Recently, details about several cancelled Nintendo games have surfaced online, drawing huge attention from the gaming community around the world.
Among the leaked titles, we can see a version of Ridge Racer for the Nintendo Switch, a mysterious project named Harmony by Retro Studios, and an unexpected game called Lego Civilization. These titles were never officially announced, but now, thanks to leaked files, fans have gotten a rare glimpse at what could have been.
Ridge Racer for Nintendo Switch
Reports suggest that the early version of Ridge Racer was developed in 2017 by Bandai Namco Singapore. The game was in development for the Nintendo Switch but was quietly cancelled without any official announcement. A short gameplay video showing early mechanics and racing visuals was recently shared on social media, giving fans a peek into the abandoned project.
Project Harmony by Retro Studios
Another cancelled project is a third-person action-adventure called Harmony, created by Retro Studios. In this game, the main character was a fairy who could transform into different beings to solve puzzles. Although the game was never officially revealed, content creator Kiwi Talkz, who had interviewed former Retro employees, mentioned the project before and even described it as a disaster due to creative and technical problems during development.
Lego Civilization: A Strategy Game with a Twist
One of the more surprising discoveries is a title named Lego Civilization, which appears to be a Lego-themed version of the classic strategy game Civilization. The files include a rough main menu and some user interface elements. However, the game reportedly crashes immediately when launched, suggesting it was still in a very early stage of development.
Other Leaked Titles: Splatoon 2, Arms, and Rime
In addition to the cancelled games, early builds of existing titles such as Splatoon 2, Arms, and Rime were also found in the leaked development kit. These versions include unfinished content, debug menus, and experimental features that never made it into the final releases.
More Hidden Projects: Titan X, Mario Kart 8.5, and Star Fox Galaxy
As fans dig deeper into the leaked files, even more mysterious projects have come to light. These include:
- Titan X – A futuristic sci-fi shooter featuring giant mech suits, believed to have been in development by a third-party studio under Nintendo’s supervision.
- Mario Kart 8.5 – An experimental build meant to test new racing mechanics and characters that were never released.
- Star Fox Galaxy – A bold and more open-world take on the classic Star Fox formula, blending space combat with on-foot missions.
Leaks Came from a Stolen Development Kit
It appears that all of this information was leaked through a Nintendo Switch development kit that had been illegally sold. These kits often include early builds, design documents, and confidential game files, and selling them is a clear violation of Nintendo’s policies.
What This Means for the Industry
This incident shows how vulnerable the gaming industry is to leaks, especially when it comes to cancelled or unfinished projects. While some fans are excited to learn about what might have been, others are concerned about the ethics of sharing and discussing these files.
Still, the leak has sparked curiosity and imagination in the gaming community, reminding everyone that behind every game we see, there are many more that never make it to release.
