I’ll admit it: my Switch has been gathering dust lately. Between other consoles and the usual chaos of life, it’s been sitting quietly on the shelf, waiting for me to remember it exists. But lately I’ve been looking at what’s coming up for Nintendo’s little hybrid wonder, and honestly, it might be time to charge the Joy-Con again.
So, before diving into the games I’m most excited about, let’s talk about how the Switch has been doing.
The original console has been around since 2017, which in gaming years makes it practically ancient, yet it’s still managed to stay remarkably relevant. Sales are slowing down a bit, as you’d expect this far into its life, but the player base is still huge. Even with the Switch 2 now out in the world and stealing headlines, plenty of developers are continuing to support the first model. In other words, it’s not dead yet — not even close.
That’s part of what makes the next few months so exciting. There’s a genuinely strong lineup of games coming that remind me why I loved the Switch in the first place. Here are the five that have me most eager to pick mine up again.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
For years, this one felt like a myth — a name that appeared at a Direct, vanished for half a decade, and was never spoken of again. But now it’s real, it’s coming, and it looks every bit like the atmospheric return fans have been waiting for. I grew up with Metroid, and the Prime series in particular has always nailed that feeling of being alone in an alien world, uncovering secrets one scan at a time. Beyond looks darker and more cinematic than the earlier entries, with that modern polish that makes a first-person adventure feel truly immersive.
I’m hoping Retro Studios can strike the balance between nostalgia and innovation here. There’s nothing wrong with giving long-time fans the power suit comfort zone, but I’d love to see some new mechanics too — smarter AI, fresh puzzle elements, and maybe even a deeper narrative. It’s the kind of game that’ll make me want to dock the Switch, dim the lights, and properly lose myself for a few hours at a time.
Octopath Traveler 0
Octopath Traveler 0 has the potential to be one of the best RPGs on the Switch. The first two games in the series were already gorgeous, with their distinctive blend of pixel art and lighting effects, and this prequel looks like it’s pushing that HD-2D style even further. What really draws me in, though, is the storytelling potential. The earlier games had eight loosely connected stories that sometimes felt a bit too separate. This one promises tighter narrative links and more freedom in how you build your party, which could make it the most cohesive Octopath yet.
It’s also the sort of game that rewards slow, thoughtful play. I love that about it. When I’m juggling work and family life, I can pick it up for an hour, make some progress, and feel satisfied. The turn-based combat has just enough complexity to keep things interesting without ever feeling like a grind. It’s one of those rare series that knows exactly what it wants to be — and this new entry feels like a confident continuation rather than a risky reinvention.
Kirby Air Riders
There’s something pure about a Kirby game. You always know what you’re getting — bright colours, cheerful music, and a sense that the developers are having just as much fun as you are. Kirby Air Riders looks like it’s tapping directly into that spirit, bringing back the fast-paced racing from the GameCube original but with all the extra charm and polish the Switch can deliver.
I’m especially looking forward to the mix of accessible fun and surprising depth. The best Nintendo games pull off that trick perfectly — simple controls on the surface, layers of mastery underneath. It sounds like there’ll be a proper online mode this time too, which could give it a much longer life than the original. I can already see this becoming my go-to game for short, feel-good sessions — something to play when I don’t want to think too hard but still want that instant hit of fun.
Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment
Every so often, a game comes along that reminds me why the Warriors spin-offs exist. They’re loud, chaotic, and unapologetically over the top — and that’s exactly what makes them fun. Age of Imprisonment looks set to take the formula to another level, tying directly into the world of Tears of the Kingdom but with a different energy. Instead of quiet exploration and puzzle-solving, you’re slashing through hundreds of enemies and watching the screen explode with colour.
It’s a nice change of pace from the usual Zelda experience. I wouldn’t call it deep or subtle, but there’s something satisfying about zoning out and mowing through waves of enemies after a long day. I’m also curious to see how the story fits into the broader Zelda timeline — the Warriors games have always played around with alternate histories and what-ifs, and I’m a sucker for that kind of lore experimentation. This feels like the perfect “pick up and play” title for those nights when I don’t want to commit to a full adventure.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Pokémon Legends: Arceus was one of the few games that really surprised me on the Switch — it dared to do something new, and it mostly pulled it off. Z-A looks like it’s taking that open-world formula and refining it even further, with a city setting that should shake things up in a good way. The trailers suggest a focus on exploration and environmental storytelling, which is exactly what I want from this series now.
I’ve been a Pokémon fan for decades, and while the mainline entries still have their charm, I’ve found myself craving something with a little more ambition. Legends seems to hit that sweet spot: familiar creatures and battles, but wrapped in a more dynamic world. It’s already out as I write this, and I’ve been deliberately holding off until I clear some space in my schedule — because I know once I start, I won’t stop.
Getting Back Into It
There’s something nice about coming back to a console after a while. The menus feel familiar, the controller fits your hands like it always did, and suddenly there’s a whole stack of new games to discover. I don’t know if I’ll pick up a Switch 2 yet, but with these releases on the horizon, the old one’s about to get plenty of use.
If you’ve also drifted away from your Switch, maybe now’s a good time to plug it back in and see what’s new. Whether it’s Metroid, Kirby, or a bit of Pokémon nostalgia, there’s a lot to look forward to — and that’s reason enough for me to keep playing.