Our Favorite Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Games You Can Preorder Now

Nintendo Switch 2 preorders are live, though you may experience a few hiccups snagging one. Should you place an order before the $449 system’s June 5 launch, you should also grab games to go with it. With that in mind, we present our top launch day titles ranked from #5 to #1, plus other notable releases coming later this year.

5. Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut

This update to RGG Studio’s excellent beat ’em up features new cut scenes, English voiceovers, and French, German, Italian, and Spanish subtitles. More importantly, Yakuza 0 has a new Red Light Raid online multiplayer mode with 60 unlockable characters.

4. Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Editions

Yes, these are technically two games, but they are some of the best Zelda titles in the series’ history. Nintendo promises faster load times on Switch 2, with smoother frame rates and improved graphics. In an unexpected move, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom leverage the Nintendo Switch App to deliver game-specific info that can, say, help you find a well-hidden shrine. This feature, called Zelda Notes, even includes commentary from Princess Zelda.

3. Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD

Bravely Default is easily one of Square Enix’s best new franchises and a must-play for Final Fantasy fans. Previously locked to the Nintendo 3DS, the RPG receives an HD Remaster for Nintendo Switch 2, delivering strategic turn-based combat and endearing visuals.

2. Street Fighter 6 Year 1-2 Fighters Edition

Street Fighter 6 is one of the best fighting games ever made, and it’s coming to Nintendo Switch 2 with several enhancements. These include local wireless play, online crossplay, a calorie-burning mode (what?!), Amiibo support, and a separate Years 1-2 Fighters Edition containing eight DLC characters from the fighter’s first two seasons.

1. Mario Kart World

This upcoming racing game was first spotted during the Switch 2’s teaser reveal, and surprised many viewers with its number of on-screen racers (now confirmed to be a hefty 24 drivers). Mario Kart World also has a cool day-night cycle, atmospheric effects, and a Forza Horizon-like open world for wild rides with friends. The new Knockout Tour adds a cross-country elimination mode.

Preorder Other Switch 2 Games Coming in 2025

Besides the notable launch games highlighted above, other highly anticipated titles will drop in the coming months:

• Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition is an open-world, action-packed RPG set in Night City, a crime-riddled megacity rife with conflict, spectacle, and cybernetic body modification. Preorder it from Target for $69.99.

• Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion lets you create a character, pilot a mech, and battle other machines in intense robotic action. Enjoy the game in single-player or online multiplayer modes. Preorder it from Amazon for $69.99.

• Donkey Kong Bananza (July 17) is a wild, 3D platformer featuring Nintendo’s lovable ape. Preorder it from Target for $69.99.

• Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World (Aug. 28) is an enhanced port with new content and improved performance. Preorder it from Target for $79.99.

• No Sleep for Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files puts you in the shoes of detective Date, who sets out to rescue internet idol Iris. Conduct investigations, solve escape game puzzles, and dive into the dreams of potential suspects to help Iris escape. Preorder it from Best Buy for $49.99.

• Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is an intense puzzle battles using your choice of blob-matching (puyo) or block-arranging (tetris) gameplay. Preorder it from Amazon for $39.99.

• Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army lets you play as Devil Summoner Raidou in this remaster of the Shin Megami Tensei RPG classic, set in a fantastical 1930’s Japan. Preorder it from Amazon for $49.99.

• Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a charming action RPG and life sim lets you battle monsters, rebuild farms and villages, and bond with the locals. Preorder it from Amazon for $69.99.

• Sonic X Shadow Generations lets you travel through time to face Shadow’s arch-nemesis, Black Doom. Reexperience levels and bosses from previous Sonic games and shift between side-scrolling and 3D gameplay. Preorder it from Amazon for $49.99.

• Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is a remake of the DS Harvest Moon title that takes you to Zephyr Town, where you grow crops, raise animals, familiarize yourself with the locals, and sell goods at a bazaar. Preorder it from Amazon for $59.99.

• Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV (July 24) features unique new modes and minigames that showcase the Switch 2’s mouse controls and microphone. Preorder it from Target for $79.99.

Keep and Eye On These Nintendo Switch 2 Games

A few other 2025 Nintendo Switch 2 games have been announced, but they can’t be preordered…yet. The notables include:

• Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition (2025) brings the beloved action-RPG to the Switch with the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC.

• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (2025) is alien-blasting fun with HDR support and mouse controls.

• Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (Winter 2025) is a new Hyrule Warriors title that depicts the Imprisoning War that leads to the events of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Nintendo Switch 2: Hands On With the 4K Console and All the Big Games!

About Jeffrey L. Wilson

Managing Editor, Apps and Gaming

Since 2004, I’ve penned gadget- and video game-related nerd-copy for a variety of publications, including the late, great 1UP; Laptop; Parenting; Sync; Wise Bread; and WWE. I now apply that knowledge and skillset as the Managing Editor of PCMag’s Apps & Gaming team.

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About Gabriel Zamora

My career has taken me through an eclectic assortment of fields, and connected me with people from all walks of life. This experience includes construction, professional cooking, podcasting, and, of course, writing. I’ve been typing up geeky takes since 2009, ultimately landing a freelancing position at PCMag. This blossomed into a full-time tech analyst position in 2021, where I lend my personal insight on the matters of web hosting, streaming music, mobile apps, and video games. 

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