Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Titles Wish List – First and Third-Party Games We Hope to See on Day 1

After months of speculation and rumors, Nintendo finally put its cards on the table with the official reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2 on January 16, 2025. Interestingly, the official reveal of the console and the physical form factor of the device matched up fairly well with many of the purported leaks and rumors leading up to Nintendo's announcement, giving weight to some of the other rumors regarding the new console's launch lineup. Along with the expected reveal of more information during Nintendo's April 2, 2025 Direct presentation, retailers have begun to leak listings showcasing that the Switch 2 launch titles will be a veritable "who's who" of first and third-party hits. We already know about the next Mario Kart from Nintendo's reveal, but players are in store for a lot more.

One of the most surprising developments (or, not that surprising if you've been paying attention to Microsoft's track record as of late) is the arrival of several formerly Xbox-exclusive titles on the Switch 2, which have been rumored to be Day-1 releases from reliable inside sources. Outside the handful of games from Microsoft and Microsoft-owned studios, though, there are some noteworthy expected Switch 2 launch titles that will certainly see the console coming out the gate strong, arriving with some of the most beloved games of the last 2 years. The Switch helped pave the way for the boom in handheld PC gaming, and it appears that the Switch 2 won't be pulling any punches to remain at the top of the handheld gaming hierarchy when it arrives later in 2025.

Third-Party Titles

• Developer — Bethesda Game Studios
• Publisher — Bethesda Softworks
• Review Aggregate Score — 83% (Generally Favorable)
• User Score (Metacritic) — 68% (Mixed or Average)
• User Score (Steam) — 58% (Mixed)
• Leaked/Rumored — Yes

The recent leak of Microsoft games that will purportedly be heading to Switch 2 includes quite a few high-profile titles, including Bethesda's Starfield. While many other Microsoft-owned properties have made their way to competing platforms (such as Diablo and Call of Duty already existing as multi-platform releases), Starfield has yet to make its way to the PlayStation 5, which would make its place as a Switch 2 launch title all the more noteworthy. Better yet, Starfield is practically begging for a handheld-friendly version. Players can currently go through some hoops to get the title running on Steam Deck, but having a dedicated Switch 2 port would likely be more ideal. PlayStation owners are getting Bethesda and MachineGames' excellent Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, so perhaps Switch 2 owners will get the other side of the coin with Starfield.

• Developer — Bethesda Game Studios
• Publisher — Bethesda Softworks
• Review Aggregate Score — 87% (Generally Favorable)
• User Score (Metacritic) — 70% (Mixed or Average)
• User Score (Steam) — 83% (Very Positive)
• Leaked/Rumored — Yes

Another Bethesda title reportedly making its way to the Switch 2 is Fallout 4. Both Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas have long been on the port wish list for the original Switch, especially given how well The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim runs on the hardware (not to mention it being one of the flagship third-party titles for the handheld at launch). Compared to Starfield, porting Fallout 4 to the Switch 2 seems like a no-brainer, especially since it's already available on all major platforms save for Nintendo. While Fallout 4's main story leaves a bit to be desired, the game is second to none when it comes to base-building, side quests, and exploration, and it's a perfect Switch 2 launch game considering the Fallout franchise's current boost in popularity and absence on the original Switch.

• Developer — Bandai Namco Studios
• Publisher — Bandai Namco Entertainment
• Review Aggregate Score — 90% (Universal Acclaim)
• User Score (Metacritic) — 76% (Generally Favorable)
• User Score (Steam) — 70% (Mostly Positive)
• Leaked/Rumored — Yes

One of the more surprising leaks from retailers includes a Switch 2 release of Tekken 8. Not only is Tekken 8 a visual tour-de-force, its file size is also well over 100GB. Considering the standard Switch cartridge can only hold a max of 32GB, the presence of Tekken 8 on the next generation of Nintendo hardware raises some interesting ideas regarding its storage and physical media formats. Will the Switch 2 be getting a new cartridge style with greater storage capacity? Or will the increased onboard storage of the Switch 2's motherboard lead to a greater emphasis on digital releases? Both are questions that we'll likely get answers to on April 2. But for now, the potential to have any Tekken game at all on the Switch 2 is a blessing, much less the phenomenal Tekken 8.

• Developer — FromSoftware
• Publisher — Bandai Namco Entertainment, FromSoftware
• Review Aggregate Score — 96% (Universal Acclaim)
• User Score (Metacritic) — 82% (Generally Favorable)
• User Score (Steam) — 92% (Very Positive)
• Leaked/Rumored — Yes

Along with Tekken 8, one of the rumored Bandai Namco titles to be coming to Switch 2 is FromSoftware's Elden Ring. Elden Ring making its way to the Switch 2 is practically a guarantee given how successful Dark Souls Remastered was on the original Switch, and it could serve as a major killer app for the console on launch since the original Switch was the only platform to miss out on its original release. There's not much we could say about Elden Ring that hasn't already been said, but the fact remains it's one of the greatest games of all time, and certainly a contender for the greatest action RPG ever made. With any luck, the rumored Switch 2 version will come as a "Complete" edition that includes the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

• Developer — Square Enix
• Publisher — Square Enix
• Review Aggregate Score — 92% (Universal Acclaim)
• User Score (Metacritic) — 89% (Generally Favorable)
• Leaked/Rumored — No

One game that has yet to circle the rumor mill, but that would be wholly welcome on the Switch 2, is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. However, it's important to keep expectations in check on this one. Rebirth's performance on the base PS5 leaves a bit to be desired, and chances are the Switch 2 won't be quite as powerful as Sony's flagship console. That said, Nintendo is known for being able to "squeeze blood from a stone" when it comes to getting technically demanding games to run on less powerful hardware, and there's a strong possibility that both Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth will end up on the console. Especially so given another title on this list rumored to be a timed exclusive on the Switch 2. Either way, it would be great to see the game land on even more platforms, handheld or otherwise.

• Developer — Blizzard Entertainment
• Publisher — Blizzard Entertainment
• Review Aggregate Score — 86% (Generally Favorable)
• User Score (Metacritic) — 25% (Generally Unfavorable)
• User Score (Steam) — 71% (Mostly Positive)
• Leaked/Rumored — Yes

One of the least surprising titles rumored to make its way to the Switch 2 is Diablo IV. Both Diablo III and Diablo II Resurrected were successful on the original Switch, and the Switch 2 stands to be the perfect home for the series' latest entry. Of course, Nintendo will need to show that the Switch 2 has improved online infrastructure compared to the original Switch to make Diablo IV on the hardware an enticing proposition, as it's always-online, live-service nature demands that any platform running it have a persistent and reliable connection to the Internet. Expect Diablo IV on the Switch 2 to launch in a similar state to the Diablo III Eternal Collection on the original Switch, including both the base game and the Vessel of Hatred expansion along with some extra Switch-exclusive cosmetics and other bonuses. Here's hoping it has crossplay with other platforms.

• Developer — Bungie, 343 Industries
• Publisher — Xbox Game Studios
• Review Aggregate Score — 91% (Universal Acclaim)
• User Score (Metacritic) — 78% (Generally Favorable)
• User Score (Steam) — 92% (Very Positive)
• Leaked/Rumored — Yes

Like Starfield, Halo: The Master Chief Collection coming to the Switch 2 would be a big deal. Not only has Halo traditionally been limited to Xbox platforms and PC, but the Master Chief Collection is commonly understood as one of the best game collections ever compiled, bringing together over a decade of the Halo franchise to collectively represent the best that first-person shooters of the era had to offer. However, similar to the prospect of Diablo IV on Switch 2, a Switch 2 port of Halo: The Master Chief Collection would see Nintendo needing to seriously overhaul its online multiplayer services on the new hardware. We know nothing about how Nintendo either will or won't improve online functionality with the Switch 2, but the rumored arrival of several multiplayer-focused third-party titles (Halo included) seems to point to a massive overhaul in the Switch 2's online services over the original Switch.

• Developer — Virtuous, Konami
• Publisher — Konami
• Leaked/Rumored — Yes

Almost immediately after Nintendo officially revealed the Switch 2, rumors began floating that the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 3 remake, Metal Gear Solid Delta, would be arriving on the console. While neither Nintendo nor Konami have yet to confirm or deny these rumors, the prospect of Metal Gear Solid Delta launching simultaneously across all major platforms is telling regarding the Switch 2's power. Screenshots of MGS Delta show it to include a massive visual uplift over the original while keeping the core gameplay intact, and the Switch 2 would probably need to have some pretty impressive specs to efficiently run the title.

Having this new version of Snake Eater on the go could fill a crucial gap in the Switch 2's rumored launch library with a one-two punch of both a strong video game remake and an excellent action stealth title. As long as the Switch 2 version doesn't need to make too many concessions over its PS5 and Xbox Series counterparts, it could be a perfect platform for Naked Snake's mission in the jungles of Russia.

• Developer — Capcom
• Publisher — Capcom
• Leaked/Rumored — Yes

One of the more exciting leaks to come out in just the last few days is a rumored Switch 2-exclusive remake of Resident Evil 0. Originally a timed exclusive on the GameCube, Resident Evil 0 is a bit of a polarizing entry in the franchise, and it's one that arguably deserves a second shot with audiences via a modern remake. Capcom has been picking through the Resident Evil series' history for some excellent remakes over the last several years, and the release of 2023's Resident Evil 4 remake sees only a few possible candidates left remaining. Interestingly enough, Capcom's silence on the Resident Evil franchise could point to there being multiple projects currently in the works, with the rumored Resident Evil 0 remake launching exclusively on Switch 2 while other consoles get a remake of Resident Evil 5 or CODE: Veronica.

• Developer — Square Enix
• Publisher — Square Enix
• Leaked/Rumored — Yes

Another recent leak seems to point toward the long-rumored remake of Final Fantasy IX being a timed Switch 2 launch title. Evidence of a Final Fantasy IX remake being in development dates back to the infamous Nvidia leak from several years back, and those rumors have only continued to circle and pick up in intensity in the intervening years.

The most recent reports from reliable insiders seem to suggest that Final Fantasy IX's remake will be one of the titles that Nintendo includes in its April 2 Nintendo Direct focusing on the Switch 2 and that it will be a full ground-up remake that modernizes and reimagines the title but in a smaller, more faithful scale to the original than the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy. FFIX is one of the most beloved entries in the franchise for a reason, and an exclusive remake on the Switch 2 would be a huge win for the console.

Though the rest of the titles on this list are only here because of rumors and leaks, the next Mario Kart is the one Switch 2 title we know for sure exists. Revealed as part of Nintendo's official announcement of the Switch 2, the next Mario Kart game (which we assume will be Mario Kart 9) is already looking amazing. Side-by-side comparisons between it and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe show that there are some massive graphical leaps between one of the original Switch's best launch titles and what many expect will be a launch game for the Switch 2, opening the floodgates for speculation on what players can expect from the new console's power and performance. Since the original Mario Kart on Super Nintendo, there hasn't been a Nintendo console without a new entry, and the launch of the Switch 2 wouldn't feel complete without Mario Kart 9

Along with all the third-party Switch 2 titles that have been leaked by retailers is a long-awaited remaster from Nintendo's catalog of first-party titles. Though it's simply labeled as "The Legend of Zelda Remake/Remaster", all signs seem to point to the Wii U HD versions of The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess finally arriving on a new generation of hardware via the Switch 2. Notably, the original Switch is already the de facto home of the Zelda franchise, having more games in the series available on the platform than any other Nintendo console. Considering that the Switch 2 will be backward compatible with Switch software, the arrival of Wind Waker and Twilight Princess on the console would see it housing every mainline Zelda game. That's reason enough to buy the console in my book.

Another title already confirmed by Nintendo to arrive in 2025 is Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. However, the company has been conspicuously tight-lipped on whether the game will launch as a cross-platform title. Metroid Prime 4 has had a notoriously drawn-out and complicated development, changing developers before eventually landing back in the hands of series creators and stewards Retro Studios. Though the title is now back on track to launch on the Switch sometime this year, the timing lines up for it to launch as both a Switch game and as a Switch 2-enhanced launch title for Nintendo's new hardware.

In addition to the known release window of Metroid Prime 4, there are also the rumored remasters of both Metroid Prime 2: Echoes and Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, which could also arrive as either cross-platform releases or Switch 2 launch titles. As with the Zelda series, having all 4 Metroid Prime games available on the Switch 2 either through console-exclusive games or backward compatibility with the original Switch would be a major boon for Metroid fans and a strong killer app for the hardware.

Though Pokemon Legends ZA was revealed quite some time ago, Nintendo has yet to reveal anything substantial for the title other than an animated trailer. Still, that hasn't stopped the Pokemon faithful from theorizing about what the game might entail, including what platforms it will release on. Like Metroid Prime 4, there's a strong chance that Pokemon Legends ZA will launch as a cross-platform title both on the original Switch and the Switch 2. It's worth noting that this also lines up with leaks from retailers suggesting a "Pokemon" SKU in the Switch 2's software lineup at launch.

The first Pokemon Legends game, Arceus, was an exciting deviation from the standard Pokemon formula and a great action RPG set in the Pokemon universe. Nintendo has never timed the launch of a console with a new game in the Pokemon series, which is surprising considering how successful the franchise is. A surefire way to see Switch 2 sales figures skyrocket soon after launch would be to have a new Pokemon game planned to arrive right alongside it, and Pokemon Legends ZA just might fit that bill.

Another rumored launch title for the Switch 2 is the mysterious "New 3D Mario" leaked by retailers, which some insiders suggest is the long-awaited next game in the Super Mario Galaxy series. Notably, this would be the first time that a Nintendo console launched with a sequel to an existing era of 3D Mario titles rather than receiving its own, singular new take on the character. Still, both Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are two of the best 3D Mario games ever, and the Switch release of Super Mario 3D All-Stars proved that their gameplay works great without the motion controls of the Wii.

While it would be preferable to see Nintendo release a brand-new 3D Mario title that pushed the series' traditionally creative envelope beyond the innovations of Super Mario Odyssey, any new Mario game arriving with the console at launch would be a guaranteed way to get fans on board. At the very least, having a new Nintendo console with Mario, Zelda, and Metroid games available at launch would amount to capturing lightning in a bottle.