Nintendo Highlights Multiple Switch Games Launching In 2025

Pokemon Legends Z-A and Dragon Quest 1&2 HD-2D are so far the only must haves for me. Legends Arceus was my GotY 2022, fricken loved it and DQ 3 HD-2D was my favorite release last year, so I'm hyped for those at least.

Besides maybe trying out Metroid for the first time with prime 4, these games look meh. DKC Returns would be cool if it was $20 and Xenoblade doesn’t interest me, so looks like I’ll be holding off till Switch 2

3 of my most anticipated Switch games are Metroid Prime 4, The Hundred Line: Last Defence Academy and Professor Layton

Good gravy, are we sure the Switch 2 is releasing this year??

XCX, Metroid Prime 4, Rune Factory, and Pokemon for sure.
Fantasy Life i's release window is a little too close to XCX for me to think I'll be ready for it, unfortunately.

I hope Metroid Prime 4 is good and that Layton and the New World of Steam actually comes out this year.

You know I really tend to forget that Prime 4 and Legends Z-A are launching this year, kind of hard to remember that when we still know little about them. Maybe time to show them? And you know... Switch 2.

The only thing interesting me here is Tales of a the Shire: A The Lord of a the Rings Game.

Not much to do at Nintendo's UK branch. They should have stayed on holidays a few more days.
MP4 still...

Maybe it’s actually
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond 2025

@NFrealinkling You could and should try out another Metroid game before to find out whether it’s something for you. If you have NSO, play Super Metroid. With my more than 30 years of gaming experience, I consider Super Metroid THE best video game, full stop. After these 8 to 10 hours for your first playthrough, you will know if it’s your cup of tea.

@NFrealinkling if you have nso, they have a few metroid games to try.

Most pumped for prime 4, and then Layton, then maybe dkc as my wife has never played it. I think it is 2 player

I hope Pokemon Legends Z-A is a straight improvement over Arceus. Loved it, but it definitely had room to improve, and I don't think 'more of the same w/ Megas' would be quite enough.

Looking forward to quite a few of these.

Looking forward to MP4 and especially Xenoblade.

I always believed that Metroid 4 will be a Switch 2 launch/cross gen title

I didn't notice we'll have Fantasy Life and Rune Factory in Spring, and both look great. It's going to be a really fun fight!

Apart from these, there are a lot of games I'll be playing this year, like DK, Ender Magnolia, Civilization, Xenoblade, Metroid and Layton. And maybe Pokemon, if it's good enough.

@NFrealinkling You have Metroid Prime Remastered on the Switch, which is one of the best games Nintendo has ever made, and the remake is fantastic. Try that one out and you'll know if Prime 4 is for you.

Well, my choice are:
1. Fantasy Life I
2. Hello Kitty Island Adventure

@the_beaver @rvcolem1 @Max_the_German yeah I tried out a bit of the original metroid on NSO but couldn’t figure it out and tried a demo of Metroid Prime remastered and thought it was pretty good. Maybe not my type of game, but I really wanted to actually buy one, so thanks for the input!

I’m most excited for Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition.

That said, I’m also really looking forward to:

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (I hope we start seeing more of this soon)
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy

Keeping my eye on Fantasy Life i and I may try out Guilty Gear Strive later with that Switch port.

@Max_the_German that’s on base NSO, right? I don’t have the expansion pack

Already off to a solid start. There's going to be MUCH more to come with the Switch 2.

Prime 4 and SILKSONG for me!

I forgot about the game of the year: Hello Kitty Island Adventure.

I'm serious.

It will still probably be years till we get a new Animal Crossing.

Prime 4
DQ 1&2
and DKCR for me (on sale for$30 at some point)

DKCR doesn't quite reach the heights of Tropical Freeze, but being able to play it without stupid motion controls will be email!
DKCTF is right up there with DKC2.

Really hoping the new Pokemon game exceeds my expectations.

Interesting lineup especially since there is still much to come for Switch 2. Xenoblade X will be interesting as I never gave it a try on Wii U and it looks darn good.

Im gonna need them to release Returns and Tropical Freeze in a 60$ bundle if I am to ever to buy either. Never played Returns but love Tropical Freeze but it’s a hard price to justify

@Liam_Doolan I believe you have the wrong set of Tomb Raider games in the “Featured Games” list, fyi.

Metroida Prima las cuatro.

@IceEarthGuard Don't create any.

Looking forward to Xenoblade X DE the most out of all of that.

Priority Metroid 4

nothing interesting for me except metroid 4, albeit its a big one for me...

we must get some news in february, but i'm starting to fear that all we will get is what nintendo has said. an anouncement about the successor, not a reveal with a first party lineup for launch

Xenoblade is top of the list for me!

Metroid Prime 4 will be my first Switch 2 game that i play on it ❤️

Gotta catch all ‘em sales. And beat PS2

@timp29 I think the Switch will beat PS2 sales eventually. Maybe not before the Switch 2 comes out but it will keep ticking over and creep pass it at some point.

For me:
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
Tales of the Shire (PC)
FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time
Pokémon Legends Z-A
Metroid Prime

And whatever happens with the Switch 2.

@NFrealinkling The original Metroid is almost unplayable for today’s standards. Play Super Metroid!

The year already looks way better than the last in terms of Nintendo release that actually interest me and even then I'm not even sure if I'll actually, 100% get any of those lol

The would-bes are Metroid, Pokemon, Dragon Quest and Xenoblade but...
1) I don't like Prime, 4 would need to be very different for me to pick it up at full price, if it's the same-old I'd even be hesitant at a heavy discount. Just not worth it in my eyes.
2) Pokémon comes with a MASSIVE asterisk because I legit don't see them finally releasing a game that doesn't look awful on the switch's last breath.
3) I still haven't touched DQ3, I think I should probably play that game before stockpiling more RPGs that just lie around on the shelf.
4) I enjoyed my time with X but...the story telling is bad, the main character is bad, the structure doesn't make me want to replay it and I just...dislike the OST more the more I hear it. It doesn't fit whatsoever and I wish it just had "normal" Xenoblade music. The team behind the soundtracks of the numbered games can and have made stellar scifi-y music for those, I just don't f*** with the decision to randomly get Sawano on board for X.

Donkey Kong, Xenoblade and Legends ZA for me, though I hope they'll all have neg gen updates/ports.
Guilty Gear strive maybe, we'll see.

@NFrealinkling prime is very different from 2d metroid. Don't check out Metroid 1 - 5 and decide if you want Prime 4 based on that. I love 2D Metroid but I can't stand Prime - the remake was well made but it really reminded me of what I outright dislike about the game design in that and the other 2 prime games - and I know people with the exact opposite feelings on the series.

The remake is fairly cheap, I believe, and while the game length is padded to hell with busy work I'd still argue it's worth its price - again, as someone who DOESN'T like the game as a whole, even though I had fun with parts of it.
Metroid 1 /Zero Mission through Metroid 4/ Fusion are all on NSO, afaik. The only 2d metroid not on switch is the remake for 2 /Samus Returns. Dread is of course a new, regular release. So you can knock yourself out on that series, if you really want to.

You do have to go into the NES and Gameboy games with the mindset that the developers expected you to draw your own map tho. They're very much products of their time, they ARE perfectly playable if you're willing to put in the effort tho. The first one in particular is kind of difficult to get into these days. Super, Zero Mission, Fusion and Dread all do very good jobs of guiding you through themselves with a more or less "invisible hand".

Prime...mostly does it well. Remake added some literal pointers if you struggle to find something, at the very least. Some parts CAN be a bit rough.

A few of these I want on the next console, especially Civ 7 which I hope receives a Switch 2 patch as the map size is going to be limited on Switch

I am really curious about the new civilization game. They did a pretty good job with the previous one. Its a miracle they got it running this good. I have it both on switch and pc, but play it mostly on the switch. Love that you can play using the touchscreen.
So yeah the new one is on my wishlist i think for the switch 2.

From this list I’m most looking forward to XCX, Capcom Fighting Colle 2, and MP4.

Games snubbed here that I’ll be buying are Suikoden 1&2 Remaster and Hundred Line.

Games supposedly coming this year that I will get are Bye Sweet Carole and R-Type Tactics 1&2 Remaster.

Heaven forbid that Super Switch Deux editions for these games are announced a few months after I’ve purchased them for OG Switch. 😅

Most of these titles should have a bit of a following. I think switch will surpass the DS. And fingers crossed for PS2.
I can’t believe there is still life in the console

Metroid Prime 4 and Capcom Fighting Collection 2 for me.
The Tomb Raider Collection 4-6 will be bought on PS5, when it comes out physical.

And sorry Nintendo, I won't buy a full price port of Donkey Kong Country Returns. I have my 3DS version ready, when I want to play it.

I would buy DK but without Funky it’s a lot of money for just me to play. If it had funky then the whole family could enjoy and that would justify the purchase.

So it’s just Metroid 4 for me and that’s it. Unless it’s a dual release then I’ll hold off and pick up on the successor

Metroid Prime 4, Xenoblade Chronicles X and Capcom Fighting Collection 2 are the ones I'm looking forward to. X always looked interesting but I never did buy a Wii U, CFC 2 has some great games I've not played since the Dreamcast. Also interested to finally play Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness despite its poor reputation and hoping we see The Last Ninja Collection (Though not on this list).

@Max_the_German hot take: super metroid's controls are why i don't like it too much
legitimately whiplash after the smooth-as-butter gba and dread games
needed a controls romhack to find it playable

@GrailUK 2026 or later. Already one or two E ticket games on the docket (depending on whether Prime 4 actually sells; other Metroid games didn’t but Prime is a bigger deal and Switch is a powerhouse).

Ah, yes. Hello Kitty Island Adventure. The one I’m really looking forward to.

@Euler At this rate I honestly think Nintendo are just going to keep making Switch games. Let Switch 2 upscale them and let third parties develop for it. Youtube videos and forums panicing that they only know 4 games for this year. It's the 4th of January lol. What are they smoking.

System has sadly become WAY too much of a JRPG machine the last few years. And the crumbs Nintendo gives those of us not interested are like 'here's a Donkey Kong game for literally the 3rd time'.

Honestly it's a pretty sweet way to dovetail into the next console with this sort of for the fans lineup. A big flagship title wouldn't make sense but somewhat smaller stuff for someone devoted keeps the sales and interest rolling, and they presumably can just slide into the next console with a cloud save.

@WaveBoy
Just use the dual sticks. I cannot stand motion controls or gyro aiming. It’s so frustrating and not consistent. Oh the ease of turning and aiming with dual sticks! Ah yeah that’s the way.

xenoblade 3 is my 2nd favorite game of all time so I am looking forward to x

@Max_the_German Alright, I’ll try it out, thanks!

@Dom_31 I’m gonna attempt to try both to see which one is more my type. I do tend to like 2D games more than 3D, but I want to see if Prime 4 lives up to the seven years of hype

Gonna be a huge game purchasing year for me, combining this list with potential Switch 2 games. Day one buys include:

• Pokemon Legends ZA
• Metroid Prime 4
• Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma
• Atelier Yuma
• Professor Layton

And this page highlights only a fraction of what's to come. I'm sure 2025 has plenty other nice surprises.

• Disgaea 4 Complete+
• Tales of Graces f Remastered
• Suikoden I & II HD Remaster
• Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-

@beltmenot

On a kind of related note, Cait definitely has a resemblance to Morag.

Quite a lot already for me, actually. Xenoblade, Fantasy Life, Pokemon, Metroid, Prof Layton, Dragon Quest and maybe Tomb Raider and Ender Magnolia.

That alone will already keep me from working on my backlog… then there’s Lunar Remastered Collection, Trails in the Sky the 1st, Suikoden I+II, and Mio: Memories in Orbit to look forward to. And we’re not even talking about the Switch Successor and its games yet. Or what’s happening on other platforms…

@BishopShiozawa you're right! lol

Ready for Metroid Prime 4 and will likely buy XCX because as great as it was on Wii U, I never beat it.

@Euler Previous years have had more than this planned, much more. If this looks like a "packed" year so far then what do you call the likes of 2017, 2019, and 2022? They had much more than this. There is absolutely room for the Switch 2 in this lineup.

have the Earth Dancer Limited Edition of Rune Factory pre-ordered. It's expected release day is March 31st.

Also ready for Pokemon and Metroid. Will be keeping an eye on Yumia, but from the looks of it combat has changed for the worse so will probably wait for it to go on sale before buying it. Fantasy Life is one that I'll also find used or something to get it cheap, play my fill, then give to my older sister

Xenoblade X and Guilty Gear is my priority for this year!

This is a wonderful selection, can't wait for both Guilty Gear Strive and Capcom Fighting Collection 2. My Power Stone Party is going to happen.

I have the physical of DK Country Returns HD and I'm so ready for it! As excited as I am for Metroid Prime 4 I'd be way more ready for it if they release remastered versions of Prime 2 & 3. Or at least some sort of release on Switch. I never played those so I can't touch Prime 4 until I get through 2 & 3. C'mon, Nintendo it's money on the freaking table!

Great list of games. Can't wait for Rune Factory. I hope we get release dates for Trails in the Sky and the Lunar Collection soon.

@Bolt_Strike It's January 5 lol. We didn't know about Super Mario Bros. Wonder or Zelda Echoes of Wisdom until E3 in 2023 and 2024.

@GrailUK How could you say that? The Switch 2 is going to have magnetic Joycons and marginally better graphics! It's absolutely worth locking all new games (save a token Kirby spin-off or two) behind a new 400$ box.

@Euler Um what? You're the one arguing that the Switch 2 isn't going to release this year because there's already big games. There's been bigger years than this and yes, there is time for more to be announced.

Also while I agree with the sentiment about the Switch 2 seemingly having nothing new, it's worth noting that we haven't had a full reveal yet that confirms exactly what it can or can't do. I would reserve judgment until we actually see the freaking thing (although it does seem unlikely that there's anything more than what we know based on the sheer quantity of leaks, but without a full reveal we don't know for sure).

@Bolt_Strike The point is that "no new games in sight, this must be the year" would've held in 2023-2024 (yet neither one really was "the year"; subsequent Switch games were later revealed and released). This year we already have two E ticket games plus whatever else they reveal during subsequent directs.

@Euler Okay first of all, the games we have right now are not sufficient "E ticket" games. Pokemon games are nearly every year. Metroid Prime 4 has questionable sales potential. And DKCR HD is a port. That's really not much.

But there's much more to it than the lack of games this year. We've had numerous leaks of the console that shows that insiders have it. More importantly, Nintendo themselves have already confirmed it's being revealed in the next 3 months. And given that Nintendo likes to hold their cards close to their chest, they are probably not revealing it this soon if it's a 2026 release. The only thing that can stop this thing from being a 2025 release is a delay, and if there was a delay they wouldn't have reconfirmed a reveal this fiscal year. So near 100% certainty that this is in fact the year.

@Bolt_Strike Pokemon is not every year, absolutely counts as E ticket (take one look at the sales figures), and 1-2 per year is about on par with where they've been over the course of the Switch era. Remember that at this time in 2024, there was nothing on their dance card other than Prime 4 (presumed vapourware). The insiders and leakers were all certain about Switch Pro before it didn't come out (see also: Star Fox Grand Prix, Pokemon Stars, the Switch Smash 4 port, the Retro Studios Mystery Project). And if we're going by past history, new hardware is never released before a price cut of the current console (the Switch has not seen a price cut).

@Euler Pokemon is absolutely a yearly franchise that almost never skips. 2024 is the exception, not the rule, we've had Pokemon on a yearly basis for the last 20 years with only a handful of exceptions (internationally, those years have been 2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, and 2024).

And the years I pointed out have had more than 2, and the launch year is going to be one of those years, it has to be to generate interest in the console.

Nintendo's statements on the Switch 2 have little to do with past history, and there are current economic circumstances as to why a price cut might be happening (inflation, impending tariffs, etc.). The reason why a statement from Nintendo is firmly rooted in the present, not just the past, their hardware and software has generally avoided early reveals as much as possible, delays being the only thing that throws that off for the most part. And it's a much more consistent and logically based pattern for Nintendo, they do this to avoid tipping their hand to the competition and that factor is never going away. Whereas the price cuts are far more up in the air and more affected by economic factors, and there are such factors now such as inflation and the impending tariffs that might lead Nintendo to delay or even outright forego a price cut this time.

99.99% chance it's 2025. Nintendo is literally telling us they're gearing up for next gen in the next few months.

@Bolt_Strike Wii, Wii U, and Switch were all revealed the year before they actually came out. Their statement on the next console is literally "it will be revealed by the end of March 2024 and it's backwards compatible". That's the only real information anyone has (leakers and insiders have a worse track record than the Selzer poll). 2020 and 2023 were DLC only, and if we exclude Emerald and Platinum (the third wheel game with a small amount of exclusive content) that puts us up to 9 years of the last 20 where there's been no new Pokemon game. Hence, not an annual series.

@Euler Switch was not. It was teased back in 2015, but it was an October 2016 reveal and March 2017 release, a 5 month window.

And DLC and third versions count as new games.

These all look great. My most anticipated one is Metroid Prime 4, but we're going to be eating good this year as Switch owners and that's even without Switch 2!

Well, if both the Pokemon and Metroid games along with a few others there do in fact make it out for 2025, that should give Switch the final push it needs to nab the best selling console of all time spot.

i looking forward to Metroid Prime 4, and this game might be my final game i play on my Switch, after that, i will focus on Switch sucessor

@Bolt_Strike Still a holiday season went between reveal and release. And no they don’t count as new games.

No exciting games from Nintendo except Prime 4! Pokemon turned to a piece of *h!t after Black 2, and it’s disappointing Nintendo doesn’t do anything about in which state the Pokémon company releases their games like Briliant Diamond and Violet! Never buying Pokémon again after multiple quality drops! We need to wait for Switch 2. Wish they released more games from 3DS like Ocarina and Majora 3D collection-that would be phenomenal!