At the time of this writing, Nintendo Switch 2 owners have at least four more exclusive games to look forward to in 2025, with the potential for more to be released before the year is out. The Nintendo Switch 2 got off to a hot start thanks to the blockbuster launch game Mario Kart World, and the critically-acclaimed Donkey Kong Bananza has kept its momentum going strong. However, Switch 2 owners may be wondering what's on the horizon in terms of exclusive games.
There was some hope that would be cleared up by the July 2025 Nintendo Direct. But instead of a proper Nintendo Direct focused on first-party games, Nintendo hosted a Partner Showcase that highlighted third-party games in development for Switch and Switch 2. With upcoming Nintendo 2025 games still missing specific release dates, it's possible that another Nintendo Direct could be happening sooner rather than later, but in the meantime, Nintendo's latest financial report highlighted four exclusives that Switch 2 fans can look forward to in the months ahead.
Nintendo Reminds Fans About 10 Big Upcoming Games for Switch Consoles
Nintendo shines a spotlight on 10 games that are on the way, some for the original Switch and others for the Switch 2.
The next Switch 2 exclusive game is Drag x Drive on August 14, to be followed by Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World on August 28. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is planned for a winter 2025 release, and finally, Kirby Air Riders has a vague 2025 release window. Unless these games get delayed, Switch 2 fans can expect all four to be available before the year is out.
Upcoming Switch 2 Exclusives for 2025
- Drag x Drive - August 14
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World - August 28
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment - Winter 2025
- Kirby Air Riders - TBA 2025
Drag x Drive is a 3v3 online multiplayer sports game where players play basketball in futuristic wheelchairs. The game makes heavy use of the Joy-Con 2's mouse controls, and while the jury is still out on if it will be any good or not, it's at least cheap, launching at a budget price of just $19.99. Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an enhanced version of a Switch 1 game, but the Star-Crossed World expansion is exclusive to the Switch 2. This makes it more substantial for Switch 2 owners than other upcoming Switch 2 Edition games, like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A, which include Switch 2-specific enhancements, but not Switch 2-specific content.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is the latest installment in the "Zelda meets Dynasty Warriors" series. Fans can expect similar gameplay as in previous entries, which means exploring battlefields filled with a dizzying number of enemies and taking them out with stylish attacks. What makes Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment a little more interesting than previous entries in the series is that its story is actually going to be canon. Age of Imprisonment is a prequel to Tears of the Kingdom, and while its gameplay style may be an acquired taste, it does look very promising.
The upcoming Switch 2 exclusive confirmed for 2025 that fans know the least about is Kirby Air Riders. A sequel to the underrated GameCube racing game, we know that Kirby Air Riders is directed by Masahiro Sakurai, but otherwise, it remains a mystery. Here's hoping a proper Nintendo Direct takes place sooner rather than later and gives fans a more complete picture when it comes to the Switch 2's release schedule for the rest of the year.
- Brand
- Nintendo
- Original Release Date
- June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
- $449.99
- Operating System
- Proprietary
- Resolution
- 1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)
- HDR Support
- Yes