The Nintendo Switch has finally been revealed, and Nintendo looks set to come out swinging when the new console is launched on March 3. As well as splitting the difference between home and handheld gaming, the Switch is bucking recent Nintendo tradition by having a stellar line-up of Nintendo Switch games announced already. Here are all the highlights revealed, to date.

Super Mario Odyssey

In Mario series lore Mario and Luigi are from Brooklyn, New York (well, sometimes) but it's never been a world the colourful, mushroom-gobbling plumber has adventured in – until now. Super Mario Odyssey sees the cartoonish hero running around both the familiar Mushroom Kingdom and new, realistic city environments, interacting with full-size humans and wall-jumping up skyscrapers. Throw in new abilities thanks to his now-sentient hat – which can be thrown like Wonder Woman's tiara to attack enemies or create a temporary platform to jump across – and this is easily the Nintendo Switch‘s first ‘killer app'.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The title of ‘killer app' might go to the latest Zelda, and the only reason it doesn't is that it's a split release, also coming to Wii U. The prospect of console quality Zelda on the go is tantalising though, and with more than 100 dungeons, a vast open world, and deep crafting mechanics to mix up the usual gameplay formula, this coule redefine ‘epic'.

1-2-Switch

The Nintendo Switch's answer to Wii Sports, 1-2-Switch is a mini-game collection designed to showcase the hardware's features. In total, there are 28 of these mini-games to get to grips with, nearly all of which are played by looking at your opponent, not the screen.

Nintendo

This may sound odd but it takes gaming into real space, with players psyching each other out face to face before quick-draw shoot-outs, or waving the Joy-Con controllers around like swords. A contender for best party game.

– Read WIRED's 1-2-Switch review

Super Bomberman R

Possibly the biggest surprise of the Nintendo Switch's reveal – Bomberman is back! Konami, having been almost dormant on console games since Metal Gear Solid V, seems to have realised the wealth of its gaming IP, and is bringing one of its most beloved franchises to potentially the best platform for it. The social and portable aspects of the Nintendo Switch combined with Bomberman's simple but addictive mechanics could be the perfect pairing.

Lego City Undercover

History repeating itself? Lego City Undercover was originally released on the Wii U, where it became the best Lego game that barely anyone played. Loosely inspired by Grand Theft Auto, with cop Chase McCain returning to Lego City to track down his criminal arch-nemesis, it remains one of the best Lego games ever made. This remastered version – which is also coming to PS4 and Xbox One – makes its bow on Nintendo Switch though, now with extra features. Hopefully, it'll finally reach the audience it deserves.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

The original Xenoblade Chronicles never got a fair turn at bat – initially a late, niche release for the Wii, and later ported to the 3DS where it suffered from the tiny screen. Xenoblade Chronicles X for Wii U didn't fare much better, with most players missing out on the game. Third time lucky, then, for Xenoblade Chronicles 2, Monolith Soft's epic new space fantasy. The trailer doesn't reveal much, beyond it being an action-RPG, but it looks beautiful.

Splatoon 2

The first Splatoon was arguably the best game on the Wii U, so it's incredibly good news to see Nintendo moving forwards on a full sequel for the Nintendo Switch – especially since the social nature of the portable console meshes perfectly with Splatoon's multiplayer nature. It looks set to offer brand new ways to splat too, including more powerful weapons, new abilities, and arena-drenching inkstorms.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Conversely, the Wii U's other masterpiece is only upgraded for Nintendo Switch – but it seems to correct the original's only grievous error. Battle Mode was a mess on the Wii U, and it thankfully looks to have been heavily refined here, bringing back more of an arena tournament rather than the track-based race combat of the base game. At the Nintendo Direct event on April 12, Nintendo added that the game will have more unlocked tracks, characters and carts than any previous version of the game. Deluxe arrives on April 28.

– Read WIRED's Mario Kart 8 Deluxe review

Fire Emblem Warriors

Publisher Koei Tecmo doesn't even need to show any gameplay in its reveal for Fire Emblem Warriors – the name alone reveals it's yet another horde-based hack and slash effort, in the vein of Dynasty Warriors. However, the earlier Hyrule Warriors did an exceptional job of making the button mashing action blend seamlessly with Zelda lore, so hopefully this can do the same for the mythology of the Fire Emblem universe.

Arms

Nintendo isn't much known for fighting games, but Arms looks like the Nintendo-est take on the genre you could imagine. Two fighters enter an arena and battle it out with extendable spring arms. Mechanically, it looks suited to showing off the functions of the dual Joy-Con controllers, with players holding one in each hand and using motion controls to attack and defend. During the recent Nintendo Direct event, the firm revealed more about Arms‘ gameplay, including a new character called MinMin, and said it will launch on June 16.

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Project Octopath Traveller

It's hard to parse much information from the 45-second reveal trailer, but despite surface appearances, this looks to be more than your standard retro-style JRPG. With deceptively attractive visuals – pixel-based characters inhabit a layered, 2.5D world filled with beautiful environments and impressive lighting effects – this seems set to dive into the minutiae of role-playing, teasing vastly different experiences based on your choices. Almost certainly not a final title either, but this an interesting-looking prospect from Square Enix.

Shin Megami Tensei: Brand New Title

The best thing about Atlus' Shin Megami Tensei games is how mind-bendingly, gut-twistingly weird they all are. This cinematic trailer tells us nothing, other than the final game (probably) featuring some of the series' more familiar demons, and a new hero – maybe? – who looks like a tokusatsu superhero, hanging out in a run-down building. What the game is actually about, we have no idea – but we can't wait.

Sonic Mania

Sonic Mania is a loving flashback to the 2D superspeed side-scrollers of the '90s. A celebration of Sonic's origins and finest moments, the Nintendo Switch release doesn't appear to be any different to the already-announced version for PS4, Xbox One, and PC, but it is nice to have confirmation it'll be available – even if it is still a bit strange to see Sega mascot Sonic headlining a game on a console made by former rivals Nintendo.

Puyo Puyo Tetris

Sega dives deep into its catalogue for this puzzle game mash up. Tetris is an internationally renowned classic, while Puyo Puyo – beloved in Japan – is best known in the west as the source for Doctor Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine. This crossover was originally released for PS Vita and PS3 in 2014, but the Nintendo Switch release will be its western debut. The mechanics of both games are combined in various modes, to create an addictive new twist on fast-paced puzzle gaming. A slightly later release for the Nintendo Switch, this arrives on April 25.

Minecraft

Minecraft is set to join the Nintendo Switch ranks on May 11. The crafting game on Nintendo Switch will look similar to the Wii U version, complete with exclusive Super Mario Bros-themed content.

Ultra Street Fighter II

The game that dominated the fighting genre in the 1990s is making a return on Nintendo Switch with all the original fighters and bosses, the characters added in Super Street Fighter II, plus new additions Evil Ryu and Violent Ken. Players will be able to use Joy-Cons to challenge friends and strangers and, in addition to versus action, you can now team up with a friend to take on the CPU in Buddy Battle mode. The game is released on May 26.

And there's more…

Following the Nintendo Switch's reveal, other publishers started revealing their upcoming titles for Nintendo's new machine.

Bandai Namco has confirmed Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 will be coming to the console, while an entry in the Tales of RPG series is also in development. Most excitingly, the publisher is working on a new Taiko Drum Master release, bringing the brilliant rhythm action title out of Japan for the first time in years.

Activision has confirmed the enduringly popular Skylanders will be coming to Nintendo Switch, with the latest entry Imaginators arriving in March. The Nintendo Switch version will introduce a digital library, allowing players to store characters from the physical toys, making it easier to play on the go.

Ubisoft's slate includes recent winter sports title Steep, taking players on a tour of the Alps; Just Dance 2017, now playable with up to six dancers at a time if you have multiple Joy-Con controllers (or use a smartphone app to double as one); and Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition, which the publisher calls the “ultimate version” of the beautifully animated platformer.

Tomorrow Corporation

Indie publisher Tomorrow Corporation has revealed it's bolstering the day one line up with three games from its back catalogue. 2008's phsyics puzzler World of Goo, 2012's flammable mini-sandbox Little Inferno, and 2015's programming puzzler-cum-corporate satire Human Resource Machine will all be available on the Nintendo Switch on March 3.

Interestingly, these will be digital-only releases, indicating Nintendo's eShop – or the Nintendo Switch's equivalent – will be active on launch day. Details on the online store have yet to be revealed by Nintendo though, and Tomorrow Corporation has not revealed prices for the trio of games.

Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas, a Zelda-esque adventure has also been confirmed for release on the Nintendo Switch. Set in a water-logged world dotted with islands, players guide a young boy on a quest to find his missing father while uncovering the secrets of the ancient kingdom of Arcadia and a legendary sea monster – the Oceanhorn of the title.

Oceanhorn was first released on iOS in 2013 before receiving upgraded and expanded ports on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, so perhaps won't be the most demanding of the Nintendo Switch's power. However, the game's publisher says it “will run beautifully on the powerful Nintendo Switch.”

No exact release date has been confirmed, but the game will launch in 2017. Perhaps more interestingly, the first game coming to the Nintendo Switch, albeit late, could be prelude to the in-development sequel Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm arriving on Nintendo's hardware when development is finished.

Expect more games to be revealed for Nintendo Switch in the days ahead.

Nintendo Goes Indie

If the above slate of titles weren't enough, Nintendo recently held one of its trademark Nintendo Direct broadcast exclusively focused on indie games.

The showcase unveiled a staggering 60 titles coming to Switch, showing a major push on Nintendo's part to get more independent developers involved with the new console. It's a great plan – indie devs are increasingly able to produce so-called ‘triple-A' quality games, with an extraordinary amount of variety and imagination on offer. The independent sector is also showing tremendous growth – in volume of games and popularity with players – making it exactly the right creative community to court.

While some of the games announced are beloved classics – the likes of Towerfall: Ascension, The Escapists and Overcooked are perennial favourites that have already proven themselves – many will have enhanced features making use of the Switch's unique hardware. Others, such as Yooka-Laylee and Gonner are brand new, and Nintendo has even managed to snag a few exclusives, as with Runner 3.

Release dates are still to be confirmed for many titles, but the full list of 60 indie games coming to Nintendo Switch is as follows:

• 1001 Spikes
• Away: Journey to the Unexpected
• Battle Chef Brigade
• Blaster MasterZero
• Cave Story
• Celeste
• Dandara
• Duck Game
• Fast RMX
• Flipping Death
• Gonner
• Graceful Explosion Machine
• Has-Been Heroes
• Hollow Knight
• Hover
• Human Resource Machine
• Ittle Dew 2
• Kingdom: Two Crowns
• Little Inferno
• Monster Boy And The Cursed Kingdom
• Mr. Shifty
• Mutant Mudds
• NBA Playgrounds
• NeuroVoider
• Oceanhorn: Monster of the Uncharted Seas
• Overcooked: Special Edition
• Pankapu
• Perception
• Portal Knights
• Redout
• Rime
• Rive
• Rocket Rumble
• Rogue Trooper Redux
• Runner3
• Shakedown Hawaii
• Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment
• Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
• Snake Pass
• Space Dave!
• Splasher
• Stardew Valley
• State of Mind
• SteamWorld Dig 2
• sU and the Quest for Meaning
• Terraria
• The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth †
• The Escapists 2
• The Fall Part 2: Unbound
• The Jackbox Party Pack 3
• The Next Penelope
• Thumper
• Toejam and Earl: Back in the Groove
• Towerfall Ascension
• Treasurenauts
• Tumbleseed
• Ultimate Chicken Horse
• Unbox: Newbies Adventure
• WarGroove
• WonderBoy: The Dragon’s Trap
• Yooka-Laylee
• Zombie Viking

Nintendo

Milk a cow, make a baby go to sleep, strut, shoot, feel some balls, eat a giant sandwich… 1-2-Switch has got it all. While Zelda: Breath of the Wild is stealing the headlines, Nintendo’s curious mini-game collection is, arguably, a better demonstration of the Nintendo Switch hardware. And it’s great fun. For a bit. If you’re drunk.

There are 28 mini-games to get to grips with, nearly all of which are played by looking at your opponent, not the screen. The games have a feeling of WarioWare: Smooth Moves about them, but the cartoon characters have been replaced with human actors gyrating in brightly-coloured rooms. Nearly all the games require little explanation: in Shave you have to shave your face using the Joy-Con; in Ball Count you have to count the number of balls in the Joy-Con, a sensation ingeniously created using the controller’s HD rumble feature; in Wizard you have to battle your opponent by casting spells; in Dance Off, you dance.

Nintendo

As with WarioWare, the genius of 1-2-Switch is in the glorious incongruity of its mini-games. Staring into the eyes of a friend while miming milking a cow will always make you laugh. Then there’s Baby, where you’re tasked with putting a baby, apparently trapped in the Nintendo Switch’s portable screen, to sleep. Rock it in your arms and set it down on a flat surface just right to win. It’s odd. But it’s also very good. Table tennis, where you stand facing your opponent and thwack a virtual ball back and forth based on sound alone, is exceptionally fun. As is baseball, where pitcher and batter duke it out in a ninth-innings showdown.

Nintendo

Nearly all the games make use of the Nintendo Switch's innovative hardware in one way or another. Eating Contest, where you have to chomp your way through as many virtual sandwiches as possible before the time runs out, uses the right Joy-Con's infrared sensor to work out when your mouth opens and closes. The quicker you chomp, the faster you get through the pile of sandwiches. But where Nintendo takes this kind of innovation next will be the real test of the hardware.

Most people will get a couple of hours of fun out of 1-2-Switch, but that's it. Then, like so many party games, it will sit gathering dust until you've next got a house full of people, a bottle full of gin and a fridge full of tonic. This is an excellent party game and one quite unlike any that has come before.

Yet the game's biggest fault is more to do with how it’s sold. For all Nintendo’s protestations, 1-2-Switch absolutely should have been bundled with the Nintendo Switch. It's an excellent demonstration of the hardware and the sort of game that could be chucked on when you’ve got friends over and want to show them what the console is all about. Instead, you’ll have to fork out £35 for a limited, albeit fun, tech demo.

It's already shaping up to be a strong year for gaming, with many highly-anticipated games already out or set for release later this year. Here's WIRED's month-by-month guide to the best games of the year and the most exciting upcoming game releases still to come.

The best games released in January

Monster Hunter: World

The Monster Hunter series has finally got the mainstream acclaim in the west that it deserves with Monster Hunter: World. Capcom's RPG series has made giant steps in progress by opening up its world and polishing its mechanics, while keeping the central loop of hunting monsters to get better gear to then hunter bigger monsters more engaging than ever before. It's easy to lose dozens of hours stalking the New World for dangerous prey, whether you are an existing fan or a newcomer to the franchise. Out on PS4 and Xbox One, with PC due later this year.

Dragon Ball FighterZ

Helmed by Arc System Works, creators of the Guilty Gear and BlazBlue series, Dragon Ball FighterZ adds the anime's well-loved characters into an approachable fighting system, and bursts with details and references from the show that fans will love.

It also contains a three-part campaign made in association with DB:Z creator Akira Toriyama for story fans and in-depth tutorials and training modes for beginners. Meanwhile, fighting game veterans can dive straight into arcade or multiplayer modes. Available on Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Iconoclasts

A one-man production eight years in the making, Konjak's Iconoclasts is a 2D adventure with beautiful pixel art and a mix of combat, bosses and puzzles. Inspired by games like Metroid and Castlevania with their branching paths and variety of weapons and tools, the game pays homage to its predecessors while also building on their legacy. With a fleshed-out story of rebellion and a warm sense of humour, it shows how this well-defined genre still has potential for growth today. On PS4 and PC.

The best games in February

Shadow of the Colossus

Team Ico's giant-slaying classic from the Playstation 2 has been given a refresh for the PS4, courtesy of Bluepoint Games. In order to resurrect a cursed maiden, the player must roam the Forbidden Lands and defeat all 16 bosses who inhabit it, each encounter part-environmental-puzzle and part-combat-challenge. It's just as mysterious and fun to play as the original, but now looking better than ever. Available on PS4.

Into the Breach

From Subset Games, the creators of space-roaming rogue-like FTL: Faster than Light, comes another randomly-generated strategy adventure. Now piloting mechs instead of starships, you will face off against giant monsters in fast, turn-based skirmishes for the fate of the planet. When your likely defeat comes knocking, simply travel back in time to try the turn again, or send one of your pilots back to the start of the campaign to help you win the next time. Available on PC.

Night in the Woods

The Nintendo Switch has been doing some catching up in February, including ports of platformer Owlboy, spectacle fighters Bayonetta 1 and 2, and Infinite Fall's Night in the Woods. As college dropout Mae, you explore your now unfamiliar home town and reunite with your old friends to find a missing person. While a platformer mechanically, the heart of the game is really its cast of well-rounded characters and the struggles they face in their lives. New on Nintendo Switch; also available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One.

Upcoming Games in 2018

Now we've dealt with the best games of 2018 so far, here are the games you can look forward to in the coming months.

Sea of Thieves

Rare's multiplayer loot-hunter is shaping up to be great fun (if you have the right crew, at least), as you set sail to become a pirate legend in the heart of the Caribbean. Set to allow complete freedom as you hunt treasure, attack rival crews, or simply explore, it's going to be a cruise to remember. Due out 20 March for Xbox One and Windows 10 PC.

Far Cry 5

After Far Cry 4 felt like a redux of the third instalment, it's promising to see an energy and boldness around Ubisoft's fifth instalment in the open-world action series. Not dodging controversy, Far Cry 5 takes players to the USA for the first time, and focuses on your efforts to liberate the town of Hope County in Montana from a cult of religious extremists. Alongside Far Cry staples including free exploration, dozens of vehicles, and countless weapons, you'll now be able to recruit Hope County's residents to aid your rebellion. Due out 27 March for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Crackdown 3

Announced back in 2014 with some ambitious claims of how it would utilise Xbox One's features – cloud computing for more advanced physics, an entirely destructible world, a free unicorn (that last one's a lie) – 2018 looks like it might finally be the year that Crackdown returns. The series has always been one of the Xbox family's best exclusives, with hi-tech agents using incredible arsenals to blast their surroundings to pieces with abandon, and this looks to continue the tradition – just on a grander scale. Due out Spring 2018 for Xbox One and Windows 10 PC.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Rockstar Games finally deliver one of the most requested sequels of all time in this breathtaking open world western. Seemingly set to offer a twist on The Magnificent Seven, players will take on the identity of outlaw Arthur Morgan and partner with the Van der Linde gang to make their mark on the American frontier. Expect a lengthy story campaign set before 2010's Red Dead Redemption, but the real revelation could be the (still-undetailed) online features – Rockstar has had several years of Grand Theft Auto Online to prepare for whatever cowboy delights they unleash here. Due out Spring 2018 for PS4 and Xbox One.

Kingdom Hearts III

After twelve years, almost a dozen spin-off games, and an entire console generation, the third ‘full' Kingdom Hearts game is set to arrive this year. The story picks up with Sora, Donald, and Goofy searching for seven “guardians of light” in order to face down the series' arch-villain, Master Xehanort – which may sound like nonsense to the uninitiated, but trust us, it's a big deal. With more Disney worlds to explore than ever, including new additions based on Toy Story, Big Hero 6, and Tangled, and a story that ties together literally decades of plot threads, this is going to be one of the biggest JRPGs of the year. Due out 2018, for PS4.

Yoshi

Nintendo has been relatively quiet about its 2018 plans so far, but one of its more charming releases will be the latest platform adventure for Mario's egg-gobbling dino chum. Taking on a papercraft style – similar to how Yoshi's Woolly World was based on crochet puppets – players will guide Yoshi through a host of layered worlds. The twist seems to be that you'll be able to affect fore- or background elements at will. Certain to be adorable, but also far tougher than it looks. Due out 2018, for Nintendo Switch.

God of War

Sony's ode to deicide is also set to return this year, but while this is a sequel to Greek warrior Kratos' god-slaying sprees of yore, it also serves as a soft reboot for the series. Now set in the frozen climes of northern Europe, this will see Kratos as a father, guiding his son Atreus to adulthood while facing the monsters and gods of Norse myth. Expect more of an RPG edge than in past instalments too, as well as Kratos swapping his iconic chained blades for the new, elementally powered Leviathan Axe.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age

Still one of Japan's biggest RPG series, the latest chapter in the storied Dragon Quest franchise launched last summer in its homeland. The western release, later this year, is quite a big deal though, as Dragon Quest X never left Japan. Echoes of an Elusive Age features a player-created hero setting out on a journey after discovering he's the reincarnation of a legendary warrior. Available on PS4 and 3DS in Japan, with gameplay differences between the formats, hopefully both versions will make it westward. Due out 2018, for PS4 and Nintendo 3DS, with a Nintendo Switch version to follow.

Dreams

From MediaMolecule – developers of LittleBigPlanet and Tearaway – comes this truly magical looking sandbox title. Controlling an imp, you'll create and explore entire worlds, all drawn from the raw imagination of, well, dreams. A guided campaign is joined by one of the most comprehensive creation toolkits we've seen, and players will be able to share their efforts online. This could be very special. Due out 2018, for PS4.

Bayonetta 3

The witch is back, in the latest hyper-stylish action shooter from PlatinumGames. The series has proven equal parts weird, imaginative, and unashamedly sexy, but always delivered some of the most polished gunplay around. Little is known about the third instalment yet – and we might be being optimistic on it landing in 2018 – but this will surely be a treat whenever it lands. Due out 2018, for Nintendo Switch.