Nintendo just dropped a surprise Direct presentation today, showcasing everything from Metroid Prime 4 to the return of Tamagotchi Plaza.
Although a new Nintendo Direct has been on the menu for just over a month now, with the announcement of a Nintendo Switch 2-focused presentation landing on April 2, Nintendo kept its foot on the gas pedal and introduced another Nintendo Direct presentation in the same week. Today’s Direct presentation featured software for the existing Nintendo Switch console, and prior to the presentation, Nintendo made it abundantly clear that nothing will be revealed regarding the Nintendo Switch 2.
With that housekeeping out of the way, the Nintendo Direct revealed a torrent of new trailers for fans to see, and all of the announcements from the presentation can be seen below.
Nintendo Direct March 2025: Everything Announced!
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake
Following the success of the first released HD-pixel remastered DRAGON QUEST (which was the third title in the series), Square Enix has shown the first look at the HD pixel remasters of the first two games in the series. The new pixel remasters will release sometime in 2025.
No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES
The latest entry in the AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES series inserts players back into the shoes of investigator Kaname Date to uncover the secrets of another investigation. It launches on July 25.
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
A new apprentice detective title, where the protagonist must work alongside demons, has been announced, and in this Atlus RPG, fans will enter the capable uniform of Detective Raidou. As the detective Raidou, you’ll be tasked with uncovering a conspiracy. Players can solve crimes on June 19.
Shadow Labyrinth
The previously announced dark metroidvania with Pac-Man elements has been given a fresh look at the Nintendo Direct. Players will be able to fuse with Puck (the not-Pac-Man)to become powerful lifeforms called Gaia. Shadow Labyrinth launches on July 18.
PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY
The hit rhythm title series is finally coming to Nintendo Switch in remastered form. The two-pack of PATAPON releases on July 11.
Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
The immersive farming and life sim that released on the Nintendo 3DS platform is being ported to Nintendo Switch. Fans will have to return the market to its former glory in Grand Bazaar when it launches on August 27.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
At the Nintendo Direct, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has finally been given a fresh look. Samus is seen exploring Planet Viewros, and like former Metroid Prime titles, she must scan her environment to uncover surrounding details. As she explores Viewros, Smaus is granted ancient psychic abilities that allow Samus to operate mechanisms, open doors ,and solve puzzles. Beyond arrives sometime in 2025.
Disney Villains Cursed Café
This new café simulator sees the player cosplay as a barista for some of the most notorious Disney Villains, including Ursula and Gaston. Choices you can make will lead to new (sometimes funny) outcomes when the café opens later today on Nintendo Switch.
Witchbrook
A new pixel artwork-styled cozy game called Witchbrook was then shown at the Nintendo Direct, showcasing a cozy witch college life simulator. Up to four players can make magic together and attend classes in online co-op when Witchbrook launches this Holiday season.
The Eternal Life of Goldman
A new hand-drawn 2D platformer called The Eternal Life of Goldman has premiered at the Nintendo Direct, and it will launch this Holiday Season.
Gradius ORIGINS
The rail shooter is back in arcade form on the portable Nintendo Switch. Five total rail shooters can be found on ORIGINS. Gradius 1, 2, 3, Salamander 2 and the new entry, Salamander 3, launches on Nintendo Switch on August 7.
Rift of the NecroDancer
A new rhythm game based on the NecroDancer series of games, Rift of the NecroDancer, will launch on Switch later today.
Tamagotchi Plaza
A new entry in the Tamagotchi series has been unveiled at the Nintendo Direct. Players will have to provide good customer service to upgrade each shop in the Plaza, making their town bigger than before. The plaza opens on June 27.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
A new look was given to the next title in the Pokémon Legends series. Lumiose City wild zones were detailed, showcasing the urban redevelopment plan for Lumiose. It’s made apparent that Legends Z-A takes place exclusively in Lumiose City, with wild zones populating the city and its outskirts as areas to catch wild creatures. When night falls in Lumiose, the Z-A Battle Royale begins, and high-level trainers will take to the streets of Lumiose to issue challenges to the player.
With Mega Evolution confirmed, Trainers will have to answer these challenges and work their way up from rank Z all the way to rank A. It’s said when trainers do, they’re said to be granted a wish. Pokémon Legends: Z-A launches in late 2025.
Rhythm Heaven Groove
A new rhythm game in the Rhythm Heaven series was then shown off at the Nintendo Direct, showcasing the series’ hallmark difficult timing and everything fans would love in a sequel. It’s coming in 2026.
Virtual Game Card: A New Nintendo Switch Feature
When purchasing a digital version of a game, it will arrive as a virtual game card after a system update in April takes effect. The Virtual Game Card will be shown on a dedicated management screen, detailing all of a consumer’s digital game purchases, and this screen will allow Nintendo Switch owners to lend each other their digital titles, letting one digital copy of any particular title be used on two consoles. It’s worth mentioning Nintendo doesn’t explicitly state whether the title can be played on the home console when it is ‘lent out.’
Nintendo does mention Switch owners in the same family plan can share games, but it doesn’t say whether fans outside of the family plan can partake with one another. Local communication is also notably required to lend the virtual game cards to another system, but only for the first time.
Virtual game cards can only be lent out one at a time, and after two weeks, they will be returned to the owner automatically. This appears to be a feature designed to let fans play games without having to make two separate premium purchases for them.
This new feature will be added in a system update in late April 2025.
Saga Frontier 2 Remastered
The epic RPG Saga Frontier is arriving on Nintendo Switch with an enhanced original story, featuring new events to enrich the narrative. Players can recruit additional characters and face tougher boss battles at the story’s conclusion, among other features. Saga Frontier 2 Remastered will be available on Switch later today.
Monument Valley and Monument Valley 2
These isometric geometry titles and all of their included puzzles are porting to Nintendo Switch on April 15. The Nintendo Direct presentation also revealed Monument Valley 3 is coming this Summer.
EVERYBODY’S GOLF: HOT SHOTS
A new golf title is making its way to Nintendo Switch. EVERYBODY’S GOLF: HOT SHOTS also includes fun mini-games reminiscent of the Mario Golf series, as well as advanced Golf techniques like bring-back shots, knock downs and dead stops. The new golf title becomes available later in 2025.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion
A new beat-em-up Marvel title has been announced, and it lets players control up to two heroes at once. Four players can assemble and play together for online co-op play, with a roster of 15 heroes to choose from. Marvel Cosmic Invasion invades Nintendo Switch Holiday season 2025.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream
The final game announcement at the Nintendo Direct March 2025 presentation revealed the next title in the Tomodachi Life series, and it will be coming in 2026.
For the final announcement, Nintendo Direct brought out Shigeru Miyamoto to announce a new way of giving fans information outside of Nintendo Direct presentations. After April 2’s Nintendo Direct focusing on the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware (and likely some games), the Nintendo Today App will give fans all future Nintendo News in one place. Nintendo Direct presentations will still occur as usual.
That wraps everything announced at the Nintendo Direct March 2025 showcase. Fans looking for more information can head to the official Nintendo website.
