The Nintendo Switch 2 is already half a year old, and what a big six months it’s been. Nintendo sold over 10 million consoles and 20 million software titles in the system’s first quarter alone, despite debuting at a heftier price than consumers had hoped. Its backward-compatible library of games has also been bolstered with cross-gen hits like Pokémon Legends Z-A, original exclusives like Donkey Kong Bananza, and devoted updates to Switch classics like Kirby and the Forgotten Land.
With a solid lineup over the next few months, it seems the second-generation hybrid console will hit the ground running in 2026 with an upgrade to Animal Crossing New Horizons this week and the intensive port of Final Fantasy VII Remake later this month. Yet, there are so many other games that could benefit from making the jump to the Switch 2, whether they’re third-party gems that skipped the original Switch, or overlooked gems from Nintendo’s previous generations that could use a revival.
So, without further ado, here are the announced Nintendo Switch 2 games we’re looking forward to most this year, and others that we’re wishing to see land on the console at some point in 2026 (or beyond).
The Duskbloods (TBD)
At the system’s big reveal last April, FromSoft shocked fans by not only announcing Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition for the Switch 2, but also The Duskbloods, an exclusive with heavy Bloodborne vibes. A multiplayer action game for up to 8 players, with both Player-versus-player and Player-versus-events, this new title focuses on vampiric creatures called Bloodsworn, and takes place in a stunning dark fantasy world (with the requisite Gothic Victorian atmosphere).
With several different classes and a fresh menagerie of horrible monsters to slay, The Duskbloods seems to be the culmination of everything FromSoft has been cooking up over the last 10-12 years, from Bloodborne to Elden Ring: Nightreign, and it will surely be a prominent feather in the Switch 2’s cap when it launches at some point in 2026. It will also be a true test of the new hardware’s technical strength in every aspect.
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave (TBD)
Since announcing it at the last Nintendo Direct in September, Nintendo has had little to say about Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, the long-running series’ first appearance on the Nintendo Switch 2 (unless you count the addition of Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance to the Switch Online’s GameCube library a few days ago).
At least, it seems that the new tale hinges upon “the Heroic Games,” which appear to be held in an epic coliseum, as seen in the debut trailer. The core gameplay appears to carry forward Fire Emblem: Engage‘s torch, with similar interfaces and a possible substitute for the Engage function. Similarly, players will be able to explore the halls of the coliseum beyond the field of battle… though it remains to be seen how much of the game will take place in this one setting.
Most curious of all, it appears that Sothis from the Three Houses lineage will play some kind of role, as she appeared in a new, older form at the end of the trailer. This will surely have fans speculating until Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 sometime this year.
Witchbrook (TBD)
Cozy, sim, and cozy sim games flourished on the original Switch, and the Switch 2 will be able to continue that tradition with titles like Witchbrook, from British indie developer/publisher Chucklefish.
Originally scheduled for release last year, Witchbrook may be the next big life sim. Players will explore the vast city of Mossport in charming 2D and, as students at the Witchbrook College, pursue the arcane arts to their hearts’ desires. Online multiplayer will be supported for up to 4 players, allowing students to coordinate and work together while chasing their dreams.
With school, romance, decoration, magical, and seasonal aspects, plus a dash of Stardew Valley-inspired visuals, it really seems like Chucklefish is crafting something special that will have something to offer almost everyone. Though it’s unsure what other console-specific features may exist in the Nintendo Switch 2 edition, the system’s portability will surely be a big asset once “I’m just gonna play one more day” syndrome takes effect.
Wish: A Nintendo Land Sequel
Now hold on, hear me out, as this may be out of left field.
Nintendo Land is one of the cleverest titles on the Wii U, which unfortunately means most people probably haven’t played it, let alone heard of it. However, the Wii U did at least one thing better than the Switch 2: it packed the demo software in with the console, which is more than we can say for Welcome Tour. This party game featured 12 different minigames, all based on Nintendo properties and arranged like a virtual amusement park (long before Super Nintendo World was a twinkle in Universal’s eye).
Each showcased different features of the Wii U console: the Zelda-themed Battle Quest was a cooperative battle game where three players used Wiimotes like swords while a fourth sniped arrows with the GamePad; Animal Crossing: Sweet Day had players grabbing as much candy as possible while evading guards; and Captain Falcon’s Twister Race had players use the GamePad’s gyroscope to steer their vehicle. Takamaru’s Ninja Castle was the most obscure reference, but also might have been the most fun, letting players lob shuriken by flicking the touch screen.
The Wii U crawled so the Switch could run, so it would be fitting to see the Switch 2 bring back one of the most fun experiences from its fallen ancestor. Most of the games would have to be heavily reconfigured, given the original’s dependence on Wiimotes and GamePads, but surely Nintendo’s think tank of master game designers can find new ways to recreate similar experiences with all the capabilities of the Joy-Con 2. Nintendo Land transcended Mario Party in a way by appealing to a wider array of franchises, so even with multiple party games available already, there’s plenty of room for another trip to Nintendo’s virtual park.
(Hell, another stab at Animal Crossing Amiibo Festival might even go over better on the Switch 2, for that matter.)
Nintendo 3DS Remasters (Wish)
For all the remasters the original Switch got in its lifetime, there’s still no shortage of games from prior hardware that are still worthy of an update on the Switch 2, and especially those on the Nintendo 3DS. Stereoscopic 3D effects aside, titles from Nintendo’s last dedicated handheld system are a prime candidate for porting to the hybrid system—just ask anyone who’s tried to buy one over the last year as secondhand prices have soared. To name just a few…
It’s arguable that Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave wouldn’t exist without its 3DS predecessors, Fire Emblem: Awakening and Fire Emblem Fates. This one-two punch helped the series finally break through with western gamers, introducing a welcome new format and featuring great stories with robust casts. Porting these landmark entries should have been a slam dunk since the success of Fire Emblem: Three Houses earlier in the OG Switch’s lifespan, but now the Switch 2 is uniquely equipped to make potential remasters all the more stunning.
Metroid: Samus Returns was briefly rumoured to be coming to the Switch, but it’s not too late to bring it to the Switch family. Based on the Game Boy original (which is already playable for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers), the 2017 remaster revitalized Samus’ second (and most technologically hamstrung) adventure and added a thrilling new melee counter ability, ultimately leading to the stellar Metroid Droid in 2021. If the 3DS remake comes over, the Metroid series would be nearly entirely playable on Switch 2, save those missing Prime 2 and Prime 3 remasters and… well, the Other one.
But the game I’d most want to see Nintendo bring up from the 3DS is Kirby: Planet Robobot.
Kirby has gone through something of a renaissance over the last hardware generation. Star Allies and Return to Dreamland Deluxe are whimsical platformers with multiplayer appeal, Forgotten Land is a master-crafted adventure, and original creator Masahiro Sakurai even returned to deliver Kirby Air Riders for the Switch 2. All of these games have excellent campaigns, once again taking Kirby from “having a picnic” to “fighting eldritch horrors” by the time you reach 100% completion. This hot streak, however, may have begun back on the 3DS with 2016’s Planet Robobot… but it may have flown under the radar for many.
Hungry for more after Forgotten Land, I went back and discovered what I’d missed out on, despite being a devout 3DS player—and discovered that the only thing better than Kirby’s usual adventures is giving him a giant freaking mech. Naturally, Planet Robobot would benefit from the Switch 2’s advanced hardware, and could use some kind of multiplayer functionality to stay in keeping with the existing Switch games… but most tantalizing is the prospect of expanding the adventure even further, in the same fashion that Return to Dream Land got in Deluxe.
What games are you most excited to see on the Nintendo Switch 2? Let us know in the comments below, and stay tuned to CGMagazine for more coverage!
