The Nintendo Switch 2 is Nintendo’s newest console and the direct successor to the original Nintendo Switch, so, naturally, it’s way more powerful than its predecessor. The graphical capabilities of its hardware are especially remarkable because this is a hybrid system, which means that it can be played at home and as a handheld that can be taken everywhere.
Some launch window titles — like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza — have already proved what the Nintendo Switch 2 is capable of, but there are also several video games currently in development that’ll showcase the true potential of this hybrid console. Whether they’re original first-party exclusives or new ports of existing third-party titles, these are upcoming games that will most likely put the Nintendo Switch 2’s hardware to the test.
Borderlands 4
The Long-Awaited Fourth Entry In This Whacky Looter Shooter Franchise
- Release date: October 3, 2025
The Borderlands franchise has already dipped its toes into the Nintendo Switch family of consoles, with ports of the first three games that were technically impressive but were also criticized for their low frame rate (especially when compared to their PS4, Xbox One, and PC counterparts). Nevertheless, it’s clear that Gearbox Software is still set on releasing games on Nintendo’s newest hybrid console, because it has already confirmed that Borderlands 4 will be available on Nintendo Switch 2.
It’s worth pointing out that the Switch 2 port of this game will come out almost a month after the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC versions, meaning that Gearbox will have time to polish it so it can run as smoothly as possible. This certainly won’t be an easy task, because Borderlands 4 will be yet another open-world looter shooter with fast-paced gameplay and a vibrant art style.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
The Most Recent 3D Fighter In The Dragon Ball Franchise
- Release date: November 14, 2025
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero was one of 2024’s most exciting releases because it marked the long-awaited return of the beloved Budokai Tenkaichi series. Fortunately for its fans, Bandai Namco has already confirmed that a Nintendo Switch 2 port (and, weirdly enough, a Switch 1 port) will come out very soon, on November 14, 2025.
Truth be told, the graphics of Sparking! Zero shouldn’t put much of a strain on the hybrid console’s hardware, because it has a vibrant but simple anime art style. On the other hand, however, its combat system is what will put the Switch 2 to the test, because it’s incredibly fast-paced, and it’s filled to the brim with complex animations and flashy particle effects. This Sparking! Zero port will reportedly run at 30 FPS, but it’s always possible that Bandai Namco and Spike Chunsoft will be able to improve its performance before its upcoming November release.
Kirby Air Riders
A Chaotic Racing Game With An Ambitious Open-World Mode
- Release date: November 20, 2025
Weirdly enough, there are not many confirmed Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives currently in development (this will most likely change when Nintendo decides to announce more in a future Nintendo Direct), but Kirby Air Riders is definitely one of the most highly anticipated ones. This title shares a lot of similarities with the console’s signature launch title, Mario Kart World, seeing as both are colorful racing games with a strong multiplayer component and an ambitious open-world mode.
Mario Kart World looks absolutely beautiful and runs at a smooth 60 FPS, so it’s important that Kirby Air Riders looks and runs just as good, or maybe even better, than that game, because it seems like it’ll be the Switch 2’s big holiday release. Based on what was revealed so far (both in trailers and in its dedicated Nintendo Direct presentation), it seems like Masahiro Sakurai and his team will deliver a high-quality product that’ll satisfy longtime Kirby fans who have been waiting for this sequel since 2003.
Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment
The Musou Genre Is Always Perfect For Testing A Console’s Hardware
- Release date: Late 2025/Early 2026
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is currently the only other big upcoming first-party exclusive that Nintendo has revealed so far, and it’s certainly one of the most interesting ones. This is not only another entry in the Hyrule Warriors spin-off series, but also a prequel to 2023’s The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom that will let players experience the legendary Imprisoning War firsthand.
Like its predecessors (Hyrule Warriors and Age of Calamity), Age of Imprisonment is a “Musou” video game, which should be no surprise considering that it’s being developed by Koei Tecmo, the company behind the franchise that single-handedly popularized this genre: Dynasty Warriors. All of this means that Age of Imprisonment will allow players to control many beloved Legend of Zelda characters and unleash powerful techniques and abilities to defeat massive armies full of enemies. This is a unique and frantic gameplay style that has to run smoothly on the Nintendo Switch 2, or otherwise the overall experience won’t be anywhere near as enjoyable or satisfying as it’s supposed to be.
007 First Light
James Bond’s Newest Adventure Will Launch On All Consoles On The Same Day
- Release date: March 27, 2026
007 First Light is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming AAA projects, and it’s already shaping up to be a high-quality James Bond video game. The fact that it’ll be available on Nintendo Switch 2 was already surprising in and of itself, but it was also recently confirmed that this port will come out on March 27, 2026, the same day as the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC versions.
Needless to say, this is one of the games that will test the Switch 2’s hardware the most, and naturally, gamers are quite worried about this specific port. After all, developer IO Interactive had already ported one of its previous games, Hitman 3, to Nintendo Switch, and it got a polarizing reception. To make things even more complicated, it has been confirmed that the Switch 2 port of 007 First Light will be a Game-Key Card release, meaning that the game won’t actually be written on the physical cartridge.
The Duskbloods
FromSoftware’s Exclusive Multiplayer Experience
FromSoftware surprised everyone when it officially revealed The Duskbloods, a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive that feels like it’s going to be a spiritual successor to Bloodborne. What some people may have missed in that original announcement is that this is going to be a multiplayer action RPG with a heavy focus on PvPvE, similarly to Elden Ring Nightreign.
The Duskbloods will undoubtedly be one of the most important Switch 2 releases, not only because it’ll have a dark gothic art style that looks like nothing else on the console, but also because allowing up to eight players to interact at the same time without any performance issues or graphical hiccups won’t be an easy task for FromSoftware. Needless to say, the reception of this anticipated title will completely define whether Nintendo will be able to maintain close relationships with third-party developers or not.
Indiana Jones And The Great Circle
Indy’s Excellent New Video Game Will Receive A Switch 2 Port In The Near Future
While Indiana Jones and The Great Circle was originally released as an Xbox/PC exclusive in 2024, Bethesda eventually ported it to the PlayStation 5 in April 2025. And if that wasn’t enough, the recent announcement of an upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 port took everyone by surprise.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a high-quality AAA adventure with impressive lifelike character models and breathtaking environments, so it’s almost impossible to imagine it running on a Nintendo Switch 2. Not much has been revealed about this port so far, but it’s important to remember that the Switch 1 port of MachineGames’ previous title, Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus, was quite impressive on a technical level, so there’s hope that this one will turn out okay as well.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade
A Fast-Paced Action RPG Based On A Revolutionary Classic
When the long-awaited modern remake of Final Fantasy 7 (simply known as Final Fantasy 7 Remake) originally came out on PS4 in 2020, the idea of a Nintendo Switch port was never in the cards, because this game was clearly too graphically advanced for Nintendo’s hybrid console. All hopes finally died when its enhanced version, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, was released for the next-gen consoles: PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
However, everything changed when Square Enix announced a Nintendo Switch 2 port during the April 2025 installment of Nintendo Direct. This game will certainly put the console’s hardware to the test, not only because it looks incredibly detailed, but also because its gameplay is so fast-paced and complex that it would be held back by technical hiccups. Fortunately, many people were able to try out the Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade at Gamescom 2025, and they were reportedly very surprised at how well it ran and looked, so there’s hope that this will end up being one of the best ports on the console’s entire catalog.
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