Nintendo Expands Switch 2 Lineup With Major First- and Third-Party Reveals

Nintendo’s latest Direct has shown a bunch of new games for Nintendo Switch 2. These titles saw huge third-party launches and long-awaited character revivals. There were several new games and tweaks to existing ones at the showcase, but one surprise, a complete remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, particularly caught people's attention.

The presentation opened the floodgates, offering a wide selection of books from diverse fields. Ninjala 2: The Uncharted Planet, a colorful open-world action-platformer, was perhaps the most shocking of the news, with a Spring 2027 release. The game featured fast-paced fighting, skating sections, and ways to get about using bubble gum. It was a bigger adventure than many people imagined it would be from the series.

Nintendo also announced the Nintendo Switch Online DK Challenge, a one-off event with activities based on classic Donkey Kong games.

Players can earn badges and rewards in the Switch Online app, which they can then collect. It’s a more current take on the NES Remix series, but given the event was only temporary, users worried why content created for the service would eventually disappear. Also released was more Donkey Kong-themed stuff.

This includes crossover cosmetic items that let characters dress up like Mario, Luigi, and other familiar characters. Most of the changes are superficial, but Nintendo continues to celebrate its famous brands through events and partnerships. Movie and anime lovers could also find enough to see. It's been announced that a new Jujutsu Kaisen game is coming out.

The game will play like a survival action game, pitting you against hordes of foes and testing your endurance. Wild skirmishes and large-scale confrontations with foes. At the same time, Nintendo also strengthened its partnerships with major third-party publishers, bringing several critically acclaimed action RPGs and Soulsborne games to the Switch 2.

One of the most exciting announcements was that Lords of the Fallen 2 would be coming out in the Fall of 2026.

The sequel featured gigantic bosses, a dark fantasy realm, and improved battle systems, setting it apart from the original. Hardcore action RPG fans immediately put this title on their list as one of the most anticipated third-party titles for Nintendo’s new system. There’s also Lies of P: Complete Edition releasing alongside it on August 6.

The package includes the base game and its DLC on an actual cartridge, rather than Nintendo’s increasingly problematic game key card format. The popular Souls-like remains popular for its hard combat, emphasis on parrying, and grim reimagining of conventional fairy tale themes.

There was also Capcom’s Devil May Cry 5: Devil Hunter Edition. When it releases on June 23, the game will run at 60 frames per second, whether docked or handheld. The report indicates that Nintendo is still hard at work to bring major third-party games to the Switch 2 in outstanding form.

Muramasa Revenant Blades was revealed for 2027. Nintendo said the complete mainstream Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy will receive enhanced versions on the Switch 2, with improved graphics and other gameplay enhancements. We are deploying this now, with improvements coming throughout the year. The updated editions will include support for 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, giving players the best way to play the famous RPG.

Other than remasters, Nintendo astonished everyone when they announced a totally new mainline game in the series, Xenoblade Genesis. No particular release date was revealed beyond 2027, but the revelation had a lot of RPG enthusiasts quite excited.

Monolith Soft has been working on one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises for a while now, and the new game seems to be continuing that trend.

With the trilogy adjustments, there are now multiple opportunities for new readers to begin the series before the next part is released. Sports fans got another great surprise with Nintendo Switch 2 Sports Resort. The game adds a lot to the original sports assortment, adding boxing, table tennis, shooting, skating, power cruising, and even prop plane activities that remind me of classic Nintendo games like Wave Race and Pilotwings.

The new game looks to have many more features than the old one. It offers a broader range of activities and an increased emphasis on Nintendo-based experiences that evoke memories. Nintendo's third-party momentum seemed to be gaining momentum. Runescape Dragon Wilds is planned to launch on September 15 and will be bringing a more action-oriented version of the RuneScape universe to platforms.

Hello Kitty lovers get a party game on October 29, and Star Fox just appeared out of the blue with a free-to-play demo that can be downloaded from the eShop now before the game comes out on June 25. Then there was Final Fantasy Resonance, a recreation of the first Final Fantasy in HD-2D. That was yet another surprise.

The game will be released on October 22. It combines current pixel art graphics with one of the most important RPG plots in gaming history. Nintendo also announced Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World, an RPG about collecting monsters that combines the basic Dragon Quest gameplay with creature fusion. One of the most essential features of the game was highlighted: you can combine creatures into bigger shapes.

Fans of FromSoftware games got to witness more of The Duskbloods.

The trailer was short (about a minute), but Nintendo announced a network test for the summer of 2026 and teased better performance than in earlier footage. The game is still one of the most exciting upcoming exclusives on the platform.

RPG fans have plenty of other reasons to celebrate. Atlus is still supporting Nintendo hardware, with ReFantazio coming to Switch 2 on November 12. There was also a new version of Minecraft on the Nintendo Switch that promised enhanced graphics, eventually making it look more like versions on other devices.

Next was a rapid-fire montage of other reveals, including Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 2, Rise of the Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy XIV. But one of the biggest surprises was the Kingdom Hearts series. Nintendo said all the titles will now be playable on the Switch 2, ending years of relying on cloud-streamed versions.

There was more partying to do. Fans got a new glimpse at Kingdom Hearts 4 for the first time in a while. The gameplay preview showcased upgraded graphics, the action-packed fighting fans know and love, and renewed hope for the long-awaited sequel.

Square Enix’s move to feature one of its largest forthcoming titles at a Nintendo showcase shows that the studio has more confidence in the Switch 2 environment and its long-term prospects. The main reveal was the most exciting, not including the large number of reveals.

Nintendo teased a version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and gave fans a quick look at what the game will look like.

Instead of simply improving the Nintendo 3DS version, it looks like the remake is taking a much more ambitious approach, borrowing from the darker, more realistic nature of Twilight Princess. The tease indicates Nintendo is treating the project as a full remake rather than a mere remaster. Early signals indicate big upgrades in visuals, voice acting, and design that might make one of the most important games of all time more accessible to a new generation.

Nintendo announced that the remake will be released in 2026, but they didn’t show any gameplay. This will be the big holiday release for the corporation, and many expect it to be the centerpiece of future Zelda-themed events.

To many viewers, the teaser alone made the whole Direct more compelling. There’s still some doubts about how the remake will play, what new content will be added, and just how closely it will resemble the original journey, but the revelation was exactly what fans were looking for: a massive surprise.

Nintendo’s recent Direct showcased a lot of great stuff for the future of the Switch 2. Big RPGs, popular brands, significant third-party support, and the return of one of gaming’s most famous experiences in a completely new form. We don’t know whether the business has any more shocks planned for later on in the year, but for many fans, the promise of returning to Hyrule in an entirely new Ocarina of Time was enough to steal the show.