Nintendo’s 2025 Releases: Must-See Titles From Switch to Switch 2

Nintendo’s transition from the original Switch to the new Switch 2 is officially underway with the console’s launch on June 5, 2025. Headlining the launch is Mario Kart World, the first major exclusive for Switch 2 and a bold evolution of the franchise. But that’s just the beginning. Here’s everything confirmed for Nintendo’s 2025 first-party lineup. Keep reading to uncover Nintendo’s 2025 releases!

Switch 2 Launch Title: Mario Kart World

Nintendo Switch 2

The open-world evolution of the beloved racer is now officially live. With support for up to 24-player races and multi-vehicle gameplay (cars, motorcycles, boats, snowmobiles, and planes), Mario Kart World introduces dynamic track changes and two major game modes: Grand Prix and Knockout Tour.

In Grand Prix, players race across expansive open environments instead of closed-loop tracks — from Boo’s haunted cinema to prehistoric jungles — blending linear races with a sense of exploration. Knockout Tour, on the other hand, introduces a battle-royale format where racers are progressively eliminated at checkpoints until a final four sprint to the finish.

Gameplay feels familiar yet upgraded: polished visuals, quirky level details, and chaotic item use dominate each race. With wider roads, expanded shortcuts, and over 60 characters to choose from (including the internet-favorite Moo Moo Meadows cow), Mario Kart World balances nostalgic controls with high-stakes innovation.

Also take a look to! Nintendo Switch 2: Specs, Features, Launch Titles, and Controversies Explained

Switch Games Coming in 2025

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD 

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD - Nintendo’s 2025 Releases

Retro Studios’ platformer arrives on Switch with enhanced visuals and cooperative play. The remaster features 80 jungle-themed levels filled with barrel-blasting action and classic platforming challenges, offering both solo and two-player modes. 

Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Pokémon Legends: Z-A moves from wilderness exploration to urban adventure, taking place in a reimagined version of Lumiose City. The game focuses on the relationship between humans and Pokémon in an evolving cityscape, while maintaining the exploration and battle mechanics that fans expect from the Legends series.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Metroid Prime 4 - Nintendo’s 2025 Releases

Beyond has undergone nearly ten years of development setbacks and redesigns since its initial announcement. Nintendo and Retro Studios have rebuilt the game from scratch, introducing enhanced exploration mechanics and a revamped combat system. While the game maintains the series’ signature atmospheric world-building, specific details about gameplay innovations remain under wraps.

Updated Classics

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered

Tomb Raider - Nintendo’s 2025 Releases

Crystal Dynamics brings three of Lara Croft’s classic adventures to Switch. Players will explore iconic locations like Cairo, Rome, and Paris with enhanced visuals while maintaining the series’ signature exploration and puzzle-solving gameplay. 

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition - Nintendo’s 2025 Releases

Xenoblade Chronicles X arrives on Nintendo Switch, bringing the Wii U RPG to a new audience with enhanced visuals and additional story content. Players can explore alien landscapes in customizable mechs (called Skells), engage in real-time combat, and experience an expanded version of the original narrative. Monolith Soft has also confirmed quality-of-life improvements to the game’s resource management and navigation systems.

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake

Dragon Quest

Square Enix continues its HD-2D remake series with Dragon Quest I & II. Following the approach used in Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, these versions update the classic RPGs with modern visual elements while preserving their original gameplay. The remakes include streamlined menu systems and additional save features, though specific changes haven’t been detailed yet.

Additional Nintendo’s 2025 Releases

ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist

ENDER MAGNOLIA: Bloom in the Mist - Nintendo

Following the success of ENDER LILIES, this action RPG combines exploration and combat with atmospheric storytelling. The game expands on its predecessor’s companion system while introducing new combat mechanics, though developer Live Wire has yet to reveal specific details.

Tales of the Shire

This life simulation game set in Middle-earth focuses on daily hobbit life in and around Hobbiton. Players can manage gardens, participate in local events, and interact with characters from The Lord of the Rings universe. Publisher Private Division has confirmed the game will follow established Tolkien lore while offering its own interpretation of hobbit culture.

Fantasy Life i: The Time Thief 

Level-5’s life simulation RPG invites players to build and manage their own town on a mysterious island. The game combines creative building elements with time-traveling adventures, allowing players to interact with a diverse cast of characters and uncover secrets from the past.

Professor Layton and the New World of Steam 

Professor Layton and the New World of Steam - Nintendo’s 2025 Releases

The newest entry in the puzzle-solving series brings Professor Layton and Luke Triton on a new mystery-filled adventure. The story follows Layton uncovering a conspiracy that threatens the balance of science and magic in this alternative world, pushing the professor to his limits as he deciphers clues and unravels the mystery.

Capcom Fighting Collection 2 

Capcom Fighting Collection 2

Eight Capcom fighting games arrive on Switch, including Power Stone and Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001. These classics bring fast-paced arcade action with modern enhancements. Players can expect online matchmaking, rollback netcode for smooth online play, and visual upgrades that remain true to the original art styles. 

Looking Ahead

2025 marks a significant year for Nintendo, transitioning between console generations by offering major titles like Mario Kart World exclusively on Switch 2 while ensuring strong support for the original Switch. This approach allows players who have yet to upgrade to still enjoy new experiences while showcasing the technical advancements of the new hardware.

From new entries in established franchises like Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Metroid Prime 4, to creative new ventures like Tales of the Shire and Fantasy Life i, Nintendo’s 2025 releases seems focused on providing diverse gaming experiences.