Honestly, the wait for the Switch 2 felt like a decade. But we're finally here in 2026, and the floodgates haven't just opened—they've basically burst. If you’re sitting there wondering if your wallet is about to take a massive hit, the short answer is: absolutely.
Nintendo is in this weird, aggressive phase where they aren't just releasing new titles; they're essentially "Super-Sizing" everything we loved from the first generation. We aren't just looking at a couple of ports. We’re looking at a massive shift in how these games actually play, thanks to that new hardware under the hood.
👉 See also: Super Mario 3D World Worlds: What Everyone Gets Wrong About the Map
The big hitters: new games coming to switch 2 right now
The start of 2026 is looking stacked. Like, "how am I supposed to finish these?" stacked. We just had Animal Crossing: New Horizons – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition drop on January 15th. It’s not just a resolution bump. They added this megaphone feature where you can actually shout for your islanders using the built-in mic, and they’ll holler back. It’s a small thing, but it makes the island feel way less like a ghost town when you're looking for Blathers.
Then you've got the heavy lifters.
🔗 Read more: Why the Risk of Rain Meme Culture Is Actually Essential for Survival
On January 22nd, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade finally made the jump. Seeing Midgar running at a stable frame rate on a Nintendo handheld is... well, it’s a bit of a trip. If you’ve played it on PS5, you know the drill, but having the Yuffie DLC portable without the cloud-version stuttering is a massive win for the platform.
The 2026 release calendar (The essentials)
If you're trying to plan your budget, here's what the next few months look like. It's a mix of "finally" and "wait, they're doing that?"
- January 29th: GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition. If you need a racer that isn't Mario Kart, this is basically your only high-end option right now.
- February 5th: Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined. This one is huge for JRPG fans. It’s a full remake, not just a port, and it’s hitting both the old Switch and the Switch 2, though the performance gap is pretty obvious once you see the lighting effects.
- February 12th: Mario Tennis Fever. This is the big "Nintendo-y" release for the quarter. Honestly, people are a bit skeptical because Nintendo's recent sports games have been a bit light on content at launch, but the 120Hz support on the Switch 2 screen might make it the smoothest Mario sports game ever.
- February 27th: Resident Evil Requiem. Capcom is actually bringing a day-and-date Resident Evil to a Nintendo console. That hasn't happened in a long time. You'll be playing as Grace Ashcroft and Leon Kennedy, and from what we've seen, the ray-tracing on the Switch 2 handles the horror atmosphere surprisingly well.
What about the "system sellers"?
There's a lot of chatter among experts—including former Nintendo PR folks like Kit and Krysta—about whether this lineup is "big" enough. We have Metroid Prime 4: Beyond which just landed in December 2025. It’s the gold standard for what the new hardware can do. The 4K docked mode is crisp, and that 120fps handheld mode makes the combat feel incredibly responsive. But people are greedy. They want the big M.
The rumors for a new 3D Mario are reaching a fever pitch. Reliable insiders are pointing toward a February Nintendo Direct where we might finally see the successor to Odyssey. Some leaks suggest it might be an open-world "Ocean" themed game, or maybe even Super Mario Galaxy 3 to tie into the upcoming movie. Whatever it is, it’s the missing piece of the puzzle for 2026.
The third-party explosion
The most surprising thing about the new games coming to switch 2 isn't actually from Nintendo. It's the fact that everyone else is finally invited to the party.
We're seeing games like Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition and Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition confirmed for later this year. Even Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition is supposedly running on this thing. It really shows how much that custom Nvidia T239 chip is doing. It isn't just a slightly better Switch; it’s a machine that can actually handle modern engines without catching fire.
The "Mouse Mode" factor
One thing nobody really expected was the "Mouse Mode" on the new Joy-Cons. It sounds like a gimmick, right? But games like Mario Maker 3 (which is heavily rumored for a late 2026 reveal) and existing titles like the Animal Crossing update are using it to make UI navigation way less of a chore. If you're into strategy games or sims, this is probably the biggest "quality of life" upgrade since the original hybrid design.
Actionable steps for Switch 2 owners
If you’ve managed to snag a console, here’s how to handle the 2026 rush:
- Check for "Switch 2 Editions": Don't just rebuy your old library. Many games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder are getting dedicated Switch 2 versions with extra content (like the Bellabel Park meetup). Check if there's an upgrade path before paying full price.
- Invest in a microSD Express card: The internal 256GB is decent, but with games like Metroid Prime 4 hitting over 30GB, you’re going to run out of space fast. The Switch 2 supports up to 2TB, and you'll want that extra speed for the new assets.
- Watch the February Direct: This is where the "heavy hitters" for the second half of 2026 will be revealed. If the 3D Mario or the rumored Zelda 40th-anniversary projects are real, that’s where we’ll see them.
- Try the Backward Compatibility: Almost everything from your original Switch works. Some games even get a "boost mode" that cleans up the resolution and frame rate without needing a patch. It's the best way to clear your backlog while waiting for the new stuff.
The year is looking bright for the platform. We’ve moved past the "is it real?" phase and into the "how do I afford all of this?" phase. Keep an eye on those February announcements; they’ll likely define the rest of the console's year.