The Nintendo Switch Approaches 5-Year Birthday: A Look At The Most Anticipated Games Of 2022

Following the massively underwhelming sales of the Wii U in 2012, Nintendo needed to make up lost ground in the sector. Nintendo recovered with Switch, as the hybrid console exceeded expectations and has sold nearly 100 million units worldwide to date.

The Nintendo Switch is turning 5 years old this year, and the console's momentum isn't slowing down.

Here's a look at the five most-anticipated Switch games set for release in 2022.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus

"Pokemon Legends: Arceus" has fans and critics extremely excited, yet nervous at the same time. Developer Game Freak is finally moving the Pokemon franchise in a new direction and is emphasizing exploration with "Legends: Arceus," The game takes place in the Sinnoh region of old, long before the events of "Pokemon Diamond and Pearl." It has garnered comparisons to "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild," due to its seemingly similar gameplay and art style, although it has been confirmed that the game is not open-world. "Pokemon Legends: Arceus" is set for release on Jan. 28.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

This year not only marks the fifth anniversary of the Nintendo Switch, but also the 30th anniversary of the beloved game franchise "Kirby." The official Twitter account for "Kirby" even acknowledged the milestone, saying “2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the Kirby series! Please look forward to a variety of #Kirby30 activities coming soon.” In the iconic character’s latest adventure, "Kirby and the Forgotten Land," players can embark on a beautiful 3D journey as the pink hero stumbles upon a forgotten civilization. "Kirby and the Forgotten Land" releases on March 25.

Lord of the Rings: Gollum

Daedalic Entertainment has offered an unexpected, yet welcome perspective on J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary series with "Lord of the Rings: Gollum." In this upcoming action-adventure game, players take control of the infamous Gollum before the events of "The Hobbit" take place. Embark on a quest in pursuit of Gollum’s precious when this game releases later this year.

Sonic Frontiers

Sega is finally giving its iconic blue hedgehog an open-world adventure. "Sonic Frontiers" sees our hero explore the Starfall Islands, an environment rich with forests, bodies of water, scorching deserts, and much more. "Frontiers" was originally meant for release in 2021, but it was delayed a year due to quality control, as Sega said it has “been steadily conducting analysis to improve the quality of the title before release, such as introducing game testing based on external evaluations... it will become a good game and have high expectations for it.”

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Sequel

The untitled sequel of one of the most critically acclaimed games of all-time is planned for a 2022 release, and the gaming world could not be more excited. Nintendo first announced the game in a 2019 online presentation, and at The Game Awards 2021, it was nominated for Most Anticipated Game. Although series producer Eiji Aonuma has been noticeably subtle about the game’s details, the seemingly darker tone revealed in the trailer has fans speculating that the game draws similarities to the popular Nintendo 64 title “The Legend of Zelda: Majoras Mask.” Nintendo spokesperson Bill Trinen said, however, that further information that is released on the title will show "where this game stands on its own and what makes it so unique."