Upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 Games: Metroid Prime 4, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and More

In a content-rich Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo unveiled a slate of new games and features for the Nintendo Switch, setting the stage for what appears to be the console’s final chapter before the Nintendo Switch 2 arrives.

The 30-minute presentation showcased over 25 titles coming to the Switch in 2025 and beyond, including several major first-party releases and a range of third-party games.

Major Announcements

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream marks the return of the quirky life simulation series after a decade-long hiatus. This new entry will allow players to create Mii characters based on themselves, friends, and family, watching them interact in often humorous ways on an island. The game is slated for release in 2026.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A received more details, revealing Lumiose City as the setting where players will begin their adventure with either Chikorita, Tepig, or Totodile as their starter Pokémon. The game will feature a day-night cycle with different activities, including a nighttime tournament called Z-A Royale. It’s scheduled for release in late 2025.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally got a substantial trailer, showing protagonist Samus Aran exploring the planet Viewros. The trailer highlighted new psychic abilities that allow Samus to control the trajectory of her beams and operate mechanisms.

Rhythm Heaven Groove was announced as a new entry in the rhythm game series, featuring music produced by renowned Japanese musician Tsunku♂. The game is planned for release in 2026.

New Feature: Virtual Game Cards

Nintendo introduced Virtual Game Cards, a new feature that will change how digital games are managed on Switch systems. This feature will allow players to “eject” purchased digital titles from one system and “load” them onto another, similar to physical game cards.

Players can also lend games to Nintendo Account family group members for two weeks via local wireless connection. The feature will arrive via a system update in late April and will be compatible with Nintendo Switch 2 at launch.

Mobile App: Nintendo Today!

The presentation also revealed Nintendo Today!, a new smart-device app that delivers Nintendo content including news, videos, and comics featuring Nintendo games and characters. The free app is available to download starting today for anyone with a Nintendo Account and a compatible smart device. After the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct on April 2, the app will also provide information about the new console.

Third-Party Highlights

Several notable third-party titles were showcased, including:

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion: A 2D arcade-style beat ’em up featuring Marvel heroes like Wolverine, Spider-Man, and Captain America, launching this winter.
STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar: A remake of the Nintendo DS farming simulation, coming August 27.
PATAPON 1+2 REPLAY: Remastered versions of the rhythm action games, launching July 11.
Shadow Labyrinth: A unique action platformer with ties to PAC-MAN, releasing July 18.
Witchbrook: A magical life simulator where players can enroll as a witch-in-training, coming holiday 2025.

Immediate Releases

Several games were announced for immediate release following the Direct:

SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered
Rift of the NecroDancer
Disney Villains Cursed Café

The presentation ended with a reminder that information about Nintendo Switch 2 will be shared in a dedicated Nintendo Direct on April 2 at 6 a.m. PT.

Despite the focus on supporting the current Switch hardware, the presentation clearly positioned many of these titles as bridges to the next console generation, with several games scheduled for release dates that will likely overlap with the Switch 2’s early lifecycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Nintendo Direct didn’t reveal a release date for the Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo has scheduled a separate Nintendo Direct specifically focused on the Nintendo Switch 2 for April 2, 2025, at 6 a.m. PT, where more information about the new console will be shared.

Virtual Game Cards is a new feature that allows players to manage digital games similar to physical game cards. You can “eject” a purchased digital title from one Nintendo Switch system and “load” it onto another. You can also lend games to Nintendo Account family group members for up to two weeks via local wireless connection. This feature will be available in late April 2025 via a system update and will be compatible with Nintendo Switch 2.

According to the Nintendo Direct, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is scheduled to release sometime in 2025. The exact release date has not been announced yet, but Nintendo confirmed it will be coming this year to the Nintendo Switch.

Nintendo Today! is a new smart device app that delivers Nintendo content to your phone or tablet, including news, videos, and comics featuring Nintendo games and characters. It’s available for free download starting now for anyone with a Nintendo Account and a compatible smart device. After the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct on April 2, the app will also provide information about the upcoming console.

The major first-party games announced include:

Pokémon Legends: Z-A (late 2025)
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (2025)
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream (2026)
Rhythm Heaven Groove (2026)

These represent some of Nintendo’s biggest franchises and will span the transition period between the current Switch and the upcoming Switch 2.

While Nintendo didn’t explicitly confirm compatibility, many of the announced games with 2025 and 2026 release dates (like Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream and Rhythm Heaven Groove) will likely be available during the early life cycle of the Nintendo Switch 2. The Virtual Game Cards feature is confirmed to work with Nintendo Switch 2 at launch, suggesting some form of backward compatibility. More details about compatibility will likely be revealed during the dedicated Nintendo Switch 2 Direct on April 2.