As stated in the latest Nintendo Direct, the Switch 2 can play three types of games. There will be Switch 2 exclusive games likeThe Duskbloods, some original Switch titles can be played either digitally or physically, and then there are Switch 2 enhanced games. Rather than have first-party and third-party companies release two versions of a game, likeHogwarts Legacyhaving a PS4 and PS5 version, Nintendo opted to enhance original Switch games with exclusive features themselves.
In the presentation, they showcased howKirby and the Forgotten Land, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Super Mario Party Jamboree, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Pokemon Legends Z-A,andSid Meier’s Civilization 7would all be enhanced by the Switch 2. More enhanced games are soon to follow, so which Switch games need it the most?
Before Nintendo releases a new entry in the series, they can get by with an enhanced version ofAnimal Crossing: New Horizons. This hit at the right time in 2020 to help ease the pain of being stuck inside during The Pandemic. It was popular for a full year if not more but eventually interest waned due to lack of updates. It could easily make a resurgence on Switch 2 if they better integrate how visiting the islands of friends works along with more additional featureslike new Villagers. It’s the easiest win Nintendo could make regarding their enhanced Switch 2 lineup.
Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zeldaworked perfectly fine when it launched on the Switch in 2019. The frame rate and visuals popped well both in docked mode and handheld mode but the Switch 2’s new sound capabilities could make it a fun enhanced port. The sound could have improved quality thanks to the 3D audio support on Switch 2 which is the biggest reason why an update would be great along with the possibility of new content. They could tie things into a mini-adventure within theversion of Hyrulefound inThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
2024’s edition of The Game Awardshad some big reveals including an unnamed sequel toOkamiwhich originally debuted on the PS2 in 2006. It received one sequel on the DS,Okamiden, along with a boatload of ports with the Switch’s 2018 edition being the last for consoles. The Amazon Luna did get a 2022 port though.
While playable on PS5 and Xbox Series X, they never received full console updates to enhance anything. Nintendo could beat Sony and Microsoft to the punch by getting an exclusive enhanced edition on Switch 2 which would be a perfect way to drum up hype for the sequel which will most likely also come to the Switch 2 at some point.
Pokemon Legends: Z-Alooked a bit janky when it was initially shown off on the Switch but the Switch 2 enhanced version showed how much the system can improve games.Pokemon ScarletandPokemon Violetcould really benefit from this upgrade as well because it launched rough and it hasn’t gotten any better since 2022. It was impressive that it was a big open-worldPokemonadventure but the game looked more like an early access build than a full game release. With an enhanced version of Switch, it could tide fans over in the summer months until they get to playPokemon Legends: Z-Apresumably in the fall which is whenmostPokemongameslaunch.
Resident Evil Villagealong with other games in the series likeResident Evil 7: Biohazardand the remakes ofResident Evil 2andResident Evil 3are secretly available on Switch. The catch is players have to stream these games as they are all Cloud-based versions and getting a good stream can largely depend on the Internet connection. Suffice it to say playing any of these games on Switch is the worst way to experience them. Nintendo has the opportunity to get developers to fully port Cloud-based games like theResident Eviltitlesnatively to Switch 2 to make things easier for players especially those without good internet connections.
Ring Fit Adventurewas another game that exploded during The Pandemic as people couldn’t get to the gym as easily but still wanted to work out. It’s wild that Nintendo barely gave this game updates let alone made a sequel as they had time since it launched in 2019. They may still make a sequel one day but until that day comes, they can make it work on the Switch 2.
The new Joy-Consshould provide better feedback and Nintendo could add a few more stages while they are at it. Maybe they could give players the opportunity to visit Nintendo-based worlds fromMariostages toThe Legend of Zelda.
Fans hoping Masahiro Sakurai’s next game would be anewSuper Smash Bros.titlewere sadly let down whenKirby Air Riderswas announced. That said, all is not lost because Sakurai could have made a deal with Nintendo to make his own dream project if he also worked on one more wave of characters for a Switch 2 port ofSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate. It’s hard to imagine a game better than this as “Ultimate” is in the title. A new wave of characters would bring a lot of hype for the port along with a story mode that fans wanted originally which hasn’t happened sinceSuper Smash Bros. Brawlon Wii.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Editionis the latest game in the series despite it being a port of a Wii U. Despite it being a late addition to the Switch, it looks and runs better thanXenoblade Chronicles 2which was released in the launch year of the Switch in 2017. Rather than making a full remaster from the ground up likeXenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, a straight port enhanced by the Switch 2’s internal power could save a lot of time and money. Fans would probably also appreciate an enhanced port ofXenoblade Chronicles 3along with a new tithe sometime within the Switch 2’s lifecycle.
