2025-04

While Mario Kart World is headlining the Switch 2 launch lineup, there are plenty of third-party games coming to the platform as well. Whether it's an upcoming game, a remaster of an older one, or a recent release making the jump to the Nintendo console, here's every third-party game featured in the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal Direct. Launch games Street Fighter 6 Years 1-2 Fighters Edition Street Fighter 6 The base game is coming to Switch 2 with new, exclusive modes, but the console is also receiving a "Years 1-2 Fighters Edition" with 26 playable characters. Finally, Street Fighter 6 amiibo figures and amiibo cards are also coming at launch. Split Fiction Hogwarts Legacy This Switch 2 version features better graphics than the base Switch version, along with new mouse controls. Hitman World of Assassination...

In 2014, Nintendo partnered with Koei Tecmo for Hyrule Warriors, a Dynasty Warriors-inspired musou game in the Zelda franchise. Following the release of Breath of the Wild, Nintendo partnered with Koei Tecmo again for Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, another Zelda musou game that took place before the events of Breath of the Wild, but was, disappointingly, not really canon. Today, Nintendo announced another prequel musou Zelda game with Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment. To detail exactly when the game takes place in relation to Tears of the Kingdom would be a spoiler, but know that it will theoretically cover a gigantic war that takes place in Hyrule and may potentially not feature Link. I would welcome that, but I have low confidence that Link won’t appear in the game. The trailer for the game follows Zelda and we...

Nintendo has announced the Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a special game launching alongside the Switch 2 to take you on a guided tour of its new hardware. Surprisingly, though, it's not a pack-in piece of software, but a separate, paid digital game....

Drag x Drive is a new 3v3 competitive basketball game designed to take full advantage of the Switch 2’s mouse-like capabilities.  As wheelchair-bound basketball players, movement involves dragging the Joy-Cons simultaneously to push yourself forward, simulating the movement of pushing a wheelchair. Flicking the controller performs shots, and players can even roll up skateboard-style half-pipes to perform fancy trick dunks. The game’s challenge comes in intuitively using both Joy-Cons at the same time to steer the characters and take it to the hoop.  Check out the trailer below. Drag x Drive is coming to Switch 2 this summer....

Mario Kart world costs $79.99, but it's $30 cheaper if you buy it bundled with the Nintendo Switch 2....

The creators of Elden Ring have revealed its next title, The Duskbloods. The upcoming multiplayer game will be exclusive to Switch 2. The reveal trailer follows From Software’s standard of using out-of-context clips, showcasing various characters such as a swordswoman wielding a ringblade and a rocket-powered flying robot. Scenes of a gothic castle complex and cathedral interiors create an oppressive atmosphere, and things take a turn for the bonkers with clips of a guy biting someone’s neck and draining them of a dark substance. A character is also seen transforming into a T-Rex-like monster. From Software describes The Duskbloods as a PvPvE experience, meaning players will face off against other human-controlled characters in addition to in-game enemies.  What does it all mean? The vague narration stating that “the moontears will flow for one and one alone” doesn’t illuminate much....

Nintendo closed out its big Nintendo Switch 2 Direct this morning with the surprising announcement of a new platformer starring Donkey Kong. The game is called Donkey Kong Bananza and does not appear to be part of the Country series of games, though there were references to the beloved 2D platformer. Footage of the game showed a new design for Donkey Kong as he explored 3D environments. Donkey Kong runs and jumps, but he can also terraform the environment by ripping up big chunks of the ground and throwing it. According to Nintendo, the game apparently takes place in a “vast underground world”. Along with lots of 3D platforming gameplay, the trailer also showed 2D sequences, high-speed climbing, rock surfing, minecarts, and other Kongs. Some looked like friends. Some looked like enemies. Donkey Kong Bananza arrives on Switch 2...

Amid a number of other new game announcements today, Nintendo showed off a first look at Kirby Air Riders, the new game from acclaimed director Masahiro Sakurai. Sakurai is the originator of both the Kirby franchise and Smash Bros., so his involvement with the new Air Riders is exciting news.  Details are scarce on the new game, but footage revealed Kirby flying along on a star beside three of his other-colored Kirby friends.  The original Kirby Air Ride released on GameCube over 20 years ago. It was a racing game with simplified controls and high-speed course navigation, which also highlighted Kirby’s ability to suck up enemies and absorb their abilities.  Notably, while some games from today’s Nintendo Direct were highlighted as launch games, Kirby Air Riders features no date of launch on Switch 2....

Kirby’s racing spinoff Kirby Air Ride is making a tremendous comeback after more than 20 years, thanks to a new entry for Nintendo Switch 2: Kirby Air Riders....

Nintendo has announced a brand new 3D platforming action Donkey Kong game called Donkey Kong Bananza, due out on July 17, 2025....