Nintendo has had a pretty good run since announcing the Switch 2. They’ve sold tons of consoles despite not really having a top-tier beloved title to go with it. Donkey Kong Bananza is a superb game, but it doesn’t have the elite branding that a 3D Mario or Zelda title does.
And if you look ahead, the slate for the rest of 2026 is pretty thin. Star Fox is coming out, but that’s really it. However, the company just confirmed that there are more games coming this year, even ones that haven’t yet been announced.
Nintendo’s Got More Planned in 2026
If you were concerned about the slow start to the Nintendo Switch 2’s life cycle, at least in terms of the exclusive games it has, then you can panic no more. According to reports, the company has confirmed it has “multiple” games set for launch in 2026 that no one knows about yet.
This comes in the wake of the recent announcement that consoles will be more expensive later this year. Nintendo claims that they are doing that because of market conditions (a.k.a. the RAM shortage), but by having more games available, they can help give gamers a reason to pay the extra cost. It’s only $50 extra, but that is significant in this economy.
It is unclear when those games will be announced. A Nintendo Direct is rumored for June, but that’s unconfirmed. Regardless, there will be plenty of new titles announced at some point, and a lot of them will be out before the year is over, which is good news for those whose Switch 2 is collecting dust at the moment without many games to play.
What Games Might Nintendo Be Releasing?
Whenever Nintendo’s going to release a game, it’s pretty easy to predict what game it will be. Given the absence in the last nine years, a new 3D Mario game has to be at the top of the list. If the company does have games slated that we don’t know about, it would be stunning if that weren’t part of their 2026 plans. It would sell like hotcakes and convince holdouts to get a Switch 2.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is likely to be announced at the June Nintendo Direct (which is also unconfirmed), so that doesn’t really count. However, a new Zelda game wouldn’t be out of the question. It is the 40th anniversary, and like Mario, these games are almost always best-sellers. It’s just a matter of whether or not they’ve been able to get a big game done between now and Tears of the Kingdom (2023).
A new Super Smash Bros. is extremely likely. With the success of Mario Kart World, even when following up Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, it is a matter of when, not if, Nintendo brings out another Smash. Releasing it for the holiday season would be perfect.
A new Animal Crossing may make the most sense. Unlike the other games mentioned (except Smash, which got updates for years after its launch), it’s been a long time since a new game was released. New Horizons dominated in 2020, and if there’s about to be a hantavirus outbreak, now’s a good time for Nintendo to release a sequel.
Conclusion
Fans have understandably been a little disappointed with the lack of heavy hitters for the Nintendo Switch 2. Even the rumored and probable Ocarina of Time remake is not going to send the gaming community into a frenzy. Rest assured, the company has big plans this year. We just haven’t been informed of them just yet.
