Nintendo Switch owners have much to look forward to in the new year. From a new Animal Crossing and Luigi's Mansion 3 to the next proper entry in the core Pokemon RPG series, there's no shortage of exciting first-party exclusives confirmed for release on the platform in 2019. Plus, with titles like Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and Mortal Kombat 11 set to arrive this year, there are plenty of promising third-party titles on the not-too-distant horizon as well.

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe 19 IMAGES

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition

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Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes

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Steins;Gate Elite

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Trials Rising

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Mortal Kombat 11

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Super Meat Boy Forever

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Team Sonic Racing

Team Sonic Racing Screenshots 8 IMAGES

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

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Yoshi's Crafted World

Yoshi's Crafted World Screenshots 20 IMAGES

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled

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Animal Crossing (Untitled)

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Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

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Daemon X Machina

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Dragon Quest Builders 2

Luigi's Mansion 3 (Working Title)

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Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order

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Sayonara Wild Hearts

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Town (Working Title)

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Pokemon (Untitled Core RPG)

Read on for a look at some of the biggest titles confirmed for release on Switch in 2019. Please note this list has been kept to games that have been announced to arrive this year. As such, titles with release windows—like Bayonetta 3, Metroid Prime 4, and Shin Megami Tensei V—have not been included. We also opted to keep ports of significantly older games off the list, so you won't find the slew of classic Final Fantasy games headed to Switch here either.January 11Nintendo isn't quite done bringing Wii U games to Switch. During its Direct broadcast this past September, the company announced New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is coming to the handheld/console hybrid in January. The enhanced port features the base game, along with New Super Luigi U. In addition to 164 levels across the two core game modes, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe also features Coin Battle, Boost Rush, and Challenge modes.January 11While Tales of Vesperia was released back in 2008 for Xbox 360, an updated version with additional content came to PS3 the following year, but it never made its way outside of Japan. Now, nearly a full decade later, the added content will be made available in the west on Switch (as well as PS4, Xbox One, and PC) in the form of Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition.January 18After two outings on Wii, Travis Touchdown returns in a top-down action game called Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes. The Switch exclusive sees Travis braving his way through various video games—filled with different action, racing, and puzzle challenges —squashing bugs along the way. The game features multiple collaborations with indie studios, including Shovel Knight developer Yacht Club Games . Those looking to play with a friend will be pleased to know it also has two-player co-op support.February 19Following its launch in Japan last year, Steins;Gate Elite is making its way to the west in 2019. This updated version of the popular 2009 Japanese visual novel Steins;Gate features added footage from the 2011 anime series, along with new animated scenes not featured in the TV adaptation. While initially slated to be released in the west in 2018 , Steins;Gate Elite will be available on Switch and PS4 in February, and PC sometime in the early part of 2019.February 21 Unveiled at E3 2018 , Trials Rising is the next main entry in Ubisoft's motorcycle-focused action series, following 2014's Trials Fusion and the 2016 spinoff Trials of the Blood Dragon. While the game is also coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, developer RedLynx told IGN at E3 the game plays "perfectly" on Switch . Trials Rising features various locations from around the world, including the Great Wall of China, Mount Everest, and the Eiffel Tower.April 23The next entry in NetherRealm Studios' gruesome fighting series was revealed last month at The Game Awards , and, surprisingly enough, in addition to coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, Mortal Kombat 11 is also making its way to Nintendo Switch. While the reveal trailer didn't feature any actual gameplay, the absolutely brutal battle depicted between Scorpion and Dark Raiden makes it clear Mortal Kombat 11 will feature all of the blood and gore fans have come to expect from the series.April 2019Super Meat Boy Forever has evolved quite a bit since it was revealed as a touch-focused mobile game in 2014. In the years that followed, the project morphed into a proper sequel to the indie platformer that made its debut on Xbox 360 in 2010. Super Meat Boy Forever sees Meat Boy and Bandage Girl on a mission to rescue their child Nugget from the clutches of Dr. Fetus. The game features a two-button control scheme, as well as randomly-generated levels that scale to the skill of the player.May 21Sonic and his pals return to the track this May in Team Sonic Racing, a new kart racer from developer Sumo Digital, the same studio behind Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed. The game will feature a roster of 15 playable characters , a variety of kart customization options, and support for both online multiplayer and local co-op. While Team Sonic Racing was originally slated to be out this winter, SEGA delayed the game to mid-2019 "to deliver the highest quality experience to fans."Spring 2019It's been a long time since we've had a new Fire Emblem game on consoles. Since the launch of Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn on Wii in 2007, Intelligent Systems' strategy series has lived on handhelds, with the most recent entry being Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia on 3DS in 2017. The series will finally make the leap to Switch this spring, with the release of Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Formally unveiled at E3 2018 , Three Houses will introduce new features to the series, including the ability to transition from a top-down perspective to an up-close view of the battlefield.Spring 2019Like Yoshi's Woolly World before it, Yoshi's first adventure on Switch is a side-scrolling platformer with an adorable craft-themed aesthetic. As the name implies, Yoshi's Crafted World has a hand-crafted feel , with levels made of cardboard, construction paper, buttons, and other household items. Adding an interesting wrinkle to the platforming and puzzles, players have the ability to rotate the perspective as they traverse the game's colorful world. Those looking to play with a friend will be pleased to know it supports co-op multiplayer, too.June 21Sonic isn't the only one getting a kart racer on Switch in 2019, as a new-and-improved version of Crash Team Racing is headed to Nintendo's platform (as well as PS4 and Xbox One) this June. The game, titled Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, is being developed from the ground up by Beenox , the studio behind several of Activision's Spider-Man games. All of the tracks and characters from the original CTR will be featured, but they'll be presented with updated graphics and a remastered soundtrack. Players will be able to race with their friends online and in a variety of returning modes, including Adventure, Arcade, Battle, and Time Trial.TBD - 2019Aside from the fact that a new Animal Crossing game is coming to Switch at some point in 2019 and will likely feature a bell-hungry Tom Nook, we know virtually nothing about the next entry in the series. With New Super Mario Bros. U, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and Yoshi's Crafted World all planned to be released within the first half of 2019, there's a good chance the new Animal Crossing will be among Nintendo's offerings for the back half of the year. After all, we still don't even have an official title for the game. Still, that hasn't stopped us from putting together a list of the things we hope to see from Animal Crossing on Switch TBD - 2019After parting ways with Konami, former Castlevania producer Koji Igarashi launched a crowdfunding campaign to support the creation of a spiritual successor to Konami's beloved side-scrolling action franchise. That game is Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, and while it was previously slated to launch in 2018, the game was delayed to 2019 in order to "raise the quality level." Additionally, Shante developer Wayforward has since been brought on board to help with development. A retro-inspired title set in the Bloodstained universe called Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon did make it out in 2018, though, and we enjoyed it quite a bit TBD - 2019Daemon X Machina, a new mech-focused action game from Armored Core producer Kenichiro Tsukuda was announced for Nintendo Switch at E3 2018 . The game features an eye-catching cell-shaded art style, as well as character designs by Yusuke Kozaki, whose previous work includes the 3DS Fire Emblem games. Daemon X Machina puts players in the shoes of a customizable character who uses a powered suit to complete various missions. The suit, referred to as an Arsenal, is outfitted with different weapons you can change based on the situation.TBD - 2019A sequel to Dragon Quest Builders was announced for PS4 and Switch in 2017, and while the game is already out in Japan, it won't be too much longer before those in the west will be able to pick up a copy. Thanks to an earnings release from Nintendo last year (via Gematsu ) we know the game will be released in North America and Europe sometime in 2019. Dragon Quest Builders 2 will feature several new additions, including four-player multiplayer, the ability to dive underwater, a glider that lets you soar across the world, and more.TBD - 2019It's been nearly eighteen years since the original Luigi's Mansion was released for the GameCube, and since then the series has only received one followup in the form of Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon. Sure, the original Luigi's Mansion was ported to 3DS last year, but that was just a primer for the proper third installment, which brings Luigi and his trusty Poltergust back to console. Aside from a broad 2019 release window and what details can be gleaned from its announcement trailer , we know very little about what is tentatively titled Luigi's Mansion 3.TBD - 2019Surprising everyone at The Game Awards, Koei Tecmo and Nintendo announced a new Marvel Ultimate Alliance game is in the works, and it's coming exclusively to Switch in 2019. Titled Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, the game is being developed by Team Ninja and sees up to four players on a mission to take down Thanos and The Black Order. The game will feature drop-in/drop-out co-op, with both online and offline support. Regarding why it's coming exclusively to Switch , Nintendo of America president and COO Reggie Fils-Aime cited the company's history and strong working relationship with Koei Tecmo on titles like Hyrule Warriors and Fire Emblem Warriors.TBD - 2019Revealed last month at The Game Awards, Sayonara Wild Hearts is a new game from Year Walk and Device 6 developer Simogo and Annapurna Interactive. In addition to an eye-catching art style, the music-based game features custom pop songs that work in harmony with its gameplay. As a masked biker known as The Fool, players will ride skateboards and motorcycles, swing swords, engage in dance battles, and more, as they traverse deserts, forests, and cities in search of balance in the universe.TBD - 2019Pokemon developer Game Freak isn't only at work at a new entry in the popular creature-collecting franchise; it's also got a new turn-based RPG on the horizon for Switch. Tentatively (and appropriately) titled Town , the entire game takes place in a single village. When monsters appear, it's up to you and fellow townsfolk to restore peace. During the game's turn-based battles, you'll be able summon people from the town to assist you in combat.TBD - Late 2019Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! may have been the first Pokemon role-playing adventures on Switch, but the next mainline installment—presumably Generation 8—still has yet to come. While we know very little about the next core entry in the series, The Pokemon Company confirmed it's coming in late 2019 . Pokemon director, producer, and composer Junichi Masuda is directing the title and said it will "follow in the tradition of Pokemon X and Y and Pokemon Sun and Moon."

Alex Osborn is IGN's Associate Homepage Editor. You can follow him on Twitter