(Credit: Nintendo)
After an eternity of rumors and hearsay, Nintendo finally unveiled the Switch 2 this week with a reveal trailer that seemingly confirms many leaked hardware details, such as a larger screen, magnetic Joy-Con controllers, and mouse functionality.
More concrete information on price and power will be revealed during an April 2 Nintendo Direct showcase. All we can do now is speculate, but speculating is fun! The Switch 2 trailer didn't give us a lot of solid details about games for the upcoming console, so let’s talk about the titles we want to play on launch day.
(Credit: Nintendo)1. Mario Kart 9
The one game showcased in the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal trailer was the next Mario Kart (it could be 9 or 10, depending on how you count Mario Kart Tour). This makes sense, considering Mario Kart 8 Deluxe shattered Switch sales records. The video highlighted a slightly redesigned Donkey Kong more in line with the model featured in The Super Mario Bros. Movie. More exciting, the course appeared to have slots for up to 24 racers, twice as many as usual. So expect even more chaotic multiplayer fun. Hopefully, it's a launch title.
2. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Last year, Nintendo fully unveiled Metroid Prime 4: Beyond after first teasing it in 2017. The sci-fi shooter is headed to the current Switch, so we hope it will be a cross-gen Switch 2 game. Metroid Prime Remastered is gorgeous, and that was just developer Retro Studios' test run. Imagine Metroid Prime 4 with better visuals and mouse controls.
3. Kid Icarus Uprising HD
After the Switch 2 hits store shelves, Nintendo should release a steady trickle of games to maintain momentum. Remasters of older games are a great, easy way to maintain hype between blockbusters. So it’s time for Kid Icarus Uprising to break free from its 3DS jail. From Super Smash Bros. mastermind Masahiro Sakurai, Uprising was a surprise revival that combined aerial action with on-foot combat and a bonkers story. The only downside was the awkward touch-screen control scheme. So why not make a more beautiful Switch 2 version with mouse controllers?
4. A New Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing: New Horizons sold millions of copies and helped keep us sane during lockdown, but it didn't become the live service title many expected. A new Animal Crossing game should come to Switch 2 sooner rather than later and hopefully be supported throughout the system's life. More online social features built into the game or system would greatly enhance the experience. Hanging out with friends and animal villagers online should be seamless. We'd love to see the more urban elements of Animal Crossing: City Folk return, too.
5. A New 3D Mario Adventure
Aside from the excellent Bowser’s Fury spin-off, Nintendo hasn't released a full 3D Mario platformer since Super Mario Odyssey capped off the Switch’s amazing 2017 debut year. The easiest bet is that Switch 2 will receive a flagship Mario adventure at launch or during the holidays. Maybe a Donkey Kong team-up? Do we dare to dream of Super Mario Galaxy 3?
(Credit: Nintendo)6. Next-Gen Switch 1 Updates
The Switch 2 has full backward compatibility with original Switch games. You can’t throw away that incredible library and all 140 million players who invested in it. However, we're curious to see if the Switch 2's increased power can help those games run better. Free performance boosts would be nice, but if Nintendo wants to charge a few bucks for a substantial upgrade to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, that sounds great. Just don’t make us buy all our games again at full price.
7. Grand Theft Auto VI
The only gaming event that could overshadow the Switch 2's launch would be Rockstar following through on its promise to release Grand Theft Auto VI in 2025. The open-world crime epic is a guaranteed juggernaut for gaming and the entertainment economy at large. Nintendo should spend whatever money it takes and offer development support to ensure Grand Theft Auto VI gets a Switch 2 release.
8. Call of Duty
For its Activision purchase to be approved by the government, Microsoft committed to bringing Call of Duty to more platforms. So, the beloved military shooter series is basically confirmed for Switch 2. But what form will it take? Warzone? Ports of older games? Will Xbox Game Pass somehow be available? We'll have to wait and see.
9. Xbox Ports
As its Xbox hardware flounders, Microsoft is slowly pivoting to a massive third-party publisher with many acquired studios. The first Switch had Xbox ports, such as Grounded and Pentiment. We fully expect that to continue with Switch 2. Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves are safe predictions, but don't be surprised if Master Chief drops onto the Switch 2 via Halo ports.
10. Last Gen’s Biggest Epics
Rumors suggest that the Switch 2 will be as powerful as a PlayStation 4 or Steam Deck, so that should let the system run the biggest games of the past few years. Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, and Final Fantasy VII Remake would all be great titles to play or replay on the new system. This will be the Switch 2’s version of playing Skyrim on the go. No more cloud streaming!
11. Capcom's RE Engine Hits
Capcom has become one of the most exciting developers in the entire industry thanks partly to its RE Engine, a tool enabling efficient development. Basically, all Capcom games now run on that engine, and we want them on Switch 2. The Resident Evil remakes! Street Fighter 6! Monster Hunter Wilds! Okami 2! Switch 2 will be huge in the Japanese market, so support from Capcom is critical.
For more on Nintendo, check out our picks for the best Nintendo Switch games, best Nintendo Switch Lite games, and best Nintendo Switch games for kids.