Nintendo fans everywhere are still waiting for an official reveal of the Switch follow-up console. At this point, it’s all but confirmed with rumors swirling and Nintendo apparently showing the console off to developers at Gamescom recently. The question at this point doesn’t seem to be whether or not this console is coming anymore, but the Nintendo Switch 2 launch title lineup will be.
Launch titles are extremely important for a new console. The specs can be as impressive as anything else on the market, but there’s no point in buying it if there aren’t any games that many in the industry call “system sellers.” There can be a lot of wild speculation about potential launch titles for the Switch 2, but there are a few games that are confirmed in development, or at least rumored to be coming sometime in the near future, that could be there at release.
5. Pokemon Legends 2
Pokemon Legends: Arceus was the unexpected Pokemon spin-off that pleasantly surprised the entire fanbase. The ideas that the game introduced into a franchise that isn’t known for major switch-ups was a breath of fresh air, and it would be a shame to never see a sequel further flesh out what really should be a jumping-off point for a new fantastic Pokemon game series. Game Freak hasn’t done anything to confirm, or even hint, at the possibility of a new Pokemon Legends game yet, but it seems very likely that one should be in the pipeline at some point, and the improved capabilities of the Switch successor would be the perfect place to see a game like this.
4. Metroid Prime 4
The wait for the fourth entry to the critically acclaimed Metroid Prime series is getting a little ridiculous at this point. The game was first announced at E3 2017 and, after more than six years in development, fans still have received nothing more than the logo. There’s complete radio silence from Retro Studios about what the game actually looks like or when it could be coming. With any luck, the game may finally be approaching a finished state, and Nintendo is waiting for the reveal of the Switch 2 to announce Metroid Prime 4 as a launch title. That would definitely turn some heads.
3. Tears of the Kingdom Sequel
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom just came out earlier this year and it remains one of the highest-selling games of 2023. With a game so huge still fresh on the market, it might seem a little silly to assume a follow-up is coming anytime soon. The recent announcement of no DLC from Tears of the Kingdom producer Eiji Aonuma was accompanied by the news that the team would like to make another game within the BotW/TotK world, though, which has fueled rumors among the fanbase that the DLC is being foregone for the purpose of beginning development on a new game. The Switch 2 is rumored to release as early as Q3-Q4 2024, so it’s unlikely the team can pull off a Tears of the Kingdom sequel so quickly, but it could be one of the earlier titles announced within the first year of the system’s life.
2. Dragon Quest 12
It’s been two years since the initial announcement for Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate, which means it may be time soon for a gameplay or release window reveal. Dragon Quest 11 was ported to the Switch in 2019 and has established itself as one of the best JRPGs on the platform to this day, which has led to a lot of excitement over its follow-up, especially with the director confirming the game will be focusing on more adult themes. The original Switch got Xenoblade Chronicles 2 in the first year of its launch back in 2017, so it would make sense to see the Nintendo Switch 2 get a big JRPG release as a launch title.
1. Persona 6
Speaking of JRPGs, the entire community is tuned in to see what Atlus is planning to do for the next entry in the Persona franchise. The developer is holding our attention around the franchise with this year’s Persona 5 Tactica and 2024’s Persona 3 Reload, but those are just appetizers to the main course that will be Persona 6. Persona 6 has been confirmed in development, but virtually no information is known about the game at this time other than some potentially credible rumors about its art style and the fact that P6 won’t be released in 2024. It’s not much to go off, but if Atlus is planning on doing a Persona game a year with P5 Tactica in 2023 and P3R in 2024, then 2025 could be the year for Persona 6 to arrive, and it could be one of the earlier JRPGs on the Switch 2.
