Special edition video game versions with ornate Steelbook covers have become popular in recent years, and Nintendo has jumped on the bandwagon. However, Nintendo Switch Steelbooks often have one caveat: they tend to be released exclusively outside the United States. Of course, this is not true for every Steelbook (Mario Kart 8 Deluxe had an aesthetically pleasing Steelbook case available in the States), but US releases have been relatively rare compared to those in the United Kingdom.
Nintendo has gotten better about distribution in the past year, and titles such as Anonymous;Code and the latest Mario + Rabbids game, Sparks of Hope, will have Steelbook editions available in the US. However, there are still plenty of unreleased games like Pokémon Scarlet and Violet that will likely never see a shiny, metallic, special edition case available in the US. Considering the collection culture cultivated in the West, it seems like a missed opportunity.
Some distributors in Europe and Asia still ship Steelbooks to the United States, though shipping costs are obviously far more prohibitive. Many collectors sell Steelbook cases online without the accompanying games, albeit at inflated prices. For curious Nintendo collectors and Steelbook fans, here are all Nintendo Switch Steelbooks released in the UK, but not in the US.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
The 2019 remake of Link's Awakening, originally for the Game Boy, saw a Steelbook edition exclusive to Europe and Southeast Asia. The case is a tasteful homage to the Game Boy Link's Awakening, an unorthodox Zelda title where Link wakes up shipwrecked on an island and must collect eight magical instruments to awaken the island's guardian entity. The box looks great too, but the art book is arguably the greatest gem in the limited edition package.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD
The other revamped Switch Legend of Zelda title, Skyward Sword, is in the same boat as Link's Awakening in of availability. However, this Steelbook features a shadowy illustration based on the game and came with a poster and keyring. Skyward Sword was originally released for the Wii in 2011 and serves as a prequel to all other Zelda games in a realm where Hyrule does not yet exist.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The fifth entry in the Super Smash Bros. series is one of the more popular Switch titles out there, yet the Steelbook was released only in the UK. Smash Bros. Ultimate contains the most impressive roster of characters in the franchise, with newcomers from Final Fantasy 7, Dragon Quest, Tekken, Street Fighter, and Minecraft. The Steelbook has a fiery Smash Ball, the series logo, on the outside; the inside contains artwork of the Battlefield stage.
Pokémon Sword and Shield
This Pokémon duo, Sword and Shield, comprised the first set of Generation 8 games and took some bold creative liberties with the franchise's formula. It received generally favorable reviews but was criticized for its lack of substance and empty world, among other aspects.
However, these Galar region-based titles experimented with mechanics that have been used since and will undoubtedly be used again, so their Steelbooks - featuring the games' legendary Pokémon - will be missed.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Pokémon's latest game, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, blew up immediately after release. Considering how recently it hit the shelves, its UK-exclusive Steelbook came as a bit of a shock. It features beautiful cover art of Legends: Arceus' Hisui region and various Pokémon, and comes with a Poké Ball cartridge holder.
Chaos Double Pack
This double pack features two games from the visual novel series: CHAOS;HEAD NOAH, an enhanced version of 2008 visual novel CHAOS;HEAD, and CHAOS;CHILD, which had a previous Switch release. CHAOS;HEAD is positively viewed for its story and world, and though it was later eclipsed by Steins;Gate, it was a huge commercial success upon release. The Steelbook features exclusive art by character designer Mutsumi Sasaki featuring CHAOS characters Rimi and Serika.
Super Mario Maker 2
The original Super Mario Maker was respectably popular in the US, but its success was not enough to warrant a US Steelbook release for its sequel. The community creation-based Super Mario Maker 2 is a modern Super Mario Bros. reimagining where players make their own stages. The Steelbook features art representing actual gameplay, and it comes with a stylus and drawing pad.
Luigi's Mansion 3
The third game in the Luigi's Mansion trilogy has basically the same premise as the first two titles: Luigi goes on vacation to a site that turns out to be haunted. The highlight of Luigi's Mansion 3, however, was its asymmetrical co-op gameplay.
This entry's setting is The Last Resort, a glamorous, mountainous hotel where King Boo ambushes the Mario gang. The stylish glow-in-the-dark Steelbook, which came with a Polterpup keyring, was released only in the UK.
Super Mario 3D World
This Switch title was a rerelease of the original Wii U game with an additional expansion, the incredibly urgent Bowser's Fury. The Steelbook cover art features the original Super Mario 3D World art on the front and breathtaking Bowser's Fury art on the back; it also comes with a collection of fun stickers featuring characters from the game. 3D World's isometric viewpoint separates it from other Mario platforms, and makes it especially accommodating to cooperative play.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
This special collector's edition of the action RPG Xenoblade Chronicles not only includes a Steelbook case, but has an art book, a vinyl soundtrack, and a poster. The Steelbook is nice, but the front is simply a reproduction of the original cover art; the back is novel and stunning. The original Xenoblade Chronicles is about a warrior named Shulk who protects his people from a machine race called the Mechon, and it is critically acclaimed for its story. A Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Direct prepared fans for the series' next game ahead of its July 29, 2022 launch date.
Monster Hunter Rise
Monster Hunter Rise is the newest entry in the Monster Hunter series, a franchise where the main draw is its epic fights with massive monsters. Monster Hunter Rise follows the long-established formula, so it's a complex action RPG with an emphasis on online play. Though the Steelbook only contains the original cover art, it is still quite aesthetically pleasing and likely would have found a market in the US.
Abzû
Abzû is a casual, relaxing adventure game centered around undersea exploration, with beautiful visuals and simple gameplay. Both the standard and Steelbook editions (which contain the same cover art) came with an art piece, a manual, a sticker, and a pack of trading cards featuring wildlife from the game's explorable aquatic setting. Super Rare Games did ship Abzû physical releases from the UK to the US but created a limited supply, only producing 2,000 copies of the Nintendo Switch Steelbook Edition.
