Summary
It should only be a matter of months now until theNintendo Switch’s successor is officially revealed, but in the meantime, there’s still no concrete information about what games will be coming to the platform. For the moment, Nintendo is focusing on the final push of major releases for the Switch, momentum that should easily carry the company into the holiday season.
Despite the lack of announcements, however, there are still a lot of leaks about Switch 2 titles from reasonably reputable sources. Although any speculation has to be taken with a grain of salt, it’s definitely possible to get a general idea of what games to expect in the early days of the system. Fans of Nintendo’s biggest franchises should all have something to look forward to, and there are also a couple of third-party ports currently rumored for release.
I Can’t Wait For Switch 2 To Fix The One Thing The Original Switch Failed At
The Nintendo Switch is a great system, but it’s significantly lacking in one key regard that I want the Switch’s successor to directly address.
10Fire Emblem Might Get A Classic Remake
As far as Nintendo Switch 2 speculation goes,Fire Emblemdoesn’t have as much to go on as a lot of other first-party titles.There have been years of rumors surrounding a remake ofFire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War, however, the fourth game in the series that received widespread acclaim for its strong story and the scope of its campaign.
If the remake is real, it might be something that Nintendo’s just sitting on, so using it to push the Switch successor would make sense. Even if that doesn’t come to the console, it seems inevitable that something in theFire Emblemfranchise will.Fire Emblem: Three Houseswas a big success on the Switch, and althoughEngagereceived more praise for its mechanics than its lackluster story, fans are still hungry for another great entry.
9Switch Sports May Get A Successor
Nintendo Switch Sportsmay not have that special something thatWii Sportsdid, but it’s still a fun sports game package that makes good use of the Switch’s often neglected motion control capabilities. As indicated in aSwitch 2 leak from Midori, one alleged project title for a Switch 2 game is “Anna.” As the codename for the originalSwitch Sportswas “Elsa,” this could very well refer to a direct follow-up for the next platform.
Midori deleted their Twitter account after having their identity exposed in June, but although the persona behind the account was fake, a generally reliable leak history hasn’t been discredited.
There’s no news yet on what a possibleSwitch Sportssequel could entail, but there’s no shortage of opportunities for the game to take. Adding more sports and further fleshing out existing ones is the most obvious move, but not necessarily the most interesting. Shifting focus likeWii Sports Resortdid and embracing an extravaganza of unique activities could be a lot of fun and ultimately give more people a reason to care about the franchise.
8Mario Kart Is Due For A New Entry
The primary leak surrounding aMario Kartgame on the Switch 2 probably isn’t worth giving much credence to. According to a Blogspot post from leakerZippo, the nextMario Kartgame is planned for release in 2025. They claim that it’s a flagship title for graphical fidelity from Nintendo and will serve a key role in celebrating the 40th anniversary of theMariofranchise.
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Unfortunately, Zippo isn’t the most reliable of Nintendo leakers, and this isn’t the first time they’ve made claims about an upcomingMario Karttitle without much to back them up. Even so,it does seem inevitable that something in theMario Kartfranchise will eventually come to the system.Mario Kart 8 Deluxeis the highest-selling Nintendo Switch title of all time, so failing to follow it up would waste an extraordinary opportunity.
7Atlus & Sega Remakes Are Rumored For Switch 2
As reported byKotaku, another piece of information from Midori is that Atlus and Sega remakes are planned to release on the Switch 2, which could be great news for both JRPG fans and anyone with a fondness for some Sega classics of yesteryear. The Switch has its share ofPersonagames and other Sega titles, but it’s missing out on some that could be big sells.
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Persona 3 Reload is more than a re-release of an old game. It is an entirely new & unique experience that leads by example for other remasters.
Persona 3 Reload,which updates the original game more thoroughly than thePersona 3 Portableport available on the Nintendo Switch, seems like a major one to expect on the Switch 2. According to Midori,Atlus is working on more remakes of olderPersonatitles as well. Some revivals of classic franchises currently in the works should also be on their way, likeJet Set RadioandCrazy Taxi.
6The Bayonetta Trilogy Could Get A New Release
A re-release ofBayonettagames might not be the most exciting Switch 2 offering, as the complete trilogy is already available in one place on the original Switch. All the same, it does seem like there’s something in the works that’s intended to provide a better experience than simply playing the games through backward compatibility. LeakerNWeedlereported that an upcoming trilogy release on Twitter back in December 2023, making this one of the earlier rumors about potential Switch 2 releases.
According to NWeedle,the Switch 2 version will add graphical and performance enhancements, including the introduction of HDR, which isn’t supported on the original Switch. It should also be a cheaper way to dive into the series, with all three games being included in one package, although whether they’ll all feature on one cart hasn’t yet been clarified.
5Pokémon Gen 10 Is On Its Way
If any one thing is certain in the world of Nintendo, it’s that thePokémonfranchise will keep trucking along, and new games would essentially be a lock for the Switch 2 even without any leaks. As luck would have it though,there’s also some actual corroboration in reports of titles being developed for the next console. A May 2024 leak indicated that threePokémontitles for the Switch 2are already in the works, although it didn’t confirm the nature of the projects.
The most obvious inclusion among the titles would be the 10th generation entries of the mainline franchise, following the 2022 release ofPokémon Scarlet and Violetfor the Switch. Another leak from May points to a2026 launch forPokémonGen 10, breaking the three-year release cycle that’s been consistent since Gen 5. The gap definitely points to a Switch 2 release, and with some luck, the extended development cycle could lead to a less buggy and more complete game at launch.
4Animal Crossing May Return In 2026
The Switch titleAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsrepresented a major new height in sales for Nintendo’s life simulation franchise, so a successor for the Switch 2 seems like a no-brainer. According to a tweet fromNWeedle,the next entry is currently set for a 2026 release, which would definitely slot it in as a Switch 2 title.
10 Animal Crossing: New Horizons Missing Features That Should Be Added In The Game’s Sequel
Animal Crossing: New Horizons isn’t the perfect Animal Crossing game, but something that builds on its strengths might be able to take the crown.
Animal Crossinghas undergone a number of significant evolutions over its history, and if the leak is accurate, the new title might be shaking things up in the biggest way yet. The tweet mentions a large city with skyscrapers, which would be a turn from the generally quaint settings of previous games even if it’s only used for shopping or multiplayer components. Mini-games and a “more collaborative"multiplayer experience should appeal to anyone who ultimately foundNew Horizonslacking.
3Splatoon 4 Is Probably On Its Way
The biggest dark horse success of the Wii U era might beSplatoon, and the Switch has turned the hit game into a powerhouse franchise with two popular sequels. AnotherSwitch 2 leak from Midorifalls under the codename “Spiral,” and Midori considers it likely that this project isSplatoon 4.WithSplatoon 3having released in 2022,it seems likely that the next game in the series will be exclusive to the Switch 2.
The core concepts ofSplatoongameplay largely remain the same from title to title, so anyone already familiar with the unique ink-based twist on an online team shooter experience more or less knows what to expect. AnotherSplatoongame should add a new campaign and refresh the list of stages, modes, and weapons, although whether it will make use of new hardware in any big way remains to be seen.
2A Twilight Princess Remaster Supposedly Exists
There’s no doubt that theZeldaseries will make an appearance on the Nintendo Switch’s successor, and the current front-runner for an early title on the platform seems to be a remastered port ofThe Legend of Zelda:Twilight Princess. BothTwilight PrincessandThe Wind Wakerwere originally freshened up for the Wii U, but neither remaster has ever made its way to the Switch, much to the frustration of loyal fans.
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Once again, speculation that aTwilight Princessremaster is slated for the Switch 2 can be credited to Midori. The codename in question is “Edward,” which would pair with “Richard,” the name used during the development of theLink’s Awakeningremake.Midori has also alleged that aTwilight Princessremake has already been completed at Nintendo, so it makes since for the leaker to connect the two.
1A 3D Super Mario Should Show Up On Switch 2
Seven years into the Switch’s lifespan,Super Mario Odysseyremains one of the system’s defining games as an expansive adventure starring Nintendo’s most iconic mascot. Some other majorMarioreleases have hit the Switch since, but another 3D mainline entry is starting to feel overdue. Releasing one early into the lifespan of the Switch 2 could make for a strong system seller.
This one is likely to connect to an “SPRed” project mentioned in Midori leaks, asSuper Mario Odysseywas originally under the name RedStar. A new game could be either a direct sequel toOdysseyor another shakeup to the 3DMarioformula. Either way, the games have a strong enough track record that it’s almost certain to be a good time, and it’s a definite standout among the potential library of leaked games for theNintendo Switch2.
