Jan 222025
That quick glimpse of a new Mario Kart game during the Switch 2 reveal is really all we have in the way of Switch 2 announcements so far.
I like Mario Kart well enough, but a new one wouldn’t be a system seller for me. I never even got Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch, being content with what I’d played of the Wii U game.
But when that Nintendo Direct comes on April 2, we’re probably going to get a whole lot more game announcements. Here are the top 5 that would convince me to get a Switch 2 sooner rather than later.
5. A new Ace Attorney
You knew it had to be on the list, right? I’m convinced this is our year for a new Ace Attorney announcement, and a Nintendo Direct could be a prime place to announce it. The only reason it’s this low on the list is that Ace Attorney is a multiplatform series now – and since the most recent collection came out for the Switch, PC, PS4, and Xbox One, I fully expect any new Ace Attorney game to launch for the original Switch.
That being said, it they did release a new Ace Attorney game as a Switch 2 exclusive for some reason, I’d be first in line to buy it.
4. Banjo-Threeie
Yes, I know Rare is owned by Microsoft, and that means Microsoft would handle any new Banjo-Kazooie game. However, Nintendo did recently include Microsoft on the list of developers they’re hoping to strengthen their relationships with, and Banjo-Kazooie feels like the perfect game for that sort of partnership.
I’ve loved every Banjo-Kazooie game. Even Nuts & Bolts. Even Grunty’s Revenge. I’d play a new Banjo-Kazooie game in a heartbeat, no matter what system it came out for… and if one of those systems was the Switch 2, I’d be sorely tempted to get one so I could play it there.
3. A new 3D Mario
Super Mario Odyssey was the game I bought a Nintendo Switch for. I actually bought it some time before the game came out, but that was my driving motivation. I knew I wanted to play Odyssey at launch, and so I made sure to have a Switch by that point. Although I’ve never been as big a fan of 2D Mario platformers, the 3D platformers are among my favorites.
If they announce a new 3D Mario game in the style of 64/Sunshine/Odyssey in particular, it’ll once again guarantee I’m there for it. I wouldn’t miss that, no matter what.
2. A new RPG from Monolith Soft
Monolith Soft has become one of my favorite developers, especially due to the Xenoblade series. Even though my enjoyment of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 didn’t quite match that of the previous games in the series, I am still eagerly awaiting their next new game for the Switch 2. They’ve consistently made impressive, beautiful games no matter what hardware it was for, so I can’t wait to see what they’re capable of with the new system.
(Imagine if they take a break from Xenoblade and we finally get a new Baten Kaitos.)
In fact, this would have been #1 on my list, except that we have the Xenoblade Chronicles X remaster coming out in March. I doubt they’d have another game coming out too soon after, so we probably have a little breathing room. Whenever their next game does come, however, I’ll be sure to have a Switch 2 by then.
1. A new (real) Paper Mario
My hopes and dreams for Paper Mario had all but crumbled into dust, the void filled by Bug Fables and nothing else, but then Nintendo announced a remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, and all my dreams returned to life. Not only did they remake a classic Paper Mario game, but they even revived the Mario & Luigi series as well! It’s clear Nintendo is no longer averse to Mario RPGs, so who’s to say they aren’t working on a new Paper Mario like the originals?
If they announced a new Paper Mario that genuinely looked like the older games (or even Super Paper Mario), complete with all the charm and characters and storytelling, you know I’d be there day one. Now, I still haven’t played Origami King, but that’s another matter. That can wait for me to properly judge it another time, but a new classic Paper Mario would be a dream come true.
Honorable mentions go to Luigi’s Manion 4, Fatal Frame 6, and a fourth Famicom Detective Club game, all of which I’d be delighted to see but probably wouldn’t buy the console for them alone.
What new game announcements would be sure to get you to buy a Switch 2?
I agree a new Ace Attorney would be multi-platform and likely also for original Switch, if it happens. New 3D Mario I would expect but also be excited for, though I have yet to play Wonder…
I’m unsure Monolith Soft is even the dev for Baiten Kaitos anymore since the remaster was made by another dev and released by the original publisher, so that feels even less likely!
A new Paper Mario would be fantastic! Once my backlog is more under control (if that ever happens lol) then hopefully I can make time for Thousand Year Door remaster, it was still so cool seeing that again.
My biggest prediction/desire is Pokemon. Specifically, the next Pokemon Legends game that has only been teased so far. That could be a system seller for me, especially if it lives up to the standards of Legends Arceus (since I am still iffy on Scarlet/Violet and never even got the DLC for that one, despite having done so for Sword/Shield)
Fair point about Baten Kaitos, but it feels unlikely that Bandai Namco would decide on their own to make a new one now, so a sequel seems most likely to happen if Nintendo made a deal with them.
I’m definitely looking forward to the new Pokemon Legends game! I’m so curious about how it will compare to Arceus.