2025 was (and still is) one of those “is Nintendo trying to ruin my free time?” years. Between a steady stream of big first-party releases,
a wave of beloved classics getting glow-ups, and the Nintendo Switch 2 shaking the couch cushions for extra horsepower, the Switch family had
something for every kind of playercozy farmers, combo chasers, lore goblins, and anyone who considers “one more run” a legal lifestyle.

This list focuses on games that were officially slated for 2025 (or launched in 2025) on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, or both.
Release schedules can and do shift, so think of this as your hype-and-planning guide: what to wishlist, what to prioritize, and what to keep
an eye on when the next trailer drops at an inconveniently perfect time.

What “anticipated” means here

“Anticipated” isn’t just “biggest budget.” It’s the stuff players talk about for months: the sequels you’ve waited years for, the remakes that
finally bring a classic to modern screens, and the surprise indies that look like they’re about to eat your entire weekend. If you’re building a
2025 Switch backlog, these are the titles that made Joy-Cons everywhere whisper, “Charge me. We ride at dawn.”

1) Mario Kart World

The pitch is simple: take the chaotic party-racer energy of Mario Kart and make it feel bigger, bolder, and more “how is it already 2 a.m.?”
Whether you’re a competitive drifter or the friend who treats every race like a slapstick comedy, this is the kind of tentpole release that
becomes a household language (“no blue shells at dinner,” we beg).

2) Donkey Kong Bananza

Donkey Kong going 3D again is already exciting. Add destructible environments and the promise of secret-filled spaces you can literally punch your
way into, and you’ve got the kind of adventure that rewards curiosity. If you love exploration that feels tactilebreak walls, dig around, find a
weird collectible you can’t stop thinking aboutthis one was built to scratch that itch.

3) Pokémon Legends: Z-A

The Legends format is where Pokémon gets to be experimental, and Z-A leans into that feeling of discoverynew systems, new pacing, and a big focus
on exploration and strategy. If your favorite Pokémon moments involve planning a team, hunting a specific encounter, or getting lost in a “just one
more area” loop, this was one of 2025’s easiest wishlists.

4) Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

When a game has “Prime” in the title, expectations get serious: atmosphere, scanning lore, satisfying combat, and that slow-burn thrill of opening
up a world piece by piece. Beyond is a headline act for players who want immersive sci-fi explorationwhere every hallway feels like a clue and every
upgrade changes how you read the map.

5) Kirby Air Riders

Kirby plus racing energy is a proven recipe for “I meant to play one match and now I’m in a tournament I invented.” Air Riders is the kind of game
that works for two moods: chill, colorful fun… and absolute chaos when friends discover a new shortcut and refuse to let you forget it.

6) The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

TOTK already feels like a playground where creativity is the pointbuild something ridiculous, watch it fail, rebuild it better, repeat forever.
A Switch 2 edition matters because smoother performance and sharper visuals make experimentation feel even more immediate. It’s the difference between
“I guess that worked” and “I AM A GENIUS ENGINEER,” even when your invention is basically a rolling disaster with optimism.

7) The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

BOTW remains a masterclass in letting players make their own stories. A Switch 2 edition is an invitation to return (or start fresh) with a more
refined feelwhere the quiet moments hit harder, the views look cleaner, and the “I climbed the wrong mountain but found something cooler” magic is
still undefeated.

8) Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2

Two of Mario’s most imaginative adventures in one package is basically Nintendo saying, “Remember wonder?” Galaxy is all about playful physics,
clever level design, and music that lives rent-free in your brain. If you’ve never played them, 2025 was your perfect excuse. If you have played them,
you already know why this belongs on a hype list.

9) Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition

Xenoblade fans don’t just play RPGsthey move in. A definitive edition is exciting because it’s a chance to revisit (or finally experience) a huge
sci-fi world with modern refinements. If you like sprawling maps, deep systems, and stories that slowly unfold into “wait, WHAT?” territory, this is
the kind of game you plan around.

10) Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake

Dragon Quest remakes in HD-2D style aren’t just nostalgiathey’re a bridge between classic design and modern comfort. For longtime fans, it’s like
opening a childhood photo album that somehow got upgraded to 4K. For newcomers, it’s a friendly way to meet the roots of one of the most influential
RPG series everwithout feeling like you’re wrestling ancient menus.

11) FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles

Tactical RPG fans have been hungry for this flavor of deep job systems and chess-like combat for ages. The Ivalice Chronicles brings back a legend with
modern touches while preserving what made it special: smart positioning, meaningful class choices, and battles that reward thinking ahead. If you like
strategy that makes you feel clever (or humbled), this was a must-watch.

12) Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

Trails games have a reputation for meticulous worldbuilding and character-driven storytelling, and this remake gives the starting point a modern presentation.
If you enjoy JRPGs where relationships matter, side quests feel connected to the world, and the plot builds like a slow, satisfying domino chain, this is a
strong “get in early” title.

13) Hades II

The original Hades was the rare game that made “fail, learn, repeat” feel like comfort food. Hades II builds on that momentum with new characters, fresh
weapons, and the same “just one more run” energy that turns minutes into hours. If you like action that feels sharp, readable, and endlessly remixable,
this is peak handheld obsession material.

14) Hollow Knight: Silksong

Few games earn “my entire personality is waiting for this” status, and Silksong absolutely did. Metroidvania fans love tight movement, expressive combat,
and worlds that feel mysterious without being messy. If you want exploration that rewards attentionand boss fights that demand respectSilksong was a
2025 headline all by itself.

15) DELTARUNE (Chapters 1–4)

DELTARUNE’s charm is that it can be goofy, emotional, and weirdly profound in the span of one scene. The 2025 release of Chapters 3 and 4 (bundled with the
earlier chapters) was big for players who love narrative surprises, clever battles, and humor that can pivot into “wait, why am I tearing up?” territory.

16) Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma

Rune Factory is for people who want their fantasy adventure with a side of “I also need to water my crops.” Guardians of Azuma brings that hybrid of combat,
relationships, crafting, and cozy routine into a new setting. If your ideal session is fighting monsters, upgrading gear, and then immediately going home to
cook something cute, you’re the target audience.

17) STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar

This is peak comfort gaming: farming, town life, and the gentle satisfaction of watching your daily efforts turn into a thriving routine. Grand Bazaar leans
into community vibes and that “small choices add up” feeling that makes life sims so relaxing. If you like slow progress that actually feels meaningful, this is
a great “decompress after everything” game.

18) Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time

Fantasy Life’s secret sauce is letting you switch between “jobs” (or lives) so you can play how you feel that day: fight, craft, gather, explore, repeat.
Add time-themed story hooks and a big, colorful world, and you’ve got a game built for players who like variety without pressure. It’s cozy, but it’s also
sneakily deep.

19) Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack

The Ryza trilogy is beloved for its warm tone, satisfying crafting systems, and character-focused adventures. A deluxe collection is exciting because it’s a
clean on-ramp: one purchase, a whole arc, and plenty of content to sink into. If you enjoy alchemy systems, incremental upgrades, and a cast that feels like a
real friend group, this is a strong pick.

20) Street Fighter 6

For fighting game fans, Street Fighter 6 arriving on Nintendo’s newest hardware is a big deal: it’s the kind of competitive staple that keeps your system in
“ready to go” mode. Even if you’re not trying to go pro, it’s perfect for quick matches, local rivalry, and learning one character so deeply that you start
thinking in combos.

21) Split Fiction

Co-op games live or die on one thing: do they make teamwork feel fun, not frustrating. Split Fiction leans into the “two brains, one plan” fantasy with
puzzle-platforming energy built for partners, friends, or siblings who communicate mostly through panicked laughter. If your favorite gaming memories involve
yelling “NO, I MEANT THE OTHER LEVER,” put this high on the list.

22) Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition

Cyberpunk on a Nintendo platform was one of the most talked-about “can it really run?” stories of the year, and the Ultimate Edition made it a complete package.
If you love dense open worlds, story-heavy quests, and that specific joy of playing a massive RPG in handheld mode on the couch, this was a huge “Switch 2 can
do that?!” moment.

23) NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound

Ragebound’s appeal is immediate: fast, sharp side-scrolling action that respects old-school challenge while feeling modern in responsiveness. If you like games
where mastery is earnedlearning enemy patterns, tightening execution, shaving seconds off a runthis is pure adrenaline. It’s the kind of title that makes you
sit up straighter without noticing.

24) Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo

Yes, it’s a “Yoyovania.” And yes, that concept is exactly as delightful as it sounds. Pipistrello blends exploration and combat with a gimmick that’s more than a
jokeit’s a mechanical identity. If you like clever indies with strong personality (and you enjoy telling friends “I’m busy, I’m doing yoyo combat”), this is a
sleeper hit energy pick.

25) Shotgun Cop Man

Sometimes the hype isn’t about prestige; it’s about vibes. Shotgun Cop Man is the kind of title that sounds like a dare and plays like controlled chaosquick
bursts, big personality, and “one more level” pacing. If your Switch library always has room for a loud, fast palate cleanser between longer adventures, this
belongs on your radar.

The 2025 Switch fan experience (about )

Anticipating a great Switch year is practically a hobby on its own. It starts with the ritual: you open a Nintendo Direct stream “just to see what’s up,” and
twenty minutes later you’re texting friends like a sports commentator. The trailer ends, the logo flashes, and suddenly your brain is doing mathrelease windows,
vacation days, and whether your backlog is legally allowed to get bigger without filing paperwork.

Then comes the wishlist phase, which is basically emotional budgeting. Big first-party games go to the top immediately (because you know you’ll play them), but
the indies sneak in like adorable gremlins. You watch one clip of an unusual mechanicsay, a yoyo-based adventure or a stylish 2D action throwbackand you think,
“I’ll keep an eye on it.” Three weeks later, you’re reading impressions, scanning screenshots, and pretending you’re not already sold.

2025 also felt like a year of “comfort upgrades.” Some players chased the newest hardware, but plenty of Switch fans experienced the hype in a different way:
revisiting classics that suddenly feel smoother and sharper, or finally playing legendary games they missed the first time. There’s a special joy in thatlike
hearing a favorite song remastered, where the melody is the same but the details pop. A replay turns into a rediscovery, and suddenly you’re appreciating level
design choices you never noticed years ago.

And let’s be honest: the best part is still the social side. Mario Kart isn’t just a game; it’s a friendly feud generator. Co-op releases turn into inside jokes.
RPG launches become group chats full of “I’m only five hours in” lies. Even solo adventures have community energypeople sharing builds, swapping tips, or celebrating
the moment a long-awaited sequel finally becomes real and playable.

If you want the “full 2025 Switch experience,” here’s the secret: don’t try to play everything at once. Pick a couple of tentpoles, keep two or three smaller
games as palate cleansers, and give yourself permission to rotate. The Switch is at its best when it fits your lifehandheld sessions on the go, cozy nights on
the couch, quick matches with friends, and those rare weekends where you look up and realize you’ve been smiling at the screen for hours. That’s what “anticipated”
is really about: not just what’s releasing, but the moments you’re planning to make with it.

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