With the Nintendo Switch 2 on the horizon, speculation is rife about its launch titles. While an official lineup remains elusive, we can make some educated guesses based on Nintendo's history and recent announcements. Some predictions are practically certain, while others represent hopeful wishes for exciting new releases from beloved indie developers.
Genki Nintendo Switch 2 Mockup Images from CES 2025
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While expecting all these games on day one is optimistic, even half would make for a stellar launch. Here's our hopeful (and somewhat realistic) prediction for the Switch 2's launch lineup:
Likely Candidates:
- Mario Kart 9: A new entry in this hugely successful franchise is almost guaranteed. Rumors suggest a "new twist" is in store, promising fresh innovation while retaining the series' core appeal. A Switch 2 launch title would be a powerful system seller.
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New 3D Super Mario: The Switch's relative lack of 3D Mario titles makes a new installment highly probable. Expect inventive level design, new abilities, and plenty of collectibles. Pairing this with Mario Kart 9 would be a dream launch.
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Metroid Prime 4: Beyond: After years of anticipation and a developer change, this title is nearing completion. Its smooth gameplay suggests it might be optimized for the Switch 2's capabilities, making a launch-day release quite plausible.
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Enhanced: Backward compatibility is likely, but enhanced versions leveraging the Switch 2's power (potentially 4K and improved framerates) would be a welcome addition.
Possible Contenders:
- Ring Fit Adventure 2: The success of the original suggests a sequel is possible, showcasing the Switch 2's motion control capabilities. A launch-day release is less certain, but it would be a fitting quirky addition.
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Resident Evil 4 Remake: The Switch's original hardware couldn't handle this graphically demanding title, but the Switch 2 might. A launch-day release is less likely, but it would demonstrate the console's capabilities.
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Doom: The Dark Ages: With previous Doom titles on Switch and Microsoft's cross-platform strategy, this is a possibility, though dependent on release timing.
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The Haunted Chocolatier: A launch-day release is unlikely given the developer's recent comments, but a launch-year release is more plausible.
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Earthblade: This sequel to Celeste could potentially launch with the Switch 2, but a 2025 release is more realistic than a day-one launch.
Ultimately, the Switch 2's launch lineup will be a mix of anticipated sequels and exciting new titles. The possibilities are vast, and the anticipation is palpable.
