Nintendo has finally stopped playing coy. Sorta. After years of "leaks" from guys on Reddit who claim their uncle works at a warehouse in Kyoto, we actually have a concrete timeline for the successor to the most successful handheld in history. Shuntaro Furukawa, Nintendo’s president, basically blew the doors off the secrecy by confirming the "Switch 2" (or whatever they end up calling it) will be announced within this fiscal year. That means by March 2025, the veil is gone. But for most of us, the hardware is just a plastic box without the software. You want to know what you’re actually going to be playing on that shiny new screen.
Honestly, the list of confirmed Switch 2 games is smaller than the rumor mill suggests, but the entries we have are heavy hitters.
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We aren't just talking about ports of old Wii U games this time. We are looking at a generational leap that developers are already openly discussing. While Nintendo likes to keep their first-party gems under lock and key until about three months before launch, third-party partners and indie darlings have already started putting their flags in the ground.
Pathea Games and the My Time at Evershine Bombshell
Let’s talk about the first developer to actually say the words. Pathea Games, the team behind the massive hits My Time at Portia and My Time at Sandrock, blew everyone's minds recently. During their Kickstarter campaign for the next entry in the series, My Time at Evershine, they didn't just hint at a "next-gen Nintendo platform." They explicitly listed it as a target console.
This is huge.
It’s one of the few confirmed Switch 2 games where the developer has gone on record before Nintendo even showed the box. Why does this matter? Because Sandrock struggled on the original Switch. It was a victim of the hardware’s aging RAM and Tegra X1 processor. By targeting the Switch 2 from day one, Pathea is signaling that they need the extra horsepower for the more realistic art style and larger scale they’re aiming for in Evershine. You can expect better lighting, no more aggressive pop-in, and loading times that don't give you enough time to go make a sandwich.
The Pokémon Legends: Z-A Question
Then there’s the Pokémon of it all. When The Pokémon Company announced Pokémon Legends: Z-A during their February 2024 Pokémon Day stream, they gave us a 2025 release window. They also said it was coming to "Nintendo Switch systems." Notice the plural.
In the world of Nintendo marketing, "systems" is a massive "tell."
It’s essentially a cross-gen confirmation. Given how much Pokémon Scarlet and Violet struggled to maintain a steady frame rate on the current hardware, Legends: Z-A is widely expected to be the premier showcase for what the new hardware can do for open-world (or semi-open-world) performance. While it will technically run on your old Switch, the "Pro" or "Switch 2" version is where the real meat will be. This is a pattern we saw with the 3DS and the New 3DS, and even more so with the transition from the Wii U to the Switch with Breath of the Wild.
Yooka-Replaylee: The Rare-Style Platformer Returns
Playtonic Games is another studio that isn't playing the guessing game anymore. They recently announced Yooka-Replaylee, which is a ground-up remaster/remake of the original Yooka-Laylee. They’ve been very specific about the consoles it's coming to: PC, PS5, Xbox Series, and—you guessed it—"Nintendo platforms."
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Again, that pluralization.
The original game was a love letter to Banjo-Kazooie. The new version uses much higher-fidelity assets that would likely set a base Switch on fire. By acknowledging "Nintendo platforms," Playtonic is essentially confirming they are dev-kit ready for the successor.
Why the "Confirmed" List is Still Growing
You might be wondering why every major publisher hasn't jumped on the bandwagon yet. It’s simple: NDAs. Non-Disclosure Agreements in the gaming industry are terrifying. Most developers have signed contracts with Nintendo that forbid them from even acknowledging the existence of a new dev kit.
However, we can look at the "hidden" confirmed Switch 2 games through the lens of project delays and technical requirements.
Take Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. We finally saw gameplay. It looks incredible. It looks too incredible for 2017 mobile hardware. While Nintendo has branded it as a Switch title for 2025, every industry analyst—from Dr. Serkan Toto to the folks at Digital Foundry—agrees this is a dual-launch title. It will be the "Link to the Past" or "Twilight Princess" of this generation. It’s the game meant to show off the Switch 2’s rumored ray-tracing capabilities and DLSS upscaling.
The DLSS Factor and Porting Magic
Speaking of DLSS, that is the secret sauce. Nvidia's Deep Learning Super Sampling is expected to be the backbone of the Switch 2. This changes the conversation about "confirmed" games because it makes ports of massive AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Elden Ring not just possible, but likely.
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We’ve already seen hints from Capcom. They’ve been moving their RE Engine to be more mobile-friendly. It’s a safe bet that the next Monster Hunter (Wilds) is being looked at for this hardware, even if Capcom is currently staying silent to avoid cannibalizing sales on other platforms.
What Most People Get Wrong About Launch Lineups
Everyone expects a new Mario or a new Zelda. And yeah, a new 3D Mario from the Odyssey team is a virtual certainty. It’s been seven years. The math adds up. But "confirmed" is a legalistic term in the gaming press.
What's actually happening behind the scenes is a rush for "Day One" status.
- Indies are leading the charge: Smaller studios can be more nimble.
- Backwards compatibility: This is the elephant in the room. If the Switch 2 is backwards compatible (which rumors strongly suggest), then the entire Switch library becomes "confirmed" in a sense, but with "Enhancement Patches."
- Third-party stalwarts: Companies like Ubisoft and EA have already expressed excitement about the "increased ceiling" of the next Nintendo console.
Honestly, the jump from Switch to Switch 2 feels more like the jump from PS4 to PS5 rather than the jarring shift from GameCube to Wii. It's about refinement, stability, and finally hitting 60fps in games that used to chug at 20fps.
The Reality of Development Cycles
Modern games take 5-7 years to make. If a studio started a project in 2021, they aren't aiming for the Switch 1. They are aiming for the hardware that will be on shelves in 2025 and 2026. This is why we are seeing a drought of major third-party titles on the current Switch right now. Everyone is holding their breath for the "New Nintendo" reveal.
Microsoft has also signed a 10-year deal to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms. The current Switch literally cannot run Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 in any meaningful way without it being a "Cloud Version" disaster. Therefore, Call of Duty is effectively a confirmed Switch 2 game by virtue of legal contracts, even if we haven't seen a trailer yet.
What You Should Do Now
If you're sitting on a pile of cash waiting for the pre-order button to go live, there are a few things to keep in mind so you don't get burned by the hype cycle.
First, stop buying heavy AAA ports on the current Switch if you can help it. If Hogwarts Legacy or The Witcher 3 are on your list, wait. There is a very high probability that these games will receive free or low-cost "Pro" upgrades for the Switch 2 that will make the current versions look like a blurry mess by comparison.
Second, keep an eye on the "Targeting 2025" window. Any game announced recently with a 2025 date that looks "too good" for a handheld is a prime candidate for the next-gen list.
Next Steps for the Savvy Gamer:
- Monitor the Official Nintendo Social Channels: They've confirmed an announcement is coming before March 2025. This is the only place where the "first-party" confirmations will happen.
- Audit Your Library: Check which of your current games are "performance-heavy." These are the ones most likely to get "Switch 2 Enhanced" stickers later.
- Watch the TGS and Game Awards: These are the prime hunting grounds for third-party "Nintendo Platform" announcements that use the plural phrasing we discussed.
- Ignore "Leaked" Box Art: No real box art for Switch 2 games exists in the wild yet. Anyone showing you a "Mario Kart 9" box is chasing clout.
The transition is happening. It’s no longer a matter of if, but when. And while the official list of confirmed Switch 2 games is currently a small club featuring My Time at Evershine and Pokémon Legends: Z-A, that club is about to get a whole lot bigger very soon. Keep your eyes on the developers who are talking about "future-proofing" their tech—they are the ones already holding the controllers.