Everything from July 31st Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase

While Nintendo tends to be the best game developer for its own consoles, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a ton of fantastic games ported over, or developed for the Switches by other studios.

The new Nintendo Direct was fully dedicated to such games, some of which count as spin-offs to Nintendo’s own titles, some are brand new things, and others are welcome returns. Let’s dig in.

MONSTER HUNTER STORIES 3: TWISTED REFLECTION

Monster Hunter Stories, the more story-driven, turn-based spin-off of the main legendary series is returning for the third installment next year. While we’re getting a brand new story and a brand new protagonist, one thing stays the same, and that’s having a Rathalos as the primary companion.

The trailer is mostly vagueposting about the plot, but monsters from MH Rise make a notable appearance, specifically Rakna-Kadaki and Magnamalo. Stories’ stylized graphics tend to work really well with Monster Hunter designs, so it’s nice see Rise’s beasts get the monstie treatment. Hopefully Wilds monsters will also make an appearance.

Monster Hunter Stories 3 is planned to arrive on Switch 2 in 2026.

Once Upon A KATAMARI

It’s been a while since fans of Katamari were given a proper new game to enjoy, since the last few releases were remasters or mobile games. Now a time-hopping Once Upon a Katamari is set to make things fans happy again, as the ever clumsy King of all Cosmos caused a mess again and you need to put things back in their place for him.

OUaK features a customizable Prince, a bunch of customizable cousins (the trailer thinks it’s very nice that there are 69 of them), and a ton of creative levels inspired by various times and places from Earth’s history. There’s also going to be a 4-person online multiplayer, new music, and lots of good humor for good measure. A proper Katamari game, then.

Once Upon a Katamari arrives to Switch on October 25, 2025.

Just Dance 2026 Edition

With 40 new tracks, the dancing party game is enjoying a hot re-entry into the Switch atmosphere in its 2026 edition.

Just Dance 2026 Edition will come to Switch on October 14 this year. Just in time to learn the moves for the Halloween party.

DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO

Spike Chunsoft’s Dragon Ball fighting game from last year is making its way to Switch. It will be transferrable between Switch and Switch 2, but NS2 will obviously offer better graphics and performance.

Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero becomes available for NS and NS2 on November 14, 2025.

Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted

Not much to tell, the Switches are getting a remake of the original Plants vs Zombies, which comes with co-op and PvP in addition to the traditional semi-tower defense mode.

It arrives on October 23, 2025.

EA Sports FC 26

EA’s totally-not-FIFA is coming to Switch and Switch 2 apparently with full range of gameplay features available on other platforms.

EA Sports FC 26 arrives to NS and NS2 on September 26 this year.

PAC-MAN WORLD 2 Re-PAC

A 2002-era platformer returns refreshed to Nintendo Switches. With way nicer graphics, 2-player co-op, some platforming QoL, and more, it’s looks like a very promising revival. What a year for Pac-Man fans.

Pac-Man 2 World 2 Re-Pac rolls in on September 26 this year.

FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles

Not really an announcement, but the Direct provided a few extra glimpses at the upcoming Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles, a revival of an all-time classic boosted with new content and full voice acting.

FFT The Ivalice Chronicles launches on September 30th, 2025 for Switch and Switch 2.

Persona 3 Reload

A remastered version of Persona 3 is also making its way to Switch 2. Reload is largely the same in structure as Persona 3, but adds some features introduced in Persona 5 for Quality of Life improvements.

Persona 3 Reloaded arrives on October 23 this year.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

A new Hyrule Warriors! After 2020’s Age of Calamity, a new Age of An Ominous Noun is coming! This time, the game is following Zelda’s side of things during Tears of the Kingdom. Which still means being blasted back in time to a time that is better suited for a musou-style gameplay. It is a Warriors-style game, after all.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment arrives to Switch 2 this winter or so, with no firmer date to offer.

EA Sports Madden NFL 26

Not just soccer, EA is also bringing its American football sim to Switch 2 as well.

EA Sports Madden NFL 26 is launching for NS2 on August 14 this year.

Chillin’ by the Fire

Chillin’ by the Fire is a game about making a cozy campfire, perfect for relaxing with friends over camera-capable multiplayer… or multirelaxer. It won’t replace going out and roasting marshmallows in real life, but is a cute substitute that will do in a pinch.

You can start Chillin’ by the Fire on your Nintendo Switch 2 right now.

Apex Legends

The free-to-play battle royale which robbed us of Titanfall 3, but turned out to be pretty damn fun in its own right is launching for Switch 2.

Start playing on August 5.

Hela

A story about a tiny mouse going on a big adventure to find a cure for a friendly witch is certainly looking incredibly charming, with lavish environments and… 4-player co-op? Why not, looks lovely.

Hela arrives to Switch 2 in 2026.

Star Wars Outlaws

Ubisoft’s Star Wars adventure is coming to Switch 2 as well. Set between Episodes 5 and 6, the game puts you in the shoes of a small-time outlaw Kay Vess in a semi-open world adventure stretching across several planets.

Outlaws launches on Switch 2 on September 4 this year.

Cronos: The New Dawn

While parts of Bloober Team are hard at work on the next Silent Hill remake, the horror-centric studio is also working on its own original game. Cronos: The New Dawn, a science fiction body-horror is going to arrive on Switch 2 in addition to stationary consoles. Be prepared for nasty, flesh-shaping monsters in addition to hallucinations.

Cronos comes to NS2 on September 5, 2025.

Yakuza Kiwami 2

More Yakuza for Switch! Yakuza Kiwami 2, a high-effort remake of the original Yakuza 2 is coming to NS2, starring everybody’s favorite Kazuma Kiryu getting into complicated messed again. Like all Yakuza games, it mixes an emotional, dramatic storyline with a ton of light-hearted activities and plenty of silly, heartwarming, or just plain weird side stories.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 drops on Switch 2 on November 13 this year, alongside the NS2 version of Kiwami 1.

A short montage of games without individual trailers

Goodnight Universe – NS1 & NS2 – November 11, 2025

NBA Bounce – NS1 – September 26, 2025

Hello Kitty Island Adventure – Wheatflour Wonderland – NS1 – Autumn 2025

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven – NS2 – out now

SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance – NS1 – August 29, 2025, demo out now

Borderlands 4 – NS2 – October 3, 2025

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales

Square Enix’s new action RPG in the style of sprite-based RPG classics, but with a flair most famously deployed by Octopath Traveller. The HD-2D aesthetic continues to looks incredibly charming, and a nice match for a fantasy story about a land overrun by monsters and a daring adventurer leaving the safe confines of civilization to inspect mysterious ruins.

Unlike the aforementioned classics, The Adventures of Elliot is going with active combat rather than turn-based battles, and will feature several weapon types, plus substantial magical abilities and buffs.

The Adventures of Elliot begin at some point in 2026, arriving on Switch 2. The demo, however, is already available.

OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0

Oh look, it’s that game we mentioned a moment ago! Also from Square Enix, by the way. Octopath Traveller 0 will keep the aesthetic and gameplay of the previous installments and tell a story revolving around rebuilding a city burned by a bandit gang of party poopers. The most significant change, however, is that this time you’re getting your own, customizable protagonist. It also brings in eight-character parties for an extra layer of strategizing and synergizing.

Octopath Traveller 0 launches on December 4, 2025 for both Switches.

So, that’s it about things shown off during the partner-focused Nintendo Direct. Lots of great stuff to keep on the wishlist and set some budget aside for.