Nintendo delivered a packed Nintendo Direct on March 27, 2025, showcasing the last wave of Nintendo Switch games before the arrival of its successor. With the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct confirmed for April 2, this event served as a swan song for the record-breaking hybrid console.
New games, innovative features, and a surprise app announcement dominated the 30-minute showcase. Nintendo outlined its vision for the future while honouring the console that redefined portable gaming.
Major Game Reveals Steal the Spotlight
Nintendo unveiled several high-profile titles destined for the original Switch. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A drew the most attention, offering new footage and release windows.
In addition, sequels to beloved classics and remasters of fan-favourite games rounded out the presentation. Key announcements included:
- Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream – The life simulation series returns with expanded social interactions and enhanced visuals.
- Rhythm Heaven Groove – A fresh entry in the cult-favourite rhythm game series, promising new mini-games and multiplayer modes.
- Dragon Quest I+II HD-2D Remake – A modernised remake of the first two Dragon Quest games, combining classic gameplay with Octopath Traveler’s signature HD-2D art style.
- Patapon 1+2 Replay – A remastered bundle offering crisp visuals and smoother controls for the beloved rhythm-action series.
- SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered – An enhanced edition of the 1999 PlayStation classic, now boasting improved graphics and reimagined gameplay.
Other confirmed Nintendo Switch games include:
- No Sleep For Kaname Date (From AI: The Somnium Files)
- Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army
- Shadow Labyrinth
- Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar
- Disney Villains Cursed Cafe
- Witchbrook
- The Eternal Life of Goldman
- Gradius Origins
- Rift of the Necrodancer
- Tamagotchi Plaza
- High on Life
- Star Overdrive
- The Wandering Village
- King of Meat
- Lou’s Lagoon Summer
- Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
- Monument Valley 1, 2, 3
- Everybody Golf Hot Shots
- Marvel Cosmic Invasion
Virtual Game Cards: Nintendo’s Digital Lending Solution
Nintendo introduced Virtual Game Cards, a game management feature mimicking the experience of physical cartridges. This new system will launch in late April.
Users can virtually “eject” and “load” digital games between systems tied to their Nintendo Account Family Group. The feature allows digital game lending, providing the recipient with two weeks of access before the title automatically returns to the owner’s system.
Nintendo designed Virtual Game Cards to ease the transition between the original Switch and the upcoming Switch 2. Fans can expect seamless game transfers via local Wi-Fi connections, bridging the gap between generations.
Switch 2 Edition Games: New Generation Compatibility
Nintendo’s announcement revealed an unexpected detail about the upcoming console. A support page for Virtual Game Cards mentioned “Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games.”
These enhanced versions of popular titles will offer improved graphics and performance exclusively on the Switch 2. Regular Switch titles will remain backward compatible, but only Switch 2 Edition games will unlock the hardware’s full potential.
Industry analysts predict Nintendo will follow Sony and Microsoft’s approach. Titles may offer enhanced performance on newer hardware while remaining playable on older systems.
Nintendo Today App: A New Communication Hub
Shigeru Miyamoto introduced Nintendo Today, a mobile app launching later today on iOS and Android. Nintendo designed the app to provide daily news, comics, videos, and updates related to its games and consoles.
Miyamoto confirmed that Nintendo Today will become a key source for official information. The app will feature exclusive updates on the Switch 2 after the April 2 presentation.
Screenshots of the app reveal an unintentional tease of the Switch 2’s new “C” button. Located on the right Joy-Con, the button’s function remains unknown. Speculation points towards communication, community features, or mouse-like capabilities.
Nintendo’s Commitment to Switch Owners
Nintendo assured fans that the original Switch will continue to receive support through 2026. Games like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends: Z-A will remain compatible with both the original console and the Switch 2.
The company’s focus on compatibility highlights its strategy to retain its massive player base while promoting the upcoming console. Titles marked as Switch 2 Edition games will aim to offer enhanced experiences without alienating existing users.
Transitioning to the Future
The March 2025 Nintendo Direct showcased a robust lineup of games for the original Switch. While the presentation served as a send-off for the iconic console, Nintendo’s eyes remain fixed on the future.
The Switch 2 Direct on April 2 will reveal the full scope of Nintendo’s next-generation plans. Nintendo Today promises to provide continuous updates, giving fans a new way to stay informed.
With Virtual Game Cards enhancing game accessibility and Switch 2 Edition games aiming to optimise the experience, Nintendo is laying the groundwork for a seamless transition. The company aims to balance innovation with familiarity as it moves into a new era of gaming.
