Nintendo has finally revealed the full launch lineup for the Nintendo Switch 2, and it may be the strongest day-one software selection in the company's history. Headlined by a new 3D Mario adventure and the first new Mario Kart in over a decade, the lineup is designed to drive immediate hardware adoption when the console launches this November.
The Headliners
"Super Mario Wonderworld" is the flagship launch title, a 3D platformer that builds on the open-ended design philosophy of Super Mario Odyssey. The game introduces a new mechanic called "Wonder Effects" that dynamically transforms the game world in real time, creating surreal gameplay scenarios. Early hands-on impressions from a recent media event were overwhelmingly positive, with particular praise for the game's creativity and visual polish.
"Mario Kart 9" marks the first new entry in the franchise since Mario Kart 8 Deluxe launched with the original Switch in 2017. The game features 48 tracks at launch, including 16 brand-new circuits and 32 returning favorites. A new "Team Race" mode supports up to 24 players, double the previous maximum, and the game introduces customizable karts with modular parts that affect handling and speed.
First-Party Depth
Beyond the headliners, Nintendo is launching with "Metroid Prime 5: Echoes of Phazon," developed by Retro Studios. The first-person adventure game runs at 4K 60fps in docked mode and continues Samus Aran's story following the events of Metroid Prime 4. "Splatoon 4" is also a launch window title, arriving in December with a new post-apocalyptic aesthetic and refined multiplayer mechanics.
"We designed the Switch 2 launch lineup to have something for everyone from day one. This is the strongest software lineup we have ever assembled for a hardware launch," said Shuntaro Furukawa, Nintendo's president.
Third-Party Support
Nintendo has secured meaningful third-party support, addressing a weakness of the original Switch. "Final Fantasy XVII" launches as a console exclusive alongside the Switch 2, and "Hollow Knight: Silksong 2" makes its console debut on the platform. EA Sports FC 26, Call of Duty: Black Ops 8, and Minecraft are all confirmed as launch titles, running at 1440p in docked mode.
The improved hardware makes porting current-gen games viable, and several publishers have announced enhanced versions of recent releases for the Switch 2, including "Elden Ring: Complete Edition" and "Cyberpunk 2077."
Hardware and Price
The Switch 2 features an 8-inch LCD display with 1080p resolution in handheld mode and 4K output when docked. The custom NVIDIA T239 processor delivers approximately 4 teraflops of performance in docked mode, roughly triple the original Switch. The console includes 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB of internal storage. Pricing is set at $399 for the standard model and $449 for a bundle including "Super Mario Wonderworld."