I Spent a Day Exploring the Early 2026 Switch 2 Lineup, and Things Are Looking Good

by

The Nintendo Switch 2 is still new, but it’s already selling well even though there aren’t a ton of brand-new games available yet. Many Nintendo fans are hoping for a stronger lineup of exciting games in 2026. While we don’t have a complete picture of the year ahead, I recently got a sneak peek at some games coming to the console in early 2024, and the initial selection looks promising.

I recently had a chance to try out some upcoming games for the Nintendo Switch 2. I played first-party titles like Mario Tennis Fever and a new version of Super Mario Bros. Wonder that includes Meetup at Bellabel Park. These games are scheduled for release in February and March and are the first major Nintendo games coming in 2026. I also saw how third-party games, including Pragmata and Resident Evil 9, will look on the console. This preview only covered games releasing through April, so it’s just a glimpse of what Nintendo fans have to look forward to in 2026. Overall, the future looks bright for Nintendo Switch 2 owners.

If You Need a New Mario Party, Don’t Skip Meetup at Bellabel Park

The first game I played at the event was the Switch 2 version of Super Mario Wonder plus the Meetup at Bellabel Park addition. Since Meetup at Bellabel Park is a major new feature for the Switch 2, we spent our time playing that part of the game. This new area in the Flower Kingdom is full of different multiplayer attractions. It reminded me a lot of the mini-games in Mario Party, which was great!

We had a chance to test out several of the mini-games in the new add-on for Super Mario Bros. Wonder on the Switch 2. Each area of the park offers different game types, including both competitive and cooperative options. I especially enjoyed a mini-game where you care for a baby Yoshi. As you play, the Yoshi grows, which slows down your character’s movement. And, just to be clear, I didn’t like it only because I was the first to win!

I recently tried out some new mini-games on the Switch 2 that utilize the mouse controls. I was able to test the Joy-Con 2 mouse feature firsthand – I used it to create the platforms other players navigated through a course. Surprisingly, despite owning a Switch 2, this was my first time using these controls. I found them to be very intuitive and responsive while drawing the paths for others.

I really enjoyed the mini-games included with the Meetup at Bellabel Park event in the Switch 2 version of the game. We didn’t have much time to explore the other Super Mario Bros. Wonder content, although the Switch 2 edition does offer some additions there. Until a new Mario Party game comes out for Switch 2, these mini-games should be a great way to have some fun playing with friends and family.

Mario Tennis Fever Might Be the Best in Franchise History

Following our time with Super Mario Bros. Wonder and the meetup at Bellabel Park, our group moved on to what I was most looking forward to: Mario Tennis Fever. It’s been almost eight years since a new Mario Tennis game was released, and while I don’t usually play sports games, I’ve always enjoyed the Mario Tennis series. I even bought Mario Tennis Aces when I first got my Switch! So, I was really excited to finally try out Mario Tennis Fever.

The most exciting part of this game is its special power-ups, called “fever rackets,” which trigger unexpected effects during gameplay. After a short tutorial that showed the controls are mostly the same, we got to spin a wheel to decide which power-up we’d each use in a head-to-head match. I landed on the ice racket, and so did my opponent, making for a very frosty competition!

We tested out a variety of special rackets in both singles and doubles matches. It was fun seeing how each one changed the game. These ‘fever rackets’ introduced unexpected challenges – like slippery ice or even making players and the ball disappear briefly! My favorite created a shadow copy of my character, giving me a second chance to return the ball.

The new rackets and the large number of 38 characters should keep Mario Tennis Fever fun for a long time. Different rackets mean players need to use different strategies, which adds variety. I also want to thank Nintendo for the fun tennis ball gift they gave us – it matched the game’s characters! My dog, Azula, is especially loving her purple ball inspired by Waluigi.

Nintendo Switch 2 Continues to Impress Me With Its Third-Party Ports

Following a preview of Nintendo’s new games for the Switch 2, we had a chance to play demos of third-party titles like Resident Evil Requiem and Pragmata. These games would have likely struggled on the original Switch, but they ran flawlessly on the new console. This confirmed my impression that the Switch 2 will be excellent for playing action and RPG games.

I started by trying out Resident Evil Requiem in a quiet corner. I’m generally easily frightened, but apparently I didn’t even flinch while playing as Grace Ashcroft, even when some scary things happened! The game looked fantastic on the Switch 2 when played on the TV, with impressive details like sweat on the character and the monsters’ teeth really showcasing what the console can do. I expect the Switch 2 version will look as good as versions on other consoles when it’s released on February 27th.

I also had a chance to play Pragmata on the new Switch 2. This upcoming game from Capcom isn’t out until April 24th, so it will be a little while before we can all play. The demo I tried was the same Sketchbook demo available on Steam, but it was great to see how well it ran on the Switch 2. I was really impressed with the graphics and how smoothly it played, even during a tough fight with the final boss.

Nintendo will likely announce more of its own games later this year, but the initial lineup for 2026 already looks promising. I’m especially excited to play Mario Tennis Fever again and experiment with all the different Fever Rackets.

What games are you most excited to play on the new Switch 2 when it launches in the first few months? Share your thoughts in the comments below and discuss with other fans on the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/gaming/list/5-most-exciting-new-switch-2-games-confirmed-for-2026-so-far/embed/#

Read More

2026-02-03 19:15