Nintendo slipped some surprises into its annual showcase, including a new 2D 'Metroid' game and a mini, handheld console. Here are the 6 most interesting things fans can expect from the iconic brand through next year.

Ben GilbertJun 16, 2021, 00:21 IST

Nintendo

Nintendo just showcased a handful of huge new games coming to the Switch.
From the next major "Zelda" to a surprise new "Metroid," Nintendo made some major announcements.

1. Critically, Nintendo gave fans what they were hoping for: Footage of the sequel to "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild." The game is expected to arrive in 2022, and it looks like things have changed in Hyrule.

Nintendo hasn't even put a name to this sequel just yet. Nintendo

1. Critically, Nintendo gave fans what they were hoping for: Footage of the sequel to "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild." The game is expected to arrive in 2022, and it looks like things have changed in Hyrule.

2. Nintendo also gave fans something unexpected: A new 2D "Metroid" game named "Metroid Dread." The game has been in some form of development for over a decade, and it's finally launching for Switch on October 8.

Nintendo

2. Nintendo also gave fans something unexpected: A new 2D "Metroid" game named "Metroid Dread." The game has been in some form of development for over a decade, and it's finally launching for Switch on October 8.

3. Smaller franchises were also well represented: A new "WarioWare" series entry, the first for the Switch, is scheduled to arrive on September 10.

Nintendo

4. It wouldn't be a Nintendo presentation without updated versions of beloved classics: "Mario Party Superstars" is headed to the Switch on October 29 - a new game in the "Mario Party" series that updates, "5 boards from the Nintendo 64 era & 100 minigames from the series catalog," Nintendo says.

Nintendo

4. It wouldn't be a Nintendo presentation without updated versions of beloved classics: "Mario Party Superstars" is headed to the Switch on October 29 - a new game in the "Mario Party" series that updates, "5 boards from the Nintendo 64 era & 100 minigames from the series catalog," Nintendo says.

5. Along the same lines, "Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania" collects the first three "Super Monkey Ball" games into a revitalized new collection for the Switch. It's scheduled to launch on October 5.

Sega/Nintendo

5. Along the same lines, "Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania" collects the first three "Super Monkey Ball" games into a revitalized new collection for the Switch. It's scheduled to launch on October 5.

6. In a surprise twist, a cute little handheld game console that plays three classic "Legend of Zelda" games is scheduled to launch on November 12. It'll likely cost about $50 if the previous "Super Mario Bros." version is any indication.

It includes the original "Legend of Zelda," its sequel "Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link" from the NES, and "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening" from the Game Boy. There's also a Game & Watch-style minigame and an interactive clock app. Nintendo

6. In a surprise twist, a cute little handheld game console that plays three classic "Legend of Zelda" games is scheduled to launch on November 12. It'll likely cost about $50 if the previous "Super Mario Bros." version is any indication.

Though Nintendo broadcasts presentations throughout the year as "Nintendo Direct," this one was specifically for the video game industry's annual trade show, E3 2021. Watch the full presentation right here:

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Nintendo slipped some surprises into its annual showcase, including a new 2D 'Metroid' game and a mini, handheld console. Here are the 6 most interesting things fans can expect from the iconic brand through next year.

1. Critically, Nintendo gave fans what they were hoping for: Footage of the sequel to "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild." The game is expected to arrive in 2022, and it looks like things have changed in Hyrule.

2. Nintendo also gave fans something unexpected: A new 2D "Metroid" game named "Metroid Dread." The game has been in some form of development for over a decade, and it's finally launching for Switch on October 8.

3. Smaller franchises were also well represented: A new "WarioWare" series entry, the first for the Switch, is scheduled to arrive on September 10.

4. It wouldn't be a Nintendo presentation without updated versions of beloved classics: "Mario Party Superstars" is headed to the Switch on October 29 - a new game in the "Mario Party" series that updates, "5 boards from the Nintendo 64 era & 100 minigames from the series catalog," Nintendo says.

5. Along the same lines, "Super Monkey Ball: Banana Mania" collects the first three "Super Monkey Ball" games into a revitalized new collection for the Switch. It's scheduled to launch on October 5.

6. In a surprise twist, a cute little handheld game console that plays three classic "Legend of Zelda" games is scheduled to launch on November 12. It'll likely cost about $50 if the previous "Super Mario Bros." version is any indication.

Though Nintendo broadcasts presentations throughout the year as "Nintendo Direct," this one was specifically for the video game industry's annual trade show, E3 2021. Watch the full presentation right here: