That was a lot. Forty-five minutes, dozens of games, and — depending who you ask — one glaring omission. But instead of trying to cover everything from this September Direct, I want to zero in on the seven announcements that actually matter to me, and why. Some of these are big system-sellers, some are quiet sleeper picks, and one of them I genuinely didn’t see coming. Let’s get into it.

METROID RAVENOUS

Let’s start with the one that caught me off guard the most. Samus is back — again — in Metroid Ravenous, and the timing here is the interesting part. This is a 2.5D entry following the same visual and gameplay approach as Metroid Dread, which is one of the best-received games in the franchise’s history. Building directly on that formula rather than reinventing the wheel is a smart move, especially this soon after Dread’s success.

Ravenous is set for Switch 2 on 28th January next year, and it’s launching with the full package: a special edition and a dedicated amiibo. That’s a strong signal Nintendo has confidence in this one — special editions and amiibo tie-ins don’t tend to happen for games treated as afterthoughts.

What’s notable is how quickly this arrived. There was no lengthy build-up, no years of teasing — it simply showed up, fully formed, with a release date under five months out. For a series that’s historically gone quiet for long stretches between entries, having a follow-up materialize this fast is genuinely exciting. If it delivers even half of what made Dread click — the atmosphere, the movement, the boss encounters — this is an easy pickup.

STAR FOX GETS A DOUBLE DOSE

Star Fox fans had an unusually good day, and it came in two parts.

First: if you’re a Nintendo Switch Online subscriber, Rare’s GameCube-era Star Fox Adventures is playable right now on Nintendo Classics. This is the dinosaur-themed adventure spin-off that diverged pretty hard from the series’ arcade roots, and it’s a genuinely interesting pick for the NSO library — not the obvious choice, but a welcome one for anyone who missed it the first time around.

Second, and probably the bigger deal for anyone currently playing it: the recent Star Fox 64 remake on Switch 2 is getting a free multiplayer update on 30th September. This adds four-player split-screen support — including the ability to have two players share one console in an online battle as a team — plus three new multiplayer stages themed around Katina, Sector X, and Venom.

Two different eras of Star Fox getting attention in the same Direct, and both for free. That’s a good day to be a fan of the series.

STAGE FRIGHT

Now for something with less noise around it but a lot of potential: Stage Fright, the new co-op adventure from Ghost Town Games — the studio behind Overcooked. This Direct gave us our first real look at gameplay rather than just a teaser, and it’s shaping up to lean into that same chaotic, coordination-heavy co-op design the studio is known for, just applied to a completely different setting.

There’s no release date yet, but it’s confirmed for Switch 1, Switch 2, and PC. Given Overcooked’s track record for replayable, friend-group-destroying co-op chaos, this is one worth keeping an eye on even without a firm date attached. I’ll flag it again the moment Nintendo gives us a window.

THE THIRD-PARTY HEAVY HITTERS

This Direct wasn’t just about Nintendo’s own franchises — three massive third-party releases landed as well, and each one matters for a different reason.

Monster Hunter Wilds is coming to Switch 2 on 4th December. This is a genuinely big system port — Wilds had its rough edges on PC at launch, but it’s a substantial, well-regarded entry in the series, and getting it onto Switch 2 is a strong statement about the platform’s ability to handle current-gen third-party releases. Its Ascendance expansion is also confirmed, launching sometime next year.

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, the third and final part of the remake trilogy, now has a release date: 8th April next year. That’s the conclusion of a project that’s spanned years and multiple console generations arriving natively on Switch 2. And if you need something to hold you over, Crisis Core Final Fantasy 7 Reunion lands on the console today.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered rounds out the trio, arriving 29th September with both previous expansions included. CD Projekt’s enhanced version brings improved visuals alongside mouse support, motion and gyro aiming, and touchscreen functionality — genuinely useful additions for a game this dense on a handheld. A brand-new expansion, Songs of the Past, is also confirmed for next year.

Three flagship third-party releases, three different genres, one Direct. That’s the kind of third-party support Switch 2 needs to keep building on.

ETERNAL ANIMA — ONE TO WATCH

Last on the list, and admittedly the one I have the least to say about right now: Eternal Anima, confirmed for Switch 2 on 4th March next year. This came through as part of the Direct’s rapid-fire montage segment, so we’ve got a title, a platform, and a date — and not much else yet. No gameplay, no genre confirmation beyond what the name implies.

I’m including it here because a Switch 2 exclusive with a locked release date deserves attention, even without details. Consider this a marker — I’ll do a proper deep dive the moment Nintendo or the publisher shares more.

KIRBY AND THE WORLD BEYOND

Sticking with legacy Nintendo franchises going in new directions: Kirby and the World Beyond takes the pink puffball fully open-world for the first time in a proper 3D adventure. Nintendo’s own framing is that players will be able to “freely explore” while using Kirby’s full suite of copy abilities and powers — which, if that’s executed well, could be the biggest structural shift for the series in years.

This lands in spring 2027, and it’s not a coincidence that it arrives during Kirby’s 35th anniversary. Nintendo has confirmed more anniversary-related news is coming, so expect this to be the centerpiece of a wider celebration rather than a standalone release.

Worth flagging: details are still thin. We know the pitch — open-world Kirby — but not much about mission structure, world size, or how combat and exploration actually interact yet. This is one where the concept alone is enough to get excited, but I’ll be watching closely for gameplay before fully buying in.

That’s my top seven from a Direct that had a genuinely stacked line-up — even without the Duskbloods release date everyone was hoping for.

If you want my breakdown of literally everything else announced, or my take on why Nintendo held back on Duskbloods, let me know in the comments and I’ll get a video out on it. If this kind of round-up is useful to you, subscribe — I do these every time a Direct drops. See you in the next one.