Key Takeaways
- The Nintendo Switch offers portability and is still a great alternative to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
- Upcoming Switch games like Mortal Kombat 1 and Detective Pikachu Returns have fans excited for new experiences.
- Remakes and sequels of beloved games like Super Mario RPG and Hollow Knight: Silksong are highly anticipated by fans.
The Nintendo Switch has proved itself as a superb alternative to major consoles from Sony and Xbox, offering something else besides - portability. It's still just as impressive now that the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S are on the scene, too.
With the Nintendo Switch Lite going great guns, and the Nintendo Switch OLED also available, there are a ton of fans looking for the best games to buy.
That's why we've gathered a list of the upcoming Switch games we've got our own beady eyes on. You can find them in chronological order - soonest first - with trailers for each.
Detective Pikachu Returns
- Pre-order: Nintendo eShop
- Release date: 6 October 2023
- Switch exclusive? Yes
- Publisher: Nintendo
A long-awaited return for Detective Pikachu after a much-loved outing on the 3DS, this looks like a fun romp through a noir-ish city solving crimes with the grizzled little detective.
It's always fun to play other Pokemon games than the main entries, not least because they're generally a little better-looking - and this one brings actual voice-acting to the table.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Pre-order: Amazon
- Release date: 20 October 2023
- Switch exclusive? Yes
- Publisher: Nintendo
The next big 2D Mario game is always a significant moment for Nintendo, and it's been ages since we got a completely fresh Mario platformer with a new arty style.
Wonder looks like a barrel of fun, with wacky levels and all-new powerups including one that turns Mario into an Elephant, which we can't wait to try.
Hogwarts Legacy
- Pre-order: Amazon
- Release date: 14 November 2023
- Switch exclusive? No, also on PlayStation, Xbox and PC
- Publisher: Warner Bros.
Although it's already out on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, Hogwarts Legacy is taking a little longer to come to Switch as its developers wrangle with the lower power output of the console.
If you're hoping to explore Hogwarts and figure out what's caused a goblin uprising, you'll be able to do so on the go or in docked mode once this port eventually lands.
Super Mario RPG
- Pre-order: Amazon
- Release date: 17 November 2023
- Switch exclusive? Yes
- Publisher: Nintendo
One of the most beloved games from the SNES era, Super Mario RPG is being completely remade for the Switch, and it looks absolutely gorgeous.
A turn-based RPG that has an incredible sense of humour and liveliness, this will give whole new generations of players a chance to experience one of the best non-platforming Mario games.
Prince of Persia The Lost Crown
- Pre-order: Amazon
- Release date: 18 January 2024
- Switch exclusive? No, also on PlayStation, Xbox and PC
- Publisher: Ubisoft
Prince of Persia might be better known for its 3D entries, but it started as a 2D platformer. The Lost Crown is a return to those roots, but more fluid and with what looks like a really cool art style.
We'll explore a big map earning new abilities to unlock even more areas, battling bosses along the way with some responsive and quick-paced combat.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
- Pre-order: Nintendo
- Release date: 16 February 2024
- Switch exclusive? Yes
- Publisher: Nintendo
Mario's nemesis might now be Bowser most of the time, but his rivalry with Donkey Kong can't be underestimated. This is a remake of their original battler, from way back in the days of the Game Boy Advance.
It presents stages that are part platformer, part puzzle, and leaves you to figure out how to get through them to rescue mini Mario toys from Donkey Kong's grasp.
Princess Peach: Showtime!
- Pre-order: Nintendo
- Release date: 22 March 2024
- Switch exclusive? Yes
- Publisher: Nintendo
A new Princess Peach game is on the way, and it looks like a fun time, as Peach helps to get various shows back on the road by taking on new identities thanks to changing costumes.
From detective work to swordplay, there seem to be plenty of options and plenty of levels to work through, in Peach's first standalone adventure for quite a while.
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
- Release date: 2024
- Switch exclusive: Yes
- Publisher: Nintendo
A truly beloved game, The Thousand Year Door is returning with a newly upgraded remake that will bring a true cult classic to the Switch.
Full of impressively devious humour and with a bunch of fun puzzles, boss fights, characters and moments to encounter, this is sure to be a hit with fans of the series.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
- Release date: TBC
- Switch exclusive? No
- Publisher: Team Cherry
Hollow Knight: Silksong is an upcoming Metroidvania action-adventure video game that's the sequel to 2017's award-winning Hollow Knight. You'll be journeying to all new lands with special powers to battle the bug hordes. It has been suggested that this game will launch in June but there's no official word yet.
Metroid Prime 4
- Release date: TBC
- Switch exclusive? Yes
- Publisher: Nintendo
Nintendo announced a new instalment of Metroid Prime, this time for Switch, way back during its E3 2017 Spotlight presentation - but few other details have emerged in an absolute age that's passed since then.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam
- Release date: TBC
- Switch exclusive? Yes
- Publisher: Level-5
With nothing but an incredibly short teaser trailer to go on, all we know for sure is that Professor Layton is back at last, and it looks like we'll be solving mysteries in a new steampunk city.
For those who love gentle stories and puzzling conundrums, this will be one to watch - the series has become a cult hit with plenty of entries on past Nintendo hardware.