Our Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Game Predictions

With the Nintendo Switch 2 finally officially revealed, it’s time to guess what games will join it when it launches later this year.

We have a few months before the April 2nd Nintendo Direct when we’ll see the upcoming lineup games. That’s plenty of time to guess and hypothesize about what the Switch launch lineup will look like.

As a frame of reference, here are the day-one launch games for Nintendo Switch in North America back on March 3rd, 2017:

• 1-2-Switch
• Just Dance 2017
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• Skylanders: Imaginators
• Super Bomberman R
• I Am Setsuna
• Snipperclips
• Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove
• Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment
• Fast RMX

With that out of the way, here are our Nintendo Switch 2 launch game predictions.

10 Mario Kart 9

The only confirmed Switch 2 game

The only game that appeared in the Nintendo Switch 2 reveal, Mario Kart 9 feels like a shoo-in as a launch game.

Despite not being a day-one title, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was released during the Switch’s launch window. It remained a top-selling video game for Nintendo Switch and the industry as a whole since its debut.

Our brief glimpse at the newest Mario Kart game hints at the possibility of 24-player races, which is exciting regardless of how chaotic they will be. I imagine we’ll learn more about the next Mario Kart game in just a few months.

9 Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Back in style

While Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is still labeled as a Nintendo Switch game, this is not the first time a Nintendo game has launched for its new console at the same time as its predecessor.

Both Breath of the Wild and Twilight Princess launched on two consoles simultaneously.

Given the lack of concrete details about Metroid Prime 4 beyond its brief trailer during a Nintendo Direct last year, don’t be shocked if Samus Aran pulls double duty on two consoles.

There’s a chance it’s a swan song for the Nintendo Switch, but it makes too much sense to also appear on the Switch 2, taking advantage of its hardware.

8 Legend of Zelda Remasters

Is it finally time?

One of the worst-keptsecrets is that Nintendo is sitting on remasters for Wind Waker and Twilight Princess.

Fans were shocked not to see them released as part of the 35th anniversary of the Zelda franchise. With the surprise shadow drop of Metroid Prime Remastered in 2023, Zelda fans were waiting for the same to happen with Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD.

It’s possible that they’re released before the Switch 2’s launch date. Given the strength of the Zelda franchise today, I’d be shocked if they don’t cash in with a launch day Zelda releases two consoles in a row. It’d also be three out of the past four, dating back to the Nintendo Wii.

7 Pokémon Legends: Z-A

A world of adventure awaits

Despite a 2025 release date, Pokémon Legends: Z-A isn’t listed internally under upcoming Nintendo Switch games.

The second game in the Pokémon Legends spin-off, Z-A takes place in Lumoise City in the Kalos Region, introduced in Pokémon X and Y.

Nintendo also wants to make sure they have a big tentpole franchise to help sell Switch 2 systems. They have no bigger name at their disposal than Pokémon. Plus, they can take their time when releasing the follow-up to Super Mario Odyssey.

6 Hollow Knight: Silksong

Time to huff the copium

It seems like wishful thinking, but hear me out here. The Nintendo Switch launched with Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove, a hugely popular indie game from the mid-2010s. Therefore, the Switch 2 will launch with Silksong, a sequel to a hugely popular indie game from the late 2010s.

Yes, it seems like I’m huffing some serious copium, but with Team Cherry actively responding to a fan’s request about the game still being in development, maybe it’s a sign that it’s finally nearing release.

5 Halo: Master Chief Collection

Master Chief for Smash next, please

If Microsoft wants to bring their first-party games to other consoles, what better way to put their money where their mouth is?

The launch of the Master Chief Collection on the Nintendo Switch 2 proves that Microsoft is serious about its “this is an Xbox” strategy and that Nintendo is serious about embracing modern gaming.

The Switch 2 is reportedly as powerful as a PS4 Pro, meaning it will have no trouble handling Master Chief Collection. Their online gaming stability has improved with the Switch, thanks to the success of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Adding Halo will make the Switch 2 an attractive option as the handheld gaming market grows.

4 Elden Ring

I doubt you could even imagine it

The Nintendo Switch saw Dark Souls Remastered release in 2018, so this wouldn’t be the first time a FromSoftware title would appear on a Nintendo console.

Combining Elden Ring with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC to launch alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 is an excellent step forward for its third-party support.

It’s in the game

While Madden NFL 25 appeared on Steam, EA Sports College Football 25 did not, which means there’s no dedicated way to play it on the go.

EA Sports has supported Nintendo consoles at launch in the past, with Madden NFL 07 featuring motion controls for Nintendo Wii. While their support of Nintendo hardware has since dropped, the franchise still appears on Xbox One and PS4.

I’ve said it already: if the Switch 2 is as powerful as a PS4 Pro, it will have no problem running a game like Madden or College Football. And with the Nintendo Switch expected to sell like hotcakes, you better believe EA wants to try to tap into that market.

2 Call of Duty

It’s been over a decade

While Call of Duty skipped the Nintendo Switch entirely, the anticipation for the Switch 2, combined with superior hardware, means the stars are aligning for the juggernaut FPS franchise to return to Nintendo hardware.

We haven’t seen a Call of Duty game released on a Nintendo console since Call of Duty: Ghosts on the Wii U in 2013. If the Wii U, of all things, can see a Call of Duty game, especially following the franchise’s support of the underpowered, motion-control-focused Nintendo Wii, then a PS4 Pro-equivalent Switch 2 can 100% be a home for Call of Duty.

This one seems like a no-brainer because Black Ops 6 is available for last-generation consoles.

1 Just Dance

Yep, they’re still making these

This one makes too much sense. It may not be exciting, it may be boring and predictable, but then again, we’re here to predict launch games for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Just Dance was a launch game for the Nintendo Switch. If the series had existed when the Nintendo Wii was launched, I reckon it would have also been a launch game for that system.

With Nintendo presumably keeping gyro controls in the Switch 2’s joy-cons, Just Dance seems like a perfect fit to deliver a motion-control-based game that can sell to a more casual audience interested in the Switch 2.