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Nintendo's crowning achievement came in the form of the highly acclaimed Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which arrived a year after the launch of the Nintendo Switch. It unquestionably lived up to its name by delivering the most exceptional Super Smash Bros. experience to date, hitting all the right notes and fulfilling fans' long-awaited desires for the ultimate fighting game crossover.
Despite its success, the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has presented Nintendo with a challenging situation. Crafting a successor to what is already deemed the ultimate experience seems nearly impossible. The studio faces the dilemma of how to improve upon a formula that has reached its peak, and convincing the devoted fanbase to embrace a new title might prove to be quite demanding. Only by elevating the next installment to an entirely new level, beyond that of Ultimate, can it hope to succeed, but accomplishing such a feat may appear insurmountable.
Nintendo had a lot to prove after the less impressive Wii U era, and it undeniably rose to the occasion. Besides reinventing The Legend of Zelda and Pokemon, it gifted fans with the finest platform fighter ever created. With an all-encompassing roster, the return of the campaign, a multitude of stages, and finely tuned gameplay, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate catered to fans' every desire and eventually became the best-selling fighting game of all time.
Even after the initial launch, Nintendo expanded Super Smash Bros. Ultimate through two Fighter Passes, introducing 11 new fighters from various iconic franchises, bringing the total roster to an astounding 89 characters from both Nintendo's extensive catalog and the wider video game industry. It stands as the largest roster in any Smash Bros. game, the grandest in the fighting game genre, and the most expansive crossover game ever made.
Given the monumental success of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the next entry faces a formidable challenge. Ultimate was intended to encompass all that came before it, and the added DLC further improved the experience. The sequel must surpass these achievements without removing any features, requiring it to be even more expansive, daring, and spectacular. Yet, surpassing what has already been achieved may prove an unattainable goal.
One aspect Nintendo could enhance in the next Super Smash Bros. is the campaign. While its return was well-received, it still fell short compared to Super Smash Bros. Brawl's version.
Players yearn for an enthralling story that fully embraces the crossover potential provided by the extensive roster. However, sacrificing other features to accommodate a richer campaign may risk alienating some players.
Though Nintendo has yet to announce the next Super Smash Bros. game, it's highly likely that one will emerge in the future, possibly on an upgraded system or the successor to the Switch. As exciting as it will be to witness the studio's next endeavor, it faces an arduous uphill battle. There remains a possibility of Nintendo choosing to port Super Smash Bros. Ultimate instead, but only time will tell. For now, players can enjoy Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Nintendo Switch.
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