandered the franchise’s momentum by largely abandoning it. Since there’s a low likelihood of a new mainlineAnimal Crossinggame until later in the console’s lifespan, the only option is to turn to spin-offs instead.
Past options are off the table. TheHappy Home Designerconcept was repackaged forNew Horizon’sexpansion pass, andAmiibo Festivalwas an utter disaster to the point where Nintendo is probably reticent about the idea of makingAnimal Crossingspin-offs altogether. However, there’s one more option available that’s ripe for porting: thecomplete version ofAnimal Crossing: Pocket Camp.
When that gacha game ended service, it carved out its gambling mechanics and re-released it in a “complete” form for a single-purchase premium. It would be an easy win to bring this to the Switch 2. It’s a beefy enough experience to bring overAnimal Crossingfans to the new system but limited enough in scope that it wouldn’t cannibalize a new mainline game. Plus, it has its own cast of lesser-known original characters ripe for the limelight. Nintendo can only win here.
Short of this, I do feel people would be more open to party games featuringAnimal Crossingstars now that we’re out of the tumultuous Wii U era. I’d be interested to see Nintendo tackle an “Animal Crossing Party” in lieu of the nextMario Party. Nintendo had the right idea forAnimal Crossing’sdemographic when makingAmiibo Festivalbut the wrong execution, so I think a refreshed attempt at the party game would land better now.
Spin-offs are only one part of thegames I expect to see in Nintendo’s first year(some of which havealready come to pass). I also think theSwitch 2 could benefit from these Nintendo gacha games.
Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 is the company’s latest hybrid home console, with more powerful graphics and processing, a larger 7.9” LCD touch screen with support for HDR, and more online features.
