In another installment of the Nintendo Direct videos, Nintendo revealed a list of new games coming out later this year! The expansive list includes game franchises that fans have come to love over the years. Soon, characters such as Mario, Luigi, Link and Donkey Kong will be making their return in upcoming games for the Nintendo 3DS and the Nintendo Wii U!
Leading the 3DS game announcements is a new game in THE LEGEND OF ZELDA series. This game does not have a name yet, but we do know it will be set in the same world as THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: A LINK TO THE PAST, which was released in 1992 for the Super NES. Making use of the console’s 3D capabilities, players control Link as he can now become a drawing and move along walls. This game is planned to release in the holiday season.
Fans of Donkey Kong will be happy to hear that he will appear in not one, but two games for the 3DS! First, DONKEY KONG COUNTRY (originally for the Wii) gets revamped for DONKEY KONG COUNTRY RETURNS 3D. This new version of the game features eight new stages! It will be available on May 24. Secondly, Donkey Kong teams up with Mario for MARIO AND DONKEY KONG: MINIS ON THE MOVE, a Nintendo eShop exclusive! Players use both screens of the 3DS to navigate the Mini Marios to reach their goal. This will launch on May 9.
The lovable dinosaur Yoshi is back for the third installment of YOSHI’S ISLAND! Joining Baby Mario, they jump, ground pound and throw eggs to defeat enemies. No release date has been set yet.
To celebrate the series latest release, a special Nintendo 3DS XL bundle will be released for ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW LEAF. The console will have game designs and also the game pre-installed. It will be available on June 9.
In the third game of the puzzle franchise’s second trilogy, Professor Layton returns in PROFESSOR LAYTON AND THE AZRAN LEGACY. Scheduled to release in 2014, this game will have more than 500 puzzles.
Switching gears to the Nintendo Wii U, older fans will be delighted to hear that EARTHBOUND will be available on the Wii U Virtual Console later this year. The game was originally released in 1995 on Super NES.
As part of Nintendo’s “Year of Luigi,” players who own NEW SUPER MARIO BROS U can purchase downloadable content where Luigi becomes the main character in NEW SUPER LUIGI U. There are 82 updated stages and a new adventure featuring Luigi! Look out for it this summer.
Those who feel like playing the villain will get their chance with GAME & WARIO. This game uses the Wii U GamePad in unique ways and will be in stores on June 23.
Available on August 4, PIKMIN 3 introduces two new characters – Rock Pikmin and Winged Pikmin, which follows the player and can carry items in the air.
Which of these games are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook and Twitter!