All the Games Coming to the Nintendo Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 is quite a bit different than the OG Switch: The Joy-Cons are beefier and connect via magnets; when docked, the console supports 4K 60fps output; and you can finally charge the console when playing in tabletop mode. But at the end of the day, what matters most about a new console like the Switch 2 is the games: If there’s nothing new to play, what’s the point?

Of course, Nintendo shared a number of Switch 2 exclusives during its big Direct on Wednesday. This isn’t a repeat of the Nintendo 3DS launch: There are games to play if you buy a Switch 2 on day one. But there are also a number of interesting titles coming soon and later this year. (There’s even a new From Soft title coming in 2026!)

Games launching the same day as Nintendo Switch 2

a cow grinding on a rail in mario kart world
Whoa.
Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube

Nintendo Switch 2 launches on June 5. While many of the games announced today do not launch alongside the console, there are also many that do—including Mario Kart World.

True to its name, this game offers an open-world Mario Kart experience. You can drive around the world, with friends, as you travel to different races. Not that every game needs to be open-world, but this one’s kind of a no brainer. It just seems like fun to drive around a giant Mario Kart map. You don’t even need to drive anywhere in particular: Nintendo encourages you to drive around leisurely, taking selfies as you do.

Of course, the core gameplay is still the same: Race other drivers around a track. But now, you can compete in races with up to 24 people at a time, and part of the competition is driving to the next race. There’s even a new “Knockout Tour,” where you race non-stop from one side of the map to the other. If you pass through a checkpoint in too low a position, you’re eliminated. Plus, you can bounce off walls like Mario in a platformer, grind on rails, and play as a cow, for some reason.

Here are the rest of the games that you can play on launch day:

Upcoming Nintendo titles

There are a number of first-party games and upgrades Nintendo announced during its presentation that won’t be ready for launch on June 5.

Drag X Drive (Summer 2025)

drag x drive

Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube

This is an entirely new game for Nintendo. Drag X Drive is wheelchair basketball that uses the new mouse controls on the Switch 2 Joy-Cons. You can push both controllers forward, as your character pushes both wheels forward on their wheelchair. You can also swing the Joy-Con to throw a basket, similar to the experience with Wii Sports.

Donkey Kong Bananza (TBA)

donkey kong bananza

Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube

After a number of remasters, Donkey Kong is finally getting a new game. This was the last announcement of the Direct, and was worth the wait: Bananza looks like Donkey Kong‘s version of Super Mario Odyssey—3D platforming in an open environment (though I’m not sure if it’s “open world.”) The biggest difference? You smash your way through just about anything you can see in the world.

Hyrule Warriors Age of Imprisonment (Winter 2025)

age of imprisonment

Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube

This is the third entry in the Hyrule Warriors series, and takes place prior to the events of Tears of the Kingdom. I won’t go into spoiler territory here, but you will get to play out the events of the Imprisoning War, and even get to play as Zelda.

Kirby Air Riders (2025)

Kirby air riders

Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube

It looks like we’re finally getting a sequel to 2003’s Kirby Air Ride. We don’t have a lot of details yet, other than seeing stars, bikes, and space ships as rideable vehicles. But Kirby Air Riders is directed by Masahiro Sakurai, the creator of both Kirby and Super Smash Bros., which bodes well.

Nintendo Switch 2 Editions

Like other consoles, Nintendo is now offering Switch 2 users upgraded versions of certain Switch 1 titles. These can include better visuals, faster performance, or new features that take advantage of the Switch 2’s controllers. These upgrades include:

GameCube games

Nintendo Switch Online is finally adding support for GameCube games—but only for Nintendo Switch 2. (Why my 2017 Nintendo Switch is incompatible with games that ran on a system from 2001 is beyond me, but I digress.) In addition to the three aforementioned GameCube titles that will be available at launch, here’s what’s coming down the line, none of which have release dates yet:

Third-party titles

third party game collage

Credit: Nintendo of America/YouTube

Nintendo ran through a number of third-party titles that are making their way to Switch 2. They include: