The incoming Nintendo Switch 2 launch games are set to kick off a new era of gaming, with a new Mario Kart title and some refreshed Switch games in tow.Mario Kart World leads the charge on a huge sum of games coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 on its launch date.(Image: Nintendo)Launch day for the Nintendo Switch 2 is set to be a big day for gaming fans. Nintendo is set to unleash a huge number of games, featuring brand-new experiences and enhanced editions of modern classics.
The Nintendo Switch 2, despite some of its controversies post-reveal, is still shaping up to be an incredibly worthy follow-up to one of Nintendo’s greatest triumphs. Our live coverage of the Switch 2 showcase revealed an unbelievable roster of games, features and arrivals that have pushed the system into feeling like an incredibly huge deal, and as our Mario Kart World preview and our time playing Donkey Kong Bananza have revealed, even if the company only offered the Nintendo Switch 2 launch games, it’d be worth the purchase alone, even as UK shoppers scramble to secure a console.
There are a lot of games incoming, that’s for sure, but only a select collection of games are slated to arrive on day one to give you the opportunity to test out your new console in style. So, what exactly can we expect from the Nintendo Switch 2 on its very first day? Here’s what you need to know about the Nintendo Switch 2 launch games.
READ MORE: PS Plus Extra and Premium April 2025 games reveal time – when free PS5 and PS4 titles are revealedREAD MORE: Call of Duty players have lost entire console’s worth of storage after the Season 3 updateNintendo Switch 2 launch gamesHere’s every game set to come to Nintendo Switch 2 on its launch day of June 5, 2025, from brand-new titles all the way to supported classics:
Brand-new Nintendo Switch 2 launch gamesOf course, the most exciting titles that players want to try on the very first day are the exclusive games that are coming to the console for their launch – but surprisingly, there aren’t many. Here are the launch titles coming on release day:
Mario Kart WorldNintendo Switch 2 Welcome TourSurvival KidsThe other leading titles, set to make the Nintendo Switch 2 their first home, are set to come later on down the line, like Donkey Kong Bananza, which arrives on July 17, 2025. Don’t lose hope, though, as there are still a lot of great titles to come.
Nintendo Switch 2 Edition gamesNintendo Switch 2 Edition games are the titles that already exist out in the wild, but will be coming to the fresh console as it launches, either migrating from other consoles or being Switch games with major upgrades to make them bigger and better than ever. Those Nintendo Switch 2 launch games are:
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the KingdomSid Meier’s Civilization 7Rune Factory: Guardians of AzumaHogwarts LegacyCyberpunk 2077FortniteStreet Fighter 6Yakuza 0 Director’s CutSplit FictionBravely Default: Flying Fairy HD RemasterKunitsu-Gami: Path of the GoddessPuyo Puyo Tetris 2SNobunaga’s Ambition: AwakeningFast FusionArcade Archives 2: Ridge RacerNintendo Switch games playable on Nintendo Switch 2A huge collection of Nintendo Switch games are expected to be playable as Nintendo Switch 2 launch games, with only a few minor exceptions being ruled out by Nintendo. Here are the leading games that the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct revealed will be playable on the console:
Donkey Kong Country Returns HDLuigi’s Mansion 2The Legend of Zelda: Link’s AwakeningSuper Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury51 Worldwide GamesFire Emblem EngageXenoblade Chronicles XKirby and the Forgotten LandAnimal Crossing: New HorizonsSuper Mario Bros. WonderPikmin 4Mario Strikers Battle LeagueSuper Mario Maker 2Pokemon ScarletPokemon VioletSuper Smash Bros UltimateSplatoon 3Super Mario OdysseyThe Legend of Zelda: Echoes of WisdomNintendo Gamecube games playable via Nintendo Switch OnlineOn top of these titles, Nintendo has revealed that the Gamecube console will be coming to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion pack, promising players a huge swathe of titles to come to the platform following the arrival of three at launch. Those three games are:
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind WakerSoulCalibur 2F-Zero GXPlus, the games expected to follow are:
Super Mario SunshineFire Emblem: Path of RadiancePokemon XD: Gale of DarknessSuper Mario StrikersChibi-Robo! Plug into Adventure!Luigi’s MansionPokemon ColosseumThat’s all of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch games! It’s a huge mound of titles that is kicking off the new era in style, and though there aren’t many entirely new games to experience on the first day, we’re willing to bet that Mario Kart World will keep you busy enough until they eventually arrive.