Nintendo
Just as they’ve always done, Nintendo comfortably rode its niche; boasting a range of titles you simply can’t have anywhere else, albeit at the cost of third-party support. Casting your eyes forward, there appears to be a concerning list of AAA games that are snubbing Nintendo in favor of its more powerful rivals, but that’s another problem for another day.
The major player in Q2 for the big N was Mario Tennis Aces, and though it didn’t meet everyone’s expectations, it is still the best tennis title of the console generation, by far. The much-needed port for Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze breathed new life into a game that deserved more love in its first run, and the DK Adventure expansion for Mario + Rabbids added another chapter to last year’s sleeper hit. Notice a trend? Donkey Kong is absolutely killing it this quarter.
Throw in Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido, the introduction of Nintendo Labo, and a port of Hyrule Warriors for good measure, and it’s clear that Nintendo put in the hours on the first party front.
Besmirched as it may be by the larger studios, the Switch continued to be a halidom for indie greatness, with Hollow Knight leading the charge. West of Loathing made for a surprising console exclusive, and Just Shapes & Beats is downright cathartic. Skies of Fury DX, FRAMED Collection, Pode… Though many of these games are little more than ports of existing Steam or iOS titles, the simple fact is that the Switch remains the home console of choice for indies.
