Switch 2 new games to play now: “Animal Crossing” updates, year-end blockbusters and more in one guide

Switch players, has your game library been feeling a little stale lately? As a new-generation console, Switch 2 brings major upgrades to its screen, Joy-Con controllers, and overall gameplay experience, while a string of big releases is rolling out in the second half of the year. Worried you’ll have to start your entire collection over if you pick up the new console? Good news: Nintendo has confirmed that Switch 2 is backward compatible with most existing games, with several fan favorites also returning in new Switch 2 editions. We’ve rounded up this year’s top picks below. Is there one that might tempt you to open your wallet?

• Related reading: The long-awaited Switch 2 is here: A closer look at Nintendo’s major new console upgrade and its key highlights

Switch 2 exclusive games

1. Mario Kart World

Launching alongside Switch 2, this new installment turns every course into one enormous open-world map. Gaming creators abroad have tested it and found that it takes more than 10 hours to drive across all 202 courses. Plenty of new racers are joining the lineup, too, including first-time appearances from Goomba and Gabon, plus the recently beloved Cow, so you can enjoy the freedom of the open road from home.

Release date: June 5, 2025

2. Donkey Kong Bananza

This all-new 3D action game stars fan-favorite Donkey Kong, who sets off on a quest for Golden Bananas. Its finely detailed underground world is especially exciting, spanning sunlit wilderness at dusk, mysterious primeval forests, and icy landscapes. Help Donkey Kong use his wild strength to smash through every visible enemy and obstacle, opening up a vast world of your own.

Release date: July 17, 2025

3. Kirby Air Riders

The much-anticipated year-end release is here: Kirby’s racing game is finally back. Players can choose from a range of beloved Kirby characters, pair them with different vehicles, and take to the track. Along with the classic 12-player race mode, there’s a new 16-player City Trial mode, where players use vehicle skills and Copy Abilities to defeat every opponent in the arena. It could be the perfect party game for the holiday season.

Release date: November 20, 2025

4. Drag x Drive

5. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

A prequel to Tears of the Kingdom, this game takes players back in time with Zelda to take part in the Imprisoning War. It also introduces new Sync Strikes for two players, with split-screen and local co-op support, giving you the chance to explore this mysterious land alongside a friend.

Release date: November 6, 2025

6. The Duskbloods

Switch 2 upgraded games (Nintendo Switch 2 Edition)

Upgraded game 1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Islanders, are you ready? A new Animal Crossing: New Horizons update arrives on Switch 2 on January 15, 2026, bringing plenty of exciting new features. Players with the existing Switch version need only pay 550 yen (approximately HK$ 28 / NT$ 110) for the Switch 2 Upgrade Pack to enjoy the new experience on the new device. The update greatly improves the resolution, making island scenery and animal residents look clearer and more lifelike. It also adds mouse controls, making furniture placement and bulletin-board design more intuitive and convenient. Better still, the Joy-Con now lets you draw furniture designs by hand, giving you even more creative freedom.

Release date: January 15, 2026

Update highlight 1. New multiplayer items make island life even more fun

This update also introduces a fun new item: the Microphone. Buy one from Nook’s Cranny, then call a resident’s name into Switch 2’s built-in microphone, and they’ll appear right away, no matter how far away they’re hiding. Multiplayer has also received a major upgrade: up to 12 players can now gather and chat on the same island at once. Connect an external camera and your facial expressions can even appear on your in-game character in real time, making every interaction more lively and fun.

Update highlight 2. New resort hotel and Slumber Islands bring an abundance of content

Also arriving January 15, 2026, the free update will be available to players on all systems. A new seaside resort hotel managed by Kapp’n will open along the shore. Help decorate rooms and welcome guests to exchange your efforts for worthwhile rewards, including retro Nintendo game consoles that let you play nostalgic mini-games. A new Slumber Island dream world will also open, allowing players to create three personalized Slumber Islands and adjust everything from the weather to the terrain. Storage capacity will jump from 5,000 to 9,000 items, so there’s no need to worry about clutter piling up in your front yard, while Resetti’s new cleanup service is ready to help restore order.

Update highlight 3. Collaboration items and new characters give your island a fresh look

Players who love collecting furniture and clothing will be thrilled. Animal Crossing is adding collaboration collections with LEGO, The Legend of Zelda, and Splatoon, and you’ll even be able to invite The Legend of Zelda’s new characters, Tulin and Mineru, to visit your island, bringing even more surprises to your getaway.

Upgraded game 2. Super Mario Party Jamboree

The globally beloved Super Mario Party gets new ways to play with Switch 2 accessories. The Joy-Con mouse, microphone, and separately sold USB camera will work with 20 mini-games. Most fun of all, Jamboree TV uses the camera to turn the already lively party game into a TV game show hosted by Bowser. Up to four players’ avatars and expressions while playing are captured in real time and shown on the TV screen, drawing everyone further into the action. It’s a great choice for the whole family to enjoy together.

Release date: April 24, 2025

Upgraded game 3. Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Set in a French city, the game features scenery and map design filled with international flair, along with clothing shops around every corner and a wide selection of hairstyles and outfits. Even when you’re not battling, you can wander the map like a real tourist, try on a new look, and take photos, much like the dress-up games we loved as kids. The main story is no easy ride, though. At night, you can take part in Pokémon battles and trainer matches, and Pokémon may even attack trainers, making combat feel far more immersive and real.

Release date: October 16, 2025

 

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Upgraded game 4. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild / The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Upgraded game 5. Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Upgraded game 6. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Upgraded game 7. Bye Sweet Carole

Fans of dark fantasy, take note. Inspired by vintage Disney animation, this game follows Lana as she traces the clues left by Carole, a girl her age who escaped from a 19th-century orphanage, uncovering a dark story along the way. The horror isn’t too intense, making it especially fitting for Halloween. If you love dark fantasy, don’t miss this one.

Release date: October 6, 2025

Which of these games are you most tempted to pick up?

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