Nintendo may not be ready to reveal its next console just yet, but it still has plenty of games to offer.
Trotting out its biggest upcoming releases for the rest of the year at its second Nintendo Direct show of 2024, the Japanese firm proved that the Switch is still a keeper.
The 40-minute presentation featured a new Legend of Zelda game with a massive twist, the return of Donkey Kong, and a new Mario and Luigi title. Oh, and we got our first proper look at Metroid Prime 4, a game that’s been seven years in the making.
Nintendo had already dashed hopes that the successor to the Switch would make an appearance at the event. But, with this kind of stellar lineup, it’s safe to say that the Switch will stick around for years to come, more so as a handheld that keeps your telly free, especially as its visuals start to age.
Ahead of the Direct, Nintendo dropped another surprise by announcing the release date for the Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel. The follow-up to the smash hit animated film will grace Japanese cinemas on April 24, 2026 - expect a UK arrival thereabouts.
If you couldn’t catch the whole thing, here are all the details on the latest Nintendo Direct.
All the games announced at Nintendo Direct
Nintendo revealed a total of 35 titles at its Direct event, including full games, free DLCs, and new additions to the Switch Online library of classics. Here they are in full:
- Mario & Luigi: Brothership (November 7)
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (2025)
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (September 26)
- Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition (July 18)
- Nintendo Switch Sports Basketball free update (Summer)
- Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (January 16, 2025)
- Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD (June 27)
- Super Mario Party Jamboree (October 17)
- Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake (November 14)
- Dragon Quest I and II HD-2D Remake (2025)
- Lego Horizon Adventures (Winter)
- Just Dance 2025 Edition (October)
- Hello Kitty Island Adventure (2025)
- Stray (Winter)
- Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game (Winter)
- MIO: Memories in Orbit (2025)
- Disney Illusion Island: The Mystery in Monoth free update (June 18)
- Funko Fusion (September 13)
- Among Us free update (June 18)
- Darkest Dungeon II (July 15)
- Looney Tunes: Wacky World of Sports (Autumn)
- Metal Slug Attack Reloaded (June 18)
- Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics (2024)
- Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero (2025)
- The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy (2025)
- Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven (October 24)
- Fantasian Neo Dimension (Winter)
- Fairy Tale 2 (Winter)
- Ace Attorney Investigations Collection (September 6)
- Farmagia (November 1)
- The New Denpa Men (July 22)
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack games
The following titles will be available to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members from Tuesday, June 18:
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Four Swords (GBA)
- Metroid: Zero Mission (GBA)
- Turok: Dinosaur Hunter (N64)
- Perfect Dark (N64)
The Switch games you need to know
These were the biggest reveals from the presentation:
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (2025)
Seven years after it was announced, we got a fleeting look at the next major Metroid Prime game. In the teaser, fearless heroine Samus Aran somersaults out of a spaceship that mimics her armored suit. She then proceeds to blast every alien that gets in her way as the rocky planet crumbles around her. Of course, she finds time to roll into a ball to travel to those especially hard-to-reach areas, too. The clip also featured a glimpse of an Avtar-style world with trees that stretch to the heavens. A suitably epic sight for this beloved, space-faring saga.
Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (September 26)
Princess Zelda is the star of the latest installment in the Legend of Zelda series. With Link falling prey to a mysterious purple plight that has ravaged the land of Hyrule, it’s up to Zelda to save the day. Instead of vanquishing baddies with a sword, however, our heroine has a magical staff that can create replicas of objects and enemies. With their “echoes” trapped in your inventory, you can summon them for battles, puzzles and traversal. Nintendo is launching a Switch Lite Hyrule Edition handheld to go with the new game.
Mario and Luigi: Brothership (November 7)
Mario and Luigi are setting off on a sea-faring adventure in a zany new platformer where the emphasis is on lending one another a hand. Together, the brothers can swirl over lava pits in unison, smash fruits with a hammer, and have a kickabout with an explosive red turtle shell. It’s been nine years since the last entry in the Mario and Luigi series and, based on the thrilling footage we’ve seen of Brothership, we’re wondering why we didn’t get more games.
Donkey Country Returns HD (January 16, 2025)
The titular ape and his nephew Diddy Kong are out to get their stolen Tiki board back from an evil tribe in this remake of the Wii classic. Get ready for more vine swinging, mine kart racing, and rocket-barrel riding action. Plus, Donkey Kong’s old pal Rambi the Rhino is back to cause more destruction. Nintendo is promising 80 levels, including those from the 3DS version of the game, and two-player local co-op. If it's anything like Donkey Kong: Tropical Freeze, it should be a fiendishly challenging platformer.
