Pokémon Scarlet & Violet is the only game on this list that does not have a native Switch 2 version. We are admittedly giving it special treatment by offering it a spot here, but it is arguably the Switch game that most benefits from the updates offered by Nintendo’s new hardware. When it was released in 2022, we could see there was a good, novel Pokémon game hidden behind its myriad technical issues, and playing it Switch 2 finally elevates it to where it should have always been. | Our Review

Tears of the Kingdom is a masterpiece, as is the game that came before it, Breath of the Wild. Its open world is vast and interesting, making it embarrassingly easy to get lost in its adventure. If you happened to skip the previous Nintendo generation and want to play the best Nintendo has to offer, you can’t go wrong with either the Switch 2 upgraded versions of Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, but we’re giving the most recent of the two the edge thanks to the creativity afforded by Ultrahand. | Our Review

It may be illegal to own a Nintendo console without a copy of its accompanying Mario Kart. Thankfully, the latest entry, which was available day one for the Switch 2, is a worthy entry into Mario’s racing canon. New abilities make it a blast to play alone or with others, and the open world offers fun distractions when you’d rather drive around alone. Throw in arguably the best Rainbow Road in the series, and you have a game that will undoubtedly endure for years to come. | Our Review

Donkey Kong is no stranger to starring in his own games, but Bananza is the biggest and most bombastic adventure the ape has ever experienced. Diving deeper and deeper into the world is rewarding, and the ability to destroy just about everything never gets old. Bananza simply has that secret, undefinable sauce that Nintendo is so good at creating, where playing the game is just a joyful experience. We highly encourage players to see the game to the end, as the conclusion is the ecstatic highlight of the whole experience. | Our Review

The wait for Hollow Knight’s sequel was long, but worthwhile. Silksong is the result of a talented developer deciding that its planned DLC is worthy of being a much larger, full game, and it took the time to bring it to fruition. When we finally got the game in September, we found an incredibly challenging but undeniably rewarding adventure brimming with secrets. The Switch 2 version is particularly nice with high frame rates and, of course, the Switch 2’s portability. | Our Review

We awarded Hades II the rare 10/10 Game Informer review score, a distinction we don’t take lightly, for good reason. The Hades follow-up from developer Supergiant takes what was so successful about the original game, and iterates on all of its elements for a new adventure with a new protagonist who has all-new abilities and motivations. Playing as Melinoë is a blast, the game looks beautiful, and it sounds even better. | Our Review

Final Fantasy Tactics has always been a fantastic game and is often cited as the best spin-off of the franchise. The remake (or maybe it’s a remaster – the definition is muddy) proves that the original’s ingenious design holds up after all these years, and the new additions, though sparingly included, are worthwhile. It may not be the first time Final Fantasy Tactics has been portable (its PSP port and the Game Boy Advance follow-ups are also very good), but we’re grateful to have an updated version of this classic on Nintendo’s platform. | Our Review

Perhaps it’s surprising to feature multiple Pokémon games on a contained list of our favorite Nintendo games, but there is a reason it is literally the most successful intellectual property of all time. While Scarlet & Violet offer something closer to a traditional Pokémon experience, Legends: Z-A successfully infuses more action and freedom into the historically turn-based series. | Our Review

A common refrain among Ball x Pit players is frustration. The game isn’t annoying or unfair – it’s just very difficult to stop playing. It is a member of the burgeoning genre of games taking clear inspiration from Vampire Survivors. In it, you play a modern take on the classic arcade game, Breakout, where bouncing balls eliminate enemies as you progress upward. It’s an incredibly replayable and engaging system that is buoyed further by the loop of building out a town between runs. | Our Review

In 2003, Super Smash Bros. and Kirby creator Masahiro Sakurai released a racing game for GameCube that became a bit of a cult classic. Its one-button racing mechanics were odd, but compelling, but we never imagined it would receive a sequel. Now, in 2025, on Nintendo’s latest console, Kirby Air Riders is here, and it is full of the Sakurai action, chaos, and charm that have come to define his engaging style. We may not have a native Switch 2 Smash Bros. yet, but Kirby Air Riders has the style and tone of the fighting game, but in a different genre. | Our Review

True to its name, Square Enix is reimagining Dragon Quest VII with a gorgeous hand-crafted aesthetic. Sporting a diaroma-inspired look, this new version of the 2000 RPG features revisions to its turn-based battles and Vocation system to make them more dynamic; you can see monsters in the field now, for example. The lengthy story has also been reworked to deliver a more streamlined (but still substantial) narrative. 

It took over six years since the release of Yakuza Kiwami 2, but 2009's Yakuza 3 is finally getting remade with an unexpected bonus. Kiwami 3 comes packaged with a brand-new story expansion called Dark Ties, a prequel story starring antagonist Yoshitaka Mine. Most long-time fans agree that Yakuza 3 is the entry in most desperate need of a modernized overhaul, so we're happy that developer Ryu Ga Gotoku is finally obliging. 

Fatal Frame is a series you don't hear much about these days, but horror fans hold its second entry, Crimson Butterfly, in high esteem. We're ecstatic to see the 2003 PS2 classic get updated with improved visuals and gameplay, including tweaks to the signature camera-based action, that will make sisters Mio and Maya's harrowing adventure all the more terrifying.  The remake's best new addition? Mio and Maya can now hold hands. 

This remake of 2012's Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair retains the game's original zany story but adds a brand-new scenario for fans to sink their teeth into. The game's cast of classmates returns to endure a mysterious new murder game promised to be as substantial as the existing campaign, which itself has been upgraded with visual enhancements. Monokuma has never been better, and that's likely bad news for his unwilling participants. 

Record rebuilds Fate/Extra, the first entry in the dungeon-crawling RPG series, with updated character graphics, and a beefier narrative. In terms of gameplay, developer Type-Moon Studio states it features “a more strategic deck-building style of dramatic command battle.” We’re not sure exactly what that last bit means, but given that the original game was released for PSP, it will be nice to have an improved version of the cult title on modern hardware.

2001's Gothic is getting a faithful glow-up that looks to reintroduce the RPG to a new audience. The combat system and control scheme, a criticism of the original, has been reworked to feel modern and, most of all, playable. Developer THQ Nordic Barcelona even released a playable teaser to obtain feedback and ensure it's on the right track. As 20+ year-old game, Gothic has been a tough game to revisit on PC, making this remake all the more welcomed. Eager fans can play a free prologue demo now on Steam. 

Development has been rocky for The Sands of Time’s impending remake, to say the least. Besides the game’s reveal garnering backlash from fans due to its unimpressive graphics, it has been delayed several times: first by two months, then indefinitely, and is now coming in 2026. In hindsight, it’s wild to think we were supposed to be playing this in January 2021. In May 2022, Ubisoft announced it had moved development from its fledgling Indian studios back to Montreal, where The Sands of Time was first created. While it's unfortunate that Ubisoft Pune/Mumbai couldn’t bring the remake together, we’re excited to see if Ubisoft Montreal can reapply the same magic.

11 Bit Studios is reimagining its 2018 post-apocalyptic city-management game, moving it into Unreal Engine 5 but offering more than a visual overhaul. Frostpunk 1886 will boast new content, including an entirely new Purpose path and new mechanics and laws. It may seem a bit soon for a remake of Frostpunk, but the game will be nine years old by the time 1886 is scheduled to launch in 2027.

Despite only releasing in 2022, Gungrave G.O.R.E. is getting a remake called Blood Heat. Rebuilt entirely in Unreal Engine 5, Blood Heat serves as a redemption of sorts for the poorly received action game by bolstering it with a host of improvements. Upgrades include a revamped and more polished combat system, enhanced cinematics, 360-degree controls, improved enemy AI, and new characters. Here's hoping Gungrave's comeback sticks the landing this time. 

The reveal that arguably the best Star Wars game ever was getting a much-needed remake had fans raising their lightsabers in celebration. Unfortunately, the game’s development seemingly succumbed to the dark side after reports surfaced that progress had stalled, and work on the game has switched hands from Aspyr Media to Saber Interactive. The game went radio silent for a long period until Embracer Group sold off Saber, prompting the studio's CEO to confirm that KOTOR is "alive and well". We hope that's the case and look forward to eventually seeing the remake in action. 

In April, Remedy Entertainment pleasantly surprised the gaming world when it announced it had struck a deal with Rockstar Games to remake Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne. Remedy sold the IP to Rockstar in 2002, but the two are partnering to revive the gritty crime series that popularized Bullet Time. The project, which will combine both games into a single title, will be made by Remedy with Rockstar footing the bill on development and publishing. It's slated for current-gen consoles and PC.

Persona 5 may be the entry that dominated the mainstream, but the also critically acclaimed Persona 4 set the table and is getting another shot in the limelight. Unfortunately, we don't know how Atlus plans to update the 2008 title; its 2025 reveal trailer announced it as being in early development. Persona 3 Reload is likely the best reference point for what to expect, and we're looking forward to spending dozens of hours hanging with the gang (i.e., fighting demons) in Inaba one more time. 

Bloober Team surprised many by knocking its remake of Silent Hill 2 out of the park. Following that game's positive reception, it's no surprise Konami is entrusting the team to give the same treatment to the 1999 original that first instilled the fear of fog into players. We're excited to see how Bloober Team reinvents Harry Mason's captivating and terrifying search for his missing daughter. 

It might not be a new entry, but a remake of Sam Fisher’s first outing is better than nothing after years of waiting. Ubisoft Toronto sits at the helm of the project and plans to rebuild the game from scratch using the Snowdrop Engine while maintaining the classic stealth elements. Here's hoping it can recapture and reinvigorate the stealth gameplay that put the franchise on the map over two decades ago. 

CD Projekt Red’s litany of upcoming projects includes a full remake of the first Witcher game. It’s being built in Unreal Engine 5 by developer Fool’s Theory (with supervision from CD Projekt veterans) and is said to be very early in development. The Witcher, released for PC in 2007, is not an easy game to revisit due to its age and lack of console ports. Now that Geralt and friends are mainstream draws, newer fans can finally experience the adventure that started it all.