Like blockbuster movies, if a video game makes a heap of money, no matter the reception, they’ll make another one. Just look at Star Wars: Battlefront 2 or Call of Duty—franchises that will never fail because they make so much cash. And it’s the same with Nintendo; their staple franchises exclusive to their own hardware are perhaps their only lifeline in the brutal industry of gaming.
Most of the time Nintendo hits gold; their recurrent series like Mario and The Legend of Zelda are usually supremely popular and equally acclaimed at the same time. However, there are some game sequels developed for Nintendo consoles that we here at TheGamer would rather never see the light of day. Ergo, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to compile a list of 15 of the most exciting games coming to Nintendo consoles in 2019 intertwined with 15 of the most egregious mistakes Nintendo has ever made—mistakes we never want to see repeated or given sequels to.
From famous titles such as Yoshi and Pokémon to bygone games such as Shaq Fu or the infamous Philips CD-i games, we’ve collated the most ridiculous games that could never warrant a sequel and the ones coming out in 2019 that we can’t wait to get our hands on. So, read on and let us know your thoughts in the comments on the upcoming Nintendo sequels, or if you're familiar with any of the games we hope never to see again.
30 Aww Yeah: Animal Crossing
Nintendo’s staple pastime is back (hopefully), as 2019 is finally the year in which we receive the long-awaited sequel to everyone’s favorite cartoon life simulation, Animal Crossing.
Coming exclusively to Nintendo Switch, Tom Nook and co. are set to make their return.
They're promising more fishing, interior design, bug catching, and the all-important mortgage repayment system we know and love! This is a game that fans have been asking for, so it's good to see that it's finally on the horizon.
29 No Way: Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival
Every family has that one member who always makes life difficult for everyone else. Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival is that family member, with its pay to play sensibility (you need access to Amiibos or Amiibo cards to play), its ill-conceived virtual board-game aesthetic, and its fleeting entertainment value. Fans of the series were left wondering when that core sequel is finally coming out. No one wants a continuation to this spin-off hack. Give us a game, not a lackluster Mario Party clone.
28 Aww Yeah: Yo-Kai Watch 3
The third iteration of the 2013 breakout hit, Yo-Kai Watch 3, developed by Level-5, is set to make its grand return to North American soil in February of 2019. Exclusive to the 3DS, with a brand new story and over 600 new Yo-Kai to meet, fans will have a blast battling bosses, bonking zombies, and making new friends along the way. And, considering its 2016 release in Japan, it’s high time Western fans were given the opportunity to try out that new 3x3 battle system while training up their very own Nyan.
27 No Way: Nintendogs 2? Nintendon’t
Speaking of training your own animal-type creatures, let’s never see this one again. Premiering with the advent of the Nintendo DS in 2005, Nintendogs reaped the gaming market, selling over 250,000 copies in North America in its first week.
Everyone and their moms were shouting tricks and scrubbing dirt to make sure they beloved virtual pet was kept up to scratch.
But no more, please. Too many hours spent telling your dog, Flip to flip when all it hears is its name. Maybe a Switch version at best, or just get a dog.
26 Aww Yeah: Xenoblade Chronicles X
Not really a new sequel, but a sequel nonetheless, Monolith Soft’s, Xenoblade Chronicles X is rumored to join the party of Switch games sometime in 2019. So, be prepared to grab your teammates, jump back in your Skell, and venture out into the breathtaking world of Mira once more. With an expansive map to explore and a myriad of monsters to fight, we’re sure that a Switch port of this Wii U classic (can we even say that yet?) will consume hours of warranted discovery and fun.
25 No Way: Shaq Fu 2
This one goes way back all the way to the era of the Super NES in 1994. A superstar basketballer and an all-around legend, Shaquille ‘Shaq’ O’Neal’s likeness was sold to EA and brutalized in-game, in Shaq Fu. Initially pitched as a basketball game, Shaq went out of his way to make it a 2D fighting game akin to Mortal Kombat, being a huge fan of the video game hit. Sadly, it turned out more like a poorly designed knock-off of the fighting classic, and one that we hope never to see again. What? There’s a sequel for the PS4? Suckers...
24 Aww Yeah: Yoshi’s Crafted World
The cute little dinosaur is back, and looking better than ever on the Nintendo Switch. Releasing in 2019, Yoshi’s Crafted World looks like a fun, creative, and squishy return to the franchise after the critically acclaimed and beautiful Yoshi’s Wooly World back in 2015. Not much to say on this besides it looks super fun and super cute. So, let your inner child rejoice (or your actual child) and get ready for yet another trip with the beloved anthropomorphic dinosaur.
23 No Way: Star Fox Zero 2 (Shouldn't It Be Star Fox One?)
Another anthropomorphic animal and another sequel we’d never like to see, Star Fox Zero was the eagerly awaited follow-up to the Star Fox franchise, a franchise that hadn’t seen a true sequel to the original since the ill-fated Star Fox 2 back in 1996. Now back and back with a fresh new look, Star Fox Zero was set to bring life back to the franchise, but instead brought an unfortunate demise: the game, more a soft remake of the first one than an actual sequel. Anyways, a sequel to this glorified remake is something we never want to see.
22 Aww Yeah: Detective Pikachu
A weird mash-up of the Professor Layton series and the gargantuan franchise Pokémon, Detective Pikachu sets to pair players with a walking, talking Pikachu in order to solve crimes and mysteries on your 3DS.
Released in Japan in 2016, this is a game that fans of either series are eager to play.
Considering it has a 2019 movie film adaptation in the works, with none other than Ryan Reynolds playing the titular role, it seems there’s no better time to get this get your hands on this title.
21 No Way: Pokémon Dash 2
On the topic of the world-renowned franchise mascot, there’s another game featuring the little yellow mouse that churns out scorn rather than hype. Pokémon Dash was an early DS release from 2004 which pitted Pikachu in a race against time in order to complete checkpoints. Sound bland? It is. With only 5 main cups, which are as boring as watching your cat run up and down the stairs multiple times (actually, that sounds quite fun), the player must begrudgingly use their stylus to control Pikachu to finish the race on time. This game should never warrant a sequel.
20 Aww Yeah: Fire Emblem: Three Houses
The sixteenth main title in the Fire Emblem series, Three Houses endeavors to bring the beloved tactical role-playing video game to the Nintendo Switch in 2019. Focussing this time around on four new protagonists, Byleth, Edelgard, Dimitri, and Claude, Fire Emblem: Three Houses boasts more detailed graphics, a revamped battle system and the inclusion of Combat Arts; a skill introduced back in Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia. Set in the fictional continent of Fódlan and spanning three diverse nations, with their own landmasses and distinct story sequences, we can’t wait to get our hands on this one.
19 No Way: A Sequel To Any Of The Zelda CD-i Games
The gaming industry is as diverse as they come and equally polarising. Yet, if there’s one thing we can agree on, it’s that the Philips CD-i console should never have existed, and should never have been allowed to publish anything bearing the name Zelda.
But here we are, 25 years on from the advent of one of the most hated game spinoffs of all time: The Legend of Zelda CD-i series.
Nothing to say on the matter besides a desperate plea to Nintendo to never let this happen again.
18 Aww Yeah: Pikmin 4
A franchise in need of reviving, Pikmin was introduced exclusively for the Nintendo GameCube back in 2001 and boasted the console's rendering power and ability to have multiple moving figures on screen at all time with no loss of fidelity. After a few successful sequels, the series has somewhat squandered, letting the failure of the Wii U override the popularity of the workforce franchise. Yet, with the Switch, Pikmin has a chance to revitalize itself in 2019. With the use of motion controls, it could turn out to be a staple video game for the relatively fresh console.
17 No Way: Super Bomberman R 2
Speaking of franchises in need of revitalization, Super Bomberman R was released as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch in 2017, and it was ‘meh’ to say the least. Konami’s elder video game series may have boasted better graphics and cooperative gameplay to boot, but in dwindled in its loyalty to previous games. Nintendo Life may have praised the reboot’s “colourful old-school gaming is refreshing in this era of progressively darker and more complex titles”, but a change up may better suit the aging series.
16 Aww Yeah: New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Now, this is a franchise that never needs a change-up. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is more than just a mouthful of a title, but also a beloved and near perfect formula that just keeps on giving. Unfortunately, not an entirely new sequel, this definitive version of the Wii U classic flaunts updated graphics, the New Super Luigi U DLC, and a whole new character selection in Toadette, who makes her playable debut. So, grab your friends and get ready to traverse the Mushroom Kingdom once again in this glorious Nintendo Switch port coming in 2019.
15 No Way: Hotel Mario 2
We’ve already expressed the painstakingly bad Zelda CD-i series, but nothing compares to the drearily mundane Hotel Mario released for the Philips CD-I back in 1994.
A single-screen puzzle game with unresponsive controls and poor voice acting to boot, this game boasts nothing but being slightly more tolerable than the Zelda CD-i series. Receiving mixed reviews on release and described as having no lasting appeal, it’s no surprise that the call for a sequel is quieter than a vacant hotel.
14 Aww Yeah: Untitled Core Pokémon Game
Oooooh yes, this is a big one. The announcement that Gamefreak was planning on releasing a core Pokémon game for the Nintendo Switch is enough to make any gamer drool. A conception that was attempted back with Pokémon Colosseum in 2004, fans of the series have always wondered what a high definition, home console Pokémon game would look like. And it seems 2019 is the year we find out. Moreover, with the release of Pokémon: Let’s Go Eevee/Pikachu on the horizon, the hype is real. So, good luck, Gamefreak!
13 No Way: Hey You, Pikachu 2!
Sticking with Pokémon, here’s another Pikachu centric video game we’d never like to see a sequel for. Hey You, Pikachu!, released for the Nintendo 64 in 1998, was a virtual pet video game where the player attempts to help Professor Oak communicate with the titular Pokémon in order to do... something?
There isn’t really a goal besides to make excruciatingly boring conversation with Pikachu for 365 days until the little yellow mouse gets released.
That’s pretty much it and details why we never want to see a sequel. It’s too boring. Much better to talk to real animals anyway.
12 Aww Yeah: Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Remastered
Sort of a cheat but an exciting release nevertheless, Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles was released as a GameCube exclusive in 2003. Displaying an all-new set of creatures for FF fans to fall in love with, Crystal Chronicles sets the player with a caravan and four definitive characters along the way in search of the illustrious produce “myrrh” which is used to power the almighty crystals protecting the world’s settlements from poisonous Miasma. Sound like your kind of thing? If so, the remastered edition comes exclusively for the Nintendo Switch in 2019.
11 No Way: Wii Music
Ever since the infamous presentation of Wii Music at E3 back in 2008, fans have wondered what on earth Nintendo was thinking sending Miyamoto out on stage with a pair of Wii remotes in hand and a collection of overly keen performers to display the game’s features. After the video went viral, Nintendo has kept well away from virtual instrument simulations in order to distance itself from that embarrassing moment. However, with the advent of the Switch and its exciting new HD rumble Joy-Cons, the question arises as to whether they might try it again.