The biggest Nintendo games still coming before Switch 2

Last autumn was very appreciated Super Mario Bros. Fantastic The Nintendo Switch has been described by some as the swan song—because it's the next console. Reported on the jobAnd the Wonder might just be the last Seismic Switch before the Switch 2 comes out.

But it certainly isn't the last popular game set to release for the console. Nintendo has announced a variety of upcoming Switch games for 2024, either knocking off familiar characters or reimagining old classics.

While we may not get another huge insta-classic like last year's Super Mario Bros. or The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, there are bound to be some gems on the horizon to keep you playing until Switch 2 is properly revealed. And they were released.

Here's what's still ahead on Switch that we're excited about. It's not everything coming to the Switch in the coming months—especially given the barrage of digital games that regularly hit the platform—but it's still the biggest and most exciting thing on the horizon.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered (February 14)

Lara Croft's early adventures are iconic and influential, but mid-90s games can be hard to appreciate at this point. Fortunately, publisher Aspyr is bundling the first three games in the series with all of their expansion packs, plus they're all getting refreshed graphics. And if you want, you can switch back to the original view. A trio of games for $30 with various upgrades? That can be attractive.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong (February 16)

Twenty years after its debut on the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo's Mario vs. Adapting Donkey Kong for Switch. It's a little more cerebral than the classic Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. games that have you solving puzzles as you navigate platform-based levels. This fan favorite is being updated for a new generation of gamers, and it also adds local co-op multiplayer with visual enhancements.

Unicorn Overlord (March 8)

Vanillaware regularly makes some very attractive and unique role-playing games, including Odin's Sphere and Dragon's Crown. In the year It's a tactical RPG inspired by the greats of the 1990s (think Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics), with the stunning hand-drawn artwork that the studio is known for. After 2023's late 2023 genre bashing, including Super Mario RPG, this could be the Switch's next epic adventure.

Princess Peach Showtime (March 22)

Princess Peach has been a mainstay of all Mario games over the years, but she's rarely had a starring role herself. Now, nearly 20 years after her last attempt, she's getting her own spotlight again on Princess Peach Showtime on Switch. This original game uses a theatrical theme to throw Peach into different game scenarios inspired by stage plays, transforming her into a baker, detective and swordsman as she fights her way through action-packed stages.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD (Summer 2024)

Speaking of Mario companions who don't often get their own games… Luigi has had some good-hearted horror games for years, and now Luigi's Mansion 2 (originally Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon) is coming to the Nintendo 3DS Switch. If you missed the last game before the Switch's own fun Luigi's Mansion 3 in 2024, this updated port serves up a Ghostbusters-esque horror experience for the whole family.

Paper Mario: Millennium Gate (TBD 2024)

As we head further into 2024, it looks like enhanced versions of classic games may be Nintendo's best option to keep Switch fans happy, and it's been developing new Switch 2 games in the background. Paper Mario: Millennium Gate brings the role-playing series' second game from the GameCube to the Switch after two decades. No date has been set for a launch sometime in 2024, but we're guessing sometime in the spring or summer.

Metroid Prime 4 (TBD)

Announced in 2017, Metroid Prime 4 still hasn't seen the light of day. In fact, there's a good chance it won't actually launch on the original Switch at this point, but will instead hit the Switch 2 — or both at the same time, when The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild returns on platforms old and new. 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 return to Switch with the new Steam World of Professor Layton, which was announced last year. Few concrete details are known, but it looks like the game will bring back the hero in a new mission set in America. Developer Level-5 is teasing more details in the future, so this game could definitely still hit the current Switch.

Edited by Ryan Ozawa

Editor's note: This story was first published in On November 23, 2023, it was last updated with new information on January 24.