Last fall’s critically acclaimed Super Mario Bros. Wonder was described by some as the Nintendo Switch’s swan song—because a follow-up console is reportedly in the works, and Wonder may well be the last seismic Switch exclusive before a Switch 2 rolls out.
But it’s certainly not the last notable game that’s set to release for the handheld console. Nintendo has unveiled a variety of upcoming Switch games for 2024 that either tap into familiar characters or put a fresh coat of paint on old classics.
While we might not get another huge insta-classic like last year’s Super Mario Bros. Wonder or The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, there are bound to be some gems on the horizon to keep you playing until the Switch 2 is properly unveiled and released.
Here’s what is still ahead on the Switch that we’re excited about. It’s certainly not everything coming to Switch in the months ahead—particularly given the barrage of digital games that regularly hit the platform—but it’s the biggest and most interesting stuff still on the horizon.
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered (Feb. 14)
Lara Croft’s early adventures are iconic and influential, but the mid-’90s games could be tough to appreciate at this point. Luckily, publisher Aspyr is bundling up the first three games in the series with all of their respective expansion packs, plus they’re all getting refreshed graphics. And you can swap back to the blocky original visuals if you please. A trio of games for $30 with various enhancements? That could be appealing.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong (Feb. 16)
Twenty years after debuting on Game Boy Advance, Nintendo is overhauling Mario vs. Donkey Kong for the Switch. It’s a little more cerebral than the classic Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. games, tasking you with solving puzzles as you navigate the platform-based levels. This fan favorite is being upgraded for a new generation of players, and adding local co-op multiplayer too along with the visual boost.
Unicorn Overlord (Mar. 8)
Vanillaware routinely makes some of the most captivating and distinctive role-playing games, including Odin Sphere and Dragon’s Crown, and Unicorn Overlord looks no different. It’s a tactical RPG inspired by the greats of the 1990s (think Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics), paired with the kind of stunning hand-drawn artwork the studio is known for. After the late 2023 genre barrage, including Super Mario RPG, this might be the Switch’s next engrossing adventure.
Princess Peach Showtime (Mar. 22)
Princess Peach has been a mainstay of nearly every Mario game over the years, but rarely has starring roles herself. Now, nearly 20 years after the last attempt, she’s getting her own spotlight again with Princess Peach Showtime on Switch. This original game uses a theatre theme to toss Peach into various game scenarios inspired by stage plays, turning her into a baker, detective, and swordfighter as she battles through action stages.
Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD (Summer 2024)
Speaking of Mario allies who don’t get their own games very often… Luigi’s had a nice run of lighthearted horror games over the years, and now Luigi’s Mansion 2 (originally Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon) will make the leap from Nintendo 3DS to Switch in 2024. If you missed the previous game before the Switch’s own fun Luigi’s Mansion 3, this upgraded port will serve up a Ghostbusters-esque spooky experience for the whole family.
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (TBD 2024)
As we get deeper into 2024, it increasingly looks like upgraded versions of classic games may be Nintendo’s best option to keep Switch fans happy while likely prepping brand new Switch 2 games in the background. Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door brings the role-playing series’ second game from GameCube to Switch after two decades. No date has been set beyond it launching sometime in 2024, but we suspect it’ll be sometime in spring or summer.
Metroid Prime 4 (TBD)
Announced in 2017, Metroid Prime 4 still hasn’t seen the light of day. Realistically, there’s a good chance that it in fact won’t launch on the original Switch at this point, but could instead move onto the Switch 2—or simultaneously hit both, as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild did across old and new platforms back when. Original series developer Retro Studios took over the project from Bandai Namco in 2019, but otherwise we haven’t seen or heard much.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam (TBD)
The fan-favorite Professor Layton puzzle adventure series is slated to come back to Switch with Professor Layton and the New World of Steam, which was announced last year. Few concrete details are known, but the game appears to bring back the titular hero in a new quest set in America. Developer Level-5 is teasing more details to come, so it’s entirely possible that this game will indeed still hit the current Switch.
Edited by Ryan Ozawa
Editor’s note: This story was first published on November 23, 2023 and was last updated with new information on January 24.
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- Source: https://decrypt.co/206987/biggest-nintendo-games-still-coming-before-switch-2
