I occasionally see people respond to my weekly [Upcoming Releases](https://old.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch/comments/sfo87h/full_list_of_upcoming_games_on_the_nintendo/) posts with comments like “it’s just a buncha’ shovelware”, and I don’t think people realize the potential in some of the games they’re dismissing.
Because of this, before we jump into the next month, I’m going through the list of upcoming games for that month *that we know about*, and highlighting the ones that have a strong chance of being worth paying attention to, as well as a brief snippet about the game explaining why it’s worth watching.
I will specifically *only* be highlighting games that have a reasonably strong pedigree, or that are otherwise particularly noteworthy in some way beyond “this looks good, it *could* be interesting…”. This means that I’ll likely be mentioning a lot of ports, as it’s easier to know a game will likely be good if it was already good on another platform (I’m including games that scored 75 or higher on Metacritic on other platforms, 80% positive or higher on Steam, and/or 4 or higher rating on Google Play store). I’ll also mention games whose developer has a decent track record for producing quality.
Oh, and before getting into the games, I should note that this is just the list we have available right now – there are likely to be new games announced after this list comes out, as well as games on this list that get delayed. Also, I should note that this is *not* a list of the *only* games worth getting on the Switch this month – just the ones that I feel can be backed up with more than just “feels” given what we know now. And of course, since these games aren’t released yet, I obviously can’t *know* they’re good, they just look promising.
I’m continuing the use of “Buzz Picks” to indicate titles that, while they have no clear established pedigree to indicate they’ll be good or bad, they are nevertheless highly anticipated or noteworthy for other reasons.
Anyway, on to the list!
**[2/2/2022 – Webbed](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/webbed-switch/)** ([Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcSo912bT44)) – This game didn’t get enough reviews from critics when it released on PC in 2021, but players were overjoyed with the game, giving it an overwhelmingly positive 98% user review score on Steam with over 5700 reviews. This game has players swinging through levels as a spider, and players loved the fun swinging physics, and found the “make friends with other bugs” elements of the game’s story to be adorable.
**[2/4/2022 – Alexio](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/alexio-switch/)** ([Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5LGncA-vOY)) – This game went largely overlooked when it released on PC last year, but the scant few who played this game are extremely enthusiastic about it, with this game having a 95% positive Steam user review score, with players praising this game’s old-school platforming and high challenge level.
**[2/7/2022 – Heroes of Loot 2](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/heroes-of-loot-2-switch/)** ([Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDLe6eB1Xxg)) – When the Heroes of Loot series has gotten enough reviews for a Metacritic score, it has been consistently good. The first Heroes of Loot got Metacritic scores from the mid-70s to mid-80s on various platforms, and Heroes of Loot 2 got a Metacritic score of 83 when it released in 2016 on iOS. For that release, critics praised this game for its fast-paced dungeon crawler action.
**[2/8/2022 – OlliOlli World](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/olliolli-world-switch/)** ([Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB-2wM47WTE)) – The OlliOlli series of side-scrolling skateboarder games has consistently gotten superb Metacritic scores, with OlliOlli: Switch Stance on the Switch getting a Metacritic score of 83. This new entry in the series Incorporates some new 3D visuals and looks to be a solid addition to the franchise.
**[2/10/2022 – Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMix Cloud Version](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/kingdom-hearts-hd-1-5-plus-2-5-remix-cloud-version-switch/)**, **[Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue Cloud Version](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/kingdom-hearts-hd-2-8-final-chapter-prologue-cloud-version-switch/)**, **[Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind (DLC) Cloud Version](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/kingdom-hearts-iii-plus-re-mind-dlc-cloud-version-switch/)**, and **[Kingdom Hearts Integrum Masterpiece (for Cloud)](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/kingdom-hearts-integrum-masterpiece-for-cloud-switch/)** ([Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0CQp7npkeQ)) – Okay, so… the Kingdom Hearts series has been consistently excellent over the years, blending beloved Disney franchises with Action-RPG gameplay and a healthy helping of angsty Square Enix drama (and somewhat convoluted storytelling). Pick a random game in the series and odds are good that it will have an outstanding Metacritic user score. Of course, I have to also mention the other major element here… that these games are all cloud versions, something that really means your mileage may vary with these games based on your location and internet connection. And then there’s the price, with the Integrum Masterpiece collection costing $90 ($72 if you buy it in advance of release), which… well, to me, it seems extreme when these aren’t even local versions of these games. But these are all excellent games, so they do have a place on this list.
**[2/10/2022 – Kittens and Yarn](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/kittens-and-yarn-switch/)** ([Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J5ZpO9Ce7k)) – Kittens and Yarn went overlooked by critics when it released on PC in 2021, but those who played it were pleased with it, giving it a very positive 95% Steam user review score with over 80 user reviews. This is a casual Puzzle game about arranging hexagons to make tangled lines of yarn line up. Players called it “cute” and “relaxing”.
**[2/10/2022 – Ocean’s Heart](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/oceans-heart-switch/)** ([Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKJPrOabVI4)) – When Ocean’s Heart released on PC in 2021, it got a Metacritic score of 79. Critics praised this Zelda-style top-down Action-RPG for its interesting lore and detailed world to explore. If you’re a fan of classic Zelda, this is definitely a game you’ll want to keep your eyes on.
**[2/10/2022 – PowerSlave Exhumed](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/powerslave-exhumed-switch/)** ([Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWWY_kf9boA)) **Buzz Pick** – There aren’t many reviews of the 1996 First-Person Shooter PowerSlave that are still around, but developer Night Dive Studios, who is working on this remaster, have established an excellent reputation with their remakes of other classic First-Person Shooters, recently with last year’s remaster of Quake, but also with games like Doom 64 and the Turok games. Hopefully this will be yet another success for them.
**[2/10/2022 – Welcome to Elk](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/welcome-to-elk-switch/)** ([Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e69Tr8Zi87c)) – When this game released on PC and Xbox One in 2020, it got solid Metacritic scores in the low-to-mid 80s, with critics praising it as a unique experience with an excellent story.
**[2/14/2022 – Infernax](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/infernax-switch/)** ([Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhrojXnR5jI)) – Developer Berzerk Studio’s previous game, Just Shapes & Beats, was outstanding, and received a metacritic score of 83 when it released on Nintendo Switch. However, this game is a completely different from the music-rhythm dodge-’em-up of that title. Infernax is a retro-style Action-Platformer in the vein of classic 8-bit Castlevania games. Hopefully Berzerk proves just as skilled with this genre, because if so we’re in for an excellent game!
**[2/14/2022 – Monster Prom 2: Monster Camp XXL](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/monster-prom-2-monster-camp-xxl-switch/)** ([Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU4wfPV_jWw)) – Monster Prom 2 got a Metacritic score of 80 when it released on PC in 2020. Critics praised this game as an excellent sequel that did a great job building on the first game, with fun Dating Sim-style gameplay and wonderful writing. The XXL version of the game adds new outfits, and will undoubtedly still feature the great gameplay that worked well in the game’s prior release.
**[2/17/2022 – Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAodiNKK9AM)** ([Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAodiNKK9AM)) – This collection includes Assassin’s Creed II, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, and Assassin’s Creed Revelations, all highly-acclaimed games that released fairly early into this beloved series. After the solid release of Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection on Nintendo Switch in 2019, it seems like UbiSoft has gotten a good feel for how to make these games work well on Nintendo Switch, so fans of the series should be delighted to be able to play these classics on Nintendo’s handheld.
**[2/17/2022 – Upaon: A Snake’s Journey](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/upaon-a-snakes-journey-switch/)** ([Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SBp8X0bM_Y)) – Another one that went largely overlooked when it released on PC in 2021, but the few players who have tried it are unanimous in their acclaim, giving the game a 100% positive user review score on Steam, with just over 15 reviews. Players enjoyed Upaon’s gameplay, which takes the classic concept of the old-school game Snake and re-imagines it as a Puzzle game.
**[2/24/2022 – Variable Barricade](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/variable-barricade-switch/)** ([Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s8VckEQ4gU)) – It seems like we can scarcely have a month go by without a Visual Novel making one of these list, and this month that honor goes to Variable Barricade, thanks to its developer Otomate’s stellar track record within the genre, consistently getting Metacritic scores in the high-70s and low-80s. Variable Barricade focuses on a young woman set to inherit her family’s fortune who is being set up with various guys who she has decided *not* to fall for. Hopefully this will make for an interesting take on the Otome sub-genre. I suppose we’ll find out soon enough!
**[2/25/2022 – Atelier Sophie 2: Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream](https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/atelier-sophie-2-the-alchemist-of-the-mysterious-dream-switch/)** ([Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1TS0GG5AL8)) – This is only the second time in the series that an Atelier game has gotten a direct sequel, with the other of course being the highly-celebrated Atelier Ryza. Developer Gust has been on a hot streak with the Atelier franchise lately, with both Ryza and Ryza 2 getting stellar reviews, and their re-releases of their classic Atelier games also being warmly received by critics. With any luck that streak will continue in this game.
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Anyway, that’s what I could find for the month of February on the Nintendo Switch, but no doubt some of you have specific games you’ve got your eye on this next month as well. Please feel free to give a shout out to any game you feel deserves attention! 🙂