As the Nintendo Switch 2’s first year winds on, its library continues to expand with upgraded editions, brand new installments of long-running series, and prominent support from third-party publishers like Capcom and Square Enix. When you factor in the pre-existing vault of Nintendo Switch titles available through backward compatibility, there’s never been more “something for everyone” coming for Nintendo players.
CGMagazine had the chance to check out the next crop of exclusives, updates, and third-party blockbusters headed to the Nintendo Switch 2 over the next few months, and found plenty to enjoy as we ride out the winter.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder—Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup In Bellabel Park
One of the original Switch’s last blockbusters gets a big infusion of multiplayer mayhem on March 26, when Super Mario Bros. Wonder—Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup In Bellabel Park launches.
The titular Bellabel Park is a large theme park added to the main game’s world, and its biggest addition is Attraction Central, a new hub packed with multiplayer experiences, spread across two plazas. The Local Multiplayer Plaza supports, well, local multiplayer for up to 8 players—depending on the attraction, this can support local play on the same system or across individual Switch 2 consoles, with players using GameShare or their own copy of the game. Meanwhile, the Game Room Plaza adds online play in the mix, and can support up to 12 players in 6 different attractions.
We were able to sample a variety of these new multiplayer activities in 4-player local play, and found a mix of promising new modes that play with both the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware and some of the most fun aspects of the core Super Mario Bros. Wonder experience.
The first such activity saw two players building paths out of Donut Blocks using the Joy Con 2’s mouse controls, enabling the other two players to traverse gaps, dodge Spikes, and open paths. Another was a relay race, with 4 players taking turns carrying a lit Bob-Omb—the only catch, however, is that the Bob-Omb dictates which player needs to carry it. If the wrong player ends up “holding the ball,” a timer will rapidly wind down to the cargo’s detonation. Both of these co-op events was easy to pick up, intuitive to master, and a lot of fun to coordinate, reminding me of some of the best multiplayer play on the Wii or Wii U.
Competitive play proved to be just as interesting. Perhaps the most fun was a minigame which gives each player a Baby Yoshi to hold, and to feed as much as possible. As the screen scrolls, players vie to feed their Yoshi the most, avoiding hazards and the wrong types of food. I could immediately tell this one could become very popular in my own household (especially since Support Mode can now be used by any character in this mode, not just Nabbit or Yoshi).
Another competitive collection-fest activity challenged players to grab as many coins as they can while effectively playing “red light, green light” with a giant King Boo. The ghostly monarch will eventually turn around, and players who are caught moving when he looks will be penalized. Other activities have players racing on bouncing balls or while paragliding. It was an enticing cross-section of new activities, drawing on a variety of goals and Mario iconography, which I easily could’ve spent much more time playing.
Though we didn’t get to sample the other content, the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder adds Rosalina and Co-Star Luma to the roster of playable characters (finally!), along with a Captain Toad-themed training camp, and boss challenges against the seven Koopalings. There will surely be even more fun to discover in the Flower Kingdom when this upgrade arrives late next month.
Mario Tennis Fever
Next up on the Nintendo Switch 2’s lineup of exclusives is Mario Tennis Fever, which arrives in just over a week. While this promises to be the most content-rich game in the Tennis “series” to-date, our hands-on preview consisted of sampling the core gameplay at the heart of the final game’s myriad modes.
If you’ve played tennis with Mario and friends before, you should be familiar with the approach here (and will likely have an intuitive edge, judging by my poor performance against a former hardcore player). The engine in Mario Tennis Fever feels promising, however, with sharp graphics and robust controls—including motion controls for those who miss the days of Wii Sports, although we didn’t get to sample them.
The star addition to the series here are the new Fever Rackets, which bring a taste of classic power-ups and enemies to the court. Playing well fills the Fever Gauge, which then allows you to unleash a thematically empowered special shot that has the potential to destroy your opposition. My randomly-selected racket was the Pokey Racket, which summoned a giant smiling cactus on my opponent’s side, while I got to learn the woes of the Flame, Ice, and Shadow Rackets.
This mechanic alone could fuel a brand new Mario Tennis installment, combined with the Nintendo Switch 2’s increased power. There were plenty of other tantalizing Fever Rackets on the selection screen which I’m now eager to experiment with in the full version. And just when I was getting the hang of the new stakes, a Wonder Court Match threw me for a thrilling loop with random Mario Wonder-style effects that warped the whole game.
While the demo was brief, it was quickly apparent that mixing characters’ stats, Fever Rackets, and players’ styles should be a thrilling experience—with 38 playable characters, 30 Fever Rackets, and a host of different courses, Mario Tennis Fever will surely offer a veritable feast for fans of Mario sports games. If that’s not enough, the additional content outside of regular matches should sweeten the deal.
I have a pretty hit-or-miss relationship with the world of Mario-themed sports, but I’m definitely curious now to see what else awaits in the full version. It seems Mario’s athletic endeavours are off to a strong start on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Virtual Boy—Nintendo Classics
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members will soon have a whole new library of retro games made available to them on the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 platforms: the Virtual Boy, which debuts on February 17.
As part of our preview, we got to spend some time with the full, official Virtual Boy peripheral sold through the company’s online store (in both authentic and cardboard forms), and the experience left me cautiously intrigued by a game catalogue which is entirely foreign to me. Check out CGM’s in-depth preview for more on the Virtual Boy Classics library!
Resident Evil Requiem
One of the most exciting third-party launches for the Nintendo Switch 2 (that we currently know about, anyway) is undoubtedly Resident Evil Requiem. Unlike Final Fantasy VII Remake, this triple-A blockbuster will arrive on the same date as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series, which is a huge milestone for the platform and the series as well, as the first time a mainline Resident Evil has landed on a Nintendo console day one since Resident Evil 4.
Though CGM has previewed Resident Evil Requiem on other hardware recently, this was our first look at the Nintendo Switch 2 edition, and my first personal experience with the ninth game in the storied survival horror franchise. Admittedly I haven’t played the franchise much since the PS2 era, and in my heart it’s still a “PlayStation franchise” to me personally—but, once I was in the shoes of co-protagonist Grace Ashcroft and exploring the darkened halls of a dilapidated facility, it was like I was transported back to the Raccoon City of old.
The Nintendo Switch 2 edition is looking pretty great so far. Running in docked mode, I’m sure this version won’t match the performance of beefier consoles or the PC edition, but the difference between them seems slighter than I would have hoped or imagined. Hair in particular looks a little more dated, but all the atmospheric details in actual gameplay are there, and terrifying.
In a way, after rewatching the trailer for the PS5 version, I think I might actually prefer the slightly grittier look of the Nintendo Switch 2 edition, which evokes more of the classic tone I know and love. And once Requiem‘s horrifying new signature monster came into play, stalking a weakened Grace from room to room, technical specs were the last thing on my mind—there was only survival, and the desperate drive to think of a solution before I became a very messy snack for the hulking abomination.
Resident Evil Requiem is shaping up to be a promising third-party offering on the Nintendo Switch 2—and horror fans won’t have to wait long to see it for themselves, as we can return to Raccoon City on February 27. The ninth game in the series also launches alongside Nintendo Switch 2 Gold editions of its two predecessors, Resident Evil 7: biohazard and Resident Evil Village.
Pragmata
Like Resident Evil, the long-awaited Pragmata may be another multiplatform title that I check out on the Nintendo Switch 2 instead of the other platforms, when it arrives on April 24.
Pragmata looks great on the Switch 2. Hair remains a little old-fashioned here as well, which is undeniably more noticeable given Diana’s heavy presence on-screen (compared to the recommended first-person perspective of Requiem), but otherwise the dark atmosphere of a moon-orbiting space station and all the particle effects therein were stunning. Controlling both protagonists simultaneously felt intuitive, and the demo was surprisingly charming, with unique, fourth-wall-defying dialogue specifically made for the demo.
In particular, Pragmata‘s unique blend of real-time action and exploration with puzzle-solving during combat felt like a natural fit for the Nintendo Switch 2’s handheld mode. Coupled with the fact that the Nintendo edition will have an optional Amiibo figure of Diana available for sale at launch (the benefits of which are yet to be revealed), Capcom’s first original IP since Dragon’s Dogma seems to be right at home.
Whether you’ve already taken the plunge or have been waiting to buy in, the Nintendo Switch 2’s library is really rounding out nicely with these titles. Stay tuned to CGMagazine to see what else is in store for the rest of 2026!
