Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)

A Mario game that somehow isn't on Switch? Well, more on those in just a sec. But Super Mario 3D Land set the template for the fantastic Super Mario 3D World — which eventually made its way to Switch. This is one of the best-looking 3DS games and the blend of 2D and 3D-style platforming gave us a whole new Mario experience that was welcomed at the time.

What are the chances?

There's always a chance with a Nintendo IP, but given that 3D World improved on this in every single way, we're going to go with a tentative "no". If it does make its way to Switch (or the successor), it will come in some expanded version, we think. Some more level variety and better bosses would be welcome.

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Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)

Remember what we just said? This one seems even more silly. Super Mario Galaxy 2 is absolutely fantastic and is much more than just "more Mario Galaxy". Why is this still not on Switch? Why are we still asking for this four years later????

What are the chances?

At this point, we feel like Nintendo would've done this by now, and given the developer's plans for the rest of 2024 — and early 2025 — there's not many more chances we'll get to see this on the Switch. We're still hoping for that tweet + shadow-drop...

Anyway, at this point, we have to look ahead, don't we? Both Mario Galaxy and the sequel are outstanding; everyone deserves to play them. Heck, make it a cross-gen title.

System Shock

System Shock is an iconic video game for many gamers, paving the way for what Ken Levine and Irrational Games would eventually showcase with Bioshock. What Nightdive Studios accomplished with the System Shock remake, however, is nothing short of remarkable. It's one of the most unique and beautiful shooters we've ever experienced, retaining many sensibilities from the original that will either fill you with unbridled joy or completely turn you off. There's really no middle ground with this one.

What are the chances?

Pretty low, to be honest. When System Shock launched on other platforms, it was pretty obvious why Nightdive had chosen to skip the Switch. The visuals are just a tad beyond what Nintendo's console is capable of right now, but we can certainly imagine a release early on in the successor's lifespan.

Tomb Raider: Survivor Trilogy

The recent Tomb Raider I-III Remastered gave us new hope that perhaps the Embracer Group might invest in porting the Crystal Dynamics and Eidos-Montréal trio Tomb Raider (2013), Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider to Switch.

What are the chances?

Given how Embracer is doing these days, probably not — especially given the care and attention these games would need to run well on Switch. Perhaps on future hardware where more power might help brute force through bottlenecks.

Viewtiful Joe (GCN)

The fact that the original Viewtiful Joe is still stuck on the GameCube and PS2 is frankly astonishing. It was one of the most unique games of its time, blending quirky, cel-shaded visuals with awesome combat augmented by effective time mechanics. This would be right at home on the Switch.

What are the chances?

Considering Capcom hasn't touched Viewtiful Joe for nearly two decades at this point, pretty low. Creator Hideki Kamiya has expressed interest in revisiting the franchise, but we honestly can't see the original making a comeback anytime soon.

Wario Land: Shake It! (Wii)

Another winning platformer helmed by Good-Feel, Wario Land: Shake It! (or Wario Land: The Shake Dimension in Europe) had a lovely art style that would hold up beautifully in HD. It's been a while since we've enjoyed and non-Ware game in the Wario canon, and this was a fine one.

What are the chances?

50/50? It depends on when Nintendo is planning to deploy 'Switch 2'. If the announcement comes through that, "Hey, it's coming in November 2025!" that would leave plenty of months to be filled with first-party-published Switch games. Which makes raiding the back catalogue all the more attractive. Games like this and Punch-Out!! might not be system sellers, but they're fantastic games that we'd love to see more people have access to.

Wind Waker HD / Twilight Princess HD

No, we still don't have them. Yes, we still want them.

What are the chances?

Once again, we'd imagine that these will be saved for the Switch successor at this point. It sure would be a grand last hurrah for the Switch, but with the 2024-25 lineup looking increasingly stacked after the June Direct, we know Nintendo wouldn't want these ports to be lost in a flood of new releases. Save it for the early months of 'Switch 2', we'd say.

The Witness

It's been years, but some of us have held off playing The Witness in the hope that we'll be able to take its brain scratchers out of the house on Switch.

What are the chances?

The eventual arrival of Braid: Anniversary Edition gave us hope. Based on how long that took to turn up, we're estimating The Witness: Switch Edition to launch sometime in 2045.

Xenoblade Chronicles X (Wii U)

We can't port beg without bringing up one of the few Wii U games that's still stuck. And with the online modes all shut down now, there's never been a better time for Xenoblade Chronicles X to make its way to Switch. The series is at an all-time high following Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and Future Redeemed. Let us ride those Skells again, Monolith Soft.

What are the chances?

Maybe it's the pessimist in us, but we're not too hopeful for this one anymore. Monolith Soft is probably working on the next Xenoblade game, but the franchise feels incomplete without X on Switch. If Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition hadn't made the jump, we'd be even less sure. Now, there's barely a sliver of hope...

Yoshi's Woolly World (Wii U)

So much Good-Feelin'! Following on from Princess Peach: Showtime!, it would be fantastic to see the team sneak in a cheeky late-gen port of Yoshi's Woolly World, perhaps with some added Poochy.

What are the chances?

It's got as good a chance as any of the remaining last-gen exclusives in our estimations, plus a cuteness level that's off the charts. An easy win, surely.


And let's stop there before we just list every video game ever. Of course, we could go on. COD4 (the original), perhaps? Mirror's Edge? One of the GTAs? Why not the lot?! Let us know your personal picks in the usual place.

Given what we (don't) know about the "Switch successor", there's nothing to say the current Switch library won't be playable on the new hardware, so perhaps we'll have a cross-gen uber-archive that incorporates the more technologically taxing titles above with those that the current console could run without breaking a sweat. Here's hoping.