Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam
Mario and Luigi Paper Jam is the fifth title in the Mario and Luigi series, crossing over with elements and the visual style of the Paper Mario series. While attempting to fix a hole in Princess Peach’s castle library, Luigi accidentally trips and knocks over a mysterious book unleashing paper creatures which now inhabit the Mushroom Kingdom. It’s up to the brothers once again to save the day and defeat Bowser and his paper-thin counterpart.
While the game has already been available in most regions around the world already, Jan. 22 will see the 3DS game finally reach North American players. Grab your 1-up mushrooms, you’re gonna need ’em.
Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest and Birthright
 
Fire Emblem Fates brings the classic RPG gameplay of the series back to the 3DS after Awakening released back in 2012. In Fire Emblem Fates, you’ll create a character who will become the main hero of the story, a first for the long-standing RPG series.
In Fates, two kingdoms are on the brink of war and you will choose which one you side with through the game you pick up. If you choose Conquest, you’ll fight to save the misguided kingdom, however if you choose Birthright, you’ll battle the corrupted king of Nohr beside a family of strangers.
Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright and Conquest will both release Feb. 19.
Hyrule Warriors Legends
Hyrule Warriors Legends brings the hack and slash action of the Wii U title to the Nintendo 3DS with a couple of neat new additions. With the classic over-the-top action of Dynasty Warriors, Legends will task you with cutting down massive numbers of enemies as you work your way to unlocking new playable characters.
Legends isn’t just a couple new characters thrown into a 3DS port of Hyrule Legends. Instead, Legends includes new story elements and features, such as the ability to switch between different characters on the fly. If you’re itching for some hack-and-slash fun on the go, this is the game for you.
Hyrule Warriors Legends is due to release Mar. 25.
Star Fox Zero
Star Fox Zero will see everyone’s favorite quartet of pilots returning to save the day from Andross and his forces. The game will see players taking on enemies in the air and on the ground with the help of the trusty Arwing, Gyrowing flight drone, and the Landmaster tank.
Star Fox Zero hasn’t wowed people at preview events, but with the Wii U title being delayed into 2016, here’s hoping that Nintendo takes this time to address the issues outlined by worried fans.
Star Fox Zero is currently set to release April 22, 2016. Let’s just hope it doesn’t become the victim of another delay.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess hit the Nintendo GameCube and Wii back in 2006, and will be re-released for the Wii U this year. For those of you that missed out on the Zelda game that released on the Wii for whatever reason, now is the perfect time to go back and grab it before the next entry in the Legend of Zelda series releases on the Wii U later this year. Twilight Princess brings more of the classic dungeon conquering gameplay but with a darker tone not normally found in the series.
If you’re a fan of amiibo, a Wolf Link amiibo will be released alongside the game as part of a bundle featuring the Wii U HD release of Twilight Princess. Data from this amiibo will then carry over to the previously mentioned game releasing later this year.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD is coming to Wii U on Mar. 4.
Pokkén Tournament
Pokkén Tournament is the game that Pokémon fans have been requesting for years. Developed with Bandai Namco, the producers of the Tekken series, Pokkén Tournament allows you to choose from 12 Pokémon and pit it against another in beautiful 3D visuals.
Development on Pokkén Tournament is being overseen by veteran producer Katushiro Harada, who says the goal for the game is for it to appeal to all Pokémon fans regardless of whether they are a casual player, regular player, or a hardcore player. With that in mind, we can’t wait to see the final product from Bandai Namco later this year.While Pokkén Tournament is also coming to arcade machines, the Wii U will be the only place you’ll be able to see Pokémon brawl it out in glorious 3D on a console.
Pokkén Tournament is due to release Spring 2016.
The Legend of Zelda Wii U
The Legend of Zelda Wii U is only a temporary name for the Zelda game that we’re still waiting to see release on Nintendo’s latest home console. We’ve seen a number of trailers and even some gameplay from the upcoming title, and yet we’re still waiting for a title and are largely unsure on a lot of the story details.
From what we’ve seen of the latest title in the Legend of Zelda series, the game looks set to mix up the formula of one of Nintendo’s beloved properties. The game certainly looks to take on a different art style and in gameplay footage, the game looks to be on a much larger scale than anything that has come before it.
Legend of Zelda Wii U still doesn’t have a release date, but hopefully we won’t have to wait too much longer to get our hands on Link’s next outing.
Bravely Second: End Layer
Bravely Second: End Layer is the direct sequel to the critically acclaimed Bravely Default that released back in 2012. With this, Bravely Second retains most of the gameplay systems of its predecessor but will throw in a couple of new features in order to spice things up a little and keep it fresh.
The story follows the events of Bravely Default and catches up with some beloved characters such as Agnès Oblige. Players will have to fill the role of a brave knight as they are tasked with saving Agnès after she is kidnapped.
Bravely Second is due to release Feb. 26 in Europe and is slated for 2016 in North America.
Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow
If Pokkén Tournament isn’t going to scratch your Pokémon itch for 2016, then maybe this will. Take a trip down memory lane and grab either Pokémon Red, Blue, or Yellow when they hit the virtual console for the Nintendo 3DS later this year.
Chances are, if you have a Nintendo 3DS, or have owned a Nintendo handheld, you’ll know exactly what to expect from a Pokémon game. This trio of games started the series and sent Pokémon into the stratosphere. Get your Pokéballs  ready, there are 151 of the adorable monsters to go and catch.
Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow will be available on the Nintendo eShop on Feb. 27.
Final Fantasy Explorers
Coming exclusively to the Nintendo 3DS, Final Fantasy Explorers focuses on character job-oriented combat against monsters and summons that every Final Fantasy fan will recognize. The main goal is to collect crystals scattered across the world as you level up your character, improve their skill level within your chosen job role and defeat monsters you encounter on your journey.
Like typical spin-off games, Explorers will adopt a different approach to the standard narrative-driven experience found in earlier games of the series and instead opts to follow a quest-driven structure similar to the one used in Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Your party of four can be filled with other human players or monsters you defeat in battle, with more powerful monsters taking up multiple spots. With a wide range of job variety for players to choose from and over five hundred different pieces of equipment available, Explorers looks set to offer players a ton of opportunities to make their adventure their own.
Final Fantasy Explorers releases January 26 in North America and January 29 in Europe.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force
Now, this may seem like an odd choice for our list of Nintendo exclusive to keep an eye on, but hear us out. Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a cooperative FPS for the Nintendo 3DS. The game is a far cry from the tried and tested formula of the successful main series, but will put players in the role of a Galactic Federation Marine featuring gameplay elements similar to those of the Nintendo DS game Metroid Prime Hunters.
While this certainly isn’t the game that fans of the series were looking for, it doesn’t mean it’s going to be a terrible game. Take Legend of Zelda: Triforce Heroes as a recent example. Nintendo released a spin-off cooperative game to the series that was critically well received.
Hopefully fans will finally receive another entry into Samus’ story, but for now, let’s hope that Nintendo delivers an enjoyable experience with Federation Force.
Metroid Prime: Federation Force is set to release at some point in 2016.
Are you looking forward to all of these exclusive Nintendo titles due out this year? Let us know in the comments below.
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Published: Jan 7, 2016 11:00 am