The Nintendo Switch 2 is releasing on June 5, 2025. One of the launch titles for the Nintendo Switch 2 is Mario Kart World, which features new playable characters, cars, and dynamic costumes. The game also includes a semi-open-world racing mode, like Forza Horizon, and has a free roam mode, similar to Diddy Kong Racing.
Another launch title is Street Fighter 6, which will include new modes and amiibo figure and card support. There is also Survival Kids, a fresh multiplayer-oriented installment in the Survival Kids series, available on launch day, with a new survival experience featuring fishing and exploration gameplay.
The Switch 2 will also feature upgraded versions of hit games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, which will have better frame rates and HDR support.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is another awaited game, with both Quality Mode and Performance Mode having HDR support, so players can select between 4K at 60 fps or full HD at 120 fps. Pokémon Legends: Z-A will also release on the Switch 2, with higher resolution and frame rates, later in 2025.
Third-party support for the Switch 2 is strong, with games such as Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, featuring the base game and Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, and Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut, a definitive version of the award-winning crime drama with new online multiplayer modes.
Borderlands 4 and Hades II are also arriving on the console in 2025, with a combination of action RPG and roguelike experiences. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 brings back retro skateboarding action with new skaters and parks, and Sid Meier’s Civilization VII makes use of the Switch 2 mouse controls for strategic gameplay.
The Switch 2 will also be home to exclusive titles that take advantage of its new features. Drag x Drive, a wheelchair basketball game, takes advantage of the Joy-Con’s mouse feature for sensitive control in 3v3 online games.
Kirby Air Riders, a racing-action game based on the GameCube classic, will have Kirby and friends competing in racing on special machines.
Top 5 Nintendo Switch 2 Games Announced So Far
1. Mario Kart World
Mario Kart World is the first major release in the series since Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which launched on the Nintendo Switch back in 2017.
The new game is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 and is an evolution for the series. The title was officially announced during the April 2, 2025, Nintendo Direct presentation, together with a gameplay trailer that showed its new direction for the classic series.
Game Info:
- Game Name: Mario Kart World
- Release Date: June 5, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 launch title)
- Developer: Nintendo
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Genre: Kart Racing
- Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
- Price: $80 standalone or part of a $500 Switch 2 bundle
One of the aspects of Mario Kart World is its open-world structure. Contrary to previous titles, drivers can go off-road and traverse huge environments outside of races.
Each Grand Prix now involves racing from one course to another. This integration of free-roaming aspects into standard kart racing is a bold step away from the series’ linear track structure.
The game adds weather conditions and time-of-day variations that influence both the look and play of every race. For instance, rain can cause tracks to become slippery, while nighttime races may include lighted courses for visual enhancement.
Players are now able to do advanced stunts like rail grinding, wall-bouncing, and even racing over water on jet skis. These mechanics introduce complexity to the game, and each race is now unpredictable.
Mario Kart World can accommodate as many as 24 players in online multiplayer races, double the previous games in the series. The new feature guarantees more disorganized races.
Characters can be customized by players with numerous hats, clothing, and other cosmetic options. Vehicle customization has also been upgraded, enabling drivers to tweak their karts for certain terrains or modes of racing.
The game features a Free Roam mode for casual exploration with friends and a Knockout Tour mode where one needs to sustain a minimum ranking not to get knocked out on global race tours.
The Mario Kart franchise has been a mainstay of Nintendo’s game roster since its release in 1992 on the SNES with Super Mario Kart.
It has grown over the years to become one of the highest-selling video game franchises in history, with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe itself selling more than 75 million copies worldwide.
2. Elden Ring Tarnished Edition
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is a landmark moment for Nintendo as it introduces FromSoftware’s critically praised open-world RPG to the Switch 2 console.
Game Info:
- Game Name: Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition
- Release Date: 2025 (exact date TBD)
- Developer: FromSoftware
- Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Genre: Action Role-Playing Game (RPG)
- Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
It was released in 2022, Elden Ring became one of the highly regarded games ever, picking up numerous Game of the Year awards and boasting commercial success.
Its release on the Switch 2 marks an advancement for Nintendo’s hardware performance, as the initial Switch didn’t have the capability to support such a highly technical game.
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition is a bundle package containing the base game and its acclaimed Shadow of the Erdtree DLC. The expansion introduces new regions, bosses, and lore to the already vast Lands Between.
The Tarnished Edition also brings new exclusive content in the form of new armor sets (four pieces confirmed), weapons, and customization options for Torrent.
Playing Elden Ring on the go was only possible with high-end hardware such as Steam Decks or handheld PCs. With its release on Switch 2, players can enjoy this masterpiece without spending a fortune on hardware.
Though performance optimizations remain unspecified, followers would like to know how the game performs on Switch 2’s improved hardware. If it has stable frame rates at 30 FPS or adds new modes such as 60 FPS is something that needs to be seen.
The reveal of Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition during the April 2, 2025 Nintendo Direct has created quite a buzz among fans.
Not only does this release highlight Nintendo Switch 2’s capability to support ambitious third-party games but also expands the audience for FromSoftware by making their magnum opus accessible to Nintendo gamers.
Also Read: Top 5 Nintendo Switch Sports Games of All Time (2025)
3. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is the next installment in the Metroid Prime series, originally announced at E3 2017. It has been several years of doubt and a total reboot of development in 2019 by Retro Studios, but the game is now slated to arrive in 2025.
Game Info:
- Game Name: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
- Release Date: 2025 (exact date TBD)
- Developer: Retro Studios
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Producer: Kensuke Tanabe
- Genre: Action-Adventure
- Platform: Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2
- Mode: Single-player
It will restore the classic first-person exploration and combat gameplay that is synonymous with the series, along with some new gameplay mechanics and story aspects in an effort to appease fans.
The game is set on the alien jungle world Viewros, where hero Samus Aran has to survive and discover secrets after Phazon has been destroyed. The narrative introduces Sylux, a competing bounty hunter who commands Space Pirates in an attack on a Galactic Federation research station.
Sylux’s introduction as the villain enhances the story since players have to contend with new challenges in a world full of hostile groups.
Samus will also receive ancient psychic abilities, which are an important part of gameplay and story advancement. These powers enable her to control mechanisms, direct shots, and solve puzzles, a new element to her arsenal in addition to traditional tools such as the Morph Ball, Missile Launcher, and Scan Visor.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond features psychic powers as a main gameplay element. They can be employed by the players to engage with the world, open doors, and manipulate beams in battles.
Series fans will be thrilled to experience classic elements such as scanning beasts, lock-on targeting for foes, and open-ended exploration through a 3D map. These elements guarantee that Beyond stays true to its predecessors while innovating with new mechanics.
The game is mapped to utilize the best of both the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Initial teasers show great graphics with cinematic flair, at a silky smooth 60 fps.
Originally developed by Bandai Namco Studios, Metroid Prime 4 took a transformation when Nintendo scrapped development in January 2019 and restarted the process under Retro Studios because of quality issues.
Retro Studios has worked on this installment with producer Kensuke Tanabe. The title Beyond was officially announced at the June 2024 Nintendo Direct along with a trailer featuring Samus’s landing on Viewros and her battles with alien factions.
4. Kirby Air Riders
Kirby Air Riders is a spiritual sequel to the Kirby Air Ride, which was first released on the Nintendo GameCube back in 2003. Directed by Masahiro Sakurai, the new title will look to revamp the racing-action formula and bring the fun and accessibility of the original into the modern age. Kirby Air Riders announced during the April 2025 Nintendo Direct.
Game Info:
- Game Name: Kirby Air Riders
- Release Date: 2025 (exact date TBD)
- Developer: HAL Laboratory
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Director: Masahiro Sakurai
- Genre: Racing/Action
- Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
Kirby Air Riders has Kirby and his friends competing on varied environments using different vehicles, including Warp Stars, Wheelies, and new customizable cars.
Each vehicle has its own characteristics, including speed, maneuverability, and special power, so players can select cars based on their preference.
The game features online multiplayer for 12 players, allowing competitive racing and cooperative challenges. Local multiplayer is also supported.
Kirby Air Riders adds an Adventure Mode in which players drive around open-world maps to fulfill tasks, uncover hidden items, and unlock new vehicles and characters.
Players are free to customize their vehicles with different skins, accessories, and performance enhancements. These customization options increase the depth of gameplay and invite experimentation with different configurations.
Taking advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2’s power, Kirby Air Riders features colorful graphics with lighting effects and silky smooth animations. The game’s colorful appearance is just right for its lighthearted tone.
5. Street Fighter 6
Street Fighter 6 will debut on Nintendo Switch 2 as part of the console’s launch lineup. Released in June 2023 on other consoles initially, the title was met with massive support for its new mechanics, colorful cast of characters, and built online multiplayer support.
Game Info:
- Game Name: Street Fighter 6
- Release Date: June 5, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2 launch title)
- Developer: Capcom
- Publisher: Capcom
- Genre: Fighting
- Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
- Mode: Single-player, Multiplayer
The Switch 2 release of Street Fighter 6 is likely to include enhanced graphics and frame rates, capitalizing on the console’s improved hardware.
Although the original game played well on high-performance systems, the Switch 2 port is likely to maintain its visual quality while providing smooth gameplay.
One of the features unique to this iteration is amiibo figure and card support. Amiibo can be used to unlock special costumes, in-game rewards, or even exclusive character interactions.
The Switch 2 launch will see all the previously released DLC from the first two years of Street Fighter 6, including new characters, stages, and cosmetics. This way, players are given a complete experience from the start.
The game is designed to be optimized for the Joy-Con 2 controllers, which provide mouse-like accuracy and adjustable button configurations. These aspects are suitable for casual gamers as well as competitive gamers seeking control during matches.
Gameplay and Modes:
- World Tour Mode: A single-player campaign in which players design custom avatars and navigate a semi-open world and learn skills from legendary fighters.
- Battle Hub: A digital multiplayer hub in which players may play tournaments, chat with fellow gamers, or play arcade-like battles.
- Classic Fighting Mode: Classic one-vs-one gameplay with a cast of more than 20 characters including fan favorites such as Ryu, Chun-Li, and Ken alongside new recruits Luke and Jamie.
The Street Fighter series has been the pillar of fighting game genre since 1987. It has a history of more than three decades and has remained at the front of competitive gaming and esports with continuous setting of standards.
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