Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games You Need to Play

While many may still be riding the epic high of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom from last year, the Nintendo Switch has plenty of exciting games coming out in 2024 that will offer Nintendo fans a fun time, whether you’re looking for action, fantasy, or just cozy vibes. There’s Zelda’s first outing as a main, playable character, Mario Party’s biggest game yet, and so many others. 

To help keep things straight, we’ve put together a handy guide of upcoming games that Nintendo Switch owners should keep an eye on in 2024.

Luigi’s Mansion 2

Nintendo – June 27

The Nintendo 3DS game Luigi’s Mansion 2 is finally getting a remaster for the Switch this summer, and it appears to be just as fun and spooky as the original. Tasked with investigating the eerie Evershade Valley, Luigi learns he must retrieve the missing shards of the Dark Moon, restore the valley to its former glory, and return the now hostile spirits to their more friendly form. Using the Poltergust 5000 and a variety of other tools, the player must channel their inner Ghostbuster as they explore the many haunted mansions and buildings found in the valley. This updated version of the game also comes with a four-player online co-op mode that allows you to team up with friends for an extra spooky ScareScraper level not found in the single-player story.

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition 

Nintendo – July 18

This summer, Nintendo is bringing the excitement of the Nintendo World Championships into your living room (or wherever you play your Nintendo Switch). Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition features over 150 different challenges across 13 classic NES games like Super Mario Bros. and Kirby’s Adventure. But if you’ve never played these games before, don’t worry—each challenge includes a video showing what you need to do to complete it. What you do from there, though, is entirely up to you.

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions

Warner Bros. Games – Sept 23

Whether you’re a fan of Harry Potter, sports games, or somewhere in between, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions looks to be a fun entry in the franchise’s ever-growing catalog of games. The game is a “standalone Quidditch experience” and doesn’t have any impact on the greater Harry Potter story at large, but fans will still have plenty of easter eggs to find in this version of the Wizarding World. Players can take to the skies alone or with friends in online co-op and PvP modes to become Quidditch champions.

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed

THQ Nordic – Sept. 24

Another remake coming to the Nintendo Switch this year is Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed. Now a vibrant 3D platformer, this game promises to be a faithful remake of the Wii game Disney Epic Mickey as the player, armed with paint and paint thinner as the titular Mickey Mouse, journeys through the Wasteland of forgotten Disney characters and shapes the future of this mysterious realm. With appearances from various Disney characters and levels inspired by animated films and shorts, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is perfect for Disney fans both young and young at heart.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom 

Nintendo – Sept 26

While The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom isn’t technically the first time that the titular princess has been a playable character in a Nintendo game, it’s arguably the first one that really matters. After Link and other people throughout Hyrule disappear in mysterious rifts that appear across the land, Zelda must discover the source of this anomaly and save the kingdom. Zelda is aided on her quest by the fairy Tri, who teaches Zelda how to create echoes of objects in her environment to help solve puzzles, traverse the land, and defeat enemies. Even if you haven’t been waiting decades to play a Zelda game where she’s the true main character, Echoes of Wisdom looks like a fun successor to Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom.

Fantasy Life: The Girl Who Steals Time

Level-5 – Oct. 10

If you’re looking for your next cozy Switch game, then look no further than Fantasy Life: The Girl Who Steals Time. With the ability to move across two time periods, the player’s customizable character is tasked with rebuilding the island of Reveria with resources from the past and ensuring its prosperous future. The player can also choose between a variety of “lives,” or jobs for their character that determine how they help the island flourish. This game is perfect for fans of Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley, or really anyone looking for a chill way to pass the time.

Super Mario Party Jamboree 

Nintendo – Oct 17

Mario Party fans are in for a treat with Super Mario Party Jamboree. The game claims to be the biggest Mario Party game yet, and there’s definitely a bit of evidence to back that up. With over 110 mini-games, including action-packed challenges, brain-teasing puzzles, and tasks requiring the Switch’s motion controls, seven game boards, and the new 20-person online Koopathalon mode, there’s something for every level of Mario Party player to enjoy.

Sonic X Shadow Generations

SEGA – Oct 25

Shadow’s nemesis, Black Doom, has returned, and it’s up to the hedgehog to unlock the dark powers within himself and save the world. Players can harness Shadow’s Doom Powers to battle enemies, take on platforming challenges, and, with the return of Chaos Control, surf on water, fly over obstacles, and even stop time. Shadow’s journey will take you through time and space, including a new hub-world called the White Space, inspired by the open-zone gameplay of Sonic Frontiers. Shadow will gain access to new areas full of hidden secrets as he unlocks his powers, leaving even more to uncover in Sonic X Shadow Generations.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership 

Nintendo – Nov 7

The famous plumber brothers are back for another adventure in Mario & Luigi: Brothership, this time on the high seas of Concordia. Mario and Luigi have set sail on ShipShape Island (which is part ship, part island), using the cannon to launch themselves to new lands for exploration. The bond of these brothers is crucial to their success, and the player can utilize special Bros. Moves and Bros. Attacks to aid them on their quests and get them through tough situations. As the sixth addition to the Mario & Luigi series, Brothership looks like a really fun adventure.

Dragon Quest III: HD-2D Remake 

Square Enix – Nov 14

The narrative beginning to the Erdrick Trilogy, the 1988 game Dragon Quest III is being remade for the Switch with updated 2D HD graphics. Square Enix is calling this remake a “stunning reimagining” of the classic game, and it looks like it’ll be a fun time for both long-time fans and general RPG enthusiasts alike.

As the legendary Hero, the player must recruit companions to aid them in their quest to kill the evil archfiend Baramos, a task their father set off to accomplish years ago but never returned. This game is set in an entirely different world than its predecessors, so don’t worry if you’ve never played a Dragon Quest game before. This is the perfect time to jump in.

The Plucky Squire

All Possible Futures – TBD 2024

The Plucky Squire is an action-adventure game that follows the young squire Jot on a journey to save his home. After being thrust from his storybook by the villainous Humgrump, Jot must uncover the secrets of the three-dimensional world he’s been thrust into and find a way to restore the happy ending of his story before Humgrump ruins things for good. With both 2D and 3D levels, The Plucky Squire looks like a fun mash-up of fantasy and reality. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if a fairy tale lept from its pages, then this is the game for you.

Fear the Spotlight

Blumhouse Games – TBD 2024

Fear the Spotlight is an atmospheric third-person horror adventure that follows high schooler Vivian as she sneaks into school after hours with the rebellious Amy. After a seance gone wrong, Vivian finds herself in the school alone with a terrifying monster chasing her. With tense stealth challenges, tactile puzzles, and a spooky school to explore, Vivian must solve the mystery and above all, stay out of the monster’s eerie spotlight. Fear the Spotlight is an exciting throwback to PS1-style horror mysteries, and after playing it at SGF, we can’t wait for you to play it too.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind

Digital Eclipse – TBD 2024

A loving homage to arcade games, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind remixes Power Rangers lore into a unique storyline that both fans and newcomers can appreciate. In this retro-style game, Rita Repulsa and her robotic reincarnation team up to go back in time and try to stop the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers from forming in the first place by remixing, rewinding, and rewriting the past. It’s up to the player and this motley crew of teenagers to stop the Ritas and their army of Power Ranger foes from screwing up the timeline for good.

Tales of the Shire

Wētā Workshop – TBD 2024

New cozy game alert! Tales of the Shire is like if Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing took a trip to the Shire of Lord of the Rings. The game lets players live out their dreams of hanging out in the idyllic landscape of the Shire as they create their own character, decorate their own Hobbit hole, make friends in the community, and help the town flourish. We played Tales of the Shire at SGF and were impressed with the amount of care put into creating this version of the Shire. Even though the game isn’t technically canon, there are still plenty of references and easter eggs for Lord of the Rings fans to find. 

The Thing Remastered

Nightdive Studios – TBD 2024

Nightdive Studios has taken the beloved 2002 third-person survival horror shooter game, The Thing, and given it a full graphics overhaul for PC and consoles. Both the original and this remaster take place after the events of the 1982 John Carpenter film, and follow a US Army Special Forces rescue team sent to investigate the terrifying events that occurred in the film and try to uncover what happened at Outpost #31. Not only must players face off against various monsters created by The Thing, but they must keep a close eye on their own party to make sure it hasn’t been infiltrated by the monster or paranoia.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics  

Capcom – TBA

This game is an arcade-lover’s dream with seven classic Marvel vs. Capcom games rolled into one shiny new package. With the choice between single player and several different online options—casual matches, ranked matches, and custom matches—the games have been updated slightly for modern gaming but still maintain the charm of the arcade. There’s also a training mode that lets you put a variety of characters against each other and fight to your heart’s content. While there’s nothing that beats the feeling of putting a coin into a machine and smashing a bunch of buttons, this game seems to come pretty close to it.

Lego Horizon Adventures 

Guerilla Games – TBA 

Set in the world of the Horizon game series, Lego Horizon Adventures follows Aloy on a new adventure where she leads a unique crew of heroes on a quest to save the Earth from a man called Helis, whose gang of sun worshippers follow a mysterious, ancient Evil. With couch co-op and online play, you can dive into this thrilling adventure with friends or alone—this brick world is your oyster. Whether this is your first foray into this post-apocalyptic world, or you’ve already tackled the technological mysteries of this world with Aloy in the past, Lego Horizon Adventures is perfect for players young and old.