It’s no secret that Mario Kart World is the main reason to get a Nintendo Switch 2 at launch. I even got to play it myself at the Nintendo launch event. But what else will you be able to play if/when you get bored of that game?
Luckily, Nintendo has an extensive list of Switch 2 launch titles available to play on June 5. As is usually the case with new consoles, many of them are ports of older games. However, in this instance, that’s not such a bad thing; there are plenty of people out there who only had a Nintendo Switch, meaning they may have missed out big games like Cyberpunk 2077.
Assuming you’ve got your Switch 2 preorder on deck, here are five of the best Nintendo Switch 2 launch titles to keep in mind ahead of June 5 — besides Mario Kart World.
The Nintendo Switch 2 launch titles I can’t wait to play
Again, a few of these games already came out elsewhere, but they might still be new to Nintendo fans.
Fast Fusion
Looks fast.
Credit: Shin’en/Nintendo
One of the best latter-day Wii U games was a little futuristic racer called Fast Racing Neo. This, in turn, became one of the best Switch 1 launch titles, in an upgraded form called Fast RMX. Now, developer Shin’en is back with a long-awaited sequel that promises new ideas with the same technical excellence as its predecessors.
Shin’en hasn’t said much about Fast Fusion yet, other than that it will be out at launch and will only cost $14.99, making it the anti-Mario Kart in one way. But it looks the part of a futuristic arcade-style racing game with a sharp sense of speed, gorgeous visuals, split-screen and online multiplayer, and a unique car fusion system that should set it apart from the competition. And again, it’s just $15.
Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut
Expect a lot of this.
Credit: Sega/Nintendo
The first port of an old game on this list can be traced all the way back to the PlayStation 3. Yakuza 0 has been around the block a few times, just never on a Nintendo platform before. Let me tell you, if you’re a person who sticks close to Nintendo and hasn’t played this one yet: Make it a priority.
Mashable Top Stories
The Switch 2 version adds some bonuses, like new English voice acting and a weird-looking multiplayer fighting mode, but Yakuza 0 could’ve been ported as-is, and that would’ve been fine. It’s an oddball action-adventure game set in a highly period-accurate version of urban, red-light district Japan in the late 1980s. Aside from the very fun and very violent combat, it’s also got interactive karaoke, mahjong, and all kinds of other cultural delights for you to take part in on the side.
Yakuza 0 also has a terrific story with two excellent protagonists. If you’ve ever been curious about the long-running Yakuza series, this is the best place to start.
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
All the Keanu your Switch 2 can handle.
Credit: CD Projekt Red/Nintendo
The Switch 2 port of Cyberpunk 2077 might be a good litmus test for what the Switch 2 is capable of on a technical level, and that alone makes it compelling, at least to me.
This game famously had to be pulled from the PlayStation store after launch in 2020 because the PS4 version was so terrible, and the Switch 2 is about as powerful as a PS4. Developer CD Projekt Red has had years to sort Cyberpunk out, though, and the game is genuinely in an excellent state these days. Between that and the highly impressive Switch 1 port of The Witcher 3, it’s easy to see a world where a lot of people experience Cyberpunk for the first time on Switch 2 and have a perfectly decent time doing so.
Deltarune
‘Deltarune’ sorta defies explanation.
Credit: 8-4/Nintendo
In 2015, indie developer Toby Fox broke the internet with a humble little pixel-based RPG called Undertale. Since then, Fox has been following up on Undertale with Deltarune, an expanded successor with different combat and an episodic release format, but the same off-beat sense of humor and catchy musical direction.
The first two chapters of Deltarune have been out for a while, but chapters 3 and 4 (in a package that includes all of them) are shipping at launch with Switch 2. If you’ve already been committed to the Deltarune train, why not continue on Switch 2? If not, maybe this is a good place to start, too. These are games that need to be experienced to be understood.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
One of 2024’s most underrated games comes to Switch 2.
Credit: Capcom/Nintendo
Our last game is another port, though the original only came out in 2024 and sorta fell under the radar on other consoles.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess is a bit of a weird one. It’s kind of a third-person hack-and-slash action game, but also kind of a strategic tower defense game. In totality, it’s very unique, cool to look at, and fun to play. Capcom has a bit of an under-discussed banger here, so maybe the Switch 2 launch can be a good way for people who missed Kunitsu-Gami the first time around to catch it now.
Honorable Mention: Donkey Kong Bonanza
If none of these games are enough to whet your appetite, Donkey Kong Bananza is a non-launch Switch 2 title to look out for. DK’s first starring role in a 3D platformer in 25 years comes alongside a brand new character design for one of Nintendo’s oldest heroes, as well as a funky terrain destruction system that lets players destroy the entire level to get where they’re trying to go. You’ll have to wait a bit for it, but not long, as Bananza is out July 17.
Where to preorder Nintendo Switch 2 games
Most retailers are offering Nintendo Switch 2 games for preorder, so your first stop for picking up a new title is one of these retailers. Below, find links to each online storefront where you can shop a repository of Switch 2 games available right now.
