Millennial gamers have been eating well with video games lately, and none know this better than Nintendo players. Remakes are nothing new, but Nintendo has spent 2026 remaking, refreshing, or putting new spins on long-running franchises, and at the Nintendo Holiday Preview in New York City, I was honestly surprised I didn’t notice earlier. When you pack all of their top games into one room, it really puts their success on display, and what I noticed more than anything was that gamers respond to what they know, and Nintendo has taken notice.
At the preview event, I was able to play a variety of games across different genres and skill levels. The event showcased the Nintendo Switch 2 both docked and in handheld mode, showing off that Nintendo isn’t just the system you start with; it’s the system you can grow with. On the nostalgic front, titles like Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, Minecraft, Star Fox, Pikmin, and various The Legend of Zelda titles available on Nintendo Switch Online were on full display.
![Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack 12-month Family Membership – [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/4167UlUf-SL._SL160_.jpg)
- Library of classic Nintendo 64 games
- Collection of classic and colorful Game Boy Advance games
Star Fox was released recently, and a new update just rolled out, allowing for 4-player split-screen co-op. Nintendo Switch Resort made me feel like I was bowling on the Wii. Minecraft showed off the Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade, which includes vibrant visuals, and the Super Mario Mash-Up pack also sees an update, even letting you carry over your world from your previous device.
The Legend of Zelda is clearly going to be popular this holiday season, with a display case showing off the Nintendo Switch 2 – The Legend of Zelda – 40th Anniversary Edition. It is absolutely stunning. We were all drooling over it, with gorgeous green and gold accents. The Nintendo Store has an exclusive version of the Pro Controller that features a themed stand, and the amiibos are just so darn cute. There were also shelves everywhere of The Legend of Zelda merch, including a stunning version of chess that I know my brother would love.
- Swing your racket, pull back and aim like an archer, and more in 12 sports with intuitive motion controls
- Move together with friends and family** in sports like Boxing, Archery, Bowling, and Basketball, battle with one thumb to hand your opponent a defeat in Thumb Wrestling, and more
- Blast off on a high-octane adventure to save a star system from invasion
- Tear through space, soar across planets, and shoot loads of foes out of the sky at every step of the way
Gamers my age are eating this stuff up, but thanks to Nintendo’s revival of many of these franchises, so are younger audiences. My niece is playing the original Ocarina of Time, and I really hope my son will want to dive into the new version with me in November. Even titles like Pokémon Pokopia are balancing audiences young and old, banking on our childhoods and what we are passing down to our kids—and it’s working.
Nintendo is doing something different now, though, taking advantage of the updated hardware that is now at its fingertips to bring players a stronger gaming experience that goes beyond standard Nintendo titles. Nintendo systems used to be where you’d go for cute, cartoony, family-friendly games. In 2026, the Nintendo Switch 2 is not the system you have to put away once you age out of it, like we did when we were kids anymore.
- Shape the world and build a cozy new life with Pokémon as a Ditto transformed to look like a human.
- Use other Pokémon’s moves, like Bulbasaur’s Leafage, to revitalize and navigate the world around you.
Many families can’t afford more than one brand of console, and many start with a Nintendo system because of its family-friendly content and accessibility. But those families turn into families with teenagers, or parents wanting a bit more out of their gaming. Luckily, the Nintendo Holiday Preview showcased that the Nintendo Switch 2 is a system that can grow with your family.
We had the opportunity to take on other popular franchises that have not always been synonymous with Nintendo and tend to skew to an older audience, as well as demand a bit more from their system. For instance, attendees could take on Monster Hunter Wilds in handheld mode, and even Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 was available to play in docked mode. Minecraft Dungeons 2, though still family-oriented, is also a great example of a game that can graduate with your kids.
Christmas is coming up fast, and digital games don’t make the best gifts, but many of Nintendo’s titles are still physical, and the merch that goes alongside them is endless. And, if you can get your hands on one, the Nintendo Switch 2 – The Legend of Zelda – 40th Anniversary Edition would win parent of the year (even if your kids are in their 30s!). The Nintendo Holiday Preview had a ton on display, with great items for every age.
- Become the Hero of Time and save Hyrule from darkness
- Venture into dungeons, solve puzzles, and travel across time in two different eras to restore balance to the land
