What to expect from the Switch 2 in 2026: Pokemon and Zelda celebrations, tons of ports, and comfort Nintendo food

1. Platforms
2. Nintendo
3. Nintendo Switch 2

What to expect from the Switch 2 in 2026: Pokemon and Zelda celebrations, tons of ports, and comfort Nintendo food Features By Fran Ruiz published 8 January 2026

Opinion | After a strong debut, the Switch 2 is marching into its second year with huge ambitions and the promise of a rich and varied library

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Future) Share Share by:

• Copy link
• Facebook
• X
• Whatsapp
• Pinterest
• Flipboard

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google

The Nintendo Switch 2 is a fantastic console that is already redefining what's possible on portable hardware and enticing all sorts of developers and publishers to port proven winners. As it marches towards its one-year anniversary, I've raised my expectations for Nintendo's first-party releases and all the external projects which might aim higher than expected.

We're still at the console's infant stage where everything seems possible, and with much of 2026 yet to be defined with meaty Direct streams, we're betting on Nintendo saving some surprises for the back half of the year. The absence of certain heavyweight franchises and subseries is suspicious too, and with a number of important anniversaries coming up, the release schedule should get busier in the coming months. Mind you, the list of upcoming Switch 2 games already looks super attractive, but the sky's the limit, and we're just getting started.

A year of big anniversaries

(Image credit: Nintendo)Best of the best

(Image credit: Nintendo)

These are the best Switch 2 games to play right now

Two massive franchises could define Nintendo and the Switch 2's year as they turn 40 and 30 respectively: The Legend of Zelda and Pokemon. The former just received Age of Imprisonment as its Switch 2 debut game, but surely Nintendo has something ready for this occasion? What about a new Twilight Princess remaster as that game turns 20?

You may like

• Nintendo's 2025 has been all about the hardware, but 2026 is going to be its year for games
• Upcoming Switch games for 2026 and beyond
• 5 games that have defined the first year of Switch 2 (so far)

That'd be a good start, but there are more ways to honor the past if we're looking back before moving towards a new mainline 3D entry and the The Legend of Zelda movie, which is set to arrive in 2027. The problem with all-new The Legend of Zelda instalments is that it hasn't been long since the series' last 3D and 2D releases; that's why I'm sticking to remasters (or maybe a new 2D remake) in our predictions. I'd love to be surprised though.

(Image credit: The Pokemon Company)

On the other hand, Pokemon seems to be on track to go big in 2026 beyond Pokemon Pokopia, the Animal Crossing & Minecraft-like spinoff developed by Koei Tecmo's Omega Force and coming in March. The competitive side of the community will get unified PvP trainer battles with the free-to-play Pokemon Champions meanwhile, and that could be a warm-up before the next generation of creatures is introduced... Those recent Winds/Waves leaks are juicy, and I'd really like to believe the first bespoke Switch 2 mainline Pokemon game will be here by the end of the year.

Other anniversaries worth considering are Pikmin and Animal Crossing's 25-year celebrations. We know New Horizons is getting a native version update this month (it will ruin our backlog again, yes), but could we get news on the next entry in 2026 too? Six years feels like a long enough wait.

Third-party love

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Following the stunning showcases that Switch 2 ports like Cyberpunk 2077, Star Wars Outlaws, and Assassin's Creed Shadows turned out to be, people are raising their expectations for AAA third-party offerings on Nintendo's second hybrid console moving forward. Thankfully, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is looking like a fantastic way to kick off the year and keep pushing the hardware's capabilities. In January, Dynasty Warriors: Origins will also bring massive battles to the console following a strong launch last year on current-gen machines and PC. Want more?

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Things will quickly heat up in February with a full-blown remake of Dragon Quest 7 and Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Tides. By the end of the second month of 2026, Resident Evil 7, Village, and the imminent Resident Evil Requiem will all be running natively on Switch 2 – highlighting that Capcom is fully committed to supporting the console. The publisher will be adding Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection and Pragmata to its library right after.

(Image credit: IO Interactive)

Even 007: First Light won't be missing a same-day launch on Switch 2. Following the middling launch of 2025's Hitman: World of Assassination port, however, I'm being a bit cautious around this one. Another tricky port of a current-gen behemoth to pull off will be Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, but it might signal a bigger push from Xbox into Nintendo's platform.

Amidst all the noise and still-undefined third-party launches set to happen next year, we're also particularly curious about how Elden Ring will make the transition after a much-needed delay. If it turns out to be a winner, we'll have more reasons to be into The Duskbloods, a new Nintendo-exclusive PvP game by FromSoftware. I'll admit I wasn't too sure about its pitch, but Elden Ring Nightreign was low-key one of last year's most refreshing multiplayer experiences, so color me interested.

You may like

• Nintendo's 2025 has been all about the hardware, but 2026 is going to be its year for games
• Upcoming Switch games for 2026 and beyond
• 5 games that have defined the first year of Switch 2 (so far)

Getting into a groove

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Needless to say, icons like Mario and his friends will stay relevant – even if a new 3D instalment is nowhere to be seen – with spinoffs like Mario Tennis Fever. We're just counting on more mid-sized releases in that vein, as they're nice "calendar fillers" that more often than not also happen to be quite good. Let's just hope Mario Kart World starts getting much-needed new content too. Could the arrival of the first pieces of DLC line up with the Super Mario Galaxy Movie's release?

That's a likely scenario, especially when we consider Super Mario Bros. Wonder is also getting the native Switch 2 version treatment this spring. Plus, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book is technically a new Mario franchise game as well. New mainline 3D Mario or not in the console's near future, the Mushroom Kingdom and its allies aren't staying quiet.

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Last but not least, Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave – which is still probably a ways off despite being marked for 2026 – is looking excellent, and we should be hearing more about it soon. And no, we're not forgetting about the Mii-centric and hilarious-looking Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream; that's an off-beat release that should make a lot of people happy when it arrives this spring.

As for Splatoon Raiders, it's one of Nintendo's biggest wildcard reveals in a good bit, and depending on the scope of the project, it could slip into 2027 – so calm down for now and put more time into Splatoon 3.

So, where does all this leave us? Well, third-party efforts around the Switch 2 have been more significant than anyone initially expected, and will only ramp up in 2026. On the first-party front, the obvious biggies to look out for are clear, but Nintendo likes its surprises with short marketing windows too, so we're counting on the next 12 months being substantially busier than last year. As Sony and Microsoft deal with a number of pressing issues and look to rework their larger plans, expect the Kyoto-headquartered giant to stay on track and play things safe. Right now, that might be exactly what we need.

Nintendo's 2025 has been all about the hardware, but 2026 is going to be its year for games

Fran RuizContributor

Fran Ruiz is that big Star Wars and Jurassic Park guy. His hunger for movies and TV series is only matched by his love for video games. He got a BA of English Studies, focusing on English Literature, from the University of Malaga, in Spain, as well as a Master's Degree in English Studies, Multilingual and Intercultural Communication. On top of writing features, news, and other longform articles for Future's sites since 2021, he is a frequent collaborator of VG247 and other gaming sites. He also served as an associate editor at Star Wars News Net and its sister site, Movie News Net.

Show More Comments

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more Nintendo's 2025 has been all about the hardware, but 2026 is going to be its year for games    Upcoming Switch games for 2026 and beyond    5 games that have defined the first year of Switch 2 (so far)    Upcoming Switch 2 games: New Nintendo Switch 2 games for 2026 and beyond    The 15 best Switch 2 games to play in 2026    Nintendo Switch 2 review: "We're in for an excellent generation"    Latest in Nintendo Switch 2 Fortnite is introducing 5-player teams for its South Park collab, but lead suggests it could become permanent    Stardew Valley doesn't have mod support on console for "numerous reasons" says creator ConcernedApe    While Final Fantasy 6 Remake would be a dream project, Final Fantasy 7 Remake boss would rather someone else lead it    Minecraft has redesigned its baby mobs to be even cuter, and I need you to look at them because they're just so precious    I've tested over 20 Switch 2 cases, but this JSAUX ModCase shown off at CES 2026 is calling my name    Trails Beyond the Horizon review: "This JRPG's thrilling real-time and turn-based combat evolves Metaphor ReFantazio's hybrid battles, making up for a poorly paced adventure"    Latest in Features What to expect from the Switch 2 in 2026: Pokemon and Zelda celebrations, tons of ports, and comfort Nintendo food    The Blood of Dawnwalker devs "were afraid that people wouldn't want to play as human Coen" so it set out to create "a combat system that can set a new standard for RPGs"    41 hours into Divinity Original Sin 2, I wish I'd broken a golden RPG rule    Soma successor Ontos is "like Shadow of the Colossus" says its creative director: The moon-set horror is "built around the looming excitement and dread of what the next big Experiment will be like"    "We wanted to explore that longing for absolute freedom": Cairn is a survival climbing game about human will, endurance, and sacrifice    What to expect from Valve in 2026: the return of the Steam Machine, a new VR headset, and more Half-Life 3 rumors    GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1. 1Trails Beyond the Horizon review: "This JRPG's thrilling real-time and turn-based combat evolves Metaphor ReFantazio's hybrid battles, making up for a poorly paced adventure"
2. 2This alt-history board game is still a gold standard for modern strategy
3. 3Skate Story review: "A beautiful and unique skateboarding game with great, stylized visuals set in a grungy underworld"
4. 4Octopath Traveler 0 review: "The strongest entry in this retro-styled JRPG series yet, I love the greater focus on tactical battles"
5. 5Sleep Awake review: "An all-timer horror premise is let down by tired stealth that I feel like I'm sleepwalking through"

1. 1Avatar: Fire and Ash review: "Still a technical marvel, with some of the year's best action filmmaking"
2. 2Five Nights at Freddy's 2 review: "We have waited two years for a Five Nights at Freddy's 1.5"
3. 3Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery review: "Brings Knives Out back to its roots for a sequel that's almost on a par with the original"
4. 4Wicked: For Good review: "Builds to an incredibly cathartic conclusion, but isn't quite as captivating as Part 1"
5. 5The Running Man review: "Some fun action and Glen Powell's star power aren't enough to energize this disappointing Stephen King adaptation"

1. 1Stranger Things season 5 finale review: “Shows off both the best and the worst of Hawkins”
2. 2Stranger Things season 5, Volume 2 review: “All set up for a finale that has so much to deliver”
3. 3Fallout season 2 review: "A hell of a lot of fun despite being overcrowded and convoluted"
4. 4Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 review: “Can the Duffer brothers stick the landing? It’s sure looking like they will”
5. 5Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"