Our Most Anticipated Nintendo Switch 1 & 2 Games In 2026

Not sure if I'm the only one, but nothing on this list gets me super jazzed about investing. I was hoping to see something maybe I missed but nope.

I hope the Mario Kart world reviews just knock me outta my chair and make me see it's a worth while expense!

I don't think they're ever going to do a direct follow-up to Mario Odyssey - or even Galaxy for that matter. I think it's better for future 3D Marios if they don't try to directly iterate off of one another. I'll be more excited for a wholly original 3D Mario rather than a Galaxy 3 or Odyssey 2.

Besides, DK Bananza looks like a pretty worthy alternative in the 3D platformer area so far.

Is this a renaming of an already existing article? Because aren't these basically all Switch 2 games, that were announced during the Switch 2 Direct? And the headline says 2025. But it includes games, that have confirmed or expected release dates beyond this year, like Duskbloods and Kirby's Air Rider's. Or does it literally mean you are excited in 2025, which would be kinda weird. I myself am quite excited about the next Tomb Raider and Street Fighter 7 IN 2025.
I know, it's Monday...

I am super excited about Switch 2 and Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza and Metroid Prime 4.
Besides that I am hoping for a June Direct. And good reviews for the Switch 2 edition of Cyberpunk.

Not the best of lists i have ever seen
Shame metroid was not out at launch in stead of Mario kart

Hope Fast Fusion does well. That team knocks it out of the park with the Fast Series.

It wouldn't be a new Nintendo console without a new Fast game.

@obijuankanoobie Exactly what I was thinking. I was more excited before I saw the list because I assumed I probably missed some good stuff. Looking at that list gave me a bid yawn, as the best stuff that I'm looking forward to looks to be Switch 1 hang overs.

Quite a weak list for me. Hopefully some new and exciting games on the horizon

Looking at this list, I'm much less excited than I was. I'm getting a Switch 2 basically for whatever it can do to make my switch 1 games feel like they finally got the switch pro. I'm sure over the course of the 2's lifetime there will be a handful of games, but I'm pretty sure the Switch 1 is the end of my game collections.

If this was a Switch 1 direct list, people would be going nuts. In a good way.

I love DK, but the more I see the game I can't help but see a lot of ugly cheap looking levels with particles flying everywhere to cover that fact up. Maybe it's just me, but once you really note that most of the game is just stuff flying at you or explosions of particles, it just becomes much less appealing.

@Duncanballs In my opinion, that's not really fair to say because it's the whole point that we should be a generation past the Switch 1. It's like saying if this was an Atari 2600 list people would be losing their minds with excitement. Yes, I suppose they would.

I’m looking forward to updates to existing switch games in terms of even just basic performance more than anything else at launch. Especially those that are free and just benefit from better memory and processing. I don’t need new graphics for everything, just consistent frame rates will do. MK should be fun, but the next big one I’ll probably get excited about is a new Zelda or Mario. More older RTS such as an Age of Empires or StarCraft or something would be great, too. Especially with mouse support.

@Cipher36 A bit of jest and no offence meant. Just found the comments section on this site a little depressing since the direct.

I'm heading towards the mid century point and can't not be excited for a new Nintendo console.

Each to their own though. 👍🎮

Hopefully we will soon get the release date for Metroid Prime 4.

@Duncanballs I hear you, I've gone past that point myself. I think it's because after so long people were hoping Nintendo really wowed them. With all the missteps and changes I think they done a lot of damage toward the good will they built up in the Switch 1's lifetime. To me it's just what it is, but I also have to be honest and say that I'm far from impressed with what they have done.

I'm not really seeing many games on this list that wouldn't run equally on the existing Switch system.

I mean, unless I'm missing something, most of these games would work just fine on the existing Switch.

DKB and MKW are looking so good. SF6, Split Fiction and CP 2077 are looking amazing! I got a lot of games I'm excited for.

@Cipher36 at the end of the day, from whatever viewpoint, we are all passionate about the hobby we love.

Lots of great games to look forward to. I’ll have MK World, Cyberpunk 2077 and Street Fighter 6 at launch. I’ll stick with those for a while before buying any more.

I’ve seen the trailer for DOOM: The Dark Ages on other platforms. I really hope this gets a Switch 2 port. I enjoyed the Panic Button ports of the 2 previous games on switch.

So wait, that's only two real Switch 2 games, with Mario Kart World and DK Bananza?

Also yikes, starting off the list of Switch 2 games to look forward to with a port of a PSX game from 1993..

EDIT:
I guess I can't count, that makes 4 games when including Kirby and Hyrule Warriors I guess? Still, out of 27.

Locked in the SW2 and MKW bundle, Sonic X Shadow and SF6 for launch.

Renewed NSO for launch for Cube and a replay of BOTW. Fast Fusion is on the list for a day 1 download.

That'll see me through to July and DK.

I think the year is nowhere near set and we'll hear more in Summer and Autumn directs.

@SabreLevant Not quite. Ridge Racer is the arcade version and that will likely crank up the difficulty.

I'll hold out for physical compilations of the Arcade Archives 2 games.

We already have a bunch of Taito and NeoGeo ones. It would be great if Namco (and especially Nintendo) followed suit with their own releases.

@Duncanballs Fair, I got my dates mixed up, sounds like the PSX version was from 1994 and the arcade version from 1993 - the point still stands about it being a port though!

@SillyG If this happened I would be beyond ecstatic, but I don't think it will. I have the 3 main Taito and the 6 NEOGEO (2 on order) as well as probably 20 other old timey compilations. It's mostly all I care to collect anymore.

@Pirate1 Company of Heroes needs mouse support.

looking forward to playing new Mario Kart, but that's it, plus seeing how the Zelda games and Mario games run on switch 2. Excited to get the console, but will be 95% PS5 for the rest of the year it seems, unless they announced a new mainline Zelda or Mario later this year...

I’m fortunate enough to own other platforms to play big third party games on, so for me I’m just excited for the Nintendo titles.

Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Pokemon Legends Z-A are the big 3 for me.

Metroid Prime 4 I’ll probably be stoked for, just gotta play Prime Remaster first to ensure I like the gameplay.

Hyrule Warriors looks good but I’m not a huge fan of the Warrior style games. If it’s reviewed well, I’d consider it at a steep discount down the road.

Kirby Air Riders is a maybe. Need to see gameplay and the amount of content. The GameCube version was fun for a short bit but I always thought it was very overhyped.

So they are coming in 2025 or are you excited for them in 2025?

I am super excited to play Age of Imprisonment. I also really hope Yunobo is playable

And I'm not going to buy a single one of them (a part from MKW that is packed in).
This is such a weak launch.
Old switch games better run notably better on this thing... but considering Nintendos hardly wants to talk about it they probably don't...

a good list of games but not a great list. I can't wait to play Metroid and Zelda warriors. I'm looking forward to MKW as well but not as much. I'm also picking up a few 3rd party games Hades II is a day 1 for me as is cyberpunk. so good list here but lack of a 3d mario or Zelda hurts a bit. ( heck id even take splatoon 4, or a Xenoblade)

@TrogdorTheBurninator they outlines which ones will with detailed lists

WWE for me. Hopefully it delivers a fully functional and well made product.

'At this point, it's not really a Switch console without Hamster's excellent Arcade Archives series'

I suppose this is true in that there is currently 1 Switch console that has the Arcade Archives series and 0 Switch consoles that don't, but I'm not sure that's a big enough sample size to make this claim

I think the issue with DK Bananza is that it looks like a tech demo with very little substance (at least so far). I hope it surprises us, but I think it's going to be the Luigi's Mansion of this console launch. Don't get me wrong, I like Luigi's Mansion, but it was a glorified tech demo.

Well I for one couldn't be happier about this launch. It's hard for me to imagine it being much better. Obviously there are some people that think a new console should launch with every game under the sun, but that's just not possible. I also know some people just don't "get" how big of a deal Mario Kart is. In my opinion, that is a MASSIVE and hype launch game.

@Ratmasterd21
So how is e.g. Minecraft going to preform on switch 2?

I’m pumped, very pumped!!!

List is missing Bravely Default
Oh yes and as @CriticalHit just reminded me, the next gen port of Hogwarts Legacy
@obijuankanoobie I agree, not very excited.
I'm waiting for a V2 with better battery life.

Plenty of cool game can coming on to Switch 2 the library is gonna be insane 256gb cant fit 10 games like this

waiting a improvement Battery and OLED version 512gb ! or 2TB Express Card

One game that I don't see listed here is Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. Its Japanese aesthetics caught my attention, and I'm curious enough to try out its gameplay.

This is kinda disappointing. After all that hype for Switch 2, I don't feel especially excited for anything on that list. BOTW on the 3rd machine? Metroid looks promising but it's going to be still more of the same, I'm afraid. And I have zero interest in the big games I have on my PS5. There's no banger for that debut, it seems.

My choice is Mario Kart World and DK Bananza.
But, I might get them very very late.

Nintendo's gotta have a lot to announce if they want y1 to be anywhere near as good as it was for the Switch.
I'll be getting Mario Kart, DK, Metroid, and Pokemon.
I highly recommend Kunitsu-Gami.

@N00BiSH super mario sunshine 2 would be based though

Apart from the Switch 2 edition DLCs that I'm going to get with NSO, I'm also going to get MP4 on day 1, and Hades II. If I manage to shrink my "long lasting game backlog" sensibly (yes, I have 2 backlogs), I might also get Elden Ring.
Bananza might be good, but somehow it looked like a freakin mess to me, so I'm waiting for many more reviews.

Switch 2
Games
FILE SIZES revealed

Mario Kart World: 23.4gb
Breath of the Wild: 24.2gb
Tears of the Kingdom: 19.9gb
Cyberpunk: 56.8gb
Hogwarts:
Fast Fusion: 3.9gb
Tetris: 3.9gb
Deltarune: 650mb
Welcome Tour: 2gb
Yakuza: 47gb
Rune Factory: 18.5gb
Split Fiction: 73gb
Bravely Default: 11gb
Street Fighter 6: 48.8gb
Fortnight: 29.2gb
Hitman: 61.5gb
Donkey Kong: 10gb
Mario Party: 13gb
Kirby: 16.7gb

@TrogdorTheBurninator that game wasn't given. mostly because it isn't a Nintendo game so i don't see them giving out information on third party games that they have zero control over.

The negativity in the comments section is surprising to me. I thought most people were pretty excited for the launch line up. Launching with a new Mario Kart is pretty hype, and granted much of the 3rd party support is ports, games like Cyberpunk 2077, Yakuza Zero, Hitman, and Street Fighter VI are great gets for the console. Plus having a proper version of Hogwarts Legacy. Then we have DK Bananza on the way next month, and we have the Switch 2 editions of games. There’s a little bit of something for everyone I feel. Me personally I’ll have Mario Kart World, Cyberpunk, Yakuza Zero, and Hogwarts Legacy to divide my attention amongst, not to mention GCN NSO, BotW/TotK Switch 2 editions, and updated Switch 1 games to play I will be more than satisfied personally

Great line up, and great new console!

This year I'll get FOR SURE Mario Kart, Cyberpunk, Fast Fusion, DK Bananza, Metroid Prime 4, Fantasy Life, Elden Ring, Ys X Proud Nordics and Professor Layton.
And also the upgrades for Zelda TotK and Kirby.

And who knows what else will be coming by Christmas (Red Dead Redemption 2, maybe?). I'm excited!

@obijuankanoobie definitely not looking forward to very much on this list and honestly I’m just feeling very “meh” about it. This has got to be one of the most boring console launches of all time and that’s including N64 that launched with a few games but Mario 64 in itself was way more exciting than this.

Outstanding launch window. Majority of those (14 or so?) I am super interested in.

(Defo no upgrading from my PS4 to an expensive PS5 for me for a while)

a lot of games i wont get because they are key cards..

DK Banaza, Mario Kart World, Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, SF6, Metroid Prime 4, Hyrule Warriors and Kirby Air Riders are all looking great. Of course, Kirby and the Forgotten Land DLC as well (I'm paying $20 for it, it seems worth it).

All in all, Switch 2 is hitting the ground running like the OG Switch did.

Honestly I have a preorder in but these games are not getting any of my thoughts due to Expedition 33. Idk if the timing was deliberate or if they thought they could actually steal the Big N's limelight, but thier game is so special and it is eating Nintendos lunch. How long will it be before an original Nintendo IP had a game as good as Expedition 33? Xmas? 2026? Ever?....DK looks good, but THAT good?...

Most excited for Professor Layton, Ys X Proud Nordics, and No Sleep for Kaname Date: Ai Somnium Files. Can we get more jrpgs and srpgs please?

@Ratmasterd21
It will take me 5 minutes to pop it in the switch 2 and figure out if it runs better.

They make zero effort to elaborate on how your switch one catalog will run on switch 2 (without upgrades)

It is important for most people that have lots of games.

Nintendo has control of the new hardware, they absolutely know what to expect in general from software running on it.

I'm really excited about Mario Kart (obviously), Donkey Kong, Metroid Prime 4, Split fiction (it needs to be said again : you can use gameshare on this one and take a switch 1 for player 2 !) and cyberpunk !!

@Ganon821 I don't get your point, as I haven't played the game yet, but it's VERY likely that Expedition 33 will come over to Switch 2 soon, said by the developers.
So I guess that's as long as we have to wait to have a game as good as that one...

@obijuankanoobie Mario Kart, Cyberpunk and especially FF REmake for me. Along with playing F-zero GX and upgrading the Zelda games with new "notes" to sniff out I'll be busy this year!

Dk doesn't look appealing AT ALL. So I'm also skipping that.

I basically having the joy of owning only one console, so now a whole new generation of ports comes my way! 😄😂

So many ports on that list and so many I have zero interest in. There are a couple of games I'm looking forward to:

Mario Kart World
Donkey Kong Bananza
Metroid Prime 4
Street Fighter 6
Elden Ring
Final Fantasy VII

But I'm in it for the juicy JRPGs. Give me a new Fire Emblem and Xenoblade and I'll be a happy Switch 2 owner.

I am actually interested in some of these but I'm frustrated that we don't have any dates. Because when we don't have dates, Nintendo have repeatedly shown that they're happy to delay things. I'm also shocked that the Switch 2 is launching with a single Nintendo exclusive when last year they specifically said they were delaying the Switch 2 launch so they could have a better launch lineup. I just kinda feel like Nintendo haven't got their own house in order and yet, I appreciate that they only release games when they're as perfect as possible. The biggest mistake they could make so early in this generation is to release games that aren't perfect.

How about Announcements that these are not Key-Card Crap.. almost all of these won't be actual physical games so I'd pass on em till it's on a good sale/clearance etc

@speed_loafer Yes, I'm one of them. I love DK, I don't think this game looks very good. It looks like a lot of flying particles and cheap throw away levels made to just smash smash smash and then smash some more.... Just watching someone else play it, I got tired of seeing the 6,oooth piece of gold being picked up. Honestly, I was really looking forward to it, but after seeing it I was less than impressed. Ahh well, I'm sure it has its audience.

@FormerGameAddict
100% this. My Switch 2 will be used for:
1. making my current switch 1 library better
2. the few franchises I have to have... ie. FE, MH, Xenoblade
3. anything else that's really cheap but really good

It seems the switch 1 will be my last generation of mass collecting based on what I've seen of the switch 2 so far.

@the_beaver My point is the Switch 2 doesn't have much going for it in terms of original new releases. And if Expedition 33 were to come to Switch 2, it'll prolly run like garbage.

@TrogdorTheBurninator I dont think you're understanding what i'm saying so let me try a different approach.

No game will run better on the switch 2 automatically. That's not how this works. this isn't a PC. Third parties would have to go back and patch games for them to recognize that they are being played on the new hardware and then take advantage of that new power. Even then they would need a lot of work. It's not just flipping a switch, you have to add things like Higher resolution textures, 60fps animations, recode for larger scope ect.

THE ONE EXCEPTION is uncapped frame rates. Some games run with uncapped framerates ( i actually think Minecraft is one of them) These games MAY run better simply do to power pull from the CPU. However they run the risk of drawing to much power and running into frame glitches/ speed up frame rates/ a number of other problems.

Short version of the story is ITS UP TO THE DEVELOPER. does that help at all?

@Ganon821 it hasn't even released yet dude. how could it have a massive library of new games when it hasn't even technically released a single game yet?

@Ratmasterd21
Ha ha, can't say you're not trying to explain, much appreciated!

My main problem is that Nintendo is not trying half a much, hardly at all :/

However, I would still be much surprised (and disappointed) if the switch 2 can not render e.g. a minecraft world faster than the switch 1.
Switch 1 is not keeping up due to lack of power, and you can sometimes walk faster than it can render.
So I can't even imagine how they could make the switch 2 mirror the performance of the switch 1 in a case like that, even if they tried...

Any way, we'll see in just a few weeks, take care

@Ratmasterd21 Well it looks like it's releasing with quite a large launch line up, and most of it is remakes, re-releases and rehashes. So yeah, looks like quite a library of also rans. Drip feed engaged....

@Ganon821 I know you really badly WANT to be right. But there has been 1 count them ONE direct about the switch 2. In that direct they announced 6 exclusive new games. 4 of which are first party. (Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Banaza, Drive, Hyrule warriors, the DusckBloods, Hades 2) that's leaving out games like switch tour or whatever and Fast RMX. The SYSTEM HASNT EVEN RELEASED YET. I get that you want to be upset about something, but lack of new games isn't it.

@Ganon821 What are games like DK Bananza and Metroid Prime 4 to you...? They're original releases, and look fantastic.

Besides, would you say Expedition 33 is technically more powerful than Cyberpunk, FFVII Remake or Borderlands 4? Serious question, I'd be surprised considering it's such a small team...

I cant wait for the final fantasy 7 Series!

DK, FF Tactics, FF7, Silksong, SW Outlaws and MP4 are definitely on my to buy on release day list.

I've got a bad feeling Metroid Prime 4 and the new Professor Layton won't release this year.

Definitely getting the Switch 1 physical for Shadow Labyrinth. Oh and that small little indie game Donkey Kong Bananza no one is talking about.

I love my Switch 2, but I have so little excitement for the games coming out for it. Apart from the Switch 2 only games, I just plan to buy the Switch 1 versions and upgrade them if possible.

Yeah… they need a big direct with some games to get excited about…

I bought my switch 2 knowing there wasn’t many games but safe in the knowledge that we’ll get amazing Mario and Zelda games at some point. I’m happy with the device but the only games from this list I have any interest in are DK and Duskbloods. Most of the others I’ll buy cheaper elsewhere (and probably get better performance)

Well it’s my turn to lament on the lack of Switch 2 release games. Is this the worst new console game release in history? I guess part of the issue is the two-headed monster of compatibility with existing switch games means third party developers don’t feel a need to develop immediately. But, I also wonder on the slow pace of developers to upgrade existing games to Switch 2 native support. Did Nintendo issue enough developer kits?

my wish list for 3rd party games: NHL25, GTA5, Read Dead Redemption 2, AC Shadows, Fallout 3 remastered and other Bethesda/Microsoft games.

Dk bananza is a must get as is marvel cosmic Invasion, I'll probably get SW outlaws (as long as the port is stable), pokemon is a maybe (I dip in and out of that series) One I'm interested in that's not on the list is two point museum especially if it uses the mouse controls. I'll probably play James Bond on PS5

Only things really on my radar at the moment are No Sleep for Kaname Date, Shuten Order, and the Mortal Kombat collection.

Absolutely loved star wars outlaws on ps5. Glad it’s coming to S2 and may even double dip!

Whew, I am trying to spend less but all these games is making it difficult. Gonna try to stick to the budget though. Looking forward to so many games! DragxDrive, VF REVO, DK, Story of Seasons, Kaname Date, Hyrule Warriors….the list goes on and on!

Danky Kang, Band 007 and Sanic racing

Splatoon Raiders!

So DKB, and then Shadow Labyrinth and Star Wars Outlaws are maybes and FFT is almost a given since, even if I'm not a big fan of tactics, I want to support anything Ivalice. Next we'll see. Of course MP4 is a given and Elden Ring depending on the reviews and also Sliksong. That's a pretty cool list of games.

But of course I'm sure the next direct will shatter all of these plans with first party releases. Or maybe not. Maybe they really are going to stick to the plan of giving priority to third party that was rumoured back then.

Also anyone remembers that new licence game from yacht club that looked very cool?

Following the recent update to Mario Kart, if they decide to keep it how it is it will be very interesting to see how the sonic kart racer turns out

Anyone excited for Inazuma Eleven?

I refuse to purchase any game key cards.

I honestly hope any dev who put their games on them, just fail

Madden? seems like a big return to nintendo

I got my Switch 2 for the long haul, but I gotta say I kind of regret the purchase in this moment. I'm burned by what happened to MKW and the precedent it's set. I want to play DKB, but now I feel I have to wait a few months to make sure Nintendo doesn't pull a bait & switch like with MKW. And I just noticed that Tony Hawk is a code in a box, so I might as well get it on Steam.

My morbid curiosity will finally see me try out Star Wars Outlaws.

Other titles I am looking forward to:
DK Bananza
007 First Light
Metroid 4
The next Mario Odyssey?

Isn’t the PS5 just a more powerful PS4?

This is a SOLID list to be excited about. I’ve already preordered No Sleep for Kaname Date, but Shadow Labyrinth, Pokémon Legends, Hyrule Warriors, Star Wars: Outlaws??? Switch/Switch 2 gamers will be eating good this year. Not entirely sold on the FromSoft game because I dont really enjoy the frustration of Souls-like games, but Nintendo needs a good PvE multiplayer game, so I’m willing to give it a fair shake.

Still can’t believe we don’t have a release date for Metroid Prime 4 yet

There are games here that looks fun for me. That games are Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4, Donkey Kong Bananza, Pokemon Legends Z-A, Hyrule Warriors Age of İmprisonment, Kirby Air Riders, Metroid Prime 4 Beyond, The Duskbloods, and 007 First Light.

There is no new 3D Zelda game, new 3D Super Mario game and no new Super Smash Bros game maybe we will see it later on the Nintendo Switch 2.

Nice that the article clearly mentions if the games are getting a physical release.

Plenty of choice and with my legacy Switch backlog in tow, I still have a LOT to play, arguably even better on Switch 2. I've been having a blast with Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition so far!

We don't know that there's any to get 'excited' for except for DK Bananza and MP4 Beyond I'll bet that all of Switch 2's major Nintendo releases are still years off, I'm not interested in playing third party ports we've all seen and played before on better hardware.

Bananza, Prime 4, Raiders, Silksong, Air Riders, Little Nightmares 3. There's a lot for me to be hyped for!

All I can say is that I agree: anything Super Giant releases is an automatic "buy immediately" from me.

That and the fact that they fixed my main issue with digital games by moving to virtual game cards makes me less hesitant to buy digital games now. Less...

I don't think for a second that Kirby Air Riders will be released this year.

Marvel Invasion had better be more like Shredder's Revenge than Rita's Rewind. The latter is such a disappointment.

Also, so many of these will have full physical releases on Switch 1. I think until key cards are resolved, the cross gen overlap will be like 4 years.

Very strange not to see Borderlands 4 here... What's wrong with the game? It looks pretty good on Switch 2, right?

Also Reanimal should be on the list too!

@Selim Nah, I don't think we'll ever see a new Zelda, Mario or Smash Bros on the Switch 2... This is a Nintendo console, you'd better forget about that.

@the_beaver
Oke.

No mentioning of Decapolice, unless delayed even further

It is genuinely depressing how many of these are just game-key cards.

Only one I can really say im looking forward to is fire emblem.

I think with 3rd party titles from Capcom. No game key card please although it's likely for Resident Evil and Pragmatter. It's not looking terrible. And we got a predicted February Direct. Which surely will happen in February or earlier next year. Don't rule them out as they hold cards close to there chest
And will only reveal them at the last moment.

I'd like to give about twenty of these a go. Can't wait to finally get around to one or two of them some time in the 2030s.

The new Fire Emblem cannot come fast enough.

Yoshi and Fire Emblem are the final hopes for the future of true physical gaming, if those turn out to be Key Cards then it's over...

I cannot get over that intensely ugly red border on the S2 carts. Could be reason enough to go digital.

As of right now, only the SMB Wonder DLC, FE18, and Splatoon Raiders interest me. Yoshi looks fine, but it also looks like a secondhand buy for me.

I'm not dying to play anything from the current 2026 slate. I'll probably play Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, but I'm not dead set on getting it. Games like Pragmata, Splatoon Raiders, Glaciered, and Mario Wonder NS2E I feel like I don't know enough about. I hope the next Nintendo Direct can announce some games for 2026 that really interest me. At the very least, I can expect Pokemon Gen 10 to pull through for me.

My goodness, so much stuff to look forward to...!! Tons of great third party games (better than ever in a Nintendo console), and we still don't know much about what Nintendo will be releasing.
Imo, Nintendo should release Fire Emblem and Splatoon Raiders in the first half, and then release some heavy hitters by the second half and the end of the year (such as Zelda OoT remake and a new Mario 3D).

All things considered it's pretty packed already.

South of Midnight is not mentioned here though.

2026 is the year of the GKC 😂, looking forward to Fire Emblem, Monster Hunter Stories 3, Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined and Trails Beyond the Horizon the most.

This article is from May 2025!!!

Many great games coming next year. Let’s hope for a January Nintendo Direct for the details.

So many cool games here that look interesting!

Sees that a lot of them are Game Key Cards

I'm really worried about the future of gaming, seeing all of these. I do still want to get a Switch 2, but it may honestly end up being my last Nintendo console at this point.

@Nep-Nep-Freak The next Playstation and Xbox Consoles will be digital only so atleast with Nintendo they offer a better alternative. But yeah the future of gaming is going to be all digital so it's either people get used to it now or just quit gaming as its not going to change. The only issue I have with Nintendo going all digital is that their games rarely go on sale and when they do it's not much of a discount.

@Dev-N Luigi’s Mansion 4 is a possibility. That would be really cool.

I’m also looking forward to Splatoon Raiders though.

@Nep-Nep-Freak All consoles are going digital. So, if you're not into that, this may end up being your last console in general.

Ok so of these I'm likely to get
(the one's I'll definitely buy in bold) :

• Final Fantasy Intergrade (not a fan yet but I've wanted to try the most popular FF for a while)
• Mario Tennis (needs a strong single player mode for me)
• 007
• Mario Wonder DLC
• Yoshi (if it's made by a good developer, I don't trust Good-Feel anymore)
• Indiana Jones
• Professor Layton (looking forward to a more elaborate Layton game)
• Elliot (on my radar)
• Splatoon Raiders (Splatoon is not for me, but a singleplayer adventure spinoff might be)

That's a lot, more than I was expecting!

Mario Tennis, Fire Emblem, and Death Match Love Comedy are really the only things on my radar at the moment. Might shell out for Resident Evil just due to the bundle of 7, 8, and 9 being a good deal but not really super interested in 9 itself.

Yoshi's kind of a firm, "Ehhhhhmaybe." I'd never get hyped for a Yoshi game because they're wildly inconsistent in quality, though usually doesn't feel like you get two bad ones in a row and Crafted World was terrible so maybe that's a good sign for this one.

I'm so excited for both a new Rhythm Heaven and Tomodachi Life!!

Not interested in any of the Nintendo releases announced so far, but I am sure they have plenty still up their sleeves to announce in upcoming directs.

There are a lot of solid 3rd parties coming though and Capcom are supporting it well. I currently have FF7 and Resi 9 preordered, but with a newborn my gaming time has dwindled anyway.

I’m finding it hard to get excited for any of this. Perhaps Professor Layton?

Give Us Mario Galaxy 3.

Switch 2 goes crazy already. So many great games.
And people still crying about Gamekey Cartridges. You guys do know, that the Switch 2 is slower reading from cartridges, right?

Looking forward to Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Tomodachi Life: Living in the Dream.
i'll probably pick up some of the third party games on PC, since i don't have a Switch 2 at this time.

I would be so much more excited for this if there were more money, and if there weren't so many key card releases...

Super Mario Bros Wonder Switch Two Edition Plus Meetup In Bellibel Park....12 word title just rolls off the tongue! Am I wrong, DOES anyone REALLY want this? I mean really, not just being a fan boy like we all are and justifying Nintendos baffling decisions....

RE9, Adventures of Elliott, Vampire Crawlers, Mina the Hollower, and most important of all....MEGAMAN!!!!!!! Lots to look forward to!

About Fatal Frame II

Making its Nintendo console debut in 2026. Fatal Frame II is often considered one of the best in Koei Tecmo's long-running horror series.

Ummm, didn't it come out on the Wii back in 2012?

Also, in Dragon Quest VII

Physical?
Yes, on Switch 2, Game-Key Card on Switch 2 (and no upgrade path)

How can it be physical and have a Game-Key Card on the same system?
And yes, I'm aware it's a mistake and it should say it's physical on the Switch 1 but a GKC on Switch 2

Really looking forward to Mario Tennis. Won’t get any of the SE stuff unless maybe digital at a large discount. (No upgrade path is really anti consumer. Even if it downloaded the full game like the key card it wouldn’t be so much of an unfair situation.) So if I get any of their stuff it will be digital on Xbox.

Is Super Meat Boy 3D still due next year ? (Maybe it isn’t as heavily marketed but it looks like a 3D platformer that actually is still a platformer I hate Collectathons).

So not much then?

Looking forward to Enter the Gungeon 2 for years. I sunk hundreds of hours into the first one, it's why I like Devolver so much. I've been wanting a real sequel for so long, it's kind of hard to believe it's actually happening.

I got into the game too late last time, but if they announce another Ammonomicon for sale for this with the special edition, I have to have it. If this is half as good as the first, easy game of the year contender.

Mario Tennis Fever is of most interest to me and then Fire Emblem. I predict Pokemon Poktopia will be huge and might even be on my radar.

Edit:
Regarding the comment below, when did Nintendo ever promise big AAA physical releases at launch? We got Cyberpunk 2077, complete on a data card, and since when do Nintendo ever swamp us with major games at launch? Never! Typically it's one of their own and a third party offering. This is to maximise sales of those while the installation base is small. I feel people are whinging for the sake of whinging now. As for key cards, these were requested from developers to save on costs. Not only has this materialised with such games around $20 cheaper, that price is reflected in the eshop due to the requirement for standardised pricing. Anyone who only downloads games should be praising key cards. If Nintendo deserves real criticism, it's the Switch 2's storage should be double at 512 gb due to the key card situation. In the meantime, archive any games not in use or finished. For most of us, there's no need to buy a SD card yet.

Its upsetting that Nintendo made us believe that Switch 2 will have physical releases of big games by releasing AAA title like Cyberpunk at launch, and so far no AAA games will have physical. New Resident Evil 9 is a keycard, Street Fighter too, Split Fiction, etc… its extremely disappointing and since I will never buy a key card, 2026 is an empty year for us,and I slightly regret buying the Switch 2. Memory cards are expensive, games got also more expensive, and with digital only games the cost of memory storage is further pushed onto us! Meaning, not only will big main AAA games cost 70,- usd, but we also need to buy extra storage to be able to even download them? Ridiculous!

@Nintendo4Sonic If card speeds are slow, that doesn’t justify GKC. If really this is the case, Nintendo should also allow installation from card (containing the full game) to internal memory. Instead, Nintendo wants you to buy GKC, because it is good for them financially.
GKC is not phisycal, no matter how some try to interpret like that.

I really hope they don't miss the opportunity to make Wonder one of the absolute best games in the series by giving us A HARD MODE. God it's not that hard to understand. Or even a new harder campaign even though I'm more in favor of difficulty levels now. I think the Mario series really needs them.

What they've announced so far for Wonder NS2 edition is completely missing the point for me. I don't want to turn it into Wonder Party, I want it to acknowledge years and years of Mario gaming. There's clearly a split between the younger audience that is definitely part of the Mario demographic and they're obviously targeting it and that's absolutely fine, and the older more experienced Mario fans who love the little guy and would need more of a challenge to appreciate his adventures the way they used to.

@HammerGalladeBro That's because GKC are physical. You have a game case, you have to insert the game into the system and you can re sell your game if you want to, pretty much the same with any other physical game.

@Clammy Really? If you don't want anything from the list, you either don't like videogames at all or don't want to play them on the system. Because they are A LOT of great games here, for all kind of gamers.

Guys, GKC is the price to pay in order to have all the big titles the Switch 2 is getting on day one, with no external companies involved (like in the Switch 1 era), and looking almost as good as in the other consoles.

So what do you prefer? GKC or ports that come years later (if ever) and look much worse?

Obviously Pokemon Pokopia is the first first-party game key card. But is it also the first $70 game key card? That's a lot of money for still having to buy a micro SD card.

@the_beaver “all the big titles on the Switch 2 day one” Nice example of wishful thinking, because so far I don’t really see a slightly near situation like that you described. Also for future I see that announced games scarcely make their way to Switch 2. At the same time I really hope that from the two of us you will be the one who will be right on the long run 😉

After recently playing elden ring nightreign my excitment for duskblood has gone through the roof. Didnt think id get along with an online fromsoft game but i guess i shouldnt have counted them out.
Fire emblem looks awesome too. Easily my most wanted nintendo game. It would take a zelda or xenoblade game i think to take its crown.

@Cd3xt3rw4rd All the big titles the Switch 2 is getting, I meant. I thought it was clear, but I'll edit.
Games like Cronos, DQ VII, REquiem, MH Stories 3, 007 and Pragmata are coming out at the same time.

@Patendo

You mean beyond the horizon? Because that has already been announced. eg

FYI, Lego Batman will be launching after 29th May on Switch 2. The date is still tbc.

Fallout 4 is coming as well. I'm really really really hoping oblivion gets a port.

Most anticipated game is He-Man!!!!!!!

Way too many key cards

Fatal Frame 2 came out on Wii… lol.

Fire Emblem, He-Man, Rhythm Heaven Groove and R-Type Dimensions III for me.

@obijuankanoobie That's you, for my part I'm quite satisfied, considering that the console is just getting started.

My most anticipated games are FE Fortune's Weave, MH Stories 3 and DQ VII Reimagined. I also want more info on Duskbloods and I'm kind of interested in RE Requiem, FF II Remake and Elden Rings.

A bit of a slow start to 2026 for me, but I think that's okay because there are plenty of old games I need to get to.

I keep forgetting about Yoshi even though it's one of the more exciting titles for me!

I hope the new FE is good, been a little while since that series excited me but this next one looked great!

With both Nintendo first party, ánd third party games releasing on the same platform, there is just so much stuff to play and be excited for.

And here I am, still playing my F-Zero 99 and loving it

Not a bad initial line up, I personally like the look of Dispatch, Mario Tennis fever, Indiana Jones, He man and fallout 4 (not listed here).

There's virtually nothing to get excited about for physical players as they're almost all GKCs.

I would have easily double-dipped on Animal Crossing if the DLC was included, which makes me wonder why they ever bothered with this re-release at all.

Needs a big game announcement to cap this off, Switch 2 is sorely lacking those kinds of mega hits right now.

Lil Gator Game: Into The Dark and Scott Pilgrim EX are sorely missing from this list.

@UpsideDownRowlet Slow start?

-Final Fantasy VII Remake
-Dispatch
-Dragon Quest VII
-Reanimal
-Ys X Proud Nordics
-Yakuza Kiwami 3
-Tales of Berseria
-Resident Evil VII, VIII and IX
-Mario Tennis Fever
-Monster Hunter Stories 3
-Mouse PI For Hire
-Pokemon Pokopia
-Pragmata
-007 First Light

This is only within the first months, and I'm sure there will be several surprises.
I don't know you, but I'm interested in MANY of them. The RE pack I already preordered, in fact.

Not too shabby 😙

He-Man & TMOTU: Dragon Pearl of Destruction
Resident Evil: Requiem - (PS5)
Mega Man 12: Dual Override
Orbitals
Mina the Hallower
Reanimal - (PS5)
Pragmata - (PS5)
Mario Tennis Fever
Super Mario Bros. Wonder (NS2) + DLC
The Duskbloods
Yoshi & the Mysterious Book
Toxic Crusaders
Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope DX
NSO Virtual Boy

@the_beaver Emphasis on "for me". There is definitely an abundance of high quality games coming out, but besides Final Fantasy VII, none of this is stuff I'm interested in. It's great that you and many others are enthusiastic about this lineup, but it just doesn't do much for me specifically (and that's okay).

@UpsideDownRowlet Yeah, ok, that's fine. It's all a matter of tastes.

Resident Evil: Re9uiem: pre-ordered
Pragmata: on a sale down the line now it's coming to Switch 2
Indiana Jones: same as Pragmata

Looking forward to:

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake
Resident Evil Requiem
Mario Tennis Fever
Pragmata
Pokémon Pokopia
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream
Yoshi and the Mysterious Book
The Duskbloods
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction
Orbitals
Mega Man: Dual Override
Splatoon Raiders

Games not mentioned here:

inKONBINI: One Store. Many Stories
Starsand Island
Tanuki: Pon's Summer
Darwin's Paradox
South of Midnight
Wandering Sword
Lost Hellden

2026 is looking great! And with a lot of anniversaries it could be a very exciting year with new announcements and shadow drops!

A lot of game key cards on this list I won't be purchasing.

Indiana Jones will most likely not be physical. I have been buying a lot of NS1 games from Square Enix for the physical version, it's dumb as a consumer not to have an upgrade path or option for a NS2 cart. Great for their profits.

„Finally, for good measure, here's a few titles coming out in 2027...“

Why would you have this sentence, when nothing follows up on it? No 2027 games to be found here.

Right now, I'm just looking forward to Ocarina of Time and, if it is still indeed coming this year, Silksong's Sea of Sorrow DLC. 2027, though, is going to be huge for me; with my 3 favorite game series (Undertale, Pokemon, Kirby) all getting major releases (Deltarune Chapter 6, Pokemon Winds/Waves, and Kirby & the World Beyond, respectively).

My most anticipated games for this year are mostly not in the list lol. Funny.

Zelda > Trails in the Sky 2 > Dragon's Dogma 2 > Resident Evil 2/4 > Witcher 3 remastered > Kingdom Hearts > Fire Emblem

I guess I won't need getting lego batman now dam key cards 😡

I may get Resident evil 3 if on cart

No love for The Ascent?

@AlanaHagues RE2 and COD MW4 on cartridge?

And I‘d prefer

> Physical?
> Game-Key Card

instead of

> Physical
> Yes (Game-Key Card)

The Dragon Quest XI S part is strictly incorrect. There's no new additional content / features, just up-res and up-fps. And the title is exactly the same length as it was on the original Switch!

This is a great year but after FE I am tapped out. Starting to save to get many of these great games next year!

Only the Kirbz, man. Kirby was the highlight for me. I guess I'm a Kirby guy this generation.

I was gonna fix this, but The Forgotten Lands Switch 2 Edition came out this year..... Right?

@Zeeba It was last year, actually. Last Summer.

@the_beaver who's counting? .... I'll see myself out.

On the way out, I remembered Kirby Air Riders! I belong here!

I am more worried with Nintendo holding back so much. This Direct was, AGAIN, 99% Third party announcements. Most of it we already knew about.
The only exciting First party announcement was Kirby.

Nothing on the next Animal Crossing, 3D Mario, Luigi Mansion or any of the other big Nintendo IPs that are gathering dust for years now.

I have no idea what's going on with Nintendo now, but it's quite worrying that the Switch 2 so far has been almost entirely carried by 3rd party releases.

I mean.... it's of course great to finally see much better 3rd party support..... but where are the exciting first party announcements Nintendo? Other than an old Zelda remake for November and yet another Kirby game for next year.

‘ But if there is something coming, that doesn't mean you have to cling onto the Switch 1; the Switch 2 is backwards compatible after all.’

Are you going to pay for it?

@sorraks Fixed! Think this was from the original announce which stated 'new story chapters' etc, but that was referring to the S / original Definitive Edition upgrade.

Lets go The Crew frickin Motorfest is coming to switch 2