This holiday season makes me feel like a kid again. For the first time in years, I put something bold on my Christmas list. Not an enjoyable game to lose a weekend for, not a gift card with plausible deniability, but something self-indulgent and deeply frivolous in the best possible way. I asked o Nintendo Switch 2. And judging by the increasingly subtle hints from those close to me—the strategic pauses, the suspicious smiles, the kind of deflection that feels rehearsed—I think it might actually happen.
When the Nintendo Switch 2 was announced earlier this year, I was sure I'd end up picking one up. Not at the start, not in a hurry, but when it was necessary. Maybe in a year or two, once the library fills up and the hype settles into something more practical. That plan lasted until I started really looking at what was coming next. With January 2026 approaching and an even bigger slate stretching into 2026, it's painfully clear that “finally” was never real. After the holiday glow fades and the new year rolls in, this console will no longer be a gift. It will be a decision I make for myself, fully justified by the games waiting on the other side of this purchase, and January itself is doing a lot of heavy lifting.
16 Big Switch 2 games coming soon
Nintendo's latest financial report highlights 10 first-party games on the way for the Switch 2 console.
New games coming to Nintendo Switch 2 in January 2026
January doesn't ease anyone into the Switch 2 era. He kicks the door wide open and dares players to keep up. Honestly, January alone would justify the system to me, but the real problem is that it doesn't stop there. Here are some of the titles I'm most looking forward to as the new year dawns.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon (January 15)
For a long time Trails fans, that's a big one. Trails beyond the horizon represents another big step forward for a series known for its dense world-building and interconnected narrative. Seeing how it lands on the Switch 2 at launch is significant. Not just as a technical upgrade, but as a signal that these sprawling JRPGs finally have a home that can keep up with their ambitions.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch 2 Edition (January 15)
Yes, I already own it. Yes, I will upgrade. No, I won't explain it. New Horizons it was a lifesaver for many people, including myself, and returning to it with improved performance and quality of life improvements feels less like a double dip and more like a return to a place that once mattered. If Animal Crossing: New Horizons The Switch 2 edition will smooth out the loading times and breathe a little more life into island life, that'll be enough for me.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins (January 17)
Warriors games live or die by performance so Origins coming to the Switch 2 feels like an admission that Nintendo's hardware can handle large-scale chaos properly. If it makes for smoother battles and fewer compromises, it might be the best way to experience the franchise outside of PC.
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (January 22)
This one still feels surreal. FF7 Remake Intergrade there's not just a port on the Switch 2; it's a statement. Having one of the most acclaimed RPG remakes of the last decade playable on Nintendo's hybrid handheld is something that would have sounded impossible not too long ago. For anyone who missed it the first time or wants to unplug it from the TV, it's great.
Nintendo Switch 2 finally lets me fill in the 22-year-old Blindspot
The Nintendo Switch 2 is a very impressive console and makes me want to return to a franchise I haven't touched in over 20 years.
January isn't the only good time to own a Switch 2 – the whole year is packed with great new games
The Switch 2 lineup is starting to feel less like an opening window and more like a long-term commitment. If anyone is still debating whether the Switch 2 is worth it, the 2026 releases make it a non-negotiable console. Looking ahead to 2026, the question won't be whether the Switch 2 is worth owning. It will be how anyone managed to wait so long. My wallet may not be ready. But honestly? Neither was my heart, however, and it had already lost this battle.
Pokemon Pokopia (March 5, 2026)
Cozy Pokemon the spinoff arriving just two days before my birthday is perfectly timed. Popopia looks like a smoother, slower-paced experience; something designed to be lived in rather than rushed through. It's exactly the kind of game that benefits from portability, and exactly the sort of game that I know will quietly soak up dozens of hours.
Pokemon Gen 10 is also almost confirmed for 2026.
Duskbloods (2026)
A brand new multiplayer game from FromSoftware, exclusive to the Switch 2, is not something I would have expected this decade. It comes from the studio in the back Dark souls and Elden Ring, Duskbloods immediately stands out as one of the most intriguing unknowns on the horizon. However it ends, it signals a level of third-party trust that is new to Nintendo.
Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave (2026)
I didn't touch a Fire sign degree until my favorite college roommate convinced me to give it a try Three houses. Late nights at Garreg Mach, balancing lectures with battles, remain some of my favorite gaming memories from that era. Fortune's Weave it already feels like a return to that emotional investment: the kind of game that sneaks up on you and refuses to let go.
Splatoon Raiders (2026)
Somehow I never played Splatoon despite its cultural pressure on Nintendo fans. Raiders may finally be my way in. As a spinoff, it feels designed to be more accessible while retaining the distinct energy of the series.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream (Fall 2026)
I'm not exaggerating when I say that this announcement alone almost sold me on the Switch 2. New Life of Tomodachi after all these years, it feels deeply personal, deeply special, and deeply Nintendo. If ever there was a game designed to thrive on modern hardware and social chaos, it's this one.
- Mark
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Nintendo
- Original release date
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June 5, 2025
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$449.99
- Operating system
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Proprietary
