There are five big games coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 in January 2026, largely thanks to third-party efforts. Most third-party publishers abandoned Nintendo during the Wii U generation, but they came back in force for the Nintendo Switch. The Switch 2 has continued the original console's legacy of strong third-party support, having already received plenty of high-quality ports from Nintendo's publishing partners.
After a wildly successful 2025, the Switch 2 is looking to keep the momentum going strong in the new year, and those third-party partners will play a key role in ensuring that happens. Those that already own a Nintendo Switch 2 or who may be getting one in the near future will definitely want to keep the following five games on their radar.
On January 15, Nintendo will release the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of one of the best-selling Switch 1 games, the beloved Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Then on January 20, the Metroidvania Mio: Memories in Orbit hits the market, followed by Dynasty Warriors: Origins and Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade on January 22. Finally, Adhoc Studio will bring the critically-acclaimed episodic adventure game Dispatch to both the original Switch and the Switch 2 on January 28.
This is not a comprehensive list of every new game coming to the Switch 2 in January 2026, but there are the most noteworthy titles.
Upcoming Switch 2 Games for January 2026
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition - January 15
- Mio: Memories in Orbit - January 20
- Dynasty Warriors: Origins - January 22
- Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade - January 22
- Dispatch - January 28
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is a big release not just for Switch 2 gamers, but also for those that own the game on Switch 1 as well. That's because it coincides with the release of the 3.0 update, which will add more crossover items from other Nintendo franchises and LEGO, a new hotel to visit, various quality-of-life improvements, and much more. It doesn't have much in the way of Switch 2-specific functionality, but the game will support the Joy-Con 2's mouse controls, and it will up the multiplayer count to 12 on a single island.
New Horizons making its Switch 2 debut will likely take up much of the spotlight in January, but gamers shouldn't let Mio: Memories in Orbit fly under their radar. A stylish Metroidvania with a sci-fi twist, Mio: Memories in Orbit is one of the only Switch 2 games launching in January that is a completely brand-new experience, and that fact alone makes it exciting.
There is at least some breathing room between Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Mio: Memories in Orbit. The same can't be said for the two big third-party games launching on January 22. Well-received musou action game Dynasty Warriors: Origins will be making its Switch 2 debut that day, giving fans of the genre something fresh to play once they've had their fill of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment. Dynasty Warriors: Origins will share a release date with Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, which brings the acclaimed action-RPG to Nintendo's console with much of its visual fidelity intact.
Switch 2 is closing out the month strong with the release of Dispatch. For those unfamiliar with Dispatch, it's an episodic adventure game in the style of the classic Telltale games, but with significantly improved animation and polish. Dispatch puts players in the role of Robert Robertson, who is in charge of sending a group of reformed supervillains out on missions. It's hilarious, heartwarming, and full of epic moments, and it should be a fantastic addition to the Switch 2 library when it launches on January 28.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 99%
- Released
- March 20, 2020
- ESRB
- Everyone / Comic Mischief, Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact, In-Game Purchases
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Simulation
