5 Games We Desperately Need to See in the Next Nintendo Direct

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Nintendo fans are excited about upcoming games like the new Mario Tennis, but after March, there aren’t many confirmed releases on the schedule. That’s why rumors about a Nintendo Direct presentation in February are becoming more popular. While Nintendo hasn’t officially announced anything, many believe we’ll see a Nintendo Partner Direct around February 5th, and possibly another presentation focusing on first-party games from Nintendo itself in late February or early March.

We don’t yet know when Nintendo will share more details about its plans for the next Switch, expected in 2026. However, fans already have a list of games they’re hoping to see announced in the next Nintendo Direct presentation, possibly in February or soon after. Here are five games we really need to see revealed, and the reasons why.

5) Nintendogs for Switch 2

There’s been a lot of talk about the possibility of playing Nintendo DS games on the upcoming Switch 2. Nintendo’s collection of classic games is currently missing titles from the popular DS system, likely because of its unique dual-screen design. While I’d love to see a completely new Nintendogs game for the Switch 2, I believe it’s more probable that the series will first appear as part of a Nintendo DS Classics collection on the new console.

For years, fans have been requesting a new Nintendogs game on the Nintendo Switch, whether as a fresh title or part of a collection of classic games. With the upcoming Switch 2 potentially featuring a built-in microphone and technology reminiscent of the Nintendo DS, a revival of the series seems more likely. I’m hoping Nintendo will announce or at least hint at a new Nintendogs game during their next Nintendo Direct presentation.

4) Witchbrook 

Everyone was excited when this independent game was revealed at Nintendo’s 2025 showcase. Unfortunately, it’s been delayed past its original planned release window of winter 2025. The developers are still communicating, but haven’t given us a firm new release date yet.

Fans are eager for updates on Witchbrook, especially since the last announcement was during a Nintendo Direct. Ideally, they’d like to see a release date and some new gameplay. If the game is still on schedule to launch this year, many expect we’ll hear more at a future Nintendo Direct presentation, though it’s unclear if that will be as early as February.

3) A New Star Fox 

It’s been a long time since Nintendo released a new Star Fox game. Even Star Fox Zero, a remake of Star Fox 64, is getting old – it will be ten years since its release in 2026. The lack of a new game is likely due to Star Fox Zero not selling very well, especially since it came out on the Wii U, which wasn’t a popular console. Considering Star Fox used to be one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises, it’s disappointing that we haven’t seen a new installment in so long.

After a long wait, Nintendo fans finally received a new sci-fi game with last year’s Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. However, many are still hoping for a return to the Star Fox series. Despite some recent games not being huge hits, Star Fox maintains a dedicated fanbase. As Nintendo enters the next generation with the Switch 2, fans are eager for a new Star Fox game, and a reveal at the first major Nintendo Direct in 2026 is high on many wishlists.

2) A New 3D Super Mario Game

Ever since Nintendo announced the Switch 2 last year, fans have been eagerly awaiting a new 3D Super Mario game. Instead, we’ve seen a new Donkey Kong adventure and a fresh Mario Kart title released for the console. This year, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is coming to the Switch 2 with added content called Meetup at Bellabel Park. Despite these releases, many fans are still asking: when will Nintendo finally release a brand new Mario game?

Considering everything on this list, a new Mario game seems like the most probable announcement for 2026. It’s still unclear if the game will be released this year, but with the Super Mario series recently celebrating its 40th anniversary, fans are eager for the next big title. Revealing or even just hinting at a new 3D Mario game during Nintendo’s first major presentation of the year would be a fantastic start.

1) New Animal Crossing

While Mario is Nintendo’s most famous character, Tom Nook from Animal Crossing is incredibly popular with a lot of players. Animal Crossing: New Horizons sold extremely well on the original Switch, so fans were disappointed when the Switch 2 launched without a new game in the series. Now, many eagerly watch Nintendo Direct presentations hoping to finally hear an announcement about a new Animal Crossing title.

With the recent Switch 2 version and update to New Horizons, a completely new Animal Crossing game might be further down the line. However, Nintendo could be reminding fans about the series to build excitement before announcing a new title. Either way, many Nintendo fans, including myself, are hoping to hear something about a new Animal Crossing game at the next big Nintendo Direct presentation.

What are you excited about for Nintendo in the coming year? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-04 00:43