All Nintendo Switch 2 games: a quick guide to understanding their types and learning what's new

In the past, purchasing a new console meant retiring your existing library along with the hardware and choosing a game to debut on the new machine. But times change. The industry is at a point where backwards compatibility is prioritized, multi-generational gaming exists, and digital content is the order of the day. Taking advantage of the fact that this Thursday marks the launch of the new Nintendo Switch 2, we'll try to shed light on how the different types of games that run on the console are structured while listing the main new releases that have already been officially announced.

Switch 2 Exclusive Games

To start, these are the games that will only run on the new console and will not work on its predecessor. Most of them are titles first-party, that is, those published by Nintendo itself, and will be difficult—or impossible—to find on any other platform. These types of games will require greater power and performance, or specific features like the Joy-Con 2 mouse mode, which only the Switch 2 can offer.

• Mario Kart World (June 5): A new installment of the Mario and company racing game. A vast interconnected world and new competitive modes. We highlight it and talk more about it in June's monthly news.

• Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour (June 5): This tech demo is a collection of small games and experiences to showcase the full capabilities of the new machine.

• Donkey Kong Bananza (July 17): Just over a month after the console's launch, the DK makes its return with a 3D platformer where you can destroy every environment to explore every corner in search of the precious bananas.

• Drag x Drive (Summer 2025): A competitive wheelchair basketball game that will focus on the Joy-Con 2's new mouse mode, which is required for movement.

• Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (Winter 2025): An action title focused on big battles, like the saga Dynasty Warriors but located in Hyrule, in the Zelda universe.

• Kirby Air Riders (2025): Director Masahiro Sakurai returns with a sequel to the classic Game Cube racing game starring Kirby.

'Switch 2 Edition' versions

Other games won't be exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2, but will receive specific versions to take full advantage of the console's increased power and new features. These versions may be available for existing games from the original Switch, such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, or also appear in separate editions for future titles already announced as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which will be released for both consoles. They will be available for purchase as upgrade packs if the player already owns the original version, or as full standalone games.

• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (June 5): Both games in the iconic adventure series have significant graphical improvements, as well as new features.

• Super Mario Party Jamboree (July 24): New mini-games to take advantage of the Switch 2's capabilities and new features, such as mouse mode and the camera.

• Kirby and the Forgotten Land (August 28): The first 3D platformer in the Kirby series received high praise as a family title.

• Pokémon Legends: ZA (October 16): a new spin-off from the pocket monster saga with real-time combat and set in Luminalia City, the delivery capital X and AND. It has recently confirmed its launch for mid-October, making it the first major title to arrive simultaneously on day 1 of launch for both versions of the Switch.

• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (2025): A new installment in the first-person action series about the famed bounty hunter Samus Aran. The release date is still unconfirmed, though it appears to be coming later this year.

Backward compatibility and free updates

One of the console's strong points, and one that deserves the number 2 and not a completely different name, is its backwards compatibility. It's a great resource for solving its problems. There are very specific examples, which can be counted on the fingers of one hand, where games won't work on the new console. a list of compatibility issues on your website.

On the other hand, some titles from the original Switch, almost all published by Nintendo itself, will be updated for free to take full advantage of the new hardware. These are few and far between, and they only include minor graphical or performance improvements over the original versions when run on a Switch 2, but without the user having to pay any money. Among the selected titles, the following stand out:

• Super Mario Odyssey
• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
• New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
• The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• Pokémon Scarlet
• Pokémon Purple
• 51 Worldwide Games
• Arms

Nintendo GameCube Classics on the Switch 2

Subscribers to the Nintendo Switch Online service have access to a catalog of classic Nintendo Switch games, which can be expanded even further with the expansion pack and a slightly higher subscription. The expansion pack, which includes Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Advance titles, will also include part of the GameCube console's catalog starting June 5th. However, an additional requirement for playing the games from the iconic 2002 machine is that it can only be purchased with the new Nintendo Switch 2. For the more nostalgic, a near-exact reproduction of the cube console's acclaimed purple controller will be available for purchase. More titles will be included in the future, but among the GameCube classics arriving on June 5th are:

• The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
• F-Zero GX
• Soulcalibur II

Third-parties and ports on Switch 2

Finally, we find the great and extensive world of the third parties, that is, third-party video games. This means they are titles published by studios and companies outside of Nintendo for its console. Just with the launch of the new Switch 2, we find many ports, which are identical versions of games published by other platforms that at the time the original Switch could not assimilate, but now they land on the Switch 2. In some cases, the editions include some extra content, such as a compilation of the title's expansions, to justify the re-release.

It should be noted that, among third-party games, there are a few special cases worth highlighting. It is not usual, but sometimes there are third parties who also sign exclusive contracts with certain companies. The two most notable names found in this case for the Switch 2 are:

• Survival Kids (June 5): With the launch of the console comes this Konami game inspired by the title of the same name for Game Boy Color and the franchise Lost in BlueThe new Survival Kids is a multiplayer family game that encourages cooperative survival on a deserted island. For now, the game is released exclusively for the Switch 2 and takes full advantage of the device's new social features.

• Hades II (2025): the sequel to the acclaimed roguelite around Greek mythology will arrive temporarily exclusively for the new Switch 2. Despite the title, it is currently available in early access on PC, but the official launch will only take place on the Switch 2, as was done with Hades.

• The Duskbloods (2026): a multiplayer proposal from FromSoftware, creators of the saga Dark Souls and BloodborneThe game is being released exclusively for the Nintendo Switch 2, with no information as to whether it will ever be available on other platforms.

Still, most third-party games aren't exclusive, but they will be available for the first time to Nintendo loyalists. These are the titles that will be available on June 5th with the launch of the new console:

• Arcade Archives 2: Ridge Racer
• Bravely Default Flying Fairy: HD Remaster
• Civilization VII
• Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
• Deltarune
• Fast Fusion
• Fortnite
• Hitman: World of Assassination: Signature Edition
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
• Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition
• Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
• Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma
• Split Fiction
• Street Fighter 6
• Yakuza 0: Director's Cut

And finally, these are the third-party games that have been confirmed so far and will be coming to the console later. Some of them, in fact, haven't even been released yet and will be arriving on launch day for Nintendo's new console, as well as other platforms:

• Borderlands 4
• Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
• EA Sports FC
• EA Sports Madden NFL
• Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition
• Enter the Gungeon 2
• Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
• Goodnight Universe
• Hollow Knight: Silksong
• Human Fall Flat 2
• Marvel Cosmic Invasion
• NBA 2K
• No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files
• Professor Layton and the New World of Steam
• Project 007
• Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
• Reanimal
• Shadow Labyrinth
• Star Wars Outlaws
• Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions
• Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
• Tamagotchi Plaza
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4
• Two Point Museum
• WWE 2K
• Wild Hearts S
• Witchbrook