After years of leaks and rumors, Nintendo has finally revealed the Nintendo Switch 2. Even though it was only through a short teaser trailer showcasing the system in comparison to the original Nintendo Switch–and a brief look at a new Mario Kart game–it still feels good to finally have a face and name to put on to the Switch successor. The Nintendo Switch 2 was officially announced without a name in 2024 due to all the public buzz, and a later Game Freak leak revealed its internal name to the relief of fans.
More news is still to come, but at least fans finally have a time frame. The Nintendo Switch 2 will launch in 2025, and a Nintendo Direct focused on it will air on April 2. Rumors of third-party games launching on the Switch 2 have built up over the last few months, and a handful of upcoming Nintendo titles like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokemon Legends: Z-A may have Switch 2 versions, but the list of announced games is small. As of January 21, 2025, it consists of the new Mario Kart and eight indie games, already offering a glimpse of the gamee variety that Switch 2 owners can expect.
10 Games That Could Release In The Launch Year Of The Switch 2
With the Nintendo Switch 2 releasing in 2025, expectations are high for the console's first year when it comes to stellar launch titles.
Untitled Mario Kart Sequel
The only game that Nintendo has personally confirmed as coming for the Nintendo Switch 2 is the next mainline Mario Kart title. This was revealed somewhat indirectly, as only a few seconds of the game were shown in the Switch 2 reveal trailer and no other information was released. Analysis of the footage reveals 24 starting spaces on a new track and a redesign of Donkey Kong that merges his recent appearance with older artwork. That's all for now, but with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe being the original Switch’s best-selling game, this new entry is bound to get more news soon.
Bestiario
Despite being the first Nintendo game confirmed for the new Switch hardware, Mario Kart was not the first title explicitly announced for it. Who got there first is unknown, but a likely suspect is Bestiario, courtesy of its February 2024 Kickstarter campaign run by Wiggin Industries. Bestiario is a Spanish turn-based RPG that includes social sim elements in the same vein as the Persona series. It is set in a version of Spain drenched in the supernatural, pulling many references to real Spanish folklore and culture into its adventure-based narrative. It's on every other platform as well, so anyone interested should be able to give Bestiario a shot.
My Time at Evershine
The next blunt Switch 2 announcement came later in 2024 from My Time at Evershine. As the latest game from My Time at Portia and My Time at Sandrock developer Pathea Games, My Time at Evershine will retain the Animal Crossing-like social elements and cozy RPG features of its predecessors. It's unknown when the game will be out, especially since its Kickstarter indicated it would have an alpha period on Steam. Most likely, despite being one of the first games announced for it, Evershine will fall outside the release window of the Switch 2.
Yooka-Replaylee
Bestiario and Evershine raised some eyebrows, but Playtonic Games’ Yooka-Replaylee was probably the most noticeable title slated for the Switch 2 pre-announcement. Part remaster and part reimagining, Yooka-Replaylee aims to be a significant improvement over the original Yooka-Laylee 3D platformer from 2017. It's an odd move considering that the series has already moved on to Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair, a better-received 2.5D game, but there's still ample room for a great Banjo-Kazooie successor to emerge.
Littlelands
While the remaining Switch 2 games are less recognized than the prior few, they still have points worth considering. For example, Littlelands takes strong gameplay and visual cues from The Legend of Zelda, using its version of the Link’s Awakening and Echoes of Wisdom chibi art style. There is also a farming element when players aren't out exploring, though the balance of the game’s different aspects isn't clear yet. For those hankering for a classic Zelda early in the Switch 2’s life, Martin and Kyle Creamer’s Littlelands could be worth a shot.
Synth Beasts
For those looking for a more novel form of adventure, Synth Beasts may have them covered. Creator Radhood Advance describes this game as a top-down action RPG Metroidvania, but it has much more going on. For one, a Pokemon-like monster collection element seems tied to the game’s progression, with the player switching to certain beasts for their special abilities. Combat is also atypical, as it mixes shmup elements like a lighter Enter The Gungeon. Synth Beasts is an experimental project, and time will tell if its efforts pay off.
Aurascope
On the other side of that coin, there's Aurascope. It's not trying to reinvent the wheel, but it is trying to be the best pixelated platformer it can be. Developed by Nick Oztock, this collectathon adventure includes some puzzles and RPG mechanics in a fast-paced 2D platformer best described as a Sonic game with Mario’s classic dive. There's even a split-screen battle mode–a rarity in the modern landscape. Aurascope has a demo, and a Kickstarter planned for early 2025, so interested players can check it out immediately.
Secret Forest
Unique among the Switch 2 games announced thus far, Secret Forest is an MMORPG. Developed by Zelcar Games, this open-world title is being made in Unreal Engine 5 for all current-gen platforms except for the old Switch. Featuring a variety of races and classes to pick from, Secret Forest advertises a vast and mysterious world for players to explore, with various challenges and minigames to tackle along the way. It's planned to have a closed beta in early 2025, which should provide a more in-depth look at the game before it and the Switch 2 are out.
LUCID
Although a developer-made mockup of their game running on the Switch 2 isn't technically a skew announcement, this combined with social media posts from The Matte Black Studio sounds like a statement for LUCID’s future. This fast-paced action-platformer looks to combine the precision platforming of Celeste with some combat and bullet hell elements, all while being a stylish throwback to old 2D sidescrollers. Published by industry veteran Apogee Entertainment, LUCID is worth keeping an eye on even if it will likely land on Steam before it reaches the Nintendo Switch 2.
- Brand
- Nintendo
- Original Release Date
- June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
- $449.99
- Operating System
- Proprietary
- Storage
- 256GB internal / MicroSD
- Resolution
- 1080p (handheld) / 4K (docked)