Nintendo’s April 2ndNintendo Switch 2Direct didn’t hold back. Instead of leaning on vague teaser trailers or long tech breakdowns,the showcasedelivered a focused lineup of games that looked polished, exciting, and ready to define the new hardware.
For once, it felt like a platform reveal that wasn’t just building hype. It was actually earning it. Between long-requested sequels and bold new IPs, Nintendo made it clear that the Switch 2 is launching with purpose. There were gameplay demos, fresh trailers, and a few genuine surprises that kept the momentum going from start to finish.
8 Third-Party Ports We Need On Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 is just around the corner, and these are the 8 third party titles we would love to see on the handheld.
The lineup stretched across a wide spectrum of genres and styles. Mech action, open-world exploration, platforming, and multiplayer mayhem all had standout moments. Some games have been whispered about for years in forums and news leaks. Others came out of nowhere and instantly became system sellers. These announcements didn’t feel like placeholders. They came with gameplay, feature sets, and a clear sense of direction.
Even third-party studios brought real heat, signaling strong support right out of the gate. While plenty more reveals are expected, these titles made the biggest impression. They’re the ones that already feel like a reason to show up on day one.
8Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
The Mechs Are Back, and They’ve Brought Bigger Everything
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion
The original Daemon X Machina flew under the radar, but it built a passionate following with its fast-paced mech combat and anime-inspired flair (with aprequel confirmed a while ago). Titanic Scion looks like it’s building on that foundation in all the right ways. The scale is bigger, the visuals sharper, and the trailer hinted at deeper customization systems. It’s not just more content but feels like a proper evolution of what made the first game special.
The art direction is still striking, but now it has hardware that can keep up. Explosions are chunkier, the framerate smoother, and combat looks more refined across the board. Most importantly, it keeps the series’ identity intact with its speed, style, and overly chaotic robot battles. This might not be a household name, but it gives the Switch 2 lineup an edge that few other games can match.
7Deltarune: Chapter 1–4
Toby Fox Is Still Cooking
Fans have waited a long time for more Deltarune (it’sbeen several years), and now we’re finally getting a substantial update. With Chapters 1 through 4 arriving together on the Switch 2, this release feels like a turning point. The story is moving forward in big ways, and the world continues to mix surreal humor with genuine emotional weight. It’s quirky, unpredictable, and sharper than ever.
What makes this batch of chapters so exciting is how little we actually know about where things are going. Toby Fox is great at creating twists that feel both surprising and inevitable, and these additions will no doubt spark plenty of fan conspiracies. If the battle mechanics evolve alongside the narrative, this could be one of the most memorable and talked-about RPGs for a long time.
6Elden Ring
You Can’t Call It a Port When It’s a Whole New Build
Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition
Elden Ring (whichwon multiple game of the year awards) making its way to the Switch 2 was unexpected, but the bigger surprise is that it actually runs well. This isn’t just a basic port because FromSoftware and Bandai Namco rebuilt the game specifically for the new hardware, promising improved performance, faster loading, and the same massive world that helped define a generation.
Elden Ring: 10 Totally Bizarre (and Powerful) Weapons
Why did they make these? (And why do they actually shred?)
The Lands Between remains as haunting and mysterious as ever, but now it’s playable on the go without sacrificing visual fidelity or responsiveness. For players jumping in for the first time or veterans planning a fresh build, this version feels like a great option. If the performance holds up, this could become the best way to explore one of the most celebrated adventures in recent memory.
5Kirby Air Riders
Pink Puffball Chaos, Now with Better Draw Distance
Kirby Air Riders
Kirby Air Riders is bringing back the wild, unpredictable energy of City Trial with a fresh coat of paint and some much-needed horsepower. The original GameCube cult favorite had players racing, battling, and collecting power-ups in an open arena, and the Switch 2 version looks like it’s expanding on everything that made it fun. Much better visuals, smoother performance, and online play give it real momentum this time around.
This isn’t a full-blown reboot, but it’s doing far more than retreading the past. New arenas, updated abilities, and expanded multiplayer features show that HAL is giving this revival serious attention. Building your perfect ride and wrecking your friends at the final event was always entertaining. Now, with more polish and stronger tech, it finally has the chance to shine like it could have years ago.
4The Duskbloods
Nintendo’s First New IP of the Generation Looks Wild
The Duskbloods
The Duskbloods made its debut during the Direct with a moody trailer that blended gothic horror with stylish action. It’s a four-player co-op game set in a decaying city full of monsters, with a cast of edgy, vampire-hunting protagonists. The art style leans hard into comic book grit, and the gameplay looks like a blend of third-person shooter and character action, with flashy combos and massive boss fights.
For a new IP, it already has a strong sense of uniqueness. The characters feel distinct, the setting looks fully realized, and the tone sets it apart from anything else Nintendo is publishing right now. There’s still a lot we don’t know, but the footage was confident enough to make an impression. If it plays as good as it looks, this could be the breakout surprise of the launch year.
3Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
It’s Real, It’s Here, and It Looks Incredible
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
After years of silence, Metroid Prime 4 finally has a name, a trailer, and a new platform that looks ready to do it justice along withsome psychic powers for Samus. Beyond feels like a true successor to the original trilogy, with Samus back exploring ruins, solving puzzles, and shooting through alien landscapes with a new intensity. Optional mouse aiming and enhanced gyro support promise better control options.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Finally Gets First Gameplay, Now Set For 2025
Now christened Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, the long-awaited fourth game in Retro Studios' take on the legendary series is finally arriving next year.
This doesn’t look rushed as the tone, visuals, and direction suggest Retro Studios took the extra time to get it right. Prime 4 doesn’t need to shake up the formula but just needs to sharpen it, deliver atmosphere, and remind everyone why Metroid matters. If what we saw reflects the final product, this is more than a long-awaited sequel. It’s a comeback that could define the early life of the Switch 2.
2Donkey Kong: Bananza
Get ready to peel out
Donkey Kong Bananza
Donkey Kong is swinging back onto the scene, and this time, he’s bringing the whole jungle. Bananza marks DK’s first brand-new 3D platformer in over two decades, and it looks like the wait was worth it. With lush, destructible environments, cooperative animal buddies, and more bananas than a fruit stand clearance sale, this one’s shaping up to be a heavyweight contender in the Switch 2 lineup.
Retro Studios promises a bold mix of classic Donkey Kong Country mechanics with modern open-level design, making it a spiritual successor to both Jungle Beat and Super Mario Odyssey. You’ll ride rhinos through stampedes, climb towering treetops, and take on baddies in cinematic set pieces. Bananza looks poised to deliver a nostalgic hit that doesn’t play it safe. DK’s back, and he’s not monkeying around. The original character designer for Donkey Kong seeminglyseems to be good with his redesign.
1Mario Kart World
Finally, a Global Tour That Isn’t Stuck on Phones
Mario Kart World
Mario Kart World is way more than just a new set of tracks. It’s a full-scale reinvention of the series, expanding the format with an open-world map, 24-player support, and new traversal mechanics like wall jumping and rail grinding. It borrows ideas from the mobile game’s international theme but builds something much more ambitious for the Switch 2. The courses are bigger, the visuals sharper, and the races look more chaotic than ever.
The reveal hinted at dynamic environments that shift mid-race and a deeper level of vehicle customization. Online play will clearly be a major focus, but local multiplayer hasn’t been left behind. This doesn’t feel like a stopgap before the next big thing, but feels like THE big thing. Mario Kart World could easily become the most replayable title on the system from day one (and a relativelysmall download size).
9 GameCube Games That Should Come to Nintendo Switch 2
A mix of first-party and third-party GameCube games should be available on Nintendo Switch 2’s app.
